My beloved old school low tech phone died this morning, and I've been forced to think about new phones. In view of the WDW trip, I'm wondering whether one of these new-fangled smart phone jobbies might actually be useful. Given my congenital inability to pack light, if I could have a single gadget that would combine phone, camera, MP3 player, satnav and storage medium for downloaded bike manual, German and Italian phrasebooks/dictionaries, it would free up a bit of space in the Kriegas for clean socks etc. My other half has the tomtom app for his I-phone, and we've found it excellent in a car (in a hire car on the EICMA 2010 trip, to get us round the burbs of Milan and to Bologna and back), but somewhat prone to overheat when in a Givi satnav bag on his bike. Anyone recommend any satnav apps for other smartphones? I'm not a devotee of the cult of the I-thing, and would be open to suggestions for Android or Windows phones and apps if any of them do the trick. I'd be looking for: - useful real time navigation (no hideous time lags which mean you're given audible directions after the junction to which they relate); - ability to programme destinations by postcode; - good coverage of Western Europe (France, Switzerland, Italy, Austria, Germany & Belgium) as well as the UK; - being able to programme routes in advance, rather than just saying "take me to X now" - not having to keep connecting to the internet to do anything e.g. programme advance routes (anything that required repeated connections to Googlemaps would be a no-no, given overseas data download costs).
You won't go far wrong with Tomtom on any smart phone. I use the I-thing version on an I-thing 4s and it's fine, but I only stuck to the I brand due to the 'cheaper' alternative to the AppStore that's available. :wink:
I use Google maps navigation on my Motorola Defy, and it works really well. You do need a data connection though, so it could get pricey to use abroad (data roaming). Also, just seen your requirement for advance programming of routes, which I don't think I can do on it (i might be wrong, but it's well hidden if it's there). For serious stuff I use my TomTom rider 2 & a free program called Tyre which enables me to mark waypoints in Google maps & upload to the TomTom as a bespoke route. Maybe a cheap TomTom one would be a better solution?
I have to agree with Rob and recommend Google Maps Navigation. I'm not sure how good abroad it would be and I think the data connectivity could be an issue (it needs to search the address but doesn't need a continuous connection). I use it for when I'm driving at work and occasionally does a better job than the tomtoms...but they haven't been updated in 6 years!
I have an iPhone 4s with a powered waterproof bike mount and I use NavFree. Its a free app available from the app store and as good as any others I have seen. I have paid for the Speed Camera database for it (£1.99) but thats about it. Definitely worth considering if you go for iPhone. Pete
I use a free app on my iphone in Spain. worked well but the battery life is minimal when it's running. You really need a power source for the phone to make it really useable. It gets a bit lost know and then and directed us through a farm once. The farmer and his wifes face as 5 bikes rode through their yard and out the other side was worth it though. The app is called Satnav 2. The pirelli app is good too, tells you lean angles and speeds etc (free)
Love the idea of you all rideing through the farmyard. The Nav Free system works well in UK. I have a second power take of point so was going to get a I phone charger to plug it into. Maps for Spain and France £1.99 each. When I was over their last year the people I was with all had Garmin Zumo at around £400. I like the the iPhone idea better but want to know if it is practical when you end up down some back road in the Pyrenees Regards Steve
