Any offline GPS program that has a trial version?

[-Ollie-]

I am looking for an offline GPS program.
But I would like to try it before purchasing it as these programs are quite expensive...

Does anyone know about one (or several!) GPS program that allow the user to try it for some time before purchasing it?

Thanks

 

[jev]

Depends on where you are in the world. Navigon provides a 30 day trial, but seems not to be available in the US yet... nDrive provides a 7 day trial if I'm not mistaken.

 

[takeshi]

All apps have a 24 hour refund window in the Market even if there isn't a trial.

 

[-Ollie-]

Thanks. 24 hours is a bit short to try a GPS program. Will give a try to Navigon and nDrive.

 

[wmtoandroid]

All apps have a 24 hour refund window in the Market even if there isn't a trial.

I would never rely on the refund window for testing an app. I thought I could do this, but when you run into Market errors that won't allow you to refund the app or you get stuck in an "Authorizing Purchase" loop, your done for.

Trial versions are the best way to go. I often avoid apps that don't have a trial version or look real hard for reviews for the ones that are purchase only.

 

[snapper.fishes]

By offline GPS do you mean navigation or just a map?

 

[-Ollie-]

I mean navigation.
But I could also be interested in maps only, on the side of my original request.

 

[UncleMike]

Copilot is another navigation app with on-board maps, but as far as I know you're limited to the 24-hour return window of the Market.

I'm using NDrive now (got it for free during the context), and it took several hours to download the US maps. I imagine that the map download will be similar for any app with on-board maps though.

 

[Super Noob]

Navdroyd is innexpensive and works pretty good. I have an Evo and a few weeks ago it was storming pretty good. Even though I have the Sprint Navigation and Google Navigation, the GPS signal was never found, so they were useless.

I would let it search for 5 minutes at a time and still nothing, so I thought I would try an offline GPS. Even though Navdroyd works good, I haven't had a chance to drive in a storm to see how good it works (can't find a good storm when I need one).

NavDroyd v1.1.3 Application for Android | Travel

 

[nomarsgirl]

+1 for NavDroyd. The interface is a little difficult to use sometimes, but it does work and only costs 4.99 euro. Maps are updated regularly and you can download only the maps that you need.

I live in the US and have unlimited data, so I usually just use Google Nav, but NavDroyd was useful when I was driving in Canada since I had to shut off my data connection to avoid charges. Wish I had had something like this last year when we were traveling through Italy. We relied on a paper map which was fine for getting from city to city, but had a terrible time locating our hotels.

 

[UncleMike]

Navdroyd is innexpensive and works pretty good. I have an Evo and a few weeks ago it was storming pretty good. Even though I have the Sprint Navigation and Google Navigation, the GPS signal was never found, so they were useless.

I would let it search for 5 minutes at a time and still nothing, so I thought I would try an offline GPS. Even though Navdroyd works good, I haven't had a chance to drive in a storm to see how good it works (can't find a good storm when I need one).

NavDroyd v1.1.3 Application for Android | Travel

How would a navigation app with on-board maps help if you can't get a GPS signal? I guess if you know where you want to go, you could get directions, but without a GPS signal guidance while en route would be unavailable.

 

[-Ollie-]

Thanks guys, I will definitely give a try to NavDroyd!

 

[wmtoandroid]

Navdroyd is innexpensive and works pretty good. I have an Evo and a few weeks ago it was storming pretty good. Even though I have the Sprint Navigation and Google Navigation, the GPS signal was never found, so they were useless.

I would let it search for 5 minutes at a time and still nothing, so I thought I would try an offline GPS. Even though Navdroyd works good, I haven't had a chance to drive in a storm to see how good it works (can't find a good storm when I need one).

NavDroyd v1.1.3 Application for Android | Travel

Has NavDroyd allowed for full address input (rather than just a street name)?

 

[jev]

NavDroyd was useful when I was driving in Canada since I had to shut off my data connection to avoid charges. Wish I had had something like this last year when we were traveling through Italy.

Navdroyd however relies on openstreetmaps. Not very accurate in large parts of the world!

 

[Bing]

Why would you not just use Google Navigation? I understand the maps aren't local, but that's sort of a good thing, since they're always up-to-date.

Besides, even though they're not local, they are actually all downloaded ASAP, so you won't lose the map if you go into a tunnel or are somewhere without data coverage. That was why I considered it worthy to replace a stand-alone GPS.

 

[wmtoandroid]

Why would you not just use Google Navigation? I understand the maps aren't local, but that's sort of a good thing, since they're always up-to-date.

Besides, even though they're not local, they are actually all downloaded ASAP, so you won't lose the map if you go into a tunnel or are somewhere without data coverage. That was why I considered it worthy to replace a stand-alone GPS.

Most likely to avoid the data usage that Google Navigation entails. Also, a lot of people find the extra features and speed of standalone GPS apps to be worth the cost.

 

[-Ollie-]

Most likely to avoid the data usage that Google Navigation entails.

Exactly.
1/ not everyone has an unlimited data rate
2/ And even though some have unlimited data rate, this does not apply outside their home country, and data roaming can become very expensive very quickly.

 

[-Ollie-]

Seems that Navdroyd doesn't work with the Galaxy S.
Every time I try to open it, I get a dark screen for a few seconds, and then it goes back to the apps page.

 

[Szadzik]

Navigon has 30 days fully functional trial.

 

[-Ollie-]

Thanks.
Jev mentioned that as well at the beginning of this thread.
I will need to wait for a future trip abroad, to be able to test it at home and abroad.
I don't want to test a navigation sytem only in one country
Thanks to all for your answers.

 

[pacman10]

Navdroyd is inexpensive and works pretty good.
NavDroyd v1.1.3 Application for Android | Travel

Another vote for NavDroyd from me. Remember that NavDroyd uses Open Source Maps. If you want to check whether the OSMs cover the area you are interested in you can download and install free MapDroyd (from the same programmers) and then, if you are happy, pay the

 

[wmtoandroid]

Another vote for NavDroyd from me. Remember that NavDroyd uses Open Source Maps. If you want to check whether the OSMs cover the area you are interested in you can download and install free MapDroyd (from the same programmers) and then, if you are happy, pay the

 

[-Ollie-]

I tried Navdroyd and I have to say that it sucks for the country where I live.
To be more precise, the search of an address sucks big time, it does not find some of the major streets in the capital.
I am not commenting on the use of Navdroyd in other countries with a more decent map/database for address.
It must be due to "open maps", one cannot expect great worldwide coverage when it relies on an open project. But the concept itself deserves a thumb up, even though it does not work correctly yet in my country.
I am not giving a "no go" to NavDroyd, I am saying "try it in your home country first and then decide". It is so cheap for a navigation app that you don't have much to loose. And you have the 24 hours refund through the Android market (it took me a very short time to figure out that NavDroyd was not any good where I live)
I actually kept it as it might work quite well in USA for example, an area that is not covered by Navigon.

I am currently testing Navigon with its 30 days trial period and so far, I am really satisfied with it. Of course, the price is slightly different

 

[pacman10]

I noticed in the changelog for the latest update it mentions "improved address input form".

Does this mean that you can now enter an actual street address with a house number or is it still limited to entering only the street name? This is the only thing holding me back from a purchase.

Just tried entering a streetname with a number but had no success.

 

[wmtoandroid]

Just tried entering a streetname with a number but had no success.

How does one use this for navigation without the ability to enter the street number? I would find that very difficult to use as many major streets span through several cities/towns around here.