If you are having problems with the Tubewalker Android application, I'll try to help. Please use the link below to leave me a private message containing as much information as possible, and I'll get back to you as soon as I can.
Contact Tubewalker Android support
You might also like to check out this list of Frequently Asked Questions, in case your issue is covered here.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What does the Tubewalker application cost?
- How many Tube lines are covered?
- Which versions of Android will Tubewalker run on?
- Does it need an internet connection? And how much data does it download from the Internet?
- Does it need a GPS-enabled device?
- Can I install Tubewalker on an SD card?
What does the Tubewalker application cost?
There are two versions of Tubewalker. The free version covers all of Zone 1 (88 tubewalks), while the full version covers the whole London Underground (a further 230 tubewalks). The full version currently costs £1.79 from Google Play.
How many Tube lines are covered?
The full version of Tubewalker covers the entire London Underground network, from Zone 1 out to Zone 9. The free version covers Zone 1 only, but it is fully functional. Note that the Docklands Light Railway and London Overground aren't part of London Underground, so they aren't included.
Which versions of Android will Tubewalker run on?
Tubewalker has been tested on Android 2.1 (Eclair), 2.2 (Froyo) and 2.3 (Gingerbread).
Does it need an internet connection? And how much data does it download from the Internet?
If you don't have an internet connection, then although the maps will work, the map tiles won't download, so they won't be much use for walking. Also, the photos in the Photos tab are loaded from tubewalker.com, so you won't be able to view these. Everything else will work properly without the internet.
More specifically, there are only two parts of the app that access the Internet – the Map tab, and the Photos tab – and although these tabs will work, they simply won't display things properly if you don't have an internet connection.
The maps in the Map tab use Google Maps, so just like the Maps app, Tubewalker loads map tiles from Google's servers and displays them, with the walking route and markers superimposed. If you zoom or scroll around, more tiles need to be loaded, but Tubewalker doesn't do anything that the normal Maps app doesn't also do. All the route data is built into the app, so planning routes doesn't need the Internet – indeed, if you don't have an internet connection, it all still works and the walking route will be shown, but the map tiles aren't displayed.
The Photos tab shows thumbnails of photos from the walk, and these are downloaded from the Internet, so you might want to avoid that part of the app if you're concerned about data charges (though an accidental tap won't cause a massive download, as the thumbnails are tiny and the app only loads the ones it needs to). Tapping on a thumbnail to view the large image also accesses the Internet, but if you simply stay out of the Photos tab, none of this will be an issue.
These two areas aside, Tubewalker doesn't talk to the Internet at all – all other data (routes, points of interest etc.) are built into the app. If you avoid the Photos tab, then the only data that Tubewalker needs to download will be the map tiles, which shouldn't be too large.
Does it need a GPS-enabled device?
No, it doesn't need a GPS-enabled device, though the 'Find nearest tubewalks' feature won't be terribly accurate if you don't have GPS, and your current location shown on the maps may be some way off. Devices without a built-in GPS can often use phone signal triangulation or your wi-fi connection to work out where you are, so these features should still work, they just might not be as good as with a GPS-enabled device.
Can I install Tubewalker on an SD card?
Yes you can, but only on Android 2.2 (Froyo) and later. When you download Tubewalker, your phone will install it into internal memory by default. If you want to move it to your SD card, you can do so via Settings > Applications > Manage applications, where the 'Move to SD card' does exactly what it says.