iPhone: Using a Google maps route on TomTom app

meady100 · 23 Feb 2013 at 23:10

Hi guys, this sounds simple in theory: the iPhone Google maps app produces a far faster and shorter route for me than my Tomtom app to the same place (Dunstable to Rhayader). I do prefer the spoken instructions and graphics of the Tomtom though.

Is there a way to force Tomtom to use the Google maps route? I have tried putting in a few 'via' points of town names to pull the route in the same general direction, but this isn't ideal as the proper route actually skirts around the towns not right through them, for obvious reasons. Any help much appreciated!

hawker1986 · 24 Feb 2013 at 08:43

Play with the quickest and shortest route options and see what happens as far as im aware theres no way to import a route like that into tom tom.

b0rn2sk8 · 24 Feb 2013 at 12:33

In my experience, Google maps travel times are not accurate and vastly underestimate how long it takes to travel certain stretches of road, it tends to go the most direct route, which sometimes is not the fastest or the easiest.

I also find GPS apps/units tend to over estimate travel times for good reason.

timbob · 24 Feb 2013 at 18:29

Try setting the route in Tom Tom, but just setting off and driving the Google route - after a while off route, see if the Tom Tom auto corrects itself to your route?

Uriel · 24 Feb 2013 at 21:35

I'm amazed frankly. Used to use Google until the Tomtom app came out for Android. In almost every instance I've seen, Tomtom thrashes Google for generating sensible routes (unless the Tomtom map's out of date).

dirtychinchilla · 24 Feb 2013 at 22:07

I've got an excellent free satnav on my iPhone, but the screen's broken right now so I can't tell you what it's called.

For some reason google maps won't do a moving route for me, just provides me with a list of locations or doesn't update as you move.

Confused · 25 Feb 2013 at 10:11

dirtychinchilla said:
I've got an excellent free satnav on my iPhone, but the screen's broken right now so I can't tell you what it's called.

For some reason google maps won't do a moving route for me, just provides me with a list of locations or doesn't update as you move.

You need to use "Navigation" rather than "Directions"

I use Google Navigation exclusively now, it's always got me to the point I need to go, of course I don't always know where I'm going, so can't comment on the routes it takes being sensible!

I do find that it tends to over-estimate the time required, which is always good, because it ensures that even if I hit traffic, I'm rarely late compared to its original time estimation. (I think it must use ~55mph speeds on motorways for the estimation)

dirtychinchilla · 25 Feb 2013 at 10:55

Hmm well I haven't been able to see anything different to press tbh, but I'll check that out! My girlfriend's phone seems to do navigation automatically.

I have found google maps to be a bit annoying though. I drove for Surbiton to Gatwick, and after heading off in slightly the wrong direction, it took me all the way through the centre of London, not on the M25, and that took me a hell of a long time.

lordrobs · 25 Feb 2013 at 14:13

I love the fact that you get three options with Google navigation and can pick the one that takes your fancy whether it be the shortest, fastest or the one that looks pretty.

I was really pleased when that feature was introduced into Sygic which has now rendered my sat nav completely redundant. The best features of Google Nav but with a proper sat nav display, excellent voice guidance (unlike the robotised Google Nav) and offline maps = win. Cheap too.