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Garmin gps just went live!
- Thread starter flatfoot99
- Start date
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I'm curious if they download the full mapsets to the phone or not. They're a little vague on that but they mention the latest data comes directly from their servers and they also talk about how small the app is. Major fail as far as I'm concerned if they are streaming the maps. I'll stick with Navigon otherwise. Anyone know for sure? Cheers!
James
James
no local maps - load is medium, not fast, not slow - but a little longer than i expected
map scrolling is fine, much better than Nuvi models
intuitive menus
free traffic (unverified as to whether it's any good)
weather
ipod controls allow selection of music & podcasts
google local search - straight from home page, nice approach
integrates with contacts
map and UI looks good like a nuvi
as far as i can tell, i doesn't have route planning and no mention of TrafficTrends integration ... but i may be missing something
seems like a good start for Garmin
later today, we'll see about routing and traffic ... interesting
map scrolling is fine, much better than Nuvi models
intuitive menus
free traffic (unverified as to whether it's any good)
weather
ipod controls allow selection of music & podcasts
google local search - straight from home page, nice approach
integrates with contacts
map and UI looks good like a nuvi
as far as i can tell, i doesn't have route planning and no mention of TrafficTrends integration ... but i may be missing something
seems like a good start for Garmin
later today, we'll see about routing and traffic ... interesting
$40 for a non-local online only navigation SW? Not happening, Navigon is still the choice for me. Had they had full maps on the device so it can be used without having a data connection I would buy it and try it even if I stick with Navigon.
Garmin - please rethink this and give us full maps on the phone itself otherwise motionX is the choice for non-local GPS.
Garmin - please rethink this and give us full maps on the phone itself otherwise motionX is the choice for non-local GPS.
Yep, same for me. This is a non starter as far as I'm concerned. I'll keep using my Navigon and right now, Navigon is only another $5 bucks over Garmin and includes the full NA Navteq mapset. Garmin also uses Navteq so I'm pretty dissapointed they are not providing full downloads of the maps. I don't know about the U.S. but here in Canada it's way too easy to be out of range for cellular data service once you go off the main highways and then no maps. Thanks everyone for the info!
James
Epic fail on the timing. When I saw TomTom and Magellan Roadmate with sales on their apps before Christmas, I got sucked in. I ended up with the Roadmate to replace my Garmin Nuvi in my car, which I figure I'll give to my mom. I like having the app on my phone and I guess it was worth it for the $100 adapter/mount. I just wish the built-in speaker could be turned off. Maybe I just need to read the manual.
Anyway, I saw Garmin's app today and went #%@^! I didn't necessarily hate my Nuvi, but I got sick of outdated maps. The Roadmate still has a couple of portions that aren't correct, but these are very new roads. I also agree with a bunch of you that I don't want the maps stored remotely. I have an aunt and uncle who live in a part of Alabama with very spotty cell reception on AT&T. It was MUCH better this year, but there was still no signal at their home. What am I to do on the Garmin app? The Magellan app may take up a gig, but it worked without cell service and didn't suck down any data. If you have the $15 data plan, that data suckage could kill you.
I'm still interested in what people think of the other apps even though I went with Roadmate. I had never heard of Navigon before. Roadmate is good 4-star setup. If the embedded music player had easier selections than to add stuff to a playlist, the app allowed music button customization on the app's main screen -- always having skip forward, skip back, pause/play available on one touch -- and if the mount's speakerphone would work better and not always be on, I'd give it five stars.
This is one reason I wish the App Store would allow demos. I guess these people could do free versions, but I'd rather have a demo that lasts a week or a month on something that costs $40 or more. I maybe understand not wanting demos for EVERY app, but perhaps a $10 threshold could be set.
Anyway, I saw Garmin's app today and went #%@^! I didn't necessarily hate my Nuvi, but I got sick of outdated maps. The Roadmate still has a couple of portions that aren't correct, but these are very new roads. I also agree with a bunch of you that I don't want the maps stored remotely. I have an aunt and uncle who live in a part of Alabama with very spotty cell reception on AT&T. It was MUCH better this year, but there was still no signal at their home. What am I to do on the Garmin app? The Magellan app may take up a gig, but it worked without cell service and didn't suck down any data. If you have the $15 data plan, that data suckage could kill you.
I'm still interested in what people think of the other apps even though I went with Roadmate. I had never heard of Navigon before. Roadmate is good 4-star setup. If the embedded music player had easier selections than to add stuff to a playlist, the app allowed music button customization on the app's main screen -- always having skip forward, skip back, pause/play available on one touch -- and if the mount's speakerphone would work better and not always be on, I'd give it five stars.
This is one reason I wish the App Store would allow demos. I guess these people could do free versions, but I'd rather have a demo that lasts a week or a month on something that costs $40 or more. I maybe understand not wanting demos for EVERY app, but perhaps a $10 threshold could be set.
and for the other half of the story ...
after using the StreetPilot app today, here are a few of my issues
first, the audio is poorly implemented. the voice and ipod music are on same volume control. there is no way to mute the navigation voice and only listen to music. also, the ipod music/podcast volume lowers during active navigation (all the time) ... when the nav voice butts in, it's too loud. Garmin needs to have separate volumes for music and nav voice.
they need to cache maps along the entire route, so that if cell coverage drops out, there aren't blank maps.
when on a call w/ navigation in the background, there is no way to mute the nav voice ... during the call it is giving loud direction. fortunately the other party couldn't hear them, but still need an option to mute while on call.
the traffic data is free, and all i can say is that you get what you pay for --- not very accurate
it would be nice to have route planning (and cache route maps in wifi spot), also TrafficTrends which help make better routing decisions, and better traffic.
that's it so far. Nice first try, just needs some improvements
nope, the built in speaker is a well documented issue with the Magellan mount. no way to turn off
and re: other apps ... i started w/ Navigon, liked it ... but i now use TomTom app daily for 2 main reasons: 1. TomTom traffic is most accurate (and very useful in a city like Chicago), and 2. the TomTom IQ Routes gives the best surface road (non-highway) routing since it uses actual flow data (not just speed limit, but actual traffic speed) in routing decisions ... TomTom's routes are closest to having local knowledge.
For me it's a deal breaker it's implemented so bad. Even when plugged into the dock cable to my head unit (Pioneer) it lowers the volume as soon as navigation begins and doesn't raise it back till you stop navigation. Freaking awful!!! It needs to lower the music volume ONLY when the nav voice pops in to give you directions then raise the music volume again. You know, just like how Apple properly implements it when you get mail or a notification sound. DUH!
Another thing, the nav voice is still muffled even when coming through good speakers. This is weird because even on my old Streetpilot c530 the voice was clear. How can you screw that up?
If Garmin fixes those two issues I'll consider it.
Update in app store ... nice to see. Version 6.5.3!?!? more like Version 1.1 ...
What's New in Version 6.5.3
Improved audio quality - Voice instructions are now clearer and easier to understand
Map storage size increased - browse even more maps offline that you've previously downloaded
Listen to music without interruptions - New setting toggles voice instructions on/off during navigation
New volume control added to navigation map menu for quick access
Faster map downloads
Minor bug fixes
.
What's New in Version 6.5.3
Improved audio quality - Voice instructions are now clearer and easier to understand
Map storage size increased - browse even more maps offline that you've previously downloaded
Listen to music without interruptions - New setting toggles voice instructions on/off during navigation
New volume control added to navigation map menu for quick access
Faster map downloads
Minor bug fixes
.