Best sat nav app has to be waze

[sawman]

I have been using waze for 2 or 3 years, it work pretty well for me, and it has never got me lost, although the odd route is strange. I have used it in mainland europe, and it found me a non autoroute homeward leg which was as quick and more pleasant that the Autoroute outward leg. I still haven't forgiven them for taking the elvis voice off the options - cheered up the journey

[Prof Prolapse]

DonkeyApple said:

I use a tomtom app on an old iPhone with no sim in one of my cars and it seems to work fine. You just don't get the live traffic data.

Volant said:

Co Pilot

Not always the best routes when left to its own devices, but I love the drag feature, particularly when choosing good roads on the motorbike.

I use an iPhone 5c and assuming I'm not charging the phone it uses 20% battery per hour.

Thanks Both. Will look at them. Tomtom would be the devil I know...

[C70R]

slk 32 said:

tejr said:

I stopped using it because it was massively battery intensive on my HTC M8. Even with the (2A) car charger plugged in, it would slowly drain battery.

I might give it another go on my Samsung S7 though.

I found that using my galaxy alpha the charge would be constant (ie if i plugged the phone in at 50% and started using waze it would remain at 50%)

I've just started using an s7 edge and found it does actually charge to 100%

Must concede that it was a pain on my old phone, with 18mth old battery. It would stay at a relatively constant level of charge if the screen was dimmed, and slowly drain (even on 2A) with the screen on high brightness. However, I've been 6mths with a replacement phone (and new battery) and it will even charge with relatively high brightness.

I'd suggest that, while Waze is undeniably resource-intensive, it's highlighting an issue with your battery that can be resolved by spending a couple of quid on a replacement from Ebay.

[C70R]

motco said:

Zod said:

Waze is the best app I have used. Of course it depends on users contributing, which I do.

It does sometimes come up with weird diversions, especially in London. Sometimes, it might conceivably save a minute, but it often feels like it's for the sake of it.

In south west London it often sends me down side roads with cars parked on each side and speed cushions. Drives me nuts!

This is probably my only annoyance - I've suggested multiple times that Waze add a "Speed-calming" marker to certain routes. However, in the grand scheme of things this is a minor gripe.

[ukaskew]

RE: battery life, do people not plug their phone in whilst driving? I just have a simple discreet double USB port in my 12V socket, job done.

I only commute 50 minutes per day but that's easily enough to run Waze, my podcasts and keep my phone fully topped up.

[SonicShadow]

Prefer Google Maps to Waze persoonally.

[twokcc]

Never tried wave so cant comment but use both google maps and tom tom apps on android phone.
Think both have advantages/disadvantages which may depend on own preferences, for me
Google maps
Can search not just for location but for business name etc and has generally been able to find most of them without a problem.
Advising on traffic delays is extremely good(apparently monitors when car owners phones on route have stopped moving or moving slowly)
Seems to have got slower with instructions with direction not announced until you're already about to navigate feature-particularly roundabouts.
No camera warnings unless you use pocketgps which seems to be oversensitive or gives dud warnings
Loss of signal can be a problem

Tom Tom app
Gives actual speed on screen together with current limit(not always correct)
Camera warnings seem more relevant than those on pocketgps
Warning of traffic delays-software seem to have improved in this respect and about on par with google maps
Route direction given in plenty of time
Search doesn't cover individual companies etc
Map is downloaded so no loss of application when in poor signal area

Cant comment on rerouting ability of either as not done a direct side by side comparison. Is interesting to have both running together (plus BMW satnav old 2009 business nav)

Nearly always used the google maps only got the Tom Tom app as had old android app but they offered a good deal to upgrade to new app. However since noticing delay in instructions use Tom Tom nearly always if going on a longish journey to unknown to me location. Use Google maps for most local routing where I am generally familiar with the roads.

[swisstoni]

vsonix said:

joebongo said:

Tomtom all the way for me. Best rerouting and best traffic information.

I spent 60 quid on a TomTom app and it was obsolete within a year and no free or discounted upgrade to the newest version. Left a pretty nasty taste in my mouth.

At least you didn't shell out about 5x that for one of their own devices like me. Several years later they still haven't given us mugs free map updates like they seem to grant new users.
Still expect £50ish to update. Nope to that, and their device is at the bottom of a drawer with all the other junk.
Not a fan.

[C70R]

twokcc said:

Never tried wave so cant comment but use both google maps and tom tom apps on android phone.
Think both have advantages/disadvantages which may depend on own preferences, for me
Google maps
Can search not just for location but for business name etc and has generally been able to find most of them without a problem.
Advising on traffic delays is extremely good(apparently monitors when car owners phones on route have stopped moving or moving slowly)
Seems to have got slower with instructions with direction not announced until you're already about to navigate feature-particularly roundabouts.
No camera warnings unless you use pocketgps which seems to be oversensitive or gives dud warnings
Loss of signal can be a problem

Tom Tom app
Gives actual speed on screen together with current limit(not always correct)
Camera warnings seem more relevant than those on pocketgps
Warning of traffic delays-software seem to have improved in this respect and about on par with google maps
Route direction given in plenty of time
Search doesn't cover individual companies etc
Map is downloaded so no loss of application when in poor signal area

Being honest "wave" combines the best of the two worlds that you've described. It's not perfect by any means, but it's better than most other single solutions.

[RizzoTheRat]

swisstoni said:

vsonix said:

joebongo said:

Tomtom all the way for me. Best rerouting and best traffic information.

I spent 60 quid on a TomTom app and it was obsolete within a year and no free or discounted upgrade to the newest version. Left a pretty nasty taste in my mouth.

At least you didn't shell out about 5x that for one of their own devices like me. Several years later they still haven't given us mugs free map updates like they seem to grant new users.
Still expect £50ish to update. Nope to that, and their device is at the bottom of a drawer with all the other junk.
Not a fan.

I've had a Tomtom Rider 2 for several years. The Tomtom map display is way better than Garmin or Google maps IMO, and it's itinerary files make route planning way easier than having to go through Garmin Basecamp (I plan a route using ITN converter on the PC and save it to the Tomtom's SD card as a .itn file). However the mounting system's not great and wears itself loose in a couple of years (1 replaced under warranty and now it's held tight with tape but has stopped charging again), plus the above mentioned map update issues. Great interface let down by a few niggles and a lack of updates IMO.

[Birdster]

eybic said:

Good Point, it does look like an iPhone. The only options I have on my 6S are:

Language
Unit
Events Radius
Prevent auto-lock
Child reminder

When you go to "Settings" "Privacy" "Location Services". Under Waze, I have Always or Never, the option for "while using the app" isn't there like it is for all/ most other apps.

eta: I have just denied access to my location and the location change option appeared but I still only have always or never in the location box.

Edited by eybic on Monday 7th November 15:21

Edited by eybic on Monday 7th November 15:22

Not sure why you can't see it. Was driving me nuts and then I found that option. If I need to use time to leave features I'll enable it again.

[DaveH23]

Prof Prolapse said:

Which app is best for those of us who have no mobile/internet signal for most of the journey?

If any?

ETA: for Apple.

Edited by Prof Prolapse on Monday 7th November 16:46

You can download offline maps on google maps.

If you start the journey with signal google maps downloads the entire map so you doesnt matter if you lose signal half way through your journey.

I've never had a single signal loss or even a single issue with journey times, re routing finding places etc etc using google maps.

Here is some of the places I have been using it as well.

[Calza]

How do I bring that up?

[RizzoTheRat]

Type "Ok Maps" in to google maps and it'll give you the option to download an area.

[Prof Prolapse]

Thanks. I didn't realise you could download. I have used Google maps but don't have sufficient signal, it's probably amongst the most remote parts of the UK in rural Scotland I like to ride around so signal is unusually poor.

Edited by Prof Prolapse on Wednesday 9th November 13:54

[RizzoTheRat]

I think some of the search options are bit more limited on downloaded maps, and it'll only work out driving routes not cycling or walking, but it's great for use abroad.

[chrisga]

And now you can turn on Hammond, May and Clarkson voices to be directed by if that sort of thing floats your boat.....

[Calza]

Is there any way to get camera warnings to come up on google maps?

It's the one thing I feel it's missing.

[Markbarry1977]

Calza said:

Is there any way to get camera warnings to come up on google maps?

It's the one thing I feel it's missing.

There's an app called camera alert. It's an annual subscription which runs in the background and starts whenever you start your nab package. (Google maps, apple maps whatever you like to use)

[littleredrooster]

RizzoTheRat said:

Type "Ok Maps" in to google maps and it'll give you the option to download an area.

Not on any of my devices it won't...(PC, iOS and Android). Merely takes me either to OK car rentals in S. America or Oklahoma State in You-Ess-A.