Database Develop

Mapping Questions

I really like google maps, and of course, its free. The GPS function works great when I am outside or have a view of the sky (just figured this out).
Can I download maps or my city and keep them locally on my kaiser so I don't have to use the expensive 3G and only use the free GPS? Or does the require a program you must pay for, ie tomtom, or whatever else.
Also, google maps gives me a really precise location with GPS (within feet), but I cant seem to figure out how to get it to tell my elevation, wind speed, other GPS functions. Is this not possible with Google Maps?
Thanks!
Matt

google maps is not really a gps program so it cannot give you those other features like windspeed, elevation, etc.
if you search the site there is a program to let you download the maps and store them locally on your kaiser. takes it a bit of work though to get it but it is free.

A program like TomaTom Destinator or IGo will do that. I use TomTom personally & really like it. Depending on what maps you want to keep handy, you'll need at least a 2GB SD card. If you search around, I'm sure you can find the TomTom taster that will work well & allow you one free local city map download. Just be aware that while TT6 is great for road trips & city driving to known locations, it doesn't have the same nearly unlimited POI database you get from the servers that work with Google Maps & Live Search.

Best GPS Software for Kaiser?

Hey Folks -
I'm looking for the killer turn-by-turn software (with US Maps) - that I can digitally buy and install to my MicroSD. I've done a number of searches online looking for a product I can order and download (yes, I have the fever - IMMEDIATE GRATIFICATION IS NECESSARY) and get working with.
POI's are very important to me as is speed and stability...
Can anyone chime in with their preference? Please also supply a URL where I can purchase your favorite application...
Thanks!
StacT

uh tomtom?

there's a million threads like this, just use a search.. u'll get ur answers instantly and won't have to wait.
Having said that, I tried Destinator, TomTom, Garmin XT, TeleNav and I still stayed with iGo, which I love above all others.
Some have cool features like traffic and all that.. some are just pain in the ass (destinator).. so if you can - try it all before u buy.

Of course - I know about the players (MIO, TOMTOM, etc...) but can't find a digital distributor for just the software to install on my kaiser (like pocketgear or handango)... do you have a link?

http://www.navngo.com/pages/global/eng/where_ro_buy
scroll down to USA
wow.. they're actually really close to me, like 15-20 miles from me..
Anyway.. they have excellent US maps, at least I'm very happy with CA map - very detailed, over 2 million POIs.

Thanks for all the thoughts so far, but neither of them fits the bill -
1] The software must have North American/USA maps... iGo doesn't
2] The software must be downloadable...
Thanks!

Google maps. real-time and cheap!

liquidsilver said:
Google maps. real-time and cheap!
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Uh, cheap? It's free and sucks since you're download as you drive so a lot of the time maps just time-out. Mio Maps is one of the best, and TomTom is probably the best as far as being user friendly and simple, but, TomTom is pretty slow compared to Mio.

How about iGuidance v.4?
I've been using it for a few months. It has text-to-speech. The only problem is, you might i need GPSgate as some of the WM6.1 here doesn't refresh the screen often enough.
I've used TomTom too, it was nice but doesn't have text-to-speech.

I've used TomTom and it was pretty good, user friendly... only thing I didn't like about it was the routing and as the screen is touched it'll take you to the menu.
I've switched to Garmin and found that the one which suits me well so far --- more detail on maps, nothing popping up while touching the map on the screen, and looks a lot simpler. Its navigation software is not as "realtime" as TomTom, but is probably the most simplest to setup, install, and use

stact said:
2] The software must be downloadable...
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I don't know of one of the majors that is. With bandwidth costs they rarely fancy giving you GBs of map to download. Just buy one on a disc.

does anyone know of a good free one which allows you to put your own maps eg a photo of an os map or jpeg in for calibrating for camping hiking walking about woods ect.

I have been using a combination of TomTom and Google Maps. I use Google Maps for most of my POI's since they are updated, contain phone numbers, and are just plain easier to use. The TomTom POI's aren't that fantastic I've noticed. But I will take the location I find in Google Maps and then use TomTom to navigate me there since navigation in Google Maps isn't really turn by turn and can't redirect you automatically if you miss a turn.
My only complaint with TomTom is that you need around 1GB of storage on your SD card so you need a large one (I'm holding out for those 32s!) and it looks ugly when installed on the card. Random files and folders everywhere and it has to be on the root of the card. I'm a neat freak when it comes to file layouts so it drives me crazy.

what about ms live search?
I used it a few times on my recent vacation, it worked very well. Same benefits and drawbacks as google maps, but I think I like it's interface better than google maps.

Live Search has an arguably better navigation setup that Google Maps. GM closes when it loses it's data connection so it's worthless between cities where cell coverage is weak. MS does a better job of caching the maps and will stay active, showing the route and turns even when the data connection is lost. if I could only have one of them for road trips, it would be MS Live Search.

I've had no problems using iGuidance other than on several occasions, it took about 3 minutes to open for some reason. I also use Live Search and Google for a quick find when I need it.

godfa7h3r said:
But I will take the location I find in Google Maps and then use TomTom to navigate me there since navigation in Google Maps isn't really turn by turn and can't redirect you automatically if you miss a turn.
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haha i do the same exact thing,.... now if somebody could make a program where with one click u can transfer the address from google maps to tomtom, i'd pay for it

co-pilot live 7 will interface directly with MS live search if they ever release the NO CHARGE upgrade. it has been announced and was scheduled for release this month
BTW I paid $199 when Co-pilot 7 was released last year but the current price is $99 i guess the <$100 competition is getting to them.
I use and like Co-pilot live USA. I can't speak for other maps. the software comes preloaded on 2 gig SD card but you also get it on DVD. I copied the SD folders to my 6 gig SD card and all worked fine. the activation key is stored on local file sysem. but if you have to do a hard reset you can reactivate on same phone with no hassel.
for more info see www.alk.com

I have copilot as well, but at the $99 price point. The WM version is very nice. It comes with companion software for the desktop that just wont work on my vista laptop though.
Still for $150, you could buy a stand alone gps. But I thought about it and I always have this with me, so why buy another device? I didn't want to carry one.

GPS without a dataplan

I was wondering if I could use google maps and download the maps over my wifi. I dont have a data plan so google maps would have to save onto my phone.
Also I was wondering how does the tomtom or garmin thing work. Do I need a login or something for those, or do I just pay for the maps? (My family has a TomTom and my uncle has a Garmin )

with tomtom and gamin i believe it's std that one buy mappacks which are then placed on sdcard(s) they dont use the phone network at all

Rudegar said:
with tomtom and gamin i believe it's std that one buy mappacks which are then placed on sdcard(s) they dont use the phone network at all
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except if you want to get traffic updates of course

You can get a free trial of tomtom to install on your device and then purchase maps for regions eg UK for about £40.

to answer your first question.... although possible to download maps through wifi, you would defeat the purpose of navigation when you wandered away from an access point. google maps caches a region or grid and afaik you cannot predefine a set of grids to download in advance...
gps has nothing to do with a dataplan. gps is free to use publicly. it will be phazed out within the coming years with a better system which has allready been put into use via darpa and associated defense departments.
tomtom and most other navigation software suites come with regional maps. in the case of tomtom, they only provide one map per country. i dont believe they sell individual maps per state any more.
with programs like streets and trips, however, you can download a specified map or a custom map to your device, thus, no need for a data (or gps) connection. gps would only be needed for real time positioning and statistics.
jd

Redundancy Detected....
And with a mighty
[Thwomp]
The Colossal Hammer of Closure
ends the life of yet another redundant thread...​

What GPS software r u using?

Colleagues,
I am getting a Fuze for XMas and would like to know what GPS software are you all using?
Regards.

I use a free over-the-air package, amazegps.com. It does turn-by-turn voice prompting, moving 3D maps, etc. I've been very pleased with it so far.

WMM,
I take it you live in the US; do you know how it compares to others, whether paid or free?

I haven't done extensive comparisons; my use of GPS navigation is pretty limited, and the amazegps.com package meets my needs very well, so I haven't had much motivation to look further. I did sign up for the free trial of the TeleNav (AT&T Navigator) package and tried it a few times. As you would expect for $10/month, TeleNav is definitely flashier -- you can give the destination address using voice recognition, and it has text-to-speech to read you the names of the roads onto which you will be turning. It also has traffic advisories. If I used it a lot and were in a city with traffic jams to worry about, I'd definitely think the TeleNav features were worth it.
I've also seen rave reviews for OnCourse Navigator 8 (OCN8). Although I haven't used it myself, the screen shots and descriptions were really impressive.
Those are the only other two products I know anything about. For myself, amazegps.com gets me reliably from point A to point B without getting lost, and without my paying a cent for it, so that's more than good enough for me.

I've used Telenav and like the features. Text to speech (tells you the name of the street or exit to turn on) is great, the ability to send your phone a destination via the PC is nice as well. I've used the voice recognition feature but it's cumbersome and doesn't work well while driving (where this is needed).
I have use Copilot on the PC and love it. I would have purchased it for the ppc but it's expensive.
I am now using Garmin XT and have been for over a year. They have recently improved the OSD while navigating and knowing where to turn is a lot easier. Garmin XT does not have text to speech but does have almost every other feature of the top Garmin stand alone navigation devices. The program even has some features that are better than the Garmin PND. The app comes installed on a 2 gig micro sd card but there are ways of moving it to bigger cards. I have used this app on my ATT Tilt, HTC Advantage and now the ATT Fuze. Like the advantage I can start a music playlist then open the Garmin app and begin to navigate.
There are others I would like to try (TomTom, Navigon, IGo and Copilot) but my $$ is the bottleneck to new gadgets and toys.

how does that AmazeGPS compare to GoogleMaps?
I went on the website and it says their both free. So im guessing its the same quality as googlemaps.

Thanks for your replies.
Anyone else know of any other freeware?
Regards.

TomTom_Navigator_7.450.9028 does the trick for me!
I use it every day

Garmin Mobile XT 5.0.20w

can google maps be used like a gps device?

I have been using OCN6 for Street Navigation. I have ordered OCN8 which looks amazing. I use Memory-Map Navigator for topographic Navigation.

Alucard_11 said:
how does that AmazeGPS compare to GoogleMaps?
I went on the website and it says their both free. So im guessing its the same quality as googlemaps.
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They are for different purposes. Google maps can use the GPS to show you where you are on a map; it can give you a route from one place to another; and it can follow you as you drive along. It is not a turn-by-turn navigator program; i.e., it doesn't give you spoken prompts like "In 500 feet, turn right" and such, and it doesn't given you a "3D" map were you appear to be flying over a map with perspective, both of which AmazeGPS does. I have and use both; Google maps is better for "where am I," and AmazeGPS is better for "take me to XYZ."

Thanks for all the great suggestions! Does GPS require/use a data package?

Telmap. Not sure if it's free still... it was earlier this week in beta, and so far... it's pretty damn good. Voice navigation, built in POIs, traffic reports, fast to get GPS signals, and more. It also showed me a better route to take which was faster than what I would have usually done.

Nav4all
Check out nav4all its pretty good its nav4all.com

legend12 said:
Thanks for all the great suggestions! Does GPS require/use a data package?
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Click to collapse
It depends. Programs like amazeGPS and TeleNav get all their data, except for your current coordinates, over the air and thus require a data package. Programs that you buy or install on an SD card have the maps on your phone but will still use data for things like traffic and weather information (but I believe you can configure them not to use data if you want).
AmazeGPS has an interesting mode where you need data only when you're doing the routing. That way you can construct the route using an ActiveSync or wifi (i.e., possibly free) connection, and then while you're driving, it will still give you vocal prompts but only show you arrows for your turns instead of moving maps, so it doesn't use any over-the-air data while navigating.

After vmm mentioned amAzeGPS I have done more research and I have read amAzing things about it so I will give it a try when I get my Fuze.
Thank you all.

MenosOcho said:
Garmin Mobile XT 5.0.20w
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Click to collapse
Same. Really like it.

I used Tomtom 7 Navigator Black Edition
FUZE GPS really sucks

i used Nav N Go iGO 8.

Best free GPS???

I've read pages of GPS threads and I can't figure out what I should use. Some say TT7, some say Google Maps, etc. I want one that works that I don't have to pay a monthly fee for. I don't mind a one time purchase. I want GPS navigation.

brrymnvette said:
I've read pages of GPS threads and I can't figure out what I should use. Some say TT7, some say Google Maps, etc. I want one that works that I don't have to pay a monthly fee for. I don't mind a one time purchase. I want GPS navigation.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
TomTom 7 available here you only gey a free base map and there are no voices "you can downlaod a voice for free from TomTom on handset" then if you like you can buy the maps pretty cheap UK & Ireland £30, so one hell of a saving.
Hope this helps.

I know you siad free ,the free programs are not bad but they do not even compare to the ones you pay for. I have been using this for several years now,I travel a lot and they are very good about updates .
iGuidance 2009 Laptop & UMPC/Car PC Edition
http://www.inavcorp.com/product/navigation/iguidance_pc.php
screen shots
http://www.inavcorp.com/product/gallery/iguidance_gallery.php
I did get a good discount with my member ship at aximsite.com

Google maps is not a GPS

thebats said:
Google maps is not a GPS
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Google Maps does use GPS. It just doesn't work out routes for you and tell you where to turn left/right etc.

my vote goes for iGO8. Works very well on my kasier

dancj said:
Google Maps does use GPS. It just doesn't work out routes for you and tell you where to turn left/right etc.
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Click to collapse
Oh yes it does.
It won't SPEAK the directions, but it most certainly does compute turn-by-turn driving directions. You have to "advance" to the next turn by hand (pushing the button) and it doesn't talk, but it does and will compute routes and use the internal GPS.
Its also more complete and up to date than the "packaged" solutions out there in my experience.
The disadvantage is that it requires an active data connection where the "prepackaged" stuff with the maps on an SD card do not.

Mines goes to igo8 also,
it may or may not be free, unless you look for it...
but its probably the best GPS software ive used. Its feature packed and super smooth on the kaiser.
Google maps would be nice if we can download the maps and keep them in sync through alternative data connections maybe in another year or so...

It depends with your country and the map also,.
i live in indonesia - surabaya, and the only map for surabaya that best is in ".img" so thats why i use Garmin Mobile XT and sometime Navitel, both are great,.
but if you want a better menu display, just try iGO,.

all cant be free, unless you unlock it,.

So what ones dont need a active data connection? I know google maps needs a connection but i need the maps on my device.

CoPilot Live 7 for me, worked fine on Kaiser.

Gmaps most certainly does tell you when to turn etc. No it doesnt have an annoying female voice that says it, but it pops up on the screen. Works great for me, hell w/ street view, sometimes when we cant find an address at work, we just hit street view and look at the front of the building.
You mentioned something about connection: If your not paying for data your not really using your tilt anyway.

Can't believe nobody has mentioned windows live search mobile. This is one of my favorite apps and does a lot more than just gps-enabled turn by turn directions.
I highly recommend it. It's no TomTom, but it's free and it does the job.

I will second the comment about Microsoft Live Search. They actually got something right! It's a very convenient program. I don't believe it speaks directions but it does do the turn by turn directions very well.
I personally use iGuidance on an iPaq for long travel navigation but it isn't as user friendly as Live Search which is what I use in a pinch and to get a second opinion on occasion. iGuidance you will have to pay for, and the mapping is very good and it will speak the directions as a normal GPS will do. But Live Search is very cool because you literally just say where you wanna go and it will look it up and take you right there. iGuidance also doesn't have very many Points of Interest but Live Search is full of POIs.
iGuidance will not require you to have a data connection but you will need a few GB of space to load all the maps. Live Search takes very little space but will require a Data Connection to download the maps as you go.
iGuidance ~ $100
Live Search = $0 (but need data connection)
Hope that helps!

shus said:
iGuidance will not require you to have a data connection but you will need a few GB of space to load all the maps. Live Search takes very little space but will require a Data Connection to download the maps as you go.
iGuidance ~ $100
Live Search = $0 (but need data connection)
Hope that helps!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you travel a lot, or in area that have very poor connections a dedicated GPS software is the only way to go.....
IG =$100 but good for several years and if you change devices you can install on them, IG space requirements will depend on how big of a map you want to load ,1 gig will do the whole U.S.
if you have a good size contact list, with IG you can pull up the contact and it will take you there...
Live search + $0 but it relies a decent connection , and if you are a heavy user of your data plan , well it could put you over your unlimited plan..another dowside , updates can get slow if your not in a G or e network..
IMO spend the money on a dedicated GPS software..on use live search as you need it...

http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/BSGPSPDA

NoNafs said:
http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/BSGPSPDA
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Does that actually work for you? When I tried it, it always stalled trying to download the maps.
Plus it's nowhere as good as Google Maps or Live and basically the same function (downloads maps, shows your position).

Unfortunately, I'm currently seperated from my Kaiser so I haven't been able to try it. But, being overseas my options are limited, and Google Maps and Windows Mobile Live doesn't cut it. Christian72D has had a lot of success with this program though:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=452765

Free and working
Did you ever try NAV4ALL? It's totally free and works in a decent way too. It doesn't have the easiest interface of this world but it does work.
http://www.nav4all.com/
Enjoy.