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26-Nov-2013 8:43:40 AM
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As I posted some time ago we will fly from Germany to Australia in mid-February next year. We want to visit Tasmania, Arapiles, Grampians, Blue Mountains for climbing and sightseeing, afterwards the area around Alice Springs. Time altogether ca. 2 months. We now have most of the climbing guide books and a lot of information, but I am still looking for a navigation software that covers these areas. Google maps is ok, but you have to be connected to the internet all the time. I am looking for an app which you can install on an android smartphone. Is there anything you can recommend?
Another question: some time ago I read in the forum that there are plans to increase the fees for the camping grounds in the Grampians drastically. Is that far away in the the future or will it be enforced already next year?
Thank you very much for your help.
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26-Nov-2013 9:04:55 AM
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I can't help with the navigation side of things but regarding the fees, they were supposed to be introduced by March next year. However it is hoped that that would be postponed as they make a few adjustments to the proposal (ie throw in the bin and start again).
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26-Nov-2013 10:00:24 AM
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You can store things in the google maps cache. Get the map loaded that you want to cache and search for "OK Maps". A toast will pop up saying the map has been saved to the cache. Can be a little tedious but does work. Would be nice if they implemented this as a proper feature with a button and a proper UI allowing selection of the area rather than some weird hack.
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26-Nov-2013 10:57:43 AM
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We used Maps With Me Pro on android while in Europe, and it was reasonably OK. Not sure how much detail you'll get for rural Australia, but take a look.
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26-Nov-2013 11:04:28 AM
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If you want fully functioning car navigation pay $63 and get the TomTom Australia app.
Don't be too concerned about the camp fees in the Grampians. Everyone is now free camping in the bush campsites (best of these is on Copper Mine Track).
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26-Nov-2013 11:28:04 AM
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On 26/11/2013 ajfclark wrote:
> A toast will pop up saying
>the map has been saved to the cache.
A toast!?
For all these years here I was thinking it was a floppy disk! (I'm still not sure if you were being facetious or not.... But I had a chuckle...)
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26-Nov-2013 6:16:03 PM
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Nope not facetious. In the android API those little grey boxes that pop up are called toasts: http://developer.android.com/guide/topics/ui/notifiers/toasts.html
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26-Nov-2013 6:35:37 PM
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I hear you can buy road maps at most service stations for under $50.
These did a pretty good job of getting people around the country back in the dark ages, and are guaranteed not to run out of batteries/signal on the long haul from Alice to the Grampians. They even have the added benefit of sometimes displaying interesting places to check out along the way ;)
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26-Nov-2013 11:50:47 PM
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On 26/11/2013 ajfclark wrote:
>Nope not facetious. In the android API those little grey boxes that pop
>up are called toasts: http://developer.android.com/guide/topics/ui/notifiers/toasts.html
Fair enough! My ignorance.
I do agree that caching google maps is great. I've had all of Melbourne cached along with the Grampians.
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