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NAVIGON Mobile Navigator - North America
- Thread starter vertigo235
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Downloading now, only 20 hours remaining! Yay for hotel internet
That is terrible! Mine downloaded in just a few minutes. I <3 FiOS
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!
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.
It will speed up though later tonight, should be downloaded by morning.
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.
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
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
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.
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!
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.
As I said before: I think the TomTom will have bike routing. Anyone able to comment on that?
Look into the kensington windshield mount. Should fit any case (it adjusts ). Works great!
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??
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.
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.
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...
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.
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...
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.
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...
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.
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 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 is a must buy for all bike fans - It's my app of the summer 09!