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eaglesteve2 · #1 (**permalink**) 30th June 2009, 05:47 PM

According to the following report, Australia map for Navigon (which is the most beautifully designed GPS software for iPhone at the moment) is "in the works".

Navigon release their Mobile Navigator app for the iPhone - GSMArena.com news

It has fantastic user interface, so I really look forward to it.

TomTom better be quick, or many potential customers would have already bought a competing product.

kevinnugent · #2 (**permalink**) 30th June 2009, 09:04 PM

Steve, what's the go with data on these things. Do they require any "over the air" connection? You can tell what I'm driving at (excuse the pun!) = are they going to cost a a bomb to use overseas? If you download the local map (say italy) will there be roaming data charges too?

Beau · #3 (**permalink**) 30th June 2009, 09:25 PM

This post was never here. Stupid enter key.

eaglesteve2 · #4 (**permalink**) 1st July 2009, 12:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kevinnugent

Steve, what's the go with data on these things. Do they require any "over the air" connection? You can tell what I'm driving at (excuse the pun!) = are they going to cost a a bomb to use overseas? If you download the local map (say italy) will there be roaming data charges too?

No it doesn't require Internet connection as all data are stored on the phone itself

Gruntled · #5 (**permalink**) 20th July 2009, 06:00 PM

Gizmodo is reporting that this is on iTunes now for free. 218 mb download though so I'll wait till I get home.

Also, it's free, but no turn by turn. Europe maps are about $169 with turn by turn

Gruntled

DazR6 · #6 (**permalink**) 20th July 2009, 06:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gruntled

Gizmodo is reporting that this is on iTunes now for free. 218 mb download though so I'll wait till I get home.

Also, it's free, but no turn by turn. Europe maps are about $169 with turn by turn

Gruntled

Downloading it now, the reviews are not good but I will give it a go and report back later what my thoughts are.

toholio · #7 (**permalink**) 21st July 2009, 08:15 AM

I've had a play with the demo. My initial reaction is: this demo is shit.

They needed to make the demo run a longer simulated route. You usually only get to see a single turn before you reach your destination. How are you supposed to come to a decent conclusion based on that?

The app itself is acceptable. The maps look ok, the speed is fine (in 2D mode anyway, someone else can test the awful faux 3D) and the UI is usable.

I'm still hanging out for TomTom but this is looking much better in my eyes.

motef · #8 (**permalink**) 21st July 2009, 10:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by toholio

I've had a play with the demo. My initial reaction is: this demo is shit.

They needed to make the demo run a longer simulated route. You usually only get to see a single turn before you reach your destination. How are you supposed to come to a decent conclusion based on that?

The app itself is acceptable. The maps look ok, the speed is fine (in 2D mode anyway, someone else can test the awful faux 3D) and the UI is usable.

I'm still hanging out for TomTom but this is looking much better in my eyes.

Have you had a look at Sygic?

toholio · #9 (**permalink**) 21st July 2009, 12:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by motef

Have you had a look at Sygic?

I'm not paying money just to try it. If I run into someone with it I'll take a look.

eaglesteve2 · #10 (**permalink**) 21st July 2009, 02:55 PM

I love the user interface. I also like the reality view at complicated traffic intersections and exits. It also integrates well with the Contact database. It does not have route planning but the company says that feature will be coming soon.

I've already bought Sygic, but still look forward to this.Sygic's functionalities are quite decent, but the UI is a disappointment, and it does not use the Contact database.

I might still buy it although I already have Sygic. Just like with so many other products, I bought them but then not completley happy with it, I bought a few more doing the same thing until I get the one that I like. How I wish they have trial version. The way it goes, I'm buying too many software just to try them out.

kyte · #11 (**permalink**) 21st July 2009, 04:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eaglesteve2

The way it goes, I'm buying too many software just to try them out.

Me too... but I haven't bothered downloading the demo yet. Perhaps I should.

davemc · #12 (**permalink**) 26th July 2009, 11:49 AM

Anyone who played with the demo find it hard to lock on to GPS. Was traveling in passenger seat down eastlink last night had hard time finding and locking GPS. Where google maps found me straight away. At one point had me looking like I was flying through the middle of side streets like 300m from the freeway. I had the iphone up high on the dashboard. Been using Garmin XT on a Nokia before and apart from taking 2-3 mins to lock on it stayed on.
I am looking for a GPS app for my new iphone although cannot demo Sygic and read mixed reviews. For those who have both how do you find the locking on with Sygic app.

opilot87 · #13 (**permalink**) 26th July 2009, 03:11 PM

To be quite honest, I think all programs will be the same, its upto the phone itself to get a lock, and provide that location to the GPS software, so I cannot see how one could be better than the other.

I have been using Sygic in the car, and found it basically does not want to get a lock unless its placed in a central windcreen mount. Most of the times it has a good lock there, though it often is delayed a bit, and occasionally has dropped out completely for a while. This was based on fairly extensive testing while I was using to for many many hours of driving in New Zealand on holiday.

Ollie

kyte · #14 (**permalink**) 26th July 2009, 10:55 PM

Very nice UI but will I pay that much for it? nope. not when I already have Sygic and a couple of dedicated devices.

Re locking on, with Sygic. Its a bit slow, but once locked it seems fine, even if the phone isn't sitting on the dash. Just seems to need it for the initial lock. Generally its not as fast as Tomtom or Mio (and probably the rest, as well) but it works pretty well, and since its update, much faster than it was. I only expect it to continue improving.

davemc · #15 (**permalink**) 26th July 2009, 11:49 PM

Less I agree phone GPS take a lot longer to start up. Just when I was testing it yesterday in the car the demo kept loosing GPS all together although when I went to google maps it picked it up quickly. Got myself the $80 of target itunes vouchers for $60. Will give it a few weeks and see what happens with tom tom.

koluns81 · #16 (**permalink**) 27th July 2009, 01:49 PM

I have been testing this in the Canberra region on the weekend and the maps are very out of date, by about 2 years. There has been a lot of road work in Canberra since (Glenloch Interchange, most notably missing). Just wanted to let people know.

eaglesteve2 · #17 (**permalink**) 28th July 2009, 12:55 PM

Googlemap uses cell tower triangulation where it can't get a GPS fix, whereas a proper GPS software will always wait till it gets GPS signal fix.

PCKid · #18 (**permalink**) 29th July 2009, 04:54 PM

Just used it to drive around Perth. Seems pretty good. Didn't lose a signal at all and shows Red Rooster (Yuk!) and Caltex stations. Tracking was accurate and speed only about by 2 or 3Ks an hour out. Up my way it shows the hills, river and rail lines. Like the slightly isometric look of it. Have used a Tomtom for last 2 years but it's S H'ed itself so binned it and may get this if it isn't too dear. Certainly wouldn't pay $169 for it. I can get an entry level Tomtom wholesale for not much more than that.