[motogq]

Originally Posted by powercx

After an hour of lunch, wondering aimlessly around 3 miles of radius driving, I noticed that there is a turn ahead view on Garmin Mobile which is not available on Telenav. With Telenav, I always wonder if I should be on the left, middle or the very right lane after I finish a turn. With Garmin Mobile, I wonder no more.

The street name display was big, not like Telenav, where the time of arrival was small, and the sound quality isn't that great coming out of Telenav. With Garmin Mobile, the sound was clearer than Telenav, text was big, and if I miss a turn, it will re-calculate as fast as Telenav could, which still doesn't impress me. None of the GPS Program that I know of can't reroute fast enough, not even when it was compared to the Garmin Nuvi 660.

Overall direction was clearer, it zoom'ed out showing the next exit, so you are aware where the next turn would be. I haven't come across the traffic yet, maybe after work when there is a load of cars going home.

I'm going to assume you don't have the latest version of Telenav. Telenav does have a next turn icon on the lower left hand corner of the 3-D map. You can also switch it out of the 3-D map to just the turns view only. The only difference that I saw on the demo was that it gets hotel prices through hotels.com & gave gas prices from least to greatest. Weather is no big deal. Like someone previously stated, Yahoo! Go can give that to you for free.

[Stinsonddog]

Where is this mysterious download of trial and how come they don't respond to emails. Is there a human at this company?

[powercx]

Originally Posted by motogq

I'm going to assume you don't have the latest version of Telenav. Telenav does have a next turn icon on the lower left hand corner of the 3-D map. You can also switch it out of the 3-D map to just the turns view only. The only difference that I saw on the demo was that it gets hotel prices through hotels.com & gave gas prices from least to greatest. Weather is no big deal. Like someone previously stated, Yahoo! Go can give that to you for free.

I had the Telenav 5.1 and you're right it shows the next turn Icon. But what I was talking about was, the turn after the turn.

Let say it's telling you to go left, but then you don't know if you should be in the 2nd or 1st Left Turn lane because you might have to make a right after your Left Turn, and Telenav don't display that next next turn.

[powercx]

Originally Posted by motogq

You guys are mentioning $10/month with Garmin. The only option is annual fee for $99. I don't see any option for month by month subscription.

Search for Handmark Garmin Mobile in Google or Yahoo.

[powercx]

Originally Posted by birddog

This technology is still in its infancy and I expect improvements to come quickly.

I have to agree with you, no matter where I travel, even to the most notorious for Traffic, Los Angeles, it's still not accurate. Sometimes it says there's is traffic ahead reported by my wife's Nuvi 660, but I ignored it and there was no traffic, sometimes the GPS is right about traffic. But I wouldn't rely it based on Traffic Report.

[birddog]

Originally Posted by powercx

I have to agree with you, no matter where I travel, even to the most notorious for Traffic, Los Angeles, it's still not accurate. Sometimes it says there's is traffic ahead reported by my wife's Nuvi 660, but I ignored it and there was no traffic, sometimes the GPS is right about traffic. But I wouldn't rely it based on Traffic Report.

It is pretty cool though, what they (Navteq I guess is one company behind this) have started to do. NJ is also noted for bad traffic; I have noticed "traffic cams" and "fixed speed sensors" (mounted radar guns that are reading the average speed of traffic) in some hot spots. As the technology improves, I expect to see more of these data sources and better integration of the data into the traffic equipped navigation systems.

Here is a link to a real time speed sensor:
I-295: From DC-295 Split To I-495 Capital Beltway (#1) :: Traffic.com

And a traffic cam:
Traffic Cams :: Traffic.com

BTW... Navteq's stock is on fire. They are the (much) larger of two companies that create the digital maps used by all of the navigation systems. This is a business with a high cost of entry and very little competition.

[powercx]

On to a second round of review.

After 15 miles of driving in Traffic, the program did something very unique.

I live in the Bay Area, San Francisco Area. Going home traffic usually happens before my exit. But yesterday, there was some major accident and Garmin Mobile routed me to take another Freeway early on. I thought it was weird. So I avoided the suggestion by going to my usual route. If I didn't know the route, I would have taken the direction displayed on the GPS.

Of course, to my surprise, 2 miles later, there was traffic, dead as a bird, stop and go and it was too late for me to take the last exit, so I had to keep on going on that freeway. Another GPS that would take me off my regular route if there was traffic was my Nuvi 360. I was in Los Angeles and it would tell me to go to another freeway. And when I disregard the route and continue my way, it would continue on suggesting an exit, time after time, I would get tired of it. But I didn't know what's wrong with the GPS since the route I usually take is the correct one. The Nuvi 360 was correct, there was traffic up ahead, but funny thing was that it knows 10 miles ahead of time, suggesting me to take another freeway. I could have saved myself 20 minutes if I were to follow the route on my GPS.

So this concludes that the Garmin Mobile will suggest a different route without telling you the reason. Unlike Telenav, it would continue on and then report the traffic up ahead and gives you a choice to avoid it or continue on. If I choose to avoid it, it would calculate a different route and then brief you on it. It will tell you if it's 0 minutes faster or 10 minutes faster. Never tell you if it's slower. If you like to accept the suggested traffic avoidance route, you hit the 0 button and voila. It guides you the rest of the way. But not with Garmin Mobile.

Another thing I noticed is that if I'm on the phone chatting, and you go off-route, it will not re-route for you. I would have to hang up so it can connect to Data. This doesn't happen on my Cingular 8525 (Windows Mobile 5.0 Phone PDA) with Telenav. I guess there's a big difference between EDGE and HSDPA (3.5G).

[birddog]

Originally Posted by powercx

Of course, to my surprise, 2 miles later, there was traffic, dead as a bird ...

Interesting choice of words.

Good stuff, it works better than I thought it would. I agree, that if it is re-routing you based on traffic, it should let you know what it is doing.

Hard to say which handles the traffic better: Garmin or Telenav.

[mgerbasio]

I've been pretty disappointed with GPS traffic having first use Garmin 2730 with XM Traffic, then the TeleNav with traffic. The XM traffic missed a long term construction project on the Garden State Parkway, and both seem to love the Cross Bronx Expressway that is never an Expressway.

Anyway, my new hope is here: Dash: The only internet connected automotive GPS device

I would think it is only a matter of time, short time, where cell providers will share real time data about phone locations and speed with traffic services so we have accurate information.

Regards-Michael G.

[powercx]

Ok, here's my final conclusion.

Garmin Mobile Maps is not up to date. Telenav is most current, at least in my area. Here's a hint, if you type in an address 43621 Pacific Commons, California, Fremont and it doesn't show the address, then you don't have the latest.

Eventhough Garmin and Telenav uses the same mapping technology by NavTeq, to my surprise, Garmin did not have that address in there. So that disappoint me and will switch back to Telenav since there is really not that big of a difference and the latest maps out weigh the use of Garmin.

Bye Bye Garmin

[powercx]

I forgot to mention that the Contacts is not integrated on the Garmin Mobile. I also noticed if I am on the address book and I want to go to my friend's house, it will allow me to guide to that direction and opened up Telenav. I tried doing the same thing with Garmin Mobile after uninstalling Telenav and it doesn't give me the option to Direct using Garmin Mobile while in the Address Book.

That's my extensive review from me. If anyone can add, please do, I would like to know from other people's experience.

[motogq]

After my initial test, I was disappointed with the maps & addresses. I attempted to locate my workplace which has been at it's location for several years now but Garmin couldn't locate the address. When leaving work, I attempted to use it on my way home. It didn't have the map of my business district. The map & directions started on I-95. Not good, Garmin. Back to Telenav for me.

[powercx]

Originally Posted by motogq

After my initial test, I was disappointed with the maps & addresses. I attempted to locate my workplace which has been at it's location for several years now but Garmin couldn't locate the address. When leaving work, I attempted to use it on my way home. It didn't have the map of my business district. The map & directions started on I-95. Not good, Garmin. Back to Telenav for me.

I emailed Garmin about the outdated maps. So far no reply. I was hoping to keep it since all of my other GPS are by Garmin.

Garmin Nuvi 660
Garmin Nuvi 360
Garmin C550

I even check to see if TomTom and iGuidance 4.0 have the latest maps on my Windows Mobile 5.0 PDA Phone and they do. So disappointing.

I wish they would update the map soon, I really miss the big text and clearer sound quality. Oh well

[birddog]

Originally Posted by powercx

I emailed Garmin about the outdated maps. So far no reply. I was hoping to keep it since all of my other GPS are by Garmin.

Garmin Nuvi 660
Garmin Nuvi 360
Garmin C550

How current are the Garmin Mobil Maps for blackberry compared to your other Garmin products?

[Stinsonddog]

Originally Posted by powercx

I emailed Garmin about the outdated maps. So far no reply. I was hoping to keep it since all of my other GPS are by Garmin.

Garmin Nuvi 660
Garmin Nuvi 360
Garmin C550

I even check to see if TomTom and iGuidance 4.0 have the latest maps on my Windows Mobile 5.0 PDA Phone and they do. So disappointing.

I wish they would update the map soon, I really miss the big text and clearer sound quality. Oh well

What email address did you use. .

Until they show something more than cardiac arrest it's hard to get excited.

[powercx]

Originally Posted by Stinsonddog

What email address did you use. .

Until they show something more than cardiac arrest it's hard to get excited.

Heh, I got an answer, replied below:

Thank you for contacting Garmin International,


We hope to have a DVD available soon that will let you update the Mobile units to our 2008 maps. I do not have an ETA at this time as to when that DVD will be available so please just watch for it on our updates page.

With Best Regards,
David M
Product Support Specialist
Outdoor/Fitness
Garmin International

Hmmm, Have the DVD and download direction from OTA. Telenav don't have that option. But if Garmin has the ability to download the maps to the phone and store it on to an SD Card, then it's perfect to be used incase there is no Data Connection available.

[dc5hatch]

Originally Posted by CanuckBB

But if you have unlimited data, the only flaw in the subscription model is the inability to navigate if out of coverage. at $10/month, it really is no more expensive than paying a yearly fee for new maps. I've used TomTom, iGuidance and Mapopolis on PPC devices, and I've always had to pay to get updated maps. With the sub, OTA model, you always have access to the newest maps.

New maps? LOL ya our streets change every month and new roads are spring up as we speak that would dramically alter routes.