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TomTom vs. Megellan vs. Navigon

M

mm1250

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Sep 3, 2007
327
43
Hello,

I am looking for THE BEST Navigation software for my iPhone. I had downloaded nDrive which was pretty cheap but I dont' like it at all. So I decided to pony up the dough and look at the other apps out there. They are:

MobileNavigator by Navigon
TomTom
Megallan Roadmate 2010

Can you guys shed some light on thoughts of the programs. Pricing seems to be in line between all 3. Ranges from $49 to $79.
 
mm1250 said:
Hello,

I am looking for THE BEST Navigation software for my iPhone. I had downloaded nDrive which was pretty cheap but I dont' like it at all. So I decided to pony up the dough and look at the other apps out there. They are:

MobileNavigator by Navigon
TomTom
Megallan Roadmate 2010

Can you guys shed some light on thoughts of the programs. Pricing seems to be in line between all 3. Ranges from $49 to $79.
Click to expand...

I've only tried Navigon & TomTom. If you have an iPhone 3GS get Navigon. If you have an iPhone 3G, get TomTom. Navigon is quite frustrating on a 3G.
 
lordhamster said:
I've only tried Navigon & TomTom. If you have an iPhone 3GS get Navigon. If you have an iPhone 3G, get TomTom. Navigon is quite frustrating on a 3G.
Click to expand...



I never have any issues w/ Navigon on my 3G. Guess its by user, but never on my 3G has Navigon been trouble.
 
iphone1105 said:
I never have any issues w/ Navigon on my 3G. Guess its by user, but never on my 3G has Navigon been trouble.
Click to expand...

Certainly it works on a 3G, but it can be painful.

Have you tried to use the ipod functions? Haven't you noticed that button presses often take 10+ seconds before there is a response? Any sluggishness when searching for a POI or entering an address?
 
lordhamster said:
Certainly it works on a 3G, but it can be painful.

Have you tried to use the ipod functions? Haven't you noticed that button presses often take 10+ seconds before there is a response? Any sluggishness when searching for a POI or entering an address?
Click to expand...


I use it alot, and never had/have this issues. I never get a stutter in anything even the iPod portion of it. My button clicks are always smooth, never sluggish when searching POI's, actually when typing I get lag but thats the only lag I get and its not that bad, its usually just for the first letter of the word. I dont know why so many folks have issues I dont. Maybe since I do a fresh install everytime and dont just "update' the app, I actually remove it than re-install. IDK, just a thought. But I never experience any negative asepcts, except occasioanlly when typing in using Navigons keyboard.
 
-Navigon for best GPS lock, traffic, and google lookups
-TomTom you can see streetnames, easier to push buttons while driving :eek:
-Magellan has potential but v1.0 has horrible GPS lock and has bug showing speed.
 
lordhamster said:
Certainly it works on a 3G, but it can be painful.

Have you tried to use the ipod functions? Haven't you noticed that button presses often take 10+ seconds before there is a response? Any sluggishness when searching for a POI or entering an address?
Click to expand...

Navigon w/ fixed cost lifetime traffic & free google search ... no question about it!

... very frequent updates relative to others, and they are focusing everything on mobile device platform - the others will be distracted by supporting other device platform since it's their core business

... careful w/ TomTom, current traffic and google search on existing devices is $9.99/mo - and no guarantee what they'll do after the holidays w/ these features

... and if you end up w/ a sluggish experience w/ Navigon on a 3G (i used it on an old 3G, and it worked fine), its best to turn off some of the features that use processor (iPod, wifi, etc) - adding traffic service did not have noticable impact on performance

Bottom line is that Navigon on 3GS is awesome and only going to get better!

good luck!
 
iphone1105 said:
I use it alot, and never had/have this issues. I never get a stutter in anything even the iPod portion of it. My button clicks are always smooth, never sluggish when searching POI's, actually when typing I get lag but thats the only lag I get and its not that bad, its usually just for the first letter of the word. I dont know why so many folks have issues I dont. Maybe since I do a fresh install everytime and dont just "update' the app, I actually remove it than re-install. IDK, just a thought. But I never experience any negative asepcts, except occasioanlly when typing in using Navigons keyboard.
Click to expand...

Can you do me a favor and let me know:

1. Which model iPhone 3G do you have? 8GB or 16GB white or black.

2. Which radios do you have turned on/off (3G/Wifi/Bluetooth)

3. How much free Space do you have?

I'm hoping maybe one of these things is what is causing the problem. I've got 2 old 3G iphones and I'd love to get Navigon working tolerably on these for the wife.
 
Sorry if I missed this someplace else, but is it true that you can use the TomTom mount with external chip to provide an enhanced GPS signal for use with any other program, including Navigon?
 
siupilot said:
Sorry if I missed this someplace else, but is it true that you can use the TomTom mount with external chip to provide an enhanced GPS signal for use with any other program, including Navigon?
Click to expand...

Yep it works great, but is completely unnecessary. I've found the iPhone's built in GPS to work great w/ both Navigon & TomTom.

However, if you want a handsfree speakerphone with audio out for your car that also happens to enhance GPS signal the TomTom cradle isn't bad.
 
I am currently in the same situation as the OP. Now with the holiday sales I am drawn to buy one of these apps, with them costing $50 or $60.

It seems that people in general have been most pleased with navigon, so now I am starting to lean in that direction.

I was initially planning on tom-tom, because I feel like it is a bigger name brand, it's 10 bucks cheaper, and my name is tom (yes i know that is a ridiculously lame reason, but it's still fun).

Of course Magellan, could always be good because although perhaps currently below the other 2 in quality, it seems like it actually is better out of the gate than tom tom and navigon were months ago. that could bode well for future updates, but of course you can't count on that.

Tom tom seems like it has a lot more settings and functions than navigon, which I liked initially, but perhaps makes it unnecessarily complex, creating extra work.
 
Mad Mac Maniac said:
I am currently in the same situation as the OP. Now with the holiday sales I am drawn to buy one of these apps, with them costing $50 or $60.

It seems that people in general have been most pleased with navigon, so now I am starting to lean in that direction.
Click to expand...

good!

Mad Mac Maniac said:
I was initially planning on tom-tom, because I feel like it is a bigger name brand, it's 10 bucks cheaper, and my name is tom (yes i know that is a ridiculously lame reason, but it's still fun).
Click to expand...

careful on TomTom's US-only version, i've read that they used a lower quality map set and POI database to achieve lower cost - you may want to consider the NA version, if that's true ... do the research on this ... unless someone can comment

Mad Mac Maniac said:
Of course Magellan, could always be good because although perhaps currently below the other 2 in quality, it seems like it actually is better out of the gate than tom tom and navigon were months ago. that could bode well for future updates, but of course you can't count on that.
Click to expand...

i wouldn't ... TT and M's core business is their many dedicated device platforms ... the iPhone is one of many they are focused on ... Navigon is focused primarily on the iPhone platform and are cranking out updates very quickly

Mad Mac Maniac said:
Tom tom seems like it has a lot more settings and functions than navigon, which I liked initially, but perhaps makes it unnecessarily complex, creating extra work.
Click to expand...

Keep leaning Navigon ... if you have a 3GS, you won't be disappointed
 
andersonGPS said:
i wouldn't ... TT and M's core business is their many dedicated device platforms ... the iPhone is one of many they are focused on ... Navigon is focused primarily on the iPhone platform
Click to expand...
I don't think this is accurate. Navigon is selling many dedicated devices besides the iPhone (and Windows Mobile, Android, Symbian) versions too, just not in the US. Check their range of products in Europe:
http://www.navigon.de/portal/de/produkte/navigationssysteme/index.html
 
andersonGPS said:
careful on TomTom's US-only version, i've read that they used a lower quality map set and POI database to achieve lower cost - you may want to consider the NA version, if that's true ... do the research on this ... unless someone can comment
Click to expand...
This is the biggie. Until someone posts the TomTom US map only map info I would not even consider it. A lot of people seem to be complaining.
 
TomTom vs. Navigon

I have both but much prefer TomTom because of its superior routing. TomTom's "Smart IQ" considers normal traffic patterns for the time of day you are traveling and routes you accordingly. When TomTom adds real-time traffic, it will be unbeatable. Navigon's maps are prettier, but TomTom's display is easier to read at a glance while driving. And TomTom's ETA is uncanny -- much more accurate than Navigon in its early predictions.
 
Rigby said:
I don't think this is accurate. Navigon is selling many dedicated devices besides the iPhone (and Windows Mobile, Android, Symbian) versions too, just not in the US. Check their range of products in Europe:
http://www.navigon.de/portal/de/produkte/navigationssysteme/index.html
Click to expand...

Fair point ... and I did intended to say 'mobile platforms' ...

... but I wonder if they have their US operation, which still exists and has a very reduced workforce, focusing on the iPhone app given the deployment that seems to started in here and then move to other countries over time ... the reduced workforce would also explain poor customer service and no documentation.

One of my thoughts is that having a dedicated team - or even US business entity - solely focused on developing one app for mobile platform, is an advantage w/ less distractions ... again, just speculation

Thx!
 
mdaniels said:
I have both but much prefer TomTom because of its superior routing. TomTom's "Smart IQ" considers normal traffic patterns for the time of day you are traveling and routes you accordingly. When TomTom adds real-time traffic, it will be unbeatable. Navigon's maps are prettier, but TomTom's display is easier to read at a glance while driving. And TomTom's ETA is uncanny -- much more accurate than Navigon in its early predictions.
Click to expand...

Do you have Navigon w/ traffic service?

And while I don't have IQ Routing (and it was by far the biggest consideration to go TT instead of N) ... i have read mixed reviews on this ... some say 'spot on' and others say 'irratic' - i'm sure on average it might be a bit better ... i guess when it comes right down to it, the fixed cost live traffic on Navigon makes a huge difference for me since i drive highways on my commute and thru nearby cities w/ regularity ... and there is no guarantee that TomTom will go fixed cost, might be monthly fee like current traffic/google search offering (google TomTom Live Services).
 
andersonGPS said:
Keep leaning Navigon ... if you have a 3GS, you won't be disappointed
Click to expand...

Mad Mac Maniac said:
But what if I don't? :(
Click to expand...


... agreed it's frustrating

when i made my decision, i was thinking longer term ... i also had my eligible upgrade date coming soon ... i first used Navigon on 3G, but honestly, had to turn off a few features to make it work more smoothly (wi-fi, iPod integration, etc)

... but once i upgraded to 3GS, there's been no looking back

i do think Navigon needs to continue focusing on 3G performance - there are a lot of existing and new 3G owners, and this will make an impact on market share
 
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