GPS,
An Engadget adventure with TeleNav's G1 GPS software: hands-on, impressions, and video
By Joshua Topolsky 
posted Feb 13th 2009 1:21PM
posted Feb 13th 2009 1:21PM
- The software is really snappy, snappier than a lot of dedicated GPS units we've used.
- Finding satellites can be a major pain sometimes, and the signal can drop while you're driving (see video), which could be a major headache if you're on a trip and you really don't know where you're going.
- The app doesn't seem to eat up much space (it occupies 4MB on the device), so it appears to be pulling map data OTA. That's a good thing if you're worried about filling up your G1, but bad if you need info quickly or you're not in a data-gettin' spot.
- We experienced a crash while it was fetching satellites. The software is still being tweaked from what TeleNav tells us, so we're going to assume that won't be an issue once it's on the market.
- The traffic, restaurant, and gas station services are top notch and pretty speedy (once it figures out where you are). Since a lot of GPS units aren't pulling live data on surrounding businesses or traffic / weather info, this is a nice touch.
- The speaker volume on the G1 is probably a bit quiet if you're cranking on a highway -- that could be an issue if you're really relying on what Stephen King calls "the GPS voice."
- As expected, it's a power hog, so plan on having an adapter in the car if you're going to get any use out of this.
Overall, it's a mostly passable alternative to a traditional GPS, save for the fact that the G1's GPS chip remains somewhat unreliable (as we noted in our initial review). If that's something that can be helped by a software tweak, wonderful, but our gut feeling is that we're going to have to wait for the G2 for those improvements. Still, even with those drawbacks (which don't rear their head too often), if you're a G1 owner and you don't mind taking that monthly $9.99 hit (a fee which we think is a bit too steep), this is great alternative to lugging a separate GPS unit around.
Heh, I'm enjoying all the Jason images.
They should do a random item everyday! xD
don't look now, but Jason is right behind you!
Best 'shop ever.
Oooooh! Boosh. I totally missed that the first time!
i'm guessing the "9.99" hit would be paying for the app and not a monthly service charge.
I'm thinking you'd be wrong.
It's monthly, I just clarified that (we also mentioned in the post yesterday).
wow. another monthly charge for a gps receiver. they don't get it do they? i might be able to understand it if it were a service that they were providing, say, if it were THEIR satellites we're using and they needed to maintain them. last i checked, however, they're not. its really ridiculous when you think about.
a ham sandwich, the maps don't draw & maintain themselves you know...
@ a ham sandwich
They don't own the GPs satellites but they do have to pay to use them.
Wow, so much misinformation.
1. Nobody pays for GPS satellites. It is a government service provided for free for the people.
2. GPS gives you a location. It doesn't draw you a map. Companies like Tele-Atlas and NAVTEQ have vehicles going to every street to chart the roads, and that costs money.
3. All the GPS units that charges a one-time fee with no monthly fees just give you a static map. No updates, no traffic information, etc. The monthly fee for services like the one here covers the updates they provide for you, including when the maps for the roads change, as well as up to date information on traffic, congestion, gas prices, points of interest, etc.
The monthly fee + OTA map data = fail
I don't like G!, I like only my Iphone ;-p
Yea, having copy/paste, MMS, Opera Mini, multiple apps running at the same time, and now turn by turn GPS is a real let down.
@Seth H.
I know, you know everything ! ! !
I wouldn't like that iPhone too much Berka, it told me last week it thought you were an asshole.
Forget your iPhone for a second now; have you ever thought why nobody likes you?
Red jeans, Really ???!!!!!
"We experienced a crash while it was fetching satellites."
I hope there were no injuries!
I can't really say I was blown away by this at all, and I'm not into paying a monthly fee for gps service....I know you're getting a lot of bonuses for it using a data connection, but for the most part I dont think I'd use those features enough to justify the cost.
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What kind of Honda is that?
It's a Honda car.
I think it's an '09 Honda Fit.
Jepp, i would guess so, too.... just drove a 09 Honda Jazz (that's the european version of the Fit) and it looks extactly the same from inside... you can even see that he choose to have the manual climatisation instead of fully automatical one ;)
Question is... would you rather be going to hell or pizza hut? Hmmmm.
hell
I'm digging the video game-esque version of "Around the World"
where can i get the 8bit cover of Daft Punk's Around the World?
Thanks for that look into TeleNav's GPS Software, I really hope they look at different pricing options in the future.
PS~ Way to rock the red pants. =D
Not bad. Shame about the G1's GPS though...
The question has to be asked:
Why is Josh wearing red pants?
Do you have a problem with my red pants?
@joshua topolsky Oh your red pants are awesome! It's just not every day you see a grown man walking (driving?) around in bright red pants.
Around the world, around the world, a-around the world
Don't plan on using this if you're taking a road trip. Hit a dead spot and you're SOL. I would never pay a monthly fee for GPS.
I use Garmin on my Blackjack 2 - all the maps fit on micro-sd. Works like a charm. If there's a data connection it'll grab gas prices and other nearby goodies for you. You can also tether the Blackjack2 at the same time. http://networkjew.com/2009/02/09/howto-unlock-blackjack-ii-tethering-windows-mobile/
With my Samsung Omnia (16GB) I got Route66 with a free 3 years subscription and it works at least as good as my Garmin dedicated GPS device.
On my other phone, the HTC touch HD, I 've got CoPilot for HTC HD, I payed about 70 euros for it but it works even better/faster.
Anyway I'm sure even this is enough to give second thoughts to the morons who still insist against all evidence that their iPhones are good smartphones.
KilgoreTrout,
I think you're wrong. Reason doesn't work on cult members.
S16
@ Simon
The only cult to which I belong and to which I'm proud to be a member is "the scientific community".
Its only rule is "the scientific method" following which I draw my conclusions.
If , as probable, you 've never heard of it try a quick wikipedia search.
KT,
I didn't word my response clearly - my bad. I was only questioning your statment that reason will work on the Kool-Aid drinkers caught in the RDF.
Mea Culpa
S
what ever happened to Nokia 6110's model. You pay for the map once and you are done. I paid 75 bux for my US & Canada maps and i am done, in fact it even works with out the sim card.
Love the software, the idea, but hate the GPS chip on the G1.
TeleNav is the debil. Buggy software, crappy CS, shitty attitude. If you REALLY need GPS, get a stand alone unit.
Oh, BTW: No cell service = No GPS. So if you're traveling outside of your area, you're SOL.
OTA mapping data seems like a bad idea for a GPS application.
It greatly reduces your battery life, loses the ability to alter your route if you fall out of (high speed) data coverage, and you can't navigate while talking on the phone.
For anyone reading this article, I highly recommend buying navigation software on an SD card.
love turn by turn, wondering if now that it's pay for play google will impliment it themselves for a pay app. as noted though i would like it to be able to precache route info so that dead zones aren't an issue.
it's unclear to me if this will do more in depth gps work like backcountry nagivation as well, ideally with a SD loaded topo....
GET A REAL GPS UNIT.
Responding to Joshua's statement that there are no zombies on Roosevelt Island, I believe they are probably hiding since they are probably vampire zombies.
I hope it's not like that in the final build. Prefetch data is the pits. Just ask the iPhone.
Feels like: NIPPY
Excellent!