Good grief is there GPS map software for android that doesn't suck?

[KDOG]

I have a Samsung Galaxy Tab 7 Plus that I would like to use as a kick ass GPS unit when needed but pretty much all the GPS software packages are either terrible or prohibitively expensive. I've tried Sygic, I've tried the Google Maps pre-caching (thats the WORST). So what are you using on your Android tablet for GPS that works good?

 

[ponyo]

I use Google Maps. Works fine for me.

 

[cronos]

Google Maps + Google Navigation have always worked perfectly for me.

I've shared this experience here before, but last summer we went on a trip to some remote area where I barely got Edge signal throughout and Google Maps guided us without a problem. I didn't even know that Google Maps had pre-caching at that time so I was really surprised when it updated the location and route as soon as it received connection and I never felt 'lost' at any point.

 

[frozentundra123456]

I am trying to find one too. I just downloaded Sygic and I hate it. I am using the free trial, but the interface is terrible. And the map seem to show things in the wrong spot or missing altogether. No way I would trust this. Google nav seems to work when I have wifi, but not without it.

Is the GPS better on smart phones?

 

[Jinny]

igo?

 

[sjwaste]

I am trying to find one too. I just downloaded Sygic and I hate it. I am using the free trial, but the interface is terrible. And the map seem to show things in the wrong spot or missing altogether. No way I would trust this. Google nav seems to work when I have wifi, but not without it.

Is the GPS better on smart phones?

Sygic is horrendous. Just delete that now and move on. I had gotten that one when we were going to Italy and I wasn't going to have data, for navigating (walking) around some of the cities. I'm pretty sure I deleted it on day 1. At the time I had a CDMA phone so just getting a SIM wasn't an option, before anyone asks.

Google Maps with caching is good as long as you don't need navigation/routing. Last time I tried it, it would show you a cached map, but would not route you without data service. That was fine for me since I just needed to see a map.

 

[gorcorps]

What's "prohibitively expensive" to you? Because the best GPS app I ever had for the iphone was Navigon, and that wasn't cheap but completely worth it. You pay for quality.

 

[deputc26]

use oruxmaps for everything but car navigation

 

[WelshBloke]

I use copilot live premium and am very pleased with it (I'm in the UK though, I don't know if the US version is different).

 

[AyashiKaibutsu]

I almost neverr had issues with Google navigate and I use it all the time.

 

[dagamer34]

Inaccurate maps will eventually cost you more in gas than what you paid for the app.

 

[Bateluer]

If there's a data connection, the Google Maps cannot be beat.

 

[ilkhan]

Tether to your phone and use GMaps if updates/connectivity are your issue.

 

[obidamnkenobi]

Is google maps GPS on the phone better or worse (i.e. slower or faster) than a dedicated GPS unit? Time to acquire satellites, accuracy etc?

My Garmin was 4-5 years old and pretty crappy so I got a brand spanking new TomTom.. Doesn't seem like hardware or software is that improved. It just has to show a map and track me; does it really need to be that slow, unresponsive etc? Yes it was just $100, but really? My ipod touch is 2+ years old and scrolling around a map on this is hundred times better. I though about finally getting a smartphone since my GPS, phone and ipod are all old and/or dying, but decided against it. So far not thrilled with seeing zero improvement in GPS hardware in the last 5 years..

 

[alent1234]

its worse

the hardware GPS units store the maps locally. google maps is always going to the cloud to load new map tiles. no signal, no new maps

 

[A5]

If you drive into the boonies on a regular basis, then Google Maps Nav is not the right solution.

For almost anything else, it is more than good enough for the price if you already have an Android phone anyway. I don't think it is the clinching feature if the other stuff on smartphones hasn't sold you yet, though. Paying $2K+ for a phone and contract isn't worth it over a $100 GPS and a $1K dumbphone contract.

 

[obidamnkenobi]

ok, good to know. Thanks.

No, i'm not sold on the need for a smarphone, at least not for the price, and sounds like GPS is not going to change that. Like you said I went with a $100 GPS and my current dumbphone, just a bit surprised how lame GPS units still are..

 

[gsaldivar]

Google Maps + Google Navigation have always worked perfectly for me.

This. :thumbsup:

 

[ImDonly1]

I use Navigon on the iPhone. Works good so far, but haven't used it that much.
I had CoPilot Live on Android, but never really used it. Not sure how good it is.

Navigon is pricey, not sure I'd pay full price for it.

 

[wirednuts]

copiolt live is what ive been looking at. i dont think ive even seen a bad review for it, people seem to love it

 

[upsdriver]

Is google maps GPS on the phone better or worse (i.e. slower or faster) than a dedicated GPS unit? Time to acquire satellites, accuracy etc?

My Garmin was 4-5 years old and pretty crappy so I got a brand spanking new TomTom.. Doesn't seem like hardware or software is that improved. It just has to show a map and track me; does it really need to be that slow, unresponsive etc? Yes it was just $100, but really? My ipod touch is 2+ years old and scrolling around a map on this is hundred times better. I though about finally getting a smartphone since my GPS, phone and ipod are all old and/or dying, but decided against it. So far not thrilled with seeing zero improvement in GPS hardware in the last 5 years..

It's much better unless you don't have a data connection. I had a similar experience with you when I recently used a ~$150 Tomtom. The UI was unintuitive and slow. Now I use google maps/nav on a Galaxy Nexus and will never go back to a standalone unit. I can usually get a GPS signal within 30 seconds, or even faster if I reset the GPS cache and download satellite location data (takes about 10 seconds total).

 

[frozentundra123456]

copiolt live is what ive been looking at. i dont think ive even seen a bad review for it, people seem to love it

I bought copilot live, and have mixed feelings about it. I like that the maps are downloaded and dont require a data connection. I am using it for my tablet which does not have 3G. It is really nice to just be able to pull up the map anywhere, without a connection, and not for GPS, just to look at the map.

I dont really like the interface that well though, or maybe I am just not using it properly. If I am wrong, I apologize, as I may not have figured out how to use it. But I have not found a way to type in the starting address. You have to rely on the GPS to be the starting address, and entering the ending address is cumbersome as well. You have to type the state, enter it, then the street,enter it, then the number and enter that. and it does not seem to recognize a landmark as a valid destination most of the time either. Maybe all GPS is this way, but the GPS on my daughters phone will accept landmarks as valid destinations.

I have been practicing using it in my local area, and it will get you to your destination, but usually not by the way of the most efficient route, and does not seem to update for road construction, restricted turns, etc. For instance tonight, it told me to turn left on a major road, but when I get there, what do I see? A big "NO LEFT TURN" sign.

On the plus side, it does work without a data connection. It also updates itself continuously if you go off the suggested route. So I see that it could be useful in an unfamiliar area, I think it would definitely help you eventually reach your destination. I guess the main problem now is that I still have not learned to trust it enough to use in an unfamiliar area, but at least you could look at the map manually.

 

[WelshBloke]

I bought copilot live, and have mixed feelings about it. I like that the maps are downloaded and dont require a data connection. I am using it for my tablet which does not have 3G. It is really nice to just be able to pull up the map anywhere, without a connection, and not for GPS, just to look at the map.

I dont really like the interface that well though, or maybe I am just not using it properly. If I am wrong, I apologize, as I may not have figured out how to use it. But I have not found a way to type in the starting address. You have to rely on the GPS to be the starting address, and entering the ending address is cumbersome as well. You have to type the state, enter it, then the street,enter it, then the number and enter that. and it does not seem to recognize a landmark as a valid destination most of the time either. Maybe all GPS is this way, but the GPS on my daughters phone will accept landmarks as valid destinations.

I have been practicing using it in my local area, and it will get you to your destination, but usually not by the way of the most efficient route, and does not seem to update for road construction, restricted turns, etc. For instance tonight, it told me to turn left on a major road, but when I get there, what do I see? A big "NO LEFT TURN" sign.

On the plus side, it does work without a data connection. It also updates itself continuously if you go off the suggested route. So I see that it could be useful in an unfamiliar area, I think it would definitely help you eventually reach your destination. I guess the main problem now is that I still have not learned to trust it enough to use in an unfamiliar area, but at least you could look at the map manually.

You can select a starting point in the plan routes tab. I've never really seen the point of it though. I've never wanted to navigate from somewhere I'm not.

I've got the European version and it's got bing search and wiki search for landmarks as well as the general POI search.

 

[gorcorps]

ok, good to know. Thanks.

No, i'm not sold on the need for a smarphone, at least not for the price, and sounds like GPS is not going to change that. Like you said I went with a $100 GPS and my current dumbphone, just a bit surprised how lame GPS units still are..

IMO phones will always be less than stellar if they stick with the aGPS chips. I'm sure there's a reason for it, but why can't they use something more like a TomTom gps?

 

[WelshBloke]

IMO phones will always be less than stellar if they stick with the aGPS chips. I'm sure there's a reason for it, but why can't they use something more like a TomTom gps?

What? You know what aGPS is?

Edit : Sorry, didn't mean to sound so blunt.