Is there a good navigation system?

[jimt68]

I know that Google has this free, so-called map navigation system but it is terrible. It might get me to places sometimes but it's not very user-friendly. The voice navigation works intermittently, searches can't be edited, you can't pull up search history to star your favorites, can't long-press on searches to delete them. Plus if you forget to exit navigation, you have to turn gps back on, and then reopen navigation in order to close it. It's very poorly designed. Are there better navigation apps out there, please?

 

[Usta]

I like Copilot. It has many good features and works very well.
As an alternative you can have a look at Sygic Mobile Maps (up to Android v2.2). It follows more the well known Tomtom UI style.
Sygic has also Aura for Android devices with v2.3, but it falls kind of short in my opinion.
Finally, there is Navigon that is also pretty much as functional as Copilot.

 

[3waygeek]

I've been using the WinMo version of CoPilot for several years. It's definitely the best solution for that platform; I've tried TomTom, Navigon, and Route 66 on WinMo, and they just don't compare. TomTom comes close, but it's pretty pricey, and doesn't really support the US market.

IMHO, CoPilot's biggest advantage is their MapSure program. In the US, if you find an error or omission in their maps, you can report it to them, and they promise to have an updated map ready within 45 days. They do regular monthly map updates, and are pretty responsive to user issues.

I just picked up a SGSII this week -- my first Android device -- and the first software I bought for it was CoPilot Live NA.

 

[Usta]

Yeah. The price of Copilot is another advantage. Now they sell the whole USA maps for only $5. That is a great price to be able to enjoy full navigation in the whole country. I think they even had once a limited offer for that package ($2!).

 

[The_Superhoo]

Havent had any issues with the standard Maps app....

 

[l05t 50ul]

CoPilot is nice but it doesn't play well with anything but the standard keyboard. I like to use Thumbs Keyboard and it and CoPilot just don't get along. I've also tried Sygic. It works very nicely except for one issue. After hanging up from a phone call the screen never returns to a landscape orientation. I physically have to stop the app and restart it to get back to landscape. Navigon works the best for me, so far i haven't come across any major issues. I've even gone ahead and sold my Garmin GPS unit. I travel on average about 1500 miles a week so I do get a good bit of time to try these out.

 

[jimt68]

Copilot has 3 bad reviews in a row, with just one star. I tried Sygic but I have two problems with it. It does not have speech to text and it said that I was 5 miles from Dunkin Donuts while I was in their parking lot! I really don't have many qualms with the Google map/navigation other than that it is impossible to edit searches and it doesn't save every search, which means that I have to re-enter addresses that I have not used for awhile.

 

[runamonk]

Jim, if you load up the 'Navigation' version of google maps, you can star your favorite addresses. Then you can see them listed under 'Starred'.

I have all mine listed that way. Using just google maps is cumbersome and frankly not very user friendly.

 

[dvhttn]

Copilot are bringing out Live 9 this quarter. The review I saw (forget where) was very positive. Maybe worth hanging on for?

Dave

 

[Usta]

Copilot has 3 bad reviews in a row, with just one star.

I just look at those reviews: they all complain about software activation and not about the application itself...

 

[spile]

CoPilot 8 or Sygic get the best reviews for proper SatNav devices

 

[jimt68]

I did install the the navigation app from Google. But I still don't see a way to star my previous searches. And when I try to long press on a search, to either star it or edit, it just opens that address as a current "trip". It seems like I would only be able to star new searches. Unless I am doing something wrong.
I may also try Copilot being that the negative comments I saw may not be applicable to me.
Thanks everyone!

 

[eddieras]

CoPilot is nice but it doesn't play well with anything but the standard keyboard. I like to use Thumbs Keyboard and it and CoPilot just don't get along. I've also tried Sygic. It works very nicely except for one issue. After hanging up from a phone call the screen never returns to a landscape orientation. I physically have to stop the app and restart it to get back to landscape. Navigon works the best for me, so far i haven't come across any major issues. I've even gone ahead and sold my Garmin GPS unit. I travel on average about 1500 miles a week so I do get a good bit of time to try these out.

Is this the one you're using?
NAVIGON MobileNavigator GPS navigation USA & Canada

Does it have POI's? Or Are they just thru google search? I too use a garmin (old 350) which has served me well, but may be interested in either a new one or seeing if the nexus will handle it all.

Thanks for any advice!

 

[RazzMaTazz]

I know that Google has this free, so-called map navigation system but it is terrible. It might get me to places sometimes but it's not very user-friendly. The voice navigation works intermittently,

Wow! For me, it always gets me there. The voice search almost always synthesizes my speech into the proper destination.

The voice navigation works intermittently, searches can't be edited,

If for some reason your voice isn't recognized well and you often need to edit the voice-synthesized destination, you can open up Google Navigation, select "Type Destination" and then either type the destination or select the microphone on your keyboard and speak the destination. If your voice isn't properly synthesized into text, you can edit the text.

I'd be very surprised if any other navigation app has better voice synthesis than Google's servers.

you can't pull up search history to star your favorites

Your recent destinations appears on the bottom. You can't star them from there but you can star them from Google Maps.

you can't long-press on searches to delete them.

True. Not that it ever crossed my mind as something I'd want to do.

Plus if you forget to exit navigation, you have to turn gps back on, and then reopen navigation in order to close it. It's very poorly designed.

Well, you simply have to swipe down from the top to bring the running Navigation app back up. But that's the way that any navigation app SHOULD work. That's the way my TeleNav app works too. That's by design in order to let you do other stuff with your phone, like open up your media player app and play music while you drive, or open up Gas Buddy and find a gas station. I certainly wouldn't want the navigation app to exit when I did anything else with my phone.

You certainly have very interesting expectations.

I like Google Navigation way better than TeleNav, and I don't think TeleNav will meet any of your aforementioned needs.

 

[jimt68]

When I said that Google navigation works " intermittently ", what I meant was that sometimes it stops talking and I end up missing exits and turns.

Anyway, I was looking at Copilot again and it doesn't mention landscape view in the description. Can someone please tell me if it has that feature? I emailed the developer and they are trying to get me to create an account to get my answer.

 

[3waygeek]

CoPilot supports landscape, either as a conscious choice, or as an automatic orientation mode (i.e. auto-rotate display based on how you hold the device).

 

[Usta]

Anyway, I was looking at Copilot again and it doesn't mention landscape view in the description. Can someone please tell me if it has that feature? I emailed the developer and they are trying to get me to create an account to get my answer.

LOL. You may get faster answer here...

I can also confirm that Copilot supports landscape view. Basically, if you hold it vertical, then it shows vertical, but if you turn your phone 90 degrees, it rotates to landscape view.

 

[eddieras]

can someone help clarify starred places? if i set up a navigation route i see the destination in my recent destinations list. can i save or 'star' these? or do i have to pull them up via maps first? also - how do you guys find searching along route. i know there are predetermined categories via layers but i have trouble finding other places i do via search from the nav app. thank you for your assistance

 

[mk1rs]

i have navigon on my desire hd and runs very smooth without any probs at all