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Navigon Demonstrates GPS Navigation Multitasking in iOS 4

I like it. If I'm using my phone as my GPS navigator, I still want to get where I'm going -- even if I happen to take/make a call!

Oh, and I hope Navigon adds support for the "giant" screen of the iPad. They really don't have to add any features for now... just support the extra display area.
 
I need iOS4 on my brain, my brain can't multitask so I can't listen to both at once I am afraid.
 
I think it would be better (although, maybe the OS don't allow it) if the screen continued to show what you were doing before you answered the call. They could put up the green bar so you could get back to the phone controls if you wanted. Just assume you want to continue what you are doing after you answer the call and go back to that.

Also, with the caller hearing the directions too, they can stop talking so you can hear your directions, just like a person in the car would.
 
WiiDSmoker said:
Don't be dumb. How else would it alert you when you're on the phone? You would be the exact same person who would complain if it didn't alert you and you miss your turn. It's the disadvantage of using a all in one device.

I swear some people just don't think.
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Not only that, even if you have two discrete devices (phone and GPS), they would still be audio on both devices that occasionally overlap. Heck, if you had a human navigator in the passenger seat giving directions and you were on the phone, it would be the same.

If you don't talk on the telephone then don't answer it.

You're right, there are some brainless commenters here.
 
Small White Car said:
I'm constantly amazed by people's ability to blame software for their own bad choices. So the software gives you the ability to do 2 things at once but you don't want to do 2 things at once? Well then don't! Pick one.
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You and me both.

I can't wait to see the app only get 1 star because it didn't alert the driver to the accident they were causing or something of the sort.

I see it as the modern day version of this riddle:
You have a small boat and you need to cross a river with three items: a wolf, a lamb, and a bale of hay. You can only take yourself plus one item at a time across the river. The problem is, you cannot leave the wolf alone with the lamb, or the wolf will eat the lamb. Also, you cannot leave the lamb alone with the bale of hay, or the lamb will eat the hay. How do you get all three items across the river?
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Only it's now:
You have a car, a phone call and a map. The problem is you can only concentrate on 2 items at a time and you need to get to your destination / take an important call.

Solution:
Stop concentrating on driving the car. It is a simple enough task to do without paying attention to it. Besides if the app doesn't alert the driver of an impending accident, it should only get a 1 star rating, until that feature is implemented.

Now... those of you complaining still.... put down your mobile devices when your driving before you run that bus load of nuns an orphans off the road.
 
the real question is, what happens when you are listening to Pandora, using NAV, you get a call, and Farmville tells you your crops are done, all the same time. I don't know if I can handle wielding this much power!
 
TomTom crushes Navigon anyway.

Can Navigon sound like Darth Vader?

Nooooooooooooo!

darth-vader.thumbnail.jpg


Luke, use the iPhone!!!
 
The potential problem is that this is *not* how it is with a standalone GPS and a cellphone. If I get a phone call, the GPS display still works and I can glance at it, if I miss the voice directions due to the phone call.

However, with an integrated device, the phone call takes over and the GPS is no longer displayed. Perhaps it is possible to "multitask" the phone call, so it's in the background and the GPS is on screen.
 
going to be a nice feature, now if they make a free HD update to support iPhone 4 screen, I will be happy
 
Navigon should mute the sound of the GPS and display a small bar with a *Beep* sound showing the next turn.
 
Oh god, so first we had all of the whiners who wanted multi-tasking. How that they have multi-tasking, they don't want it. Whine whine whine . Maybe spend the time you whine about it to make some money instead and then go buy a dedicated GPS or android or whatever will make you babies happy.
 
StrykerGT said:
Navigon should mute the sound of the GPS and display a small bar with a *Beep* sound showing the next turn.
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That's exactly how my way overpriced $1500 in-car factory installed GPS works when talking on a bluetooth connected cell phone call over the speakers. Voice navigation is silenced, and replaced with a quick double beep at turns.
 
Seems pretty cool.

One question I have is, what was the vehicle he was in? I mean, the phone was being filmed sitting on a wood panelled board of some sort. What vehicle would have such a dashboard? Or perhaps, was it a board he put on the front of his bicycle for the video? I'm just not sure. Maybe he drives a camper van around for his primary vehicle. Sort of looked like a travelling kitchen display, don't you think?

Very strange, but interesting to see the multi-tasking feature, with a product that will definitely benefit from it.
 
this is exactly how it works when you are running navigon in the background with backgrounder an using a BT headset.. honestly i am not a big fan of it because its quite hard to hear directions when the other person is speaking to you. i understand this is the only way but its really not easy :(
 
Usable...

It makes you wonder how bad this feature will really be... I think the multitasking GPS features will be usable enough in a real world setting, but Navigon completely f-ed themselves with this highlight video because they did such a poor job with audio. Recording an over-bearing, heavy-accent man too-close to a microphone, plus an AT&T phone call on SPEAKER, plus low-quality computer generated directions all on some crappy microphone that was built into their point-and-shoot camera... It's a MESS! If they expect to get positive feedback they shouldn't make a low-grade video.

Realistically, the people on the phone would typically pause while they're receiving directions, not both of them screaming right through it. I think the only reason the person on the other side heard the directions was because it was on speaker, if you place the phone to your ear (illegal in some states) then audio would improve. Ugh.
 
Small White Car said:
Yep. Or here's another idea for everyone!

If you don't want to talk on the phone while getting directions then don't answer the phone!

I'm constantly amazed by people's ability to blame software for their own bad choices. So the software gives you the ability to do 2 things at once but you don't want to do 2 things at once? Well then don't! Pick one.
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DITTO! enough said. people really just like to complain.
 
It's cool that you can finally take a call while using the GPS but navigon should stay in the foreground the call should go in the background. I am not sure if that is achievable simply with API calls though. Oh and for all of those saying that this is annoying get over yourselves. In most cases you are likely to say can I call you back later to the person at the other end so this is a perfect solution (provided that it actually continues to show visual directions as well). I suppose Navigon could allow you to use the phone feature while using the navigation and mute the voice alerts but then again Apple doesn't give you access to absolutely every feature of the phone so this is most likely a needed compromise.
 
DaveF said:
The potential problem is that this is *not* how it is with a standalone GPS and a cellphone. If I get a phone call, the GPS display still works and I can glance at it, if I miss the voice directions due to the phone call.

However, with an integrated device, the phone call takes over and the GPS is no longer displayed. Perhaps it is possible to "multitask" the phone call, so it's in the background and the GPS is on screen.
Click to expand...
Perhaps in a future version of iOS, there would be some ability to prioritize apps. Once you're on a call, there's really no reason to see the person's name for the duration, just some way to be able to bring the call to the front to hang up/etc.
 
Advance The Man said:
Video shows receiving a call and the navigation voice keeps talking (annoying) and he says "isn't that cool?". Well no, it's not - it's annoying. How can you hear your phone conversation when you have Mrs. Robot speaking "turn left ahead".
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Looks like Apple has more "Multi-Taskin'" to do! :D

So, I am sure you always turned the radio off when you received a call, not to mention, you asked your fellow passengers to 'shut up'... :rolleyes:
 
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