Beyond Cam Review

There's a neat concept within Beyond Cam, but it's clouded by a somewhat clunky and outdated interface.

The idea behind Beyond Cam is that it enables users to see far ahead of what's in front of them through the use of satellite mapping and GPS. At its simplest it's a graphical compass, helping one identify what direction they're facing as well as how it relates to them; but it's a bit fancier than that.

With the screen divided up into two images - one of the map of the area and the other highlighting, through the camera, what's in front of the user - Beyond Cam is clear to understand. Through a slider users can zoom in or out on the map, getting a better picture of what's ahead. It's not like Google's Streetview technology (it sticks to a map view), but it does help one visualize what's going on. Range can be adjusted through the tap of a button; adjusting what can be seen ahead and covering quite a significant area.

It's possible to set up three colored pins through co-ordinates or by tapping on the map, further adding to the sense of perspective. It is a little awkward at times though, and not quite as immediately clear as one would like.

That's perhaps the main issue with Beyond Cam. It's a neat idea but one that's not very attractively designed. There's a tutorial of sorts hidden away but none of the buttons are particularly insightful in terms of offering guidance or intuitiveness. It reminds me of apps of a few years ago rather than now; jarring awkwardly with the iOS 7 visuals we've come to expect.

Given there are other apps already out there offering quite similar services, it's tricky to see just what Beyond Cam offers that makes it stand out from the crowd. It's functional but lacking the all-important 'wow' factor.