Navigon 1.4

[comatose81]

Anyone know what's up with Navigon's routing? I have it on Optimum and I was in an unfamiliar place yesterday when it was telling me to go right at a fork in the road but my gut told me to go left. So i went left and watched the time come down by 8 minutes and the mileage decrease by 4 miles...doesn't sound like it wanted me to go the best way at all.

Are TomTom's IQ routes better?

Yes, IQ Routes are better for initial routing. They of course don't take into account real-time traffic, but generally TomTom has routed me much better than Navigon from the standpoint of what it calculates initially or when it needs to re-route me if I deviate.

Definitely change Navigon's routing profile to "Fastest" instead of "Optimum". The Optimum setting is supposed to take into account gas mileage and things like that and might take you longer ways because of that. I've found it useless.

 

[MBHockey]

Yes, IQ Routes are better for initial routing. They of course don't take into account real-time traffic, but generally TomTom has routed me much better than Navigon from the standpoint of what it calculates initially or when it needs to re-route me if I deviate.

Definitely change Navigon's routing profile to "Fastest" instead of "Optimum". The Optimum setting is supposed to take into account gas mileage and things like that and might take you longer ways because of that. I've found it useless.

Thanks for the tip.

 

[comatose81]

Thank you. Found the simulation. Too bad it is limited and there is no option to fast forward.

Still can't get the google search to work. I'm on wifi and it won't work on wifi or 3g.

Yeah, the simulation is kind of pointless. You can try "fast-forwarding" by selecting a starting point farther along the route, but that's annoying.

Not sure what's going on with Google... their server could be having trouble. I'd try it again a little later.

 

[ptackbar]

Just got Navigon 1.4 yesterday. Is there a way to get it to do a simulation of the route? If so, I can't find it.

Also, anytime I try to do a Google POI search, it gives me a connection error: 'A connection to the Google server could not be established...' Obviously my Internet connection is working for everything else. Any thoughts?

I've had this data connection problem with Navigon, too. Neither the Google search nor traffic information was accessible (traffic constantly showed "offline") during a recent trip when I ran into heavy traffic. I had strong signal strength and Edge data connectivity but neither of these services worked and I was stuck in hours of traffic because of it. I'm not sure who is to blame -- Navigon, Google, AT&T?

The lack of reliability for the Internet connected services plus the annoying [to me] fact that Navigon does not show the "next turn" arrow until you are 2 miles (or fewer) before your next turn are reasons why I've been preferring TomTom to Navigon recently.

 

[navguy]

Thank you. Found the simulation. Too bad it is limited and there is no option to fast forward.

Still can't get the google search to work. I'm on wifi and it won't work on wifi or 3g.

I've had this data connection problem with Navigon, too. Neither the Google search nor traffic information was accessible (traffic constantly showed "offline") during a recent trip when I ran into heavy traffic. I had strong signal strength and Edge data connectivity but neither of these services worked and I was stuck in hours of traffic because of it. I'm not sure who is to blame -- Navigon, Google, AT&T?

The lack of reliability for the Internet connected services plus the annoying [to me] fact that Navigon does not show the "next turn" arrow until you are 2 miles (or fewer) before your next turn are reasons why I've been preferring TomTom to Navigon recently.

I experienced the 'server issue' on day 1 of v1.4 release, Navigon recognized it on FB/Twitter and fixed it w/in 24hrs ... no issues since. I did read that there were server issues in Europe this last week for Navigon app ...

What country are you two in?

comatose - glad to hear your refund is processing; come on back in July! Navigon s/b world class by then

 

[ptackbar]

I experienced the 'server issue' on day 1 of v1.4 release, Navigon recognized it on FB/Twitter and fixed it w/in 24hrs ... no issues since. I did read that there were server issues in Europe this last week for Navigon app ...

What country are you two in?

comatose - glad to hear your refund is processing; come on back in July! Navigon s/b world class by then

I'm in the southeast US.

 

[navguy]

I'm in the southeast US.

let them know on facebook or twitter at Navigon_US ... sad, but it's the only way i've heard people getting responses from them (unless you know someone on the inside! )

good luck

 

[DocNYz]

This is slightly unrelated but I haven't had any luck on other forums and don't think I'm allowed yet to post a new topic but I have a question:

I have legally registered several phones on my iTunes account through home Sharing to use navigon on each and it works great - however, to get traffic I need to buy the in-app upgrade. Does anyone know if that can be shared as well? How many phones will the navigon server allow to have that installed on / registered?

Thanks!

 

[JustLeft]

Yes, traffic can be shared as well. You go into each iphone and purchase the in-app upgrade. For the first phone on your itunes account you get charged. For the second, third... it says you already paid and lets you download it for no charge. Not sure what the limit is on the number of iphones on 1 itunes account, but I think it is 5.

I have 3 iphones in our family, all have Navigon with Traffic installed on each. Only paid 1 time for traffic.

This is slightly unrelated but I haven't had any luck on other forums and don't think I'm allowed yet to post a new topic but I have a question:

I have legally registered several phones on my iTunes account through home Sharing to use navigon on each and it works great - however, to get traffic I need to buy the in-app upgrade. Does anyone know if that can be shared as well? How many phones will the navigon server allow to have that installed on / registered?

Thanks!

 

[zhenya]

Google server started working shortly after I posted last night. I'm in the Eastern US.

 

[DocNYz]

Yes, traffic can be shared as well. You go into each iphone and purchase the in-app upgrade. For the first phone on your itunes account you get charged. For the second, third... it says you already paid and lets you download it for no charge. Not sure what the limit is on the number of iphones on 1 itunes account, but I think it is 5.

I have 3 iphones in our family, all have Navigon with Traffic installed on each. Only paid 1 time for traffic.

Thanks a lot, I'll try it soon and report back!

 

[zhenya]

Navigon doesn't seem to use the Compass on my 3gs to determine direction? Especially when I go into the map overview mode, it'd be really handy if it oriented to my given direction. Additionally, I'd love to see a compass rose on the main screen to tell me what direction I'm heading. Surprised not to see this - is it because they are trying to maintain 3g compatibility or what?

 

[ptackbar]

Navigon doesn't seem to use the Compass on my 3gs to determine direction? Especially when I go into the map overview mode, it'd be really handy if it oriented to my given direction. Additionally, I'd love to see a compass rose on the main screen to tell me what direction I'm heading. Surprised not to see this - is it because they are trying to maintain 3g compatibility or what?

I'm not sure using the 3GS's compass would be a good thing. When I have my iPhone mounted in my car, it is centered on my winshield and angled toward me. That would surely give a false compass reading if used by the GPS software. The compass works well when you are holding the phone directly in front of you, pointed I the direction you are looking, but if people mount their iPhone like I do, I think it wouldn't help.

 

[zhenya]

Well, every major stand-alone GPS device released in the last few years has a compass, and my impression was that it was largely included in the 3gs for use with maps and navigation. I'm not so much concerned with a precision measurement within +/- 10 degrees of the angle of view of the device. Generally orienting to my direction would be nice though.

 

[navguy]

Well, every major stand-alone GPS device released in the last few years has a compass, and my impression was that it was largely included in the 3gs for use with maps and navigation. I'm not so much concerned with a precision measurement within +/- 10 degrees of the angle of view of the device. Generally orienting to my direction would be nice though.

the compass feature works fine in Pedestrian mode (holding horizontal to ground) ... though limited in functionality

re: car mode ... i guess the software should be able to determine the direction that the vehicle is traveling and provide compass heading w/in a degree or two tolerance - that shouldn't be hard ... good suggestion

 

[acousticbiker]

I've wondered about the compass as well. Cars have built-in compasses and car GPS units (built-in and portable) also have compasses that seem to work in cars. But the iPhone compass goes berserk in the car (must be a different type of compass more sensitive to magnetic forces?)...maybe this is why Navigon and the other GPS apps don't seem to utilize it?

 

[trainguy77]

I've wondered about the compass as well. Cars have built-in compasses and car GPS units (built-in and portable) also have compasses that seem to work in cars. But the iPhone compass goes berserk in the car (must be a different type of compass more sensitive to magnetic forces?)...maybe this is why Navigon and the other GPS apps don't seem to utilize it?

Not only this the iPhone's compass is not orientated for up right usage. So when mounted in a windshield mount it will give even more in accurate readings.

 

[zhenya]

Not only this the iPhone's compass is not orientated for up right usage. So when mounted in a windshield mount it will give even more in accurate readings.

Not so. The compass in the iphone is oriented for use in portrait mode. Rotate it anywhere from 0-180 degrees in the vertical to horizontal plane while holding it in portrait mode and the reading will be exactly the same. (Any residual inaccuracy you may see is due to magnetic interference around you as the compass moves slightly in your hand. Hold it perfectly still and rotate it perfectly about its axis in a magnetically clean environment and it will stay the same.) This is because the compass is only measuring in two dimensions (N/S and E/W). In order to add the third dimension you'd have to add readings from the accelerometer to determine the angle the device is held at. Fortunately for most surface-based navigation this third dimension is not required.

Where this could get you is when the device is rotated from portrait to landscape mode, where the reading will change because the heading of the compass will honestly change from, for example, north to east. However, even this could be easily compensated for with a correction factor, as it would be a simple matter of adding or subtracting 90 degrees depending on the orientation of the device.

 

[DainBramage1]

With those few things said, it's still laggy during button presses, however, and maybe it's because I rebooted the phone after installing, it does seem a BIT snappier. Not nearly as quick as Tomtom, which runs faster than notes, LOL, but still, very usable. I also found the iPod functionality to work better. Previously, when I would fire up the iPod controls, it was very painful. Took maybe a full minute to actually let me do anything. Now, it was a few seconds, maybe. Also, as a side note on the iPod stuff. I am VERY glad to see the audiobook setting. This worked out great for the podcast I was listening to on the way back to work. I couldn't stand having the volume toned down when the thing was talking, as it toned it down too much. Now, it just pauses whatever your playing, and, for podcasts and such, I think that is a much better way.

On my iPhone 3G, I've found that the button press lag, particularly while entering an address, is much better with v1.4 than before (initial Navigon screen still takes longer than I'd like and GPS acquisition speed seems about the same). iPod controls are still somewhat painful. I saw the audiobook setting and didn't figure out what it would do... thanks! I switched my option and can't wait to check it out!!

Used 1.4 again this morning... the voice stuttering problem is definitely still there. Everything is fine for a while, then I get to an exit ramp and it starts this:

"In half a mile, at exit 6B for ............ take the ramp right."

Then it does the same thing when I reach the exit - cutting out the important information.

Usually after that the voice just stops altogether and I have to close Navigon and launch it again.

This is on a 3G of course, but really its unacceptable.

I haven't gotten to the point where the voice stops altogether, but it seems to me that if the stutter is going to happen, it will almost always be on the street name. Is that because the rest of the vocalization isn't doing TTS? Personally, I would like the option of a (separately controlled) pre-vocalization tone... there are times when I'd rather not have the voice, but just something that tells me to check the screen.

 

[zhenya]

I've finally had a chance to use Navigon a bit more this week, and I have to say that I'm really not that happy with the routing. Almost every trip I take it routes me not at all the way that I would choose - often missing major shortcuts on well traveled roads. I've tried playing with the various route profile options, but that doesn't seem to make much difference. My old TomTom stand alone device that hasn't been updated in 3 years does significantly better with routing.

I'm also disappointed to notice that there is no 'estimated arrival time.' It took me a bit to notice that it doesn't have this feature (which would be dead simple to add) but then I realized I have NO idea how accurate its time estimates are because all it ever gives me is x minutes to arrival.

Thoughts? I'm seriously considering going to the TomTom app because of these issues.

 

[ptackbar]

I'm also disappointed to notice that there is no 'estimated arrival time.' It took me a bit to notice that it doesn't have this feature (which would be dead simple to add) but then I realized I have NO idea how accurate its time estimates are because all it ever gives me is x minutes to arrival.

Thoughts? I'm seriously considering going to the TomTom app because of these issues.

If you tap the estimated travel time area on the screen it will toggle between ETA and estimated travel time.

 

[zhenya]

If you tap the estimated travel time area on the screen it will toggle between ETA and estimated travel time.

Nice! Did not know that.

Where's the user manual Navigon??

 

[lordhamster]

I've finally had a chance to use Navigon a bit more this week, and I have to say that I'm really not that happy with the routing. Almost every trip I take it routes me not at all the way that I would choose - often missing major shortcuts on well traveled roads. I've tried playing with the various route profile options, but that doesn't seem to make much difference. My old TomTom stand alone device that hasn't been updated in 3 years does significantly better with routing.

I'm also disappointed to notice that there is no 'estimated arrival time.' It took me a bit to notice that it doesn't have this feature (which would be dead simple to add) but then I realized I have NO idea how accurate its time estimates are because all it ever gives me is x minutes to arrival.

Thoughts? I'm seriously considering going to the TomTom app because of these issues.

As the other fellow said, simply click the time remaining on the screen to toggle to the ETA.

As for the routing, before committing to the TomTom app, you can check out their routes on the current map by going to routes.tomtom.com

Personally I like the Tomtom routing better, but I miss the traffic function from Navigon.

 

[Sparky9292]

On my iPhone 3G, I've found that the button press lag, particularly while entering an address, is much better with v1.4 than before

I feel that the Tom Tom Canada/US app is much faster at entering an address or destination than Navigon. I can enter an address in 5 seconds where it takes me 10 or more on Navigon.

I have a regular iPhone 3G like you.

 

[navguy]

I feel that the Tom Tom Canada/US app is much faster at entering an address or destination than Navigon. I can enter an address in 5 seconds where it takes me 10 or more on Navigon.

I have a regular iPhone 3G like you.

for business lookup, i am using AroundMe to find restaurants, bars, stores, etc ... then use the integrated launch into Navigon ... it takes about 3 sec to find my destination