[Lidtop2013]

As title I've just help my sis get a half decent phone for her budget, all she wants it for is Facebook/sat nav, so I sorted her a phone but its on android so I've no idea of the best free sat navs? Or is the standard built in google maps good enough? What's best?

[psionic]

Google is good enough if you have an internet connection. Otherwise you could have a look at NavFree. https://play.google.com/store/apps/d....OSM.ALL&hl=en

[dezire]

Originally Posted by Lidtop2013

As title I've just help my sis get a half decent phone for her budget, all she wants it for is Facebook/sat nav, so I sorted her a phone but its on android so I've no idea of the best free sat navs? Or is the standard built in google maps good enough? What's best?

Google maps. It does the job very well.

[Rodney McKay]

Originally Posted by psionic

Google is good enough if you have an internet connection. Otherwise you could have a look at NavFree. https://play.google.com/store/apps/d....OSM.ALL&hl=en

Navfree is good.

[dezire]

I would recommend installing this app - it will overlay all the speed limits and cameras on the road on Google Maps....it's free to download with the latest database, but you can subscribe to have updates - I don't see the point in subscribing as there are no new speed camera being installed as far as I know.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/d...W1lcmFsZXJ0Il0.

[Lidtop2013]

Nice one guys will pass the info on

[c4rv]

google maps is free and online so its always up to date and free traffic info as well. They have made a lot of improvements with the routing over the last year or so including routing based on existing traffic conditions.

The POI is by far the best I have come across, it integrates with google search so for example if you give a business name it will find the closest location or you can tell it which town to find that business in.

Of course its voice controlled if you want as well.

The only downside I have found is that it does not auto re-route if it finds traffic while you are driving but you can easily manually get it to re-route.

[nafanny29]

Google maps is the biz, really does find the quickest route taking into account the traffic etc. Navfree is OK, but routing can be dodgy sometimes and doesnt monitor the traffic at all.

[twogunthom]

You gave her a bum steer, you should have got her a Nokia Lumia 800, then she would already have the best free satnav available and a right nice phone toboot.

[Lidtop2013]

I don't think you could get a lumia 800 for £100

[Aarghawasp!]

I've used Google maps as a passenger, can you make it talk like a satnav for when you're driving?

[twogunthom]

Originally Posted by Aarghawasp!

I've used Google maps as a passenger, can you make it talk like a satnav for when you're driving?

I know you can with the Nokias and it really is free

[whoever,hey]

Originally Posted by twogunthom

I know you can with the Nokias and it really is free

Google Navigator speaks directions as well and is really free.

[call100]

Originally Posted by Aarghawasp!

I've used Google maps as a passenger, can you make it talk like a satnav for when you're driving?

Yes, Search for the place you want to go to, tap the pin for directions and when you have the map with directions just tap the paper aeroplane like button at the bottom and it will take you to navigation.......Or, go to the Navigation app, it uses google maps, just search for your location.
All this assumes you are using Android....
You can get different voices for it as well...

[c4rv]

Originally Posted by twogunthom

You gave her a bum steer, you should have got her a Nokia Lumia 800, then she would already have the best free satnav available and a right nice phone toboot.

does it provide free traffic updates, always have the latest maps, always have the latest POI, does it link to street view, link to google search, can you program it via your desktop PC, does it remember your favourite routes and give you the latest traffic info for them, does it know where you are likely to be going at any time of the day or day of the week and offer that as first choice ?

[finbaar]

One feature the Google have nailed is that you can be searching for a particlar place on your laptop and when you leave the house the card is there on your phone ready to give you directions.

[whoever,hey]

Originally Posted by finbaar

One feature the Google have nailed is that you can be searching for a particlar place on your laptop and when you leave the house the card is there on your phone ready to give you directions.

Or you've googled for restaurants in the past and when you are near it they pop up.

[niceguy1966]

Originally Posted by psionic

Google is good enough if you have an internet connection. Otherwise you could have a look at NavFree. https://play.google.com/store/apps/d....OSM.ALL&hl=en

NavFree is good, but Google's own navigation is getting better all the time. I agree with others that the addition of traffic info and knowing where you've searched for on your laptop are really great features.

It really depends if you are trying to keep down your data usage or not. NavFree works even with data turned off (use WiFi to use the integrated Google Search for your destination, add to favorites, and no more data is needed after you leave the house).

[c4rv]

Originally Posted by niceguy1966

NavFree is good, but Google's own navigation is getting better all the time. I agree with others that the addition of traffic info and knowing where you've searched for on your laptop are really great features.

It really depends if you are trying to keep down your data usage or not. NavFree works even with data turned off (use WiFi to use the integrated Google Search for your destination, add to favorites, and no more data is needed after you leave the house).

I agree, but I would add that data usage really is not that big. I did a 7 day, 1,000 mile trip from SE of england up to Scotland and back and google maps used less then 50mb of data for the whole trip. And this was without pre-loading any maps.

[niceguy1966]

Originally Posted by c4rv

I agree, but I would add that data usage really is not that big. I did a 7 day, 1,000 mile trip from SE of england up to Scotland and back and google maps used less then 50mb of data for the whole trip. And this was without pre-loading any maps.

It all depends on your tariff. That's a big chunck if you're on a 250MB a month plan.

[IvanIV]

Originally Posted by Lidtop2013

I don't think you could get a lumia 800 for £100

I think Nokia just released their apps for all WP phones.

[JethroUK]

Originally Posted by Lidtop2013

As title I've just help my sis get a half decent phone for her budget, all she wants it for is Facebook/sat nav, so I sorted her a phone but its on android so I've no idea of the best free sat navs? Or is the standard built in google maps good enough? What's best?

stock Google Navigation works for me

I use it everyday

no maps to install or buy
don't even need to type in the destination just say it
get a nice pic of the destination pop up when I arrive

[c4rv]

Originally Posted by niceguy1966

It all depends on your tariff. That's a big chunck if you're on a 250MB a month plan.

I probably could have used less data if I had pre-cached the maps over wifi.

[call100]

Originally Posted by niceguy1966

It all depends on your tariff. That's a big chunck if you're on a 250MB a month plan.

Are there plans out there that actually give so little?...........Satnav doesn't use much data and as said, if you download the maps via wireless before leaving you will use even less.

[c4rv]

Originally Posted by call100

Are there plans out there that actually give so little?...........Satnav doesn't use much data and as said, if you download the maps via wireless before leaving you will use even less.

I am guessing 250mb could be from an old contract that has not expired yet.