Considering An iPhone

Garmin's Navigon app is better in my opinion... closer to an end user experience to my Nuvi765T for me than the Garmin app... And Apple's own map product is no worse than any other app I've used...

What about the new BlackBerry Z10 or Q10?

I use a Garmin GPSMAP60CSx and a Montana, also have Navigon and StreetPilot OnBoard on an iPhone 4S. The StreetPilot app is almost identical to the Garmin experience on the Montana. The Montana has a little more features, the StreetPilot has cell system connectivity which comes in handy. The Navigon has a very different experience, clearly a different brand feel than the familiar Garmin experience I am accustomed.

I too am interested in the Dyle TV, but it isn't available in my area. Looks interesting, until they start charging for it, which they will.

Never experienced a bug with the StreetPilot app, it works just fine. I have run the StreetPilot app and the Montana side-by-side and they perform like clones when navigating.

Considering both apps, I primarily use StreetPilot, Navigon not too often. I use Navigon just to try it once in a while to see if I am missing anything. It does not compel me to use it.

Thank you for the responses. What is the battery life like on the iPhone?

Fine for me... I'm not a heavy user by any means... probably average use... if you're planning on using in a car with a GPS app - you will definitely want a car charger.

Battery is fine. i go all day without external power. GPS can be a battery hog. Keep screen brightness to something reasonable and you should be fine.

As Keith said, in a car you'd need a charger. You'll probably be using GPS, keeping the screen on, and Bluetooth connection to the car radio, so a power source is recommended in that case.

...And get a good mount so you can see your iPhone easily, and it stays in one place. This is important in something like a Mini Cooper, which is known to expose vehicle contents to lateral acceleration...

Running apps that use GPS, update the screen continuously, and fetch data over cellular use a lot of power.

That means things such as Waze, Fog of World, Navigon, and other such apps. I run my iPhone 4S connected to the charger, and have it mounted where it's partially covering a vent, so I can blow cold air on to it -- all that juice it's using gets turned int heat.

Still use my Nuvi for most of the nav work, with the iPhone for other tracking, such as Waze (traffic awareness) or Fog of World (tracking on a larger scale -- take a look at it, it's fun).

are there any solutions that allow for user reports of items of concern such as cops, construction, road hazards other than Waze and Trapster? The ability to get info from users ahead is what keeps me with Waze, although their ads are getting so intrusive it's time for a change for me.

Not kidding. If not a full blown radio, at least a scanner that receives the CB band, and monitor CH 9 and 19.

It's great for traffic and forward awareness.

INRIX also provides the info you are looking for. INRIX uses sensors in the roads alonf with tracking users to get congestion data so it is more accurate than WAZE in reporting traffic volume. INRIX allows user reports and states if a report is confirmed or unconfirmed and the number of users that have confirmed the report alonf with a time stamp.

What I like about Garmin USA on my iPhone is that when you get close to your destination, a street view pops up on the screen near the top.

What I don't like when compared to Tom Tom USA is that the voice commands do not have a separate volume control than the entertainment audio. Also there are not enough free voices for turn by turn navigation.

I actually use the iPhone for navigation more than my Nuvi 760.

Navigon on the iPhone is a superb application !

I have found the user generated input in Waze to be far more accurate than INRIX which often "misses" significant traffic jams and backups.

INRIX won't do things like report the freight trains on surface streets near O'Hare that back traffic up for 20 minutes. I get plenty of thanks when I report them, because that lets people reroute and avoid. INRIX also would not have reported the 2 x 4 in the middle of the road that I got an advisory on a month ago.

I suspect will become just another data mining and advertising delivery tool for Google now that they own it...

Go to a store and do a side-by-side comparison.

Recommend you wait until after Sept. 10 when the new iPhone will be announced.

Ask yourself, what do you want from the device?

I run the Garmin StreetPilot app on an iPhone 4S and it provides a very good GPS function.

+1

What makes you curious about the iPhone?

I carry iPhone 5 and Galaxy S4 daily.

I like my iPhone but I prefer the S4. The tiny 4" screen makes reading tough. Also you are locked into a single keyboard (I love swiftkey / swype on Android), and the iPhone forces you to the horrible iOS maps by default.

You will find that aggravating over time. Even though you may choose Google Maps or some 3rd party navigation app, any time you try to get directions from the browser, or any other app, you'll be directed to iOS maps by default.

I use Google Maps on my iPhone, but I have to manually copy / paste addresses from the source (ie Yelp) and paste into Google Maps to get accurate directions. That's very cumbersome and irritating.

"Trapster" is a social networking for traffic application. It also has live traffic integration.

Trapster is available for iPhone and Android.

On my iPhone 4S, I get about two and a half days on a single charge. I have Sprint service which means I do not have usable data so I leave the "Cellular Data" option turned off which does wonders for battery life. Of course without data, the various GPS options for the iPhone are useless so I stick with my Nuvi 765T. I would strongly recommend checking various carriers before signing up for an iPhone. It can be an expensive brick.

Now that the new iPhone 5S has been announced, it might be worth considering. Battery life is said to be 10 hours on talk and 10 hours on LTE browsing (data). I find the Garmin USA app to be useful and close to what my 755t offered.

I still prefer a standalone GPS though but have used the Garmin USA app on my iPhone 5 when I didn't have my GPS with me.

Absolutely not true. I use Garmin USA on my iPhone and I'm NEVER redirected to the iOS maps. In fact I'm never redirected from Google Maps or any other map app to the iOS maps.

As it can with any carrier or smartphone.

Try NavNow in the App Store. http://glurl.co/ckY

I haven't used it in a while but I think it's for TomTom navigation. Why don't you do your address lookups using Google Maps?

http://hints.macworld.com/article.php?story=2013090819174060...

No Siri on my iPhone 4 so that won't work. Wondering if it would work on Garmin USA if I did have an iPhone 4S or 5?

I too am considering an iPhone. The battery on my GS II is starting to go and it will almost be cheaper to get a new phone. I like a lot about the Android, except when it crashes, which is about once a month for me. I've heard the iPhone is more stable, and for me, first and foremost, I need a reliable phone.

I will miss my TomTom USA, but such is life. Alas, there is no perfect cellphone like there is no perfect PND.

No piece of electronic kit is immune from crashing... I've found my Apple kit to crash less than any other platform I've ever used... and with Apple, because of their architecture - it's rare when a crash will take down the whole device...only the app crashes. And never listen to anyone who has never used an Apple device when considering your options.

Shooter, I see you have a 60CS, I use a 60CSx. So you are familiar with the Garmin experience.

The Garmin StreetPilot iOS app will give you an experience that is familiar with the 60CS. You'll get a bigger screen and connectivity. I consider my iPhone with StreetPilot as my non-waterproof Garmin GPS. The StreetPilot app is all self-contained on the iPhone, connectivity is not required.

I have never had a crash (yet) on my GS III, which is running Android 4.1.2. It has definitely been a more stable device than my previous phone, which - if my memory is correct - was running Android 2.3.

- Tom -

You do not know what you're talking about.

Try using Yelp app, or GasBuddy app, or clicking on an address in the Safari browser. Guess where the iPhone will take you? Yup, iOS maps.

Sure, I can always start with a navigation app (eg Google maps) and stay there, but that limits your ability to interact using other apps with location information. And that is not what I'm talking about either.

Please get more experience with your iPhone before you try to show up other more experienced users.

I've had the SGS2, SGS3 and SGS4. The SGS2's battery life is not comparable to the SG3 which is fantastic.

My iPhone 5 crashes once a month or more. I have to reboot weekly because things don't work as they should, or freeze, or do some other funky things.

I don't use address lookups with Google Maps because often I get address information from other sources, ie the Safari / Chrome browser on my iPhone, or Yelp app, or GasBuddy, or a myriad of other travel apps. Google Maps is great, but it does not contain all of the information the other sources have. And iPhone still doesn't allow you to click on the address of a contact to launch navigation... LOL.

It's stuff like this that makes me spend a lot less time here than I used to... and makes me want to be here even less.

Keith, pay no attention to him.

Well, that's how it works in Safari. I always use Garmin USA to get addresses to route to never Yelp or GasBuddy. Why would I? I use a Navigation app to navigate not Google. It's just not the same experience.

And maybe I get different results than you in Safari because I have Google set as the search engine for Safari.

.

Is your iPhone 5 hacked, jailbroken, etc. in any way?

And how often do you shutdown and restart your iPhone 5? That is good practice, since that process will execute maintenance routines, sort of like housekeeping. That's what I do and never a crash.

When it works, which is most of the time, I am happy with my phone. However, it will freeze at times for anywhere from 10 to 60 seconds. Apps will hang up. Bluetooth will either not work or drop a call. And of course, those things tend to happen at the most inopportune time.

While I am still considering the SG4S, I really don't care for all of the bloatware that comes with it and eats up the battery. On my SG2S, I cannot get rid of them. I have learned how to turn them off, but I need to do that every time I turn on my phone which is frustrating.

I am tempted to go back to a simple cellphone, but I have been spoiled by the ability to check my email, the internet and listen to my music. I also know there are semi-smart phones that do those things; I used to have one but the battery died. That's when I got the SG2S.

Actually I am not complaining, it is a blessing to have so many options.

I love my 60CS. I only use it for field work now and the text on some of the keys is difficult to read, but it still does the job. I can't bring myself to part with it.

I was a longtime Garmin user before I switched to TomTom. Both have their advantages and disadvantages. Some of the features that drove me to TT are now in Garmin (and other PNDs). One big reason I want to stay with TT USA is I have already paid for lifetime maps and traffic!

You'll be glad that you did ;0

Go to the store and find a form factor that feels comfortable for you. My phone is bigger, a Galaxy Note II, but it's so nice having a big screen. I have a multi window hack on it so I can have 2 apps open on the main screen and watch them both. I'll sometimes run both Waze and Trapster, or Waze and maps etc. The smaller screen like the iPhone are more pocketable though, so keep that part in mind. Getting there is only half the battle, once you get there consider the fact the phone goes in your pocket. Good luck with whatever choice you make. You may find the smaller iPhone fits your needs better than a huge phone.

I have the 4S and never use Siri. All the guys at work who have the iPhone 4S or 5 don't use Siri either. It's just another selling feature for Apple. With the 5S and 5C, they are basically running out of new ideas.

Pretty much sums it up, I think.

I use Siri frequently. Especially in the car to do things hands free. Just push the button and instruct Siri.

I love my Samsung galaxy....s3...,,,crApples days are numbered...

Why is it that denizens of other platforms have to toss pejoratives like "crApple"... you people are truly pathetic.

My super geek cousin who can hack about anything and is into GPS has switched from his Garman Nuvi 765T to the iPhone app. Personally I am inclined to consider using both and report back. I am planing to get the new iPhone 5S which will be out in a few days.

Since we drive an RV, I am already using 2 GPS units, the RVND 7720 with is great for reference and size, but the Garmin is a more trused GPS. I am thinking I will more likely use the iPhone when we are driving the car we tow behind the RV, where as I now move the Garmin to the car.
3 GPS units. Yikes !!! Sooo.. many toys we have. :>)

Funny you should mention that. When the 4S with Siri first came out I thought it would be a great feature. However, after a few attempts at using it I realized it was pretty much useless and gave up. The first problem is that you do need a good data connection and that was a problem with my carrier. WiFi yes, carrier 3G no. Secondly I found that it had a habit of returning generalized results or the wrong results. A classic issue I had was asking Siri when the first Thanksgiving Holiday was and it kept trying to find an address for me.

I know several people with iPhone 4S's and 5's and none use Siri. It is quicker to type what you want into Google.

With the database that Siri has to reference for searches, a fast network would be necessary.

Google accepts voice input for searches too, and it works well.

Siri, and other voice input, is invaluable. All you have to do is learn how to use it.

I find it interesting how new technology works for some and not others. Or is it that some don't work with new technology?

BTW, Siri is no longer Beta.

Try it, you'll like it.

I got both the Galaxy s3 and iphone 5. Both have their pros and cons but I would not be too worried about apple's days being numbered.