as a fairly knew user of the iphone from Apple, I found myself looking for apps to replace those I used to use on simbian/windows mobile.
It has been a struggle, but you wouldn’t think so by the number of apps I have amassed since april of this year.
I was concerned because their weren’t demos. You have to buy before you can actually try said apps.
I found ways around this particular hurtle, I subscribed to the viphone list, and used other resources to find information on applications for the iphone.
I was inparticular, looking for a GPS app that could do a lot of what Mobile Geo, on windows mobile, and combine a lot of the sighted GPS features sighted users were used to.
I had heard a lot about apps from sendero, and others.
I also heard about navigon.
That one, at least. I had the pleasure of playing with on a friends iphone.
I wasn’t to impressed with it, especially it’s accessibility and lacking of monitoring features, etc.
I then heard a lot of talk about
ariadne gps
and how great it was, beating out the compitition for blind users right out of the gate.
Costing $2.99 and availabhle in both the US and canadian app stores, among others, I watched the discussion on the viphone list I’m on and today, finally decided to give it a wirl.
I purchased the app, it installed, and right from jump it was accessible, and no need to really tweek anything, it switched from wifi to 3G efortlessly, no need to stop and restart the program to make the change.
The map was accessible, I could explore things, and really get to know my surroundings with no trouble.
As a first time user I was really impressed.
A couple of things I’d like to see improved/features I’d like to see added.
- points of interest
- monitoring while locked or in the background.
a lot of the GPS apps for the blind, as well as GPS systems for sighted people contain a database full of points of interest from banks, to stores, to malls, etc.
I’d like to see ariadne do this either locally, or get it’s data from the remote servers.
If I remember correctly navigon has this type of information, via a local database, or remotely. hense the size being so huge.
It would be useful if when the application was in the gbackground, or the phone was locked, the information presented while monitoring was on would still be spoken.
This would allow, for example, the user to take a call and still keep moving on their route.
This would also allow for the user to toss the program into the backgroun out of the way.
I’m not sure about route planning, destination usage, etc. but I’m sure if it exists I’ll find or use it.
I’m also sure that readers of this blog will be happy to comment on their own experiences with this particular application.
All told, this application is totally worhth the $2.99.
Until next time, take care.
