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Show HN: Tired of entering map directions on Android? I've streamlined it

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40 pointspheelicks24 comments

I originally built this after getting tired at how many actions it takes to enter directions in Maps on iPhone. Often I just wanted to navigate from the current location to a common place (eg home, work). With Quickmaps, all I have to do is launch the app and with single gesture I'm done.

After posting the iPhone version to HN 2 weeks ago, one of the most common requests was an Android port. For those on iPhones: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/quickmaps/id506283203?ls=1...

Feedback is most welcome

Pretty great! I'm definitely going to use this. It's filling a need that I definitely feel.

The biggest problem I have is that it defaults to "driving" directions, which I almost never want. I'm going to use this for bus directions.

The question occurred to me when you posted the iPhone version, but why do you include both source and destination? Wouldn't "current location to destination" make more sense? Or is there a use case I'm missing?

Only half of user queries start with the current location, the other with a pre-defined location.

A common use case I can think of is Home -> Work using public transport.

Okay, I can see the public transit case, since that might help for planning. I live in a place without any real public transit to speak of, so it didn't even occur to me!

I've had pretty good luck just saying "Navigate to: 123 MyHouse, San Jose" etc...

At least for me it almost always works.

Having moved to an iPhone, this is the feature I miss the most aside from google navigation not really having a solid competitor on iOS

Nice feature! Saved locations + easy way to navigate/use. The only time I use Maps is when I'm driving, and this is a nice layover. Thanks for the app.

One item: the "edit" button wasn't obvious that it was for editing locations. Rather, I thought it was associated with the types of directions -- driving, walking, transit, etc. If I could make a suggestion, make the destination circles editable by bringing up a menu when holding the circle for an extended amount of time. It's what I did initially.

One feature that would be nice if when adding addresses you could choose your current location, preferably saved as Lat/Long coordinates.

I'm thrilled to use this program for public transit, but I've noticed that the nearest street address to some bus stops (particular park & ride lots) don't match well.

This way I could add those stops as one of my saved locations.

How often do people need directions to a place where they have been before? Most of the time I don't need directions once I've driven there. However, I have gotten stuck in traffic because I didn't check if it the regular route was the fastest way there.

Yeah well, some of us are horrendous at directions and sadly rely on GPS for everything, even to places we've been 30 times :P

Your last sentence -- I use GPS almost everywhere I'm driving because of the real-time traffic data.

Same here. I use Google Nav everywhere I go, even when I know how to get to the location. I even use it on the ride home from work every day because the exit closest to my apartment (Balboa/Garnet on the 5, for those in the San Diego area) has a tendency to clog up easily due to multiple red lights right off the exit.

Google Nav lets me know if I should get off there (most direct route) or take the 52 to Clairemont Dr and circle around (less direct, less likely to be traffic clogged), depending upon the real-time traffic data.

It's nice for people who's routes may change depending on traffic or events. Because maps uses the traffic info to update your routes also.

Public transit -- schedules vary and in many places you now have realtime arrival information. Depending on circumstances, on route may be preferable to another.

So yes, I'll have a few frequently traveled routes I look up frequently.

While we're at it: annoyance with the NextBus mobile website and apps: inability to bookmark specific trips, specify travel in terms of "I'm here, I want to be there, what's the fastest way" (I've got about a half dozen options available to me). Also a way for transit agencies to disclose issues (I've learned that several trains/buses with identical arrival times holding at several minutes out probably means some upstream blockage), and to identify routes on which there's going to be a service change (there's a route I follow which has usual destination, but a fair number of vehicles deviate from it to provide pull-through service to another location in an entirely useless direction).

That said, realtime transit arrival/scheduling information is a huge win. I can remember a time when it was a pipe dream.

Nice app! I think the iPhone version of this made a lot of sense, but on Android, you've always been able to add a directions widget right onto the desktop to launch directions or navigation with a single touch.

It chews a ton of battery if you do, though, since it gives you time-to-destination, which means GPS.

Or you could just add a location shortcut to the desktop, which doesn't use any extra battery power.

I have the iPhone version of this app and it is much simpler than typing addresses. Still not a great solution for new addresses, but that may not be solveable with a third party app..

When editing the locations, I'd rather find places on a map than go through the agonizing process of entering the addresses with the phone's keyboard.

i just create shortcuts to my home or frequent addresses. The major use case is not from frequent location A to frequent location B. The major use case is from random place A to frequent location B. Creating shortcuts on the dashboard to navigation has been the simplest solution, pretty much what you're doing here. Hold down on dashboard, create shortcut to location.

I like the grid layout, maybe additional places could be saved by having 'pages' of locations?

I have your iPhone app. It is pretty cool. Thanks!

good man

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