[rolandnfestus]

which is better garmin on the berry 8300 or telenav i can get the garmin through Alltel for 25% off or $75 for a year or telenav for $99.

or should I buy a gps and pay for it once?

but which service is better. any input would be appreciated.

[John Clark]

I've not used the Garmin but I use TeleNav all the time and I like it even better than my nav system in my new 08 Odyssey.

[dualsub2006]

Originally Posted by rolandnfestus

which is better garmin on the berry 8300 or telenav i can get the garmin through Alltel for 25% off or $75 for a year or telenav for $99.

or should I buy a gps and pay for it once?

but which service is better. any input would be appreciated.

I like TomTom GPS devices. I don't think that GPS is something that should come with a monthly fee. Besides that, any standalone GPS will give you more features.

[MBW]

I am using both TeleNav 5.5 (aka AT&T Navigator) and the next generation (not yet released) of Garmin. Both are good, Garmin slightly simpler, TeleNav slightly more feature-packed. If your purchase includes an upgrade (I think TeleNav in the wild is at 5.1), I might go for TeleNav, though either is quite good. The new version of Garmin is a lot like Nuvi on a handset. And you might want to check into your total cost of operation - in 5 years, after chaging handsets twice, what will either one end up costing you?

[CasyCasy]

Originally Posted by MBW

I am using both TeleNav 5.5 (aka AT&T Navigator) and the next generation (not yet released) of Garmin. Both are good, Garmin slightly simpler, TeleNav slightly more feature-packed. If your purchase includes an upgrade (I think TeleNav in the wild is at 5.1), I might go for TeleNav, though either is quite good. The new version of Garmin is a lot like Nuvi on a handset. And you might want to check into your total cost of operation - in 5 years, after chaging handsets twice, what will either one end up costing you?

I have Verizon and their Nav is awful. I've gone to Blackberry.com for GPS recommendations although nothing because I'm a Verizon Customer. Guess I'll purchase a Garmin or Tom Tom from the store. Any ideas?

[CanuckBB]

Originally Posted by rolandnfestus

which is better garmin on the berry 8300 or telenav i can get the garmin through Alltel for 25% off or $75 for a year or telenav for $99.

or should I buy a gps and pay for it once?

but which service is better. any input would be appreciated.

I like TomTom GPS devices. I don't think that GPS is something that should come with a monthly fee. Besides that, any standalone GPS will give you more features.

With a stand alone GPS, you never 'pay for it once'. You need to purchase map updates from time to time. Usually at around $100.00 /year.

GPS does not come with a montlhy fee. The maps do. The biggest drawback of Telenav is the use of data. OTOH, up to date maps and traffic info is worth the fee.

[Dubdub]

GPS is free. Paid for by US tax dollars.

[dualsub2006]

Originally Posted by CanuckBB

With a stand alone GPS, you never 'pay for it once'. You need to purchase map updates from time to time. Usually at around $100.00 /year.

GPS does not come with a montlhy fee. The maps do. The biggest drawback of Telenav is the use of data. OTOH, up to date maps and traffic info is worth the fee.

Not so my friend. I got one free map update for my TomTom when I bought it. They just released new maps in May and I got that update for free. I also get TomTom as well as user submitted map updates every time I connect to my computer. Aside from that, map updates or no, my TomTom has ALWAYS gotten me to where I am going. Never in the time that I have owned them and used them has a TomTom not gotten me there, or taken me on a drive about to get there. I am not saying that map updates aren't important, but I am willing to bet that if I passed on a map update odds are greatly in my favor that I would never know the difference.

I paid $139 for my TomTom device. TeleNav would be $99 for their little device to work with my phone. Given the features that my TomTom has that TeleNav doesn't I am much happier with my TomTom One.

My daughter had graduation parties to go to all weekend. Starting Friday night and running through last night she made 13 stops at many places that she was unfamiliar with. I set the route for her in my TomTom and away she went. It would have really sucked to be without my BB for 3 days.

[takeshi]

Aren't there trials for both apps? I'd say first hand experience is hard to beat. Personally, I preferred Telenav but that might have something to do with being more familiar with their app. It seemed less cumbersome, more responsive and it seemed easier to read the screen for info that I needed. YMMV.

As for the dedicated GPS device versus Telenav/Garmin -- there's no one-size-fits-all solution there either. Personally, I find dealing with yet another device to be more of a hassle than anything else. I am very happy with Telenav. Again, YMMV. I don't really have anyone that I feel I'd need to loan my GPS/8310 to... Factor your needs/wants into interpreting comments and recommendations that you read.

[kasl33]

I don't mean to steal any subject matter, but noone has mentioned CoPilot Live 7 from Home: ALK Technologies or MapQuest Navigator.

I tried the Garmin version, but it only works if you have a Blackberry w/ built in GPS, or Garmin's bluetooth puck. Since I have the Freedom GPS Keychain 2000, I can't use Garmin.

I have tried Telenav, but I have some qualms with it. Organization of the program is great, but it always takes forever to update missed turns, or has problems connecting with the server. Also, the print is small on the screen and it doesn't tell you the next turn until you are almost to it - I prefer to know the next turn as soon as I make the previous turn. It also needs night mode.

MapQuest Navigator is my favorite so far because the text to speech voice is GREAT and everything is easy to see and read. Also, it downloads all maps along the corridor that you are in so if you miss a turn, it doesn't have to download more data to get you back on track. The only thing I have a problem with about MapQuest Navigator is the the "My Saved Places" list is hard to find things in because it is just a big and long list as you add places.

ALK's CoPilot Live 7 - which is free for 6 months for Blackberry, probably because it is kind of in Beta, is a nice idea, but it needs some work. It lacks 3d view, the voices speak too slow (also sometimes, they don't speak at all). It could really use text to speech - all it says is "take exit" or "turn right." Also, it could really use a POI system like Telenav or MapQuest Navigator have; I couldn't find hardly anything I was looking for. I couldn't figure out how to title my favorites either. There was other stuff too, but these would be the best places to start.

Overall, at this point, MapQuest Navigator is my preference.

However, I have used CoPilot in the past and, if they put in all the features in the Blackberry version that they had on the laptop or Windows Mobile versions, it will be a killer program. So far, they are the only ones who put in multi point routing. Now if only they could put the program on a sd card like on the windows mobile version, it would be that much better. A really nice thing would be that the program comes on a sd card (micro of course) and that it could just download new data from the server if it was available and overwrite the existing sd card data. That would make the program faster, and more reliable.

[takeshi]

Originally Posted by kasl33

I have tried Telenav, but I have some qualms with it. Organization of the program is great, but it always takes forever to update missed turns, or has problems connecting with the server.

Interesting. My experiences were a bit different when I was comparing Telenav to Mapquest. On missed turns Mapquest would always uselessly suggest "Make a U-turn" (no need for a GPS to provide this stroke of genius) and would then take forever to re-route while Telenav was always very quick in rerouting for me. I guess YMMV. Again, give the trials a spin.

[jimmyfingers]

Hello

Newbie here


I have just purchaed the Freedom Keychain GPS 2000 for my Blackberry Curve 8300 and need help getting it set up. I have paired the device with my BB but when I open Blackberry Maps all I get is a message saying aquiring satellites and nothing else of use. I heard the reviews for this product were good so I bought it and now need some advice on what software I should get and how you may have installed it and used it effectivley. I travel for work alot and wanted this to be a lightweight, compact solution for me. I would like to have a set up similar to Garmin or Tom Tom, both of which I have used before, but on my Blackberry. I live and work in Cairns Australia so need this to be region specific.



Any advice you can give would be a great help



Thank you very much

JH

[askmmk]

Originally Posted by CasyCasy

I have Verizon and their Nav is awful. I've gone to Blackberry.com for GPS recommendations although nothing because I'm a Verizon Customer. Guess I'll purchase a Garmin or Tom Tom from the store. Any ideas?

you can still get the garmin mobile for BB. it comes with a bluetooth sirf receiver. it's worth it imo because well,,,garmin is garmin....and you'll be able to use google maps too.

[Moonshadow]

Wirelessly posted (8130)

I checked out the GarmIn site and there doesn't seem to be a trial version. Anybody know if there is one. Would like to try before I buy!

[Swerengen]

If you are looking for internal GPS software for your Berry, I have never had an issue with Garmin. If you think you may need a stand alone device go with a Tom Tom =)

[takeshi]

Garmin | Garmin Mobile for BlackBerry - Turn your BlackBerry into a savvy navigator with Garmin Mobile

[sartwell]

Originally Posted by kasl33

I don't mean to steal any subject matter, but noone has mentioned CoPilot Live 7 from Home: ALK Technologies or MapQuest Navigator.

I tried the Garmin version, but it only works if you have a Blackberry w/ built in GPS, or Garmin's bluetooth puck. Since I have the Freedom GPS Keychain 2000, I can't use Garmin.

I have tried Telenav, but I have some qualms with it. Organization of the program is great, but it always takes forever to update missed turns, or has problems connecting with the server. Also, the print is small on the screen and it doesn't tell you the next turn until you are almost to it - I prefer to know the next turn as soon as I make the previous turn. It also needs night mode.

MapQuest Navigator is my favorite so far because the text to speech voice is GREAT and everything is easy to see and read. Also, it downloads all maps along the corridor that you are in so if you miss a turn, it doesn't have to download more data to get you back on track. The only thing I have a problem with about MapQuest Navigator is the the "My Saved Places" list is hard to find things in because it is just a big and long list as you add places.

ALK's CoPilot Live 7 - which is free for 6 months for Blackberry, probably because it is kind of in Beta, is a nice idea, but it needs some work. It lacks 3d view, the voices speak too slow (also sometimes, they don't speak at all). It could really use text to speech - all it says is "take exit" or "turn right." Also, it could really use a POI system like Telenav or MapQuest Navigator have; I couldn't find hardly anything I was looking for. I couldn't figure out how to title my favorites either. There was other stuff too, but these would be the best places to start.

Overall, at this point, MapQuest Navigator is my preference.

However, I have used CoPilot in the past and, if they put in all the features in the Blackberry version that they had on the laptop or Windows Mobile versions, it will be a killer program. So far, they are the only ones who put in multi point routing. Now if only they could put the program on a sd card like on the windows mobile version, it would be that much better. A really nice thing would be that the program comes on a sd card (micro of course) and that it could just download new data from the server if it was available and overwrite the existing sd card data. That would make the program faster, and more reliable.

I am using Garmin with a freedom keychain puck and haven't had any problems. I really like it.

[powercx]

Garmin has the $99 for the life of your device. Non-Transferable though. So if you sell your device, at least that next person will have GPS navigation.

I personally use Telenav, or rebranded to AT&T Navigator. I've been using it for 2 years now. Lovely since it comes with Traffic and Gas price locator. What I really like about Telenav vs real GPS Devices is that I can just do a search of a business name and it would find it 99.9% of the time. Whereas my Nuvi 680, it would not find the things that Telenav would find.

Inconvenient to have more than one device, why not have all in one device?

If you don't want to pay for a GPS Software on your Blackberry or traffic, check out Amaze from Mobile.Blackberry.com under Application and Mapping.

I have used Garmin and the maps was out dated in my area. The Interface is nice though, which is up to par with Telenav. Easy to use.

Then I use Mapquest Navigator back in the day when it was free and even tried after it got to a paid subscription and the interface was mediacore, not so easy to use, no traffic. But Mapquest re-routes faster than Telenav because it downloads the maps to your blackberry.

I used Amaze, and Nav4All, which is a free Voice Navigation software, but the Interface is so so, hard to use, lots of keys to press to navigate through area.

There are a lot out there that you can use and try, and I would suggest to try before you buy. With Garmin, be sure that you have the latest maps before you buy it. With Telenav, there is a 30 day trial, try with re-routing capabilities so you know how fast/slow it is. Depends on the device. Telenav was slower to re-route with my Curve, but with my Bold, it was as fast as my Nuvi 680, probably because of 3G. Anything with a program that you have to pay for, I would try it till the trial ends.

My Choices would:
1. Telenav
2. Garmin
3. Mapquest

While the Free one is buggy, it's still better to have something, than nothing.

If all fails, there's Google Maps version 2.3.2, and it is very very nice if nothing else works for you. Good luck in your choice.