Your favorite navagation app?

**Infiniti7** · 10-26-2011, 10:10 AM

Just wondering what kind of gps navagation apps you guys use. Ill tell you I use the vz navagation app I think it's through Verizon and it is absolutely amazing. It could be better than the navagations that comes in cars these days. What do you guys use?

**StaticFX** · 10-26-2011, 10:15 AM

Wife has Garmin built into her Jeep.. i got the NAVV USA app (lucky enough to get it free) and I like it. Works well, has good options and features.. no complaints so far. I have not used it on a long trip yet (only short tests)
Tomorrow I am taking a little longer trip - but I know the way so I will test to see if the app picks the same route i would (the easiest/fastest)

**CG68** · 10-26-2011, 10:58 AM

I used to use MapQuest which was free and had voice turn by turn nav built in but have since switched to Waze. It's free also and has voice turn by turn built into it. I don't use Nav apps that often so I would rather not spend money needlessly for one of the paid apps. The free ones have been fine IMO.

**larsonage** · 10-26-2011, 11:05 AM

Gogo Navigator is pretty good.

**kch50428** · 10-26-2011, 11:09 AM

Navigon is my preferred app. I've also used TomTom's - which was recently update to also be iPad friendly now... but it still reminds me of Windows 3.1 - Garmin's app is not as good as their stand-alone Nuvis... search the forum here for additional threads with commentary on this subject.

**phillies20** · 10-26-2011, 11:13 AM

I use Waze also... its free, voice turn by turn, re-calculates if you go off course and it also is a social network where people input traffic problems or accidents so if there is an accident on your course, a message will pop up telling you about it.

**cardfan** · 10-26-2011, 11:19 AM

Navigon. Though it sounds like we'll get some more fees from them.

Navigon is also revamping its map update system, offering a one-time subscription fee for free quarterly updates. Before, Navigon had only updated its NAVTEQ maps twice over the course of eight version updates, thanks to licensing fees.

I'm ok with it if it means more frequently updated maps. I like having maps on device and you'll be able to choose which areas or states you want to download.

**DrewBear** · 10-26-2011, 11:21 AM

I've been using the free Waze & MapQuest apps locally just to see how they do with routes I'm familiar with. Some observations:

• Waze has the better screen. The fonts are larger, it gives traffic alerts & ETA. MapQuest doesn't work in landscape mode.

• MapQuest is faster & better at recalculating a route. Waze seems to want to stick to their original route and tries to force you back to that despite a better alternative.

I'm going to continue testing both apps, but right now if I were to drive somewhere I knew nothing about, I'd trust MapQuest to do a better job of actually getting me to my destination with the least fuss.

One thing I'm still wondering about is how these GPS/nav apps work in areas with spotty cell coverage. My 2.5 yr. old TomTom will sometimes lose the satellite in downtown SF or deep canyons, but not when I'm way out in the boonies. I don't think I'll buy a new dedicated GPS device, but I'm also going to keep the TomTom in the car just in case.

**kch50428** · 10-26-2011, 11:23 AM

Originally Posted by cardfan

Navigon is also revamping its map update system, offering a one-time subscription fee for free quarterly updates. Before, Navigon had only updated its NAVTEQ maps twice over the course of eight version updates, thanks to licensing fees.

That's the same model Garmin uses for their PNDs... coincidence? Garmin owns Navigon now...

**cardfan** · 10-26-2011, 11:34 AM

Originally Posted by kch50428

That's the same model Garmin uses for their PNDs... coincidence? Garmin owns Navigon now...

I can't blame them for looking for a revenue stream though. If the quality of the app remains intact, i'll be glad to support them. The cost is still low considering this app is shared on all our family devices.

**BiG BaLLA 923** · 10-26-2011, 11:34 AM

Ha anyone tried the free Telenav?

**kch50428** · 10-26-2011, 11:39 AM

Originally Posted by BiG BaLLA 923

Ha anyone tried the free Telenav?

Navigon is better in my experience.

**larsonage** · 10-26-2011, 11:52 AM

I used Navigon but it had trouble recalculating directions when I missed a turn. Did anyone else experience this? Other than that it's a pretty solid app. Waze is an excellent free navigation app but it kills my battery.

**T Mac** · 10-26-2011, 11:59 AM

Tom Tom. It uses no data. The entire app stores to your phone. Great for limited data plans. Works very well also. Other apps use way too much data. It's not free though.

**larsonage** · 10-26-2011, 12:20 PM

Gogo Navigator uses no data either.

**DANNCAS** · 10-26-2011, 01:42 PM

Originally Posted by kch50428

That's the same model Garmin uses for their PNDs... coincidence? Garmin owns Navigon now...

I have a portable one in my car and allways been pleased

**Infiniti7** · 10-26-2011, 01:51 PM

so is the VZ navagtor one only through verizon?

**noaim** · 10-26-2011, 02:39 PM

Tom Tom maps are stored on device application works great no data connection required

**takeshi** · 10-26-2011, 08:31 PM

Still trying to decide between TomTom and Navigon. I think TomTom has a slight edge but that could just be because I started out with it and I'm more familiar with it.

Originally Posted by Infiniti7

so is the VZ navagtor one only through verizon?

It's the only one offered by Verizon (they don't have multiple nav apps of their own) but not the only one you can use on the VZW iPhones. The apps don't care who your carrier is.

Originally Posted by noaim

Tom Tom maps are stored on device application works great no data connection required

Not for maps but for data features (Google search, traffic, etc) data is obviously required.

Originally Posted by DrewBear

One thing I'm still wondering about is how these GPS/nav apps work in areas with spotty cell coverage. My 2.5 yr. old TomTom will sometimes lose the satellite in downtown SF or deep canyons, but not when I'm way out in the boonies. I don't think I'll buy a new dedicated GPS device, but I'm also going to keep the TomTom in the car just in case.

First, it's important to understand the distinction between the GPS receiver (hardware) and GPS app (software). The receiver doesn't need cell coverage, just signal from the GPS satellites. That's why you lose satellite in the city and not in the boonies. Some apps require data. Some apps do not. If you wander into an area with no coverage using an app that requires data for maps then you'll lose maps at some point. The app may cache part or all of your trip, depending on the app. Some apps that require data cannot calculate a route without data and that can be a problem if you're in an ara with no coverage.

This applies to all smartphones out there -- not just the iPhone.

**kch50428** · 10-26-2011, 08:47 PM

Originally Posted by briareus

First, it's important to understand the distinction between the GPS receiver (hardware) and GPS app (software). The receiver doesn't need cell coverage, just signal from the GPS satellites. That's why you lose satellite in the city and not in the boonies. Some apps require data. Some apps do not. If you wander into an area with no coverage using an app that requires data for maps then you'll lose maps at some point. The app may cache part or all of your trip, depending on the app. Some apps that require data cannot calculate a route without data and that can be a problem if you're in an ara with no coverage. This applies to all smartphones out there -- not just the iPhone.

The thing about the GPS at least in the Verizon iPhone4 (they may all be this way...) - is if you put the phone in airplane mode, the app won't matter - the GPS receiver will not work in Airplane mode (I've experimented...) - but if you have spotty cell coverage, the GPS should still work... as long as the app's map needs are on the device. It is possible to supplement your iPhone's GPS capabilities with a Bluetooth GPS receiver (they sell them here in the TiPB Store... or you can go to Amazon and get a BadElf...)

**Turbo_lemon** · 10-26-2011, 11:04 PM

Mapquest is ok but slightly inaccurate sometimes, the nav free Canada app is free works awesome and has a cool feature where u can notify of wrong names or missing addresses so far it's my fave!

**mustang8918** · 10-29-2011, 10:23 AM

I started using Waze this week and so far I'm loving it.

**KashSystems** · 10-29-2011, 10:33 AM

I have had the Tom Tom app for over 2 years, when it first came out it was a terrible product. Tom Tom has work hard at improving the app. Now it has grown for me as the most gps I rely on. I like the fact you can download map corrections done by drivers who found tom tom to be wrong. The traffic is 20 dollars a year which is reasonable and with it you can avoid bad traffic by using the alternative route guidance built in. If you do not care about traffic then the one time fee covers updates (including maps).

Only negative is because everything is on your phone it takes up about 1.5 gigs of data. I rather have this though than rely on a gps software that messes up when I am out of coverage area.

**SMELTN** · 10-29-2011, 01:59 PM

I think for me Waze has been fantastic.. I very rarely use navigation software, maybe 4-5 times a year at best, so its just not feasible for me to pay for any, and after seeing people talk about Waze I decided to give it a try..

1 question though.. What is the horn sound I keep hearing every now and again when I am using it?