NAVIGON Mobile Navigator - North America

[vertigo235]

Should be out soon.

Price to be $99, on sale for $69 until 8/15.

http://www.theiphoneblog.com/2009/07/21/quick-app-navigon-mobilenavigator-iphone-north-america/

[Vandam500]

Sounds great but how do you know all this?

[vertigo235]

Sounds great but how do you know all this?

Found on twitter.

[Applejuiced]

Wow, $69 without any subscription sounds pretty decent for a good GPS app like Navigon.
I wonder why so much cheaper than the Europe version.
And is there a way to shut off that Speed assistant feature or you'll keep getting a voice telling you that you're over the speed limit?

[Vandam500]

Found on twitter.

Awesome!

[vertigo235]

Wow, $69 without any subscription sounds pretty decent for a good GPS app like Navigon.
I wonder why so much cheaper than the Europe version.
And is there a way to shut off that Speed assistant feature or you'll keep getting a voice telling you that you're over the speed limit?

Yes you can turn that off or adjust the speed that sets it off. You could do this in the lite version.

[avaloncourt]

And is there a way to shut off that Speed assistant feature or you'll keep getting a voice telling you that you're over the speed limit?

You'll want to turn that off anyhow. I have a Navigon hardware GPS and the speed information database it has is terribly inaccurate. It will be telling you that you're in a 25mph area when it's really a 45 or 55 in a 65. It will be constantly yelling at you that you're over speed.

As the person above noted, that's how you shut it off.

[bbplayer5]

Looks very promising. Beat TomTom to the market too.

[sal74]

Navigon US-CAN (North America) Released:
$69 till Aug 15 and $99 AFTER Aug 15

http://www.businesswire.com/portal/site/home/permalink/?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20090722005552&newsLang=en

Itunes Link:
http://apple.twi.bz/B #US

Finally!!!

[braddick]

So, who's going to be the first? ;)

[jacobgaul]

bout to snag it now

[lw9090]

Its not posted on Itunes yet but if you go to Navigons Website and scroll to the bottom there is a shortcut to the app.

http://www.navigon.com/site/us/en/mobile_navigator/iphone

:D

[fredf]

and how would you compare this to the much cheaper g-maps?

[lw9090]

and how would you compare this to the much cheaper g-maps?

Its not really cheaper. If you bought both East and West would be $70 for both then add $20 for canada.

I've never tried Gmaps program though so I dont know.

[gemini81]

Hmmm...thinking about it!!! I used their LITE version and the UI was sweet! Just like to hear some reviews and then I'll make a final call!!!!

[MBHockey]

I have an aging Garmin StreetPilot that sometimes just refuses to turn on. I really like the UI from the videos of the Navigon, and for $70 it's a much cheaper replacement for my Garmin. I think that's even cheaper than Garmin's map updates!

Downloading now. Hopefully it doesn't suck! The Garmin was always accurate.

[fredf]

It's not showing on the Canadian iTunes store at all! Even the free 'lite' version isn't downloadable on the Canadian store.

[iphone529]

Link to app in itunes.

http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore...506742&mt=8

[candan9019]

It's not showing on the Canadian iTunes store at all! Even the free 'lite' version isn't downloadable on the Canadian store.

I downloaded the lite version yesterday to check it out, went fine for me. I just checked and your right it won't let you download anymore, weird.

[HeatherA]

It's not showing in iTunes for me. Just the free trial... and when you try to buy that it says it's no longer available.

[jacobgaul]

i wonder if you can get refunds if it sucks?

Item Amount:
$72.50 USD
Shipping:
$0.00 USD
Handling:
$0.00 USD
Quantity:
1
Date:
Jul. 22, 2009
Time:
06:24:32 PDT
Status:
Completed




better work good.


36 minute download oh boy

[truncj]

i wonder if you can get refunds if it sucks?



I applaud your bravery and hope for the best. Technically all sales are final based on the Terms of Service. I have had a 99cent app refunded through itunes chat on their site, but $70 might be a stretch.

[abijnk]

Alright kiddos, review review review!!!! :D

Love the interface on this app, so I hope this can replace my poor Garmin (it has seen better days :o).

[MBHockey]

i wonder if you can get refunds if it sucks?

Hope so -- Just got back from a 10 minute drive around the neighborhood with it and it is almost unusable (suburbs, not city, so it's not like there's giant buildings in the way). The software looks and sounds beautiful but the GPS tracking is absolutely horrible. First off, it gets easily confused if you take a turn not on the route, taking anywhere from 3-4 minutes to find where you went. 3 to 4 minutes to relocate you via GPS! This is an inordinate amount of time, especially if you are driving somewhere and you don't know where you are going! Also, the screen refreshing is nowhere near as good as my Garmin unit. A series of quick left and right turns had the Navigon behind by a turn.

If you make a wrong turn it will display you on the path it calculated beforehand for up to a minute and then realize that you have made a wrong turn. THEN it will start trying to relocate you which can take another 3 minutes. This is ridiculous.

If this were a free app that came with the iPhone I wouldn't complain. But as a standalone dedicated GPS app that is going for $70 now and $100 later it is not worth it.

For what it's worth, I'm pretty sure this has to do more with the internal GPS receiver in my iPhone 3GS than anything. I'm sure my dedicated Garmin unit has a much better one, even if it's 4 years old.

I give my Garmin StreetPilot 330 a 9/10 and I give Navigon for my 3GS a 3/10. I wouldn't trust it in any situation where I did not know where I was going, whereas the Garmin I recommend to everyone.

Disappointing to say the least. Now off to contact Navigon for a refund.

[jacobgaul]

sigh how are you going to contact them?

it must be the gps in the phone that is flawed because thats 3 navi programs now that have flopped, att navigator, gmaps or whatever its called and now this..

[MadGoat]

Why does it not have text to speech? the engine is built into the OS, why isn't it using it or its own TTS Engine?

[bbplayer5]

Only thing I see wrong from the demo route is the inability to zoom in like other nav apps... im going to head to the bank in a few minutes so Ill see if it zooms at intersections.

[Cescfabregas4]

Hope so -- Just got back from a 10 minute drive around the neighborhood with it and it is almost unusable (suburbs, not city, so it's not like there's giant buildings in the way). The software looks and sounds beautiful but the GPS tracking is absolutely horrible. First off, it gets easily confused if you take a turn not on the route, taking anywhere from 3-4 minutes to find where you went. 3 to 4 minutes to relocate you via GPS! This is an inordinate amount of time, especially if you are driving somewhere and you don't know where you are going! Also, the screen refreshing is nowhere near as good as my Garmin unit. A series of quick left and right turns had the Navigon behind by a turn.

If you make a wrong turn it will display you on the path it calculated beforehand for up to a minute and then realize that you have made a wrong turn. THEN it will start trying to relocate you which can take another 3 minutes. This is ridiculous.

If this were a free app that came with the iPhone I wouldn't complain. But as a standalone dedicated GPS app that is going for $70 now and $100 later it is not worth it.

For what it's worth, I'm pretty sure this has to do more with the internal GPS receiver in my iPhone 3GS than anything. I'm sure my dedicated Garmin unit has a much better one, even if it's 4 years old.

I give my Garmin StreetPilot 330 a 9/10 and I give Navigon for my 3GS a 3/10. I wouldn't trust it in any situation where I did not know where I was going, whereas the Garmin I recommend to everyone.

Disappointing to say the least. Now off to contact Navigon for a refund.

My experience is different from yours. I find it to be very accurate. I did not experience any lag at all. When I missed a turn it re-routed within 25 seconds. I love the view where it shows you a close up of the lanes and highway signs. I think some iphones have bad gps chips, thats why people will have varying experiences when it comes to apps using the gps. Navigon has a robust POI database. It shows you the logo's of popular stores and resturants, which I like. Its a big step up form G-maps.

sigh how are you going to contact them?

it must be the gps in the phone that is flawed because thats 3 navi programs now that have flopped, att navigator, gmaps or whatever its called and now this..

They have flopped according to whom?

[MBHockey]

sigh how are you going to contact them?

it must be the gps in the phone that is flawed because thats 3 navi programs now that have flopped, att navigator, gmaps or whatever its called and now this..

I'm not sure how to contact them. There is a contact email or but no phone number. I filed a report via iTunes after I couldn't find a way to contact Navigon by phone. Hopefully Apple gets back to me, but in the mean time I am trying to find a phone number for Navigon.

My experience is different from yours. I find it to be very accurate. I did not experience any lag at all. When I missed a turn it re-routed within 25 seconds. I love the view where it shows you a close up of the lanes and highway signs. I think some iphones have bad gps chips, thats why people will have varying experiences when it comes to apps using the gps. Navigon has a robust POI database. It shows you the logo's of popular stores and resturants, which I like. Its a big step up form G-maps.

What GPS devices have you used before that you are comparing it to?

I want to like this app so badly. Its interface is beautiful! The voice prompts are terrific. But the tracking, routing, and recalculating is unbearable which is the main point of GPS navigation.

[jacobgaul]

They have flopped according to whom?


according to me and others who have used the gmaps and att navigator i had bad experiences with both

[Cescfabregas4]

What GPS devices have you used before that you are comparing it to?

I want to like this app so badly. Its interface is beautiful! The voice prompts are terrific. But the tracking, routing, and recalculating is unbearable which is the main point of GPS navigation.

I am not comparing it to any stand alone gps. I am just saying that it does what I expect it to do. Unlike your experience, mine was accurate and did not lag.

I doubt that you can get a refund from the app store. There is nothing wrong with the app.

according to me and others who have used the gmaps and att navigator i had bad experiences with both

That does not make it a flop.

[NightStorm]

Hope so -- Just got back from a 10 minute drive around the neighborhood with it and it is almost unusable (suburbs, not city, so it's not like there's giant buildings in the way). The software looks and sounds beautiful but the GPS tracking is absolutely horrible. First off, it gets easily confused if you take a turn not on the route, taking anywhere from 3-4 minutes to find where you went. 3 to 4 minutes to relocate you via GPS! This is an inordinate amount of time, especially if you are driving somewhere and you don't know where you are going! Also, the screen refreshing is nowhere near as good as my Garmin unit. A series of quick left and right turns had the Navigon behind by a turn.

If you make a wrong turn it will display you on the path it calculated beforehand for up to a minute and then realize that you have made a wrong turn. THEN it will start trying to relocate you which can take another 3 minutes. This is ridiculous.

If this were a free app that came with the iPhone I wouldn't complain. But as a standalone dedicated GPS app that is going for $70 now and $100 later it is not worth it.

For what it's worth, I'm pretty sure this has to do more with the internal GPS receiver in my iPhone 3GS than anything. I'm sure my dedicated Garmin unit has a much better one, even if it's 4 years old.

I give my Garmin StreetPilot 330 a 9/10 and I give Navigon for my 3GS a 3/10. I wouldn't trust it in any situation where I did not know where I was going, whereas the Garmin I recommend to everyone.

Disappointing to say the least. Now off to contact Navigon for a refund.

Did you try the steps outlined in the Navigon FAQ for improving the iPhone GPS signal?

http://faq.navigon.com/opencms/international/faq_standalone.html?id=11268&content_identifier=faq&topicId_0=121&topicId_1=170&topicId_2=10714

[MBHockey]

I am not comparing it to any stand alone gps. I am just saying that it does what I expect it to do. Unlike your experience, mine was accurate and did not lag.

I doubt that you can get a refund from the app store. There is nothing wrong with the app.

There's nothing wrong with the app? Did you read my post? It doesn't function as expected. What else does it need to do, in your eyes, to warrant a refund?

I'm not doubting it works well for you, but for me it simply doesn't work.

[NightStorm]

according to me and others who have used the gmaps and att navigator i had bad experiences with both

I had zero problems with ATT Navigator on my vacation drive from Ohio to North Carolina (and back). It would sometimes recalculate while driving on the interstate, but I attributed that to sub-optimal placement in my car for the GPS hardware included in the phone (i.e. no near windshield, sitting on the center console tray of my CRV).

[MBHockey]

Did you try the steps outlined in the Navigon FAQ for improving the iPhone GPS signal?

http://faq.navigon.com/opencms/international/faq_standalone.html?id=11268&content_identifier=faq&topicId_0=121&topicId_1=170&topicId_2=10714

Yes, I read those. I have it mounted on a ProClip mount on the top center air vent, which has a direct view of the sky. Also, the iPhone does not have a case on it.

I didn't erase and then reinstall all my apps, as suggested. That is stupid.

[jacobgaul]

I had zero problems with ATT Navigator on my vacation drive from Ohio to North Carolina (and back). It would sometimes recalculate while driving on the interstate, but I attributed that to sub-optimal placement in my car for the GPS hardware included in the phone (i.e. no near windshield, sitting on the center console tray of my CRV).


i used att navigator for a trip to new york and it was absoutley horrible.. it would lag badly be off by 1/4th of a mile in some places, take 45-60secs to recognize i turned onto a new street etc.

Yes, I read those. I have it mounted on a ProClip mount on the top center air vent, which has a direct view of the sky. Also, the iPhone does not have a case on it.

I didn't erase and then reinstall all my apps, as suggested. That is stupid.


i will test out this application shortly, its currently installing and then ima go take a drive to the other side of town (9miles away - 20minutes) to sams club and see how it goes.. ive already emailed navigon stating i expect a refund lol. and you can "report a problem" in itunes explain the app isnt working for you as described, because its such a high $ its likely you will get your $ back since your doing it same day as purchase OR you can contact your credit card company.. hopefully you used a CC to pay for the purchase because thats the route im going to take if the program fails

[gloss]

I didn't erase and then reinstall all my apps, as suggested. That is stupid.

Then you can't rule out that your phone is the root of the laggy GPS issues, since others have reported it works fine.

[MBHockey]

Then you can't rule out that your phone is the root of the laggy GPS issues, since others have reported it works fine.

You're right. I will do it and retest the app in a few hours once it's done.

Honestly, I really do want this app to work well. I'm hopeful but not optimistic about this troubleshooting step. Pretty sure I'll just be throwing away 2 hours of time.

Edit: that was weird. it only took a few minutes to do the full 'erase contents and settings' on my iPhone 3GS. Is this new to 3.0? I've set it up as a new phone and only installed MobileNavigator. Will give it another shot.

[vertigo235]

What was wrong with my thread?

[ksmith80209]

Link to app in itunes.

http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore...506742&mt=8

Link doesn't work (for me) and I can't find it in the store...

[dougster]

Alright kiddos, review review review!!!! :D

Love the interface on this app, so I hope this can replace my poor Garmin (it has seen better days :o).

I'll wait for the TomTom solution. The car kit seems to be awesome! With BT hands free calling, built in GPS and a very cool design. Should be available in a matter of days I guess.

Does anyone know if they provide bicylce routing as well? Currently I use B.iCycle to track my rides. It's a cyclometer app with mapview and live calculation of speed, distance, calorie and altitude. But no route guidance yet. Fox News just did a feature about them: Summer Fitness Apps (http://www.foxnews.com/video/index.html?playerId=videolandingpage&streamingFormat=FLASH&referralObject=7008460&referralPlaylistId=search%7Ctapped%2Din).

[vertigo235]

Why does it not have text to speech? the engine is built into the OS, why isn't it using it or its own TTS Engine?

They have announced on their Twitter account that TTS will be coming in a future update. Along with route planning, and I think even MyRoutes, but I'm not certain.

[Vandam500]

I had zero problems with ATT Navigator on my vacation drive from Ohio to North Carolina (and back). It would sometimes recalculate while driving on the interstate, but I attributed that to sub-optimal placement in my car for the GPS hardware included in the phone (i.e. no near windshield, sitting on the center console tray of my CRV).

Same here! I have had the ATT Navigator
for a couple of weeks and it has worked perfect for me! Both on my old 3G and on my 3GS.

[MBHockey]

Just got back from the second test run. It did better, but still lost the signal quite a bit. At least the recalculations were faster this time. But it's still not great. Maybe a 5/10, and I will still try to get a refund.

It's very sensitive to the mounting area. Even though the spot I have the ProClip mount now has a direct view of the sky, it did its best when I took it out of the mount and held it in my hand as far forward to the windshield as possible. It still lost the GPS tracking (title bar lights up in red) quite a bit though, which is unfortunate (I would have just made a new mount for it).

Hopefully others have better experiences with it, as it seems promising.

[vertigo235]

Just got back from the second test run. It did better, but still lost the signal quite a bit. At least the recalculations were faster this time. But it's still not great. Maybe a 5/10, and I will still try to get a refund.

It's very sensitive to the mounting area. Even though the spot I have the ProClip mount now has a direct view of the sky, it did its best when I took it out of the mount and held it in my hand as far forward to the windshield as possible. It still lost the GPS tracking (title bar lights up in red) quite a bit though, which is unfortunate (I would have just made a new mount for it).

Hopefully others have better experiences with it, as it seems promising.


Interesting, I did lose signal with the lite app sometimes, but it was certainly forgivable, I'm expecting the same from the full app.

I do have mine mounted with a RAM mount to the windshield.

[QCassidy352]

I'll wait for the TomTom solution. The car kit seems to be awesome! With BT hands free calling, built in GPS and a very cool design. Should be available in a matter of days I guess[/URL].

I agree, but... doesn't the tomtom solution kinda defeat the point of using your iphone for this instead of a stand-alone GPS? I mean, once you're buying additional hardware that includes its own GPS chip... the iphone is really just the screen, isn't it? So what's the advantage to using the iphone at all, rather than a stand-alone unit from garmin or tomtom? (not giving you a hard time, seriously wondering about this)

[MBHockey]

Interesting, I did lose signal with the lite app sometimes, but it was certainly forgivable, I'm expecting the same from the full app.

I do have mine mounted with a RAM mount to the windshield.

Maybe I'm just expecting too much.

[mproudfoot]

One question I have is that is there any way anyone knows of to get this app from outside the US? I'm planning to visit the US for a few weeks from the UK and as we visit fairly often (as my dad lives in Ohio), I was looking for an app like this. Sadly, a search of the App store only results in the Uk and EU versions.

If not, back to the drawing board and probably just a cheap satnav unit from best Buy/whatever instead.

[Rayfire]

One question I have is that is there any way anyone knows of to get this app from outside the US? I'm planning to visit the US for a few weeks from the UK and as we visit fairly often (as my dad lives in Ohio), I was looking for an app like this. Sadly, a search of the App store only results in the Uk and EU versions.

If not, back to the drawing board and probably just a cheap satnav unit from best Buy/whatever instead.

You can create an US iTunes account so you can download it, I believe some threads discussed this before especially when you're not within US.

There's only 1 review so far with 5 stars, makes me wanna try it hmm

[MadDog31]

What was wrong with my thread?

I guess it didn't have the words "Released" in the title. That's my only assumption outside of it not necessarily being up-to-date from the first post onward.

[iPhone guru]

I'll wait for the TomTom solution. The car kit seems to be awesome! With BT hands free calling, built in GPS and a very cool design. Should be available in a matter of days I guess.

Does anyone know if they provide bicylce routing as well? Currently I use B.iCycle to track my rides. It's a cyclometer app with mapview and live calculation of speed, distance, calorie and altitude. But no route guidance yet. Fox News just did a feature about them: Summer Fitness Apps (http://www.foxnews.com/video/index.html?playerId=videolandingpage&streamingFormat=FLASH&referralObject=7008460&referralPlaylistId=search%7Ctapped%2Din).

I wonder if the TomTom solution will work with the iPod touch and if yes: Will other apps be able to use the GPS of the Car kit as well?

[gloss]

I agree, but... doesn't the tomtom solution kinda defeat the point of using your iphone for this instead of a stand-alone GPS? I mean, once you're buying additional hardware that includes its own GPS chip... the iphone is really just the screen, isn't it? So what's the advantage to using the iphone at all, rather than a stand-alone unit from garmin or tomtom? (not giving you a hard time, seriously wondering about this)

As always, it's one less device to carry. And it still works without the mount, it simply works better with it.

I feel like it's a win-win, functionally.

[dougster]

Just got back from the second test run. It did better, but still lost the signal quite a bit. At least the recalculations were faster this time. But it's still not great. Maybe a 5/10, and I will still try to get a refund.

I'll wait for the TomTom solution. The car kit seems to be awesome! With BT hands free calling, built in GPS and a very cool design. Should be available in a matter of days I guess.

Does anyone know if they provide bicylce routing as well? Currently I use B.iCycle to track my rides. It's a cyclometer app with mapview and live calculation of speed, distance, calorie and altitude. But no route guidance yet. Fox News just did a feature about them: Summer Fitness Apps (http://www.foxnews.com/video/index.html?playerId=videolandingpage&streamingFormat=FLASH&referralObject=7008460&referralPlaylistId=search%7Ctapped%2Din).

[Applejuiced]

Cool, thanks guys.


You'll want to turn that off anyhow. I have a Navigon hardware GPS and the speed information database it has is terribly inaccurate. It will be telling you that you're in a 25mph area when it's really a 45 or 55 in a 65. It will be constantly yelling at you that you're over speed.

As the person above noted, that's how you shut it off.

[Applejuiced]

I agree, if I need to use my phone as a GPS sometimes I dont want to have to carry around all that hardware with me or have to plug this and that to it.


I agree, but... doesn't the tomtom solution kinda defeat the point of using your iphone for this instead of a stand-alone GPS? I mean, once you're buying additional hardware that includes its own GPS chip... the iphone is really just the screen, isn't it? So what's the advantage to using the iphone at all, rather than a stand-alone unit from garmin or tomtom? (not giving you a hard time, seriously wondering about this)

[vertigo235]

I guess it didn't have the words "Released" in the title. That's my only assumption outside of it not necessarily being up-to-date from the first post onward.

I dont' really care that much, I just don't like having to follow 2 threads, maybe a mod can merge them.

[vertigo235]

Maybe I'm just expecting too much.

Maybe, I'm not expecting it to be perfect, I'm wanting this for convinience only, I don't expect it to work perfect all the time. It will have it's limitations.

Obviously there are times when a failure is OK, and other times when it's no so OK, if I'm driving on 5 mile run without any turns and it goes out, who cares, but if I'm approacing an area with multiple turns and it goes out all the time, this will make it impractical for me.

Still for $70 it's worth a try!

[avaloncourt]

I wonder if the TomTom solution will work with the iPod touch and if yes: Will other apps be able to use the GPS of the Car kit as well?

Read the LA Times article from last week. That will be as much answer as you will get until it actually happens.

[QCassidy352]

As always, it's one less device to carry. And it still works without the mount, it simply works better with it.

I feel like it's a win-win, functionally.

well, but that's the thing - it's not one fewer device. It's an iphone and a cradle instead of an iphone and a stand-alone GPS. As for working better - is it accurate enough to get me where i need to go without missing turns without the cradle? If yes, then I don't need any better. If no, then IMO the cradle is all-but-required.

[Cescfabregas4]

There's nothing wrong with the app? Did you read my post? It doesn't function as expected. What else does it need to do, in your eyes, to warrant a refund?

I'm not doubting it works well for you, but for me it simply doesn't work.

The problem is with your phone not the app. It works well for others right?

[MBHockey]

Maybe, I'm not expecting it to be perfect, I'm wanting this for convinience only, I don't expect it to work perfect all the time. It will have it's limitations.

Obviously there are times when a failure is OK, and other times when it's no so OK, if I'm driving on 5 mile run without any turns and it goes out, who cares, but if I'm approacing an area with multiple turns and it goes out all the time, this will make it impractical for me.

Still for $70 it's worth a try!

Yeah, in my experience it fails that test. But that may just be because of my mounting spot. Where I was holding it, closest to the windshield when it was doing its best, is not a realistic place to put it for me because I can't reach it for playing my music off it. But that still would only hold the signal for a few minutes and then it'd drop out again.

If it turns out to be an 8/10 app when mounted where the windshield and my car dash meet, then I won't be asking for my money back because that would be my fault.

[MBHockey]

The problem is with your phone not the app. It works well for others right?

Actually, it's not the phone. The Google Maps app has no problem finding me indoors near instantly whereas Navigon takes two minutes to get an initial lock outside. I know you really like this app, but don't pretend it's perfect. It reeks of fanboy.

I want to like it too. Then I won't have to replace my Garmin at 3 times the cost of this app. But it seems I'm just not as forgiving as you for its real-world shortcomings because of the pretty interface.

[PhantomZone]

Reason enough to have bought the 3G S....mines super quick, reroutes in a second or 2 and hasnt dropped yet in 3 countries!!! :cool:

[MBHockey]

Reason enough to have bought the 3G S....mines super quick, reroutes in a second or 2 and hasnt dropped yet in 3 countries!!! :cool:

Mine's a 3GS

[gloss]

well, but that's the thing - it's not one fewer device. It's an iphone and a cradle instead of an iphone and a stand-alone GPS. As for working better - is it accurate enough to get me where i need to go without missing turns without the cradle? If yes, then I don't need any better. If no, then IMO the cradle is all-but-required.

The built-in GPS is as good as it is, and the app will make use of it as best it can. I imagine it should be at least as good as something like Navigon without the cradle, and simply quicker/more accurate with it.

[wacky4alanis]

well, but that's the thing - it's not one fewer device. It's an iphone and a cradle instead of an iphone and a stand-alone GPS. As for working better - is it accurate enough to get me where i need to go without missing turns without the cradle? If yes, then I don't need any better. If no, then IMO the cradle is all-but-required.

But remember that a standalone GPS device has to be mounted on something as well... Whenever I go on a trip, I have to bring my iPhone, my Garmin, and my Garmin dash-mount holder. If I could reduce that to the iPhone and a dash-mount holder, that would be awesome. The Garmin is small, but it is too valuable to check in my luggage, so I always end up stuffing it in my pocket. And it's way too thick to leave it there for the whole flight, so I stuff it in the seat-back pocket. And then I have to remember to grab it again before I leave the airplane. I would gladly pay $100 to replace my current Garmin with an iPhone app and a dash-mount holder with built-in GPS. I'll buy it for sure if it works as advertised.

[kas23]

I have a feeling I'm just going to go with the stand-alone GPS device. It's sounds like a cool idea to have GPS on the iPhone, but seems like it's hit or miss, depending on your tolerability. A re-routing time of 25 seconds is unacceptable for me. Sure, a stand-alone is another device to deal with, but it's just going to be sitting in the car all the time. It's not like I'm going to have to carry it around with me in the mall, work, or wherever.

[kas23]

The Garmin is small, but it is too valuable to check in my luggage, so I always end up stuffing it in my pocket. And it's way too thick to leave it there for the whole flight, so I stuff it in the seat-back pocket. And then I have to remember to grab it again before I leave the airplane. I would gladly pay $100 to replace my current Garmin with an iPhone app ...

Man, life sounds rough. ;)

[SpaceKitty]

I have a feeling I'm just going to go with the stand-alone GPS device. It's sounds like a cool idea to have GPS on the iPhone, but seems like it's hit or miss, depending on your tolerability. A re-routing time of 25 seconds is unacceptable for me. Sure, a stand-alone is another device to deal with, but it's just going to be sitting in the car all the time. It's not like I'm going to have to carry it around with me in the mall, work, or wherever.

I have a Garnin Nuvi 880 and an 850. The 880 has bluetooth and both have just about every feature a Garmin can have including speech recognition.

I have tried three of the iPhone navugation apps in the store and only one comes close to being a stand alone GPS and that is G-Map. Don't know about TomTom yet of course but I have a feeling that I will just keep using my Garmin.

[rubdom]

Just tested it out with a 32GB 3GS in San Antonio. Works perfectly. Never lost signal and rerouted in less than 5 seconds. The only issue so far was that the route it suggested was not my usual route. Maybe my route is longer or the device didn't know the back streets as well as I do :) I guess this is not an issue if you don't know where you are going. Well worth the $75 (tax) I paid.

[MBHockey]

Where was your iPhone positioned within your car when you used it?

[skillz1318]

+1

I would buy this app if I could just keep my iPhone in my cup holder where it normally sits...I do not want to have to mount on dash...or hold in windshield to get a good GPS signal.

Google Maps seems fine from cup holder so hopefully this app is as well.

[iPhone guru]

I'll wait for the TomTom solution. The car kit seems to be awesome! With BT hands free calling, built in GPS and a very cool design. Should be available in a matter of days I guess.

Does anyone know if they provide bicylce routing as well? Currently I use B.iCycle to track my rides. It's a cyclometer app with mapview and live calculation of speed, distance, calorie and altitude. But no route guidance yet. Fox News just did a feature about them: Summer Fitness Apps (http://www.foxnews.com/video/index.html?playerId=videolandingpage&streamingFormat=FLASH&referralObject=7008460&referralPlaylistId=search%7Ctapped%2Din).

I still wonder if the TomTom solution will work with the iPod touch and if yes: Will other apps be able to use the GPS of the Car kit as well? Any ideas on that?

[Cescfabregas4]

I still wonder if the TomTom solution will work with the iPod touch and if yes: Will other apps be able to use the GPS of the Car kit as well? Any ideas on that?

Common sense tells me it would only work for tomtom app.

[Rayfire]

Now it's only a matter of waiting, I'd hate to spend $70 right now learning after a couple of weeks TomTom's gonna release theirs. Ugh decisions to make before August 15 :confused:

[iphone529]

I still wonder if the TomTom solution will work with the iPod touch and if yes: Will other apps be able to use the GPS of the Car kit as well? Any ideas on that?

I think it could work for the ipod touch and seems like that was their intention because they put a gps module in it, not so sure about any other apps using their gps though. would be hard for another app to use an external gps.

[gloss]

Now it's only a matter of waiting, I'd hate to spend $70 right learning after a couple of weeks TomTom's gonna release theirs. Ugh decisions to make before August 15 :confused:

I hear you. I'm taking a trip to Philly next week and I'm debating whether I want to take the leap here or not. I'd really like to have some other first-hand accounts as to how good it is. The only review up on iTunes at the moment looks like a plant, anyway.

[iPhone guru]

I'll wait for the TomTom solution. The car kit seems to be awesome! With BT hands free calling, built in GPS and a very cool design. Should be available in a matter of days I guess.

Does anyone know if they provide bicylce routing as well? Currently I use B.iCycle to track my rides. It's a cyclometer app with mapview and live calculation of speed, distance, calorie and altitude. But no route guidance yet. Fox News just did a feature about them: Summer Fitness Apps (http://www.foxnews.com/video/index.html?playerId=videolandingpage&streamingFormat=FLASH&referralObject=7008460&referralPlaylistId=search%7Ctapped%2Din).

I just checked the web: TomTom actually does offer a bike routing option on their dedicated nav devices such as the GO 730. So I guess it will be in the TomTom app.

[jacobgaul]

review of this app.. first off i have a 16gb 3gs that is jailbroken using purplera1n.

k..


so, lets start off with the basic map features.. they look pretty good in all honesty.. and the gps is accurate works way better then att navigator i feel. the POIs are lacking tho, it couldnt find a sams club that has been in the same location for 4yrs however it found the home depot down the street. it runs pretty good when you make an error as well, the redirect happened within 5 seconds of missing a road/turn. the audio is sorta eh thru the phone and VERY quiet when you plug it into a car radio* notice i put a * i will explain as i go on.. you can save your own POIs they put it under a "favorites" category, you can search by using contacts which is good for people who load addresses into their contacts i personally dont but whatever.. the colors are pretty nice as well, very similar to garmin i feel. they could have done a WAY better job on the voice, it tends to ramble on and on a particular route it said "keep left take i75 then i95 i75" its hard to describe exactly what i mean maybe u will eventually run into the issue. GPS lock is fairly quick as well. it did take about 2 minutes to lock onto the first time (granted i came from inside an apartment building) but after that it was quick.

one down side i feel is that there are no ipod controls inside the app. you can listen to music by loading ipod first then navigon but u cant change tracks as of yet.. now onto the * from eariler reguarding the sound.. when you plug it into a AUX in the volume is very low i had to turn my pioneer upto 50 to hear the directions.. however.. if you have music playing first then load navigon the voiceover is VERY loud, it comes over the music and you can hear it very clear. sorta odd but thats that.

i feel its worth the $74 (after tax) simply because now i truly have an all-in-1 device, i loved my blackberry bold because of the att nav but the browser sucked. the iphone is fantastic and this navi makes it even better. i would recommend it.

oh and as the people who mentioned lag, there was like zero lag for me. i went speeds between of 20-115 i took it on back roads and freeway, it works quite well. im looking at getting a nice ventclip mount or windshield mount for the phone as soon as im done typing this, probli gonna have to get a universal one because i do have the solofx on the phone.

i will be buying tomtom just to see what that is like as well. me and 2 of my friends have iphones and we all share the same account so it keeps the cost down when buying all these apps.


any questions please ask

[ksmith80209]

one down side i feel is that there are no ipod controls inside the app. you can listen to music by loading ipod first then navigon but u cant change tracks as of yet..

What I've been doing is setting the iPhone to show the ipod controls on double-click of the home button while music is playing. That way, I can be in the Nav app with music already playing, double-tap the home key to access the controls, then close the controls without ever leaving the nav system.

[jacobgaul]

What I've been doing is setting the iPhone to show the ipod controls on double-click of the home button while music is playing. That way, I can be in the Nav app with music already playing, double-tap the home key to access the controls, then close the controls without ever leaving the nav system.


awesome i will try it

[schulzmc]

What I've been doing is setting the iPhone to show the ipod controls on double-click of the home button while music is playing. That way, I can be in the Nav app with music already playing, double-tap the home key to access the controls, then close the controls without ever leaving the nav system.

Awesome! What a great idea... Thanks!

[jacobgaul]

man that works flawless now. awesome. yep leaving my garmin home from now on

[pugnut]

Downloaded and used for a bit. No issues in northern va. I love the voice into headset. Got a call accepted with no issues and started right back up. Directions over the headset is a major plus

[jacobgaul]

directions over headset ...like a jawbone?

[MBHockey]

So after all the issues I was having earlier today, I erased my iPhone and only installed Navigon. It was better, but I still had issues. Then I just restored from my most recent backup (which didn't include Navigon and its associated settings) so I reinstalled it and went from scratch again.

This time it worked very well. It's still a bit slower to recalculate the route than my Garmin unit but it is good enough that I can actually use it instead of whipping out the Garmin for short trips.

If anyone else is having problems with it, try erasing your iPhone and then restoring it from a backup. I was very skeptical that this would work but it seems to have fixed 90% of my issues.

I drove to and from a known destination that is 15 minutes away and it didn't drop the signal once and was on about a 5-10 second delay when recalculating. I will not be asking Apple or Navigon for a refund anymore.

About the iPod app -- I have a Pioneer unit that I can control my music from even when it is set to control music from the iPhone. For example, I can still change tracks from the deck while Navigon is running. Also, I have the double click of the Home button set to bring up iPod controls which also works well.

If the App keeps performing this well I will not hesitate to give it a 4 star review on the app store.

What GPS has made me realize is there is now, for me at least, a real need for multitasking like on the Pre. I love having Trapster running, but can't with Navigon. I'd also like to be able to swipe over to my email real quick on the phone while at a light or something...but this isn't possible. Also, an incoming phone call quits the navigation. Not exactly ideal. The only saving grace is that the 3GS launches apps so fast that it almost feels like multitasking, but it still takes you out of the app.

[vertigo235]

That is indeed very weird that that seems to make it better. I had a little trouble believing that would help when I read that on NAVIGON's website.

[MBHockey]

That is indeed very weird that that seems to make it better. I had a little trouble believing that would help when I read that on NAVIGON's website.

So did I. I read that before even buying the app and it sounded very suspect. Then again, I'm no developer and I doubt they are just straight up lying.

[jacobgaul]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wcaS6ZWLChU ....going to buy this right now lol

bestbuy has it for $20 as well.

[Forgeron]

Is Garmin not coming to the iPhone at some point?

I have a tomtom, and it stinks. Puts you on lots of dirt roads, even when you tell it not to, and lots of other stuff on garmin is better (like automatic night mode).

Its frustrating how there is no news concerning tomtom/garmin and their prices. I guess we will just have to wait until august 14th with making the purchase.

I could see how in a couple of months all these apps are on sale for 19,99.

[RiceRacerDX]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wcaS6ZWLChU ....going to buy this right now lol

bestbuy has it for $20 as well.

Try this instead: http://www.griffintechnology.com/products/windowseat

You won't be disappointed.

[avaloncourt]

Is Garmin not coming to the iPhone at some point?


No. Garmin is the maker of the NuviPhone and they have stated directly they have no interest in making an iPhone application.

Edited to add: I just did a Google News search and come up with one reference from PC Magazine that says when TomTom announced at WWDC Garmin immediately made an announcement of their intention to make an iPhone application. This is news to me and the only reference I can find of this.

[MBHockey]

No. Garmin is the maker of the NuviPhone and they have stated directly they have no interest in making an iPhone application.

I have a ProClip mount. It is great.

www.proclipusa.com

[Tunnelrunner]

Is Garmin not coming to the iPhone at some point?

Well, you never say never but at this point it looks unlikely. Garmin has broken from the GPS pack and is going to go head to head with the iPhone, Pre, WM, BB, etc via their very own Nuviphone. Garmin is either being very smart or very stupid. IMHO, I'm leaning towards the latter. :)

Shame too. I love Garmin's UI. Thats one of the reasons I love the Telenav/AT&T Navigator; it's look is very Garmin-like.

[avaloncourt]

I have a ProClip mount. It is great.

www.proclipusa.com

Um. woo-hoo. :confused:

I think you hit the wrong quote button. I think you meant the one above me. :)

[ken987]

I have the light version....what is all this talk that it is now fully functional...is this true?

[avaloncourt]

Garmin is either being very smart or very stupid. IMHO, I'm leaning towards the latter. :)


No argument here. They could have cleaned up had they released for the iPhone. I've ranted here about being burned before with a Garmin convergence device so I won't fire up again. Simple summary: Garmin sucks at convergence devices.

[vertigo235]

This is basicaly the mount I roll with.

http://www.ram-mount.com/CatalogResults/PartDetails/tabid/63/partid/082065080045066045049054054045050045065080054085/Default.aspx

[vertigo235]

Well, actually this is the exact mount that I have, but with the iPhone cradle from RAM on top of it.

I've had the mount for many years, the great thing about RAM is that you can by the individual cradles so you don't have to buy a completely new mount when you get a new device!

http://www.ram-mount.com/CatalogResults/PartDetails/tabid/63/partid/082065077045066045049048049045050050052049085/Default.aspx

[Charpunk]

Try this instead: http://www.griffintechnology.com/products/windowseat

You won't be disappointed.

I had the windowseat, it kept falling off my windshield. Picked up the one in the youtube video instead, works fine. Plus with that one, I can keep my phone in a case.

[vertigo235]

Downloading now, only 20 hours remaining! Yay for hotel internet :rolleyes:

[MBHockey]

Downloading now, only 20 hours remaining! Yay for hotel internet :rolleyes:

That is terrible! Mine downloaded in just a few minutes. I <3 FiOS :)

[iMerlin]

What GPS has made me realize is there is now, for me at least, a real need for multitasking...


Ok, so Ive been reading this thread all day wondering if I should drop the 70 for my wife and I to get this app. I noticed the statement above. Im not trying to hijack this thread but I have to mention Jailbreaking. It literally took me 5 minutes to jailbreak and the phone is still fine on battery life and everything else. Mine actually seems faster. But the reason I mention it is because of the app called Backgrounder. This allows you to... you guessed it... run things in the background. For example, I can fire up MLB At Bat, or Pandora, start a live audio feed and close the app and still have my feed. Its that easy. I think the term Jailbreaking scares people away. Its so easy and if you want to return your phone for something you just restore it to default. But I digress.

I wanted to ask you guys a question about taking calls. Someone mentioned answering on their bluetooth.... what if you dont have a BT headset? Does answering the call quit Navigon (Im sure it does). Upon reopening, does it have to recalculate? If so, how long does it take?

Thanks to the early adopters for the great reviews by the way!

[vertigo235]

Well if they would have released this thing while I was home this wouldn't be a problem, but I'm working now so I have to deal with overused hotel internet!

It will speed up though later tonight, should be downloaded by morning.

[MBHockey]

Ok, so Ive been reading this thread all day wondering if I should drop the 70 for my wife and I to get this app. I noticed the statement above. Im not trying to hijack this thread but I have to mention Jailbreaking. It literally took me 5 minutes to jailbreak and the phone is still fine on battery life and everything else. Mine actually seems faster. But the reason I mention it is because of the app called Backgrounder. This allows you to... you guessed it... run things in the background. For example, I can fire up MLB At Bat, or Pandora, start a live audio feed and close the app and still have my feed. Its that easy. I think the term Jailbreaking scares people away. Its so easy and if you want to return your phone for something you just restore it to default. But I digress.

I wanted to ask you guys a question about taking calls. Someone mentioned answering on their bluetooth.... what if you dont have a BT headset? Does answering the call quit Navigon (Im sure it does). Upon reopening, does it have to recalculate? If so, how long does it take?

Thanks to the early adopters for the great reviews by the way!

Actually, no. It remembers exactly what it was doing when it reloads after going out of the app which is a really nice trick*. You have to wait for it to relaunch though. At least this is fast on the 3GS. (*I haven't had any calls come in while navigating, but I did go out of Navigon to check my email and I assume it's the same.)

I'm aware of Jailbreaking (I jailbroke and unlocked my 3G to sell on eBay) but I've read conflicting things about Backgrounder. Like, going back to a Backgrounded app will make it crash (read that about MLB.com app). It just didn't seem very polished from what I saw.

[iMerlin]

Actually, no. It remembers exactly what it was doing when it reloads after going out of the app which is a really nice trick*. You have to wait for it to relaunch though. At least this is fast on the 3GS. (*I haven't had any calls come in while navigating, but I did go out of Navigon to check my email and I assume it's the same.)

I'm aware of Jailbreaking (I jailbroke and unlocked my 3G to sell on eBay) but I've read conflicting things about Backgrounder. Like, going back to a Backgrounded app will make it crash (read that about MLB.com app). It just didn't seem very polished from what I saw.

Excellent info, thanks MBHockey! My wife has been asking for a GPS unit for a while, but I keep telling her to wait and see what comes out for the iPhone. Her Bday is in a few weeks so Im not sure I can wait for TomTom.

Back on Jailbreaking... I have had NO issues with Backgrounder. I use it for MLB At Bat, B.iCycle (which is a GPS biking app, if you close it normally it pauses your ride so it stops tracking you). Like I said, I also use it for Pandora. I think the users that experience issues do not know how to properly use it and other Jailbreak utilities. For example, I have SBSettings loaded, which allows you to toggle all your services right on the homescreen. SBSettings also has a Processes tab which allows you to view any processes you may have forgotten to terminate.

Anyway, I digress... good info, thanks again.

[jacobgaul]

Try this instead: http://www.griffintechnology.com/products/windowseat

You won't be disappointed.

I had the windowseat, it kept falling off my windshield. Picked up the one in the youtube video instead, works fine. Plus with that one, I can keep my phone in a case.


i cant use this because i have a solofx gel case, i tried to fit it into the thing at bestbuy and it wouldnt work.. i dont roll with a naked iphone

[jacobgaul]

Actually, no. It remembers exactly what it was doing when it reloads after going out of the app which is a really nice trick*. You have to wait for it to relaunch though. At least this is fast on the 3GS. (*I haven't had any calls come in while navigating, but I did go out of Navigon to check my email and I assume it's the same.)

I'm aware of Jailbreaking (I jailbroke and unlocked my 3G to sell on eBay) but I've read conflicting things about Backgrounder. Like, going back to a Backgrounded app will make it crash (read that about MLB.com app). It just didn't seem very polished from what I saw.


ive had a incoming call i anwsered, soon as the call ended it fired navigon right back up and continued with the route. pretty slick

[hchavarria]

I had zero problems with ATT Navigator on my vacation drive from Ohio to North Carolina (and back). It would sometimes recalculate while driving on the interstate, but I attributed that to sub-optimal placement in my car for the GPS hardware included in the phone (i.e. no near windshield, sitting on the center console tray of my CRV).

I have been using ATT Navigator since it was released and I have had a great experience. No lag, GPS lock real fast, reroute fast, I wanted to try navigon for the flat rate but seeing how great ATT Navigator has been for me I don't know I want to risk the $70. I also used ATT Navigator when I had my Blackberry Bold, ATT Tilt, ATT Fuze, Touch Diamond and it always worked great for me.

[Rayfire]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wcaS6ZWLChU ....going to buy this right now lol

bestbuy has it for $20 as well.

I'll look for this one too at Best Buy, I've got a similar curved air vent, planning to replace my air vent mount because it's not sturdy.

On a little side note, I called TomTom and they said they don't even have a clue when it's gonna be out, she guessed around mid to late August but assured me once the app is out, the docking station will also be out. With this in mind I might have to purchase Navigon's around mid August before it hits the 15th.

[jacobgaul]

I'll look for this one too at Best Buy, I've got a similar curved air vent, planning to replace my air vent mount because it's not sturdy.

On a little side note, I called TomTom and they said they don't even have a clue when it's gonna be out, she guessed around mid to late August but assured me once the app is out, the docking station will also be out. With this in mind I might have to purchase Navigon's around mid August before it hits the 15th.


no one knows how much the hardware will cost tho thats the problem they may charge $150.00 just for that stuff which isnt worth it at all!

[Rayfire]

no one knows how much the hardware will cost tho thats the problem they may charge $150.00 just for that stuff which isnt worth it at all!
Which is why they've got till Aug 14 to pull up their act and get it released on the App Store else Navigon here I come.

[jacobgaul]

haha well ill be getting tomtom either way just to compare the 2 :o

[iPhone guru]

Does anyone know if they provide bicylce routing as well? Currently I use B.iCycle to track my rides. It's a cyclometer app with mapview and live calculation of speed, distance, calorie and altitude. But no route guidance yet. Fox News just did a feature about them: Summer Fitness Apps (http://www.foxnews.com/video/index.html?playerId=videolandingpage&streamingFormat=FLASH&referralObject=7008460&referralPlaylistId=search%7Ctapped%2Din).

As I said before: I think the TomTom will have bike routing. Anyone able to comment on that?

[rKunda]

Man, I've become so used to 99 cent apps that $70 seems outrageous, heh, even though it's objectively a great price, I think. Have to do some saving.

[MBHockey]

Man, I've become so used to 99 cent apps that $70 seems outrageous, heh, even though it's objectively a great price, I think. Have to do some saving.

Yeah, pretty much 10 times the most expensive app I've ever purchased. :)

[Diode]

i cant use this because i have a solofx gel case, i tried to fit it into the thing at bestbuy and it wouldnt work.. i dont roll with a naked iphone

Look into the kensington windshield mount. Should fit any case (it adjusts ). Works great!

[jacobgaul]

Look into the kensington windshield mount. Should fit any case (it adjusts ). Works great!


i like to buy things from stores im very impatient.. no stores around me sell keingston

[itsjustmeee]

So for me the question is now that I have had G-Map for a while now, is Navigon that much better? Is it worth replacing my G-Map for it?

Any opinions??

[ksmith80209]

So for me the question is now that I have had G-Map for a while now, is Navigon that much better? Is it worth replacing my G-Map for it?

Any opinions??

I'm using Navigon instead of G-Maps for a variety of reasons. The nav algorithm seems better, you can listen to the iPod while using Navigon, and the fact that it seems to contain more POIs among them.

[vertigo235]

Here is my mount, a little overkill.

http://img11.imageshack.us/img11/6717/iphonemount01.jpg

http://img11.imageshack.us/img11/1966/iphonemount02.jpg

[iMerlin]

I went ahead and bit the bullet. I have to say some of the things people are complaining about can be fixed or simply shouldnt be a complaint. All in all, this is an excellent first offering from Navigon. Some complaints Ive seen...

No text-to-speech - This is a valid complaint, but it isnt a deal breaker if you ask me. Especially since Navigon already said it will be in a future release.

No zoom in driving mode - Im not 100% sure why you would really need this. The navigation is perfect as it is, I have yet to find the need for zooming in while in driving mode.

Reload after leaving app - Not altogether true.
I tested this yesterday with both Backgrounder enabled and disabled. Both times I took me right back to my route, it took a second for the app to load but once it did I was right back on my route.

2 things here....
1. JAILBREAK YOUR IPHONE PEOPLE. Then go and download Backgrounder... issue solved! With backgrounder active I didnt even have to wait for the app to load, I tapped the icon and I was on my route. Also, the voice commands continue when backgrounding is enabled. For example, I tested going into email and the voice came over the speakers and told me "Caution!" I found this to be funny, I was going 10 over hence the caution warning, but the timing was so perfect I got a chuckle out of that.

2. If you are not willing to JB, here is a suitable work around... If you are driving and get a call, take the call, as soon as you are connected, hit the home button and head back into Navigon, then you dont miss anything. Just takes a few seconds for the app to reload but once it does, you are right back on your route.

Music is not lowered or muted during voice prompts - Personally I like this and hope in future releases they allow you to choose the style you prefer. To me, the voice doesnt over power the music, but is loud enough to hear and still hear your tunes easily.

Also, about music... someone else mentioned setting your Home button double tap to open iPod controls. This is a great idea and allows you to fire up music while in Navigon. However, if you dont set your home button double tap to that, you can still use the iPod controls as long as you start your music before opening up Navigon. My double tap is set to camera, but if the iPod is playing, the double tap in Navigon goes to iPod controls. Hope that makes sense.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v686/FJMerlin/1248440032.jpg

Poor or outdated POIs - Valid complaint. I also dont like how there is no interaction with the POIs. For example I would love to be able to click a POI and either save it, call it...whatever. I would also like to be able to add my own. So far I havent found a lot of incorrect POIs though.


But with all that said, I think this is a fantastic app. Ive used it to route 3 trips since yesterday, all places I know how to get to. It was dead on for 2 of the 3. The first was Take me Home which gave me basically my normal route home. But I decided to change it up a bit and see how it handled redirection. Im not sure about the complaints re: rerouting because this took a matter of seconds. I got off at the wrong tollboth and by the time I was through the toll, it had already rerouted me.

However, it did send me in a crazy route to get to the gym this morning. Not sure if that was my fault or what.

The UI is very nice and easy to use while in the car. Especially if you set up the contact first and skip entering the address in Navigon. Landscape is excellent. Lane assist is excellent. Real street view is excellent when available! Speed warning is excellent or annoying depending on how fast you drive!

As mentioned, the POI interface needs work. I would love the functionality of the built in Map app so I could just type in the business name and it will find it close by, and then be able to route to it. Hopefully this will be a later release. Here again though, work around... search for the place in maps, save it as a contact and then route to it in Navigon. Works like a charm.

I dont like entering addresses in the app at all. Seems a little backwards and usually has a hard time finding the address I was looking for. It seems to function better if you have a contact already set up and route to that.

This is the first release so Im hoping all the issues will be fixed at some point. Ive used this since yesterday and to be honest Im really impressed. I love the look and feel of it. I hope it will integrate better into the maps app in the future.

Once again I will reiterrate... JAILBREAK!!! Putting Navigon in the Background is excellent. I had it running in the background yesterday while listening to Buehrle's perfect game with MLB At Bat and went back and forth between the apps without losing either audio signal. At one point I heard Ed Farmer calling a strike and then the Navigon lady kindly told me to turn soon.

Sorry such a long post. I just wanted to cover all the bases.

Another screen...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v686/FJMerlin/1248440033.jpg


Also, I have a proclips mount which puts the phone in front of one of my vents, so not on the window... I have yet to experience any issues with GPS signal. Ill try to take some pics this weekend of the app running while in the mount.


As I said before: I think the TomTom will have bike routing. Anyone able to comment on that?

I dont know about TomTom, but Navigons does not have it.
Personally, I would stick with B.iCycle for this if I was you. I use B.iCycle as well and even if TomTom or Navigon has it, they wont have the other functionality of B.iCycle like emailing your route, calories burned, elevation stats and so on...

[awad]

i just got it and the lack of a route list is almost a deal breaker for me.

[carfu]

I dont know about TomTom, but Navigons does not have it.
Personally, I would stick with B.iCycle for this if I was you. I use B.iCycle as well and even if TomTom or Navigon has it, they wont have the other functionality of B.iCycle like emailing your route, calories burned, elevation stats and so on...


I have heard so much about B.iCycle but I was reluctant to spend the money. However, after I have seen the video from FOXNews (http://www.foxnews.com/video/index.html?playerId=videolandingpage&streamingFormat=FLASH&referralObject=7008460&referralPlaylistId=search%7Ctapped%2Din) I fell in love and just got it in the AppStore.

I should have done that much earlier. This ist THE BEST cyclometer app out there. The map display is awesome and it calculated all those parameter with what I think is the highest possible precision.

B.iCycle (http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewSoftware?id=307179258&mt=8) is a must buy for all bike fans - It's my app of the summer 09!

[severe]

I went ahead and bit the bullet...

Thanks for the review.

[scariaga]

About the iPod app -- I have a Pioneer unit that I can control my music from even when it is set to control music from the iPhone. For example, I can still change tracks from the deck while Navigon is running. Also, I have the double click of the Home button set to bring up iPod controls which also works well.




question: did you connect your iPhone via usb to your pioneer? if so do the voice commands also go through your stereo and onto your car speakers along with the music?

[FearlessFreep]

i just got it and the lack of a route list is almost a deal breaker for me.

When you say Route List, do you mean you can see a list of the steps involved in a route? That would be a big minus for me as I like to look at the entire route before I drive it in case there's some screwy routing.

And in terms of the No Zoom in driving mode, am I correct in that you can't zoom out while in driving mode? Another minus for me in terms of how I use my GPS.

[BryanLyle]

When you say Route List, do you mean you can see a list of the steps involved in a route? That would be a big minus for me as I like to look at the entire route before I drive it in case there's some screwy routing.

Right. There doesn't appear to be a way to see the entire route so you really don't know how you are getting there.

[FearlessFreep]

Just as another data point - If you're trying to decide on going with Navigon or waiting for TomTom, it would help to know how the routing engines in each have fared in real world tests. As the linked article says, the routing engine is the brains behind the entire GPS - don't underestimate it.

Keep in mind this was done in Dec. 07, but TomTom placement has remained consistent in recent comparisons: http://gpsmagazine.com/2007/12/navigon_7100_review.php?page=8

[awad]

When you say Route List, do you mean you can see a list of the steps involved in a route? That would be a big minus for me as I like to look at the entire route before I drive it in case there's some screwy routing.

exactly. you just have to blindly follow the directions. HUGE oversight.

[schulzmc]

exactly. you just have to blindly follow the directions. HUGE oversight.

Not true - you can easily see the whole route and zoom to examine any section of the route you want to see in more detail. It is true that there is no listing of the specific directions for each turn.

[severe]

Regarding several posts, the latest v1.1 (British Isles) was reportedly released within the last couple of days. Many fixes are on the way.

WHATS NEW IN THIS VERSION:

- Additional languages (UI and voice guidance): Portugese, Czech, Polish, Turkish, Croahan, Romanian, Slovakian,
Greek and Russian
- NAVIGON’s route planning function known from the companies PND line that enables users to plan a route with
several destinations
- Radarinfo (not for all countries)
- Additional map view options (now displays street names in 3D view, optional points of interest (POI) display)
- Call POI function (call the number of a point of interest or save it to your contacts)
- POI Filter (allows you to manage the POls shown on the map)
- Optimized volume control when using the NAVIGON navigation and the integrated iPod function of the iPhone at the same time.

[dougster]

I dont know about TomTom, but Navigons does not have it.
Personally, I would stick with B.iCycle for this if I was you. I use B.iCycle as well and even if TomTom or Navigon has it, they wont have the other functionality of B.iCycle like emailing your route, calories burned, elevation stats and so on...

Agree. I'm so lucky with the B.iCycle app. I can't imagine to switch from B.iCycle to a navigation app like Navigon or TomTom, because surely it won't meet the demands of a biking cyclometer app in the way you describe it (calories burned elevation, max speed, average speed, bike trails and so on....)

[iMerlin]

Agree. I'm so lucky with the B.iCycle app. I can't imagine to switch from B.iCycle to a navigation app like Navigon or TomTom, because surely it won't meet the demands of a biking cyclometer app in the way you describe it (calories burned elevation, max speed, average speed, bike trails and so on....)

HOWEVER!!! :)) Jailbreaking the phone allows you to run B.iCycle in the background if you NEED GPS directions for your bike ride. But I would assume Navigon would only track you on main roads.

[fredf]

Does B.icycle act as a GPS? I know it can track a cycle ride. Does it have a maps function? I do only on-road cycling and I want a GPS to find my routes back home. I've been wondering about g-maps, navigon, etc.
But if b.icycle has road maps then it would be the perfect app for me.
In fact, if it has roads, why wouldn't it be a great app for just finding one's way around town?

Can anyone help me out here?
thanks

[iMerlin]

Does B.icycle act as a GPS? I know it can track a cycle ride. Does it have a maps function? I do only on-road cycling and I want a GPS to find my routes back home. I've been wondering about g-maps, navigon, etc.
But if b.icycle has road maps then it would be the perfect app for me.
In fact, if it has roads, why wouldn't it be a great app for just finding one's way around town?

Can anyone help me out here?
thanks

B.iCycle has GPS but no guidance to the best of my knowledge. It does have street names and stuff like that but you cant input a destination. It can map your route AFTER you have taken it and then email it to you for viewing in Google Earth.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v686/FJMerlin/Picture27.png


Regarding several posts, the latest v1.1 (British Isles) was reportedly released within the last couple of days. Many fixes are on the way.

The website also mentions...

Even more features!
"More functions such as TMC and text-to-speech will follow in late summer."

What is TMC?

[stockcerts]

I bought mine after work today. It took about 25 minutes to download to my Mac, then sync'd it to my 3Gs. I had about a 30 minute drive to visit some friends tonight, so it was a good first test. It worked very well. I haven't fully explored all the options. I'm hoping there is a choice of voices. My iPhone picked up the GPS signal quickly and it all worked well. I have been using a Garmin Nuvi for the past three years, and it's a bit different, not bad...just different.

I like having my GPS on my phone, and I hope that future updates will continue to improve this GPS software. Just wondering if they are going to charge us for new maps every year. I never paid for new maps on my Garmin as I thought the updates were too expensive, about $80.

[fredf]

[QUOTE=iMerlin;8156351]B.iCycle has GPS but no guidance to the best of my knowledge. It does have street names and stuff like that but you cant input a destination. It can map your route AFTER you have taken it and then email it to you for viewing in Google Earth.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v686/FJMerlin/Picture27.png

iMerlin: just a clarification. b.icylce then has a full gps and I wouldn't need to bring paper maps. all it would be missing is the ability to pre plan or pre desginate a route?
That might very well work for me.

However, if you wanted to pre mark a route (I often get routes from the local club and would like to mark them on a map before I leave) what program would you then use for cycling?

thanks

[iSimon]

The website also mentions...

Even more features!
"More functions such as TMC and text-to-speech will follow in late summer."

What is TMC?
Traffic (stands for Traffic Message Channel (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traffic_Message_Channel)) - not sure exactly how they are proposing to incorporate it since TMC is traditionally sent via FM, which of course the iPhone doesn't have. Perhaps it will be some sort of cell network-based TMC (like TomTom's traffic).

[sevimli]

Another weird thing, I have contacts with addresses. I was able to pinpoint all these contacts using Google Maps.

Whenever I try to set destination via "contacts" option, Navigon finds totally unrelated addresses. Not even close, only the city name is correct.

The address format in contacts is like that;

333 S State St
Chicago, IL 60604

:confused::confused::confused::confused:

[MBHockey]

Does anyone know what the "Block" feature is in Navigon? What does it do?

[fredf]

to follow up on my previous question about b.icycle (by the way, I'm still waiting to here an answer about whether you can use b.icycle to plan a route so I don't have to take a paper route map):

what about motionx gps, how does that compare to b.icycle?

[severe]

to follow up on my previous question about b.icycle (by the way, I'm still waiting to here an answer about whether you can use b.icycle to plan a route so I don't have to take a paper route map):

what about motionx gps, how does that compare to b.icycle?

Please start another thread.

[COBRASVT]

Traffic (stands for Traffic Message Channel (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traffic_Message_Channel)) - not sure exactly how they are proposing to incorporate it since TMC is traditionally sent via FM, which of course the iPhone doesn't have. Perhaps it will be some sort of cell network-based TMC (like TomTom's traffic).

United States of America and Canada TMC Providers

MSN Direct is available in 100 of the largest cities across the United states.

Total Traffic Network (Clear Channel) serves more than 125 metropolitan markets in four countries, including the United States, Canada, Mexico and New Zealand. Total Traffic Network delivers real-time traffic data via in-car or portable navigation systems, broadcast media, wireless and Internet-based services.

NAVTEQ Traffic delivers a TMC service using a wide variety of technologies including satellite (to 79 major metropolitan markets), FM-RDS, wireless mobile networks (Traffic Mobile), Internet (Traffic ML – delivered in XML format) and hybrid digital (HD) radio.

XM NavTraffic is a satellite-delivered traffic information service with coverage available in 80 total metropolitan areas, 77 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada. NAVTEQ Traffic is the traffic data aggregator for the XM NavTraffic service.

[MBHockey]

question: did you connect your iPhone via usb to your pioneer? if so do the voice commands also go through your stereo and onto your car speakers along with the music?

Hey sorry I missed this post. Yes, the Navigon sounds come through the speakers when connected via USB along with music. This is terrific, because it's much louder than my garmin.

[MBHockey]

I wanted to add to this thread:

Last night I took it on an hour-long drive up to my cousin's house. The drive can be tricky if you aren't familiar with the turn-offs and sudden exits, so I figured it'd be a good test for the app. I also set up my standalone Garmin StreetPilot 330 to see, in real time, how the two devices compared.

Before I even did the test I knew the Garmin would be better, but I decided to humor myself and have them both go at it side by side. I couldn't have been more pleased with the results. The Navigon's lane assist feature on highways is much more than a gimmick (what I originally thought). Whereas the Garmin would tell you to simply exit in 0.5 miles, the Navigon brought up a big picture of the exit signs which always had the same text on them as the actual ones I was seeing, and it helped to navigate through the exits that are like 9A/9B so you knew exactly which one to take when they are close together.

Neither of them dropped the signal during the whole trip. I was also listening to music on my iPhone while navigating and it didn't skip once.

Navigon's voice is much more natural and pleasant than the robotic Garmin voice, and screen updating is much more smooth and fluid than on the Garmin. I also preferred the route that Navigon offered to the one Garmin was showing (both were set to Shortest Time).

Recalculations were a bit faster on the Garmin, but only by a couple of seconds which is inconsequential.

One thing that's great about the Garmin, though, is that it always correctly shows the arrow pointing in whichever direction you are looking (at a stop for example). It seems that Navigon does not take advantage of the compass in the 3GS. Sometimes it won't point in the right direction until after I've moved a few hundred feet.

I'm now convinced that I can eBay my old Garmin. I prefer everything in one device, and there were many times I simply didn't use the Garmin because I didn't want to set it up on the dash. My iPhone has its own mount next to my head unit and is plugged in via USB in the car, so this isn't an issue.

[avaloncourt]

I wanted to add to this thread:

The Navigon's lane assist feature on highways is much more than a gimmick (what I originally thought). Whereas the Garmin would tell you to simply exit in 0.5 miles, the Navigon brought up a big picture of the exit signs which always had the same text on them as the actual ones I was seeing, and it helped to navigate through the exits that are like 9A/9B so you knew exactly which one to take when they are close together.

That's not lane assist. That's reality view.

Lane Assist

http://gpstracklog.com/images/2008/09/13/navigon_2000s.jpg


Reality View

http://www.geek.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/03/navigon_reality.jpg


http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?p=8160845#post8160845

[MBHockey]

Ok

[vertigo235]

Does anyone know what the "Block" feature is in Navigon? What does it do?

It's basically a detour feature. It avoids the route ahead at the length that you specify.

[SpaceKitty]

I noticed that this Navigon app has different map shading to indicate different cities. The shading is kind of an olive green and trying to read the street names in that color is nearly impossible. The next city over will be the lighter color again and then the street names are easy to read again.

I found that turning night mode on permanently gets rid of that problem and I can always read the street names then.

I was holding the iPhone 3G in my hand the entire time and several times it would lose the GPS signal for a few seconds. That will probably stop once I get a dashboad mount.

I never got the battery drain that others have mentioned. I have a Griffin Power Jolt that I used for my 3G and the battery always stayed at 100%.

I did notice some lag on my 3G. This wasn't the map lagging but the phone being sluggish probably due to low memory. I would hit the options button accidentally and it would take several seconds to go into the opptions screen. Since I hit it accidentally, I would hit the done button and it would take several seconds to respond. It got into this cycle of going back to options, map screen, options, map screen over and over again without me doing anything.

I haven't tried this on my 3GS yet even though it's installed on it. I'm using the 3G as a GPS and the 3GS as a phone. :)

[scariaga]

Hey sorry I missed this post. Yes, the Navigon sounds come through the speakers when connected via USB along with music. This is terrific, because it's much louder than my garmin.

great thanks

[james4513]

I have an iPhone, wife has one, son has one. Can I buy one copy and load on all 3 of my iPhones? If so, please share how.

[Rayfire]

I have an iPhone, wife has one, son has one. Can I buy one copy and load on all 3 of my iPhones? If so, please share how.

Yes you can do that. iTunes will let you allow to authorize upto 5 computers. You just use the same iTunes account on all three iPhones.

[MBHockey]

It's basically a detour feature. It avoids the route ahead at the length that you specify.

Ah, makes sense. Thanks.

I noticed that this Navigon app has different map shading to indicate different cities. The shading is kind of an olive green and trying to read the street names in that color is nearly impossible. The next city over will be the lighter color again and then the street names are easy to read again.

I found that turning night mode on permanently gets rid of that problem and I can always read the street names then.

I was holding the iPhone 3G in my hand the entire time and several times it would lose the GPS signal for a few seconds. That will probably stop once I get a dashboad mount.

I never got the battery drain that others have mentioned. I have a Griffin Power Jolt that I used for my 3G and the battery always stayed at 100%.

I did notice some lag on my 3G. This wasn't the map lagging but the phone being sluggish probably due to low memory. I would hit the options button accidentally and it would take several seconds to go into the opptions screen. Since I hit it accidentally, I would hit the done button and it would take several seconds to respond. It got into this cycle of going back to options, map screen, options, map screen over and over again without me doing anything.

I haven't tried this on my 3GS yet even though it's installed on it. I'm using the 3G as a GPS and the 3GS as a phone. :)

Yeah, really the only complaint I have with the Navigon display is that it is difficult to read street names and it's also difficult to see exit numbers for upcoming exits. I also don't like that they put the name of the street of your next turn at the bottom of the screen -- it makes me think that it's displaying the road I'm on. I'd like to have the option of picking which to display, or both.

[vertigo235]

Ah, makes sense. Thanks.



Yeah, really the only complaint I have with the Navigon display is that it is difficult to read street names and it's also difficult to see exit numbers for upcoming exits. I also don't like that they put the name of the street of your next turn at the bottom of the screen -- it makes me think that it's displaying the road I'm on. I'd like to have the option of picking which to display, or both.

You can change the street at the bottom of the screen to the street you are on by tapping it. You might allready know this but I wasn't sure.

I also agree that the exit #'s are too small, expecially on reality view, I guess it's a little to REAL, I would prefer the exit # to be larger and more visible on reality view.

[odelay]

I've searched and searched, but cannot find an answer to this, here or elsewhere, so apologies if it's been answered already and I've missed it.

I've got my iPhone hooked up to my new Sony CDX-GT530UI via the USB input, and it works great, charging my iPhone and playing audio from my iPhone as well as voice updates from Navigon. Question is: I would like to disable the Navigon audio and just rely on the visual map for parts of my journeys, but I can't figure out how to disable the voice prompts. I see you can turn the volume right down, but then my music still "fades" when a voice prompt would normally be heard. Is there any way to stop it from doing this? i.e. I just want to listen to music uninterrupted and without the volume changes. Thanks!

[BryanLyle]

Is there any way to stop it from doing this? i.e. I just want to listen to music uninterrupted and without the volume changes. Thanks!

I think it's something that will be available in the next release.

[odelay]

I think it's something that will be available in the next release.

Cool, thanks for the quick reply.

[blueprint1983]

i'm still having problems where I won't have any verbal assistance when I ONLY use Navigon. It works when I having my Ipod running in the background.:confused:

[m3coolpix]

i'm still having problems where I won't have any verbal assistance when I ONLY use Navigon. It works when I having my Ipod running in the background.:confused:

This really sounds like the app volume is set very low. Navigon volume is different from headphone volume or ringer volume.

Try this......open Navigon while you DON'T have a sufficient GPS signal (like when in your house/apartment). Then, you can put Navigon in simulation mode of a route (set one up and start it). While it's simulating the route, use the volume up to see if that helps.

If this doesn't fix it, I'm not sure on your problem. Might have to contact Navigon.

[blueprint1983]

This really sounds like the app volume is set very low. Navigon volume is different from headphone volume or ringer volume.

Try this......open Navigon while you DON'T have a sufficient GPS signal (like when in your house/apartment). Then, you can put Navigon in simulation mode of a route (set one up and start it). While it's simulating the route, use the volume up to see if that helps.

If this doesn't fix it, I'm not sure on your problem. Might have to contact Navigon.

That's not the problem, the problem is as follows:

-Voice assistance works when I have the Ipod running in the background AND the volume option is there, can be raised or lowered.
-Voice assistance does not work when Navigon is running by itself but get this:

There is NO volume option when Navigon works by itself, only when the Ipod is running.

[m3coolpix]

That's not the problem, the problem is as follows:

-Voice assistance works when I have the Ipod running in the background AND the volume option is there, can be raised or lowered.
-Voice assistance does not work when Navigon is running by itself but get this:

There is NO volume option when Navigon works by itself, only when the Ipod is running.

I quite understand the problem you are having, and I can replicate it (as well as get out of it) quite easily.

There is no visible 'volume slider' in Navigon as it exists in the iPod program, or even other 3rd party programs that use sound. Navigon volume is only controllable while the voice is talking (or a very short time after). You always change the Navigon app's volume with the buttons on the side of the iPhone. As for me, the volume slider in the options menu changes value, it doesn't really do anything.

If there is no voice talking in Navigon (and you do not have the iPod or other sound app running), then when you change the volume the label on the volume is 'Ringer'.

But, if you change the volume while the navigation voice is talking (whether in navigation simulation mode, or in navigation with a GPS signal), the volume control will have no label (it is a separate app control volume) independent of the Ringer (or other) volume controls. In fact, if you do this at the appropriate time right before a voice command, you can see the volume label (and the volume level) change between being BLANK (navigon volume) and RINGER.

The reason you hear the Navigon voice while the iPod app is playing in the background, is because of the iPod volume setting. Change the volume of the iPod, and you change the volume of Navigon (if the iPod app is running, because it's volume is over-riding the Navigon volume).

I can have the volume slider in the options menu in Navigon set to full, while there is no volume at all coming through the speaker. BUT, if while navigation is running, I can use the up/down volume controls to change the Navigon app volume, while the slider in options doesn't change at all. IOW, I think this is an issue that may need to be corrected.

Maybe I need to video this to prove my point?

[blueprint1983]

I quite understand the problem you are having, and I can replicate it (as well as get out of it) quite easily.

There is no visible 'volume slider' in Navigon as it exists in the iPod program, or even other 3rd party programs that use sound. Navigon volume is only controllable while the voice is talking (or a very short time after). You always change the Navigon app's volume with the buttons on the side of the iPhone. As for me, the volume slider in the options menu changes value, it doesn't really do anything.

If there is no voice talking in Navigon (and you do not have the iPod or other sound app running), then when you change the volume the label on the volume is 'Ringer'.

But, if you change the volume while the navigation voice is talking (whether in navigation simulation mode, or in navigation with a GPS signal), the volume control will have no label (it is a separate app control volume) independent of the Ringer (or other) volume controls. In fact, if you do this at the appropriate time right before a voice command, you can see the volume label (and the volume level) change between being BLANK (navigon volume) and RINGER.

The reason you hear the Navigon voice while the iPod app is playing in the background, is because of the iPod volume setting. Change the volume of the iPod, and you change the volume of Navigon (if the iPod app is running, because it's volume is over-riding the Navigon volume).

I can have the volume slider in the options menu in Navigon set to full, while there is no volume at all coming through the speaker. BUT, if while navigation is running, I can use the up/down volume controls to change the Navigon app volume, while the slider in options doesn't change at all. IOW, I think this is an issue that may need to be corrected.

Maybe I need to video this to prove my point?

I got you and they DO need to sync the volume slider in Navigon to the volume up/down buttons on the left side of the iPhone.

Also, the reason why Navigon wasn't audible was because I had switch the on/off switch (the one on the left side of the iPhone with the orange dot) to OFF and didn't realize it.

Now, Navigon will still be over-ridden by the Ipod App since that Ipod can bypass that orange on/off switch on the left side of the iPhone and consequently BOTH will still work (luckily).

BUT still, this is confusing for someone driving wondering where the hell their voice assistance is!

They also should not have the volume slider 'disappear' when the orange audio on/off switch is on. Cause that's just confusing.

[Rayfire]

So Navigon users, what's your verdict - are you satisfied with this app and highly recommend it OR should other people wait for other TBT?

[NightStorm]

So Navigon users, what's your verdict - are you satisfied with this app and highly recommend it OR should other people wait for other TBT?

Absolutely no complaints here.

[gloss]

I like it. It could use some updates, but they're on their way and that's fine with me.

[vertigo235]

I love it, would definetly recomend it.

[vexatia]

What I've been doing is setting the iPhone to show the ipod controls on double-click of the home button while music is playing. That way, I can be in the Nav app with music already playing, double-tap the home key to access the controls, then close the controls without ever leaving the nav system.

..or, if you're jailbroken, install backgrounder, that way you can immediately return from adjusting ipod settings to Navigon even if you need to do more than what's available on the limited ipod popup menu PLUS incoming phone calls won't wtf pwn Navigon by unexpectedly terminating tracking :D

[blueprint1983]

i gave it a 7.5/10. it needs work on certain things that've already been mentioned.

They need to clarify if they are going to give MAP updates for free too.

They should NOT raise their prices no matter what.

[Randman]

I tried AT&T Navigator for a month. It was all right but not worth $120 a year (and counting). I finally said screw TomTom and got Navigon and am pleased so far.

[Pika]

I tried AT&T Navigator for a month. It was all right but not worth $120 a year (and counting). I finally said screw TomTom and got Navigon and am pleased so far.

With navigon you don't have to pay monthly/yearly bills like TomTom.

[m3coolpix]

So Navigon users, what's your verdict - are you satisfied with this app and highly recommend it OR should other people wait for other TBT?

I'm quite happy with it. It has a two annoyances for me, both have been mentioned (volume syncing and legible street names). However, neither are barriers to purchase IMHO, and I've no regrets at all.

A couple of notes about use. A car charger is almost a necessity to keep the iPhone charged while Navigon is running, and a mount required to keep the GPS signal locked. So, I bought the Kensington Car Mount for iPod and used it with Navigon all day yesterday. Never lost the GPS signal over 200 miles of driving in rural and metroplex area (some of that in very heavy storms). Very nice addition, quite well made.

I also bought the Kensington LiquidAUX Car Kit. Really nice also, but....the charger functionality only kept the iPhone at the current state of battery charge as when I started my trip (which was a roundtrip total of 3+ hours). The battery status didn't go up, and it didn't discharge. Before using the Kensington LiquidAUX Car Kit, I was using an XTREMEMAC iPhone car charger. This charger would re-charge the iPhone battery with Navigon running. So, it's obvious that vehicle chargers are made with differing amounts of current flow to the dock/battery.

[gloss]

With navigon you don't have to pay monthly/yearly bills like TomTom.

Just to clarify: Neither TomTom nor Navigon carry a monthly charge. Your post could be read that way, but it was ambiguous. :D

I'm quite happy with it. It has a two annoyances for me, both have been mentioned (volume syncing and legible street names). However, neither are barriers to purchase IMHO, and I've no regrets at all.

A couple of notes about use. A car charger is almost a necessity to keep the iPhone charged while Navigon is running, and a mount required to keep the GPS signal locked. So, I bought the Kensington Car Mount for iPod and used it with Navigon all day yesterday. Never lost the GPS signal over 200 miles of driving in rural and metroplex area (some of that in very heavy storms). Very nice addition, quite well made.

I also bought the Kensington LiquidAUX Car Kit. Really nice also, but....the charger functionality only kept the iPhone at the current state of battery charge as when I started my trip (which was a roundtrip total of 3+ hours). The battery status didn't go up, and it didn't discharge. Before using the Kensington LiquidAUX Car Kit, I was using an XTREMEMAC iPhone car charger. This charger would re-charge the iPhone battery with Navigon running. So, it's obvious that vehicle chargers are made with differing amounts of current flow to the dock/battery.

I took a trip using a Kensington Windshield Mount (which is great, btw) and running power through my old Alpine stereo with a first-gen iPod interface (i.e. slow and kludgy) and a Scosche Firewire-to-USB adapter and, on a trip to Philly, only lost GPS signal twice - once in a tunnel (duh) and once on the bottom deck of a double-decker bridge (duh).

Happily, the power flow seemed to trend upward, albeit slowly, and my phone was topped off by the end of the trip.

So yeah, these things do vary.

[stockcerts]

I have a JVC car stereo which I love as I have full iPod functionality. I keep my iPhone plugged in with the USB cable while playing music, and of course while using Navigon. The voice instructions come through my speakers, which is nice. As for charging...it stays at a constant while connected. Probably the thing to do is turn down the brightness for longer trips.

I'm happy with my purchase.

[nightmoves13]

Not sure If this has been said before but with the new 3.1 beta directions from navigon will play over bluetooth headsets or Bluetooth speakers. Works great in my car now!

[BryanLyle]

Not sure If this has been said before but with the new 3.1 beta directions from navigon will play over bluetooth headsets or Bluetooth speakers. Works great in my car now!

Not only that, but 3.1 has brought my BlueAnt ST3 voice control. Very nice.

[jdee2wheels]

So Navigon users, what's your verdict - are you satisfied with this app and highly recommend it OR should other people wait for other TBT?


I gotta say I'm pretty disappointed in the app especially for the price being asked. When it has a GPS signal it's pretty impressive, but the GPS signal is just too unreliable for using in a car. If it's really cloudy or if the route is somewhat tree lined I'll loose my signal for minutes at time. I've never had this problem with a normal GPS. At this point it seems like a bit of a novelty app to me. I really wish there was some way to get my money back. It actually has me annoyed with the whole app store in general. I'm getting tired of blowing money on apps that I can't try out beforehand.

Also, just for reference; I've restored my phone twice now trying to improve the GPS signal. The phone is placed with line of sight to the sky, and google maps usually has a perfect GPS signal when navigon can't find one (though I still think the GPS chip in the iphone isn't good enough for car navigation anyway).

[Pika]

I usually keep getting this:

http://tweetreel.s3.amazonaws.com/images/3085269270_rotated.jpg

I believe that TomTom is going to be no better because the GPS chip in the iphone isn't designed for car navigation so the TomTom company is going to force us to buy their gadgetry for what ever price... which sucks :(

[avaloncourt]

I gotta say I'm pretty disappointed in the app especially for the price being asked. When it has a GPS signal it's pretty impressive, but the GPS signal is just too unreliable for using in a car.

It's good to see this post. I wish everyone would get on the same page on this. There are so many comments in the TomTom threads saying "I don't know why I'd need an external GPS in the mount. The one in the phone works just fine." There are people practically saying they throw the phone on the floor in their car and Navigon works just fine. :)

Back when the 3G came out it was repeatedly stated by the hardware websites that the GPS antenna in the 3G was much too small to provide reliable GPS acquisition for turn-by-turn applications. My only direct experience with the failures of the GPS was attempting to do Geocaching. In a word, it sucked. Any tree canopy at all would shift the accuracy to the 150 to 300 foot range.

Somehow now the previously-determined inadequate GPS is now perfectly adequate for navigation use when timing and accuracy are critical. I don't know if the people giving it glowing reviews are in the central US where the next tree is 4 miles away and a hill to them is a speed bump. I wish Apple would let us see the signal levels on the GPS channels to let us make up our own minds.

[m3coolpix]

Found this on the Navigon's web site, for those having GPS signal issues (did have to correct typos!-sheesz). Maybe some other factors are causing some issues for people.

--------
A limited GPS signal can have many different reasons:

Bad positioning of the iPhone in the car. Like with every portable navigation device, the iPhone should always have a free view to the sky.

Metallized thermally insulated windshield

Usage of design or protective covers - While using our NAVIGON Software please avoid using covers since these influence the reception of a GPS signal.
-----------

I wonder how many posting here that are having GPS signal issues have cases on their iPhones?

FWIW, we've now used the Navigon app throughout rural and metropolitan areas of Texas (me) and throughout rural and city areas of Louisiana (my dad). No major GPS signal problems (meaning loss of signal for 5+ seconds). I have a 2 week old iPhone 3GS, and he has my 1 year old iPhone 3G. Both on 3.0 software. Neither of us is currently using a case, and both of us are using a car charger and window mount.

It probably would help some of the Navigon reviews if the above FAQ information was posted on the App Store description page.

I'll try tomorrow on a 120 mile trip to see how a case affects my use. I've got a SwitchEasy case I can put on it.

[Pika]

I wonder how many posting here that are having GPS signal issues have cases on their iPhones? I have an OtterBox Defender case.

[schulzmc]

FWIW, we've now used the Navigon app throughout rural and metropolitan areas of Texas (me) and throughout rural and city areas of Louisiana (my dad). No major GPS signal problems (meaning loss of signal for 5+ seconds). I have a 2 week old iPhone 3GS, and he has my 1 year old iPhone 3G. Both on 3.0 software. Neither of us is currently using a case, and both of us are using a car charger and window mount.

While I am not minimizing that some people are having major GPS signal strength issues, here is another data point: I have never once seen Navigon lose the GPS signal once it has obtained the initial "lock." That includes a lot of driving in the past two weeks in urban and rural areas, in and out of heavily wooded areas, and in the middle of a thunderstorm. It also includes both window mounted in our van and on a low, dashboard mount in my Jeep (with a hard top on the Jeep). I do not, however, have a case of any kind on my phone.

Could it be that some phones have a better GPS chip set than others? Or are the mixed results we are seeing case related?

[vertigo235]

I'm afraid there is too many factors with the GPS lock, I guess I'm lucky to have a phone, iPhone mount, car, location that I put the iPhone, that doesn't give me any problems.

Looks like some people have a problem with one of the things above that is causing them not to keep a solid signal.

[m3coolpix]

More on the GPS signal issues....

Thinking about a sales pitch I had a few weeks ago when we recently had the windows tinted on my wife's new car.....I was looking at two different high performance tint options (here in TX, every degree counts with in car temperatures, we do everything to keep the car cool).....one option was 'metallized' and the other was 'ceramic'. Each was a coating on the tinting. The sales lady mentioned that the metallized product would affect cell phone reception and toll tag functionality (like not work as well).

So, we went with the ceramic (cost was an arm and a leg), but it works.

How does this affect the GPS signals getting to the iPhone if the iPhone is mounted in the windshield (and most everyone is tinting the side windows)? Well, come to find out, they use the metallized coatings in the front windshields too. It helps with heat reduction.

Google 'metallized windshields', and you'll find all kinds of info, and even some PDFs listings of car manufacturers and models that have it.

No wonder TomTom will be selling a mount that has an external GPS antenna. I'll bet that their GPS antenna is in the suction cup area (just behind it), which gets their GPS antenna VERY close to the windshield for the best reception. When using a good window mount, the iPhone is still 3-6" away (if not more) from the windshield. All this added together (distance to the windshield, metallized windshields, iPhone cases, GPS chip quality variations, and iPhone GPS antenna size), is what causes the mixed GPS signal locks/acquisition experience for everyone.

[severe]

More on the GPS signal issues....

Interesting, thanks.

[Squid7085]

I keep loosing reception on the GPS really anytime I pull the phone into the car, it seems to stay locked for awhile and then looses it. I guess it requires a much more precise location instead of making the circle bigger, a la Google Maps.

[Rayfire]

Appreciate your responses NightStorm, gloss, vertigo235, blueprint1983, m3coolpix, jdee2wheels. It seems most of the reviews too at the iTunes App Store mainly caught people who are still waiting for TomTom to release their own. I might have to jump over the bandwagon too soon.

[Rayfire]

(btw consider this as a bump)

Ok people, it's Aug 9 (US) here already and for those of you who are in the same boat as me waiting for TomTom to be released before Aug 15, are you guys still waiting?

I have a hunch TomTom won't be able to release it that early, if they did announce something they'll probably give a week or two weeks of notice before the actual availability date. So will you guys get Navigon over TomTom instead? I mean we're just 6 days shy from the app price hike.

[Pika]

I don't see what so special about TomTom compared to Navigon. If Garmin is developing a GPS app for the iPhone when TomTom get released, i would go with Garmin over TomTom anytime. TomTom GPS hardware sucks compared to Garmin. Garmin Rocks and their user interface is awesome compared to the complexity of TomTom.

[donm527]

I bought the Navigon last night while I was visiting family in the Tampa Bay area... installed and took a quick trip from one family member house to another 10 minutes away and gave perfect directions and was spot on with map location and had no problems with GPS locking on signal.

This is my first experience with GPS. Last two years using a first gen iphone and google maps and have been pretty happy with it for getting directions. Upgraded to 3GS and still used google maps and it was ok when i made a trip from boca to the best western near disney but the gps not accurate as far as showing me off the road and directional never really pointing in right direction and always thought it was the gps chip/signal.

But was pleasantly surprised with the Navigon that it showed me exactly on the road and loved the voice feature and the detail of direction so it's not the chip. it's the programming (and give me thought that the maps app will be tweaked in later updates hopefully which is good for backup). IMO... it is worth the special price for an app that gives you solid performance.

I drove back to ft. laud from tampa and periodically played with the navigon... I didnt really like the route it wanted me to use for beginning of trip but understand why it recommended it... i just happen to know a route that works best for me. i did notice it didnt get gps lock immediately but in about 30-45 seconds it gets a lock and i never lost it.

If I plan to have it on all the time instead of periodically checking then I will need a car charger cause it does use up battery fast. Maybe a window mount with charging (any suggestions?).

But again I have to say for the sale price... its a solid app for a 1.0 release. I imagine whatever comments they are getting as far as bugs and such they will address in a update and maybe they can even tweak performance more. I would like to see the tomtom and be interesting if garmin comes out with one but just hope navigon give out free updates for a little bit.

From the youtube vid on the tomtom site it doesnt seem to show any major difference to the navigon... the difference for me feeling worth spending on others will be if the accuracy is 'dramatically' better than the navigon. coming from a gps newbie, it's already been worlds better than the standard maps on the iphone so i got my moneys worth.

[Rayfire]

I'll wait till the end of the week before I buy this app, I am still kinda worried about their updates whether they're going to be free or not since the one coming up says "free" but when I look on their FAQs, they still don't have a definite answer to the pricing of map/software updates.

[FearlessFreep]

I'll wait till the end of the week before I buy this app, I am still kinda worried about their updates whether they're going to be free or not since the one coming up says "free" but when I look on their FAQs, they still don't have a definite answer to the pricing of map/software updates.
I'm the same. On the fence between Navigon and iGo My Way. If I had to buy today, I'd probably go with the latter, but that's why I'm waiting until just before the Navigon price hike.

[Rayfire]

People waiting till the end of this week to buy Navigon, you might want to take a look at this:

Sept 22 anyone? :rolleyes:

http://www.macrumors.com/images/macrumorsthreadlogo.gif (http://www.macrumors.com/iphone/2009/08/10/tomtom-special-media-event-on-september-22nd/)

"Brightsite", the Twitter account of Dutch site Bright.nl (http://www.bright.nl/), reports (http://twitter.com/Brightsite/status/3225317668) that TomTom has sent out a brief invitation to a special media event scheduled for September 22nd. iPhoneclub.nl reprints (http://www.iphoneclub.nl/32981/tomtom-gaat-op-22-september-toekomst-van-navigatie-onthullen/) [Google translation (http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=nl&u=http://www.iphoneclub.nl/32981/tomtom-gaat-op-22-september-toekomst-van-navigatie-onthullen/)] the text of the invitation in its entirety:While no mention of the much-anticipated TomTom for iPhone (http://www.macrumors.com/iphone/2009/07/07/more-details-on-tomtom-for-iphone-emerge/) hardware/software solution is made in the invitation, speculation is unsurprisingly touching on the introduction of the company's iPhone offerings as a possible topic for the event.

Article Link: TomTom Special Media Event on September 22nd? (http://www.macrumors.com/iphone/2009/08/10/tomtom-special-media-event-on-september-22nd/)

[FearlessFreep]

I don't care if TomTom comes out on Sept. 22 (Epic fail if it does). I'm not paying $150+ for a solution that isn't necessary, and delayed.

CNet review of Navigon v. iGo My Way
http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-10306460-1.html?tag=mncol;title

It should be noted that a couple of the shortcomings listed are already quoted as being addressed in updates for both applications.

[Rayfire]

Navigon users,

Before I take the plunge, I would like to ask you guys something: Does this app remember your previous entries (addresses) so that you can just tap or select them if ever you need to? Sort of like history. Thanks in advance.

[m3coolpix]

Navigon users,

Before I take the plunge, I would like to ask you guys something: Does this app remember your previous entries (addresses) so that you can just tap or select them if ever you need to? Sort of like history. Thanks in advance.

Yes. It already does this. There is a tab called 'Recents'.

[FearlessFreep]

Navigon users,

Before I take the plunge, I would like to ask you guys something: Does this app remember your previous entries (addresses) so that you can just tap or select them if ever you need to? Sort of like history. Thanks in advance.
I realize this is a Navigon thread, but in case anyone is wondering iGo My Way has a similar feature as well if you're comparing the two:
"The smart history 'learns' the user's behavior and habits, and offers a ranked list with the most likely destinations based on the current GPS position, previous routes, day of the week, and time of day."

[lw9090]

Navigon NA is updated to 1.1 now.

[m3coolpix]

I realize this is a Navigon thread, but in case anyone is wondering iGo My Way has a similar feature as well if you're comparing the two:
"The smart history 'learns' the user's behavior and habits, and offers a ranked list with the most likely destinations based on the current GPS position, previous routes, day of the week, and time of day."

That's pretty cool. But, once I've been to a destination, I rarely setup Navigation to get me there again.

I've never used the recents feature of Navigon....

What else would be the benefit?

[FearlessFreep]

That's pretty cool. But, once I've been to a destination, I rarely setup Navigation to get me there again.

I've never used the recents feature of Navigon....

What else would be the benefit?
Agree that from point A to point B again is not particularly useful. But you may need to navigate to somewhere when your starting point is different from the previous trip. In that case the destination remains the same, so the recent/history list would be useful.

[severe]

Navigon NA is updated to 1.1 now.

link?

[SpaceKitty]

link?

It's in iTunes now.

[severe]

It's in iTunes now.

Just got it here, thanks to both of you.

[csonni]

I purchased Navigon Mobile Navigator for my iPad 2 several weeks ago. Compared to some others, it works like a charm. Get's me back on the right road in a jiffy, too. The maps in this app are much better than others. Lots more of POI's as well. We're here in an isolated area of Labrador, Canada and all of our streets are in the maps.
One thing I'd like to figure out is how to manually enter coordinates for waypoints for my upcoming trip. I don't see any options for that. All I see is how to manually enter an address. Does anyone know how to enter coordinates to save as waypoints?

[countrydweller]

I purchased Navigon Mobile Navigator for my iPad 2 several weeks ago. Compared to some others, it works like a charm. Get's me back on the right road in a jiffy, too. The maps in this app are much better than others. Lots more of POI's as well. We're here in an isolated area of Labrador, Canada and all of our streets are in the maps.
One thing I'd like to figure out is how to manually enter coordinates for waypoints for my upcoming trip. I don't see any options for that. All I see is how to manually enter an address. Does anyone know how to enter coordinates to save as waypoints?

If it's the same as the iPhone app, choose more, then choose coordinates. then choose the way you want to enter the coordinates.

[csonni]

Found it earlier. Thank you.
A couple things. I wish there was a simpler method of entering a waypoint on the go instead of having to go into the options menu. Also, I don't see any way that Mobile Navigator keeps any kind of trip information, such as miles traveled, top traveled speed, etc.