[kp11364]

Hi- I'm about to download the Villages GPS app, and I had heard that there was a "free" version and a "paid" version. I only see the "paid" version in the google play store. Was the free version discontinued?

Reason I ask was that it seemed folks felt the free version had better stability and features (for $6.99 for the paid version, I'm not complaining - just wondering).

Thanks in advance

[dewilson58]

Download The Villages app, not the GPS app.
The Villages app has directions in it.

Download The Villages(R) App Today

[Villages GPS]

Originally Posted by kp11364

Hi- I'm about to download the Villages GPS app, and I had heard that there was a "free" version and a "paid" version. I only see the "paid" version in the google play store. Was the free version discontinued?

Reason I ask was that it seemed folks felt the free version had better stability and features (for $6.99 for the paid version, I'm not complaining - just wondering).

Thanks in advance

Hi and Thank you for contacting us.

Just so you know, we are Villagers that own this app and put 95% of the profits back into the app with all of the constant updates, new categories etc. We only advertise here on Talk of The Villages.

We started the app back in 2013 because there was only a paper app back then and we were constantly lost lol.

Six months ago we redesigned the whole app from scratch with all new code so it is very stable.

There are a lot of reasons we think you would like our app over "The Developers" app.

We listen to every single feedback and reply to every single email within 12 hours at the max. We have voice navigation and everything is there for you in the categories.

Originally we just wanted to help users get from A to B without holding on to the paper map while driving. After all these years, it just snowballed with our loyal users and the constant updates that we have kept it going.

So we are still at it and trying our best to keep up with the new and latest projects.

We think for the price of a Quarter Pounder with Cheese Meal...it isn't a bad deal :-)

[Papa_lecki]

Except the paid app ETA is off by about 50%.

[JRP2TV]

I just downloaded the $6.99 version. Hope it better than free.

[CoachKandSportsguy]

Originally Posted by Papa_lecki

Except the paid app ETA is off by about 50%.

The speed used in the ETA calculation is significantly lower than actual speed realized, meaning that the ETA becomes more accurate as you get closer.

We learned not to rely on the initial ETA.

I asked someone here if I could golf with them , and he said 7 AM at Havana and we are in Marsh Bend. Per the app, that meant a 4 AM wakeup for me, and i thought that was a tad early for a round of golf

[SIRE1]

Originally Posted by kp11364

Hi- I'm about to download the Villages GPS app, and I had heard that there was a "free" version and a "paid" version. I only see the "paid" version in the google play store. Was the free version discontinued?

Reason I ask was that it seemed folks felt the free version had better stability and features (for $6.99 for the paid version, I'm not complaining - just wondering).

Thanks in advance

To answer your question, go to the Google Play Store and search for "The Villages App". That will get you to the Free app. And if you look at the functions it contains, you will see that it has a link to destinations, which can display golf cart directions. It also has a link to houses, schedules for activities & entertainment, live cam feeds from the 3 town squares, a link to the live broadcast of the radio station, and a link to the Daily Sun newspaper. So not only do you get GPS directions within The Villages, but you get a lot lot lot more. And, did I mention, it is FREE !!!!!!

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Regarding the paid Villages GPS eta: it updates the ETA "live" depending on traffic situations, and your actual MPH, stops you make (red lights always add 5 minutes, ugh). It seems to start out with a "long" estimate assuming 1 under the posted speed limit, since golf carts aren't supposed to be capable of going 20mph; only 19.8mph.

And then as you go along, it recalculates based on what's going on at the time (you're driving 22.1 mph, or you're enjoying the scenery and only going 17mph, or you're speeding up because the carts behind you are being pests, or there are flooding conditions on the MMP and you have to slow down significantly in spots).

When you're dealing with a trip that takes less than an hour, it means you're dealing with individual minutes. So a minute faster here, 5 minutes slower there, can mean a trip that won't likely take exactly as originally estimated.