GPS for iPhone

By Tracy Carcione, 16 October, 2016

Forum
iOS and iPadOS

I usually use BlindSquare for GPS on my iPhone 5S. My only complaint is that it constantly tells me my location while walking, like every 2-3 seconds. All I want it to automatically tell me is the next crossing and any POIs nearby. When I turn off announcements, then it doesn't tell me anything.
Is there a way to make BlindSquare only say what I want? Or is there another app that will, automatically? I don't want to be always messing around with an app, when I'm walking around.
Thanks.
Tracy

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Comments

By DPinWI on Wednesday, October 26, 2016 - 06:37

My current favourite GPS app is Nearby Explorer.

It has more options to configure the types of information is spoken. It too can be a little chatty, but might be what you are looking for.

By Sounds2Good on Wednesday, October 26, 2016 - 06:37

Nearby Explorer is excellent for configuring what is spoken and what is not. It also works well in the background, i.e. when your phone is locked as you travel. However, in my area of the country I've discovered the turn-by-turn instructions generated by the app are not accurate or even reliable. Apple, Google, Navigon and Seeing Eye GPS provide more accurate turn-by-turn directions at this time. I'm sure APH will improve this aspect of Nearby Explorer in the future.

By Tracy Carcione on Wednesday, October 26, 2016 - 06:37

Where are you using Nearby Explorer that it does not work well? I work in New York City, and I frequently find GPS unreliable there, because of all the tall buildings. If I'm going to spend money on a GPS app, I want it to be reliable where I am.
Thanks for your input.
Tracy

By Sounds2Good on Wednesday, October 26, 2016 - 06:37

I live in Northern Virginia outside of Washington, D.C. I doubt tall buildings are usually an issue for me. However, the step by step directions are not always correct. Even more serious, when driving the best route, ignoring Nearby Explorer's "incorrect" directions, the app does not seem to attempt to re-route using updated position information. I don't know if this is a problem with the programming or the maps used. I have reported the issue to APH. I hope they can correct the issues.
I do like Nearby Explorer very much as a background app to inform me of my travel surroundings, approaching intersections and so on. I think it is better in this regard than Seeing Eye GPS. However, Seeing Eye GPS has more accurate step by step travel directions and will recalculate a route if one doesn't follow the route it initially provides.
Getting back to the tall buildings issue, this is a problem with most GPS systems I've used or seen. If skyscrapers block access to the GPS satellites it will be difficult to get good travel information.