You are hereAAA TripTik Mobile - Review
AAA TripTik Mobile - Review
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By: American Automobile Association
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AAA TripTik Mobile provides latest gas prices, maps, directions, and AAA Approved and Diamond Rated hotel details and bookings. Route to an address, or find and get directions to nearby restaurants, events or attractions. A shake of your iPhone redraws the route from your current location if you get diverted, and also provides voice guidance for your next maneuver. The app identifies your location if you need Roadside Assistance from AAA. |
TripTik is AAA's entry into the navigation / GPS app market.
In terms of routing it's pretty straight forward. You enter your starting point (which can be either your current location or an address) and an ending point. TripTik then find the path to your destination. Generating your path is accurate and fast.
As you start your trip, the complete directions are announced. While traveling along the path, your current location, as you'd expect, is updated. When it comes time to turn, however, TripTik doesn't announce that a turn is approaching. Likewise, after you make the turn, TripTik doesn't announce the distance until the next turn. To make it announce the rest of the trip you must push the copilot button or shake the phone.
While testing the app, there were several times when my location would suddenly move to a different road only to return to the correct location in the next second. I think this may have been due to poor GPS accuracy in the phone, but it may prove to be an issue if you are in an unfamiliar area.
Besides not having turn by turn announcements, TripTik is missing other features found in most stand alone GPS devices. Things like detour mapping, or choosing if you want to use highways, non-highways, or both.
Exploring the maps works as you'd expect--swiping, pinching, etc are app supported and update quickly.
TripTik has quite a large database of points of interest--gas stations, restaurants, hotels, etc. Which could be very handy especially if you are in an unfamiliar place.
For free, TripTik is good replacement for the maps app built into the phone, but it's lacking many features built into my old GPS, so i think i'll keep that one around a bit longer.
Quick Take
Value: Medium
Would I Buy Again: I might be it again--it's handy to have but not really ready for 'every day' use.
Learning Curve: Low; although getting used to shaking the phone to get updated directions took som time.
Who Is It For: People that need a GPS in a pinch (ex: traveling)
What I Like: It works well and is responsive
What I Don't: No turn-by-turn directions, missing features that my (older) standalone GPS has
Final Statement: This app is better than the built in 'map' program on the iPhone, but not THAT much better (unless you like Points of Interest databases as well). Missing Turn by Turn announcements really hurts this app.
