Hi and any Sat Nav recommendations?

[rs_pete]

Hi

My first posting so go gentle with me!

Just got the HTC Desire and so far I think its fantastic, mind you this is my first smartphone so not much for me to compare it to.

Even so I really am impressed!

Anyways, I see that there are a number of people offering Sat Nav apps. Now I live in the UK, I don't mind paying for something that works, so I wondered what recommendations anyone has for Sat Nav apps on Android and particularly if tried and tested on the Desire?

Cheers for any suggestions or recommendations
Pete

 

[400ixl]

If you have an unlimited data package you can hack Google maps so that the turn by turn directions work on it for free.

For a paid app I have found CoPilot to be pretty good. Use that on my Desire as I wanted something I can take abroad and have the maps offline for use.

 

[raider5]

Hi Pete,

My first post on here too! when I saw your post I had to let you know about Copilot live 8 which I just bought on Friday for my Desire. It's seriously good and I'm well impressed with it! I've just upgraded from an N95 that had Copilot live 6 and this new version is miles better.

I was a bit unsure about what sat nav to go for as the desire is new and there aren't that many available, plus there are a lack of good reviews. Much of what I read about Copilot seems to be a good 5months old now and the issues raised in the reviews seem to have been addressed, I really can't fault it at all. We used it on Saturday to get us to a wedding and it got us there with no problems. The interface is real slick, I love it!

If you check out this months T3 magazine they have a review of the top five sat nav apps and Copilot I'm pretty sure gets joint top spot with TomTom with 4 out of 5 stars and it's half the price! For

 

[hot-fuzz]

I came from TT for the iPhone onto Copilot for Android.
The routing on TT is far superior as Copilot seems to take some very odd roads, but im in the process of customising the routing levels, so hopefully it wil lget better.

There is also no integrated music player for it which means your music wont get faded or stop during voice feedback, which isnt as bad as you may think ,as i have always heard it over my favourite Tinita Tikaram album.

It is only

 

[PJD007]

If you have an unlimited data package you can hack Google maps so that the turn by turn directions work on it for free.

For a paid app I have found CoPilot to be pretty good. Use that on my Desire as I wanted something I can take abroad and have the maps offline for use.

What's the google maps hack ?

I'd like to try that before buying an app.

 

[damuffinman]

Copilot for me. It's brilliant and value for money but yeah, it does take on you on some rather...odd...roads

 

[400ixl]

What's the google maps hack ?

I'd like to try that before buying an app.

Here you go

http://androidforums.com/514246-post13.html

 

[martyn]

Thanks for the link but, which one of the four down load options should be used for the desire?

 

[400ixl]

Top one (4.1) is the one that I used.

 

[gmbyrom]

I can't get either of the first two links to work. Have the files been removed by the copyright police?

 

[bengrendon]

i am using Copilot on the Moto Milestone and it is really good apart from slight bug that is not allowing use of landscape mode at the moment. If and when i get a Desire i will be using it on that also.
Now just to figure out how to get a Desire and sell the Milestone, any takers!!!

 

[danvy]

I use CoPilot Live 8 for Android for a few months now. I'm very happy with it since then, even if I had several problems with the activation process (a real pain). I first used the app on a Hero then on a Nexus One. On the, the app should be more responsive for simple things like menus. I can admit that maps might be slow with high details and zoom out. It now supports the Android keyboard (no longer their very limited in house keyboard). I still hate (yes, that's the word) "welcome to copilot live" startup sound (an option would be welcome). I real don't understand why they still not support the built in contacts as destination. It's so easy to work with contacts with the Android SDK. The OS integration should be better on Android. We could be able to go to a contact (Intent for Contact / Share), create shortcuts for favorite directions, gadget to follow Copilot Live Link, etc.
If you wonder which is the best between CoPilot Live and Google Maps, you have to think about in board or out board. I could not rely on out board to get my turn by turn directions. I haven't a continuous network connection. Then you have tons of features you can find on a dedicated GPS apps.

 

[CodeMonkey]

I use CoPilot Live 8 for Android for a few months now. I'm very happy with it since then, even if I had several problems with the activation process (a real pain). I first used the app on a Hero then on a Nexus One. On the, the app should be more responsive for simple things like menus. I can admit that maps might be slow with high details and zoom out. It now supports the Android keyboard (no longer their very limited in house keyboard). I still hate (yes, that's the word) "welcome to copilot live" startup sound (an option would be welcome). I real don't understand why they still not support the built in contacts as destination. It's so easy to work with contacts with the Android SDK. The OS integration should be better on Android. We could be able to go to a contact (Intent for Contact / Share), create shortcuts for favorite directions, gadget to follow Copilot Live Link, etc.
If you wonder which is the best between CoPilot Live and Google Maps, you have to think about in board or out board. I could not rely on out board to get my turn by turn directions. I haven't a continuous network connection. Then you have tons of features you can find on a dedicated GPS apps.

I've had CoPilot first on a Magic, now on a Nexus One.

The activation process becomes complicated when switching devices only if you do not get your account reset (by following the procedure / through contacting support). It's worth bearing in mind that it's very rare to find this sort of cross-device licensing in the mobile SatNav market, so it's quite a good purchase if you change device regularly.

BTW You can switch off the 'Welcome to CoPilot' greeting - the option's tucked away somewhere in settings but can be found.

IMHO it's definitely worth buying, especially for those of us outside the USA who don't have access to Google Navigation without a hack or 2.
I've even bought the Spanish maps for our summer holiday - I wouldn't fancy using Google Navigation when roaming!

 

[400ixl]

BTW You can switch off the 'Welcome to CoPilot' greeting - the option's tucked away somewhere in settings but can be found.

Under settings - Sound

 

[danvy]

The activation process becomes complicated when switching devices only if you do not get your account reset (by following the procedure / through contacting support).

That's the problem I had the second time. The first was another story.

BTW You can switch off the 'Welcome to CoPilot' greeting - the option's tucked away somewhere in settings but can be found.

Menu / Settings / Sounds : Uncheck "Say Welcome to CoPilot Live"

I wouldn't fancy using Google Navigation when roaming!

Good point

 

[bengrendon]

I think if you deactivate the license before you switch it will be all good at least aht is how i read it and hoe that is how it works!
Has anyone used this on Desire/X10 yet with any joy.

 

[Gunnar]

Hiya,
Used Co-Pilot Live 8 in anger on my Desire this weekend.
Superb interface and routing.
Re-routing is excellent and quick so long as you haven't got a waypoint plugged in which is in the opposite direction ! But just edit the route on the fly and remove the waypoint and you're away.
Slight bugbear with it re-calculating but that can be overridden with a double press !
Only thing I haven't mastered is navigation via postcode or OS ref when a street is not present eg. a country park. Any tips on this would be most welcome.

 

[serenity]

Hi
Glad to hear that copilot actually works on the desire but I have a problem. I bought the UK and Ireland version from the marketplace today and after putting in the google checkout number and creating a new copilot account etc it says "activation failed Trial expired"
Anyone got any ideas whats the problem??

thanks

 

[serenity]

thanks for responding.. I emailed them as soon as I tried activating, not heard back yet. Now the offices are closed. How does the refund within 24hrs work if they are not about to sort out problems??

 

[lekky]

Check out my simple instructions to get this free Add Turn by Turn Navigation To HTC Desire Nimbu

 

[serenity]

Hi
Thnaks for letting me know about the refund ability of uninstall, however it is saying that since I had previously downloaded this software and then uninstalled I cannot have a refund!! I have no idea why it thinks that! The first time was today

 

[nottmbantam]

Ref - Co-Pilot.

I also used Co Pilot 6 on the N95, and although it was ok, it wasn't as good - IMHO - as TT5 o the 6680 I had. BUT, compared to Nokia Ovi Maps on the N97, Co Pilot is superb!

So, if I get a Desire - where is the best place to get CP? Is it easy to get maps of other countries? I'd want Uk maps of course, but also Middle East maps ( Saudi Arabia ) ?

Cheers.

 

[hot-fuzz]

It's easiest to get it from the market. I looked into buying it elsewhere but decided against it.
copilot is ok, not as good as tomtom is on the iPhone but gps is much more reliable on the desire and that's the most important thing.

 

[Gunnar]

Hi
Thnaks for letting me know about the refund ability of uninstall, however it is saying that since I had previously downloaded this software and then uninstalled I cannot have a refund!! I have no idea why it thinks that! The first time was today

Sorry to hear you're having issues with co pilot. I opted to purchase directly from the website and download to my pc. A little more awkward to install on the desire but not hard and I have a copy of the files. Hope you get it sorted soon.