Wikihood app review: a clever mix of Wikipedia and maps
Introduction
It doesn’t happen often when you see and read about an app, and just shrug, thinking this is yet one of those boring "around me" apps that tells you where the closest gas station is, or which restaurant is the closest from where you are now. I was pleasantly surprised while giving Wikihood by Holzl und Gillmeier Wikhood GbR a chance, as in the App Store you never know where true quality lies.
Wikihood simply ties information from Wikipedia into a map, allowing you to simply search around you for information, or look up anything on a map. I wish I was the one to come up with this idea, as it’s a great way to explore the area around you, or just get to know more about the world!
How Does the App Work?
The app gives you three options. The obvious first one is to let the app simply determine your location and find all the Wikipedia entries that are relevant for your area. This can be towns, but also historical figures, or simply monuments and beaches. The second option is to search. Simply put your search query into the text bar and the app will find Wikipedia entries based upon the area you searched for. The last option is to search on the map. Here you control a crosshair and you will point at where you want the app to search. This can be great to find out new things about certain areas or simply read up on your own area.
Settings and Options
Funnily enough, this app supports two languages: English and German. You can select these languages in the settings menu on a wiki page. Here you can also set the distance unit, with a choice between miles and kilometers, and you can leave feedback, recommend the app or simply share the app via Facebook or Twitter. Another option here is have information showing on the map or not. What makes the app even better that in the time I have been using it, I haven’t seen one ad. This doesn’t happen often on a free app, making this app an absolute must-have.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Three different ways of searching
- Your map linked to Wikipedia
- Learn about your environment and the rest of the world
Cons
- This is a great app, so no cons
Conclusion
I love being surprised, and this has been the biggest surprise of the day. I can’t believe how misleading the app’s icon and App Store page are. Everyone remotely interested in anything to do with their environment should have this app, as you can learn so much about simply everything from bridges to cities and from stadiums to rivers. Photos from Wikipedia show up straight on the map, which is a very nice touch. Strangely enough, the app is only compatible for iPad, though I would think it would make a great iPhone app as well. The app is only just over 3 MB in size.
