[The Gonz]

Since we left Indonesia two weeks ago, we've saved ourselves the expense of a prepaid or roaming SIM by preloading my phone with the Maps.me app and enjoying the full range of GPS features you'd expect from something like Google Maps but completely offline and with the ability to autodownload local maps as needed at the next free WiFi hotspot.

MAPS.ME (MapsWithMe), detailed offline maps of the World for iPhone, iPad, iPod, Android, Amazon Kindle Fire and BlackBerry

[Dazzler]

Wow, that's a great tip. Thanks Gonz. 

[John B]

 

[CraigB]

Thanks Gonz, I'll make good use of that app in Japan

[AlanHo]

They use the mapping from the Open Street Map.

OpenStreetMap

I just checked our area and it is far more up-to-date than Google Maps or HERE

[CraigB]

They use the mapping from the Open Street Map.

OpenStreetMap

I just checked our area and it is far more up-to-date than Google Maps or HERE

MAPS.ME doesn't have my street or much of my area mapped ( been there 5 years ) looks like much of the south west here is fairly limited on map detail though the maps listed for Japan are huge so should do me well when there

[The Gonz]

You can start contributing to the database either locally on your device or globally online. Be a homeground pioneer, Craig!

[CraigB]

Sounds like to much effort

[AlanHo]

CraigB - the maps require people to go the extra yard and make the effort. It seems you are in a lowly populated area where there are no others to share the load. If you need the maps to be accurate you really need to have a bash at it,

I first used these maps about 4 years ago when I was going on holiday to Cyprus. The Garmin Europe maps don't include Cyprus - they have a franchise there which charges £100 for them.

However - I found a number of errors and omissions on the maps for my local area and reported them. Three or four  months later they were incorporated. I guess they look for a second or third opinion before committing changes to the data base.

[The Gonz]

... and while they make their way to public access (within minutes if corroborated) you can use your own additions as if already a part of your app's database.