Summer in Europe!

[Swiggy]

I will be back packing through Europe this summer and will have no data enabled phone. I want to still utilize my HTC Hero though.

So I am looking for apps that will work with just WIFI or NO data/gps connections.

Apps In particular that I need:
Translator that works with no wifi/internet (will be in Prague/Spain/Germany)
Map app (that works with no data/gps)
Currency converter
A good photo app that will let me keep notes on pictures

Wifi only apps that will be useful when traveling:
I have Fring so far...

Any suggestions would be great!

 

[sebsal]

GPS is free so I wouldn't worry about that. You could use co-pilot and download the European map pack for it. That doesn't use a data connection, just GPS

 

[jev]

Translator: there are a couple of "concise oxford" dictionaries that let you load dictionaries from sdcard.

Map app (why without GPS? That won't cost you a dime!): rmaps. If you need full navigation, a commercial package like navigon might be the better solution.

Currency converters ofcourse require access to the net 'cause the exchange rates change per day. It seems this one actually is usable off-line (synchronize each morning using wifi and keep it at the same rates for the rest of the day?).

A good photo app that allows notes? Dunno.

Anyway, have fun while you're on this side of the pond!

 

[waspbr]

for VOIP apps you might wanna check: Truphone and vopium.

Depending on how long you are going to stay in those places it may pay off to get a pre-paid chip for your phone, they usually cost something like 10 euros, as for internet there are a lot of places with free wifi

 

[Swiggy]

Are you sure GPS will work without any Data connection? I have sprint and i thought it required some data access to use the GPS?

 

[Jaffa]

Data is used for downloading maps only, if the maps are stored on your phone its fine

 

[peterc10]

AFAIK Google Translate does not use data. I have found it to be very good.

For currency conversion you could use XE. It has settings to allow manual update only or update by wifi only. Either would ensure you don't use data.

GPS may be the difficult one, depending upon what you mean by backpacking. As you have rightly realised, the so-called "free" apps suggested by some here invariably download their maps on the fly, which needs, guess what - yes a data connection. A "proper" sat nav, i.e. one that stores maps on your device, does not need any data connection - everything works off the stored maps.

The problem is that most of these sat nav apps use road maps, which are only suitable if you are sticking to roads, e.g Copilot or Sygic Mobile Maps. They are no good if you are going "real" backpacking, i.e. up mountains etc. There are specialist programmes for this but firstly they tend to be country specific (no standardised maps), secondly they tend to be expensive, and thirdly I don't think any are available for Android.

If you are sticking to roads I would suggest Sygic Mobile Maps. If not you could try posting the question on THIS forum

 

[Hrochnick]

The problem is that most of these sat nav apps use road maps, which are only suitable if you are sticking to roads, e.g Copilot or Sygic Mobile Maps. They are no good if you are going "real" backpacking, i.e. up mountains etc.

Copilot has a walking mode, seems to work quite well judging from the couple of times I've tried it.

 

[peterc10]

Copilot has a walking mode, seems to work quite well judging from the couple of times I've tried it.

Most of them do. But it is only walking on roads or footpaths in cities etc. No good on the side of a mountain

 

[Swiggy]

Thanks for all of the quick responses! I will not be doing any hiking...so i just need a good free app that will load road maps. I am currently trying out MapDroyd..any other suggestions would be great!

 

[Xyro]

Try AndNav too. I've heard it's like MayDroyd, in that maps are stored to the SD card.

 

[jev]

As you have rightly realised, the so-called "free" apps suggested by some here invariably download their maps on the fly, which needs, guess what - yes a data connection.

rmaps allows one to load the maps onto SD Card beforehand. And yes, it's free. No need to download maps on the fly. It just doesn't do voice guided navigation.

 

[Zbig]

As for the GPS, I recommend Maverick: Maverick - GPS navigation for Android with offline maps support. You can use pre-downloaded maps there and the app is great. No turn-by-turn nav though - it's better suited for trekking / sightseeing by foot.

And if you really need data transfer, consider buying an unlocked Huawei MiFi on eBay. That's a portable personal WiFi access point with a 3G modem. You can put some local pre-paid data-only SIM there and provide WiFi to your Hero on the go.

One more thing to consider: additional portable data source, especially if you're going to use the GPS a lot, for track recording for example. I got this: Welcome to Just Mobile.

 

[jUsT2eXy]

Unless you use A-GPS (assisted GPS) you will encounter no costs by using GPS. (Unless you have an unlimited data plan)

 

[peterc10]

As for the GPS, I recommend Maverick: Maverick - GPS navigation for Android with offline maps support. You can use pre-downloaded maps there and the app is great. No turn-by-turn nav though - it's better suited for trekking / sightseeing by foot.

Seems an interesting app. The website talks about "caching" the maps. Where are they stored on the device - on the SD card or in the memory? If it is the memory that would be very limiting as to the amount of info you could save at one time without slowing down the phone to a crawl.

 

[Zbig]

Seems an interesting app. The website talks about "caching" the maps. Where are they stored on the device - on the SD card or in the memory? If it is the memory that would be very limiting as to the amount of info you could save at one time without slowing down the phone to a crawl.

On the SD card. It works like that:
- if the currently needed map fragment file ("tile") isn't found on a card and the network connection is available, it downloads it over the internet and saves it on a card for later (possibly offline) reuse
- you can pre-populate the cache with the area(s) of your choice, using this program: Mobile Atlas Creator. Many map providers (switchable later in the Maverick) available. Instructions here: Online Help: Maverick: Setting up offline maps

 

[sluce]

I am having trouble with Vopium - i have registered my number and received and account and password by email, but I never receive the text with the registration number. when i try to place a call over wifi, i get a "network not available" message even though i am connected to a network. i have been online with their live chat customer service, they simplyre-sent the text msg a few times, and i never received. they told me to consult my provider. but i get texts all the time so this is strange. i am leaving for spain tomorrow and want to use VOIP to call USA while i am there! can anyone help?
THANK YOU!