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The only viable GPS solution = TomTom

Good GPS software DOES make a difference. Software can intelligently compare the GPS results to the compass reading (if you have a 3GS), plus factor in which direction you've been traveling and how fast, along with "snapping" you to the roads, in order to smooth out all those little position glitches you're seeing in Google Maps. I know the built-in nav in my Acura does all that now, and it makes a difference.

So if Tom Tom goes the full distance writing this app, it could be far better than what we see in Google Maps. I'm not sure what the GPS enhancement is in their cradle. It could be as simple as holding your phone under the windshield so the on-board chip has a better "view" of the satellites, or it could be some electronic enhancement or even a second GPS chip.
 
I have used mine on a long road trip (still traveling btw). I only used the original map app too. It has worked almost flawlessly. I drove from central NC to the mountains (NC/TN border), then to the Detroit area, then to the DC area. I head back to the NC area soon. The GPS has been very accurate.

The only thing that would be better would be to have the maps already downloaded so I don't have to rely on downloading data all the time.
 
I have to completely disagree with this thread. I used Navigon for a 20 mile trip on Sunday and was completely shocked at how accurate it was. With all the people flaming the GPS chip I didnt expect much, but it was even better than my Mitac Mio with TomTom loaded on.

All I can say, if its not working its broke!
 
It strikes me as being odd that people have wildly varying experience with the iphone GPS chip. I personally have had no issues. I have used google maps and navigon app and had no problems (even when my standalone tomtom was really struggling).

Why would people have such bad experiences with it. Was there a faulty batch? or are people trying to compare it to something that was always going to be superior?

On another note I am intrigued by the dock for the tomtom and wonder if Navigon or any other TBT apps will bring out similar or tweak their software to use the tomtom dock. So far I would say I dont need it for Navigon but I have only had this 2 weeks so you never know. I currently have the kensington mount with separate output to aux. This is fine at the moment but I know that at somepoint I will want to listen to the radio and then I will be relying on the iphone speaker which I have discovered that the directions from navigon can barely be heard above the radio even when I keep the radio low.
 
Another vote for iPhone GPS being great. I referee across the UK and have been using it every weekend, was using it with Google Maps for a while too and never had a problem.

Sometimes the signal would randomly show me in a field next to the road but being honest i've had that with my stand alone tomtom unit too. Gotta say so far my iphone is a genuine replacement for my tomtom.

I'm considering a water-proof otterbox case and making a mount so i can use my iphone with tomtom on my motor bike. Currently the bike-ready tomtoms are £400+, would love to get this setup on my bike.
 
on the few times i've used navigon i've never noticed it loss track of where it is once. my only gripe is the lack of features like postcode search (only does part search).

I've always kept mine on the windscreen though so if your having trouble look at where you locate yours. Also heard heated windscreens can effect it but my car too old to have posh stuff like that :p
 
Kadman said:
Even more common will be those left out in the cold because they have their phone in a case. Unless there's another mounting option we haven't seen, all the demos show that clip that just fits the naked phone. I'm also waiting for all the threads about the clip leaving scratches on the black back and the chrome bezel.
Click to expand...

Those threads will be followed by the "Oh no, my mount fell off my windshield and busted my iPhone" threads.
 
redman042 said:
So if Tom Tom goes the full distance writing this app, it could be far better than what we see in Google Maps. I'm not sure what the GPS enhancement is in their cradle. It could be as simple as holding your phone under the windshield so the on-board chip has a better "view" of the satellites, or it could be some electronic enhancement or even a second GPS chip.
Click to expand...

Read the Macworld article from yesterday. The cradle has its own Bluetooth and GPS chipsets. When docked the software will use the dock chipset and phone calls will be routed through the Bluetooth speakerphone built into the cradle.

There is no FM transmitter for car audio though. It's strictly an audio cable connection which will disappoint many. People could add a third-party FM transmitter but that's one more thing to plug in for power.
 
chimpboy74 said:
It strikes me as being odd that people have wildly varying experience with the iphone GPS chip. I personally have had no issues. I have used google maps and navigon app and had no problems (even when my standalone tomtom was really struggling).

Why would people have such bad experiences with it. Was there a faulty batch? or are people trying to compare it to something that was always going to be superior?
Click to expand...

In an unobstructed view the GPS does quite well. I really haven't had any issues with it at all. I do have problems trying to use it for Geocaching. It simply performs poorly under any kind of foliage canopy. I gave up completely on using it because the accuracy varied wildly. It just doesn't have a large enough GPS patch antenna to secure a decent signal under a moderate canopy situation.
 
bbplayer5 said:
If you stand still yes, but moving its horrible. Even the Google Maps put you off the road most of the time and skips forward and not a smooth motion. G-Map keeps you locked on roads, but sometimes jumps you off the road you are currently on, to an adjacent one. This is due to the iPhones GPS chip or antenna being too poor.

TomTom - wait for it.
Click to expand...
Trust me, all GPS chips does that. The "good" software filters those out. They assume you did not just jump to the side of a mountain all of a sudden. Granted, some chips are better (and more expensive) than others, but most of what you observe is an illusion.
 
Hello,

You say that TomTom would be the only viable navigation app because of the holder than you can buy for the iphone with the gps chip in. This is not true. i have Sygic navigation for my iphone which is absolutely supurb. you do not even need a better gps chip. The reason why maps does not keep up with you is because they load them from the internet aswell as following your location whereas with the navigation software it has no need to download the maps from the internet as they are already loaded onto the iphone.

I have been using sygic in my car today with a bracket i already have for my iphone and it was absolutely supurb and would recommened it to anyone. Navigon is a load of rubbish and do not recommend this software. And i am sure that tom tom will be a great piece of software aswell but they should of released before all the others did. they have made a big mistake
 
The iPhone GPS quality is about on par with most inexpensive GPS units. If you are finding that the reception is very poor, it could be your windshield. Some anti glare treatments will interfere with the satellite signal.
 
the thing about the tomtom solution is, once you buy a window mount that has its own GPS chip, why not just buy a standalone GPS? Hasn't tomtom's solution defeated the point (convergence) of using your phone as your gps?
 
QCassidy352 said:
the thing about the tomtom solution is, once you buy a window mount that has its own GPS chip, why not just buy a standalone GPS? Hasn't tomtom's solution defeated the point (convergence) of using your phone as your gps?
Click to expand...

Functionally, it's no different than it would be otherwise. The software is still there on the phone and able to be used without the mount - having the mount will just make your life easier. It's still only a single device rather than two.
 
gloss said:
Functionally, it's no different than it would be otherwise. The software is still there on the phone and able to be used without the mount - having the mount will just make your life easier. It's still only a single device rather than two.
Click to expand...

However in this case convergence may not be desirable. If the cost is close to that of a stand alone unit, a dedicated device might make more sense. For example if the passenger wants to browse my playlists, look something up on the internet, play a game or make a phone call, I lose my Nav. Personally I find that my GF uses my iPhone heavily during long road trips where a Nav is most needed.
Basically convergence in this case is important only if it saves money.

All that said, if it's under $100 for the software and mount, I'll probably get it.
 
err404 said:
However in this case convergence may not be desirable. If the cost is close to that of a stand alone unit, a dedicated device might make more sense. For example if the passenger wants to browse my playlists, look something up on the internet, play a game or make a phone call, I lose my Nav. Personally I find that my GF uses my iPhone heavily during long road trips where a Nav is most needed.
Basically convergence in this case is important only if it saves money.

All that said, if it's under $100 for the software and mount, I'll probably get it.
Click to expand...

Understandable. My iPhone typically sits there, plugged in and playing music, during trips, so I don't see it being a huge inconvenience for my particular usage patterns. But I can see how it might bug some.
 
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