'Best' GPS app for android?

[Uriel]

Update on Route 66 - It is awful.

Roundabouts get pushed off the bottom of the screen so you can't actually see your exit until you have taken it. The interface is horrible and the routing is very simplistic.
Not for me I'm afraid.

I'm surprised to hear your criticism of the routing. Do you mean route planning, as opposed to routing, which is the default way it sends you? Route 66's actual routing algorithm is probably the most complex of any satnav system currently available.

Route planning is by far Co-Pilot's strongest feature. I love being able to drag and drop the route as I please. I did appreciate being able to adjust the road speeds too - however that feature seems pretty redundant, given what TomTom and Route 66 do behind the scenes.

 

[Richy888]

I had a demo of co-pilot maybe 2 or 3 years ago and only ever used it a couple of times as it crashed the phone. Never got past that and started using Sygic. Never been able to find a co-pilot demo in recent times so don't have any experience of its route planning or anything else for that matter.

I'm surprised with your roundabout prob. It is one part of Route 66 I found quite good. On approach to a roundabout it switches to an above view and find it quite good for finding the right exit.

 

[dabotsonline]

Sygic and Route 66 both use the same traffic information from Tomtom.

Sygic requires user input to divert around the traffic both at route planning stage and during driving.

Route 66 can be set to either ignore traffic, ask the user about diversions (requiring a screen tap) or automatically divert around traffic during driving. If set to automatically divert there is an audio prompt saying something like "a faster route has been detected" and the proposed diversion is shown on screen with a countdown of 20 seconds. If the user doesn't cancel, it will switch to the proposed route.

This is useful.

Edit: Yesterday I drove past a closed road (the A61 Dronfield bypass near sheffield). Route 66/ Tomtom HD Traffic correctly picked up congestion northbound (reopened after an accident) but not the southbound closure that remained. Thankfully I was going north so was diverted around it. If I'd been going south it would have sent me directly into the closure. I checked Navigon (I still have a traffic subscription for that) and it showed both sides as closed (which they had been an hour or two earlier). Just goes to show you can't get it right all the time. Actual road closures is a bit of a weakness with Tomtom traffic, unless you happen to be on the strategic road network (motorways and main A Road data given to TT by the HA) or in London (they get TfL data). The vast majority of the time TT traffic does a better job than other options for me.

This also makes interesting reading.

I'll be interested to see how Android Auto and the new Android 'L' hands-free search features work, possibly in combination with Google Maps 9.

 

[dabotsonline]

Is traffic redirection while driving fully automated now or do you still have to button-press?

Uriel, have you tried the HERE Maps 1.0.124 beta wk36 (8.30.55.109) that's floating around?

 

[Orcvader]

The HERE leak looks interesting: http://blog.gsmarena.com/nokia-maps-apk-android-leaks/

But so far Google Maps has been working fine for me, the instant traffic redirection is very handy as it allowed me to avoid traffic (and around Black Wall Tunnel in London gets very packed). An hour's drive with the Opera Max data compression app uses only about 10mb for an hour's usage.

 

[Uriel]

Uriel, have you tried the HERE Maps 1.0.124 beta wk36 (8.30.55.109) that's floating around?

Nope - but if it's the same traffic as on http://here.com I'm not interested. Road coverage is terrible compared to Google or Tomtom.

 

[dabotsonline]

Rita El Khoury has posted her review:

Hands-On With Nokia's HERE: A Complement To Google Maps With A Few Aces Up Its Sleeve:
http://www.androidpolice.com/2014/0...to-google-maps-with-a-few-aces-up-its-sleeve/

Africa:
1,631.0 MB

Asia:
7,326.3 MB

Australia/Oceania:
840.4 MB

Europe:
9,062.4 MB

North and Central America:
6,844.9 MB

South America:
1,739.9 MB

That's 28 GB for the entire world. Let's hope the Nexus 6 comes in 64 GB or, ideally, 128 GB capacity - plus a microSDXC expansion slot for an extra 128 GB!


Also...

"The new iOS and Android apps will be available later this year, after Samsung has enjoyed its period of Android exclusivity."

http://www.engadget.com/2014/09/30/nokia-here-maps-android/

"HERE’s attempt to bring more competition to Google Maps in the smartphone space will kick off soon, with its launch in the Samsung app store. We managed to grab a hands-on with the app ahead of its imminent arrival, and before its wider rollout across Android and iOS later this year."

http://thenextweb.com/apps/2014/09/30/nokias-offline-mapping-platform-lands-android-go-hands/
http://thenextweb.com/apps/2014/09/03/nokia-confirms-maps-will-arrive-android-devices-ios-end-2014/
http://thenextweb.com/insider/2014/09/25/nokia-here-maps-android-ios-world-by-storm/

 

[Em3bbs]

Google Maps for me now it has the Waze integration and live traffic. It probably saves my partner and I around 10 hours a week (M4/M25 area)

 

[dabotsonline]

The latest Tomtom units are based on Nav4 / Navkit (e.g. Go 400, 500, 600, 5000, 6000). Tomtom will shortly be launching another app based on this API. At the moment it's only available in Italy though. The new app is separate from the older ones so existing users will not get an upgrade. It will be available on a 'freemium' basis, so you get 70km a month free. Any more than that, you need to subscribe but it will include traffic etc (which is extra for the current app).

TomTom GPS Navigation Traffic

The new TomTom GO Mobile app with world-class TomTom Traffic – Get there faster
>> Download now and drive 75 kilometres for free each month
The new TomTom GO Mobile app is a sleek combination of the latest TomTom car navigation technology and world-class traffic information. You will always choose the best route available based on accurate, real-time traffic information that gets you to your destination faster, every day.
Only the TomTom GO Mobile app offers:
>> Vivid Traffic Overviews
>> Detailed Traffic Incidents
>> Accurate Traffic Jam Alerts
>> The Fastest Route
>> Clear Turn-by-Turn Instructions with Voice Guidance
>> A Stunning 3D View of the Road Ahead
>> Extra Clarity for Difficult Junctions
>> Offline Maps that do not require a data connection
>> Free Lifetime Map Updates*
>> Alerts for Speed Cameras
Download the TomTom GO Mobile app now and drive with the app for free for 75 kilometers each month. You can also purchase a subscription for unlimited kilometres. Select from a one month, one year or even a three year subscription, depending on your driving needs
Enjoy 75 free kilometres each month: Download the TomTom GO Mobile app
For a detailed overview of all features and available maps, please go to: http://www.tomtom.com/navigation/android/go-mobile
Notice for owners of the previous TomTom Navigation app for Android: this app is still supported but no longer available for purchase. If you removed the app from your phone, you can re-download it from the ‘My Apps’ section in Google Play. You will keep receiving map updates. The Traffic and Speed cameras services will continue to work.
*You can download 4 or more full updates every year for the life of your app.
TomTom reserves its right to unilaterally withdraw and/or to amend this offer and/or to amend the terms and conditions.
The new TomTom GO Mobile app with TomTom Traffic - Get there faster

What's New
- Alternative route planning: see up to three route options when planning your journey
- Contacts on the map: navigate to a contact by selecting it on the map
- Accent colors: customise your navigation experience with new accent colours

Updated
19 September 2014

Current Version
1.1

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.tomtom.gplay.navapp

Jul 2, 2014 UPDATE Version 1.0.4
Jun 27, 2014 UPDATE Version 1.0.3
Jun 17, 2014 UPDATE Version 1.0.2
May 29, 2014 UPDATE Version 1.0.1
May 23, 2014 NEW APP TomTom GPS Navigation Traffic 1.0 released in TRAVEL_LOCAL for free. (100+ downloads)

Still seems to be an Italian launch as http://www.tomtom.com/navigation/android/go-mobile redirects to http://www.tomtom.com/it_it/products/your-drive/smartphone-navigation/android/go-mobile/index.jsp and http://www.tomtom.com/en_gb/products/your-drive/smartphone-navigation/android/go-mobile/index.jsp returns a dead link.

Also, the Italian page doesn't seem to list the prices for subscriptions. It's also showing as incompatible on my Nexus S running AOSP 4.4.3, which could be a regional block.

Here are discussions of the new 'TomTom GPS Navigation Traffic' app on the official forums (Uriel, I see you've posted a few times in the first thread):
http://discussions.tomtom.com/t5/TomTom-Navigation-app-for/New-TomTom-GO-freemium-apps/td-p/800931
http://discussions.tomtom.com/t5/TomTom-Navigation-app-for/GO-Mobile-for-Android/td-p/827655/page/3
http://discussions.tomtom.com/t5/To...-Go-Mobile-Bugs-amp-Problems-List/td-p/855997

 

[mrk]

Google maps and Waze (Beta channel). Gotta collect those Waze user points!

 

[6thElement]

If I download and install Route 66 can I get the 30 day trial for another country and have full offline maps for that country?

I need offline gps for a trip to a foreign company and can't decide what to go for, free is always welcome though.

Currently installing navfree to look at.

 

[Richy888]

If I download and install Route 66 can I get the 30 day trial for another country and have full offline maps for that country?

I need offline gps for a trip to a foreign company and can't decide what to go for, free is always welcome though.

Currently installing navfree to look at.

I'm sure during your 30 day trial you get access to all the maps so download which country you need and you're good to go. Think ditto traffic and speed cams subject to being available in your country of choice.

I subscribed to Route66 once my trial was up. I quite like it. Nice clean interface and works very smoothly on my phone. Traffic and re routing such as the few times there has been anything on my route worked quite well. Only once during the trial using it local to me did it send me on a route I thought a little strange but didn't add any time to the journey. Down side unlike google maps it isn't free and the search isn't as good as GM's.

 

[Snaggle]

waze.. tried most gps apps and this is the best so far .. if a little light on functions

 

[jjr1]

Waze for me:

Pros
* Superb for letting you know of traffic ahead and rerouting if necessary
* Superb for cameras and police ahead if other users are around and highlight them
*Good routing and generally it all makes a logical sense.

Cons
*Really rubbish at finding entrances to large destinations eg Racecourses etc
*Can have problems with a simple search and just hang !

Overall though it does everything a good GPS app should do and keeps my licence relatively clean......

 

[Uriel]

Tried out nLife for Android (new version of nDrive) yesterday. There's a free 15 day trial on at the moment.

Although it uses Tomtom maps, it uses traffic from Inrix. Unfortunately the traffic just doesn't have the road coverage for jams around here (judged by free Inrix App) so I'll not be using it on my commute. It will probably pick up a few more temporary closures of minor A roads than Tomtom though so might be worth a try for some.

 

[dabotsonline]

Tried out nLife for Android (new version of nDrive) yesterday. There's a free 15 day trial on at the moment.

Although it uses Tomtom maps, it uses traffic from Inrix. Unfortunately the traffic just doesn't have the road coverage for jams around here (judged by free Inrix App) so I'll not be using it on my commute. It will probably pick up a few more temporary closures of minor A roads than Tomtom though so might be worth a try for some.

Hi Uriel, do you know if nLife or any of the other sat nav apps on Android (I've tried Google Maps, Waze, Route 66 and the official HERE for Android beta 1.75: http://here.com/beta/android/ ) integrates pre- and in-journey weather reports on motorways, the like of which are supplied by Traffic England? ( http://www.trafficengland.com/motorwayflow.aspx ) Thanks.

 

[D3lirious]

Any word on when the new Tomtom app will be released? I was going to buy the current version but not sure that would be such a good idea if you're then stuck with that version.

 

[Craig321]

Normally use TomTom on my old iPhone, but NavFree if I only have my Nexus as it stores maps.

 

[Uriel]

Navigon includes weather conditions but I only recall seeing them on the map. I don't recall being given a warning about the weather.

 

[Simian]

Nokia HERE Maps has been released (on beta at least) for All Android Devices...

http://here.com/beta/android/?lang=fr-FR

Works on both my Nexus 4 and (2012) Nexus 7 so far!!