whats your preferred navigation, Sprint or Google?

[jonwlewis]

I use Google. have never had a problem with using Google. Sprint takes too lomg to load and jusy don'r like using Sprint bloatware. Google does a great job.

 

[supramike]

Google here for navigation

 

[Kelita]

I switch back and forth but tend to use the Sprint Navigation a little more.

 

[GiftedPlacebo]

I got a lot of use out of Sprint nav when I had my Hero (no Nav on earlier versions of Android), but now I'm solely Google Nav. It is just way more convenient to find/map/navigate to locations using Google Nav. I always found that it took a while to get the destination into the Sprint App. Plus, recalculating seems to be much faster in Google.

I've put Google Nav up against my Garmin Nuvi, and the directions were not only more accurate, but the driving time estimate was more accurate based on traffic (my Nuvi also has traffic enabled). Honestly, once they have a Evo specific car mount (I hate those universal mounts), I will use my Evo as my GPS and won't buy another stand-alone GPS.

 

[J03]

I mostly use Google but honestly one of pet peeve about the damn thing is that it does not move or update my map. When I drive and I get pass a range, the map does not move. It keeps shows the original map from which I start. So Silly.

There is a big blue arrow on the bottom left of the screen. Tap the arrow and the map will follow you the whole trip.

have looked at both recently for a *very* specific reason... sprint won:

could not find a way to tell google nav to "just show me a map of where I am right now" even if I don't know where I am... I don't know the street, I don't know the town.

sprint could do it google couldn't... did I miss something?

Z

Maps -> menu-> my location. Profit

ahhhhhh no, fail. That's an application called MAPS... we're talking about an application called NAVIGATION...

Blue arrow in bottom left corner of the screen is even simpler. Am I missing something here?

 

[t0ast3d]

Google ftw.

Only thing Sprint is good for is their network.

 

[drexappeal]

I got a lot of use out of Sprint nav when I had my Hero (no Nav on earlier versions of Android), but now I'm solely Google Nav. It is just way more convenient to find/map/navigate to locations using Google Nav. I always found that it took a while to get the destination into the Sprint App. Plus, recalculating seems to be much faster in Google.

I've put Google Nav up against my Garmin Nuvi, and the directions were not only more accurate, but the driving time estimate was more accurate based on traffic (my Nuvi also has traffic enabled). Honestly, once they have a Evo specific car mount (I hate those universal mounts), I will use my Evo as my GPS and won't buy another stand-alone GPS.

You do know that many of us have already purchased and use the HTC made EVO specific car mount, right?

Tony Harlan is a member that chimed into this thread (works at Sprint) and has been extremely helpful in getting many members of the forum the official car dock:
http://androidforums.com/evo-4g-accessories/149183-evo-car-dock-now-available-8.html

You'll see in the thread that are some that like it a lot, some that don't. I love the way it looks and fits.

 

[brownhornet]

Honestly I havent even opened the sprint navigation since I got the phone day one but use google nav probably 2 or 3 times a week. It works perfect for me so I just deleted Sprint nav. Plus with the integration with google search its unbeatable IMO. I can simply say navigate to (address) and it does everything on its own.

 

[jbnupe]

I prefer Sprint Nav. On more than one occasion I put my destination in both Navs and they gave me different routes with the Sprint routes taking considerably less time than the Google Nav. Once, it was such a stark difference (about 30 mins) that I had to double check to make sure that it was the same final destination.

I started using sprint Nav on the Pre, and although Google is much more seamless, I trust Sprint more.

 

[brownhornet]

I prefer Sprint Nav. On more than one occasion I put my destination in both Navs and they gave me different routes with the Sprint routes taking considerably less time than the Google Nav. Once, it was such a stark difference (about 30 mins) that I had to double check to make sure that it was the same final destination.

I started using sprint Nav on the Pre, and although Google is much more seamless, I trust Sprint more.

Uh... you do realize that more than likely its only because the routing preferences.. which can be changed, are set different by default between the two programs right?

 

[fredsmith]

Sprint takes way too long to load and log in. By the time it's ready to show me where to go, I'm already there.

 

[dr g]

When I know I'm staying in a 3G area, I use Google Maps. If I'm not in a 3G area, Sprint Nav. I went rafting yesterday and the last 1.5 hours of the 4 hour drive was on small county highways that didn't have Sprint 3g coverage. Google Maps couldn't get back on track after going through detours or making stops because it couldn't use the data connection to create a new map. Sprint navigation, on the other hand, could figure out everything that I needed it to do. I like the UI of Google Maps more than Sprint (Except for G.M's voice) but Sprint is a great resource to have.

Unless I'm missing something, doesn't Sprint Nav also rely on the data connection? It's a question of what local maps get preloaded and Google Nav does preload maps along the route. Previous version of sprint Nav did not do this (on WM phone) and would lose functionality with the data connection. Does this version do something much different?

ahhhhhh no, fail. That's an application called MAPS... we're talking about an application called NAVIGATION...

There is actually a way for googles navigation app to call googles map app, it's kind of azz backwards for this purpose.

It would be great if they added "where am I now". Still my pref is for google, much faster even if I have to use 2 apps.

1. There's nothing wrong with going to Maps to see where you are. It's integrated and is a standard feature of Android so everyone has it and has access to it. You may notice that Nav is called Google Maps Navigation.

2. When you open Nav, you can just press the upper right button labeled "Map" to see a map of where you are at. When you are already navigating, you can switch to a flatter perspective map view by clicking the street name at the top of the screen.

 

[brownhornet]

Unless I'm missing something, doesn't Sprint Nav also rely on the data connection? It's a question of what local maps get preloaded and Google Nav does preload maps along the route. Previous version of sprint Nav did not do this (on WM phone) and would lose functionality with the data connection. Does this version do something much different?



1. There's nothing wrong with going to Maps to see where you are. It's integrated and is a standard feature of Android so everyone has it and has access to it. You may notice that Nav is called Google Maps Navigation.

2. When you open Nav, you can just press the upper right button labeled "Map" to see a map of where you are at. When you are already navigating, you can switch to a flatter perspective map view by clicking the street name at the top of the screen.

Yes Sprint nav uses data also. All of them do unless you get one where you actually put all of the maps on your SD card. Ill admit though, I do miss the Tom Tom from when I had my 3GS.

 

[Charm]

Sprint. Google sounds like it's pissed off

 

[AsItLies]

Unless I'm missing something, doesn't Sprint Nav also rely on the data connection? It's a question of what local maps get preloaded and Google Nav does preload maps along the route. Previous version of sprint Nav did not do this (on WM phone) and would lose functionality with the data connection. Does this version do something much different?



1. There's nothing wrong with going to Maps to see where you are. It's integrated and is a standard feature of Android so everyone has it and has access to it. You may notice that Nav is called Google Maps Navigation.

2. When you open Nav, you can just press the upper right button labeled "Map" to see a map of where you are at. When you are already navigating, you can switch to a flatter perspective map view by clicking the street name at the top of the screen.

Well didn't say there was "anything wrong with it"... just pointing out that, for me, can't get to a screen of "where am I" in the google Navigation application. My options are like "speak destination" "type destination" etc.

None of them say "where am i".

Google Maps on the other hand starts with where you used it last, but you can select settings and choose "my location" which obviously uses the gps and gives u a map of where u are now.

Sprint Nav on the other hand allows you to do all the above in that application.

Still prefer using google myself, but it is a difference between the 2 naviagtion apps, that could be important to some. I think most would normally expect a navigation app to have "where am I now?"...

just my humble opinion...

 

[Drew5150]

Well didn't say there was "anything wrong with it"... just pointing out that, for me, can't get to a screen of "where am I" in the google Navigation application. My options are like "speak destination" "type destination" etc.

when you are on this screen in the upper right hand corner there is a little button that says maps. press it and it will be a rolling map just like you get on any stand alone gps. this does not link you to the google maps app. this is a gps map. the button is right next to the 2 little gears button that takes you into settings.

google does it all from one program as well. the button is just small and overlooked.

 

[ericshmerick]

For those saying Google doesn't have live traffic...look in the bottom lefthand corner of your display when navigating with Google. There is a little dot, that's green, yellow or red.

Green = no traffic along route
Yellow = slowing along route
Red = heavy traffic along route

It changes color as you drive in real time. You can access the traffic layer for details of where the traffic is.

I trust Google's traffic data over Sprint's any day.

 

[GiftedPlacebo]

You do know that many of us have already purchased and use the HTC made EVO specific car mount, right?

Tony Harlan is a member that chimed into this thread (works at Sprint) and has been extremely helpful in getting many members of the forum the official car dock:
http://androidforums.com/evo-4g-accessories/149183-evo-car-dock-now-available-8.html

You'll see in the thread that are some that like it a lot, some that don't. I love the way it looks and fits.

Awesome! I didn't notice it had come out yet. I just placed my order on the Sprint website. Can't wait! Thanks for the tip!

 

[firechicken]

Setting favorite destinations seems to be easier with sprint nav. I can see in google nav that you can chose from contacts or stared locations but I do not know how to set a star location from google nav. can you only do it with google maps? It would be nice to be able to type in an address and also set it a a favorite destination with in google nav

 

[heide247]

I like the way Google opperates but it has taken me to the wrong place a couple of times!!!

Sprint seems to work fine also...

 

[dr g]

Well didn't say there was "anything wrong with it"... just pointing out that, for me, can't get to a screen of "where am I" in the google Navigation application. My options are like "speak destination" "type destination" etc.

None of them say "where am i".

Google Maps on the other hand starts with where you used it last, but you can select settings and choose "my location" which obviously uses the gps and gives u a map of where u are now.

Sprint Nav on the other hand allows you to do all the above in that application.

Still prefer using google myself, but it is a difference between the 2 naviagtion apps, that could be important to some. I think most would normally expect a navigation app to have "where am I now?"...

just my humble opinion...

Still don't get what you are saying. I gave you 2 options for seeing a flat map view of your current location, and Nav by default IS a map of where you are now. What is the problem?

when you are on this screen in the upper right hand corner there is a little button that says maps. press it and it will be a rolling map just like you get on any stand alone gps. this does not link you to the google maps app. this is a gps map. the button is right next to the 2 little gears button that takes you into settings.

google does it all from one program as well. the button is just small and overlooked.

Which was in my response to him as well. Is he just not reading them?

 

[AsItLies]

Still don't get what you are saying. I gave you 2 options for seeing a flat map view of your current location, and Nav by default IS a map of where you are now. What is the problem?



Which was in my response to him as well. Is he just not reading them?

Have read them both, but my version (where ever that info can be found) does not have any buttons on the upper right (or anywhere else for that matter) that say maps or anything! nothing... nada...

I only have the information given before... speak destination etc etc. No buttons anywhere...

the normal button for settings doesn't do anything but bring up the keyboard to type a destination.

It really seems there's some confusion, clearly. there are 2 applications in my app folder that are related to google maps / navigation.

if I start the one called Navigation, all of what I've said previously is still true. But if you select the one called Maps... yes it does show you a map of where u last where and u have the option to also select in settings "where am I now"...

does no one else have both of these apps or do u only see an entry for "Maps"?

that really seems to be where the confusion is...

 

[dr g]

Have read them both, but my version (where ever that info can be found) does not have any buttons on the upper right (or anywhere else for that matter) that say maps or anything! nothing... nada...

I only have the information given before... speak destination etc etc. No buttons anywhere...

the normal button for settings doesn't do anything but bring up the keyboard to type a destination.

It really seems there's some confusion, clearly. there are 2 applications in my app folder that are related to google maps / navigation.

if I start the one called Navigation, all of what I've said previously is still true. But if you select the one called Maps... yes it does show you a map of where u last where and u have the option to also select in settings "where am I now"...

does no one else have both of these apps or do u only see an entry for "Maps"?

that really seems to be where the confusion is...

You have an Evo, updated to current software (froyo)? Is your Navigation app updated?

We are both talking about Navigation. I'd post a screenshot but Shootme stopped working several OTAs ago.

EDIT: This is what it looks like on Hero, it's the same on Evo except it also says Map next to the M logo.

 

[AsItLies]

You have an Evo, updated to current software (froyo)? Is your Navigation app updated?

We are both talking about Navigation. I'd post a screenshot but Shootme stopped working several OTAs ago.

EDIT: This is what it looks like on Hero, it's the same on Evo except it also says Map next to the M logo.

I can say YES to having an EVO

YES to having upgraded to Froyo

and a BIG NO to having Navigation that looks like yours above!


Have no idea why, but mine is a black background with white text on it. And the entire bar you have labeled "Choose Destination" (with M or Map on the right) simply doesn't exist on mine...

And on mine choosing the settings button (regular evo menu button) does nothing but bring up the keyboard.

I see no way to upgrade this app from the anything on the phone. It's not on "my downloads" list. I guess I could check for an upgrade on the marketplace, but it's only now I realize (from these conversations) it must be an older version?

Another thing I've realized from these conversations. If I just go into "Maps", it will call "Navigation". Really my icon for Navigation shouldn't even be there, imho. It's done nothing but cause a lot of confusion. The Maps application calls the Navigation application when I select "get directions"...

didn't realize that. Assumed the Navigation application was the... navigation application... who would a thunk?

alas...

 

[billowred]

I love Sprint Nav. I always feel like Google Maps gives me horrific directions.

+1