mapping – PSafe Blog https://www.psafe.com/en/blog Articles and news about Mobile Security, Android, Apps, Social Media and Technology in general. Thu, 19 Jan 2023 14:49:21 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.5.3 https://www.psafe.com/en/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/cropped-psafe_blog_purple-shield-32x32.png mapping – PSafe Blog https://www.psafe.com/en/blog 32 32 <![CDATA[Here Are the Best Map Apps Available for Android]]> https://www.psafe.com/en/blog/best-map-apps-available-android/ Tue, 18 Oct 2016 11:17:27 +0000 https://www.psafe.com/en/blog/?p=4830 We want our map apps to be as accurate as possible. However, it depends what is meant by “accurate.” Does “accurate” mean that we want the most accurate maps app overall? By this we mean, do we want an app that can do it all, that has the most frequent and accurate traffic, construction, location, business, and road updates? After all, when traveling, we don’t want to drive to a place, or be told to take a road, that no longer exists. Or, by “accurate” we could mean we prioritize one of those aspects over another, and care, for example, more about having the latest traffic updates. It all depends on individual wants and needs in a maps app.

The Best Overall Maps App
Currently, Google Maps is arguably the best overall GPS app available. It is frequently updated and can be easily customized according to your needs. It is because of these frequent updates that Google Maps is considered to be the most accurate maps app. Other perks include a street view option, the ability to download offline maps, traffic and construction warnings, and business reviews. Plus, in the case of an error, it’s easy to quickly report a mistake. Click “send feedback” and then you can choose whether to report a data problem, a missing place, bugs, or suggestions on possible improvements to the app.

Read More: Which Mobile Carrier Gives You the Best Deal for Data Usage?

The Best Maps App for Traffic Updates
Even though Google bought Waze, and incorporated many of Waze’s traffic features into the Google Maps app, Waze is still a great app to have for the latest traffic updates. Waze is a network of fellow drivers that reports real-time traffic and construction updates, in addition to information on accidents, road closures, the best gas prices, and police sightings. The app will also take note of your frequent commutes and destinations, making it even easier to save your favorite routes.

The Best Alternatives to Google Maps
For whatever reason, maybe you’re not a fan of Google Maps. HERE WeGo is a free maps app that is well designed and easy to use. It is a great app to use if you frequently take public transportation, or walk and bike everywhere. It offers public transit information for more than 1,000 cities around the world, in addition to traffic updates and delays, voice guidance, and nearby businesses like restaurants and banks. It also provides information on ticket prices for public transportation, taxi fares, and the type of terrain on your route.

]]> <![CDATA[How Mapswipe Helps Users Respond to Disasters]]> https://www.psafe.com/en/blog/mapswipe-helps-users-respond-disasters/ Tue, 09 Aug 2016 18:20:19 +0000 https://www.psafe.com/en/blog/?p=2754 When tragedy strikes in underdeveloped parts of the world, first responders and humanitarian aid workers often have trouble getting to more rural locations due to a lack of satellite map infrastructure. Fortunately, there’s a new app that aims to help increase map coverage — and allows you to help make it happen.

Meet MapSwipe, a groundbreaking new app from Doctors Without Borders and one of the foremost international medical organizations aimed at providing humanitarian medical care to less developed nations. With MapSwipe, you can participate in mapping “missions,” in which you scroll through satellite images and mark areas that look like houses, roads, villages, and other population-indicating landmarks. In doing so, you can help aid workers get to disaster-stricken areas as quickly as possible, rather than aid workers having to scroll through large amounts of raw satellite imagery themselves, wasting time that could be spent on the ground helping people.

Read More: 5 Must-Have Disaster Apps for Android

Whether they’re trying to prevent the outbreak of cholera in the Democratic Republic of Congo or they’re helping people after a flood in Sierra Leone, aid workers from Doctors Without Borders, the Red Cross, and others will be able to use MapSwipe to more effectively find the people they’re looking to help. The best part? You can use MapSwipe during your free time, all from the comfort of your own home. You don’t even need prior knowledge of the areas you’re helping map.

MapSwipe is the brainchild of Doctors Without Borders and the Missing Maps project, which allows volunteers the chance to mark satellite maps in the same way the MapSwipe app does. Founded by the American and British Red Cross organizations, Doctors Without Borders, and the Humanitarian OpenStreetMap Team, Missing Maps first allows remote volunteers to mark raw satellite images, then has community members that live where humanitarian aid is being sent to identity things such as the names of streets and towns. The finished product is sent to aid workers who use the fleshed out maps to deliver aid as quickly as possible.

The beauty of MapSwipe is that users are not only able to help assist aid workers from the comfort of their own homes, but that you’re able to do so on a fun and interesting interface. Some have even called MapSwipe a good alternative to Pokemon Go!

MapSwipe is currently only available for Android and iOS. It’s free to download and is available now in the Google Play store. While you’re downloading the app, make sure you download PSafe PowerPRO to help keep your battery going all day. With your battery running longer you can spend more time on MapSwipe and help more first responders and humanitarian aid workers get to where they need to go.

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