Help Navigation freezes completely

[Crell]

Hi folks. On my Vibrant (unrooted), various recent updates to Google Navigation have rendered that app essentially unusable. Basically anything post-ROM has an issue where when I start navigation, even when it does pick up a GPS signal and try to navigate it has a good chance of freezing up completely. It seems to happen unpredictably, but with increasing frequency. It will even happen just driving along doing nothing but letting the app guide me. It will just lock up cold. Sometimes the screen goes blank. The only way to get the device to respond at all is to pop the battery out momentarily.

Naturally this renders the GPS all but useless. Has anyone else run into this issue? Anyone found a solution?

 

[llblwskydrgn]

I have had this problem for a while after I upgraded the firmware to the latest OTA 2.1 (not froyo). I am rooted and lag fixed using OCLF. The exact thing happens, it will navigate fine and then randomly freeze to the point where the only fix is a battery pull. It is a major annoyance.

I dunno if it happens to you, but going into my photo gallery will cause the same issue as well at random times.

 

[Crell]

I don't often use the photo gallery, but I don't recall it locking up on my hard like that. I did once have it freeze and I had to leave it and come back.

Overall I am growing increasingly disappointed in the quality of the software on this device. I expect bit rot from a Windows computer, not from an Android phone.

 

[wildblue]

Hi folks. On my Vibrant (unrooted), various recent updates to Google Navigation have rendered that app essentially unusable. Basically anything post-ROM has an issue where when I start navigation, even when it does pick up a GPS signal and try to navigate it has a good chance of freezing up completely. It seems to happen unpredictably, but with increasing frequency. It will even happen just driving along doing nothing but letting the app guide me. It will just lock up cold. Sometimes the screen goes blank. The only way to get the device to respond at all is to pop the battery out momentarily.

Naturally this renders the GPS all but useless. Has anyone else run into this issue? Anyone found a solution?

Google "google navigation freeze". It's not just a Vibrant problem.

It's happened to me as well, but rarely.

It should probably also be noted that Google Nav is still a Beta product. Just saying.

 

[Crell]

LOL. The top search result for that string is this post.

Well crap. It looks like no one has a solution other than "a reboot sometimes fixes it", which it doesn't for me.

And "beta" is a marketing term Google (and others) use these days to avoid having to stand behind their services. It's been bastardized from a real software development process into a marketing dodge. I actually think that's quite irresponsible. Just sayin'.

 

[wildblue]

LOL. The top search result for that string is this post.

Well crap. It looks like no one has a solution other than "a reboot sometimes fixes it", which it doesn't for me.

And "beta" is a marketing term Google (and others) use these days to avoid having to stand behind their services. It's been bastardized from a real software development process into a marketing dodge. I actually think that's quite irresponsible. Just sayin'.

Point was it's not a Vibrant only problem.

What did you pay for it? Not exactly a "marketing" dodge when they give it away. It's been their practice to release "beta" SW, get much wider user feedback than they would ever get by a QA dept., and eventually release a final version. I agree it's frustrating when their Nav hangs or fails to recalculate a route because of a lost data connection, and I've posted complaints on their forum about those problems, but overall it's the best GPS SW for Android IMO. I'm hoping it's more solid on Froyo, but we'll see. Hopefully they'll fix it and make it final soon.

 

[llblwskydrgn]

I understand that Google Nav is in beta. Where is the feedback/send in bug button?
I agree that this is definitely the best (and free!) GPS navigator for Android, but where are the updates?
A software in beta should have constant back and forth communication of bugs and software updates between the users and the programmers. In that respect, I agree with Crell that their idea of "beta" software is a bit messed up.

 

[Crell]

What did you pay for it? Not exactly a "marketing" dodge when they give it away.

$150 plus a 2 year contract, for a device marketed as having functional GPS and navigation. Slapping "beta" on one application doesn't change that fact.

(I know the "what did you pay" line; I'm an open source developer; I've used the line before myself. But it doesn't always apply, and especially not here.)

 

[wildblue]

I understand that Google Nav is in beta. Where is the feedback/send in bug button?
I agree that this is definitely the best (and free!) GPS navigator for Android, but where are the updates?
A software in beta should have constant back and forth communication of bugs and software updates between the users and the programmers. In that respect, I agree with Crell that their idea of "beta" software is a bit messed up.

Are you asking me to find the Google Nav forum and feedback links for you? I've participated in forum threads where Google Nav folks were actively responding to posters having problems. I've gotten updates to Google Maps, which includes Nav, since I got the Vibrant. I've also submitted map and routing errors that were fixed within a month.

All I can suggest is you let them know about your experience. The more feedback they get the better.

 

[wildblue]

$150 plus a 2 year contract, for a device marketed as having functional GPS and navigation. Slapping "beta" on one application doesn't change that fact.

(I know the "what did you pay" line; I'm an open source developer; I've used the line before myself. But it doesn't always apply, and especially not here.)

Complain to Google. I did.

 

[wildblue]

Looks like Google hasn't been sitting on their thumbs with the Maps app.

Google Maps for Android Now Faster, Smoother, in 3D and Works Offline

Some very nice sounding features, including caching maps to allow route recalculation without a data connection.

Hopefully, they've also fixed the phone freeze problem, but only time will tell.

 

[llblwskydrgn]

Can't wait for this release to come out! I'll be sure to give it a lot of testing when it is. =)

I hope the nav freeze is fixed as well, it would seem that should be one of their highest priorities since a road trips with a frozen gps does not bode well for the users.
I would've been more okay with them if it was a localized Vibrant problem which might be difficult to pinpoint and receive as much feedback on, but if the nav freeze is widespread through the android phones, then it must be fixed.

 

[cowppl]

I have my doubts about the freezing to be a Google Nav issue. I think it is a problem with the Vibrant. My friend has the MT4G and his does not freeze. Also, I bought the Co-Pilot app and have had the same freezing issues with it as well

 

[llblwskydrgn]

So far the new version of google maps has been real good. It only froze once so far, and that was right after I had installed the update. Not really sure if it's really fixed yet since I've had limited testing time.

 

[wildblue]

I have my doubts about the freezing to be a Google Nav issue. I think it is a problem with the Vibrant. My friend has the MT4G and his does not freeze. Also, I bought the Co-Pilot app and have had the same freezing issues with it as well

Did you Google it? If you do you'll see that is has not been isolated to the Vibrant. One report from a friend isn't conclusive. I'd wager there are people who haven't experienced the problem on the Vibrant either. I'm hoping the combination of Maps 5.0 and Froyo will resolve it. We'll see.

 

[daveydog]

yup having the same issue on droid inc