Abandoned App:
This is a helpful tool that I’ve used when in an unfamiliar area with some time to kill, but it needs some improvement in areas.
The issues:
1. Inaccuracies. As far as I can tell, AbandonedWorld looks for keywords with GPS data and adds them to the map. The result is a LOT of inaccurate or irrelevant information that you have to sort through.
2. No ability to comment (more of a suggestion than a complaint) or edit locations. I think this ability would help a lot so that other people can correct some of the errors that are posted.
3. AbandonedWorld would be far more useful and save a lot of time if the map included an option to view in satellite view. As it is currently, to view in aerial/satellite (like to see if the place is even still there), you have to exit AbandonedWorld to do so. This is a huge pain.
I would suggest either more (human) curation of the locations and/or allowing the users to interact in more useful ways with the locations that are posted.
As it stands, perhaps 30-50% of the posted locations seem accurate or interesting enough in reality to be worth looking into further. But, hey! That’s something at least.
Despite the above issues, I would say it’s worth a download if you’re new to exploring or a stranger in a new land. This is one of only two apps that I’m aware of that cater to this niche.
Last but not least...
The new pop-up ads are intrusive and need to go! There is no feature in an app that will make me delete it faster off of my device than pop-up ads that keep unexpectedly popping up and forcing me onto their site.
Nope!
Cheers,
DA
*UPDATE: The devs did actually include an edit (after review period) option for specific locations it looks like, so hopefully that’ll help with some of the issues listed above!*