Satnav for iPhone (Turn by Turn)

[Owenski]

Ok so I've got my iPhone 3gs and I'm running iOS.4
I wanted to know if any of you loverly organs have any recomendations for a satnav app.

The phone will remain in my pocket and I wont be able to see the routing while travelling so I'm looking for one with good clear audio guidance.

So...
What do you use?




{dont bother with the "buy a Garmin" type posts, I've got the iPhone even the tomtom app only costs £50 so why would I want to pay £150 for the most basic standalone on the market when I've already got a gps device in my pocket which also lets me listen to my music).

[fizzwheel]

Similar dilema a while ago, I know you dont want to hear it but.. We bought a standalone SatNav from Morrisions for £50, same price as the Garmin app for the iphone and we arent tied to it only be available to the person with it installed on the phone. You dont have or need to spend £150 on a stand alone unit.

The garmin app got some bad reviews a while ago. Theres another app that does the same and its cheaper but I forget the name of it. Have a look in the itunes store.

[Owenski]

I think its co-pilot thats the just as good but half the price app which seems to be getting good reviews.

I hadnt thought about the shared useage of standalone device but tbh I dont think Abi would be too keen on using one (she doesnt even belive google earth) she always checks her route using a map.

The other 2 apps I've found are Ndrive and Navmii plus the obvious tomtom app.

[Woz]

Ndrive was a fantastic buy a couple of weeks ago when it was only £4.99. Every bit as good as Copilot which I've been using for a few years.

Unfortunately, Ndrive seems to have disappeared from iTunes.

[Owenski]

that was the one I nearly bought cos I simply thought it looked worth a £5 even just to find if it was tosh or not

[hindle8907]

co pilot works good

[flymo]

a friend of mine uses Navigon and loves it.

[Owenski]

just found this...
http://www.pocketgpsworld.com/iphone-navigation-app-comparison-xr5133.php

[L3nny]

I got Co-pilot on my Android phone, it's the shizzle. Even gives you diagrams of tricky motorway junctions before you need to turn telling you which lane you need to get in.

[Viney]

she always checks her route using a map.
Good girl. None of this technology rubbish!

You can get TomTom App for about £50 of the itunes store, for what i have used i still think that TT mapping/software is the best. Still takes you the longest way round ever, even when using shortest distance.

[Nick762]

Navigon, no complaints except i can't seem to switch the voice off so if you have iPod on the tunes keep getting interupted by annoying woman and if you just turn the volume all the way down you just get periods of silence amidst your music. Just careful which one you get as it comes in various different local flavours so if you don't go to Europe much you can just get the UK map which is cheaper.

[Owenski]

Because Im a sad geek and had some spare time, I compiled a chart from the information on that previous link. It scores the items out of 10, with a total score at the top.

http://forums.sv650.org/picture.php?albumid=567&pictureid=4590

The Top 5 Rank as Follows:
Tomtom (180)
Co-Pilot (174)
Navigon (170)
Navmii (157)
Sygic Mobile 2009 (147)

Tomtom seems a bit expensive for an "app" despite its bolwing over of teh competition on this little poll. Copilot and Navigon have had their complaints but then again Im sure if I looked hard enough I'd find problems with them all.

I'll get back to you once I've made my purchase and let you know about my findings.

Cheers.

[blue curvy jester]

the free one is ****

[gettin2dizzy]

I'd get a standalone unit too. Mobile phone GPS is a novelty, and far inferior to a specific gps unit. The reception is worse, the accuracy worse, the lag worse, routes worse ... never mind how long it can take to get an initial location.

Other thing is that the apps claim that it's a lifetime license. Not so in my experience after wiping a phone.

Useful on an odd occasion, but I wouldn't rely on one.

[Woz]

Useful on an odd occasion, but I wouldn't rely on one.


I've been using phone based ones (Tom Tom, Copilot and now Ndrive) for years and honestly, they have always been reliable.

[gettin2dizzy]

I've been using phone based ones (Tom Tom, Copilot and now Ndrive) for years and honestly, they have always been reliable.

It's not so much the software, but the hardware.
Also, they royally **** your battery. You practically need to have them plugged in to work!

[Woz]

It's not so much the software, but the hardware.
Also, they royally **** your battery. You practically need to have them plugged in to work!


3 HTC devices and an iphone and they have all be great.

And I use them in the car... where they are plugged in :D

[Nick762]

It's not so much the software, but the hardware.
Also, they royally **** your battery. You practically need to have them plugged in to work!


Yeah, there is that :(

Navigon now has a panoramic view option which works fine on 3GS and presumably the 4 which looks great. Downer is that even plugged into the 12v supply it sucks power and seems to have a net loss of charge.

[gettin2dizzy]

I'd imagine they'll only get better at least, and I haven't tried the Iphone 4 one to compare. But no phone will have a antenna and chipset to match a standalone gps unfortunately. The technology is getting old anyway

[Owenski]

Useful on an odd occasion, but I wouldn't rely on one.

100% agree, if I were a courier or similar then I'd have a stand alone unit for certain. However in reality I'd be lucky to need to use it more than once a month (at best) hence why I cant justify spending £150/£200 on something that will sit in the draw and no doubt not be in the car or on my person should I need it spur of the moment.
Its becuase of this that for a £20/£40 app which is always in my pocket should I need it is a perfect for my situation. I've ask your oppions to find any horror stories etc because the last thing I want is to need it, got to use it and then be gutted that its total tosh.
I'll be needing one this weekend and its in preparation for this that I'm trying to establish the best option from the current market.

That battery comment though, how much does it reduce battery life? Does it use as much as if the phone was making a call? I've an ipod charger which fits to the bike so I can fit that if you think it will be necessary.

[gerbrox]

Jailbreak the Iphone and get xgps through Cyndia.

It's not to back, not updated myself for a while, previosuly the voice was a bit robotic to say the least, but at least it's free.

Owenski, how is the IOS4 working on the 3GS, I've put it on my 3g and it's ferking slow.

[Owenski]

Its mint mate, I notice the difference when I've forgotten to leave apps properly but then go and shut them off through the multi-task bar.

Im not jail breaking the phone though I've only had it a month and that voids any warrenty or insurance I have on it :(

[hindle8907]

jail breaking doesn't void warranty lol, you can restore the unit back to factory settings with the click of a button.

[Owenski]

how can i reset anything if it kills bits of the phone off after i use un-approved software. Not risking it.

[hindle8907]

Easy you plug it into itunes on click restore which will rebuild the whole OS on the Iphone, if that fails which is highly unlikely use Recovery Mode and if that doesn't work you will want to use DFU mode. lol
doesn't matter what you do to the iphone it can be restored back to factory settings just like when you format a PC....
It is just a mini PC in essence............
i just got a brand new Iphone4 and as soon as the jailbreak is released it will installed with out a doubt.

[Owenski]

understood,
still not gonna do it.

[hindle8907]

lol you keep wasting your money on apps you wish you never paid for ;) its your wallet.

[Owenski]

quickoffice.
Its the only one I've paid for and yeah I wish I hadnt have bothered.

[Owenski]

oh and angry birds but thats awsome so defo not regretted.