Thanks to various atlas apps, you always have a world map at hand. We are looking in particular at The World HD, which is also very interesting for students who need a topographical and political world map. We also propose some alternatives to you.
The World HD is an iOS app that has been around for about 12 years. All this time, the premise has remained the same: a vector-based world map that you can zoom in on. Everything is kept offline, in a whole that is only about 170 MB in size (or small, if you will). So it also works without an internet connection.
Because we have known the app for so long, one of the ‘side effects’ is that the difference with devices made by him ten years ago and now can be clearly seen. In the past, it visibly took some time to build the map; now it is immediately visible.
World Factbook
By default, The World HD starts in topographical view. You can zoom in and out by spreading two fingers. If you want a more detailed map of a specific country, tap on such a country. A map then opens, laced with facts on the side. They come from the well-known World Factbook of the CIA. It is an (online) ‘book’ packed with details, facts and figures about all countries in the world. Ideal to browse when you go on holiday to a country you’ve never been to, for example.
In The World HD it is integrated. Usually the recent version or the one from a year before, which doesn’t really matter much for school use in most cases. For serious reference it is practical to take a look at the mentioned official pages of the World Factbook.
Tap the cross at the top right to return to the world map. Then tap the tab with > on the right. You can then choose from a topographic (the ‘mountain button’) and a political map (the ‘temple button’). This political representation is also ideal for learning the locations of countries, because all ‘unnecessary’ information is filtered out.
Every country just gets a color and that’s it. However, you can still tap on a country to open the specific country map, and you will see it in topographical views with cities and everything else.
The World HD contains no further fuss, it is purely a world map and a basic atlas. In most cases, more than enough for quick reference. The only downside that we can discover is that sometimes things go wrong with language-specific fonts. That’s because the creator of this app has opted for its own vector lettering, which apparently doesn’t include all ‘strange’ characters.
Alternative atlas apps
The major problem is that there are hardly any high-quality atlas apps for mobile use. What you might consider is Barefoot World Atlas (€4.99). But then you are immediately talking about a required storage space of 1 GB. Moreover, it is mainly aimed at children and less intended for (young) adults.
The same actually applies to World Wonders, although it does look very tempting. And that makes it good for all ages. However, the same drawback as for Barefoot World Atlas also applies here: it takes up almost 800 MB of storage space. And that can still grow by purchasing in-app theme cards. So something to think about beforehand.
Number fanatics can indulge in the app Geography of the World. This compact app contains a wealth of information. But that compactness has everything to do with the fact that data is collected online and online map material is used. No drama, but perhaps less useful for on the go. With in-app purchases totaling a few euros, you unlock all statistical data, data and quizzes.
The only downside is that everything is in English, but that shouldn’t spoil the fun for high school students and above. Furthermore, this app has also been running for over ten years and is kept up to date by its maker.
To cherish
The reason why ‘classic’ atlas apps are almost impossible to find these days (there were really nice ones not even very long ago) probably has everything to do with the freely available maps from Google and of course Google Earth. Yet this is never a substitute for a (preferably curated) atlas with serious and verified information. Hence, the above-mentioned apps remain highly recommended.
That’s right: on your smartphone in portable pocket size (we really don’t need that paper forest atlas anymore), or in generous hires quality on your tablet. Cherish the apps mentioned, they are true treasures.
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