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G-Map: Notes, Tips and Tricks?

pmbooks

pmbooks

macrumors 6502
Original poster
May 23, 2005
309
63
California
I see a thread on the Navigon's Notes, Tips and Tricks and wonder if someone who's had some good luck with the g-map app could post something similar. I bought the app and really want to like it and support it against the Navigon fanboys who blithely say the gmap is crap. But, at this point I find it extremely unintuitive and not at all user-friendly. I think it's similar to the Navigon in many ways but would prefer not to spend the loot on it just to compare the two.

Is anyone interested in doing a review/side-by-side comparison? I'd have thought that someone supporting the gmap would have already done so (like the tapcritic?), but I don't see one anywhere.
 
pmbooks said:
I see a thread on the Navigon's Notes, Tips and Tricks and wonder if someone who's had some good luck with the g-map app could post something similar. I bought the app and really want to like it and support it against the Navigon fanboys who blithely say the gmap is crap. But, at this point I find it extremely unintuitive and not at all user-friendly. I think it's similar to the Navigon in many ways but would prefer not to spend the loot on it just to compare the two.

Is anyone interested in doing a review/side-by-side comparison? I'd have thought that someone supporting the gmap would have already done so (like the tapcritic?), but I don't see one anywhere.
Click to expand...

I tend to like Sygic and G-Map over Navigon (even post-update). Among other things: Sygic and G-Map seem to find the initial GPS signal (at least for me) much quicker than Navigon (in fact, every GPS app I've tested finds the signal faster than Navigon). Also, G-Map has more accurate routing (Navigon still has a tendency to send me on wild goose chases), better voice prompting, better voice quality, better POI (Navigon's is the worst). I did do a Navigon vs. G-Map review a month or so ago here. I'm at work right now but if I get a chance, I'll link it.
 
Heh. My bad; I misremembered; it was actually a Sygic vs. G-Map review. I did a separate review of Navigon (for past reference):

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/752304/

Since that time, I've modified my GPS rankings:

1) AT&T Navigator/Telenav
2) Sygic/G-Map (Tie)
3) Navigon
4) Gokivo

*NOTE: Co-Pilot, IGO, and Roadee are not included...they weren't out at the time of the reviews and I've never had a chance to test them.

Just speaking for myself, I seem to keep coming back to Telenav as my favorite choice. As I've said before, IMHO, it's still the most "complete" GPS package available" -- though by now, I think most everyone has a GPS app that they seem to be happy with; it varies with whoever you ask. Lots of folks @ MR love Navigon, while others seem to like G-Map, Sygic, IGO, etc.

Getting back to your question: I do think G-Map is superior to Navigon for the reasons I mentioned earlier, plus the easier-on-the eyes interface, reliability, etc. And when the full-blown version of G-Map launches (which should be any time now), it won't even be a contest. Navigon is a...DECENT app. It does the job, but it won't blow you away. And it's the one GPS app that I don't feel I can always rely on because of the goofy routing and GPS-locking issues I've had here in Chicago. I feel safer using Telenav, G-Map, Sygic, or even Google Maps, before I resort to using Navigon.

For those reasons, I'm still eagerly awaiting TomTom's entry into the App Store. They've not done a good job handling this launch, but if their app is as good a quality as we've come to expect from TomTom, it SHOULD be awesome. Eventually, I'll probably delete Navigon (and possibly Sygic as well) when TomTom comes. Most likely, I'll just go with 2 primary GPS apps...AT&T Navigator will continue to be my day-to-day nav-app and if I ever hit an area where no data connection is available, I'll switch to either TomTom or G-Map. Ultimately, I'd love to have just 3 GPS apps: AT&T Nav., TomTom, and Garmin, but a Garmin Nuvi iPhone app is just a pipe-dream at this point...;)
 
Thanks tunnelrunner for taking the time in your replies.

If my job were paying, I'd consider going for the ATT service, but at $120/yr I'd pass. Looks like the TomTom has just about arrived, so Navigon may not survive the competition (price appears to be about the same for U.S./Canada).

But it seems odd that I've had the same sort of goofy routing on the g-map that you have with the Navigon. One route took me out of the way and I thought it might change by requesting the more direct rather than fastest, but the route stayed the same.

At some point there'll have to be some side-by-side comparison of all the apps, including the TomTom when it comes out.

Thanks again, PM
 
I think G-map is the perfect GPS for someone that wants a cheaper solution. I wasn't willing to pay the amount that most GPS apps are asking for. I can't be the only one that thinks that at the price they are asking for some of these apps I'd rather just go buy a hardware GPS when its on sale. I only need GPS for the odd trip. I only needed maps for Canada. So for me the 20.00 G-map Canada was the logical choice.

I used it all day today to test it out and for most of the day it was flawless. When it did give me an alternate route then I planned on taking it made sense why it would choose the route. I just knew better.

However on the way home I somehow managed to completely confuse it. It started out picking a road I didn't want to take. My way was about 3km straight on one road and then left for .5km. When I took the more obvious road when it re routed me it choose to zigzag around a block, then back to the street I was already on, rather then just head up the street. As I passed each road it would reroute the zizag rather then just choose to go straight. Finally after about 10 blocks it finally admitted defeat and said go straight.

It was rather comical, none of its choices would have added much to my trip but it was a dumb rerouting... Why would I want to drive around a block to end up back on the same street I am already on?

Now I have used a garmin for many years and it has done some really stupid routes as well so I am not too worried about G-map. 9 times out of 10 it worked perfectly.

I saved 60-80 bucks by not choosing other options. I'd give it 4 out of 5 right now. They add landscape mode and improve routing a bit and its 5 stars all the way!
 
Thanks outcastrc. I think I'm figuring it out more, and appreciate the support. I might post another question here along the way. Cheers.
 
nikhsub1 said:
Maybe I'm blind, but how do you select an address from your contacts as a destination?
Click to expand...

At this point I don't think you can. The only way I have figured is to do a copy and paste.

Myself I would like to be able to use Google maps and find a business. copy that address and plunk it into G-map. Google always uses the same format for its addressing I believe so it wouldn't be too hard to implement.
 
Submission request from Pocketgpsworld

http://www.pocketgpsworld.com/iphone-navigation-app-comparison-xr5133.php

Matthew Morley, co-creator of the new gps comparison chart (posted here in the forum), is open to adding other gps iphone apps, including G-Map, to the chart and invites someone to submit the details. Trailrunner, since you're probably the more familiar, would you consider this? It's just what I'd want to view, and unfortunately since they're based in the UK they have no way of testing G-Map.

Thanks for considering it.
 
pmbooks said:
http://www.pocketgpsworld.com/iphone-navigation-app-comparison-xr5133.php

Matthew Morley, co-creator of the new gps comparison chart (posted here in the forum), is open to adding other gps iphone apps, including G-Map, to the chart and invites someone to submit the details. Trailrunner, since you're probably the more familiar, would you consider this? It's just what I'd want to view, and unfortunately since they're based in the UK they have no way of testing G-Map.

Thanks for considering it.
Click to expand...

I'm assuming you meant Tunnelrunner. :)

Sure, no prob, just let me know what I have to do.

Tunnelrunner@hotmail.com
 
This is what I meant by the program choosing to take me around the block so to speak. I have tried different settings, and its always the same if I do the same trip home. Its almost like the map doesn't see the road as a continuous line.

Its the only time I have be humorously disappointed in its choice for the hundred or so tests I have done so far. And the fact I can repeat it on the road any time I want means there's something confusing the program.
 

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outcastrc said:
This is what I meant by the program choosing to take me around the block so to speak. I have tried different settings, and its always the same if I do the same trip home. Its almost like the map doesn't see the road as a continuous line.

Its the only time I have be humorously disappointed in its choice for the hundred or so tests I have done so far. And the fact I can repeat it on the road any time I want means there's something confusing the program.
Click to expand...

Same problem here. But this is happening literally 5/10 times I use the application. They always want to take me 4 blocks out of the way when I am on the road where my destination ends. I really wanted G-Maps to be my solution, but so far it has been complete crap. I went ahead and bought Navigon and it works flawlessly for me. If I were you, just spend the extra $25 and get the premium Navigon. I hope gmaps gets their stuff together.
 
Yesterday I downloaded the latest version of G-Map because I realized I still had the old one. I wanted to see how this would route me to my favorite gas station. It was fine till about two blocks away from the station and it told me to take a right turn going around the block just like all of you are reporting here.

So now with this happening, I'll give up on G-map till the next update, Navigon is just too hard to read the small text and sygic is out because of all the lagging.

I've been using TomTom allot and like it. I also like CoPilot and IGO. These are my top three in that order.
 
SpaceKitty said:
Yesterday I downloaded the latest version of G-Map because I realized I still had the old one. I wanted to see how this would route me to my favorite gas station. It was fine till about two blocks away from the station and it told me to take a right turn going around the block just like all of you are reporting here.

So now with this happening, I'll give up on G-map till the next update, Navigon is just too hard to read the small text and sygic is out because of all the lagging.

I've been using TomTom allot and like it. I also like CoPilot and IGO. These are my top three in that order.
Click to expand...

Not all of us can plunk down the $$$ to buy all these relatively expensive apps (just those you've mentioned add up to over $400). :eek:

Regarding the wayward directions, ever wonder if some detours are simply meant to be (you discover something on that way you would not have otherwise). It's really funny about outcastrc's one route oddity; maybe there's some weird magnetic anomaly in that neighborhood. :)
 
pmbooks said:
Not all of us can plunk down the $$$ to buy all these relatively expensive apps (just those you've mentioned add up to over $400). :eek:

Regarding the wayward directions, ever wonder if some detours are simply meant to be (you discover something on that way you would not have otherwise). It's really funny about outcastrc's one route oddity; maybe there's some weird magnetic anomaly in that neighborhood. :)
Click to expand...

Not the one I mentioned. I've been around that block a bunch of times and there are just houses and a baseball field. Unless God is telling me to be a baseball player well... I would prefer my GPS to avoid these things.:)
 
I do want to stress that so far in all my gps tests thats the only road that this happens to me. And since it happens whenever I try to take that road from any direction, I am convinced that the program doesn't feel that the road is viable for some reason.

I sent in a bug report to X-Roads with a full explanation and a link to my post with the pictures as they don't offer a way to upload a pic to there site. Hopefully it helps. I would hope that people would try to help G-map get better rather then just dump on it and move on to a much higher GPS solution with its own problems.

On a different note. One thing I found VERY interesting is my drive home from work every day takes me on a bypass that was created within the last couple years. Google maps still doesn't have the road in its database. So I was pretty shocked when G-map had me covered! Seems they are using a more updated database.

Now wheres that landscape mode!!!
 
I solved my wandering problem!!! I had the settings set to truck, once I flipped to car it started routing properly. Go figure ...
 
G-Map, AT&T Navigon comparisons

Hi

XRoad has in fact posted some charts with comparisons of features of Navigon and G-Map

You can find them here
http://xroad.expansionplus.com
http://xroad.expansionplus.com/report-onboard-online

The new updatd product is with Apple for approval right now and should be available in the app store mid September

I will get with the engineers and ask for tips and tricks for you, to answer your questions posted here.
Sal
 
Change to Car Mode

Awesome Outcastrc! Perhaps that will handle the issue for others too. Let me know if it does or does not.

I have also passed on the need to have a place on the XRoad site where you can post images of your problems/queries.


And FYI a PocketGPSWorld editor is in the US and testing G-Map as we speak.

Sal
 
Sharling said:
Hi

XRoad has in fact posted some charts with comparisons of features of Navigon and G-Map

You can find them here
http://xroad.expansionplus.com
http://xroad.expansionplus.com/report-onboard-online

The new updated product is with Apple for approval right now and should be available in the app store mid September

I will get with the engineers and ask for tips and tricks for you, to answer your questions posted here.
Sal
Click to expand...

Nice links!

One suggestion that I would love to see is vehicle icon choice. It would be nice to have a few different choices.

Another is it would be nice to have a preview of the assorted color mode. Having to flip out of settings each time to test it seems a little much.

Can't wait to see whats in the update.
 
Sharling said:
Hi

XRoad has in fact posted some charts with comparisons of features of Navigon and G-Map

You can find them here
http://xroad.expansionplus.com
http://xroad.expansionplus.com/report-onboard-online

The new updatd product is with Apple for approval right now and should be available in the app store mid September

I will get with the engineers and ask for tips and tricks for you, to answer your questions posted here.
Sal
Click to expand...

I'm at work right now, so I didn't have a lot of time to look over those links so I don't know how accurate/correct they are but I can tell you I already found one error: AT&T/Telenav *does* have TTS. It and Gokivo are the only GPS apps for the iphone (at present) who do. Again, XRoad may have made more errors, but I haven't had a chance to check them...
 
G-Map UK & Ireland is out on App store. Looks like it has landscape, contact integration and allows ipod to play. No word on TTS or traffic.
 
I just checked out itunes...

Contact integration, ipod integration, and LANDSCAPE!!!

Now we just need the US and Canada to get the update!
 

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