Comparing satnavs

[sagart]

Now that Google and Nokia are providing satnav on their phones, PCPro August 2010 has a very intersting comparison of these and others against a dedicated TomTom unit

 

[Talbot Bertha]

I have a Nokia 5800 with the Ovi Maps software on, But the problem i find with it as with most mobile phones is the screen size, Ok if its on a iphone or the new Dell Streak then the larger screen sorts this, The good thing about satnav on a mobile is that it can connect to the internet easier to update traffic info etc (Bear in mind a good data plan is required). With a Tomtom you have to connect it to your mobile phone via bluetooth then it can update itself. Nokia maps offers free updates to the software and maps , tomtom requires you to buy the maps.
I think that with all satnav solutions is what you the end user is happy with, If you use your mobile then its one less device to carry about, But a dedicated satnav usually has more functions and im not sure if you can download custom poi files for Ovi Maps.

 

[Deleted member 9215]

i have an iphone the google maps are web based so you need a connection ,
or you can buy tomtom for it or another stand alone app for it.
if you use the google maps outside the uk it will cost a fortune as it will use a lot of data


dunk

 

[Canalsman]

Dedicated satnav devices offer the best POI support.

But beware - TomTom is making its newer models much less flexible, and some do not allow the installation of POI files ...

 

[sagart]

I use an HTC Touch Pro which has a decent screen size and runs off a Usb lighter plug.
Advantage I find with CoPilot is that the maps are installed on the phone and with the built in Gps. no data plan is needed.
Helpful up here where mobile reception is very patchy

 

[nichodia]

I use the t mobile mda compact 111, with tom tom navigator 6, It has a built in reciever. I have compared my 'tom tom' with my daughters stand alone unit and there are no differences at all (it runs of a micro sd card). I prefer the functionality of the tom tom over the navman unit that I also own (but never use).
Nichodia

 

[NicknClair]

Going to France end of July and testing SmartNav's new system with colour Touch screen (Taking back-up Pioneer S2 just in case ). So far - Unit is working very well and find it bliss talking to a human on the end of a phone line when entering in information (inc GPS positions). Also like the fact that the Traffic management data is the most accurate, as Trafficmaster is mainly responsible for obtaining the data. Also the fact that the mapping is alway up to date.
Smartnav New

Will post my findings once back from France.

 

[Talbot Bertha]

Dedicated satnav devices offer the best POI support.

But beware - TomTom is making its newer models much less flexible, and some do not allow the installation of POI files ...

I own one of the first generation tomtom one's and can create poi files and add to them via the unit,(i can do the same on the ipaq with tomtom navigator on that i use for work), However i have noticed that with the newer tomtom ones you cant create poi's at all (The 'manage poi's ' function is missing.) you can still install poi's via the home software but what good is that if you want to create a custom one.
So it's either create a load of favourites (limited number) or buy an older second hand unit.

 

[biggirafe]

With a Tomtom you have to connect it to your mobile phone via bluetooth then it can update itself. .

TomTom's now use an RDS arial and connect to the same RDS signal that you have on your radio. Its a one off payment of about £50 for the ariel but you never have to pay again. It works very well and has got me around countless blocked and slow roads