Anyone got an iPhone navigation app? Comments?

Hey,

So as to not completely hijack yet another thread (!) I figured it was time to start anew....

I've read some of the reviews, and from what I've seen Navigon seems to get the best comments, and they've just released real time traffic apparently - Should be very cool, but it's $90 so I'd like to hear from anyone else who's made the plunge....

Thanks in advance,
Ian

 

Hmmmm - Thanks for the link.

Looks pretty interesting, if not quite there yet - Needs a jailbroken phone, and I while I did that on my original phone I really don't want to go there again - It got to be a PITA IMHO.

It does look like they're "close" to releasing a commercial version (thru' the app store) though - But, do I want to wait and be in on release 1.0 at a price comparable to Navigon?

Incidentally, Google just announced the release of their beta for Google Navigation - Only available for android phones right now, but how long before it's available on the iPhone I wonder?

Of course, they're relying on the "cloud", so if you lose connectivity you're screwed, but there is something to be said for navigating via streetview......

More info and a pretty cool demo video is here:

http://www.google.com/mobile/navigation/index.html#utm_campaign=en&utm_source=gh0smm&utm_medium=ha&utm_term=google%20navigation&dc=gh0smm

Cheers,
Ian

 

Thanks, I also found that one - But, it's getting hammered by the reviews - Navigon is getting far and away the best reviews of the bunch over here at least - I guess i'll speculate the $90 and report back.....

Cheers,
Ian

 

Well, in fairness it does include Google maps and streetview. and you can ask it for directions - Works well, but the drawback is the need for a connection to the cloud.

I suspect you could be right on Apple doing their own thing and/or Google nav being released on the iPhone - Question is, when? As I said in the OP, I'm getting to really miss a nav system in the F-car - I want it now!.....

The apps I'm looking at OTOH are always going to cost as the developers license the maps to be downloaded so you don't need connectivity to the cloud for 'em to work - They're getting to be very comparable to the standalone units, so I at least am prepared to pay *if* they work as well as the dedicated units. I'm about to find out.....

Cheers,
Ian

 

Not AFAIK.

And, I reckon that without serious programming, all such an app could do would be read-out the directions from the list it generates when you ask it to generate directions - Google Maps (both on the 'puter and the iPhone) is great for "route planning", but it's not a real-time nav system.....

Hopefully, they'll port Google Nav to the iPhone "soon" as that looks really nice, with the already stated exception of needing the cloud.

Anyway, I downloaded Navigon this afternoon - It downloaded and installed perfectly but all I've done so far is take it for a walk - Looks really "promising" thus far - Gotta get a mount for it now but there are reports that many of these things interfere with the GPS receiver - Research continues.....

Cheers,
Ian

 

Based on a *very* short test: +1

Interesting comment - My first system (in a 2002 Audi) had what I guess is a similar "text based", small screen, B&W display... But, I *loved* that system - Once I got used to it, it "just worked".

The current Audi (2005) has a big color display, and cool graphics - But do I navigate "better"? I dunno.....

And it takes a while to sync after initial download - But, it includes every street in the US, Canada, Puerto Rico and the USVI [At least that's what it claims ] - The POI selection is also outrageous - for example, it lists fast food joints by name - A friggin Carls Jr logo "floated (accurately) by" on my way home..... Or, I can search by "ethnicity" - It even lists "British" food as a possible! WTF! [I didn't check where the closest British food was available however....]

I tried the AT&T store - "sorry, we don't carry car mounts"..... Radio Shack had a $20 thing that hooks onto the air vents - Tried it in the Audi, and it seemed OK.

"Reeception issues" have dominated my research into this thing - It seems the majority of posts are (as usual?) from disgruntled buyers - and at $90, I can see that - It seems it either works beautifully or never even gets a "lock" - Whereas Google maps can always find itself - Same GPS system, but Google also triangulates from cell towers - Maybe that helps?

Anyway, "so far so good" - I'm gonna put it in the F-car next and go for a drive - Will report back.

Cheers,
Ian

 

Something of an update - I downloaded their ($20 option) for real time traffic - Only available in the US at present and it looks friggin *awesome*! The closest "problem" area to me earlier was a concert exiting from San Jose arena - Very true, I know it well from Sharks games btw.....

Other problem areas were confirmed by checking at traffic.com. Very, very cool so far....

I also poked deeper into the menus - Which had updated with new options to automatically (versus "off" or "on request") consider my newfound traffic data and the like.

Cons? - There is basically no documentation - Doesn't bother me too much as I learn by poking buttons but if you want a manual, you're SOL. [It really is intuitive though IMHO] It's going to need power when mounted in the car for any time as it does seem to like a battery!

I haven't had any reception problems - YMMV of course.

No affiliation btw! Just a happy user - So far anyway.....

One other comment - By default, when the app is running it sends (anonymous) location & speed data back to their servers in order to update the real time traffic info - My initial thought was to disable it (easy to do from the menus), but then thought "why not send it?"..... Comments?

Cheers,
Ian