Smart Phone vs. SatNav
Discussion
Over the years I have a few different SatNav's (Road Angel, Garmin, TomTom etc). However since getting a smartphone with googlemaps I have found that this is much better. It can find business' by name (no need for full address entry) and also seems to have more detailed and accurate maps. Plus the fact that there is no need to install extra maps for foreign journeys.
I'd like to hear if anyone out there disagrees and also the reasons why? (i.e. am I missing something)
I'd like to hear if anyone out there disagrees and also the reasons why? (i.e. am I missing something)
I've used the old Tom Tom in the past and it was great. I was recently in the US so I borrowed my fathers new Tom Tom with the US maps. Although I know most of the roads, I decided to use it on one trip as I was driving at night and didn't want to miss my turn offs. I gave up on it. It could only find the zip code but it wouldn't let me drive to a zip code, I had to type in the street and number (which it didn't recognise). I though OK, I'll just use it as a map and scroll around as I knew roughly which road the destination was on. It was so clunky and slow that it woudn't refresh and then it would lose the point on the map. Even the buttons took three or four atempts before they would register as if the processor was far too slow to cope with the software.
I don't know if that was a defective one or if they are all like that now but I'm happier using my phone when I need to.
I don't know if that was a defective one or if they are all like that now but I'm happier using my phone when I need to.
I understand the issue around losing signal but experienced the same thing with most of my sat navs. That or they simply froze up and took ages to reboot. And yes, if using it abroad without data allowance can be pricey.
Even taking all that into account, I just wonder why anyone would bother with a standalone sat nav this day in age?
Not the most important worry in the world but still... I want to know why these things are still for sale?
Even taking all that into account, I just wonder why anyone would bother with a standalone sat nav this day in age?
Not the most important worry in the world but still... I want to know why these things are still for sale?
Smartphone apps are coming along leaps and bounds and in many cases are better then traditional sat-nav, however the points about signal dropping, data costs (especially when abroad), battery use etc can be a major problem when they actually hit. Also traditional sat nav units are pretty cheap now too.
I wouldn't exactly get into the business of building traditional sat nav units but can see why people still use them.
I wouldn't exactly get into the business of building traditional sat nav units but can see why people still use them.
Edited by rpguk on Wednesday 27th August 18:22
Used Navfree (for the first time in ages) to get me through Leeds City center this afternoon.
Absolutely f
king useless, it tried (repeatedly) to take me through bus gates and more than once tried to route me the wrong way up a one way street.
It's not like its free anymore anyway, however i guess you get what you pay for!
Absolutely f
king useless, it tried (repeatedly) to take me through bus gates and more than once tried to route me the wrong way up a one way street. It's not like its free anymore anyway, however i guess you get what you pay for!
littlebasher said:
Used Navfree (for the first time in ages) to get me through Leeds City center this afternoon.
Absolutely fking useless, it tried (repeatedly) to take me through bus gates and more than once tried to route me the wrong way up a one way street.
It's not like its free anymore anyway, however i guess you get what you pay for!
Years ago I was using my Road Angel in deepest darkest Aberdeenshire, it was the middle of the night, I was in the middle of nowhere and was not familiar with the area. Absolutely f
king useless, it tried (repeatedly) to take me through bus gates and more than once tried to route me the wrong way up a one way street. It's not like its free anymore anyway, however i guess you get what you pay for!
I was using the 'Angel' to take me to postcode centre (as the full address was not recognised) so trusting the directions it gave me I followed, watching the miles count down and the destination getting closer. Then finally I hear "You have reached your destination" However I was not "at my destination" I was actually on some country road, about 12 miles from the nearest civilisation and, as I later found out, about 30 miles from the actual postcode I was looking for.
Then it lost signal and left me high n dry! I have never had a smartphone do that!!!
AreEssTimbo said:
It can find business' by name (no need for full address entry)
TomTom Live devices used to have a Google local search - but they decided do it themselves and reduced it too useless I am told.AreEssTimbo said:
I'd like to hear if anyone out there disagrees and also the reasons why? (i.e. am I missing something)
Convenience - my sat nav stays on dash when in garage at home, automatically starts when I open car, automatically runs the nav app, I don't have to get phone out of pocket/bag and plug into charger - when at work it is a little more effort as I have to remove from dash and hide (more hidden when parked elsewhere) - main reason for having it is traffic, so I can see what to avoid. I suspect I would also want a bigger display on the smart phone (still running original Galaxy)I just can't get on with smart phone sat navs for some reason. I have waze, scout, m8, sygic and co pilot. Seems ok when playing with them sat at home but in the big wide world I find them basically crap. Unreliable with gps signal, not easy to follow especially at complex road junctions ect.
I always revert back to my tomtom go live which is not good to play with sat at home but brilliant when out in the big wide world with clear and reliable directions I trust.
I find planning with google maps and pining my exact location (if it's not a basic address or post code) on the tomtom the best way.
I think the stand alone sat nav still has life in it.
I always revert back to my tomtom go live which is not good to play with sat at home but brilliant when out in the big wide world with clear and reliable directions I trust.
I find planning with google maps and pining my exact location (if it's not a basic address or post code) on the tomtom the best way.
I think the stand alone sat nav still has life in it.
Do you have any power saving settings enabled on your phone? One of the ways in which phones can save power is by reducing the accuracy required from GPS, which affects its reliability when using any mapping software. When using it as a sat nav, you should turn off any power saving stuff.
How strange, I sold my tom tom last year because I found my smartphone - just Google maps to be about 95% as good as the tom tom & without having to send money for new maps every 6 months or their 'live services' either.
I ran both phone & sat nav together for a few months to get a feel for how both performed.
Since then Google maps has improved too, I think trad sat navs are on the way out as smartphones are becoming all pervasive, strangely enough so do the sat nav makers too... hence they now offer up apps for said smartphones in a bid to regain market share.
I don't find it any harder to connect my phone to a vent mount & power, than I did my sat nav, and in truth now there's no big sucky thing on the screen, people are less inclined to break in my car to steal my sat nav.
I ran both phone & sat nav together for a few months to get a feel for how both performed.
Since then Google maps has improved too, I think trad sat navs are on the way out as smartphones are becoming all pervasive, strangely enough so do the sat nav makers too... hence they now offer up apps for said smartphones in a bid to regain market share.
I don't find it any harder to connect my phone to a vent mount & power, than I did my sat nav, and in truth now there's no big sucky thing on the screen, people are less inclined to break in my car to steal my sat nav.
I'll have a look into the power saving modes on my iPhone but not aware i'm running any.
I really want to make my iPhone work well as a sat nav so will keep trying and experimenting.
I'm off to the Nurburgring this weekend so will have a 640 mile drive each way to test things out again.
Will try running the phone alongside my reliable tomtom as mentioned.
I also use a vent mounted holder as I hate those stuck on the window eye sore things.
I really want to make my iPhone work well as a sat nav so will keep trying and experimenting.
I'm off to the Nurburgring this weekend so will have a 640 mile drive each way to test things out again.
Will try running the phone alongside my reliable tomtom as mentioned.
I also use a vent mounted holder as I hate those stuck on the window eye sore things.
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