Igo My Way vs Navigon

[fredf]

I'd like to start a thread dedicated to the comparison of these two GPS programs.
Others may argue, but to me Igo and Navigon are the two contenders (both essentially at the same price) for best user friendly, maps on the phone, no monthly subscription service GPS. G-Map and Sygic are there also but I would like to here from people who can compare these two.....

[m3coolpix]

Subscribing to this one

Definitely interested, but while I really don't think too hard about $4-$5 here and there comparing similar apps....dropping $75-$85 a pop to compare apps is a bit much.

[fredf]

Originally Posted by m3coolpix

Subscribing to this one

Definitely interested, but while I really don't think too hard about $4-$5 here and there comparing similar apps....dropping $75-$85 a pop to compare apps is a bit much.

agreed, that is a lot of money. but, from what I can see, for North America, they are all in the same price range so that is what it's going to take to sign on for one of these.
And, again, without getting into arguments, it is just the Navigon and iGO that I think are the best and I would like to focus the discussion on comparison of these too.
In particular I would like to make up my mind before the Aug 15 price increase for the Navigon.

[FearlessFreep]

I'm in the same boat. I've about made up my mind for iGo My Way, but am going to wait until mid next week to buy one or the other. $80 is a lot for an app and I want to do my homework first. It's one thing if you get a game that's crappy for $.99 or $4.99. It's another to make an $80 mistake.

[curly14]

Originally Posted by FearlessFreep

I'm in the same boat. I've about made up my mind for iGo My Way, but am going to wait until mid next week to buy one or the other. $80 is a lot for an app and I want to do my homework first. It's one thing if you get a game that's crappy for $.99 or $4.99. It's another to make an $80 mistake.

Have been using the Navigon for the last two weeks and have been everything and more then I can expect. Plus look for more features to come soon from Navigon. i.e. T2S for street names and updated maps for free..

[Rayfire]

Originally Posted by curly14

Have been using the Navigon for the last two weeks and have been everything and more then I can expect. Plus look for more features to come soon from Navigon. i.e. T2S for street names and updated maps for free..

I'm sorry but I've missed the part where you said about the maps, where'd you get/read it from?

[m3coolpix]

I'm thinking of putting together a post specifically aimed at reviewing Navigon, both from a everyday user's standpoint, but also from a troubleshooting standpoint.

This morning I did a trip running around to 3 cities in the DFW area. I specifically did stuff to make Navigon recalculate, lose the GPS signal, and all sorts of other stuff to make it 'mess up'. Was interesting, but Navigon performed well. I can see where some of the comments about directions and GPS signal issues might come from. Details later.

The main difference I see between Navigon and iGO (ATM) is the labeling of street names, and the GPS signal quality indicator. This from looking at the iTunes description of iGO, and reading the iGO PDF manual (which almost can read as a feature description/user manual for Navigon, BTW). Navigon could add the GPS signal indicator and change the text look in a software update.

Personally, I don't like the 'look' of iGO. Navigon is a bit more pleasing to the eye for me.

[FearlessFreep]

@curly14 - I do not recall seeing anything from Navigon regarding free map updates - can you please share your link?

I believe iGo My Way has an automatic day/night mode switch. Does Navigon also have that? What about 3D terrain for mountains, etc? Just trying to refine the list of differences. The two are certainly very similar.

Regardless I think one thing is clear - you do NOT need a separate GPS chip (Tom Tom) in order to use the iPhone for TBT navigation.

[curly14]

Originally Posted by Rayfire

I'm sorry but I've missed the part where you said about the maps, where'd you get/read it from?

Found this review on the web I can only hope the updates are free I mixed it up with the no monthly fee...sorry my bad


Navigon Turn-By-Turn iPhone App Now Available, No Monthly Fee Included
July 22nd, 2009 1:27 PM | by Christen da Cosa |

As talks of a turn-by-turn GPS arriving on the iPhone heated up, so did the debate as to whether or not companies would charge a monthly fee. Then AT&T released their Navigator app for the iPhone and reaffirmed everyone’s suspicions and ultimately leading many folks to say or suggest that you’re better off buying a standalone GPS unit. Fear not, though, because Navigon has got your back.
Today, the company released the first turn-by-turn GPS application for the iPhone that doesn’t include a monthly fee. In their infinite amount of wisdom they probably realized how profitable and fast they could move a GPS system that would only have a one time fee and zero hardware costs. So starting today, right now you can grab their iPhone application, which provides many of the same features found on a standalone GPS unit for $69.99. The price will increase to $100 on August 15th when they’ll probably issue the app’s next update. Just keep in mind that the app is a whopping 1.29GB, which can probably be attributed to the map data.
So what features are included with Navigon’s iPhone app? Voice announcements, intelligent address entry, Reality View Pro, Lane Assistant Pro, real signpost display, day and night mode, direct access to your iPhone contact list, the latest NAVTEQ maps, 2D and 3D map views, access to user defined POIs, one click take me home and more.

Is it possible to update the map material for the iPhone?
Answer: At the moment, the software has the newest NAVTEQ maps available. Questions concerning map updates will be answered at a later time.

I believe if you want European maps those you have to purchase

[m3coolpix]

Originally Posted by FearlessFreep

I believe iGo My Way has an automatic day/night mode switch. Does Navigon also have that? What about 3D terrain for mountains, etc? Just trying to refine the list of differences. The two are certainly very similar.

Regardless I think one thing is clear - you do NOT need a separate GPS chip (Tom Tom) in order to use the iPhone for TBT navigation.

Navigon currently has a on/off switch for setting up day/night mode. I've not used it at night yet. All it does is switch between (or maybe better called reverse) the background/text colors from light to dark, and vice versa. One thing to note, is the text for upcoming street names is MUCH easier to read in night mode.

Can't comment about 3D terrain for mountains....TX doesn't have any

[NightStorm]

Originally Posted by FearlessFreep

@curly14 - I do not recall seeing anything from Navigon regarding free map updates - can you please share your link?

I believe iGo My Way has an automatic day/night mode switch. Does Navigon also have that? What about 3D terrain for mountains, etc? Just trying to refine the list of differences. The two are certainly very similar.

Regardless I think one thing is clear - you do NOT need a separate GPS chip (Tom Tom) in order to use the iPhone for TBT navigation.

I'm pretty sure auto day/night mode is one of the announced features coming in the promised update to Navigon MobileNavigator.

[curly14]

Originally Posted by NightStorm

I'm pretty sure auto day/night mode is one of the announced features coming in the promised update to Navigon MobileNavigator.

Navigon already has a day/night mode

[NightStorm]

Originally Posted by curly14

Navigon already has a day/night mode

Yes, but it doesn't switch automatically based on the time on the device (unless it was included in the 1.1 update, but that isn't out for North America yet). This is what I was referencing in the post I quoted.

[FearlessFreep]

Originally Posted by NightStorm

Yes, but it doesn't switch automatically based on the time on the device (unless it was included in the 1.1 update, but that isn't out for North America yet). This is what I was referencing in the post I quoted.

That's what I was asking as well. That's what my Garmin and apparently the Igo My Way do - they take the time of sundown to wherever you are located and switch automatically at that time.

[sjdigital]

Originally Posted by m3coolpix

I'm thinking of putting together a post specifically aimed at reviewing Navigon, both from a everyday user's standpoint, but also from a troubleshooting standpoint.

That would be good to see, m3coolpix. I had been thinking that something much the same would have been useful based on the European version so if you kick off, I'm sure folks will contribute positively (y'all will, won't you? )

[bonesaw]

http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-10306460-1.html

[countrydweller]

Originally Posted by curly14

Have been using the Navigon for the last two weeks and have been everything and more then I can expect. Plus look for more features to come soon from Navigon. i.e. T2S for street names and updated maps for free..

Curly, still going with 9/3 for TOMTOM????

[dZp]

PocketGPSWorld have put up a nice comparison chart listing prices/features/pros/cons of all the currently available TBT navigation apps for iPhone:
http://www.pocketgpsworld.com/iphone...son-xr5133.php

[severe]

Originally Posted by dZp

PocketGPSWorld have put up a nice comparison chart listing prices/features/pros/cons of all the currently available TBT navigation apps for iPhone:
http://www.pocketgpsworld.com/iphone...son-xr5133.php

That's a nice chart, dZp.

Thanks.

[m3coolpix]

Originally Posted by dZp

PocketGPSWorld have put up a nice comparison chart listing prices/features/pros/cons of all the currently available TBT navigation apps for iPhone...]

Very good comparison. I think they need to include screenshots also, though. While iGO definitely looks better in that chart, it doesn't look better in person . Yeah, I saw the notes in the 'cons' of iGO, but.... iGO to me really looks like it was cut n pasted artwork done by my 6 year old. YMMV.

[ptackbar]

Originally Posted by m3coolpix

Very good comparison. I think they need to include screenshots also, though. While iGO definitely looks better in that chart, it doesn't look better in person . Yeah, I saw the notes in the 'cons' of iGO, but.... iGO to me really looks like it was cut n pasted artwork done by my 6 year old. YMMV.

Is that based on your use of iGo or on the screenshots you've seen?

[severe]

Some of the Navigon "coming soon" features, in this chart, are already available in 1.1.

• Call POI

• Route Planning

[FearlessFreep]

Originally Posted by severe

Some of the Navigon "coming soon" features, in this chart, are already available in 1.1.

• Call POI

• Route Planning

Yes, but 1.1 hasn't been released for North America yet, only Europe.

BTW, the Stopwatches in the chart for the Tom Tom app are hilarious! "Well .... we're WAITING !"

[m3coolpix]

Originally Posted by ptackbar

Is that based on your use of iGo or on the screenshots you've seen?

Screenshots posted all over the web, several videos of it on the web (one produced by iGo themselves), 15 years of Photoshop and Illustrator use.....including logo, illustration and graphic design.....

[fredf]

we may want to hear from people with some experience with Copilot which will be out in North America soon.

As I'm reading it from comments, both iGo and Navigon are good apps. Navigon is less visually effective (text may not stand out enough) and iGo may be guilty of being too much like a video game (ie: visually too busy).

There is always the issue of future updates. All these companies are promising new updates with extra features in the 'near' future. I suspect they will all have similar capabilities soon enough.

It seems to me that the decision will hinge on
1. the 'feel' of each program. this is a very individual thing. different users like different interfaces.
I would like to have more comment on this from users of both (all three) of these programs.

2. how much we trust the developers of each program to keep current and truly deliver on their update promises.
So if anyone has some knowledge of the history of these companies and what kind of attitude they are likely to take, I would like to hear that also.

Keep the comments flowing. These are all very expensive programs and we would all like as much information as possible on which to base our decisions.