Smartphone Offline Navigation Software

According to another thread, Google just announced an update in the near future that offers offline maps for the first time. I haven't heard that it happened. So no one has any experience with Google Maps offline.

Offline is key. You cannot be assured to be connected when it really counts. This applies to other Google services as well.

dobs108

The CFO of TomTom announced last month that TomTom is developing an Android app that will be released "Soon". In addition, TomTom made a couple of filings with the FCC in May for new products, one of which was labeled "Android App".

If the design of previous products is a guide, this will probably be an off-line product.

With best wishes,
- Tom -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QO8YeTog5rE
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But possible trouble ahead for Google. The contributors to this forum are saying that the Google offline maps update only gives you the map offline, and navigation is not possible. I don't know if they are correct and how could they know on Day One? -

http://www.androidcentral.com/google-maps-updated-offline-ca...

dobs108

Updated my Nexus S to the offline version (6.9.0) yesterday. Both Navigation and Get Directions require a data connection.

A possible workaround (assuming the route is cached for offline use) is to start navigating when you have a data connection. I simulated this by putting my phone in airplane mode after Navigate. Just don't deviate from the route

Navigon on my wifi iPad doesn't do that... it works just like my Nuvi 765

I have CoPilot Live USA on my Android phone, but I do not have Navigon or Sygic, so I cannot make a comparison to those products. However, I can confirm that CoPilot Live USA uses an offline map, and can navigate using that map. It can drive to an address, to a favorite, and to a contact in my phone book - if that contact has an associated address.

Overall, CoPilot Live USA is a reasonably good product. It has some areas in which there is definitely room for improvement, but IMO it definitely deserves consideration if you have an immediate need for an Android app with offline maps. If you can wait a little while, there will supposedly be a TomTom app available "soon" for Android phones.

With best wishes,
- Tom -

it didn't worked for me

On my wifi Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7, Google maps has been updated today. I set up an offline map and this map can be viewed with the wifi connection turned off. However, navigation is not possible since the Google Navigation app shows a popup that the wifi is off and cannot even plan a route much less give turn-by-turn directions. When the wifi is turned on navigation works perfectly.

It seems clear that Google did not get the point of what must be done. Offline maps is not enough. Navigation also must work offline.

My tablet is wifi and does not have a 3G or 4G connection, but if you are navigating using Google Maps and Navigation with your smart phone and the signal is lost, I predict that the navigation app will lock up.

It might be possible to do as WASSup says and start navigation with a signal so the route is in memory, and continue navigation after the signal is lost, but this would be really awkward.

dobs108

Google still wants to data mine your info, so they won't allow you to navigate without a connection.

I so tired of this stuff. You won't sell me anything with ads anyway... But, I imagine Homeland Security pays big bucks for your info.

I am currently looking at Navigon not only for the road but also for the marine GPS. From their website it seems if you have the newest android tablets or phones it is not known if Navigon will work flawlessly. They are asking to email tech support and they will give an opinion on which of their software products will work on your device.

dobs108

Unless things have changed, I tried the same thing. I chose a nearby BJ's wholesale to navigate to. I then put my phone, in my case a Droid Bionic, in airplane mode. I knew it would navigate via a cashed route, but thought that if I left the planned route it would be lost, but I was delighted to see that after I deliberately took a wrong turn she recalculated with no issues. I took another wrong turn and she recalculated again with out a problem and guided me to my destination.

I just finished researching nav apps for my android. At this point I haven’t found anything that gives me what I need so I wound up buying a new Garmin.

I have a Galaxy S2 4G -- came with the latest google maps -- and the offline maps don't work for me either, in fact even the voice app for "hands free" doesn't work unless you have a data connection -- which is totally ridiculous... why the hell do you need a data connection when trying to dial a number.

Glad to still have my Nuvi 760!

I've been using CoPilot Live USA for about a month on my Razr. I tried both the Google and Verizon Navigator apps, but stopped using them as soon as I discovered that they both were useless without a data connection.

CoPilot Live works without a data connection, and is very useful when I don't have one of my Garmins with me. It comes in handy when looking for nearby poi's. However, I am a little "concerned" with the routing information it sometimes gives. For example, the intersection at the end of my block is a "T". When I stop at that intersection and look to my left, I can see my parents home approximately 150 yards down the street. If using CoPilot Live to navigate from my house to my parent's home I am directed to turn right at that corner, proceed 50 yards to the main street, turn right and go 1 city block, turn right onto the side street, drive past the street I started on and turn right on the next corner, proceed 1 city block to my parents street, then turn left and arrive at my destination.

I think it has something to do with the way route preferences are set. I have all the settings at their default values. Maybe I'll fool around with the settings and see what happens. I only use the app on the phone when I don't have the 750 or the 40LM with me. And one of the Garmin's is always with me on any "serious" driving.

Is it set on "No left turn" preference?

Naw... that anit it. It does tell me to turn left when I get to the corner after following the "scenic route".

There are settings for the use of various road types that I have not played around with yet. The program allows you to choose your routing preferences for 5 different types of roads: Freeways, Divided Highways, Primary roads, Secondary Roads and Local Streets. For each of these 5 road types,you choose your Avoid/Favor preference. The choices being Strongly Avoid, Avoid, Neutral, Favor, or Strongly Favor. (you also can set a min speed for each road type) I think my problem lies somewhere in the way these preferences are set.

I'll try playing around with these settings and see what happens...

Just wanted to report back that I successfully used this technique using my new Nexus 7 tablet. Started navigation while on the hotel's WiFi to a nearby (3 miles) restaurant. Google Navigation directed us all the way with voice prompts and seemed to have pre-cached the map tiles for the route. Android 4.1.1 (Jelly Bean) and Maps 6.9.2

Not too many are going to run all competing softwares, so any feedback you get will be biased to the software the poster uses. Who is going to say, "Dang, I got the wrong one, the other one is better!"

But I have tried Motion X, Garmin, and Navigon. I prefer Navigon for smartphone based navigation.

I too used my Nexus 7 last week to navigate to a new Dr. appointment.

The trick is you must be connected to WIFI when the From: and To: are chosen, Google will download to the unit the necessary map to get you there and later discarded to conserve space in the unit.

Once the the route is in the unit you can turn off WIFI to conserve battery but the GPS must be turned on.

Seems fine as long as you stick to the route and the same destination. What if you don't like the restaurant and want to navigate to another? Without a Wi-Fi connection (or without a good signal at all times on a 3G connection for those devices) it can't be done.

dobs108

I am planning on Navigon for my 7" Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 (Wi-Fi only). They say it works offline. I hope it is as good as Garmin!

This is to be used when traveling for side trips such as dinner, like WASSup says. Use the web to plan dinner with Wi-Fi and navigate there with Navigon.

dobs108

If someone wants to pay for Navigon go for it but so everyone knows Google is Free and it works, and no you don't have to stick to the route it behaves the same as a standard GPS.

If you change your mind on the restaurant it will create a new route using the map it got while connected to WIFI as long as the new restaurant is inside the same map.

Outside the map, no problem stop by MickyD or Starbuck and get a new map section.

BTW the Nexus 7 only has WIFI no 3G or 4G it also has a GPS

I've got the ASUS Transformer TF300-BL with the 10.1 in screen. I'm still learning how to use the included apps but it also is WiFi only.

I can use my PlayBook via my Nexus S using the wifi hotspot feature. Or tether, or BT. I like choices.

But my post was aimed at those like me who are allergic to data plans.

This has been tried by WAASup and me. We downloaded an offline map using Wi-Fi, and started Google Navigation to the restaurant. We can leave the Wi-Fi connection behind and navigation still works to that destination.

But we found that even after installing the offline map, navigation cannot be started without an internet connection. This not only applies to Wi-Fi devices, but also 3G devices without cell coverage. So if you have a change of plans, you must have an internet connection.

dobs108

I have been running Navigon on my Android and it works great. I love the lane assist because my nuvi 660 does not have this feature.

It shows in the Google play store This app is incompatible with your Asus Nexus 7.

Most likely because the Nexus 7 is running Jelly Bean

According to their website, Navigon currently supports Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich or below:
http://www.navigon.com/portal/us/produkte/navigationssoftwar...

does this take into account the newly released version of Navigon for Android?

I recently got a secondhand Nokia with GPS (and WiFi) to try Nokia maps; which are free 'for life'. There is no problem using the GPS for navigation offline. At least in Ireland, the maps are noticeably better (more accurate) than the Google maps on my Chinese igo8 satnav. On the computer, the same errors are present in Google maps. Battery life is reasonable; perhaps better than six hours (my older Becker could hardly do two hours; often less than one hour; when walking)

I contacted Navigon tech support for my 7" Galaxy Tab 2. I do not think it's a ICS/Jelly Bean problem. It is a problem of display for the 7" tablets. For each app they sell, Navigon has an app for a smartphone and an app for a 10" tablet (HD). The 7" is in between and I think the smartphone app might run okay but the resolution might not be as good as it can be. The HD app might not run on a 7" tab.

Anyway they said not to install any of their apps on tablets unless they were tested in advance and recommended by Navigon. There are about 4 listed on their site in the FAQs. Neither my tab nor the Nexus 7 was tested yet.

Another idea is to go to the Play Store while using your tab, and the Play Store will only display the apps that run on it, and some Navigon apps are listed.
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Updated August 5, 2012 -

Recent changes in the Play Store -

Only Navigon smartphone apps are available. Any HD apps are no longer posted. One I was interested in was Navigon Italy HD, which will not run on my 7" tablet. Perhaps they will rewrite it to run on all tablets.

The same company has Navionics marine apps. All their smartphone apps are no longer posted. Navionics.com says that they are being improved and will be reintroduced. All their marine HD apps are available for tablets and not phones. Some 7" tablets are listed in the FAQs but not mine.

dobs108

How much of our data plan, I guess per hour, does using an app like Google maps burn?

Using a navigation program offline makes sense sometimes but sometimes you want run it online to get traffic

I have no idea how much data downloading the maps would use. However, the traffic data must be a small download since TomTom charges $60 per year to add a LIVE services subscription - which includes HD Traffic and more - to their dedicated GPS models that can receive it.

These devices use a cell connection for the data, and part of that fee is going to profit for TomTom, so I assume that the numbers would be no worse for a smartphone feed - unless your cell phone company is really ripping you off.

With best wishes,
- Tom -

We have no way of knowing the exact size of the data needed to run Google Maps Navigation, but the biggest part of it must be the map itself.

Before a drive, you can reduce data usage by downloading and saving one or more map tiles that cover your route while connected with WiFi. You choose the exact size and area covered by each tile while selecting it on the map.

Away from WiFi, the app will refer to the downloaded tile and avoid using the 3G connection for the map. Later, when that tile is no longer needed, it can be deleted to save memory.

There must be other processes that use data. Traffic is obvious, but what about all those POIs you see on the map? Google hopes you click on them and do business with them. Your position and activities are reported to Google if you have enabled that service in your device - that uses data. There must be other processes that use data that we are not aware of.

dobs108

Downloaded Navigon Europe on my Samsung Galaxy Tab 7 2 (WiFi) which runs Ice Cream Sandwich. You don't have to download the entire map of Europe - you can download maps for whatever countries you want.

In simulation mode it works fine - no problems. Will report back later.

dobs108

Please do (report back). I'm headed to Europe later this year and would like to use my SG2 while walking around, but don't have a European data plan.

Since version 6.11 of Google Nav, the cached map tiles can be as large as about 75 miles square (5,625 sq. mi.), as long as the file size is less than about 88MB. You can cache up to six map tiles of less than about 88MB each. Supposedly, caching the map tiles will reduce the need for a data connection. While that may be true in some cases, the real-world usefulness of google nav without a data connection is severely limited even with cached map tiles.

My review of Google nav starts here:
http://www.thriveforums.org/forum/toshiba-thrive-apps/12438-...

Later posts in the above thread continue the review with the latest version, which as of this writing is 6.12.0

Even with a cached map tile, you still can't do all that much with them if you don't have a data connection. Without cached map tiles, google nav will not re-route at all. But even with cached map tiles it will re-route only if you only go slightly off-route. Go too far off-route (but still WAY within the perimeter of the cached map tile) and google nav will be unable to re-route. Without a data connection, you also cannot create a new route or find anything in the cached area either (not even a specific address, even though it does have the street names in the cache).

My conclusion is here:
http://www.thriveforums.org/forum/toshiba-thrive-apps/12438-... and the gist of it IMO is that caching map tiles is more trouble than it is worth.

I sum it up as follows: "...even with the latest version of the map caching working as it is apparently supposed to do, my overall assessment remains the same: google nav is nearly useless without a continuous data connection, and based on the quality of the directions I was getting, I'm not sure it's really that useful even with a continuous data connection."

Recently installed this one on my Blackberry, it's still in tests but looks quite promising.

http://www.telmapbeta.com/

Oh - and accuracy is also very good. I grabbed it for the odd days when I don't carry my Nüvi, of course

I am now in Venice. Navigon Europe is useless since the map scale is nowhere near large enough. It can be used for navigation but all the POIs I loaded are lost. The map cannot be used to select a destination because the scale is too small.

For Google maps navigation, I downloaded map tiles in advance. The map can be viewed at a very large scale but no detail at all is included. No street names! Doh! It also is useless offline even if you do not want to navigate. You can start navigating online as previously discussed. There is free wifi everywhere but they give you the password so it is not so easy.

My advice - bring your 3G smartphone or tablet. It must be GSM and 4 band. Get a European SIM card and pay a lot for data.

dobs108