Gabriel Conlon
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BetterMaps app icon, a brass-rimmed compass rose with a red and navy needle on a pale blue background.

BetterMaps

Layered maps where places with several tags show together, like a Venn diagram, plus transit across Ireland.

Status
Beta
Availability
Public TestFlight beta
Requires
iOS 17, macOS 14

So my idea was to make an app that let me save and tag places on multiple layers, then have a kind of "Venn diagram" way to view layers, where it could be all must match, or any from any shown. Adding things like toggleable walking routes that are favorites means you get the priority to go a minute or two out of your way if it's a quiet road you like or has your favorite coffee shop, without needing to build some complex multi-stop route.

Screenshots

iPad

  • BetterMaps on iPad, with the layers panel open over the Dublin map, Match Any on and 14 places matching.

iPhone

  • BetterMaps layers panel over a map of Dublin, with Food and Coffee tags selected, Match Any on and 14 places matching.
  • BetterMaps layers panel with Match All on, narrowing the map to the 4 places tagged both Food and Coffee.
  • BetterMaps place sheet for Hearth & Honey, with Food, Coffee and Favourites tag chips on and a note.
  • BetterMaps map of central Dublin with every transit network on, tagged places and walking trails.
  • BetterMaps sheet for the St. Stephen's Green Luas stop, with live inbound and outbound arrival times.
Where did it come from?

Coming from a background in the military, I learned to use maps with toggling layers: one for friendly forces, one for terrain, one for every phase of the operation, and so on. What I loved was being able to place multiple layers together and see where things crossed. It's really bad when you plan a route that goes into a swamp.

How do you use it?

One of my favorite ways to use tags is to layer restaurants with time of day and type. So you can have brunch + favorites or restaurants + favorites and get different sets that fit your mood. I have layers for points of interest, like a church tower or chimney I recognize, and walking routes down canals I like to walk, with a backstop so I know to turn left without pulling my phone back out.

What has it changed?

It's forced me (by choice) to get away from relying on turn-by-turn directions. I'm getting back in the habit of looking at where I'm going and remembering the four to six simple steps to get there. And if I get lost, it's not stressful. It becomes an adventure, because I know my city and neighborhood better.

Why the transit data?

It was very important to me that the map had the real data from Transport for Ireland, so I could do things like prioritize trams even if it meant a longer walk. I generally don't like buses, as I get motion sick.

Will it go beyond you?

I built it for myself and my wife. As friends started seeing it, they were so impressed that they started asking how to get it. Now I'm working through a public beta and getting ready to go live on the App Store.

  • BetterMaps layers panel with Match All on, narrowing the map to the 4 places tagged both Food and Coffee.
  • BetterMaps place sheet for Hearth & Honey, with Food, Coffee and Favourites tag chips on and a note.
  • BetterMaps map of central Dublin with every transit network on, tagged places and walking trails.
  • BetterMaps sheet for the St. Stephen's Green Luas stop, with live inbound and outbound arrival times.
  • BetterMaps in landscape, showing Landmarks and Favourites places with the Walks trails over the Dublin map.
  • BetterMaps on iPad, with the layers panel open over the Dublin map, Match Any on and 14 places matching.

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