One of the best GPS apps for iPad 2?

Garmin does not make navigation app for iPad.

There are really only 2 apps for iPad, CoPilot Live HD North America ($29.99 + $9.99 for 1-year traffic) and NAVIGON North America ($59.99 + $19.99 for life-time traffic).

CoPilot Live HD was on sale for $19.99 last November and NAVIGON goes on sale several times a year (see AppShopper), sometimes as low as $29.99.

I have only NAVIGON so I can't speak for CoPilot HD. (You can look at an old thread that compares both.) I've tried CoPilot Live Directions (an iPhone app), which includes free 30-day trial, and frankly, I was put off by funky UI and poor map quality (in San Francisco San Jose area).

That said, NAVIGON's UI is also a mess, just not nearly as much. Many of the features are buried and poorly documented. Still, both the map and routing are very good and optional lifetime traffic is also more up-to-date than other apps that I've used (it does tend to suggest "******" route from time-to-time, taking an exit ramp then re-enter the highway to bypass some traffic). The app is also a bit slow and map tends to freeze once in awhile (need to flick your finger around the map to refresh).

Motion X GPS for iPad has offline maps and is made for things like hiking, I'd say just not useful as navigation on streets. I don't have it for iPad but I have the iPhone version, it works great. Check it out in iTunes.

I have Navigon and use it in Ontario and like it a lot, but Nutmac has some valid points, although it's never frozen for me. Once you have the route in and are rolling I find it very good. Mines on an iPhone 4.

nutmac said:

Garmin does not make navigation app for iPad.

There are really only 2 apps for iPad, CoPilot Live HD North America ($29.99 + $9.99 for 1-year traffic) and NAVIGON North America ($59.99 + $19.99 for life-time traffic).

CoPilot Live HD was on sale for $19.99 last November and NAVIGON goes on sale several times a year (see AppShopper), sometimes as low as $29.99.

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uhhh, no, Garmin does in fact make an app for the iphone tat works with a gps-enable ipad. Check the appstore

MacMojo1 said:

uhhh, no, Garmin does in fact make an app for the iphone tat works with a gps-enable ipad. Check the appstore

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Although iPhone apps work in iPad (via 2X mode), including Garmin Street Pilot, it's still not an iPad app.

nutmac said:

Although iPhone apps work in iPad (via 2X mode), including Garmin Street Pilot, it's still not an iPad app.

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I beg to differ, if one is looking for a navigation App one first and foremost wants an accurate app that *RUNS* on he iPad. Obviously one optimized for the iPad will have features that give it an edge but to completely not include perfectly functional packages is to do a disservice.

I bought the TomTom app which I like very much. I like the fact that it also works on my iPod Touch (via a cradle that had GPS built in).

Do u guys find the iPad inconvenient for a gps due to it's size?

MartyXB said:

I beg to differ, if one is looking for a navigation App one first and foremost wants an accurate app that *RUNS* on he iPad. Obviously one optimized for the iPad will have features that give it an edge but to completely not include perfectly functional packages is to do a disservice.

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Your argument is not wrong, especially (1) if you plan on using the app for both iPhone/iPod touch as well as iPad and (2) selection of universal/iPad-only navigation apps leave much to be desired.

But I find NAVIGON (which is universal) to be quite good, enough to not want to purchase non-native app anyway.

Does Navigon has signle app. for both iPhone and iPad and you have to purchase 2 times for iPad and iPhone?

yourtoys7 said:

Does Navigon has signle app. for both iPhone and iPad and you have to purchase 2 times for iPad and iPhone?

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NAVIGON is a universal app (indicated by small "+" symbol on the purchase button), which means it runs on both iPhone/iPod touch and iPad.

Navigon is best of the best, period. It's not the cheapest and not necessarily the most visually stunning but it is the best navigator out there. It does have a native iPad interface which most do not. The only other one I know is MotionX GPS HD but it has a big flaw - it won't run on WiFi-only iPads. That one also requires a subscription (it's cheap, but still) and requires a constant data connection. Navigon stores all the maps on device and can work without a data connection.

this app is very practical
you can use it when you travel in a city or in a country.
try it




http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/canada-map/id423959156?mt=8

I do not have an Ipad yet, but I am really happy with Tomtom on my old Dell Axim pda and it does a great job in US and also Western Europe

Navfree? It's free, universal (one version for all iOS devices) and is offline. There are localized versions which take up less space but has less maps (i.e. only maps for California, Germeny, UK, etc.).

Single purchase

yourtoys7 said:

Does Navigon has signle app. for both iPhone and iPad and you have to purchase 2 times for iPad and iPhone?

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I asked Navigon this question when I was waiting for my iPad2 to leave Lantau Island. You do not need to pay twice. And in fact, as I had purchased it for my iPhone when I plugged in my iPad2, Navigon and NavAssist downloaded automatically. I've removed them for now as I only got the 16GB (actually 14 GB) iPad2 and Navigon itself uses almost 2GB. I can't figure out a safe way of mounting it in my car and my iPhone does well with Navigon sitting in the Magellan car mount.

thibaulthalpern said:

Thanks. I'll check out Navigon. It's been on my list.

However, I wonder why you say the big flaw with MotionX is that it doesn't run on the Wifi-only iPads. These types of iPads do not have GPS and so it makes no sense to have a GPS programme running on it! GPS function is built into the cellular chip that only 3G versions of the iPad has. Wifi-only iPads do not have the GPS chip.

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It's a big flaw because the Wi-Fi iPads are perfectly capable of GPS. I tether mine to my iPhone 4 fairly often and it receives accurate GPS data just the same as if it were a 3G iPad. Navigon works fine even on the Wi-Fi models, as well it should.

iPad GPS

Here is a great free one. Waze.

It is a social GPS program. User provide up to the minute traffic reports, speed traps, etc. Also learns of new or closed roads from users.

The iPad only has GPS on the 3G model. Wi-Fi only iPads simulate GPS by using Skyhook type positioning by triangulating based on supposed Wi-Fi router locations.

It looks like a Wi-Fi only iPad is using real GPS (reading the signal from the GPS satellites) but it's not. Accuracy isn't anywhere close to real GPS.