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New map provider - voice guidance accuracy improvements?
Guido - like many here we love the app but can you share any more info on the new map provider you have talked about? Will it be as reliable in voice directions as Apple/Google Maps?
I have to be honest and Scenic is great but having used it now for a week on various routes the voice prompts are just not reliable/accurate enough to use alone meaning you have to have the screen on and visible and accessible which means a lot of hassle with mounting positions, viewing angles, distractions, battery life etc.
I know many like a big screen or TFT or nav visible at all times - personally I hate them and all other distractions. I just want to see the road ahead and my speedo.
On virtually every journey it has tried to send me left when it meant right or vice versa, or given no guidance at critical points or too much unnecessary guidance (ie turn/keep/slight/bear - left/right) when it is just a simple corner or bend in the road.
From the testing I've done so far I can confirm that both these issues will be gone with the new map/routing provider.
I understand your point of view regarding the less distractions the better. But, might I offer a different kind of view. In my opinion and experience, there will ALWAYS be circumstances where voice alone is not enough and not being able to see the map can be a cause for confusion (and perhaps even móre distraction, frustration and reduces safety, compared to having a screen on the handlebars).
In situation with complicated junctions that you don't know (i.e. busy urban areas / cities / complicated highway junctions), even the voice instructions of main stream navigation apps like Waze or Google Maps are insufficient. I'm talking from experience in Mexico City, Amsterdam, Chicago and other bigger cities that I visited on motorcycle for the first time without having a mount on my handlebars. If you don't know the area you're in, and you're only listening to voice instruction without the visual backup to see the junction ahead, it happend to me more often than not, that I took the wrong turn or wrong exit, adding time, frustration and distraction to my trip. Of course on the country side this is rarely an issue... only in busy road network situations. You might argue that you can always stop before such a junction, but truth is that you can't always stop with busy traffic around. Then you just have to make a choice / flip a coin as to what direction to take.
I realise that the issues you mentioned are just ON TOP of that and should not happen (... that's one of the reasons why I'm switching to the new route provider.). I just wanted to offer you this point of view too. 🙂
Thanks for that Guido, great news.
And very fair point - I generally ride only for leisure in the countryside but yes, in the urban areas it is needed for sure. 🙂