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Turn-by-turn navigation - Why?
- Thread starter fabian9
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This is not indicative of all, or even most, GPS users (they're wonderful gadgets) but some of them are the worst drivers with the worse sense of direction -especially while driving-. I have a friend who literally can't find her way anywhere and can't read a map. A GPS without turn by turn is just about useless to her. Google Maps is even too confusing for her. It's really sad that society has bred this. Another friend of mine isn't quite so bad (Mapquest/Google maps are sometimes confusing but she can use them) but she'd also need the turn by turn since she can't multi-task (i.e. read the GPS while driving, has to be stopped to look at driving directions).
Besides this extreme case, having turn by turn isn't a bad option if you want to keep your eyes on the road. I've used an in-car GPS once and the turn by turn was a distraction at times and gave us consistently "bad" routes 50% of the time (mostly extra long routes but sometimes it would get confused and want us to drive in a 100 Mile circle). So even when it's working 100% right, I like using GPS systems as electronic maps.
Haha I got into an argument with my room mate about the 405 and 5 being connected. They swore up and down that it wasn't so even though I take the route all the time. Some people just can't navigate even when they've lived in the area their entire lives.
Besides this extreme case, having turn by turn isn't a bad option if you want to keep your eyes on the road. I've used an in-car GPS once and the turn by turn was a distraction at times and gave us consistently "bad" routes 50% of the time (mostly extra long routes but sometimes it would get confused and want us to drive in a 100 Mile circle). So even when it's working 100% right, I like using GPS systems as electronic maps.
Haha I got into an argument with my room mate about the 405 and 5 being connected. They swore up and down that it wasn't so even though I take the route all the time. Some people just can't navigate even when they've lived in the area their entire lives.
LOL...probably. What percentage of them do you think have ever kissed a girl?
Oh yeah, and since common sense has taken a holiday on this site, as usual, if you don't want turn-by-turn....get this....don't buy it. Wooooo, that was HARD, huh? Wow! Personally, I like turn-by-turn. I've used it for years. Why? Because I do. And since it's available for lots of other capable phones and stand-alone units, I'd tend to think a lot of other people would agree with me. And those that don't probably don't even look at them twice, let alone stand in front of the displays and bitch about them as if they were an invention of the antichrist.
I honestly think turn by turn would be a major selling point for the iPhone
My dad was looking into buying a phone, and as the iPhone has GPS he asked me about turn by turn. When i told him it didnt have it, he just chose a different phone.
It might not be everyones cup of tea, but if you didn't like turn by turn, then just dont use it? I can only see the addition of turn by turn as a positive for the iPhone
My dad was looking into buying a phone, and as the iPhone has GPS he asked me about turn by turn. When i told him it didnt have it, he just chose a different phone.
It might not be everyones cup of tea, but if you didn't like turn by turn, then just dont use it? I can only see the addition of turn by turn as a positive for the iPhone
Try navigating downtown in any large city (I've done Atlanta, Nashville, Birmingham, and New Orleans) and see how far your "simple" memorization of "simple" directions gets you.
Currently, there are a few options:
- Have a friend ride shotgun and act as a co-pilot, using either your iPhone with its GPS or a printout from Google Maps or something similar.
- Have a local ride shotgun, who knows exactly where everything is and how to get there.
- Wander around aimlessly until you happen upon your destination.
- Spend a ridiculous amount of time memorizing directions.
- Buy a Garmin. (or TomTim, or Magellan. Whatever.)
Your flawless plan of memorizing "simple" directions works fine until you try to route around a traffic jam, hit a detour, or go beyond the handful of items that normal folks can retain in short-term memory.
Your perspective is short-sighted, at best, and woefully ignorant.
How is a synthesized voice description of what to do more clear than this?
This is a single turn (or a small set of turns) in a route that covers nearly 100 miles.
The turn-by-turn GPS (a Garmin, in my case) is a "set it and forget it" kind of thing.
With your "superior" iPhone skills, I have to tap the screen for every turn that I need to see (which usually involves a serious -- and distracting -- context switch and reorientation to the map) ... and we're assuming that I have solid data coverage when I need it *and* that my phone (this is a phone, after all) isn't going to ring and refuse to show me a turn when I really need it.
And what if you hit a detour? Miss a turn? Try to route around traffic? You'll be fumbling with your iPhone while I let my Garmin do the heavy lifting, recalculate a route, and tell me where to turn.
I'm a huge fan of turn-by-turn GPS functionality, but I don't think that it has a place on the iPhone. This is the sort of thing best left to dedicated devices.
If you can't follow signage like 405 SOUTH RIGHT 3 LANES, then you shouldn't be driving. If you can't read street signs, you shouldn't be driving because that means you also can't read one way signs. If you can't figure out that 101 and 170 are connected for a few miles, you shouldn't be driving. If you need your phone to spoon feed you directions, you shouldn't be driving.
If you can't view this MagicEye, you shouldn't be driving:
Because if you aren't able to focus beyond the display, you will probably end up hitting pedestrians.
The iPhone's current method of giving directions is all anyone ever needs unless they lack the brain capacity to drive. It already gives way too much detail. When I get directions somewhere, I NEVER need to zoom in and look at the turns. Thankfully the DOT has blessed us with signs and lanes making driving easy and doable to the dumbest of people. When your iPhone says to take 99 south to 5 south to 405 south to 118 west and exit Reseda, is it REALLY that difficult that you need your device to tell you when to turn? The street signs aren't enough? Really? You really are incapable of doing that? Really?
God, I hope that if one day they do implement some sort of spoon feed mechanism that talks at me when I'm trying to drive somewhere, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE have an off switch. PLEASE.
E=Mc2. Am I able to drive now?
I have to disagree about whether TBT belongs on the iPhone or not; I agree that an AIO GPS device will be much more sophisticated and optimized for all round GPS navigation but I have used TBT on a WinMo device - HTC P3470 with TomTom Navigator 6 - and it worked remarkably well. Would I use TBT on a PDA for a long complicated journey? Probably not, since AIO devices have nice features like avoiding or including toll roads etc. For a simple journey, a PDA with a capable application works surprisingly well.
Even the tbt gps on the Nokia N95 worked ok enough to set it and forget it ... it was usable for short trips ... but the screen was small and the controls difficult because of non-touchscreen.
The iPhone, ever since i laid eyes on it back at MW2007 has been screaming out to be made into a GPS unit ... the SDK limitations are for using Googles maps (or the interface into them) .... an independant (tomtom/garmin) type app would be using licensed maps from whoever themselves and not using the in-built ones
Similarly the arguement for Apple not wanting to be sued is insane ... all GPS apps on devices i've ever see have a massive disclaimer splash screen ... and the iphone GPS would be no different from any other mobile or actual dash GPS unit anyway
Either no company can make the app for some technical reason or apple is withholding something ... we'll know sooner or later.... my guess TBT might be a headlining feature of iPhone next-gen
The iPhone, ever since i laid eyes on it back at MW2007 has been screaming out to be made into a GPS unit ... the SDK limitations are for using Googles maps (or the interface into them) .... an independant (tomtom/garmin) type app would be using licensed maps from whoever themselves and not using the in-built ones
Similarly the arguement for Apple not wanting to be sued is insane ... all GPS apps on devices i've ever see have a massive disclaimer splash screen ... and the iphone GPS would be no different from any other mobile or actual dash GPS unit anyway
Either no company can make the app for some technical reason or apple is withholding something ... we'll know sooner or later.... my guess TBT might be a headlining feature of iPhone next-gen
And trashing bluetooth for no good reason is sane? Actually, my guess is the difference between the iPhone and Windows Mobile. When I'm watching a baseball game using Slingplayer on the Tilt and an email comes in that I need to handle, it's no problem. I bring up the mail app and do whatever. I can't see the video anymore but I can still hear the audio and can easily flip back to the game in an instant if something happens I don't want to miss. When I'm watching that same game on the iPhone with OrbLive and an email comes in that I need to handle, that's it. No video, no audio, nothing. I finish the email, bring up OrbLive, go through the menus, make the network connection, wait for the buffering and 5 minutes later I discover I've missed a game changing home run. What a total pain in the ass. Now make that a TBT app, consider that Apple only allows Apple apps to run as background processes and something happens 30 seconds before your exit. Oops, you're screwed, thanks for playing. The options, therefore, are you either need to jailbreak your phone so a TBT app can force itself to be a background process (not practically for a mass audience), Apple can allow someone else to write a "legal" app capable of running as a background app (not likely for "Apple Uber Alles") or Apple can write one itself, assured that it will have no practical competition.
And people still claim that, once upon a time, Microsoft was corporate trailer trash.
This probably isnt the thread or the forums to proselytize Windows Mobile over Iphone, but I must say you've hit a home run with your post.
+1
I just love how people love to trash Microsoft on this board - calling them M$, a greedy corporation and what not. And Apple is all about innovation, giving people choices, and "thinking different." Well, it's time for Apple to look in the mirror and realize what they have become. It's sad, actually.
I'm not pushing Windows Mobile per se, you can say the same thing about Blackberry. Of the three platforms, the iPhone is unquestionably the weakest. The hardware is just as capable of decent background processing, A2DP, TBT GPS software and so on as are WinMo and RIM phones. The difference is ideology, plain and simple. Where Microsoft and RIM let the market decide, Apple dictates and you conform. Period. And it's championed by people who decide that since THEY can't think of a use for some particular feature, it must be worthless crap not fitting to be used by animals so those of us who do use it on other platforms must be mouth-breathing simpletons who don't deserve to breath the same air. At least it's accurate representation of Apple. IMO, the more important question is WHY would Apple not want any serious competition? Is the app of such bad quality that anything else would bury it? Or do they and AT&T want to dictate a price and you either pay it or get another phone on another carrier, break contract, pay an ETF and so on, ad nauseum? Sprint had a TBT GPS app and I didn't like the idea of paying a never ending subscription so I bought TomTom with a one-time payment, everything on the phone, no strings attached. What's the matter, Apple, afraid your stock won't go up that quarter of a point because you couldn't provide what customers actually wanted?
I registered just to reply to this topic...
Hey General,
So since turn by turn is for idiots (it is what you are implying) why do race car drivers (not roundy round racers) need Co drivers who are constantly reading GPS and spouting off directions, turns and speed? Lets just get rid of them right?
No, in fact I am an off road racer, and I would be lost without a co-driver, and wouldnt be able to drive half the speed as I do. Obviously you dont drive very often...I have a blackberry 8830 (2 years old mind you and about to be discontinued) and I have FREE thats right FREE turn by turn directions in 3D with voice, and re-routing.
This is the absolute #1 reason I have not gotten an Iphone yet. If such a talked about piece of technologically advanced hardware cant do something a 2-3 year old device can do, then **** it.
If and when apple lets an iphone app that does turn by turn get released, then they will have not only me as new customer, but im sure tons of others, that are simply waiting on this feature so they dont have to buy a 2nd piece of equipment such as a garmin or tom tom.
Until then they can have their "user friendly, simplistic" piece of ****. And I can read about all the people whi own iphones and complain about them.
Apple Introduces Revolutionary New Laptop With No Keyboard
PS google maps sucks balls, I downloaded it on my phone just to try it, and you have to waste time looking at it when your eyes should be on the road.
I don't get Apple, Full Bluetooth + Turn By Turn Paid Tom Tom Apps would make this a killer phone!
And to 'The General' have you ever tried driving in a foreign country? I worked in Luxembourg and i would have had NO Chance without TomTom, it got me from the UK to France, through France, Belgium to Luxembourg.
Try reading your signs and remembering that 584mile roadtrip
I have Nokia Maps loaded on my N95 and it's a life saver it's performance is top notch for a phone it's AS good as some of the older TomTom's. (If you leave it slip open)
And to 'The General' have you ever tried driving in a foreign country? I worked in Luxembourg and i would have had NO Chance without TomTom, it got me from the UK to France, through France, Belgium to Luxembourg.
Try reading your signs and remembering that 584mile roadtrip
I have Nokia Maps loaded on my N95 and it's a life saver it's performance is top notch for a phone it's AS good as some of the older TomTom's. (If you leave it slip open)
Dude don't forget Symbian, ya know they are the biggest smartphone type in the world
I thought TomTom and the other companies were working on apps for the iPhone? What happened to that? Having voice is MUCH safer and the distance to turn is as well. All you need to keep the iPhone on the whole time is a cig-lighter charger.
I totally agree with all of this, btw, being a racing student as well. Luckily I have a $1,200 Garmin that my friend left me when his Audi was totaled that I use when I actually need to know how to drive. Especially when I was in LA for 6 months.
I totally agree with all of this, btw, being a racing student as well. Luckily I have a $1,200 Garmin that my friend left me when his Audi was totaled that I use when I actually need to know how to drive. Especially when I was in LA for 6 months.
TomTom has already produced an app that works on the iPhone. How well it works is unknown. I think it is safe to assume that this app has already been submitted to the App Store many, many months ago (TomTom reported the app had been developed late last summer). So, where is this app? Only Apple can tell us why it is stagnating in the approval process.
I don't think Apple thinks the customers don't need this app. I hope to God they are not that arrogant. But, I think it comes down to a financial reason. Perhaps TomTom doesn't want to give Apple 30% or that TomTom and Apple are fighting over who is going to charge for the monthly subscription. Or, Apple is blocking all GPS apps (even carrier's own apps) so they can offer one that generates a new stream of revenue. With Apple, it is Apple that comes first, not the customers. This makes sense for a corporation, but usually there is some fair middle-ground that can be reached - not this all-or-nothing attitude we are served by Apple.
GPS is useless on AT&T for the most part, because of their coverage being extremely spotty in rural areas. Verizon GPS would be far better. However, they could allow a massive download of areas like g-map does, and not have to worry about downloading maps...
I used Maps on my iPhone and it isn't quite as good at navigation as Live Search on Windows Mobile (Motorola Q9h). Live Search will show the distance to the next turn from your current position and automatically advance the directions once you reach a turn.
The iPhone's GPS receiver appears to work better, though.
I haven't left a GPRS/EDGE coverage area since 2005 or a 3G coverage area since 2007. I spend most of my time in urban and suburban areas.
The iPhone's GPS receiver appears to work better, though.
I haven't left a GPRS/EDGE coverage area since 2005 or a 3G coverage area since 2007. I spend most of my time in urban and suburban areas.
Dude don't forget Symbian, ya know they are the biggest smartphone type in the world
Yeah, but I don't have one at the moment and I didn't want to make assumptions about a system I don't have. Probably should get another one soon, there are like a million Symbian phones for every iPhone ever sold. And they sound amusingly close to Sybian, every Stern fan's favorite word.
I forget the name of the app offhand, but before I had TomTom I had another TBT app that came with desktop software which let you pick and choose what maps to put on the phone. You could choose by state, city or user defined regions and it was very nice. I could easily fit anywhere I was going to be on a 1GB SD card along with other files. No reason other companies couldn't do the same thing. Thinking about it, Microsoft Streets and Trips does this, too, as a concrete example.