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Android Sat Nav app |
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#1 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 708
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Android Sat Nav app
I have a Nexus 5 and I want to get a Sat Nav app for it, to use instead of shelling out for a Tom Tom or Garmin or a built in device in a new car that I am looking into buying, can anybody recommend any?
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#2 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: North Ayrshire
Posts: 11,399
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you can use the built-in google maps for sat nav. it's free.
if you must buy an app though then co-pilot live was pretty good. |
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#3 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 708
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Quote:
you can use the built-in google maps for sat nav. it's free.
if you must buy an app though then co-pilot live was pretty good. |
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#4 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: North Ayrshire
Posts: 11,399
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Quote:
Thanks, I read some reviews that said that Google Maps was not very accurate, I also read a review of Co-pilot Live that said it was the best but also some user reviews who said it wasn't very good at all.
google maps is as accurate as any other map source. |
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#5 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 3,993
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Quote:
Thanks, I read some reviews that said that Google Maps was not very accurate, I also read a review of Co-pilot Live that said it was the best but also some user reviews who said it wasn't very good at all.
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#6 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 708
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Quote:
Co-Pilot isn't the best, but it is usable and reasonably inexpensive. The best satnav IMO, is TomTom, and it works well on a decent spec Android handset.
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#7 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 106
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Quote:
Thanks, I'm not too worried about cost as any app is going to be cheaper than a physical unit, I want the best available. I realise that an actual sat nav device is probably going to more accurate than an app but I can make do with an app I think.
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#8 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: North Derbyshire
Posts: 41,792
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Quote:
I'm sure a standalone TomTom device uses the exact same maps as the Android/iOS app. Google Maps has rarely failed me when it comes to directions, prefer using Google Maps to any other SatNav app, just make sure you have 3G data!
![]() Co-pilot has the HUGE advantage that you can download the maps to the phone, so no phone coverage isn't a problem. |
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#9 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 708
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Quote:
I'm sure a standalone TomTom device uses the exact same maps as the Android/iOS app. Google Maps has rarely failed me when it comes to directions, prefer using Google Maps to any other SatNav app, just make sure you have 3G data!
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#10 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Leeds
Posts: 113
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I use Sygic. Downloadable maps so you don't need a data connection.
Free speed cameras. One off payment purchase. Improving all the time |
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#11 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 3,993
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Quote:
Thanks, I'm not too worried about cost as any app is going to be cheaper than a physical unit, I want the best available. I realise that an actual sat nav device is probably going to more accurate than an app but I can make do with an app I think.
Quote:
Now there's a problem I hadn't thought of, my Nexus 5 is Pay As You Go.
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#12 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: North Ayrshire
Posts: 11,399
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Quote:
Thanks, I'm not too worried about cost as any app is going to be cheaper than a physical unit,
a basic standalone tomtom (or equivalent) might be cheaper than some satnav apps. |
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#13 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: May 2005
Location: wisbech, cambs / norfolk
Posts: 3,834
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I've an app called Navigator on my phone and tablet. It's good enough for me not to look at paid apps, and it downloads maps to SD memory so doesn't use your data allowance in use.
Be aware that having the Android device GPS receivers active sucks battery, though I understand even dedicated sat-nav devices suffer similarly. |
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#14 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 6,288
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Quote:
And make sure you are always in an area where there's phone coverage
![]() Co-pilot has the HUGE advantage that you can download the maps to the phone, so no phone coverage isn't a problem. Look exactly like TomTom, gives nice clear directions and is free!!! CoPilot is free for route planning but needed £17 or so last time I looked to unlock its turn-by-turn navigation. TomTom is quite expensive and did not seem as good in App form as their dedicated units last time I looked. |
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#15 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 494
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NavFree
dont bother paying for something that this app delivers for nothing |
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#16 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: London
Posts: 1,242
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I've never had any problems with Google Maps Navigation, and you can also pre-download large sections of the map too.
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#17 |
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Inactive Member
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 51
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I've used 3 of the the ones mentioned here, Google maps, Co pilot and sygic. They all are perfectly fine sat navs. Only thing missing from Google nav is speed cameras. I like the maps on sygic but the act of putting in an destination could be improved a lot. The best for me is Co pilot and its the one that I find myself going back to more often than not
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#18 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 3,665
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Been using this for ages, no issues with it.
https://www.waze.com/ Google own and back it. From what i remember, it was somebody else who 1st owned it. Google bought them out, but have let them still run it how they want. It uses google maps. http://thenextweb.com/apps/2014/06/1...cation-option/ https://play.google.com/store/apps/d....waze&hl=en_GB |
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#19 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Pompey
Posts: 1,068
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Quote:
Been using this for ages, no issues with it.
https://www.waze.com/ Google own and back it. From what i remember, it was somebody else who 1st owned it. Google bought them out, but have let them still run it how they want. It uses google maps. http://thenextweb.com/apps/2014/06/1...cation-option/ https://play.google.com/store/apps/d....waze&hl=en_GB |
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#20 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 708
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Thanks for all the suggestions so far, I have just installed Waze to try it out and I notice that it's not very accurate, there's a Ford dealer in my town that I am visiting today, about 6 months ago they moved location but stayed on the same road, both on Google Maps and Waze it is shown as being in it's old location. If the maps are that out of date that is not very good really.
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#21 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 21,646
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Quote:
Thanks for all the suggestions so far, I have just installed Waze to try it out and I notice that it's not very accurate, there's a Ford dealer in my town that I am visiting today, about 6 months ago they moved location but stayed on the same road, both on Google Maps and Waze it is shown as being in it's old location. If the maps are that out of date that is not very good really.
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#22 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 3,665
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Quote:
Thanks for all the suggestions so far, I have just installed Waze to try it out and I notice that it's not very accurate, there's a Ford dealer in my town that I am visiting today, about 6 months ago they moved location but stayed on the same road, both on Google Maps and Waze it is shown as being in it's old location. If the maps are that out of date that is not very good really.
I think you need to assess exactly what you expect a sat nav to achieve for you. You can update the waze map info yourself if you want. This will also help others. If nobody tells google how are they suppose to know. |
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#23 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 647
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I have tested Google Maps on my phone against the TomTom device, while driving, and Google Maps matched the tom tom for speed of turn by turn navigation, and lane guidance - Google Maps suggested some slightly different routes than the TomTom, and I think this is because my TomTom has IQ routes (analyses routes to determine which is fastest at that particular time of day) and Google Maps doesn't, but that is hardly a deal breaker. I dont know also if you can look for alternative routes with Google Maps if you dont like the sound of the one it suggests, which you can do with TomTom. I think TomTom is a bit easier too as I am so used to following the green line ahead on it, which is slightly harder to do on Google Maps given the default view (which can probably be changed). My TomTom has mysteriously died in the last 2 weeks, so I am stuck with Google Maps now anyway. NEVER had a problem with Google Maps not getting, or losing, a data connection, even while driving out in the countryside.
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#24 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Sheffield
Posts: 1,568
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I use Google maps and waze. Normally use waze when I'm likely to be driving at busy times because their traffic data is good but that is incorporated into google maps now as well and I think Google business and places of interest data base to be as good as anyone else.
What I like about Google maps is Street view and satellite images. If I'm going to a town or city i know very little about and need to look for a car park then it's very easy to visually see one from above and pin it. |
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#25 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Portsmouth
Posts: 455
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Wave app looks interesting, never heard of this before
Keeps asking for phone number, why does it want that? What does login give you, do not want any facebook or twitter rubbish, is that what it is for? Is there no demo route function? How do you listen to the different voices, can select them but not test them? Also, where do they get the maps from? |
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