Navigon for iPhone Review
Navigon for iPhone Review
For the past 6 years, I have used the GPS navigation built into my car for everything from finding my way to determining the location of the nearest gas station. Whenever asked the question “Do you prefer built-in or stand along GPS systems?”, my answer was invariably “Built-in”. Then about 2 years ago, I started to find myself more and more in need of GPS when I wasn’t in my personal vehicle, and the idea of having a separate GPS unit started to appeal to me. There are plenty of products on the market today that offer a good turn-by-turn navigation experience, but what if you want something that is integrated with your phone? Until recently, Windows Mobile has been the primary operating system used by software developers. However, with the proliferation of the iPhone, and now with the 3G and 3GS versions with built-in GPS, it was only a matter of time before personal navigation software came to Apple’s flagship device. EnterNavigon, and the release of MobileNavigator for the iPhone. This software brings the turn by turn simplicity of a stand alone system, right to the iPhone you already have in your pocket. The application is available for purchase through theiTunes application store for $69.99 until August 15th, 2009, and will then increase to $99.99. Thanks to Navigon for supplying The Cell Phone Junkie with this software for review. More information about Navigon, and MobileNavigator at www.navigon.com.
About Navigon
NAVIGON AG is a world-leading manufacturer of navigation systems. With its own portable navigation systems, NAVIGON stands for high-quality GPS navigation on pocket PCs, PNDs and mobile phones. NAVIGON also provides professional navigation solutions such as driver-assistance features for the automotive OEM market. NAVIGON was founded in 1991, and employs over 400 workers in locations in Asia, Europe and North America.
Features and Functions
- 2D and 3D map displays
- Can be used in portrait and landscape format
- Precise voice announcements
- Intelligent address entry
- Reality View Pro (realistic display of motorway interchanges and exits)
- Lane Assistant Pro
- Real signpost display
- Speed Assistant with adjustable audio-visual warning
- Day and night mode for map display
- Direct access and navigation to contacts saved in the iPhone’s address book
- The latest NAVTEQ map material including more than two million (EU version) places of interest (POIs)
- Navigation is automatically resumed after an incoming phone call
- Quick access to user-defined POIs in the area and along the route
- Take Me Home function with a single click
- Automatic language selection to match the iPhone’s user language
Around the Application
Once you download the application from the iTunes store, you’ll notice something, the file is 1.3GB! One of the trade-offs for having navigation on your device without the need for an Internet connection is that you will need a lot of space to store all those maps. The download from Apple will take anywhere for 15 minutes to a couple hours depending on your connection speed. Keep this in mind when clicking the “Buy” button.
Like any other application for the iPhone, simplicity is key. Upon launch, you are greeted with a screen of 4 main options, plus 4 additional tabs.
First, you can choose to enter an address. This is done by entering the City, Street, then number. It then renders a map of the location, and you can choosewhether then to start navigation, or save the location.
Second, choose to search for Points of Interest (POI’s).
These can also include pre-selected ones such as gas stations, very handy when you’re in an unfamiliar area.
Third, choose the “Take Me Home” function and you will be routed from your current location to the address that you set as your home.
Finally, simply choose to show the map of your location. It shows a 3D view, but can be switched to birds-eye if preferred.
Under the tabs, you’ll first find favorites. I love using these saved points for places that I often visit, but can never seem to remember exactly how to get there.
Also, a basic recent list shows you places you’ve routed yourself recently.
Lastly, a Contacts tab that uses your address book to find a person and route yourself to the address saved as their location.
Of course with most applications, there is also an options menu, which allows for a certain level of personalization.
One of the unique features ofMobileNavigator that I haven’t seen in other GPS software, is the warning system that informs the user if they are exceeding the posted speed limit.
Navigation and real world use
After you’ve determined what you’re going to do, the app will present you with the map, and of course, your path. The GPS takes just a few seconds to obtain a signal, and then you’re off and running. Accuracy is quite good, and I never had much problem with the software finding me within about 10 seconds. If you plan on using this as a full-time navigation replacement, you can easily do so without much trepidation. The only recommendation is to have some sort of power source to keep your phone charged. Using the iPhone 3GS for this review, the application drained my battery about 25% every 40 minutes. Also, a nice feature is the ability to use the phone in either portrait or landscape mode. Depending on how you choose to mount the phone, this can nicely take advantage of the screen real estate.
Overall
Being in the pole position for the iPhone on-device navigation market gives Navigon an edge over its competition. After the last 2 weeks of using the software as my sole form of navigation, I have no hesitations about recommending it for purchase. However, keep in mind that due to limitations by Apple, you won’t be able to run other 3rd party applications at the same time as you use this software, so you’ll have to quit navigating before you can do anything else.
It’s look like GPS base?
Mickey, nice review. Would you like to test Sygic for iPhone as well?
Good review. I bought this about 2 weeks ago since I was going to Cape Cod on vacation and had a very old Garmin map in my 2610 GPS unit. The software worked very well. Since I jailbroke my 3GS, I ran Backgrounder so was able to run this sofware at the same time as other applications.
Ralph,
Its true that if you use the backgrounder app on a jailbroken iPhone, this would work well. Since you’re doing it on the 3GS with the additional memory, you should have no problems!
Thanks for your experience.
I don’t find Navigon to be that useful. Almost everytime I have used it, it froze enroute. The arrow would stop on the highway and I would have to exit and re-enter for it to continue. Often I have gone to Google-maps to get a bird’s eye view of where I was. I used to have Tom-Tom on my BB and I found it excellent. Haven’t used TT on the iPhone though.
I read that Google might be modyfying their Google Maps for iPhone, and if so, that would be the killer app.
I cannot recommend Navigon.