Android phones - so awesome for travel

I keep flip flopping between my Android and my Garmin. The "live" traffic view on the Android is a nice feature that my Garmin costs money for, and isnt as accurate.

The Garmin on the other hand dosent give me as many goofy routes as the Android device.

Jale,

I wish this was the case, but I always have GPS on. Most of the businesses it gets within the vicinity. For residences, it has been pretty spot on. *shrug*

What app do you use for tethering? Thanks for the information.

how much does it cost?

Also, I know this is off topic but does anyone know how to transfer the Outlook calendar to the Droid 2 without going through google.
Thanks.

You may want to make a new thread so that this is seen by those in the know.

Strange. What device and map/navigation SW rev. are you using? My Droid X GPS results are actually more precise faster than my Nuvi 770. Double check in Settings>Location & Security settings> My Location that "Use GPS satellites" is checked.

... Rereading your message, you say it's less accurate for businesses. Could it be that the businesses are downtown with tall buildings, loss of GPS signal strength problem? Or are you talking about address location estimates and POI?

To be honest, I'd not recommend WinMo platform nowadays as it is essentially an orphaned/stillborn platform (stillborn if you talk on WinMo 7 which has no backwards compatibility, orphaned with WinMo 6.5 and below).

As it is, with smartphones, I'm jumping ship and going to Android--in my own case, this also likely will mean a change in software I use (unless the makers of iGO ever deign to offer an Android version via the Market--probably will be going to CoPilot based on feature set).

Almost all the WinMo development (both hardware and software) is going or has gone to Android nowadays, and out of the smartphone OS's out there it has the best chance for longterm development. (Android also tends to be rather more reliable than WinMo which also was a not-so-subtle shove in that direction!)

For Android specifically--the options right now seem to be (for non-networked GPS tools) iGO (only available via OEM, but apparently there ARE Android phones shipping with it...uses KMLs for its POI format), the GarminPhone (which uses an OEM version of Garmin's software, meaning you could directly import GPX files), CoPilot (supposedly takes GPX files), and supposedly there is a method to import KMLs into Google Maps.

Another Android GPS tool I've heard a lot of good about is Navigon, and SUPPOSEDLY you can add POIs to it (per this thread)--I personally don't know people running it, though, and most reports I've seen have been from European users.

Thanks for all the good information on this thread.

It looks like my next phone will be Droid capable, thanks to your conversations.

You nailed it.

My first few smart phones:

-Pharos GPS Phone 600 with Garmin Mobile XT. Good phone, great navigation BUT no spoken street names. Not good for much else for me.

-Garmin Nuvifone G60. Better phones, great navigation AND spoken street names. Not good for a whole lot more, but better than the Pharos Windows Mobile platform

-Garminfone. Great phone, great navigation, AND a whole lot more.

The best part is the open source software that the droid uses. So why is it we need to have an iphone??

Silly people.

Actually, that's one big reason I am going to Android--it's open source, and in fact can be considered an embedded Linux distribution with a Java-based window manager (yes, the kernel is Linux).

One of the reasons I've not been a huge fan of the iPhone is that if you want to use a program not personally blessed by Steve Jobs, you have to root your phone, and Apple is not terribly friendly to the idea of rooting (much less rooting for purposes of using something outside of Apple's own sanctioned sandbox).

Android--there are some instances where you need to root, but this is mostly for non-PDAnet tethering and installing of alternate ROMS (like Cyanogenmod)--and, notably, most cases where rooting tends to be frowned upon come from the device manufacturers, not the Android developers (in fact, a member of the Android security team has actually given semi-official blessing for rooting for opening up functionality).

You don't have to rely on stuff from the Market if you want to get the install files from the software makers themselves (which is good, as there is an amateur radio app or two that isn't on the Market--because its authors check to see if you have a valid amateur radio license before allowing download as a precaution). You don't have to root an Android phone for nearly-full functionality if you don't want to (it's there if you want it, but it's not necessary).

Unlike the iPhone (which requires purchase of a $100 SDK and additional agreements and NDAs to get listed on the iPhone Store), anyone with an appropriate open-source compiler can write for Android (and there are a number of packages available) and the SDK is available for free (which has its own built-in emulator and integrates VERY nicely with existing open-source tools for software development).

(As an aside, with WinMo 7 it would appear that Microsoft has regrettably taken the Apple approach--trying to push for apps only via the Windows Live store, specific hardware requirements, sandboxing, the whole lot. AND no backwards compatibility and a requirement to purchase Microsoft development tools, hence why I say the platform is pretty much stillborn--a lot of WinMo developers were using open source compilers like GCC to avoid paying Microsoft their thirty pieces of silver.)

I would actually go so far as to say that Android software development is probably the friendliest environment ever for handheld device development (yes, moreso than Palm or pre-WinMo 7 WinMo); the tools are free and apparently a dream to work with, everything is open source and well documented. No wonder that most of the old WinMo development went to Android.

(Another advantage of Android phones, speaking of open source--in general, they are syncable and linkable with just about any OS out there. iPhone uses iTunes as its solution for sync (kludgy and bloaty), WinMo used ActiveSync (for which good alternatives weren't all that available for non-Windows boxen)--syncing under MacOS, Windows, and Linux (with a minimum of pain) can be done under Android--which is good, because I do like messing about with Ubuntu Linux now and again. )

You may want to make a new thread so that this is seen by those in the know.[/quote]

Will do that.

kusuriurikun - how's this for easy, Google now has an app inventor program that literally anyone can use to create their own android app!!

http://appinventor.googlelabs.com/about/

Now, THIS I was not aware of (sounds like some of the GUI "IDE" programs used for commercial development of programs)--may have to take a look at this myself

Using a side-by-side comparison (of my Nuvi & Droid), I found the Droid more accurate - timewise and directions. Additionally, I listen to music through my Droid while driving; it plays over the car stereo. When directions are warranted, the music pauses, directions are clearly given, then the music resumes. As much as I like my Nuvi,I think I'll be using my Droid for future trips.

I've owned many WinMo phones, Treo's, a Pre and the Android based Samsung Moment. All but my first HTC 6700 and the Treo's had GPS capability. I never viewed any of them as competent for general navigation use. Fine to fill in if I didn't have a PNA available, but small screens, slow unreliable performance and low speaker volume were all too obvious. Then I got an Evo4G. Besides it being the best phone I've ever used, it's a darn good nav unit. It's at least as sensitive as my Garmin, lightning fast at attaining signal and rerouting. The screen is large and the speaker loud and clear, at least on par with my 785. The maps are kept up to date with no additional charge. There are several projects/apps that add red/speed camera warning, live speed trap warning and additional live user contributed traffic data. I wouldn't say using a phone for nav is for everyone. There are many reasons to use a dedicated PNA. It's nice to get in the car and drive with the nav unit already mounted and waiting. OTH, a cheap power cord and maybe a $10 mount beats the heck out of the price of all but the most basic PNA's. I would suggest that anyone owning or planning to buy an Android based smartphone give its nav capabilities a honest try before plunking down $$$ for a new PNA. The sales for PNA's will continue to erode in the future as smartphones replace all the current "dumb" phones out there, that's a certainty. I don't think they will replace PNA's in entirety anytime soon. Another certainty, PNA makers like Garmin and TomTom's days of massive year to year sales increases are behind them.

Finally got to play with my new G2 (aka the HTC Vision/HTC Desire Z in the rest of the world outside the US)...

Well, I knew the GPS on the Samsung Omnia (which only was opened up via a firmware update from Verizon) was horrid.

I have realised just HOW horrid after playing with the G2's GPS for a few hours (just with Google Maps and a few free GPS tools off the Market).

Amazingly enough, I can even get a somewhat decent (and quite accurate) GPS fix in my basement...my basement which has industrial steel railings for its load-bearing structures. (It's nothing if not overly engineered. )

This is versus the Omnia, which sometimes required multiple reboots and standing on one's head whilst the sun was exactly mid-horizon whilst sacrificing a chicken (I joke about the last part...mostly).

I'll have to eventually break down and get some more professional GPS tools to test this out with (the geocaching.com app and CoPilot)...but so far, it's extremely encouraging. The GPS is red-hot on the G2, and people considering this phone won't be disappointed at all...I think (finally!) I may have found the All-Purpose Handheld Communications Tool (GPS, phone, quite nice Internet-enabled handheld, and it's even looking like it has some real possibilities for amateur radio use!).

What happens when the phone GPS's dominate the market, and Garmin et al, shares shrink?

You'll pay way more for your phone's GPS and data service, and far more for a dedicated unit. The consumer is on the losing end of the equation, and always will be for the most part.

No one here will be getting a free ride any time soon, or any time to come. Think about it.

I have no idea why you think the decline of Garmin will equate to an increase in the cost of data service.

The simple fact is that dedicated gps devices are quickly becoming dinosaurs. Either accept that or live in denial. Garmin has apparently chosen denial....

Just took a trip in the mountains of CA and lost my Android signal, but still had a good signal with my GO930 (and glad I had it).

OK so everyone talked me into getting CoPilot on my Droid X. I admit it seems better than the other navigation programs. I'm not sure how often the maps are updated but I have one large problem with it. The learning curve seems very steep! Do they have any directions for their very strange icons, anyplace where they tell you how to use the thing? The thing they call a manual is useless. I'll go back to their website for directions but unless I can find something I will write off this $5.

What's the size of the map files?

Phone says App is 14.79 MB, Data is 9.54 MB

Not sure size of map alone but took several hours to come in.

The nice thing about Android is that it doesn't cost anything - as long as you have a data plan and ar enot over on your quota. As you journey, the navigation downloads vector based panels for yoru Google Maps ... and displays them as you journey. And the nice thing about Goodle Maps/navigation is that the maps are always current!

Not having to pay to upgrade is only one of many benefits of the smartphones.

Yes, I just got a TomTom map update on my iPhone (jailbroken & open source) and it was free. They also added what they call Map Share where you can correct the maps and then they verify the change and make it available to other Map Share users. And this was also free.

http://goo.gl/UU17f

The North America map files are 1.24gb and can either be stored directly on the phone or on a memory card.

If you read the entire thread you'll notice there are now apps which don't need a cell signal to navigate (CoPilot, Navigon, even Google Maps 5 to some extent).

opps

I missed those posts. Actually, my Google Maps is supposed to work without a cell signal. However, it was intermittent even though I had a good GPS signal. At least I thought it was good since I had a solid GPS icon.

About the only places I've found where GPS is nonfunctional are either areas with EXTREME cover (and with poor GPS units) or in areas where GPS is explicitly jammed or detuned--and most of THOSE tend to be government sites related to either the military or certain Three Letter Agencies Which Stand For No Such Agency.

I have the LG Ally and its screen visibil;ty is very poor when outdoors. This wouldn't work for me at all on the motorcycle. The Garmin zumo 660 is still visible in direct sun, and the screen is bigger. That really matters when the eyes get a little older.

I used mine in the Keys over the Holiday. There are a few stretches with no 3G coverage, but overall google-navigate performed quite well.

I'm loving the fact that I can yelp restaurants near my current location on my Droid 2. Far more useful than the AAA guidebook I had on my Magellan, IMHO.

I currently use my Android phone Copilot navigation application as a back up. I really like it but I feel it is not as good as my Garmin as far as voice directions ( a little tinny) and route changes and directions are not a frequent as My garmin, not to mention voice navigation, etc. SO I think I will stick with my Garmin as my primary navigation system.

I ran it for about 6-7 hours using the VZ car port connected by a USB cord to the Droid X from my 2011 Camry. It's OK but not near as good as my Nuvi 660 next to it. The phone died in that time. Apparently the USB doesn't supply enough power to keep up with the drain. I admit I'm prejudiced but I still don't like these imitation GPS programs. I'll keep my Garmin.

I have to agree that the traffic info on Google Maps using Android is much more accurate and precise than my Garmin's traffic updates. When driving in the city, I find myself relying on the phone instead :/

The big plus with the Google Maps is that it will show you the traffic status of ALL roads in a view, rather than just the road you are driving. This helps me make a quicker decision when and where to change routes without relying on empty hope the GPS will steer me clear on her own.

I'll be looking into Android phones...

Thanks.

Wish we could find a best of both worlds ... Android *AND* POI's Red Light Camera file.

Its not quite as good as google maps but you might want to check out CoPilot. http://www.alk.com/copilot/android/

It allows you to use custom POIs with alerts. For $5 it makes an awesome backup gps app.

I agree i have mine about 12 weeks and it is GR8888888888888888888888

In about 2 weeks they are coming out with a different model that is much much faster than the Android series.

Suppose to put the Iphone to shame.

I use mine in a similar fashion. Love it!

I just added google chrome to phone extension to my samsung fascinate, this way I can send links and info from my pc right to my phone, maps, directions, etc,etc. real nice