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Pol · 10-28-2009, 05:04 PM

Garmin, TomTom Shares Sink On New Google Navigation Feature - WSJ.com

Google is building free map navigation into Android 2.0. It won't store the maps locally like Garmin, etc., but...it looks like the GPS navigation market in general is about to take a big price hit.

**eku Zhong** · 10-28-2009, 05:45 PM

we have had phones with GPS apps in japan for about 8 years now.
but still car gps sell well. the phone doesnt tell you how much you need at the next toll.. wont search for address via phone number.. nor much else..
GPS in cars are over rated anyway.. theyre irritating.. want to make you take the more expensive route... no use at all on a normal day .. because youre going somewhere you always go.. and only really are of use once in a blue moon.. once youve been somewhere once ... odds are youll find it on your own the next time.

if phone GPS gets better.. i just say YAY!

**Cristiano** · 10-28-2009, 06:15 PM

My cell phone has GPS service in it through Sprint, and the times I have used it, it was excellent. I have no need for a dedicated GPS device.

Harvey Swenson · 10-28-2009, 06:36 PM

I have a gps in my phone too and I love using it in the car, it's cool for checking my speed, warns about speed cameras and traffic problems, has a business directory built in which was really handy when I broke down in the middle of nowhere and needed a mechanic, it's hooked into my phone contacts too. I never thought I'd use a gps casually but I haven't used regular street directory for years.

Imnotgoing Sideways · 10-28-2009, 07:32 PM

iPhone... I ALWAYS find cool local restaurants where ever I'm at. Transit directions are near flawless too. (^_^)

For turn-by-turn, I have an old Garmin that "needed" a new map for the past two years, or so it tells me. (^_^)y

**Humps** · 10-28-2009, 07:39 PM

I thought Tom Tom was developing a GPS system for the i-phone? I keep waiting but have not heard anything yet.

I am hopeless when it comes to directions. I did not take the Sat Nav option when I bought my car. It was 2k extra and I can buy a TomTom unit for £300 or so. I got leather seats and a panoramic roof instead

I don't want to buy a seperate unit though if the i-phone app is due any time soon.

Pol · 10-28-2009, 08:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Humps

I thought Tom Tom was developing a GPS system for the i-phone? I keep waiting but have not heard anything yet.

You're right, I just checked and they have a US & Canada app...for $100.

Meanwhile, Google has said they would like to bring their free nav app to the iPhone as well. The more ad revenue, the merrier...

**Humps** · 10-28-2009, 08:59 PM

Well I just rushed off to check if it was out in the UK as well and ........it is

The app is £59.99 and will work as a standalone app. You can also buy the TomTom carkit from apple stores for £99 which connects the system to your in car radio and contains an extra GPS ariel in case you are in a low signal area.

My Iphone already connects to the car entertainment system via bluetooth and works flawlessly so I don't really need the car kit I don't think. Will try the app as a standalone first I think. You have to buy it anyway as it is not included in the price of the car kit. .....it does look quite snazzy tho....

Oh and I have been waiting for the opportunity to use the snipping tool since I got windows 7

**Humps** · 10-29-2009, 04:39 PM

I am wavering

Because I only need the app and not teh snazzy car kit above I checked out what else was available at the app store.

TomTom has it's fans even at £59.99 .... but the general concensus from the reviews is that version 1 was appalling with lots of lag. The latest version is much improved. BUT

...a better seller seems to be Co Pilot which at £26 is a hell of a lot cheaper. The reviews are really positive too.

Anyone have any experience with co-pilot? My instinct is to go with TomTom because they are a big name but I can't find any features that are not also included in the co pilot app. Maybe I am just being cheap

Harvey Swenson · 10-30-2009, 02:23 PM

I have a friend with co-pilot on windows mobile and he hates it and is always complaining he wants tomtom back. It's probably because he had tomtom for a few years before co-pilot though so I'm not sure if that really helps. Personally I quite like tomtom, and I have celebrity voices loaded into it and for the map pointer I have an image of my car. Might be worth wandering into an electronics store and checking out a couple of different ones to see what they feel like.

10-28-2009, 05:04 PM	#1 (permalink)
Pol Prim hair is for sissies. Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: the Davis Square neighborhood of Somerville, Massachusetts Posts: 686 My Mood: SL Join Date: December 18, 2003 Business: Habitabla	Is This the End for High-Priced GPS Units? Garmin, TomTom Shares Sink On New Google Navigation Feature - WSJ.com Google is building free map navigation into Android 2.0. It won't store the maps locally like Garmin, etc., but...it looks like the GPS navigation market in general is about to take a big price hit.

10-28-2009, 05:45 PM	#2 (permalink)
eku Zhong Rotisserie/Compulsive SLU Supporter caffienating Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: 田舎 Posts: 1,857 My Mood: Bistro Stars Champion! SLShopper Ads: 10 SL Join Date: 9/29/2007 Business: Apocalips Japan	we have had phones with GPS apps in japan for about 8 years now. but still car gps sell well. the phone doesnt tell you how much you need at the next toll.. wont search for address via phone number.. nor much else.. GPS in cars are over rated anyway.. theyre irritating.. want to make you take the more expensive route... no use at all on a normal day .. because youre going somewhere you always go.. and only really are of use once in a blue moon.. once youve been somewhere once ... odds are youll find it on your own the next time. if phone GPS gets better.. i just say YAY! __________________

10-28-2009, 07:32 PM	#5 (permalink)
Imnotgoing Sideways odious little volunteer vicious little nonentity Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Darkly Cute :: Ferguson Posts: 694 My Mood: SLShopper Ads: 1 SL Join Date: November, 2007 Business: Darkly Cute	iPhone... I ALWAYS find cool local restaurants where ever I'm at. Transit directions are near flawless too. (^_^) For turn-by-turn, I have an old Garmin that "needed" a new map for the past two years, or so it tells me. (^_^)y __________________ Somewhere in this world; there is someone having some good clean fun doing the one thing you hate the most. (^_^)y Darkly Cute :: Ferguson :: Glasses, Eyes, Gestures... Goth, Loli, Anime. (^_^)y http://slurl.com/secondlife/Ferguson/54/237/94 http://tinyurl.com/DarklyCute-SLX

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10-28-2009, 06:36 PM	#4 (permalink)
Harvey Swenson Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 946 My Mood: SL Join Date: 24th May 2006	I have a gps in my phone too and I love using it in the car, it's cool for checking my speed, warns about speed cameras and traffic problems, has a business directory built in which was really handy when I broke down in the middle of nowhere and needed a mechanic, it's hooked into my phone contacts too. I never thought I'd use a gps casually but I haven't used regular street directory for years.

10-28-2009, 07:39 PM	#6 (permalink)
Humps Senior Member SLU Supporter I refuse to edit my status Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: UK Posts: 2,353 My Mood: SL Join Date: 19th May 2006 XBOX Leaderboard: 31^st Awards: 1	I thought Tom Tom was developing a GPS system for the i-phone? I keep waiting but have not heard anything yet. I am hopeless when it comes to directions. I did not take the Sat Nav option when I bought my car. It was 2k extra and I can buy a TomTom unit for £300 or so. I got leather seats and a panoramic roof instead I don't want to buy a seperate unit though if the i-phone app is due any time soon.

10-28-2009, 08:59 PM	#8 (permalink)
Humps Senior Member SLU Supporter I refuse to edit my status Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: UK Posts: 2,353 My Mood: SL Join Date: 19th May 2006 XBOX Leaderboard: 31^st Awards: 1	Well I just rushed off to check if it was out in the UK as well and ........it is The app is £59.99 and will work as a standalone app. You can also buy the TomTom carkit from apple stores for £99 which connects the system to your in car radio and contains an extra GPS ariel in case you are in a low signal area. My Iphone already connects to the car entertainment system via bluetooth and works flawlessly so I don't really need the car kit I don't think. Will try the app as a standalone first I think. You have to buy it anyway as it is not included in the price of the car kit. .....it does look quite snazzy tho.... Oh and I have been waiting for the opportunity to use the snipping tool since I got windows 7

10-29-2009, 04:39 PM	#9 (permalink)
Humps Senior Member SLU Supporter I refuse to edit my status Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: UK Posts: 2,353 My Mood: SL Join Date: 19th May 2006 XBOX Leaderboard: 31^st Awards: 1	I am wavering Because I only need the app and not teh snazzy car kit above I checked out what else was available at the app store. TomTom has it's fans even at £59.99 .... but the general concensus from the reviews is that version 1 was appalling with lots of lag. The latest version is much improved. BUT ...a better seller seems to be Co Pilot which at £26 is a hell of a lot cheaper. The reviews are really positive too. Anyone have any experience with co-pilot? My instinct is to go with TomTom because they are a big name but I can't find any features that are not also included in the co pilot app. Maybe I am just being cheap

10-30-2009, 02:23 PM	#10 (permalink)
Harvey Swenson Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 946 My Mood: SL Join Date: 24th May 2006	I have a friend with co-pilot on windows mobile and he hates it and is always complaining he wants tomtom back. It's probably because he had tomtom for a few years before co-pilot though so I'm not sure if that really helps. Personally I quite like tomtom, and I have celebrity voices loaded into it and for the map pointer I have an image of my car. Might be worth wandering into an electronics store and checking out a couple of different ones to see what they feel like.

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