[avelasqu]

So I recently traded my 8320 for a 8310 that I will use on the T-Mobile netowrk and I should be getting it anytime soon. I did a search here on "Best GPS Software" and didnt get exactly what I was looking for.

From reading other forums and articles, I have narrowed my choices to Garmin for Blackberry and TeleNav. I am a fan of the 'one-time' fee and really dont care to add another $10/mo. bill to my resume, however I hear the TeleNav is simply favored amongst the BB world.

That being said, which would you guys recommend for me? If you are using a different software package than the 2 I speak of, feel free to chime in.

[hnsimpson]

Wirelessly posted (8310 AT&T)

Garmin offers a 30 day trial. I am on day one.

I really liked TomTom on my old Treo, but I will post back any insight regarding Garmin's offering.

-simpson

[avelasqu]

Very cool, hnsimpson, thanks. Are there any crippled features with the Garmin trial?

[hnsimpson]

Wirelessly posted (8310 AT&T)

Not that I've run into.

-simpson

[casmer]

I tried MapQuest Navigator and Telenav and both are great. MQ offers a one time yearly charge of 49.95. So it is not a true one time charge like Garmin, but how many years will you have that specific BB device because that is the only device the $99 applies to. Get a new device and pay $99 again or at least that is how I read their licensing. MQ and Telenav are good on any device.

I ended up going with Telenav, but I think I would go with MQ if I were paying for it myself.

[wangta01]

Mapquest Navigator is by FAR the best of the three available. I continue to be surprised by people who prefer Telenav over MQ.

Advantages of Mapquest Navigator over Telenav:
1) Mapquest navigator downloads your route in the beginning, and can access this information regardless of service. So, for example, I was driving from Boston to Vermont a couple months ago - using Mapquest navigator, it downloaded the route, and through the 2.5 hour drive, it works without problems EVEN WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE CELL RECEPTION. Hell, you can even turn OFF your cell reception and mapquest navigator will still work (vermont cell receptoin sucks). You should care about this since Tmobile coverage is the worst - I have them too - I know ;)

2) Mapquest navigator downloads not only the optimal route, but also the roads nearby. Thus, if you take a wrong turn, it won't need to recalculate since it has the nearby roads in memory as well. Should you take a wrong turn it will instantaneously reroute you (unless you make 2 or 3 bad turns). With Garmin and Telenav, it will recalculate your route if you make ONE BAD TURN. Recalculating means redownloading over the air, which takes 30 seconds or more. This is a HUGE annoyance for me with both GARMIN and Telenav.

I tested telena vs mapquest navigator months ago, and the choice was easy - Mapquest is simply better than Telenav, for the reasons I mentioned above.

I have been testing Garmin vs Mapquest this week and again, prefer Mapquest navigator. Garmin, like Telenav, totally bugs out if you miss a turn and goes into recalculate mode, which took on avg 25 seconds. Freaking annoooooying.

Needles to say, I love the new Mapquest navigator (and no, I don't work for them). The new version of Mapquest navigator (v5) does street names, has AOL guide, and a ridiculously good "place/business" finding option which works extremely well. I was looking for Bank of America, simply typed it in and it found 5 around me. Off I went. wanted to find a Coffee Bean cofee shop - put it in, bang - found one .2 miles away from me. LAX airport - bang, 6 miles away. Hell, it even found a random Korea restaurant in Ktown LA! Simply put - I love Mapquest navigator. It is freakin awesome. Been using it in Boston, NYC, San Francisco, and now Los Angeles and be very satisfied with the performance. Bought an Arkon vent holder and I couldn't be more pleased (see picture here):



Regarding the price - note that Garmin is a one time payment for the LIFE OF THAT DEVICE, meaning you will have to buy another subscription should you get another phone! Sure, Mapquest costs $49.99 a year, so to be equal to Garmin, you buy subscription to Mapquest for 2 years. Well, I buy new phones ATLEAST every two years (you all know you'll upgrade to the Backberry Bold) - which basically makes mapquest and garmin the same. Plus, as i described above, Mapquest is simply a better product.

Try mapquest - there is a free 7 dial trial. It is freakin awesome - you will love it.

[Soapm]

I like the web interface that goes with Telenav. It also has a good interface to use while driving.

Garmin picks better routes in my area. It takes me out the back way which no other map does.

However, I will invest in MQ simply because of the price. I am a casual user so don't see why I should pay a premium price. I could get by with Google Maps but I like the voice telling me when to turn.

[casmer]

Originally Posted by wangta01

Mapquest Navigator is by FAR the best of the three available. I continue to be surprised by people who prefer Telenav over MQ.

Advantages of Mapquest Navigator over Telenav:
1) Mapquest navigator downloads your route in the beginning, and can access this information regardless of service. So, for example, I was driving from Boston to Vermont a couple months ago - using Mapquest navigator, it downloaded the route, and through the 2.5 hour drive, it works without problems EVEN WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE CELL RECEPTION. Hell, you can even turn OFF your cell reception and mapquest navigator will still work (vermont cell receptoin sucks). You should care about this since Tmobile coverage is the worst - I have them too - I know ;)

2) Mapquest navigator downloads not only the optimal route, but also the roads nearby. Thus, if you take a wrong turn, it won't need to recalculate since it has the nearby roads in memory as well. Should you take a wrong turn it will instantaneously reroute you (unless you make 2 or 3 bad turns). With Garmin and Telenav, it will recalculate your route if you make ONE BAD TURN. Recalculating means redownloading over the air, which takes 30 seconds or more. This is a HUGE annoyance for me with both GARMIN and Telenav.

I tested telena vs mapquest navigator months ago, and the choice was easy - Mapquest is simply better than Telenav, for the reasons I mentioned above.

I have been testing Garmin vs Mapquest this week and again, prefer Mapquest navigator. Garmin, like Telenav, totally bugs out if you miss a turn and goes into recalculate mode, which took on avg 25 seconds. Freaking annoooooying.

Needles to say, I love the new Mapquest navigator (and no, I don't work for them). The new version of Mapquest navigator (v5) does street names, has AOL guide, and a ridiculously good "place/business" finding option which works extremely well. I was looking for Bank of America, simply typed it in and it found 5 around me. Off I went. wanted to find a Coffee Bean cofee shop - put it in, bang - found one .2 miles away from me. LAX airport - bang, 6 miles away. Hell, it even found a random Korea restaurant in Ktown LA! Simply put - I love Mapquest navigator. It is freakin awesome. Been using it in Boston, NYC, San Francisco, and now Los Angeles and be very satisfied with the performance. Bought an Arkon vent holder and I couldn't be more pleased (see picture here):

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/...500_AA280_.jpg

Regarding the price - note that Garmin is a one time payment for the LIFE OF THAT DEVICE, meaning you will have to buy another subscription should you get another phone! Sure, Mapquest costs $49.99 a year, so to be equal to Garmin, you buy subscription to Mapquest for 2 years. Well, I buy new phones ATLEAST every two years (you all know you'll upgrade to the Backberry Bold) - which basically makes mapquest and garmin the same. Plus, as i described above, Mapquest is simply a better product.

Try mapquest - there is a free 7 dial trial. It is freakin awesome - you will love it.

How is your experience with MapQuest and battery life? One of the features I love with Telenav is the ability to have the screen only turn on around turns. If I am on a long stretch I don't need the screen on. This isn't that big a deal for me I guess since my previous experience with TomTom on a windows mobile device, but I do like that about Telenav. Any way to do this with MQ? I have seen there are 2 options for screen being on, but not sure if it operates like Telenavs. Insight would be appreciated. Thanks.

[MBW]

MapQuest and Garmin are both working on major releases - I have the betas and both are good.

The new version of Amaze GPS is pretty good and is free.

TeleNav 5.1 is fine - 5.5 (aka AT&T Navigator is better)

Any of these will get you where you want to go.

You may also want to try the spoken turn-by-turn in Live Search (also free).

[avelasqu]

So I will try out all the trial demos first before I break down and buy one. Someone pointed me to Nav4All because it is free and so far, I'm not too impressed with it.

Btw, awesome feedback so far here, they are very appreciated. For those that havent chimed in yet, please do so.

[PaCharger]

Nav 4 blows....Blackberry Maps and Google Maps are pretty outstanding, free...easy GUI's.

[avelasqu]

Originally Posted by PaCharger

Nav 4 blows....Blackberry Maps and Google Maps are pretty outstanding, free...easy GUI's.

I am wanting Voice Turn-by-Turn and a good recalculator.

[wangta01]

Originally Posted by casmer

How is your experience with MapQuest and battery life? One of the features I love with Telenav is the ability to have the screen only turn on around turns. If I am on a long stretch I don't need the screen on. This isn't that big a deal for me I guess since my previous experience with TomTom on a windows mobile device, but I do like that about Telenav. Any way to do this with MQ? I have seen there are 2 options for screen being on, but not sure if it operates like Telenavs. Insight would be appreciated. Thanks.

Mapquest has this feature too - so the screen lights up when a turn is coming up, then turns off when you have to drive straight for awhile (think highway when the next exit isn't for 20 miles). I think the setting is "Normal" on MQ v5. The other setting is "On while navigating" which keeps screen lit up the entire time.

With the normal setting, I can go hours (drove from Boston to VT many times with one battery). Just in case I go on longer rides, I bought a $9 blackberry car charger. With the charger handy, I run MQ typically with the screen always on.

I believe MQ also has a night mode, though I have never used it.

Side note but I also use my BB on my motorcycle. Bought a RAM mount, and a set of bluetooth earphones - can hear the turn-by-turn instructions while zipping around town with helmet on - it works great!

[wangta01]

Originally Posted by MBW

MapQuest and Garmin are both working on major releases - I have the betas and both are good.

I don't belive MQ or Garmin are Betas are they? We have to pay for BETAS?? Betas typically imply unfinished, TRIAL versions right?

[Slovak]

Does Garmin's one time fee of $99 include switching BB's if I upgrade to a newer model in the future, or is it just for the life of your current device?

[wangta01]

Originally Posted by Slovak

Does Garmin's one time fee of $99 include switching BB's if I upgrade to a newer model in the future, or is it just for the life of your current device?

? Read above!!!!!!!!!!!!

[avelasqu]

Hehe, I think I am going to try MQ trial and TeleNav trial. This Nav4All just isnt for me. I'll keep this thread posted once I've made my decision.

[Slovak]

Originally Posted by wangta01

? Read above!!!!!!!!!!!!

My bad, I missed that. Sucks anyway.

[wangta01]

Originally Posted by avelasqu

Hehe, I think I am going to try MQ trial and TeleNav trial. This Nav4All just isnt for me. I'll keep this thread posted once I've made my decision.

Thats what I did too.

Here are a couple tests you should do:

1. Drive in place where there is no phone coverage.

2. Purposely miss a turn - see which recalculates or corrects your route better.

Obviously you will need to drive the same course with the same distination put in, once using MQ and the next using Telenav.

[avelasqu]

Yes, that sounds like my protocol for the "try demos"... I know I'm offloading Nav4All ASAP!! = )