http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/25/smartphone-gps-shootout-google-ovi-and-verizon/ Engadget Comments for Smartphone GPS shootout: Google, Ovi, and Verizon go head-to-head http://www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/25/smartphone-gps-shootout-google-ovi-and-verizon/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/25/smartphone-gps-shootout-google-ovi-and-verizon/Feb 25th 2010 12:01PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/02/25/smartphone-gps-shootout-google-ovi-and-verizon/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/25/smartphone-gps-shootout-google-ovi-and-verizon/
Yeah I was kind of shocked that TeleNav wasn't included. That's available on just about every platform, Windows Mobile, Blackberry, Android, WebOS, iPhone, even the flip-phone Java OSes.]]>Feb 25th 2010 12:48PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/02/25/smartphone-gps-shootout-google-ovi-and-verizon/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/25/smartphone-gps-shootout-google-ovi-and-verizon/
Well, many other options could be included.

At first I though it was about free options only, but now I see that the Verizon thing actually costs $10/month.. So why not include even Garmin, Sygic etc.? I'd much rather get Garmin for $99 and no subscription, works offline etc. than the VZ thing.]]>Feb 25th 2010 1:23PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/02/25/smartphone-gps-shootout-google-ovi-and-verizon/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/25/smartphone-gps-shootout-google-ovi-and-verizon/I think the point is the Sprint Telenav solution is far superior to the VZ Navigator solution and its free. It doesn't really make sense to do the roundup while ignoring one of the most competitive solutions out there. Especially one that's been around since 2008 with the Instinct.]]>Feb 26th 2010 12:41PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/02/25/smartphone-gps-shootout-google-ovi-and-verizon/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/25/smartphone-gps-shootout-google-ovi-and-verizon/Feb 25th 2010 12:02PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/02/25/smartphone-gps-shootout-google-ovi-and-verizon/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/25/smartphone-gps-shootout-google-ovi-and-verizon/Feb 25th 2010 12:02PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/02/25/smartphone-gps-shootout-google-ovi-and-verizon/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/25/smartphone-gps-shootout-google-ovi-and-verizon/Google use Tele Atlas maps in the UK. Tele Atlas is owned by TomTom. TomTom isn't going to let a competitor give its product away for free.]]>Feb 25th 2010 12:16PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/02/25/smartphone-gps-shootout-google-ovi-and-verizon/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/25/smartphone-gps-shootout-google-ovi-and-verizon/If that's the case, how come it's not an option to just switch to whatever ovi maps appears to be using? (I assume it's free and available in UK?).]]>Feb 25th 2010 12:20PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/02/25/smartphone-gps-shootout-google-ovi-and-verizon/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/25/smartphone-gps-shootout-google-ovi-and-verizon/Ovi Maps uses Navteq maps. Nokia owns Navteq. There's no way that Nokia will allow Google to use them. :)]]>Feb 25th 2010 12:29PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/02/25/smartphone-gps-shootout-google-ovi-and-verizon/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/25/smartphone-gps-shootout-google-ovi-and-verizon/Feb 25th 2010 12:31PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/02/25/smartphone-gps-shootout-google-ovi-and-verizon/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/25/smartphone-gps-shootout-google-ovi-and-verizon/Frustrating! Thanks for the info.]]>Feb 25th 2010 12:31PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/02/25/smartphone-gps-shootout-google-ovi-and-verizon/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/25/smartphone-gps-shootout-google-ovi-and-verizon/Not to mention that roaming data charges are more of a pain in the UK than in the US]]>Feb 25th 2010 1:11PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/02/25/smartphone-gps-shootout-google-ovi-and-verizon/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/25/smartphone-gps-shootout-google-ovi-and-verizon/Navteq sells mapto everyone, including Google for some countries. They supply most of the world's maps period. TeleAtlas comes in a much lower second. Nokia basically controls the mapping industry.]]>Feb 25th 2010 3:35PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/02/25/smartphone-gps-shootout-google-ovi-and-verizon/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/25/smartphone-gps-shootout-google-ovi-and-verizon/
Voice operation makes it quite nice.]]>Feb 25th 2010 12:03PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/02/25/smartphone-gps-shootout-google-ovi-and-verizon/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/25/smartphone-gps-shootout-google-ovi-and-verizon/
Bing doesn't have voice turn by turn, which is why it was not included, I imagine. Though I have a feeling come WinPho7 it will.]]>Feb 25th 2010 12:21PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/02/25/smartphone-gps-shootout-google-ovi-and-verizon/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/25/smartphone-gps-shootout-google-ovi-and-verizon/Feb 25th 2010 3:40PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/02/25/smartphone-gps-shootout-google-ovi-and-verizon/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/25/smartphone-gps-shootout-google-ovi-and-verizon/Feb 25th 2010 12:04PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/02/25/smartphone-gps-shootout-google-ovi-and-verizon/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/25/smartphone-gps-shootout-google-ovi-and-verizon/
Yeah, that and a few others. Copilot Live 8 isn't there either, and I think it's available for the iPhone, Android and Winmo. They just pushed out text-to-speech for street names, and also free live search.

I prefer non-subscription bases, non-tower dependent gps systems on my phones when at all possible.]]>Feb 25th 2010 1:38PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/02/25/smartphone-gps-shootout-google-ovi-and-verizon/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/25/smartphone-gps-shootout-google-ovi-and-verizon/
I had Tomtom nav on my old winmob phone (HTC HD) but on my new HTC HD2 I switched to Copilot8 which is by far the best I have ever had.
I have also had the latest OVI maps on my old N97, it was OK but Copilot is on a different legue.]]>Feb 25th 2010 5:05PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/02/25/smartphone-gps-shootout-google-ovi-and-verizon/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/25/smartphone-gps-shootout-google-ovi-and-verizon/I'm betting the engadget editors aren't aware that Sprint's free solution has been on all their phones since the Instinct days.

And btw- it is totally superior to Google Nav in terms of routing and lady robot voice quality.]]>Feb 26th 2010 12:38PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/02/25/smartphone-gps-shootout-google-ovi-and-verizon/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/25/smartphone-gps-shootout-google-ovi-and-verizon/Feb 25th 2010 12:04PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/02/25/smartphone-gps-shootout-google-ovi-and-verizon/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/25/smartphone-gps-shootout-google-ovi-and-verizon/
Also they don't charge extra for it if you have unlimited data you have unlimited navigation.]]>Feb 25th 2010 12:05PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/02/25/smartphone-gps-shootout-google-ovi-and-verizon/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/25/smartphone-gps-shootout-google-ovi-and-verizon/Feb 25th 2010 12:06PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/02/25/smartphone-gps-shootout-google-ovi-and-verizon/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/25/smartphone-gps-shootout-google-ovi-and-verizon/
im still waiting for ovi maps on more devices...my e71 is quite lonely.

anyone heard any rumors as to when more devices will be able to use the update?]]>Feb 25th 2010 1:06PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/02/25/smartphone-gps-shootout-google-ovi-and-verizon/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/25/smartphone-gps-shootout-google-ovi-and-verizon/
A Nokia 5230 for £99 unlocked with 3G and free maps makes it a winner too. :D]]>Feb 25th 2010 1:15PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/02/25/smartphone-gps-shootout-google-ovi-and-verizon/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/25/smartphone-gps-shootout-google-ovi-and-verizon/And it just got better yesterday when they integrated HRS along Lonely Planet and Michelin. Finding and reserving a hotel will be a breeze now!]]>Feb 25th 2010 1:40PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/02/25/smartphone-gps-shootout-google-ovi-and-verizon/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/25/smartphone-gps-shootout-google-ovi-and-verizon/Feb 25th 2010 12:06PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/02/25/smartphone-gps-shootout-google-ovi-and-verizon/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/25/smartphone-gps-shootout-google-ovi-and-verizon/Feb 25th 2010 12:49PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/02/25/smartphone-gps-shootout-google-ovi-and-verizon/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/25/smartphone-gps-shootout-google-ovi-and-verizon/
Woah, downvoted! That's a first for me. I asked due to it being one of the main competitors in the smart-phone market and to make the article balanced. The prospect of it having it's OWN full article where multiple apps available only on the iPhone are pitted against other iPhone apps and not scrutinised along with the competition isn't a grand one.

I'm not sure if it was the Apple haters or fan boys who have a problem with the question. ]]>Feb 25th 2010 1:21PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/02/25/smartphone-gps-shootout-google-ovi-and-verizon/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/25/smartphone-gps-shootout-google-ovi-and-verizon/Feb 25th 2010 1:34PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/02/25/smartphone-gps-shootout-google-ovi-and-verizon/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/25/smartphone-gps-shootout-google-ovi-and-verizon/Feb 25th 2010 12:07PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/02/25/smartphone-gps-shootout-google-ovi-and-verizon/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/25/smartphone-gps-shootout-google-ovi-and-verizon/Feb 25th 2010 4:18PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/02/25/smartphone-gps-shootout-google-ovi-and-verizon/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/25/smartphone-gps-shootout-google-ovi-and-verizon/It's also on almost every other phone they've sold since 2008- the Hero, the Tour, the TP2, even their dumbphones have it!]]>Feb 26th 2010 7:48PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/02/25/smartphone-gps-shootout-google-ovi-and-verizon/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/25/smartphone-gps-shootout-google-ovi-and-verizon/Feb 25th 2010 12:08PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/02/25/smartphone-gps-shootout-google-ovi-and-verizon/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/25/smartphone-gps-shootout-google-ovi-and-verizon/
The so called 'real GPS unit' will be outdated in the near future. Things can only get better for the smartphone GPS.]]>Feb 25th 2010 12:21PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/02/25/smartphone-gps-shootout-google-ovi-and-verizon/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/25/smartphone-gps-shootout-google-ovi-and-verizon/Feb 25th 2010 12:24PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/02/25/smartphone-gps-shootout-google-ovi-and-verizon/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/25/smartphone-gps-shootout-google-ovi-and-verizon/
At the same time, I'd suggest that MOST people need GPS only a few times a year, making free phone nav a worthy substitute.]]>Feb 25th 2010 12:29PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/02/25/smartphone-gps-shootout-google-ovi-and-verizon/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/25/smartphone-gps-shootout-google-ovi-and-verizon/Feb 25th 2010 12:30PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/02/25/smartphone-gps-shootout-google-ovi-and-verizon/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/25/smartphone-gps-shootout-google-ovi-and-verizon/
Ummm...tell me one good reason why anybody would spend any more money for a dedicated GPS unit over a good smartphone-based GPS?

Even on my old (almost 3 years) HTC Touch, Garmin/googlemaps and Tomtom all work flawlessly with traffic updates, turn-by-turn, etc. ]]>Feb 25th 2010 12:35PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/02/25/smartphone-gps-shootout-google-ovi-and-verizon/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/25/smartphone-gps-shootout-google-ovi-and-verizon/
I still use my phone for the GPS UI, but I use an external GPS puck for the better hardware that "I" can choose instead of the current GPSone crap.]]>Feb 25th 2010 12:47PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/02/25/smartphone-gps-shootout-google-ovi-and-verizon/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/25/smartphone-gps-shootout-google-ovi-and-verizon/
My Droid replaced my Garmin Nuvi 360. With my phone, I just tell it where to take me and off we go. None of this waiting for two minutes for the thing to load maps. None of this hunt'n'peck to enter a destination.]]>Feb 25th 2010 1:06PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/02/25/smartphone-gps-shootout-google-ovi-and-verizon/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/25/smartphone-gps-shootout-google-ovi-and-verizon/
If you rely on a GPS for moving around, you will probably see the value in dedicated devices. For example, not only if you make a living with driving, but also if you are new in town, or on a road trip. You can make a call and ask for more details of your destination AND input that info into de GPS.

GPS devices will turn into niche products as much as eReaders, mp3 players and netbooks will or have turned into. No matter how well a smartphone works.]]>Feb 25th 2010 1:34PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/02/25/smartphone-gps-shootout-google-ovi-and-verizon/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/25/smartphone-gps-shootout-google-ovi-and-verizon/
I have a real GPS (Nuvi 760), you can buy it if you want. Even the older VZ NAV (from like 2 years ago) was better than the dedicated GPS units.

Get informed.]]>Feb 25th 2010 2:01PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/02/25/smartphone-gps-shootout-google-ovi-and-verizon/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/25/smartphone-gps-shootout-google-ovi-and-verizon/
Ummmm...On my 3-yaer old vogue (CDMA HTC Touch) I get a lock in 15-30 seconds, and never have below 6 satellite, usually 7-8, sometimes 9-10 if in open air. and I can CHOOSE whichever software I want.

As for battery, dedicated devices are mostly used in cars, if you spend that much time in your car, you will have a car charger fro your phone.]]>Feb 25th 2010 3:49PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/02/25/smartphone-gps-shootout-google-ovi-and-verizon/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/25/smartphone-gps-shootout-google-ovi-and-verizon/Feb 25th 2010 5:27PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/02/25/smartphone-gps-shootout-google-ovi-and-verizon/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/25/smartphone-gps-shootout-google-ovi-and-verizon/BTW "If you lose your data connection while using Google Maps Navigation (Beta): Navigation and voice guidance will continue as long as you do not deviate from your prescribed route, but underlying map tiles may not load."
http://www.google.com/support/mobile/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=165383]]>Feb 25th 2010 12:08PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/02/25/smartphone-gps-shootout-google-ovi-and-verizon/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/25/smartphone-gps-shootout-google-ovi-and-verizon/Actually gave this a try a few weeks ago by turning off my radio after i set my route. Worked just fine. I think it caches your route and then some so if you lose your connection and have to detour you can. ]]>Feb 25th 2010 1:09PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/02/25/smartphone-gps-shootout-google-ovi-and-verizon/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/25/smartphone-gps-shootout-google-ovi-and-verizon/
Also, why are people saying you can't use ovi maps in the US?]]>Feb 25th 2010 12:15PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/02/25/smartphone-gps-shootout-google-ovi-and-verizon/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/25/smartphone-gps-shootout-google-ovi-and-verizon/
Obviously Google Nav and the Verizon offering don't apply to me (I have a Nokia 5800 and love the Ovi Maps) but there are other offerings, for example Telus has a subscription service that I would assume is similar to Verizon's and is one option to use on the Motorola Milestone here.

In reality it would seem that Ovi Maps really is the best option as a navigation device. There will be many instances where you will not have cell coverage and require navigation, mostly because you're probably lost and your GPS would be your only lifeline. This makes Ovi Maps the only software that turns your phone in to an actual GPS device. For some reason I thought Google Nav could store map information locally and not require a data connection but I was wrong.]]>Feb 25th 2010 12:19PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/02/25/smartphone-gps-shootout-google-ovi-and-verizon/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/25/smartphone-gps-shootout-google-ovi-and-verizon/Feb 25th 2010 12:20PM