what3words: Navigation & Maps Reviews

by ToborThe8Man

Seriously, how hard can it be to make this app run in Landscape mode? This is coding 101 stuff, but apparently not for what3words. A Map app that doesn’t rotate is not a map app at all.

I have a 12.9” iPad Pro with attached keyboard that I normally use in Landscape mode. Since what3words only runs in Portrait mode, I either have to use it sideways with my head tilted 90% left (causing great pain), or unplug my keyboard, physically rotate the screen to Portrait mode, and replug/re-rotate when done, no thanks! If it ran in Landscape mode would be a great app, really - how hard can that be???

Please recognize that some of us run apps in Landscape mode, as what3words is truly painful for iPad with keyboard

by Jrf1286

I was excited to learn about what3words and tried it out on my home address, but was presented with something like graph paper where I could see the street names, but the houses were so unclearly marked that I didn’t know what “square” to click on. Click on one of the thousands of squares of the graph “paper”? This, in spite of having allowed what3words to access my location. If this were the wilderness and I was lost, I suppose the 3 words might get rescuers to within a reasonable distance to find me, but this first experience leaves me utterly unimpressed. One star because “no star” is not permitted.

by Baseballbum

what3words has great potential to get to a much more accurate location than normal GPS, but it has a couple of shortcomings that need to be addressed. First, if you decide to save more than a few locations you will have a hard time finding the one you want since there isn’t any way to sort them. They are just listed in the order you saved them. Until app makers like Apple add 3words to their contact app this is a problem. 3words could at least list them in alphabetical order using the name you set for the location. Second, the voice recognition is useless. I set 3 words to US English and it never locates the correct address. It always finds addresses that aren’t even in the US and the street numbers and names aren’t even close to what I am saying. One other small thing is when I copy an address from Contacts that includes an apartment number or suite number, 3words isn’t smart enough to parse out the apt or suite info so it can’t find the address. I have to edit it out myself manually. Since voice recognition doesn’t work, what3words is kind of useless if you are in a hurry. It will also be much more useful if Apple and others add support to recognize the /// as a link so you don’t have to copy and paste the location.

by Gap Spanner

The concept sounds interesting, but I’m not sure how this is more useful than other apps already on your phone.

You open what3words and are presented with three words that identify where you’re standing. You then send or otherwise communicate those words to someone else who enters them into their copy of what3words , ‘pointing’ to where you are on a map. In order to get someone to you though, the lat/lon coordinates or address needs to be sent to another mapping app for navigation directions.

Consider that I Can tap-hold on the included map with my phone, then hit the ‘share’ icon and text, email, etc the precise location - which can then be tapped by the recipient to show my precise location on a map and/or satellite image, with navigation options. Seems faster to me.

W3W seems like a linguistic way to point to a spot on a map - but with modern smart phones, which are needed for what3words anyway, you can point to that spot with your finger so … why?

by Reitveld

This is a very good idea and concept. what3words though needs some improvements:
1) A way to actually copy the three words without all the extra text copied with it. Maybe this is in the settings maybe this is a separate ‘copy’ selection.
2) A way to pronounce the three words. Yes there’s a microphone to listen for input but there is no output.
3) selecting neighboring squares around your Geo location is very clunky. what3words should have accessed all of the neighboring square data. It should be much quicker than it is.
4) when absolute precision is not necessary, it would be great to have a list of the three words surrounding you. That way it would be easy to find an easy, pronounceable, & fun three word combination. This would be useful for finding a word selection for your house or business when it is acceptable to be off a little bit.

by Raj 'em

The concept of what3words is fantastic! Every 9 square meter area of the planet has a unique three word combination. Very useful to find precise locations, EXCEPT.... it can never quite find me. It’s the only map-related app I’ve used that keeps bouncing around to try and find me. I don’t know why this problem exists. Until it’s fixed, I have to find my desired location on the map myself and choose it. I can’t rely on what3words to do it. So until then, three stars.

by Iowa_don

I love the idea of what3words and they have done well implementing it. HOWEVER, it is useless without cellular data (which I suspect is the case in many, if not most, areas that do not have street addresses). I tried using what3words in several national parks ( which have spotty or no cell service) over the last couple of weeks. what3words ‘works’, giving a 3 word address based on the GPS but there is no map. It sorely needs downloadable maps similar to the way the HERE WeGo app works.

by Jimmy Thimble

Have you ever looked at a real estate listing, especially for rural land, to find the address vague? No matter how hard you try, you can’t find the property using an online map. How great would it be if realtors used what3words to locate the entrance to the property so precisely! I have recommended what3words to so many people for so many reasons, not the least, 911 call centers! Download it today! You will not be disappointed.

by CMac-0416

what3words is wonderful. I wish more first responders and the public alike would use it. I have found it useful for locating lost items, specific addresses, and I use it as a password creator. It is fun to put in 3 random words and see where it takes you.

I highly recommend it for anyone looking for an adventure and to step “outside your box” and into a 3x3 meter box. AWESOME!!!

by Lemon AIDs

There are so many possibilities for what could be done with what3words. What if you could connect it to social media and publicly share locations. Or you could look at the map and turn a filter on to view popular saved locations that are represented by different colors based on how many people have saved them. You could learn the popular places at a state park and go there without having to do tons of research! Keep adding on to this, you’ve got something good here.

by Zabu01

I like the idea and can imagine so many uses for this mapping approach. I like being able to save the locations. I would like to change the order of my saved locations. So far I cannot see how to change the order of saved locations. It appears to be sorted based on the last location saved is top of the list.

Great idea with vast potential, great job!

by Wizzzzit

An immensely important app that everyone should download. This has the capability of being another “disruptive,” game-changing technology. This simplifies a desired address to a 3x3 meter square. This could improve navigation for regular commuting, ride sharing, delivery services, search and rescue.... The possibilities are endless.

My only recommendation to the developers would be to allow what3words to access your Contacts List to search those addresses for their 3 words. Otherwise, wonderful work! Kudos!

by K. M. Peterson

Thing is: this is such a great idea. Extremely well thought out, in spite of some comments of people who don’t get it.
But I hope this can gradually gather steam (you really need some publicity!), as the most serious problem is that people who tend to understand *why* this is a good idea don’t need it as much as those who don’t know how hard it is to locate a place and communicate that accurately. As more and more people use it, however, hopefully the network effect will amplify its relevance.
My brother drives for Lyft, and really wishes they used it.

by Agia57

I saw what3words demonstrated on CBS News and found it to be the perfect thing for finding folks who wander around when on outings (or for those who are “directionally challenged”). The senior citizen that I am, I’ve always been great with locations and directions, but my comrades - not so much. Now to get them onboard and have them load what3words!

by Savy Gran

Google maps’ location pins and Siri Directions often don’t know exactly where a driveway entrance is located. Both have been off by 1/10 of a mile or more. It’s not a simple task to turn a tour bus around on a narrow country road, so 3 Words may just prove to be invaluable in my line of work.

by Journeys End

A great app to install on your phone. It will locate you within 10 feet. If your phone is on and you were in an accident, it can be used to find you. Also, you can use it with “find my iPhone“ or “find my iPad“ if you have lost it someplace. Easy to use. Highly recommended.

by Wicked Scotsman

Seriously, go download it already, tell the family and friend to do it too. This is going to change how we deal with the world forever. AND ITS FUN, the word combos can just sound plain silly, I just go on sometimes and click the squares around where I am and always get a good laugh or 2. NONE of the words are profanity or inappropriate, just common everyday words in a sometimes funny 3word combination. IT ONLY WORKS if we all use it and will be the location pinpoint overhaul the delivery industry has needed since GPS&CPUs changed everything. Why are you still reading, go tell it on the mountain!!!

by Dmatern

A year or two ago I was in Costa Rica looking for an Airbnb I had booked in a super sketchy neighborhood. Everyone had tall gates and walls around their houses. The directions had an address and “ we are the house with a pink door and a tall flag pole. I drove around that super sketch neighborhood for almost an hour before saying screw this and going to a hotel. What 3 words could have saved me $$ and a lot of headache I love the concept.

by John B 263

A 911 dispatcher manager suggested that “What 3 Words” was a very useful app to install because if you need help you can provide most 911 services the three words of your location and 911 can locate you. what3words interacts with Google maps which also makes it a very useful tool to have.

by Sailvic

what3words and technology are too cool and too important to not know about. I went on a new hike today and it was not in an area easy to give directions.. I arrived first and shared my three words with friends. They found me easily. Also have used it when I park my car in an unfamiliar location. Going bike riding , I send my husband the exact spot to bring a picnic when he is traveling by car. I love what3words.

by Medi8tor

Marketing convinced me. Apple downloaded for me. Tried to sign up with email account. Took all the steps. Tried to input a country other than the first in the alohabet-Albania- but could not see the country names. Page where they should appear was just white. I can hear the countries scrolling but there are no names appearing. I scrolled ahead several times to try to get to my country but gave up at Ireland. It is not a simple process to keep trying this way. I prefer not to create new accounts with Google sign in and do jot use Facebook at all. So I cannot create an account.

by 805756

Requires robust internet connection. No pattern to the words - is ‘robust,internet, connection’ nearby, or far away? Is it even valid? If you receive a 3 word location, and it isn’t valid, what’s the problem - spelling or a misunderstood word, or even 2 misunderstood words? Requires secondary app to get directions - not a show stopper, but a pain to switch.

A solution in search of a problem already solved better by LAT/LONG. Sure, you could say nobody knows their LAT/LONG off the top of their head, but you can find it on a paper map. 3 words needs an electronic device and a connection.

by Baseball1950

what3words has great potential to get to a much more accurate location than normal GPS, but it has a couple of shortcomings that need to be addressed. First, if you decide to save more than a few locations you will have a hard time finding the one you want since there isn’t any way to sort them. They are just listed in the order you saved them. Until app makers like Apple add 3words to their contact app this is a problem. 3words could at least list them in alphabetical order using the name you set for the location. Second, the voice recognition is useless. I set 3 words to US English and it never locates the correct address. It always finds addresses that aren’t even in the US and the street numbers and names aren’t even close to what I am saying. One other small thing is when I copy an address from Contacts that includes an apartment number or suite number, 3words isn’t smart enough to parse out the apt or suite info so it can’t find the address. I have to edit it out myself manually. Since voice recognition doesn’t work, what3words is kind of useless if you are in a hurry. It will also be much more useful if Apple and others add support to recognize the /// as a link so you don’t have to copy and paste the location.

by Me...2

Imagine being able to describe exactly where you are, anywhere you are, to emergency services by saying 3 words. For instance, if you’re in the middle of the woods, or in an unfamiliar place. It’s an amazingly simple and powerful tool. Every parent should have it, and every emergency service should integrate with it.