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My Navigon Review - North America

Iphone Cradle

I use one of these. hxxp://us.kensington.com/html/14493.html

My car is a Chevy HHR used the GPS for 2 days now and havent lost a GPS signal.

It also has a remote that attaches to your stearing wheel to change the itunes song or pause so you can change tracks and still keep the GPS going.

Check on ebay and they have them for $34 shipped.
 
frozencarbonite said:
You're in Anderson? I'm in Greenville.

I tried to use the Google maps to navigate from Garden City to Greenville and had a lot of trouble in areas with EDGE only service. Some places didn't even have service. So it's nice to know this app doesn't require an internet connection.
Click to expand...

Yep, live in Anderson. Work in Anderson, Greenville, and Columbia. And yes, it's very nice to not have to worry about your 3G/Edge signal.
 
hello,

does anyone know if the Navigon uses soley the iphone gps, or does it also make use of the internal compass?

i ask because the compass is absolutely unreliable in my car, as i cant find any location in and around the front two seats which are unaffected by interference.

if the compass is used by Navigon, i would not be able to use it.

thanks in advance for any help.
 
sm8770 said:
hello,

does anyone know if the Navigon uses soley the iphone gps, or does it also make use of the internal compass?

i ask because the compass is absolutely unreliable in my car, as i cant find any location in and around the front two seats which are unaffected by interference.

if the compass is used by Navigon, i would not be able to use it.

thanks in advance for any help.
Click to expand...

No it doesn't use the compass, based on their description and couldn't find it on their FAQs anyway. Besides 3G users like me benefit from the app ;)
 
makes sense.

appeciate it.......looks like i will be trying this software.

take care.
 
frozencarbonite said:
You're in Anderson? I'm in Greenville.

I tried to use the Google maps to navigate from Garden City to Greenville and had a lot of trouble in areas with EDGE only service. Some places didn't even have service. So it's nice to know this app doesn't require an internet connection.
Click to expand...

Hello from another Greenvillian. BTW, the I-85/I-385 interchange is going to be replaced in 2013. God only knows what will replace it. Perhaps we will end up with our own "spaghetti junction". :)

I never really go anywhere, so I really don't have any use for a dedicated GPS app. I've always like Navigon's interfaces.
 
nremondelli said:
Here is a link to the iLounge review:

http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/reviews/entry/navigon-mobilenavigator-north-america/

Gave it a C. 70$ is a lot to pay for a C.

Anyone who has bought the application...what are your thoughts on the review?
Click to expand...

Honestly, I thought it was a pretty weak review. They panned the graphics calling them antiquated. Really? Which other GPS app shows the street signs and lane guidance? They implied that the voices are limited to "turn left" and "turn right" when in fact they do the whole "turn right in 1 mile then bear right" thing. They blasted the routing which I found to be pretty darned good.

In all, I found it to be a pretty poorly done review. I've got this app, G-Maps, and used ATT Nav for a month and find this to be the best of the three.

Now if G-Maps actually releases the app they showed in their video, all bets are off.
 
Yeah, that iLounge review is quite harsh. I mean, hey man, Navigon is a pioneer here....give some credit. They reviewed it as if they were expecting a multiple revision polished piece of software.

My guess is they are gaga over TomTom and will give a *glowing* review once it comes out. Hmph.
 
I don't agree with the iLounge review either (it reads very early on as if he is waiting to review point by point against the TomTom, like there's some inside knowledge or something).

I used Navigon for about 50 miles of driving around Dallas area today, both suburbs and interstates, and it was quite accurate. I did a couple of reroutes based on some known construction, and it quickly recalculated. The arrival times were also pretty spot on, save for the red lights (which it would recalculate as we sat at one).

Also never lost the GPS signal. I held the iPhone most of the time, but several times I passed it around the cab of my F250 to my 5 and 6 year old's who were riding with me. They wanted to know who was 'giving Daddy directions' :)

Of course it can be better. Much of it has already been said, so I won't repeat. Can't wait to see how they make it better as more TBT software enters the app store.

Happy with my purchase, even more so after showing it to the wifey, and now she wants me to check to see when she's able to upgrade to a 3GS.....which will cut the price in half for us :cool:
 
I only tested it briefly, but it locked within 15 seconds, gave solid, efficient directions, and tracked me perfectly the entire way. I can't really ask for much more than that.

I don't know what iLounge is smoking.
 
Haven't bought the app yet but just want to comment on iLounge's review.

What I do with Jeremy's review is usually ignore his text and concentrate on the pictures. He tries to get too smart with his reviews and really tries to find flaws. He reminds me of the kid in college who questions everything the prof is saying just to be contrary. And everyone in the room is just whispering to themselves - SHUT UP!

What he does get right is shooting pics of the actual devices and not just rehashing marketing pics from the manufacture like the hacks at Mac Central. When will reviewers learn that pics are just as important as their opinion. That's why I think unboxing vids are so popular.

Anyway back to Navigon.

Yeah, I'll probably pick it up.


gloss said:
I only tested it briefly, but it locked within 15 seconds, gave solid, efficient directions, and tracked me perfectly the entire way. I can't really ask for much more than that.

I don't know what iLounge is smoking.
Click to expand...
 
All I have to say is, I tested my Navigon today alongside my friend's Garmin, and my goodness...both were pretty on point. At times, one was ahead/behind the other and vice versa, but for the most part, both were on par with turn notifications, lane guidance, distance, and the arrival times were spot on for both. Had clear GPS signal which locked pretty fast, and I never lost it. I even deviated from my routes a few times and the app re-calculated a new one within a couple seconds.

I really couldn't have been more impressed with a v1.0 TBT app, especially with how accurate it was. Navigon knows how to handle their stuff. I just wish the menu/options were more intuitive when it came to customizing acoustic alerts....but other than that, this was a worthwhile investment, and its on-par performance with a hardware GPS unit is definitely a good sign. This can only get that much better with future updates/upgrades.

TomTom lost out on a lot of people's money by taking their sweet time. I doubt i'll need another TBT app unless it exceeds Navigon far and away by miles.
 
I really like it! Its pretty darn good for a 1.0, that's for sure! I will continue to test it though, but it was dead on accurate tonight when I was driving around.
 
I used Navigon a bit today to go to the UPS Store across town. It was not on the point of interest list, but Guitar Center (The other place I was going) was. The first time I started the app it would not get a GPS signal, I quit then restarted the app and it worked fine. The directions and tracking were good, telling me when I need to turn with ample time (Except for one time, but I only had 5% battery left on my phone so I think that may have caused it.) I wish it would call out street names but I can live without that.

The main feature that I want is a list view for the directions so I can see where I'm going before I start. I'm hoping it comes in that update they are planning. Other than that it has worked pretty well for me, other than draining my battery insanely fast. I guess i'll just have to get a car charger :)
 
jclardy said:
The main feature that I want is a list view for the directions so I can see where I'm going before I start.
Click to expand...

If you tap on the screen, and then the button on the bottom right, you can see the whole route and zoom in on any part of the directions before you start the trip.
 
schulzmc said:
If you tap on the screen, and then the button on the bottom right, you can see the whole route and zoom in on any part of the directions before you start the trip.
Click to expand...

Yeah I know that is there, but I would still prefer a list view kind of like the Maps application, showing street name, direction, and the number of miles you are on that road. I have used a TomTom and Magellan standalone GPS units and they both had this view.
 
Just tried this for the first time today. My routes were not complex, but the app worked fine. I actually didn't even really need to look at the screen of the iPhone; I have a docking cable that charges and passes audio to my stereo, and the voice was loud and clear thru the speakers, even over music. I wouldn't want the music to drop out, I could hear the voice just fine. (hoping that feature is optional when they add it). I could control the iPod functions just fine thru my car stereo while Navigon was open so no worries there either. Plus you can double click the home button if you need iPod controls.

Pretty impressed so far, but need to use it more. This is great for me because this is the only way I would ever use a GPS if it were not built into the car (and clearly mine isn't)....I would never buy a dedicated device just for GPS. To me it is ridiculous to have a whole device to carry around just to do that one thing (ymmv of course).

Since we have two phones to put this on, it also lessens the sting of the price, which is nice.
 
Just downloaded it and took it for a spin. My Honda has built-in navigation. The iPhone with Navigon performed admirably. Looking forward to not getting lost on my upcoming trip! Well worth the money.
 
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