Bing turn-by-turn navigation for Windows Mobile gets taken for a test drive
By Donald Melanson 
posted May 13th 2010 4:27PM
posted May 13th 2010 4:27PM
Microsoft certainly added all the right features to its Bing navigation app for Windows Mobile, but does it actually deliver the goods in real world use? It does according to the folks at PocketNow, who have put the app through its paces and kindly provided a quick demo video of it running on an HTC HD2. While there's nothing too shocking or surprising, it looks like the voice input works well, and the turn-by-turn directions seem to be at least up to par with your average navigation device -- it even has a few nice touches like being able to tap on the screen to repeat the instructions. Head on past the break to check it out the video and, if you're still unsure, you can always take the app for a spin yourself -- it is free, after all.
[Thanks, Keenan I]
[Thanks, Keenan I]
that is the same "microphone" graphic android uses! rip-offf!
@slickpaki
As much as I love and use Android, it's hard to understand why anyone would find it an inspirational source for graphic UI rip-off.
@joe23521 Microsoft obviously, LOL !
@joe23521 Google navigation is the best (for now)!!!! DROID DOES!
@Picaso4me I agree. Google Navigation is pretty nice. I dont know how this would compare but it has only satellite view, that sucks! Plus, Google Navigation (Android Navigation) will show you a "Street View" of your destination locale, pretty cool if you ask me.
The great thing about this app is it isn't compatible with Windows Phone 7, so they will have to make another version for it. Add the fact WM7 has no multi-tasking so when you receive a call it will pause the navigation.
@treats I dont know if I mind that. It's always annoying if you are on a call using your nexus one and the navigation is on the lady will bark blocking out the voice of the person you speak with! You have to constantly tell them to hold. Of course this was until I figured out I could mute the dam android navigation lady.
@slickpaki Uhhh.... there's a map view and bird's eye view as well. It's not just satellite view. Have you even used Bing?
@crapple yes, I've used Bing Maps. I was referring to the mobile version navigation part of it. Hopefully that would allow other views other than Satellite view
Does it do overseas navigation?
Being an Australian, this is a pretty big feature for me
@slickpaki
Dude...take it easy...the fact is you're wrong.
Bing mobile can show both a aerial view and a standard road map view. It can not currently show a bird's eye view or a street view. To toggle between the two available views just tap Menu > Map > Aerial.
@treats Bing on Windows Phone 7 is not a 3rd party app. They have given selves multitasking exceptions, and Bing is sure to be among them. What's already true is that phone calls come in as an overlay, they don't kill your app.
As of right now, Bing on WP7 is native and not a Silverlight app, so I wouldn't worry too much about them not being able to use their code.
@DaveBach How do you know when this hasnt even been released yet?! For the mentally impaired, I will repeat myself. In the NEW Bing Navigation app, hopefully they will have views other than satellite.
Gosh.
@treats
That's not really true...they are choosing not to allow all developers complete access to multi-task...you can bet dollars to doughnuts things like this will be multi-tasking...
@slickpaki It's already out. If you have Bing and open it, it will ask to update, or you can get it off the Marketplace. I got it and used it yesterday, so what are you talking about? And DaveBach is right about the 2 views.
@slickpaki
The NEW Bing App was just released a few days ago...punk.
If you'd like to talk about a FUTURE Bing App then clarify that or just go away...nobody really wants what you're trying to offer up here.
@DaveBach Oh I didnt realize this had already been released. So you guys are actually saying it does have other views in the navigation feature. Cool, messages confused me.
Error: Your device is not supported. Anyone else using this on an original "Tilt" or HTC 8925?
@Jeremy8778
I got that warning on my Palm Treo Pro but not on my HTC Touch Diamond. Both appear to run the new app fine though.
@slickpaki Street view on my phone has always been a showstopper to me. Very futuristic IMO.
I'm glad google got the ball rolling on free navigation, it should be free. TY google.
Since Google Maps for Windows Mobile doesn't have the nav I'm actually pretty excited about this...Windows Mobile 6 LIVES!!!
In particular the Tilt2/Touch Pro2 are gonna make great nav systems cuz they have the massive speakerphone so you don't have to plug in the aux thing like the video.
How about you guys actually USE the damn app before complaining about what it can or cant do and some stupid microphone icon in which really doesnt matter how it looks. Also this is Bing (microsofts search engine) obviously there be a better one for WP7, and since MSFT will most likely make the app, they will prolly have it continue navigating (if you want it to) when you receive a call.......they can make any systems they want multitask, if they deem fit...Im pretty sure this would be one of those instances.
@DaveBach
Thanks for the tip, I changed to aerial and you can actually view the satellite pictures as you are driving, cool. It does not have 3D but it seemed precise while navigating, quite precise. I also made a call on my T Mobile TP2 and it went to the call screen, when I finished talking and hung up it did not go back to navigation screen, I had to tap to get back to navigation.
One important thing, it does not have voice commands on my
T-Mobile TP2, it gives a a notification to raise volume and I raised the volume but no voice commands. I looked at the other settings and could not find how to turn voice on; CAN YOU TELL ME IF IT"S A SETTING?? Thanks a million. Nothing beats than free navigation!! Good job Microsoft, good job. I guess improvements will be coming; maybe voice commands on TP2 and 3D with birds eye view, like other navigation systems.
@joe23521 Agree, this looks cool, although I prefer something more simple. Much like the OVI. http://j.mp/why-choose-ovi-navigation
@slickpaki -- Wow, the voice prompts are really very clear and pronounced. Much better than my G1. Also, Annunciation sounds perfect.
Yea, well... The "guys at PocketNow" are pure WM fanboiz who believe that Microsoft can do no wrong. We shall see if this can even come close to competing with other similar services.
@rhackin
I don't know about that, for a WM-based site they don't seem too biased ...I know their reviews of recent Android phones (desire, incredible, etc.) have been glowing.
@rhackin
Justin Bieber (LOL!), I've subscribed to their YouTube channel for quite awhile now and always watch their reviews of all devices and I can say that they are not biased considering they are WinMo and MS fans. I wish all fanboys could have their ability to switch off their biases and be honest to like them. Like Steven said, they've given glowing reviews of Android handsets.
@rhackin
I can understand how you might get that impression. You see, PocketNow have intelligent editors who know their way around more than just the iPhone. Their ability to look at a mobile OS and not immediately say, "WTF is this shiz? It doesn't look like an iPhone at all! -10 points!" might make you assume a sort of bias if you often read Engadget or Gizmodo. What's really happening, though, is nothing of the sort. They just have an ability to look critically at something, regardless of whether it's an iPhone or not.
No 3D view?
this pretty much means that wp7 will have bing navigation. if you ever used bing maps, you would know that it destroys google maps in terms of everything (birds eye view for example).
@account5 except it doesn't. the bird's eye view is fantastic, but IMO that's bing's only real advantage. google is better at adding different layers and navigation types (bike, public transit, terrain maps) and while bing has "map apps" that are similar to layers a lot of these aren't available on the mobile version and not created by microsoft anyway
@account5 Wile Bing maps looks better eye candy wise, its laggy and slow. So its in NO Way better than Google maps. Great feature for a phone though. Good job Microsoft! giving us features we actually want!
@theinternetstom Please tell me what type of computer you're using because my laptop doesn't lag on Bing Maps at all? I actually prefer Bing maps to Google Maps but both have their advantages and disadvantages.
@account5
Agreed that Bing maps is under appreciated.
@theinternetstom Dude, just like 90% of the world, I was a regular user of Google Maps until I decided to do what I always do and try other systems or methods. Honestly, from what I can perceive, it seems a touch more quicker and responsive than Google maps and Bird's eye view really is great although I do miss the usefulness of Streetview in certain situations.
@account5
I've tried to give Bing several tries. When compared to Google, it has been weighed, it has been measured, and it has been found wanting.
nice. . but am going with android .. EVO !
@coolkams03
lol @ your avatar. Nicely done.
@coolkams03 AMEN BROTHER!!!
@coolkams03 i currently have the droid incredible but had an iphone since it was release almost 3 years ago. your avatar is funny but what do u have against apple. i only got a droid phone cause i got the ipad and didnt want two similiar devices but the iphone still has the best usuability. all im saying is its just moronic to deny the iphone is still the best phone for the avergae user. i do prefer my droid incredible to the current iphone but i still wouldnt deny the fact that the iphone is still an amazing phone for other reasons.
@geo1378 i wouldn't go as far as calling someone moronic for not praising iPhone.... I mean... the only thing that the iPhone can actually good at is browsing... for using as an actual phone? it sucks. as a media player? good but not great (i blame itunes). as a gps device? its ok.. but still dependent on data plan. atleast on a winmo or a nokia phone, i can download my own maps and show the finger to at&t.
moral of the story being... its a good phone.. it made the smartphone market competitive, but its not a ground breaking, earth shattering phone def doesn't deserve to be called the best.... yet.!!!
@coolkams03
Come on you EVO guys, don't act the same as iPhone fanboys. Just like you don't enjoy seeing the iPhone/iPad being discussed in every article, I think most other people do not want to see the EVO discussed in every article either.
@coolkams03 LOL i saw the image and i got excited cuz i thought it was an evo -____-
@coolkams03
On your avatar.... I don't think robots urinate :)
@artemis360
He's clearly just getting an oil change.
this my new nav app.. At least til i get the evo.. Even with no 3d view or rotating maps it easily bests garmin and the windows google maps.. Android google nav is imo the best by a long shot bing is a distant second.. Iphone and web os users had better hope ms blesses you with bing
The Android version of google maps crushes this. Sorry!
@Evan the android version also crushes battery life. i used it last weekend on my incredible, good thing i had that plugged in, it used so much power it was as if it hadn't charged my phone at all.
@aaronaut
Yeah it uses the battery because it actually does shit
@Evan
I agree and it's not even close...