"Real" GPS Application?

[PeteCress]

By "Real" I mean something on a par with the Magellen and/or Garmin dedicated devices.

I've tried Osmand+, GoogleMaps.... but it seems like every time I go to actually use one, the cache isn't there.

What I'm looking for is a GPS app that always has all it's maps, locations resident on the SD card - as part of the install maybe.... and can compute/recompute directions on a par with the Garmin devices.

I see several offerings from Garmin and "SmartGPS" form Magellen. Does anybody have/like one of them?

PlayStore says that Garmin Navigator is incompatible with both my Samsung Note 5" Phone and my Samsung Note 10.1" tablet. Doesn't sound right because these are such main stream devices.

??

 

[biker57]

You might want to take a look at the new Scout navigation app. The basic app works well, but the paid version does what you want to some extent. It gives you the option to download the maps (divided into eastern, central and western) to your sd card. If I remember right the paid app is 5/month.

Edit: With the downloaded maps you can use the app in areas w/o cell service.

 

[divinebovine]

The keyword you need when searching for this is offline.

Here are a few good threads about the same question:
http://androidforums.com/android-applications/743925-best-free-offline-gps-application.html
http://androidforums.com/android-applications/737097-navigation-whilst-offline.html
http://androidforums.com/android-ap...-navfree-over-osmand-navigator-least-usa.html
http://androidforums.com/android-applications/735639-offline-maps-user-created-locations.html

 

[felopez]

https://play.google.com/store/apps/developer?id=TomTom+International+BV

The Tom Tom apps will cost you about the same as one of their dedicated devices, and I haven't had any experience with the Android version (I have a Tom Tom GPS myself, so I have no use for it) but I know the iOS version works just as well as the dedicated GPS.

 

[itsallgood]

CoPilot works just as good, and better in some ways, as a TomTom or Garmin stand alone GPS. The maps are saved to device, no cell service needed, and fully customizable. The maps are updated quarterly and has a lot of cool features. If you like live traffic, it cost $9 a yr. (Well worth it if you use the app a lot.) You can try the traffic out free for a month I think.

 

[mikedt]

By "Real" I mean something on a par with the Magellen and/or Garmin dedicated devices.

I've tried Osmand+, GoogleMaps.... but it seems like every time I go to actually use one, the cache isn't there.

What I'm looking for is a GPS app that always has all it's maps, locations resident on the SD card - as part of the install maybe.... and can compute/recompute directions on a par with the Garmin devices.

I see several offerings from Garmin and "SmartGPS" form Magellen. Does anybody have/like one of them?

PlayStore says that Garmin Navigator is incompatible with both my Samsung Note 5" Phone and my Samsung Note 10.1" tablet. Doesn't sound right because these are such main stream devices.

??

Are both devices using Jellybean? 4.1, 4.2 etc. Think there's an issue/bug/feature with Play at the moment. Seems many apps are getting listed as incompatible with mainstream devices like Samsungs, and even Nexus devices apparently, that have Jellybean.

 

[Harry2]

... I've tried Osmand+, ...

OsmAnd isn't the best of usability ... so you might not found the right setting

OsmAnd has all these features that you want ... a good download manager for offline maps and for layers of altitude lines and hill shades ... tracking/routing ability ... and even navigation ability on road and off road (trails).

And all of these work offline ... even a reasonable well search option.

Harry

 

[RazzMaTazz]

Per my review that DivineBovine linked above, if you want a free offline GPS app, try Navfree. It's better than OsmAnd, IMHO, but I imagine that it's not as slick as some of the paid nav apps (not that I've tried any paid ones).

 

[electricpete]

I use Navfree and Osmand quite a bit. As long as you download the vector maps, never had a problem with "cache not being there". It uses a downloaded file, not a cache.

Navfree is not rich on features, but gets the basic navigation task done reliably and effectively.

Osmand has many many features. Routing is sometimes slow, especially long distances.

 

[PeteCress]

CoPilot works just as good, and better in some ways, as a TomTom or Garmin stand alone GPS.

I went with CoPilot because of the price. I think it's a good deal for ten bucks but, based on my experience so far, I don't think it is anywhere near as good as the dedicated Garmin device that I used to have. For one thing, it's routes cannot be trusted.

But still, for ten bucks...

 

[Goodspike]

I've tried most everything in this thread, but nothing has what I want which is:

1. Traffic data.
2. Toggle between close up and wide area views.
3. To be recognized by Chrome to Phone as a navigation app (Copilot's failure).

Is there anything that offers all three?

 

[Goodspike]

I just bought the TomTom app on sale for $29. It had a 15 minute refund period but also had a required 20 minute download before you could use the program.

It sucks in the same way TomTom GPSs suck. To enter an address you need to enter the state (it doesn't know where you are), then the city, then the exact street name (e.g. E. Roy St is different from Roy St), then the house number. Stupid, stupid, stupid. Google must have hired TomTom coders to write the new version of Google Maps.

It also doesn't work with Chrome to Phone, and TomTom's live services were "not available" when I tried it, so I don't know how well traffic worked.

Anyway, the bottom line is not recommended.

 

[divinebovine]

It sucks in the same way TomTom GPSs suck. To enter an address you need to enter the state (it doesn't know where you are), then the city, then the exact street name (e.g. E. Roy St is different from Roy St), then the house number. Stupid, stupid, stupid. Google must have hired TomTom coders to write the new version of Google Maps.

Interesting...I feel the opposite way. I have always found it horribly irritating that I can't type in the actual name of the street and have to stop and think about what way the GPS wants me to look it up.

Around here, North Main St is a completely different street than South Main St, not just the northern end or northbound lane of it. I don't think of it as Main St so that's not the first thing I think to type in, and I would rather type it in than scroll through a bunch of South Main St addresses in the results.

Perhaps TomTom products would appeal to me. I don't mind specifying state as long as I have a decent interface for doing so. To me, the state is a non-optional part of the address so I expect to enter it.

 

[Goodspike]

Interesting...I feel the opposite way. I have always found it horribly irritating that I can't type in the actual name of the street and have to stop and think about what way the GPS wants me to look it up.

Around here, North Main St is a completely different street than South Main St, not just the northern end or northbound lane of it.

I think that's normal, but the problem with TomTom is you have to know which it is to find it. With most GPS products if you ask it for 1234 Main street it will ask you which you want.

1234 Main st, Seattle
1234 S Main st, Seattle
1234 Main st, Bellevue.

There really are surprisingly few addresses that have duplicates, so having options show up occasionally is a lot less irritating than having to be so specific each time. But if whoever gave you the address wasn't specific (e.g. they didn't say "southwest main" you'll not find it on TomTom.

 

[Kip Carter]

I use Sygic... it is an app you pay for but once purchased it is updated and improved and has proven to be an ever better and better tool for me. Their weakest issue is map resolution in some areas that are more remote not being as granular as I would like but it almost always can get me within a stones throw of my destination.

 

[mydian]

I use Navigator by Map Factor when I need offline navigation. I don't think it has all the features you're looking for but it's routing is way better than NavFree. I hate that app it got me lost lol.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.mapfactor.navigator

 

[h4x0rj3ff]

+1 for sygic. Its pretty costly ($30) but is worth every penny! It works on my nexus 7 WiFi only tablet (to prove it seriously doesn't need a connection lol) it uses TomTom maps and is completely offline I've been using it for about a year or more on about 4 different phones lol.

 

[mikedt]

Another vote for Sygic here, if you're in an area that's covered. I tried it out in Hong Kong a few months ago, was impressed by the level of detail and how it worked, but best of all it didn't have to be online for it to work, and so didn't need to use any costly cellular data. It could actually pay for itself in a short time.

Although where I live Sygic has no coverage at all, so I use AutoNavi, has great detail, is accurate, works completely offline and is free. All the mapping and routing is done and held on the device, and is not just a thin client to a cloud based service. Although it can go online if one needs real time traffic information.

 

[PeteCress]

...Sygic here, if you're in an area that's covered....

Can I assume that all of the USA is covered?

I looked at the map at Sygic's web site and it looked like uncovered areas were places like Central America.

i.e. There are not local "holes" in the coverage within the USA.

How is Sygic when it comes to a missed turn? Does it re-compute?

What about announcements of turns coming up? Does it name the street or exit (as in "Turn right on to exit 45" or "Turn left on Maple avenue") or does it just say "Turn Right" or "Turn Left"?

 

[h4x0rj3ff]

Can I assume that all of the USA is covered?

I looked at the map at Sygic's web site and it looked like uncovered areas were places like Central America.

i.e. There are not local "holes" in the coverage within the USA.

How is Sygic when it comes to a missed turn? Does it re-compute?

What about announcements of turns coming up? Does it name the street or exit (as in "Turn right on to exit 45" or "Turn left on Maple avenue") or does it just say "Turn Right" or "Turn Left"?

yes it recalculates (pretty good imo) lol

and as far as turning it not only tells you to "turn right onto Interstate 75 in X amount of miles/yards" but it also displays which lane you need to be in prier to the instruction

and no there is no local holes in navigation (it uses tomtom maps)

i think it is pretty trustworthy because it does use tomtom maps

there is a 7 day free trial in the playstore and to continue to use it you need to have an activation code or i think theres an in aqp purchase (i dont remember)

 

[PeteCress]

yes it recalculates (pretty good imo) lol

and as far as turning it not only tells you to "turn right onto Interstate 75 in X amount of miles/yards" but it also displays which lane you need to be in prier to the instruction

and no there is no local holes in navigation (it uses tomtom maps)

i think it is pretty trustworthy because it does use tomtom maps

there is a 7 day free trial in the playstore and to continue to use it you need to have an activation code or i think theres an in aqp purchase (i dont remember)

I just pony'd up the $42 USD and it's populating it's database as I write this.

I'm finding the purchase environment a little confusing.... but I'm easily confused and maybe that's part of the deal with a product that has many add-ons.

I got a kick out of the "Roadblock Avoidance" feature.....

 

[PeteCress]

i think it is pretty trustworthy because it does use tomtom maps...

It started to dawn on me that this was a serious app during the installation/setup process.

Tried a couple of routes that co-pilot messed up on and Sygic got them right (co-pilot's db saw some intersections where actually one road crossed the other on an overpass).

On one route, Sygic chose a path to the nearest freeway that I disagreed with - perfectly valid, just not the one I prefer. After a few tries, the route-drag-drop feature got it the way I wanted and now I can reconfigure a route on the first try.

The view is especially gratifying. Other products want the user to choose a route right away. Sygic allows browsing the map - and response/performance is excellant on the three devices I've got it on (Samsung N7000 Note, 10.1" Note, and Tab3).

Not requiring a house number when specifying a destination by state|town|street is a nice touch.... the lack of which I found frustrating in Co-Pilot.

Seems to me like, with any full-featured product, the need to RTFM goes up as the feature set increases - and Sygic is no exception.

Finally, Sygic seems serious about user support. Every time I've had an issue so far, a trip to help.cygic.com has turned up an answer.


The Bottom Line:
For anybody else going here, Sygic looks like The Real Deal. If you want cheap, go Co-Pilot for less than ten bucks. But if you want The Real Deal, shell out the big bucks ($42 USD) for Sygic.

 

[h4x0rj3ff]

It started to dawn on me that this was a serious app during the installation/setup process.

Tried a couple of routes that co-pilot messed up on and Sygic got them right (co-pilot's db saw some intersections where actually one road crossed the other on an overpass).

On one route, Sygic chose a path to the nearest freeway that I disagreed with - perfectly valid, just not the one I prefer. After a few tries, the route-drag-drop feature got it the way I wanted and now I can reconfigure a route on the first try.

The view is especially gratifying. Other products want the user to choose a route right away. Sygic allows browsing the map - and response/performance is excellant on the three devices I've got it on (Samsung N7000 Note, 10.1" Note, and Tab3).

Not requiring a house number when specifying a destination by state|town|street is a nice touch.... the lack of which I found frustrating in Co-Pilot.

Seems to me like, with any full-featured product, the need to RTFM goes up as the feature set increases - and Sygic is no exception.

Finally, Sygic seems serious about user support. Every time I've had an issue so far, a trip to help.cygic.com has turned up an answer.


The Bottom Line:
For anybody else going here, Sygic looks like The Real Deal. If you want cheap, go Co-Pilot for less than ten bucks. But if you want The Real Deal, shell out the big bucks ($42 USD) for Sygic.

Did you get the us and Canada version the north america version (I think) or the us only version. I got the us only version and it was only $30... Unless you plan on using it in Canada.... Lol

 

[PeteCress]

Did you get the us and Canada version the north america version (I think) or the us only version. I got the us only version and it was only $30... Unless you plan on using it in Canada.... Lol

I got the USA/Canada version - more because I'm an OCD techweenie wannabe than anything else.

And, of course, I downloaded *all* the maps - 4 gigs worth.... After all, who knows when I might want to browse the roads in Montreal or Mexico or Puerto Rico and not be in a WiFi hotspot? -)

... and was most gratified to discover that the storage location could be changed from built-in memory to my external SD card just by cutting/pasting the Sygic folder.