Enable Offline Caching/Downloading of Map segments
Is there a way to allow downloading of Segments of data offline and stored locally on the device?
The application is noted to be dependent on the Internet but this dependency also makes it a flaw.
In a 3rd world country where mobile data reception is periodically unreliable, it burdens the app to have to have to rely on the data connection to download map segments, street details, as well as traffic and routing information.
If map segments were allowed to be downloaded in advance as a pre-emptive measure, the application then only has to download and overlay Traffic information / Routing options without the burden on bandwidth of downloading other map data.
Case in point:
-Both screens were grabbed on mobile data connected only to "E" or "EDGE" aka 2G GSM.
-EDGE or 2G connections have a theoretical transfer rate (in practice) of 50KB/sec
On the Left, segments of the map have already been downloaded offline. There is no longer any burden on the poor/limited data connection to download map data. The only data required to download is Traffic/Routing information. As you will notice, street names are visible. In cases of total loss of data connection, users can navigate manually by referring to the map offering some semblance of navigation.
On the Right, Full burden of downloading map segments, traffic data as well as routing data all falls on the poor/limited data connection. As you will notice, street names are not visible. In cases of total loss of data connection, users will have no option to navigate manually by referring to the map as there is no usable information on the map aside from the road indications. Stuck in an unfamiliar place, with poor/limited data, the app proves to be useless.
Conclusion:
It would greatly help the app and the users if the option of downloading segments of maps were made available. The app would not have to download this over the data connection. This would free up the bandwidth allotted to focus on only downloading Traffic and Routing data.
The application is noted to be dependent on the Internet but this dependency also makes it a flaw.
In a 3rd world country where mobile data reception is periodically unreliable, it burdens the app to have to have to rely on the data connection to download map segments, street details, as well as traffic and routing information.
If map segments were allowed to be downloaded in advance as a pre-emptive measure, the application then only has to download and overlay Traffic information / Routing options without the burden on bandwidth of downloading other map data.
Case in point:
-Both screens were grabbed on mobile data connected only to "E" or "EDGE" aka 2G GSM.
-EDGE or 2G connections have a theoretical transfer rate (in practice) of 50KB/sec
On the Left, segments of the map have already been downloaded offline. There is no longer any burden on the poor/limited data connection to download map data. The only data required to download is Traffic/Routing information. As you will notice, street names are visible. In cases of total loss of data connection, users can navigate manually by referring to the map offering some semblance of navigation.
On the Right, Full burden of downloading map segments, traffic data as well as routing data all falls on the poor/limited data connection. As you will notice, street names are not visible. In cases of total loss of data connection, users will have no option to navigate manually by referring to the map as there is no usable information on the map aside from the road indications. Stuck in an unfamiliar place, with poor/limited data, the app proves to be useless.
Conclusion:
It would greatly help the app and the users if the option of downloading segments of maps were made available. The app would not have to download this over the data connection. This would free up the bandwidth allotted to focus on only downloading Traffic and Routing data.
Re: Enable Offline Caching/Downloading of Map segments