APPS WITH MAPS

摘要

It took some time for the iPhone to gain the hardware and software support that transformed it into a turn-by-turn navigation unit foryour car, but now there are more than a dozen different turn-by-turn GPS (Global Positioning System) apps to choose from. Fundamentally, each application serves the same purpose: to get you to the destination of your choice by providing graphical navigation of the route, along with visual and spoken cues for making turns or identifying upcoming road changes. Some programs integrate live or statistical traffic information to provide better routing. Like snowflakes, no two programs are identical, even though many share the same mapping or other data sources. To help you narrow your choices, I tested 12 apps in and around my hometown of Seattle. I looked at the software to see how well it got me from point A to point B without putting virtual roadblocks in my way. After days spent in my car with only my iPhone for company, I'm glad to report on which of the dozen contenders will serve you best on your travels.