Folks,
THis is my first post here. I have been reading most of the GPS talk reviews on
iGuidance, TomTom and OCN5. Based on these posts, I have extracted the following single point Pro and Con for each as they all seem to provide the basic routing/navigation functionality more or less at same level.
iGuidance: PDA/Laptop compatibility............. Not great 3D
TomTom: Voice Guidance ............... PDA install only
OCN5: Seamless USA ................. PDA install only
My priorities are
i.PDA/Laptop compatiblity for redundancy purpose
If I expect to go on long trip solely depending on GPS guidance, it makes sense to have an alternative guidance such as laptop, should something go wrong with PDA( loss, malfunction etc).
ii. Best turn-by-turn voice guidance.
From my perspective, the turn-by-turn voice guidance is the safest method on road.
My questions are
a. How does iGuidance compare to TT/OCN in terms of turn-by-turn voice guidance?
b. Does iGuidance 3D map show the road names with it?( I am told OCN doesn't).
Any specific usability or glaring design issues with 3D features.
Neither the POI count nor the GUI matters to me much if the s/w doesn't deliver on its core functionality
effectively.
I really appreciate any feedback from experinced aximsite users with respect to above Voice guidance and 3D capability of iGuidance.
a) Personally I like Tomtom and OCN's turn by turn voice guidance better than iGuidance's. But its still pretty good.
b) Yes. iGuidance shows road names on both 2D and 3D view.
Few things that I really like about iGuidance,
1. Turn by turn navigation instruction in list format.
2. Requires least amount of system resources (OCN requires the most).
3. iGuidance is faster than TomTom/OCN.
4. Included laptop component.
5. Ability to make your own maps. This is great and saves you a lot of storage space. Also makes the program faster if you just have the maps that you actually need.
6. Navteq maps are better than TomTom's.
GUI wise TomTom and OCN are better than iGuidance. But since you mention that thats not a big factor for you I think iGuidance is the right choice for you.
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In what ways TT's turn-by-turn guidance is better than iGuidance? Any specific
features that you find in TT( or OCN) that makes its more valuable than iGuidance?
OCN demo gives frequent reminders for each turn and/or destination which I think is very nice. Does iGuidance issue frequent reminders for each turn?
I just read the TT's review on pocketgpsworld.com and it seems to be a great choice despite the quirky installation process.
I have not finalized the product and looking for feedbacks from experienced users.
Thanks once again.
Hari
Originally Posted by akheron
a) Personally I like Tomtom and OCN's turn by turn voice guidance better than iGuidance's. But its still pretty good.
b) Yes. iGuidance shows road names on both 2D and 3D view.
Few things that I really like about iGuidance,
1. Turn by turn navigation instruction in list format.
2. Requires least amount of system resources (OCN requires the most).
3. iGuidance is faster than TomTom/OCN.
4. Included laptop component.
5. Ability to make your own maps. This is great and saves you a lot of storage space. Also makes the program faster if you just have the maps that you actually need.
6. Navteq maps are better than TomTom's.
GUI wise TomTom and OCN are better than iGuidance. But since you mention that thats not a big factor for you I think iGuidance is the right choice for you.
I think 3D maps are over rated, great toy not much use day to day. I prefer 2D maps.
You might try Mapopolis, which is free for 10 days. Though voice prompts are not as clear as iGuidance, you set the how soon before and how often the prompts are said. I use 75sec and 15sec so 5 prompt per turn.
I like Mapopolis and iGuidance installation proceedures. I have two Axims and are abile to use either on either one. No one machine lock down.
It is nice the iGuidance has a Win Version, but I would make that a selling point. You could keep MS S&T as backup then.
I think 3-D is also over-rated. Fun to play with for a little while, but adds no functionality where GPS is most important - navigation while driving. iGuidance has a very clear voice that prompts you several times as the turn approaches.
As already mentioned, you should check out Mapopolis if the GUI is not important as others have said it has great routing but not the best GUI. TomTom is best known for it's GUI, but it's TeleAtlas maps are not as updated as the NavTeq maps for most areas according to user reports.
For GPS, map accuracy and routing logic should be the first priority, then GUI. Of course it's a given that the program should be stable.
Personally, I've only used iGuidance, but it works so well for me I have no desire to switch. The one thing I don't like about the latest version compared to previous versions is that instead of prompting you to Turn Now, it beeps. It's harder for me to hear the beep.
Way better but no 3D. Very good support for Garmin GPS10. I bought the Garmin GPS10 Deluxe version. This includes the GPS10, PPC software, and laptop software with the MapSource maps for all of North America.
Similar to IGuidance above.
If you need to use SiRF III GPS units with the Garmin software, you need a third-party program like GPSProxy (freeware) as a go between. See my Aximsite software tutorial on how to do so with GarminQue software. -> http://www.aximsite.com/articles/ind...laycat&catid=6
Also, with the new Palm s/w out to support GPS10 on Palm PDAs, I should be able to use this on a Palm PDA if I ever want to. But I've been a Palm user, but now I'm a PPC person at heart.
Note:- You can trial the software on your PPC.
1. Just go to garmin and install the PPC software, and also install the free basemap. There is no unlock required, unless you wish to buy Garmin GPS and the Garmin Mapsource maps for North America or Europe.
3. The free basemap from Garmin is pretty good and simple. No routing from street to street but I think it should be able to do city to city. Never tried using just the basemap as I have the Mapsource maps for all of North America. Just copy the basemap to a storage card.
Why doesn't the garmin hardware/software come up more often in this forum?
I own a Garmin eTrex legend and the MapSource BlueChart (nautical maps) for North America, so if I bought the GPS10 and iQue software I understand that there would be some interchangeability. I consider that a plus.
But if there is some reason that people don't like the Garmin PPC software & bluetooth unit I'd like to know.
No reason really. Some people like Garmin, others like non-Garmin.
Garmin is proprietary. However, saying that, the GPS10 device can handle both protocols, Garmin and NMEA. However, when it comes to sensitivity, the SiRF III wins hands down if you're driving in a city with skyscrapers. The Garmin GPS units will lose the satellite signals. However with SiRF III GPS units, you do not easily lose the sat signals. That's where GPSProxy comes in. It allows you to use GarminQue software with SiRFIII BUT you need a 10-digit code that comes only when you purchase a Garmin GPS unit. Therein lies the catch.
But remember that sensitivity does not mean accuracy. So eventhough SiRF III GPS units can pick up sat signals where the Garmin units cannot, the Garmin units are more often more accurate when it does receive the sat signals. But all in all, when it comes to road navigation, you need to have a GPSr that can pick up sat signals when you really need it.
Pros and cons to every product. Some of the newer Garmin GPSr now are beginning to use SiRF III as well.
There is a review of the Garmin M4 PDA with mapping software built in here. I think that software is the same as what they sell separately.
As AximTT said, the beta Garmin software offered as a beta test to GPS10 owners is similar to the M4 above. But I would not recommend it yet as there are bugs of course... that's why its still beta. I would call it early beta.... heheheh!
The first is the America Lite version which is Palm only. Not usable, identical to the GPS10 link.
The second is the America standard basemap with a .IMG extension but the file is usable with PPC directly.
The third is the world (including America standard basemap) and also usable directly with the PPC.
Now, all the files are executables. But just use a WinZip or WinRAR program to look inside and extract the IMG file only. You do not need to Hotsync the file (Hotsync is a Palm thingie like Activesync). Just extract only the IMG file and transfer it to your PPC.
The IMG file needs to be placed into a /Garmin folder at the root of any storage card or BIS. I place a copy of the basemap into my BIS in case I have to do a hard reset of my PPC. I can still use my GarminQue with the basemap. My GarminQue is also installed into my BIS. The default is usually Main Memory which I would recommend to all new users. Less hassle.
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Voice guidance capability in GPS S/W?
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