Copilot Live USA closing on its own

[UncleMike]

I'm using Copilot Live USA on my Droid and quite often when I'm testing it at home, choosing different routing options or making other changes to see what effect they have, the app will just close (sometimes after being unresponsive), leaving me at the home screen. I had a similar problem while using it in the car today - a call came in and after the call was completed, Copilot was closed.

In all cases, long-pressing Home and selecting Copilot from the recent apps list, results in the app starting from scratch - displaying the splash screen and so on.

Since Copilot takes up a whopping 33+ MB (effective, according to system panel, plus another 12+ MB shared), my first thought is that Android is killing it to allow some other process to run. This is despite the fact that the Droid is listed on the Copilot web site as a compatible device.

Is this a common issue with Copilot on the Droid, and is it less common on phones with more RAM?

 

[Member282753]

This was a common problem on Windows Mobile with CoPilot Live. Windows Mobile would force close other programs because of CoPilot Live all the time. It was a memory hog. It was a decent enough program, but basically didn't allow any multitasking because it used so many system resources.

I downloaded it on my Sprint EVO, thinking the hardware was powerful enough, but still had problems with it. I moved back to Google Navigation and will wait for Navigon or TomTom to come to the Android market. Or Garmin if they ever pull their head out of their rear ends.

Worst thing about CoPilot Live was that their maps are really bad. They do their map development in house instead of using Navteq or TeleAtlas maps. I was stunned driving to Florida this year to find errors like getting North and South wrong on Interstates. Really bad mistakes. Now their website says map updates are free until December 2010, with no explanation of what happens after that. While their program may be $4.99, I suspect we will see map subscription costs from them. No way will I pay a dime for their maps.

I'm using Copilot Live USA on my Droid and quite often when I'm testing it at home, choosing different routing options or making other changes to see what effect they have, the app will just close (sometimes after being unresponsive), leaving me at the home screen. I had a similar problem while using it in the car today - a call came in and after the call was completed, Copilot was closed.

In all cases, long-pressing Home and selecting Copilot from the recent apps list, results in the app starting from scratch - displaying the splash screen and so on.

Since Copilot takes up a whopping 33+ MB (effective, according to system panel, plus another 12+ MB shared), my first thought is that Android is killing it to allow some other process to run. This is despite the fact that the Droid is listed on the Copilot web site as a compatible device.

Is this a common issue with Copilot on the Droid, and is it less common on phones with more RAM?

 

[UncleMike]

Worst thing about CoPilot Live was that their maps are really bad.

Compared to Navteq and TeleAtlas, ALK's maps are pretty bad. As I understand it, shortly before making Google Maps Navigation available on the Droid, Google started doing their own maps. But I do know that around that time, the map quality on Google Maps took a big step backwards - many streets near me went missing.

I believe ALK's maps were once solely used by their PC Miler product, which is geared toward the trucking industry. For that use it was probably not a priority to keep maps updated with residential addresses. But considering how long Copilot has been around, there's really no excuse for how outdated some areas of their maps are.

Considering that I paid around $250 for Copilot 6 (with a GPS puck) for Windows Mobile (and returned it during the trial period), the fact that we can now buy an Android app for $4.99, of which ALK gets $3.50, I don't know how they can stay in business.

 

[Member282753]

They will stay in business by selling you add-on services (ActiveTraffic, etc.) and map update subscriptions. It will be all about the add-on services.

Compared to Navteq and TeleAtlas, ALK's maps are pretty bad. As I understand it, shortly before making Google Maps Navigation available on the Droid, Google started doing their own maps. But I do know that around that time, the map quality on Google Maps took a big step backwards - many streets near me went missing.

I believe ALK's maps were once solely used by their PC Miler product, which is geared toward the trucking industry. For that use it was probably not a priority to keep maps updated with residential addresses. But considering how long Copilot has been around, there's really no excuse for how outdated some areas of their maps are.

Considering that I paid around $250 for Copilot 6 (with a GPS puck) for Windows Mobile (and returned it during the trial period), the fact that we can now buy an Android app for $4.99, of which ALK gets $3.50, I don't know how they can stay in business.

 

[UncleMike]

They will stay in business by selling you add-on services (ActiveTraffic, etc.) and map update subscriptions. It will be all about the add-on services.

With their web site saying that free MapSure updates will be provided through December 2010, you're probably on the right track. But at $4.99 for the app, + $9.99 for a year of traffic service (expected to go higher soon), their map updates will have to be pricey to be able to make money overall. Unfortunately, their map quality doesn't warrant costly updates.

I can't even find a way to purchase their fuel prices service, in Copilot Central or on their web site; it's as if they discontinued it. If it's anything like TomTom's fuel prices, that's probably for the best. Unless prices are holding steady, comparing fuel prices that could be up to 5 days old is fairly pointless.

 

[Member282753]

It will be very interesting to see what they do with maps after December. Their map quality sure doesn't justify much of a subscription fee. The feedback about maps on the android market and Apple app store clearly shows the overall sentiment that their map aren't competitive. But to switch now would be huge egg on their face.

I saw on their Facebook page that fuel prices is no longer offered. Did you miss the announcement? Me too. This is typical of ALK. They simply removed voice activation as advertised feature of the product one night and never said a word about it.

As you can tell, I am not a big fan of their corporate mentality.

With their web site saying that free MapSure updates will be provided through December 2010, you're probably on the right track. But at $4.99 for the app, + $9.99 for a year of traffic service (expected to go higher soon), their map updates will have to be pricey to be able to make money overall. Unfortunately, their map quality doesn't warrant costly updates.

I can't even find a way to purchase their fuel prices service, in Copilot Central or on their web site; it's as if they discontinued it. If it's anything like TomTom's fuel prices, that's probably for the best. Unless prices are holding steady, comparing fuel prices that could be up to 5 days old is fairly pointless.

 

[UncleMike]

It will be very interesting to see what they do with maps after December. Their map quality sure doesn't justify much of a subscription fee. The feedback about maps on the android market and Apple app store clearly shows the overall sentiment that their map aren't competitive. But to switch now would be huge egg on their face.

I saw on their Facebook page that fuel prices is no longer offered. Did you miss the announcement? Me too. This is typical of ALK. They simply removed voice activation as advertised feature of the product one night and never said a word about it.

As you can tell, I am not a big fan of their corporate mentality.

They are already using 3rd party maps in other countries. They could easily frame a switch in the US as providing a uniform experience for all their customers. I'll be interested to see how quickly (if at all) my MapSure reports get integrated into the maps. The fact that they maintain their own maps gives them an advantage over their competitors in this area - the COULD have the most current maps when compared to their competitors. It's unfortunate that they don't take advantage of this.

Silently making a feature no longer available is not unique to ALK. I don't know of any manufacturer that makes a point of announcing decreased functionality. The fact that they are still indicating on their web site that the Fuel Prices services is still available bothers me in that it could attract new customers, or its apparent availability could be a deciding factor for a customer.

 

[Disneyman]

They are already using 3rd party maps in other countries. They could easily frame a switch in the US as providing a uniform experience for all their customers. I'll be interested to see how quickly (if at all) my MapSure reports get integrated into the maps. The fact that they maintain their own maps gives them an advantage over their competitors in this area - the COULD have the most current maps when compared to their competitors. It's unfortunate that they don't take advantage of this.

Silently making a feature no longer available is not unique to ALK. I don't know of any manufacturer that makes a point of announcing decreased functionality. The fact that they are still indicating on their web site that the Fuel Prices services is still available bothers me in that it could attract new customers, or its apparent availability could be a deciding factor for a customer.

I have tried to find out what they will be doing after Dec 2010 with out luck. I hoped that they would go to Navteq maps but they won't comment.
I am waiting for Navigon to come out with an Android North American version with both the United States and Canada. Navigon said they would be coming out with Canada. When I don't know. hopefully soon.
CoPilot's maps certainly leave a lot to be desired. Navigon has Navteq maps which are some of the best. I think Google has awesome maps also.
I travel to Canada periodically and need all of North America. I wish Google would allow a download of there maps to allow navigation when out of cell range.