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Is there an official manual for the Navigon app?

2

212rikanmofo

macrumors 68000
Original poster
Jan 31, 2003
1,906
729
Would really be useful if I can find a manual that describes all the features and what not. Especially with the traffic live addon. I get confused at how to read it and get it to reroute around the traffic, etc.

So does navigon have a manual out for its iphone app?
 
I would love a manual as well.
Charging $60 to $90 for an app and there isn't even an on-line manual (or even the most basic instructions) is, I think, the height of arrogance for a company.
 
Documentation is the one thing that has been missing from Navigon. I would be happy to have their features documented on their web pages. For the most part the app is straightforward, but I to don't fully understand the Live Traffic. I have it set to auto calculate, but I don't understand how to use the alerts and what some of the icons represent.
 
stockcerts said:
Documentation is the one thing that has been missing from Navigon. I would be happy to have their features documented on their web pages. For the most part the app is straightforward, but I to don't fully understand the Live Traffic. I have it set to auto calculate, but I don't understand how to use the alerts and what some of the icons represent.
Click to expand...

If it's set to auto-calculate you don't have to touch anything. It will automatically reroute if it determines it can find you a faster route around the traffic, and will notify you as such ("recalculating route due to traffic information").
 
gloss said:
If it's set to auto-calculate you don't have to touch anything. It will automatically reroute if it determines it can find you a faster route around the traffic, and will notify you as such ("recalculating route due to traffic information").
Click to expand...

I have it set to auto-calculate for the reasons you mentioned. I would prefer not to, but I don't fully understand the road alerts and how to make use of them. This is why I'd like on-line help or a manual.
 
stockcerts said:
I have it set to auto-calculate for the reasons you mentioned. I would prefer not to, but I don't fully understand the road alerts and how to make use of them. This is why I'd like on-line help or a manual.
Click to expand...

Someplace I read a twitter blurb from Navigon explaining what the colors mean. Grey means no significant delay < 10 min

I think yellow was >10min

red was >30 min.

Don't quote me on that though.
 
a manual would be great ... although i don't tend to read them much (except for the subtle, or hard to figure out, features which i'm sure you're talking about)

BUT if it slows down the update frequency, i'll take more features and updates for now

and in the meantime, ask away on forums ... live, dynamic documentation at it's best
 
andersonGPS said:
a manual would be great ... although i don't tend to read them much (except for the subtle, or hard to figure out, features which i'm sure you're talking about)

BUT if it slows down the update frequency, i'll take more features and updates for now

and in the meantime, ask away on forums ... live, dynamic documentation at it's best
Click to expand...

Agreed. But I think they would save themselves some grief if they would explain some features like Route options and avoidances. Based on the negative reviews I've seen in the App store I'd say most are due to a lack of understanding of what these features do.
 
lordhamster said:
Agreed. But I think they would save themselves some grief if they would explain some features like Route options and avoidances. Based on the negative reviews I've seen in the App store I'd say most are due to a lack of understanding of what these features do.
Click to expand...

totally agree ... there are some tricky subtleties, and it does impact rating
 
yup, and since the navigon app for the iphone is getting a lot of features, it would be nice to have a manual to explain everything. the live traffic update still confuses me as well. Sometimes i see an icon next to each traffic report, it has a gear button, and a crooked arrow and then a straight arrow. Not sure what each one is suppose to do.

The little symbols in the live traffic, i don't even understand how to read the thing. Would be nice if there was a manual to point out what each little thing means.

Also add interim destination, and block. I'm not even sure what those options do. Block 0.5 miles, block 1 mile, etc.
 
212rikanmofo said:
yup, and since the navigon app for the iphone is getting a lot of features, it would be nice to have a manual to explain everything. the live traffic update still confuses me as well. Sometimes i see an icon next to each traffic report, it has a gear button, and a crooked arrow and then a straight arrow. Not sure what each one is suppose to do. .
Click to expand...


Ah yes, the Germans just love their cryptic symbols. If you've ever driven a German car you'll know exactly what I mean. Drives me nuts.
 
Wild guess: Straight arrow means continue through, crooked arrow means navigate around, gear means let the program figure it out.
 
gloss said:
Wild guess: Straight arrow means continue through, crooked arrow means navigate around, gear means let the program figure it out.
Click to expand...


You are probably right, but it's a guess. A tech writer could put something together in a day. This would probably result in new customers.
 
stockcerts said:
You are probably right, but it's a guess. A tech writer could put something together in a day. This would probably result in new customers.
Click to expand...

Agreed.

And it's not a guess, I experimented with it. ;)

lordhamster said:
Ah yes, because gears always symbolize "let the program figure it out".
Click to expand...

No, but they usually symbolize 'machine' or 'settings', and if clicking it doesn't take you to a settings screen it's not too much of a logical leap to assume that it means 'automate'. Use those noggins, people.
 
212rikanmofo said:
yup, and since the navigon app for the iphone is getting a lot of features, it would be nice to have a manual to explain everything. the live traffic update still confuses me as well. Sometimes i see an icon next to each traffic report, it has a gear button, and a crooked arrow and then a straight arrow. Not sure what each one is suppose to do.

The little symbols in the live traffic, i don't even understand how to read the thing. Would be nice if there was a manual to point out what each little thing means.

Also add interim destination, and block. I'm not even sure what those options do. Block 0.5 miles, block 1 mile, etc.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I've been wondering what the 'Block' function is, too.
 
acousticbiker said:
Yeah, I've been wondering what the 'Block' function is, too.
Click to expand...


I haven't use it much but based on my experience, a "Block" is a forced detour - an immediate avoid. So if you are in traffic - or in an accident or construction slowdown - and would like to avoid the next stretch of road, setting a "Block" will look for the first alternate route around the selected distance .5, 1, 2, 3, etc miles - the number of options (or distances) to block depends on how long your route is.
 
andersonGPS said:
Thanks! page 123 confirms a couple of the traffic routing symbols

And, VOICE DESTINATION ENTRY ... that sounds like a great iPhone nav app feature!
Click to expand...

Having owned the unit and used the feature, I can tell you it was a useless gimmick.

Things I loved about the 8100T and would love to see on the iPhone:

1. Ability to avoid roads by selecting them from the turn-by turn list.

2. 3D maps (that show hills, mountains etc). Gives you a better sense your surroundings.

3. IRS Mileage logging. The unit kept a milage log for me in excel format that I could keep track of all my business travel on. Great feature come tax time.
 
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