ExplorOz Traveller 4+

Good app but still quite some annoying bugs

Have used this app (with downloaded maps) intensively for the last 8 weeks travelling from Qld to SA, VIC and NSW. Mistily used previous V7 but now just installed the latest V8. Overall useful and reasonably accurate but don’t fully rely on state of road (un/sealed) or on actual tracks existing… Would be good to have some simple updating functionality for that part as there is for the map features, which is actually very nice but more users should add/modify entries.
Also there are some small, but annoying bugs, some have now been eliminated in latest version, but some seem worse than before, eg it now regularly just shows a blank (blue) screen instead of the map, seems mainly while going in and out of mobile reception, although I’ve got the downloaded maps and set the app on ‘offline’ mode (usually maps are fine when there is no signal…). Also can crash when zooming in too fast after opening or switching to the app. Still worth getting it, particularly now that they have just released the new Topo maps 2023, which we ‘old’ users have to buy again…

Expectation Vs Content

The 3 star rating reflects what the app does not have opposed to what the app has. Only a couple of days to play with it but it seems functional and quite intuitive. My issue is expectation. I obviously should have drilled down more. With all the crowd data and user input potential for campsites I was looking for something akin to an amalgamation of Hema & WikiCamps. I have the other offline navigation apps (directions aplenty!)but have to toggle back and forth with, for example, WikiCamps to get the high level of site/camp/s info, data, ,locations, photos, comments, pricing, etc. However, on the vast majority of the quite limited camp sites represented on this app, the info is scarce with many having no pics or comments. Hard to fathom with the amount of users to these mainstream locations. The app has been updating individual sites once opened but still quite basic. The filters are correct. Anyways, feedback for potential purchasers is my point. Regards, Mike.

Developer Response ,

HI Mike, make sure in Data Manager that you regularly download/update the Comments database so you can see these offline.

Not sure why ExplorOz users seem to be less inclined to post comments about how much toilet paper is around like you see on Wiki camps. However, up until recently, the comments people posted on ExplorOz Places where something had changed, or new info was provided would be read and verified by our admin team and then merged into the main Place description and the comment removed so that it wasn't confusing. We actually rely on the Place being accurate without the need for user comment. Hope that helps clarify but we still want to see more comments!

Could Be A Great App

This app is quite useable overall, but needs some major improvements. Being constantly told to reset location services to allow 'always' is very very annoying. The app developer has said there is nothing they can do about this problem, but that is nonsense. It doesn't just happen when you open the app. It can happen just about anytime you touch the screen when using the app. Hema and Mud Map apps don't have this issue with location services. If you don't have any background tracking features turned on, why should the app 'always' have access to your location data? A total privacy invasion. If you have allowed location services 'while using app', then why is that never enough? No other map app I have demands this constant access to my location, even when not using the app. Please fix this. The maps included when you purchase the premium pack are quite good and detailed, but the rendering of each level of map scale is only good at one zoom level. Zoom above or below the optimum zoom level for that map scale and rendering of the map is poor and fuzzy. I'm using iPad Air2. With some refinement and location service bug fixes, I would rate the app much higher.

Developer Response ,

Hi Redunes, I do recall discussing this with you and I appreciate your feedback. Happy to further explain each of your comments. As you know, if you accept the request for location services at the time of installation you will not get these constant messages. The reason for the permission request is to ensure that if you take a phone call, or minimise or put the app in the background, that vital processes don't stop - eg. the position manager data recording, snail trail and voice/navigational guidance features all require the location services, not just background tracking. Technically, this is all coupled with battery management and by implementing a foreground only process will have serious impact on battery run time.
The issue with map rendering is that each odd level (eg. 9, 11, 13) is the 100% resolution of that scale, so 144K is zoom level 13. The even zoom levels are an overzoom (so yes there will be a little pixelation visible) but this is to give user access to enlarge without requiring significantly larger file downloads.