Best Navigation Software ??

[spendleb]

What does everyone consider to be the best navigation software out there and at what cost? The Nokia Maps solution seems OK at the moment especially as it's 'free' but with 3 years voice guidance the price is pushed up to £47. If there is a better solution out there for not much more money then I would need to consider it although looking around the other options, Tom Tom, CoPilot etc seem really expensive and well over £140+ plus I would need to buy a Bluetooth GPS receiver ???

Any recommendations/thoughts?

[srw985]

I too am considering paying nearly £50 for three years and would like to know if their is a better option out their for a similar price.

Hopefully already internal GPS compatible.

[robgreb]

Hi

I use Navicore and an external bluetooth module.

It's not cheap, but once you use a "proper" navigation application and a SiRF III receiver, you realise how amateur Nokia's offering is. One way to reduce the cost is to buy a secondhand version. I've seen used copies for GBP75 in shops.

Used copies are usually registered to their previous owner, but a quick call to Navicore sorts this out.

Rob

[nj7]

Free solution, only with the price of data traffic, is MGmaps and Amaze. But the best ones, for me, are Tomtom and Route66. And all of them, need external GPS antenna.

[spendleb]

Checked around and Route66 can be purchased for £40 (I know I would need a GPS receiver) but can anyone confirm if this is the right software below :

ROUTE 66 MOBILE 7 BRITAIN

It appears to work for the other Nokia smartphones (N93 etc) but does not mention the N95 and also it needs this :

A free slot for an extra MultiMediaCard (DV RS-MMC Mobile)

The N95 used a mini SD card doesn't it???

[HoundDog]

The N95 uses a Micro SD card, which is able half the size again as a Mini SD card. You should be able to copy the files onto your card, but if they don't say the N95 is supported, you may have no come-back if there's a problem.

[omar_g]

The latest version of Co-Pilot Live works with the N95's internal GPS. It was only announced today but can already be bought via Amazon for £99. As good as Tom Tom.

[clive1]

Originally Posted by robgreb

Hi

I use Navicore and an external bluetooth module.

It's not cheap, but once you use a "proper" navigation application and a SiRF III receiver, you realise how amateur Nokia's offering is. One way to reduce the cost is to buy a secondhand version. I've seen used copies for GBP75 in shops.

Used copies are usually registered to their previous owner, but a quick call to Navicore sorts this out.

Rob

amateur nokia offering? its a multi function device so it wont be as good as a dedicated device, can you make phone calls and play mp3s etc on your sat nav?? the camera on the phone isnt as good as a proper digital camera either but hey its easier to carry around than 3 or 4 other devices.

[spendleb]

Originally Posted by omar_g

The latest version of Co-Pilot Live works with the N95's internal GPS. It was only announced today but can already be bought via Amazon for £99. As good as Tom Tom.

Excellent news although weird as I contacted CoPilot last week and they advised there wasn't an offering for the N95 !! Unless they weren't allowed to say anything until the announcement?

[robgreb]

Originally Posted by clive1

amateur nokia offering? its a multi function device so it wont be as good as a dedicated device, can you make phone calls and play mp3s etc on your sat nav?? the camera on the phone isnt as good as a proper digital camera either but hey its easier to carry around than 3 or 4 other devices.

Sorry, I didn't make it clear that Navicore is an S60 application. It runs on the N95. I was comparing Navicore's software with gate5's offering.

(Nokia acquired gate5, a mapping company, last year. Gate5's smart2go product forms the basis of the N95's Maps application.)

Navicore is better, but it costs more.

R

[kazicameron]

i recommend using maps. im new to having GPS but have used a garmin 660. the maps software has much more detail. more roads and more local information. i bought the phone not expecting to use the gps but now i use it all the time. the maps are free to download i never connect to internet (i have this disabled) and the cost is not much at all. ive heard problems with it not locking on to satellites but mine connects within a minute through the windscreen and keypad open

[autopilot]

Originally Posted by kazicameron

i recommend using maps. im new to having GPS but have used a garmin 660. the maps software has much more detail. more roads and more local information. i bought the phone not expecting to use the gps but now i use it all the time. the maps are free to download i never connect to internet (i have this disabled) and the cost is not much at all. ive heard problems with it not locking on to satellites but mine connects within a minute through the windscreen and keypad open

Sorry to bust the bubble, but Maps is rubbish. It's ok for occasional use if you want to see where you are if you are say lost in a city, but for navigation it's absolutely terrible.

If it's for driving, get Copilot or wait for TomTom to support the internal GPS. If you are a walker/biker/hiker, get ViewRanger. But dont wast any money on Maps.

Also, there is no way you can get a lock in less than a minute from a cold start start, but possible from a warm/hot start.

Furthermore, especially don't buy the 3 year navigation. Who is seriously going to still be using the N95 for three years.

[rooster80]

As various posts has mentioned before, the N95 is a is not a fullblod GPS device. I don't think calling it rubbish does it justice. I stay in asia and I'm amazed over the coverage it has down here. I can find routes between smaller towns and there's plenty of of information to be found in Maps.
The whole purpose of the device is that it's easily accessable from your pocket whether you want to find a place, listen to some music or radio, or take a picture. I think it's a great phone and I'm sure future models will improve and amaze us even more!
But I do agree that most of us wont be using the N95 in 3years time, so unless we can transfer the licence to new handsets, the 3year licence is pointless.

[GI30065]

I personnaly find maps a VERY GOOD product.
And it's very cheap.
I'm a sales man, and always on the road.
I've been using maps navigation now for 2 weeks, and it NEVER made an mistake. The maps are very clear and beautiful, also the points of intrests are fantastic, and soooo many different ones !
I love maps

[autopilot]

I never said the N95 was rubbish, just Maps. Do a bit of Googling, and you will find the routing algorithms are messed up. I have tested mine extensively side by side with TomTom and the routes it's comes up with is mad.

Also, you can't install custom POI's, so no speed camera warnings.

Copilot is now available for the N95 for about £60. A far far better purchase.

I have been using various GPS systems for many years, Nokia Maps is one of the worst i have found. If you have never really used anything else and you are happy with Maps, then thats fine. But once you have tried 'real' GPS software you will see what i mean.

I have defended the N95's GPS capabilities many times and it's not as bad as many people make out. It just needs the right software, but IMHO Maps is lame as lame.