Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Turn-by-Turn GPS Apps Begin to Appear: Gokivo, Sygic, Navigon
- Thread starter MacRumors
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
I don't NEED turn by turn GPS on my iPhone. As a result, I wouldn't (won't) buy GPS software if it is in the $100 range.
However, if they priced it between $30 and $50 I wouldn't think twice and buy it. I really think they would sell a lot more if they priced it a little lower.
My 2 cents.
However, if they priced it between $30 and $50 I wouldn't think twice and buy it. I really think they would sell a lot more if they priced it a little lower.
My 2 cents.
Rather than dealing with turn-by-turn in the phone itself, I'd like to see a nice interface to a standalone unit. If I'm the only one in the house with a 3G(S) then nobody else gets use of it when I'm not in the car (3 adults and 2 teenage divers). I'd like to be able to plan out a route on the phone, setting waypoints and all that, then transfer it via bluetooth to the standalone device. When the 3G(S) is not in play, the standalone works like a regular one.
This would also alleviate the problem of phone calls / music / gaming (for a passenger) / whatever while driving.
This would also alleviate the problem of phone calls / music / gaming (for a passenger) / whatever while driving.
that sygic application looks promising...i'll be in australia and new zealand next month and am thinking about getting this app to help our navigation around the countries...would be much cheaper than renting those gps units from the car rental places...and much cheaper than buying new maps for my garmin...
Installed and trying this out. The neat colorful map shown in the app store only shows up when you have a route active. If no route active then the map looks allot like the google one. Nice loud turn by turn instructions and it was easy to activate this using one registration on two of our iPhones.
Maps are not downloaded which will likely be a problem when cell service is not available. It also doesn't include lane assist.
The $9.99 price may be good for some who just want to have a GPS for a trip since it can be cancelled at any time aithout spending money on a GPS.
Wow ...
That's really high. I've been hoping the dock with North America is $79.99
I was hoping the app (covering a region as you suggest is $15 each or all 4 regions for $40. (North, South, Midwest, West)
Garmin's Nuvi interface is near perfection - have you tried it?
Navigon provides better value, IMHO ....
I know with regular in-car GPS systems, Navigon impressed me the most. It's unfortunate they dropped out of the U.S. market about a month ago, though (citing too much competition on the low end, with Chinese units flooding the marketplace, etc.).
Navigon is the only one I know of who offers a subscription so you can download updated map data every quarter of the year, for 2 full years, for only $50 or so. They also are one of the few that offered lifetime unlimited use of "traffic" features for a one-time purchase of an unlock code.
They also have a really nice "reality view" mode, where it knows what thousands of highway intersections look like, so when you reach one that's in its database, it changes screens to show you exactly how to merge or exit, when needed. (Instead of a simple instruction to "keep right", for example, it can draw a 6 lane freeway and show arrows indicating the 2 lanes you should stay in for the turn, up ahead.)
I know with regular in-car GPS systems, Navigon impressed me the most. It's unfortunate they dropped out of the U.S. market about a month ago, though (citing too much competition on the low end, with Chinese units flooding the marketplace, etc.).
Navigon is the only one I know of who offers a subscription so you can download updated map data every quarter of the year, for 2 full years, for only $50 or so. They also are one of the few that offered lifetime unlimited use of "traffic" features for a one-time purchase of an unlock code.
They also have a really nice "reality view" mode, where it knows what thousands of highway intersections look like, so when you reach one that's in its database, it changes screens to show you exactly how to merge or exit, when needed. (Instead of a simple instruction to "keep right", for example, it can draw a 6 lane freeway and show arrows indicating the 2 lanes you should stay in for the turn, up ahead.)
There is no value in buying the GPS App then having to pay a subscription... madness..
A bi-annual update at most..
Maps should be stored locally and accessible when needed and install appropriately...
P.S. If you have a dedicated market of 40million users +1.3million more per month with GPS devices... why try to bump such a high price??
But I guess that's their chosen business model...
A bi-annual update at most..
Maps should be stored locally and accessible when needed and install appropriately...
P.S. If you have a dedicated market of 40million users +1.3million more per month with GPS devices... why try to bump such a high price??
But I guess that's their chosen business model...
Mini review of the Navigon app (Europe)
8gb 3g iPhone.
Installation:
Had to delete a load of video/audio to leave enough room for the install -- needs approx. 4gb free during install. Takes up around 1.7gb.
Location: Denmark at the moment. Navigon doesn't give you language choices, it defaults to the phone's settings, English in my case.
This is a very intuitive app, easy to use, both in portrait and landscape mode. Excellent integration with contacts, good list of POIs. The top bar shows ETA, but cycles through other data as well (speed etc).
The maps are excellent (and precise (Navteq)), and the interface has a very nice feel.
No traffic alerts (bummer), but the real signs on the freeways, lane assist, and 'next direction' (where it shows you the next two actions) are fantastic. The speed warnings are nicer than TomTom's incessant 'ping'. Instead the nice Lady says 'Beware', once.
The nice Lady is my second biggest problem. Her enunciation is good, apart from the word 'Now', as in 'Now turn left'. That this is my second biggest gripe, gives you an idea how happy I am with this app. The volume through the speakers is surprisingly acceptable, although it would probably be too scratchy in a noisy car. You'd need earplugs for that.
The major problem is when the phone rings and you switch out of Navigon, talk, and wait to switch back.....and wait......and wait. This really is fun if you're in a big city you don't know, and the street corners are just whizzing by. I use a bluetooth headset, so it isn't too bad.
To be fair, this is probably a lot better on the 3GS, but if you receive a lot of calls when you're on the road, you might want to think about it. I don't, so even though it's my biggest gripe, it isn't too bad. I've timed it at 15 seconds, from end of call until Navigon is completely up. Objectively, it doesn't seem like much, but at 50 km/hr in a city it seems awfully long.
In operation the app is nice and fast, and really precise. I've tested it against some really obscure addresses in the Czech Republic and France, and it had all but one of them (a new property development - fair enough).
Finally, a small niggle, which will be solved -- ? I can't find a manual anywhere on Navigons site about the iPhone.
Verdict: Better than TomTom. No regrets. With a cheap suction cup windshield mount (better than I expected), and a Belkin dual USB cigarette charger, I'm really happy.
If you need it, buy it.
8gb 3g iPhone.
Installation:
Had to delete a load of video/audio to leave enough room for the install -- needs approx. 4gb free during install. Takes up around 1.7gb.
Location: Denmark at the moment. Navigon doesn't give you language choices, it defaults to the phone's settings, English in my case.
This is a very intuitive app, easy to use, both in portrait and landscape mode. Excellent integration with contacts, good list of POIs. The top bar shows ETA, but cycles through other data as well (speed etc).
The maps are excellent (and precise (Navteq)), and the interface has a very nice feel.
No traffic alerts (bummer), but the real signs on the freeways, lane assist, and 'next direction' (where it shows you the next two actions) are fantastic. The speed warnings are nicer than TomTom's incessant 'ping'. Instead the nice Lady says 'Beware', once.
The nice Lady is my second biggest problem. Her enunciation is good, apart from the word 'Now', as in 'Now turn left'. That this is my second biggest gripe, gives you an idea how happy I am with this app. The volume through the speakers is surprisingly acceptable, although it would probably be too scratchy in a noisy car. You'd need earplugs for that.
The major problem is when the phone rings and you switch out of Navigon, talk, and wait to switch back.....and wait......and wait. This really is fun if you're in a big city you don't know, and the street corners are just whizzing by. I use a bluetooth headset, so it isn't too bad.
To be fair, this is probably a lot better on the 3GS, but if you receive a lot of calls when you're on the road, you might want to think about it. I don't, so even though it's my biggest gripe, it isn't too bad. I've timed it at 15 seconds, from end of call until Navigon is completely up. Objectively, it doesn't seem like much, but at 50 km/hr in a city it seems awfully long.
In operation the app is nice and fast, and really precise. I've tested it against some really obscure addresses in the Czech Republic and France, and it had all but one of them (a new property development - fair enough).
Finally, a small niggle, which will be solved -- ? I can't find a manual anywhere on Navigons site about the iPhone.
Verdict: Better than TomTom. No regrets. With a cheap suction cup windshield mount (better than I expected), and a Belkin dual USB cigarette charger, I'm really happy.
If you need it, buy it.
Oh gosh, a 15 second delay? That's enough to miss a couple turns. I guess you may have to put it on airplane mode. Thanks for the review. It's these types of reviews that are going to help people make the best decision. 15 seconds?!?
Well, I've been using it today for approx. 250 km, city, highway, and village. I haven't had a chance to time it again, but it 'feels' faster -- or I'm getting more used to it
.I had to make a detour due to road works, and it came up with an alternate extremely quickly.
So, with the aforementioned 15 second caveat, it really performs.
BTW: Doing this on battery alone is a no go. It really drains it fast.
G-Map U.S. West just released their iPhone 3.0 compatible update which now adds voice turn-by-turn. I have been using this app for voiceless TBT and it has been great. This update will make it even better. I honestly think this app is worth the money!
