Iphone Offline Maps

November 22, 2012 9:01 AM

Iphone Application with Offline Maps

I am seeking an Iphone application that has world maps already present in its cache. That way I can use the Iphone without Internet connectivity but only with GPS function. This app *has* to work with specifying places with their coordinates (lat, lon).

Free is better but I may be inclined to pay for this app if it is way better than its competitors.

posted by raphael19 to technology (10 answers total)

You're not going to get the whole world on the iphone, I don't think, but Tom Tom has individual apps for different regions and they all work offline.

Also the default map in ios6 works decently well off line if you've precached the area you're looking for.
posted by empath at 9:08 AM on November 22, 2012

I have been pretty happy with "motion-x gps". The maps don't come built-in, but while you are connected you can tell it what regions to cache for offline use. You can specify different max and min zoom levels for different regions, and you can pull from a few different data sources.
posted by Pre-Taped Call In Show at 9:16 AM on November 22, 2012

Nokia's new HERE Maps app allows you to store any subset of the map as a local cache.

You will have to save the area you want a map of ahead of time for offline use.
posted by TTIKTDA at 9:22 AM on November 22, 2012

It depends on what you want to do with it. Driving directions? Off-the-grid hiking? Exploring a city on foot without a data connection?

Driving directions? I've never tried an offline solution for this, but I'm very curious to try.

I've used Topo maps while backpacking. It's no substitute for a real map and compass, but it can be reassuring to know exactly where you are, and it's neat to have a bunch of maps pre-loaded for more spur-of-the-moment trips when I didn't think to get a proper map.

For exploring cities without a data connection, I use The Cartographer. It's beautiful. You pre-load the maps for specific areas while you have an internet connection, then your phone can use them while you're offline and use the GPS signal to figure out where you are. Highly recommended!
posted by sportbucket at 9:52 AM on November 22, 2012 [2 favorites]

City Maps 2Go lets you download maps from all over the world. I know you can tap and hold and set your own points of interest, but not sure about adding based on coordinates. May be worth contacting support to find out.

There's a free version that lets you download one map, or you can pay to have unlimited maps.
posted by backwards guitar at 11:32 AM on November 22, 2012

I use Offmaps, which was pretty good.

For what it's worth, since Apple upgraded their map application to vector based (iOS6), it caches a surprising amount. So if you're going to be spending time in a general area, you can open up the maps program, zoom in a bit just scroll around the area you care about-- should cache all you need. Found that out on a train trip I was talking with my iPad, was amazed how much it retained.
posted by Static Vagabond at 2:28 PM on November 22, 2012

Cartographer looks great. Thanks for the tip.
posted by Quisp Lover at 2:57 PM on November 22, 2012

I should include in my thread this recent question by my fellow Mefite who was after basically the same goal:

http://ask.metafilter.com/228148/Caching-iphone-maps


Thanks everyone for excellent suggestions.
posted by raphael19 at 4:59 PM on November 22, 2012

I recommend a vector based map; they work better in offline map mode than raster maps and need much less storage. I like MapsWithMe; skrobbler Forever Map is also good.
posted by Nelson at 5:39 PM on November 22, 2012

Nearly two months later I should conclude that Cartographer proved to be very valuable for the function I was seeking..
posted by raphael19 at 4:20 PM on January 15