ETA Review

Sometimes a GPS mapping app is overkill, especially if an individual already knows how to get somewhere but simply needs to know how long it will take to get there. ETA does a great job of providing the estimated time of arrival to destinations near and far. The beauty of the app is its simplicity and focus. This app isn’t trying to be all things to all people, and that’s good! It's a very straightforward app that is focused on doing one thing really well.

Starting up ETA prompts the user to begin saving locations. These locations can either be search results (an address, a landmark name, or latitude and longitude) or the current location, and the clean interface makes it a breeze to enter them into the app. Once the location (or multiple locations) are entered, the main screen displays a neat list displaying the location name and the time it will take to arrive there (the ETA).

ETA is great for out-of-town trips and getaways to new destinations, but its real beauty is seen in the everyday commuting one does back-and-forth around town from home to work and to all the other routinely-travelled places. After entering all of the “regular” locations one visits in a week, it’s very easy to glance at ETA to see how much time one has until arriving at the next stop. This takes all of the guesswork out of deciding when its time to leave the current location to get to the next destination, and it makes for pure OCD heaven as one goes through the daily routine and schedule.

The developers obviously put a lot of thought into the design of ETA. Simply swiping left-to-right on any of the locations changes the transit method from automobile to walking and updates the ETA accordingly. Tapping a location reveals the option of editing the location name or opening Apple’s Maps app to get specific directions. Swiping right-to-left allows that location to be deleted. The interface is simple, clean, and easy.

The biggest issue with ETA is the font size of the locations and estimated times of arrival on the main list. The font is just a bit too small to be comfortably seen if one’s phone is in a hands-free mount without removing the device and pulling it closer. This could certainly be fixed in a future revision by giving users a setting to choose between the standard font size and a larger font size.

In spite of the small text size issue, ETA is a surprisingly useful and well-designed app. It’s handy for a weekend trip, but it truly shines in the daily driving around town. Users who are always worried about being on time to the next stop should consider taking ETA for a drive.

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