Do navigation apps work differently?

[gaanee]

Is there any difference between how the Apple or Google Maps work compared to apps like Navigon and Tomtom which store maps data locally on the phone - specifically power consumption?
Do Apple and Google use GPS chip or their navigation (location info) is based on cell signal data?
I have all three and noticed that even though Navigon doesn't need data, it zaps through battery life pretty fast.

 

[takeshi74]

Do Apple and Google use GPS chip or their navigation (location info) is based on cell signal data?

They all use the GPS receiver. Tower triangulation has too large of a margin of error (and the margin varies quite a bit) for navigation.

I have all three and noticed that even though Navigon doesn't need data, it zaps through battery life pretty fast.

GPS receivers will chew through the battery.