Bing Maps vs Google Maps Navigation

[kentster2010]

I'm new to Android and I'm deciding on which phone to get. I believe I want the Fascinate but this issue with Google Maps navigation is an issue since turn-by-turn navigation is a big feature for me. Does Bing Maps also offer turn-by-turn navigation as well? Is it voice assisted? Personally I don't care if it's Bing or Google but I don't want the Verizon one since it will require a monthly fee. As long as Bing Maps offers the same functionality as Google Maps, I'm fine.

Does anyone know the answer to this?

Thanks!

 

[hanano17]

I don't know anything about Bing maps, but you can download Google Maps Navi, and use that if you want. From what we are told however, hitting the search soft key won't function with Google Maps, so you have to load the actual app then do a search (voice or text)...which i've always done anyway.

 

[ckochinsky125]

Bing gives turn by turn just not voice turn by turn where as google maps does voice turn by turn. Hopefully they did not integrate the bing into the os if they did not then you will be able to root and make google maps the default. Although not everyone wants to root

 

[substring]

@kentster2010, I don't know anything about Bing Map and Navigation as I have never used it before. But I have Google Map Navigation on my BlackBerry. I did not like it because it is not as accurate as the VZ Navigator. I am still going to download it and check though. It might work better on the Android phone than on the BlackBerry, who knows?

I advise you to do the same. Download the app and test it out yourself. Different people have different preferences.

Hope this helps.

 

[kentster2010]

I'm going to stop by a Verizon wireless store today and see if I can look at the Bing Maps navigation feature. As I said I don't care which one it is as long as it works (beyond the current GPS issues that Samsung is supposedly working on). I have read confusing statements on this and other forums about Google Maps not working for voice assisted, turn-by-turn navigation on the Fascinate. So I'm trying to find out if Bing Maps offers equivalent features.

 

[Droidable]

If you dont like bing maps you can download google maps. Im not sure who said that google maps wouldnt provide turn by turn directions on the fascinate but they are wrong. Every phone with android 1.6 or higher has that feature. The problem with the Fascinate right now is that it cant find your location..

 

[ckochinsky125]

If you dont like bing maps you can download google maps. Im not sure who said that google maps wouldnt provide turn by turn directions on the fascinate but they are wrong. Every phone with android 1.6 or higher has that feature. The problem with the Fascinate right now is that it cant find your location..

It provides turn by turn just not voice turn by turn on the fascinate since you cant get google voice search

 

[Droidable]

It provides turn by turn just not voice turn by turn on the fascinate since you cant get google voice search

You dont need voice search for audible directions. Its a feature of google maps.

 

[substring]

Yupe. Voice Search and Voice Turn-By-Turn Navigation are two different things. If you have downloaded and installed the Google Map Navigation, you WILL get Voice Turn-By-Turn Navigation.

As of the voice input, I still suspect that you can do so AFTER launching the app itself. You just cannot do that by using the "Search" soft key or the "Seach" bar.

By the way, I was watching the E! channel and I saw a commercial of Bing Search. It looks pretty neat though.

 

[kentster2010]

Stopped by the Verizon store but they refused to even acknowledge the Fascinate's existence. I guess I'll just wait until Friday and stop by the store once it is available.

Sounds like some people out there are spreading misinformation. As long as I can load up either Google Maps or Bing Maps and get voice assisted, turn-by-turn directions I think I'll be getting this phone.

Thanks for the help.

 

[ckochinsky125]

Stopped by the Verizon store but they refused to even acknowledge the Fascinate's existence. I guess I'll just wait until Friday and stop by the store once it is available.

Sounds like some people out there are spreading misinformation. As long as I can load up either Google Maps or Bing Maps and get voice assisted, turn-by-turn directions I think I'll be getting this phone.

Thanks for the help.

Verizon is notorious for doing this they will never acknowledge it or even let you see it until release day unless you know someone.

 

[Droidable]

Verizon is notorious for doing this they will never acknowledge it or even let you see it until release day unless you know someone.

Its so rediculous. I tell them that too when they deny it.

 

[substring]

Stopped by the Verizon store but they refused to even acknowledge the Fascinate's existence. I guess I'll just wait until Friday and stop by the store once it is available.

You might be asking for wrong person or something. Two weeks ago, I went to two different Verizon stores, one close to my office and one close to my house, the employees at both stores acknowledged the existence of Fascinate. They just cannot tell me the launch date back then.

Sounds like some people out there are spreading misinformation. As long as I can load up either Google Maps or Bing Maps and get voice assisted, turn-by-turn directions I think I'll be getting this phone.

That's why you should always take things with a grain of salt, especially unofficial information on the web. Take that video shot by the donthatethegeek guy for example. He did not even know how to operate the camera on his first video. Then his last two videos were taken in his car. I don't think I can trust this guy at all.

One thing for sure is that you can download and install Google Maps Navigation. This has been confirmed by the leaked documentation. It appears that the "Search" soft key and the "Search" bar will activate Bing Search only.

The only unknown is whether you can do voice input into the application or not. I cannot see why you cannot because it is within the application container itself and should not be controlled by the OS. But who knows?

It is only 2 more days. We should find out.

 

[bsalmon]

so I am playing with the new Fascinate as we speak. REALLY dislike Bing being default. Have already downloaded google in hopes of getting the voice turn-by-turn to work. It has a mute button as if its supposed to be talking, but it won't talk to me. I can't find any additional add on app AND from what I see, no additional apps should be needed to make the voice work. Any suggestions?

 

[gwlaw99]

The bigger problem is that the Galaxy S line of phones all have innacurate GPSs. Until they come out with a fix, the GPS is unreliable.

 

[Blue218]

so I am playing with the new Fascinate as we speak. REALLY dislike Bing being default. Have already downloaded google in hopes of getting the voice turn-by-turn to work. It has a mute button as if its supposed to be talking, but it won't talk to me. I can't find any additional add on app AND from what I see, no additional apps should be needed to make the voice work. Any suggestions?

Google Voice??? Not sure....I'm interested because this is also a major issue for me.....if no workie...I'll probly get the Droid X.