HTC Desire - Google Nav issues

martinturner

martinturner

martinturner

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UPDATE POSTED FURTHER DOWN.


So, as a backup to my Tom Tom I thought I'd try out my HTC Desire whilst spending a week in the Lake District.

Initially, brilliant; much better at finding locations, even by name etc. For most of my time I did have a H network connection, but it did drop to a G and moments of losing connection altogether. Now, the bad news. Every time I lost a phone signal, the Google Nav would display a 'notification' over the top of the on screen navigation. I was forced to slide and close it. Then every time it found a new available network it would prompt which one to connect (sadly, each instance it done so it only found Orange, Voda and o2; not T-Mobile who I am with). Now whilst it was very annoying, it did allow me to progress with my journey. Then, I took a slight wrong turn at a time where I had no network signal. I then was prompted with continual 'Data Connection Lost' messages. I then managed to reconnect to the network, but it still had issues. Seriously, I really want to love this software as when it works its great, but when you are out of signal ... I wanted to throw it out of the window! I landed up getting my trusty old Tom Tom out and using that instead.

Anyone else had any issues? Why does everyone rave about it? Are we all using it in cities with full signals? I use my Tom Tom a lot as my photography takes me all over the place, so was saddened that a simple wrong turn could cause such a problem.

Any recommendations on an alternative which allows full UK maps integration? I basically want to use it like a Tom Tom. Also, someone suggested I should not update Google Nav to latest version; although I cannot remember why. Its prompting me for an update?

Lastly; is there any suggestion that Google Nav will get full 'on-phone' maps?

Thanks, appreciate any opinions/experiences.
 
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I would never trust or use a GPS that didn't have full installed maps..
Like you found out,when they loose the signal they are just about useless..


I be sticking with my using Garmin zumo GPS
 
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There is a mod called "br.ut" or something that will cache the mapping tiles onto your SD card which may help in future ??
 
chaparral said:
But won't that only be able to cache where you already been and not where your going to ??
Click to expand...

Yeah, thats the downside.... I guess you could work around it by zooming into a decent level and, using your Wireless at home, scan a wide area surrounding your route so it caches those tiles as well.

TBH, if the developers of "brut" had it sorted, they could allow people to submit their cached files onto a server that people could download as a pack....
 
Well I was under the impression that after you had input your details and it had 'discovered' a route, whether off 3G or wifi at the start point, that it then had it cached for the duration of the journey and wouldn't need a signal unless you diverted off the course....

How wrong I was. Won't be using mine as a nav again any time soon.
 
Copilot should be available for your Desire. I use it on my magic and touch wood havent had any activation issues ever. Its very good but there is something missing that makes it poorer than tomtom but I cant quite put my finger on it. Its slightly laggy on my Magic but probably fine on the Desire.

I tested Google Nav yesterday and I wasnt massively impressed. The routes it tried to take me were very odd and I didnt see the point of being told all of the road names that I was about to turn into. I would far rather have a "in 100 yards" type turns as I dont spend my time trying to look for tiny street signs when I drive. Great product for free but I will only be using it as a last resort.
 
MrCake said:
Copilot should be available for your Desire. I use it on my magic and touch wood havent had any activation issues ever. Its very good but there is something missing that makes it poorer than tomtom but I cant quite put my finger on it. Its slightly laggy on my Magic but probably fine on the Desire.

I tested Google Nav yesterday and I wasnt massively impressed. The routes it tried to take me were very odd and I didnt see the point of being told all of the road names that I was about to turn into. I would far rather have a "in 100 yards" type turns as I dont spend my time trying to look for tiny street signs when I drive. Great product for free but I will only be using it as a last resort.
Click to expand...

Pretty much my thoughts, I tried Google Nav and really didn't like it. I'll stick with my Tom Tom or might give Copilot a try.
 
The majority rave about it because it's essentially free on any android phone as they (nearly always) have data allowances. It's also pretty accurate and has some nice features like streetview integration and (imo) the search system is better.

This comes with the tradeoff though that if you're in a non residential area then you either stick to the route or you're going to lose maps. For occasional users then google nav is great. For those who use it as part of their job to goto remote locations - it's not going to cut it. There are GPS full solutions in the marketplace as perviously said, these would probably suffice (you can get a refund upto 24hrs after purchase if you don't like it iirc).
 
So is Co-Pilot the best one available? If I choose to download it will it pull down the maps direct to the phone? or do I do it by way of their website (on my pc) and then install it when I sync?

EDIT: also, does anyone know of a way to turn off notifications from displaying full screen when using google nav?

Thanks for all the replies, much appreciated.
 
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CoPilot is ok, you can download the maps directly from/onto your phone, I didn't like the fact that it essentially takes over the phone rather than fitting into the rest of the android system like the google nav does,

What notifications are displaying full screen? I never have full screen notifications whether I'm in google nav or not, or is that a senseui thing?
 
What basically happened is in the instance the phone went out of signal the screen would time out and go completely black. I then would have to touch screen and in place of the navigation was a notification stating that no providers were available. I had to swipe to get rid of it. If I then left the phone, the screen would 'again' go black. I then swiped again to get it back, but again the notification. The other notification was in the instance there was a provider to connect to; I could then cancel (as T-Mob was not listed) and then swipe to get rid of it.
 
I'd imagine it's a sense thing then, so not sure how to disable it...

With my Magic I get an exclamation mark in the notifications bar when I lose signal, and google nav does tell me it's lost the data connection, but nothing pops up in the way on mine.
 
Actually, I think its the 'disable screen' after 1 minute setting. I cannot see where to switch it off for when its plugged in. I obviously want it on for times that its idle and not plugged in. I will tackle the network provider full screen notication once this one is sorted out. Perhaps there is a force it to only connect to my provider rather than giving me other options when I dont want them.
 
In case anyone is interested (or you may already know in which case ignore)

To stop screen timing out when using Google Nav when plugged in to car charger.
1. Press HOME > MENU, then tap Settings.
2. Tap Applications > Development and then select the Stay awake
check box.

I just need to sort out the notification that appears when you lose a signal and then network providers become available. I want it to just ignore entirely and just auto connect to t-mob if its there and if its not, do nothing.

I think I am going to stick with Google Nav for when I am within a signal period and for times where I don't mess up my route. For other times I think I will just use co-pilot as a backup. I own a dedicated Tom Tom, but my wife often wants to use it, so this is cheapest way to satnav option for us.
 
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martinturner said:
Now, the bad news. Every time I lost a phone signal, the Google Nav would display a 'notification' over the top of the on screen navigation. I was forced to slide and close it.
Click to expand...

My (pretty old) Garmin Nuvi sat-nav pops up a low battery message when it gets low which covers the whole screen and has to be pressed to remove. It will then repeatedly do it every few mins until the battery runs out. Really safe design while driving...
 
martinturner said:
In case anyone is interested (or you may already know in which case ignore)

To stop screen timing out when using Google Nav when plugged in to car charger.
1. Press HOME > MENU, then tap Settings.
2. Tap Applications > Development and then select the Stay awake
check box.

I just need to sort out the notification that appears when you lose a signal and then network providers become available. I want it to just ignore entirely and just auto connect to t-mob if its there and if its not, do nothing.

I think I am going to stick with Google Nav for when I am within a signal period and for times where I don't mess up my route. For other times I think I will just use co-pilot as a backup. I own a dedicated Tom Tom, but my wife often wants to use it, so this is cheapest way to satnav option for us.
Click to expand...

I think, but I'm not 100% sure, that if you choose the select network automatically option in the mobile network settings screen it should stop asking you who to connect to.
 
I had this issue with mine the other day, middle of no where. Road was closed, no diversion, no signal! GREAT! Running late!

I just applied common sense, zoomed out and headed towards the road I was meant to be going on. But yes for Google Maps to work as any kind of Nav software, the maps can't be downloaded on the fly. I don't know why they insist on it so much.
 
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