Embark is pretty good but it doesn't solve the "what's the fastest way from this random location in SoHo to Port Authority" problem. I can tap on two stations and find the fastest way between them, but Google would tell me which option to take, of which there are a lot:<p>* Walk to W4th, A train (or C/E train) directly to Port Authority<p>* BDFM from Bway/Lafayette to W4th, A train<p>* BDFM from Bway/Lafayette to NQR at 34th, walk from 42nd.<p>* NR from Prince to 42nd<p>* 6 from Bleecker/Spring to Union Square, NQR to 42nd. This is a long and annoying transfer, which Google probably picked up on.<p>* 6/NR -> L -> ACE (probably not)<p>Since Embark's map is the stylized subway map, it doesn't really help with geographic locations.<p>There are other situations like this: should I take the J train at Bowery directly over the bridge and walk for a while on the other side, or should I walk to the 6 and take the L train under the river, getting off much closer to my destination? The estimated walking time factors into this - if there's a J train about to arrive and I'll narrowly miss the 6, the answer is obvious. If I'm going to have to wait for both, my time is better spent walking to a train that will get me closer to my destination.
So what is the business model here? Just introduce ads at some later point? I see they have plenty of investors and it looks like a great service. I just hate not knowing how people plan to make money off of me.
Are there any thoughts for including bike routes or that ilk?<p>I live in the east bay (Berkeley, CA), and when I go to San Francisco, I often want to see what it might be to take BART + finish on a bike. This is opposed to finding a place to park. Just knowing what "bike routes" or bike lanes near to my stations is usually helpful.<p>This is also because BART + bike is usually a nice time vesus BART + Muni.
Not quite relevant to the article, but the Android version of the app (NYC one, at least) crashes on opening around 50% of the time for me. Although the resulting error message is laugh-worthy[1], it's still kind of annoying.<p>[1] <a href="http://instagr.am/p/P5m0mQNWSq/" rel="nofollow">http://instagr.am/p/P5m0mQNWSq/</a>
In their desire to shed themselves of Google, Apple has opened a window of opportunity for 3rd parties to enhance their own maps' utility. History suggests, however, that this window will be small, and I expect in the long term, the best bet for the 3rd party apps is to be acquired by Apple.
I have been using iBart for some time - I didnt realize it was by Embark until today.<p>I LOVE the app. It is beautiful, useful and just a great app.<p>I have one feature request: "LEAVE NOW" notifications.<p>I would like to setup trips with a desired arrival time, and would like an alert telling me to "leave now" to make that trip, or a "leaving now will result in an arrival time of [X]" button that will tell me when i would arrive should i leave at that time.<p>There are a range of features I could add to this - but the base app is great...<p>For example, I like to leave my house around 8am