Nearby Explorer
$9.99
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About Nearby Explorer
Nearby Explorer is a full featured GPS app designed for use by people who are blind. Instead of just providing directions, it describes the environment in ways comparable to reading signage or observing road characteristics.
It uses onboard maps, so a data connection is not required, but if you have one, Nearby Explorer supplements the on board map data with crowd collected locations from Google Places.
It includes complete maps for the United States and Canada which contain millions of points of interest. The onboard maps are over 4GB in size, so be sure the device you plan to use has enough available space before purchasing. For a free version which includes less features and does not include onboard maps, see Nearby Explorer Online.
Nearby Explorer works by letting you select from several different location related options about what to announce as you move. These include both typical items like street name and address and specialized options like approaching streets, intersection configurations, and nearby places and the distance and direction to them. (All announcements are optional.) All of this information is shown on the main screen and is available at any time, but typical use is to adjust the level of announcements, then lock the screen and put the device away. This keeps both hands free and let's your preferred voice speak the characteristics of the environment as you move.
The program enhances its onboard data with data from Google Places if you have a mobile network connection. You may also create favorites, name them, and share them back to the Google Places service so others can benefit from the places you mark and identify.
You may also use the devices position and orientation to obtain additional targeted details such as pointing the end of the device to scan for businesses, even in a moving vehicle, or holding it vertically to function as a compass, including a list of streets in the indicated direction. This all works with the device locked, so one need not fuss with the touch screen while moving. You may even mark a point, then use the position of the device to get haptic feedback about that point's location.
Nearby Explorer includes a transit feature that provides detailed mass transit schedules for over 60 metropolitan areas in the U. S. and Canada. It treats transit stops just like favorites and points of interest by announcing their name and relative position as you move, but in addition, transit stops add next vehicle stop time, direction of travel, and route name to the announcements. You can use the transit schedules to look up times or even follow a route.
You may virtually move to any area in the U.S. or Canada and explore the road network, search, or use the transit maps for that area.
For complete details about Nearby Explorer, see http://tech.aph.org/ne_info.htm
It uses onboard maps, so a data connection is not required, but if you have one, Nearby Explorer supplements the on board map data with crowd collected locations from Google Places.
It includes complete maps for the United States and Canada which contain millions of points of interest. The onboard maps are over 4GB in size, so be sure the device you plan to use has enough available space before purchasing. For a free version which includes less features and does not include onboard maps, see Nearby Explorer Online.
Nearby Explorer works by letting you select from several different location related options about what to announce as you move. These include both typical items like street name and address and specialized options like approaching streets, intersection configurations, and nearby places and the distance and direction to them. (All announcements are optional.) All of this information is shown on the main screen and is available at any time, but typical use is to adjust the level of announcements, then lock the screen and put the device away. This keeps both hands free and let's your preferred voice speak the characteristics of the environment as you move.
The program enhances its onboard data with data from Google Places if you have a mobile network connection. You may also create favorites, name them, and share them back to the Google Places service so others can benefit from the places you mark and identify.
You may also use the devices position and orientation to obtain additional targeted details such as pointing the end of the device to scan for businesses, even in a moving vehicle, or holding it vertically to function as a compass, including a list of streets in the indicated direction. This all works with the device locked, so one need not fuss with the touch screen while moving. You may even mark a point, then use the position of the device to get haptic feedback about that point's location.
Nearby Explorer includes a transit feature that provides detailed mass transit schedules for over 60 metropolitan areas in the U. S. and Canada. It treats transit stops just like favorites and points of interest by announcing their name and relative position as you move, but in addition, transit stops add next vehicle stop time, direction of travel, and route name to the announcements. You can use the transit schedules to look up times or even follow a route.
You may virtually move to any area in the U.S. or Canada and explore the road network, search, or use the transit maps for that area.
For complete details about Nearby Explorer, see http://tech.aph.org/ne_info.htm
All Application Badges
Paid
app
app
Android
4.0+
4.0+
Bug
buster
buster
Android app
App History & Updates
What's Changed
Fixes an issue where the app could not be installed on the BrailleNote Touch
Fixes an issue where the app could not be installed on the BrailleNote Touch
Version update Nearby Explorer was updated to version 2.4.1
Price update Price changed from $9.99 to $67.94.
Price update Price changed from $9.99 to $75.49.
Price update Price changed from $9.99 to $89.86.
What are users saying about Nearby Explorer
T
by T####:
by T####:
This application is beautiful, simple, and powerful. Great price for what you get. As an AT Specialist I will start recommending this app to my clients who are android users. One thing that is lacking at the moment is international support. My U.K. friends, and South African colleagues need the opportunity to access this app. Keep up the great work!!!
F
by F####:
by F####:
i will recommend this application. Its one of the best. it can do more then any other GPS navigation application developed specifically for the blind. Just one of the best and nothing can beat it hands down. now hoping that the application will get even better with more innovative features for the future.
C
by C####:
by C####:
I really love this app. I would not buy any other GPS app for this Android system.
Q
by Q####:
by Q####:
I've tried every gps device and app for the blind over the years... and this 1 knocks all their socks off!
C
by C####:
by C####:
This application is beautiful, simple, and powerful. Great price for what you get. As an AT Specialist I will start recommending this app to my clients who are android users. One thing that is lacking at the moment is international support. My U.K. friends, and South African colleagues need the opportunity to access this app. Keep up the great work!!!
M
by M####:
by M####:
I really love this app. I would not buy any other GPS app for this Android system.
H
by H####:
by H####:
I've tried every gps device and app for the blind over the years... and this 1 knocks all their socks off!
M
by M####:
by M####:
This application is beautiful, simple, and powerful. Great price for what you get. As an AT Specialist I will start recommending this app to my clients who are android users. One thing that is lacking at the moment is international support. My U.K. friends, and South African colleagues need the opportunity to access this app. Keep up the great work!!!
Y
by Y####:
by Y####:
Nearby Explorer Finally, an accessible GPS with a purchase price point within reach of those who purchase their own access products. This app is easily customizable to provide you with the information you need as you travel. Well worth the money!
X
by X####:
by X####:
Fantastic!!!!!! Now let's spread the love. This application is beautiful, simple, and powerful. Great price for what you get. As an AT Specialist I will start recommending this app to my clients who are android users. One thing that is lacking at the moment is international support. My U.K. friends, and South African colleagues need the opportunity to access this app. Keep up the great work!!!
by T####:
Until the most recent update, this was the very best application for blind users. Unfortunately, the last update broke a couple of my favorite features. The most useful to me was the heading value which provided the direction you are walking with announcements when you changed directions. Now, it gives, at most one value and then quits updating. With the heading feature broken, this app is no longer of much use to me as much of the time I'm walking off road. Of lessor value was the number of GPS sattelites it was using. This feature no longer updates at all. My phone: Verizon Wireless Motorola XT1254