Any GPS Apps Use Google's Map Data?

[Mac In School]

Navigon has finally taken me to the wrong place one too many times. I don't want to gamble $50 on TomTom being any better.

When it fails, I open Google Maps and it gets me to the right place every time.

Do any of the turn-by-turn apps use the same map data that Google Maps uses?

Thanks.

 

[gks]

Navigon has finally taken me to the wrong place one too many times. I don't want to gamble $50 on TomTom being any better.

When it fails, I open Google Maps and it gets me to the right place every time.

Do any of the turn-by-turn apps use the same map data that Google Maps uses?

Thanks.

No. Google licenses the maps they have from another company. The license doesn't allow for other companies to use it for GPS purposes.

To use Google Maps on a large scale you have to get an API key. They definitely wouldn't let that slip by.

 

[Mac In School]

No. Google licenses the maps they have from another company.

Gotcha. Do you know if there's a GPS app that uses the same map company that Google uses?

 

[gks]

Gotcha. Do you know if there's a GPS app that uses the same map company that Google uses?

Ok... so here's part of the thing you need to know.

Google licenses the data... not the actual maps. From that data they create their own "tiles" or the visual map that you see. No one is going to have the exact same look as Google Maps.

I don't recall who Google licenses their maps from, i'm sure a simple search on Google will find that information for you. Then just search for GPS apps and see if you can also find the information about that app and whether it uses the same companies data.

 

[romasha]

Localscope use the Google Maps to help you navigate

Navigon has finally taken me to the wrong place one too many times. I don't want to gamble $50 on TomTom being any better.

When it fails, I open Google Maps and it gets me to the right place every time.

Do any of the turn-by-turn apps use the same map data that Google Maps uses?

Thanks.

Try Localscope.

It helps you to search for a place of your interest and shows you results from Google, Bing, Foursquare, Twitter and Wikimapia.

To navigate to a place, simple click the "Show on Map" button for a result and the Maps app on your iPhone opens up with the place marked. You can get directions to that place using the Google Maps and not get lost

Further, in the future we will be integrating with apps like Navigon, TomTom to enable users to get turn by turn directions. This essentially means that the co-ordinates for the place will be taken from Google Maps and you will be able to use the turn by turn feature of Navigon to take you to the correct place.

More info about Localscope

Localscope is priced at $2.99.

 

[Mac In School]

I'm mostly interested in getting to places that I have in my address book, but I will check your app out too.

Thanks for the heads-up.

 

[gks]

I'm mostly interested in getting to places that I have in my address book, but I will check your app out too.

Thanks for the heads-up.

TomTom and Navigon both integrate with your addressbook. They can also pull in Google Local info...

If I load up TomTom and goto the Main Menu, tap Navigate To...

From that list "Local Search" is available as an option, and finds locations using Google Local.

Pretty sure that Navigon does the same thing.

 

[Mac In School]

Yes. Navigon does the same thing. Problem is, it sends me to the wrong place.

Perhaps I'm entering the address wrong. I'm in Utah where we have an address system that I would understand any GPS being picky about. Although Google Maps doesn't have a problem with the way I'm entering the addresses. I've contacted Navigon support. Hopefully they can help. I do like the app.