VZ Navigator and Droid!!

[JerryRecords]

Google Maps is a joke. Anyone here owned the LG Dare or any LG device with VZ Navigator? I like how the app works better than goofle maps by far. Google maps is not accurate at all. It's missing a lot of features, and its driving me nuts. This is what verizon advertised, the turn by turn directions, and the voice search feature. It still sucks. So im paying $30 more for a data plan, an "amazing" google maps app who needs to use actual gps instead of those unreliable cell phone towers to help you find out where you're at. Anyone here feels the same way?

[supitsmike]

Jerry, my boy.

Google Navigation is still in beta.

I'll give you some time to think about what that means before the wave of "Oh snap" hits you.

[TheBowers]

I used the Google Nav and compared it to a Garmin GPS. The nav on my droid pin pointed where I was at just the same as the Garmin. To me that is right on and is using GPS now isn't it? On top of that I can see different views of where I am going and a direction list. The Garmin has none of this. The only thing that I wish Google Nav. had was miles/time to destination and your speed right on the traffic view. If it had that it would be better then any stand a lone GPS device.

[AFguy]

That is a good idea, "TheBowers".  Perhaps we will see that added when Google Nav reaches its production status.  I too would like to see that.  For a GPS that is still in beta it runs pretty darn good and we may still get some extra's added.  

[jsh1120]

Anyone know if it's possible to turn on the speaker for the instructions in VZ Navigator? The only problem I've found is having to hold the phone next to my ear to hear the instructions. 

Otherwise, the limited testing I've done does everything I want it to do. And the photo of my house with my car sitting in front was a bit disconcerting but reassuring when I arrived home. 

[fezzik]

I'm confused.  I don't think I could make Google maps give me directions over the earpiece if I wanted to. 

I stand by my VZNavigation was never more than 1000 feet accurate but Google maps tells me when I actually have arrived somewhere as opposed to having to just figure it out that last two blocks or so. 

With Layers you can see the Traffic.  I have yet to figure out what conditions Google Maps uses to plan routes.  It isn't the same as the directions so I am somewhat at a loss.  I know I can't seem to configure it except to drive past turn offs they recommend and they adapt. 

I do miss the ability to tell it how I want it to decide my route.  I do have to admit that.  Plan for traffic, take main roads, take back roads, just tell me the fastest possible way I can get there, tell me the shortest possible route, etc.  That was cool.  I wish google Maps Navigation had that because it would be nice to have that capability on a navigator that works. 

[PJNC284]

Google Nav is spot on for me and I haven't had any accuracy issues or had it fail to get me to my destination.  Doesn't necessarily take you on the best route but it's free and still Beta.  You can tell Google Nav to avoid highways/toll roads and have it choose alternate routes.  More routing options would be nice though.

[PPC_Dude]

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JerryRecords wrote:

Google Maps is a joke. Anyone here owned the LG Dare or any LG device with VZ Navigator? I like how the app works better than goofle maps by far. Google maps is not accurate at all. It's missing a lot of features, and its driving me nuts. This is what verizon advertised, the turn by turn directions, and the voice search feature. It still sucks. So im paying $30 more for a data plan, an "amazing" google maps app who needs to use actual gps instead of those unreliable cell phone towers to help you find out where you're at. Anyone here feels the same way?

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First of all, the $30/month for the data plan covers a little bit more than just Google Maps and Navigation.  Secondly, Google Maps absolutely uses the GPS receiver in the phone and, from my experience, is very accurate in determining your location.  It calculates routes faster and easier (ie. voice search, yes it works) than the on-board Nav system in my car that I paid an extra $2,000 for and does indeed give you turn by turn directions.

You do have to turn on "Use GPS Satellites" on the phone before Google Maps will use it.  Otherwise it will default to cell tower location.  However, even if GPS is turned off, if you then select "Navigate to" the phone will prompt you to turn GPS on so that it can pinpoint your location and calculate the directions.

I have never used VZ Navigator so I cannot dispute your claim that it is superior to Google Maps, but I have seen a few posts from people that didn't think it was worth the $10/month

BTW: I just got an update to G-Maps today. I don't remember exactly what was added / changed, but it did give a list of 3 or 4 things.

[willanaya]

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JerryRecords wrote:

Google Maps is a joke. Anyone here owned the LG Dare or any LG device with VZ Navigator? I like how the app works better than goofle maps by far. Google maps is not accurate at all. It's missing a lot of features, and its driving me nuts. This is what verizon advertised, the turn by turn directions, and the voice search feature. It still sucks. So im paying $30 more for a data plan, an "amazing" google maps app who needs to use actual gps instead of those unreliable cell phone towers to help you find out where you're at. Anyone here feels the same way?

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before i had the droid, i had the env3. excellent phone, top notch.  i used the VZ Navigator because my job requires me to go to a variety of businesses and it was very helpful.  however, the google map is by far more accurate.  with the VZ, it listed my house 4 doors down (my garmin, 8 to 9 doors down).  Google maps pinpoints not only where i live but almost to the exact point of where i am standing in my house.  i even moved around and watched the blue dot move with me, awesome.

but like Stupitsmike noted, this is still a beta app. who knows what they have in store next week, next month, etc....

plus i really like the actual picture of the place i am looking for.

[JerryRecords]

in the beginning, when i first installed the app i did see the notes on it, it said, beta, a few days later, it didnt show it anymore when i updated it. that made me think it was the final version or something. but still, i left a good navigator IMO for something that works way less than good right now. I've tested this the first day i got it too, since i was hyped about it also. Then i realized it wasnt sending me to the proper locations, and it was taking me the long way, and sometimes around it. I'm always looking up addresses, and places with it, so i hope google adds all those key features that a navigator needs.

I could give you a list of the all the things i miss from VZ Navigator but i know it'll be pointless to post them here. ah, what the [edit], we need real time navigation with different filters ie. shortest, simpler or faster routes, no highways or tolls, etc. A 'follow me' map that's showing the streets ahead of you on a overhead view, and it actually follows you. We need a favorites page where we could save recents searches or have our own contacts and the ease to choose them as our next destination.By the cell towers i meant, i once looked up my location and i was way off from the place the app showed. what is that?

i guess, you're right about you're getting a lot more than google maps, cause you have a whole market full of fun stuff compared to other phones.

I'm just saying, they need to update it quick or i probably switch to my Dare before i reach the 30 days, or maybe purchase a stand-alone gps- yea right!

[fezzik]

Hmm everything you are complaining about missing from VZ Navigator is what I have in Google Maps and the only thing I am missing from VZ Navigator is the way it recognized my position as a block away from where I actually was and how it told me I was at my location either a quarter mile before I got there or after I had already passed it.  With Google maps it actually recognizes which side of my duplex I am parked at.  With VZ Navigator it had me at a duplex on the next street up.  Don't get me wrong I got a lot of use out of VZ Navigator but I also had my issues with it.  Once when looking for a tattoo parlor it took me to a house same with a book store.  The tattoo place I ended up going too shows up to get directions to it only when looking it up specifically by name.  G Maps gives me a list and actually the way I found it that time was getting on the web on my feature phone and doing a google search for tattoo parlors in the area which was slow and frustrating as it was an older phone.  With the DROID not only can I bring up google and search for a place then click on the phone number or get directions I can search google maps, browse the area, pull up any one of my local search apps (most of which are more up to date than VZ Navigator which I realize they are updating and allowing people to submit problems but still) and tell it to navigate or jump to maps and choose how I want to be told how to get there.  It is pretty cool.  So there are some problems.  I went to a restaurant that was about a block off in directions cause the address was wrong on the web.  That could be an issue but it didn't exist in VZ Navigator so I wasn't any worse off.  Aside from having local search by category built in I can't think what Google maps is missing that VZ Navigator has. I would change the creepy lady's voice to something more natural but no love lost there. 

[Softa_larry]

I agree.  Google maps left me in a dangerous location this morning. VZ navigator is easier, more accurate, looks at traffic patterns and is SAFER.  It at least directs you to the designated location, not 10 blocks away with no exit. This is a  scary deal killer.

[fezzik]

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Softa_larry wrote:

I agree.  Google maps left me in a dangerous location this morning. VZ navigator is easier, more accurate, looks at traffic patterns and is SAFER.  It at least directs you to the designated location, not 10 blocks away with no exit. This is a  scary deal killer.

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Wow we have had completely different experiences.  VZNavigator used to take me through farms with no tresspassing signs posted violators will be shot on sight and no matter what else I tried that was the only possible route according to it.  Ok well maybe not but it did give preference to dirt roads over paved, and back roads to interstates even if you set it to use only major roads.  Apparently Lizard lick road is a more major route to staying on I-80 than just staying on I-80 or whatever it was thorugh South carolina when we had it set to major roads and it got me off the interstate through a downtown, through several neighborhoods into what appeard to be low income housing into a wooded area and back into town across railroad tracks on Lizard Lick Road I remember the name cause it was so bizare then through another town back to the interstate on the other side of town.  To bypass a section where 2 interstates converge.  It was about 10:30 at night with no traffic and we didn't have use traffic as an option.  it just decided we needed to see Lizard Lick road and all of downtown whatever city it was to get back on the interstate we were travelling on. 

We were visiting a friend south of us and didn't know where she lived.  On the way back it decided this gravel road that went through a farm and finally spilled onto the highway from a driveway from the farm was the best route.  When we decided there was no way we were going to go through that farm at 1:30am and went back it insisted we u-turn right up until we turned onto the highway we needed from a paved connector road a quarter mile further down the road. 

Besides that if you look up tattoo parlor in its local search it takes you to peoples' houses and never does find an actual tattoo parlor.  Look up book store it took me to a house in my own neighborhood.  None of the houses on that road had any type of business run out of them.  There was a book store about a mile away at the mall but it couldn't seem to figure that out only a list of houses that didn't have any kind of store.  My house was built in 1984 and it didn't recognize it as a valid address.  It was in Nashville half a mile from a major shopping area.  I ended up even after all that ending my use of its local search feature when looking for several different businesses including restaurants, and retail shops ended in out of business, boarded up, or long since changed to something else businesses. 

Google is only as up to date as the websites for the local businesses but it is rare that I am taken somewhere that has been closed for more than a month. 

As to safe Google Maps and a Brain is far better than VZRoundabout.  Especially if you don't know where you are going.  If you do know where you are going why do you need navigation.  VZN tells you your destination is on the right so for the next half mile watch the addresses on the right.  VZN tells you take this road so you pray you aren't driving through Bubba's farmland. 

Google nav tells you your destination is on the right you best be turning.  Google nav tells you to turn here there might be a better or faster route through Bubba's farm but it will take you on an actual road. 

IF it is different for some places I am surprised.  Cause the entire Southeast it was cool that I had navigation on my phone but I did a lot of appologizing for weird routes, long delays, and non-existent destinations with VZN. 

[AZSALUKI]

google maps is DOPE! there's really nothing more to say....except that i'm SO GLAD i never dropped $200 on garmin or any others.....when i could drop $200 for a phone that has google maps. i never used navigator (because i was very opposed to an outrageous monthly fee for ONE service) so i can't speak to it. maybe it's all right.....but i can't imagine anything being that much better than google maps. i've used it a number of times (and live in the desert with some JACKED up roads and routes) in the month that i've had it and it has yet to fail me.

[RoseMadder]

I never had any major issues with VZ Navigator, used on an LG Voyager, aside from the price.

Not until I used the Google Navigation on my new Ally, that is.

We've been going to the same inner city bus terminal for a few months now, to pick up

and drop off my daughter.

I've used both Mapquest and VZ Navigator and they provided the same directions and

the last leg of the trip was truly awful - it was confusing as all heck.

Last weekend we tried the Google Navigation and really, I can't say enough good about it.

Not only is the program itself much more user friendly, we found that by simply taking

the next exit we were already on the street the bus station is on ... no more

windy, twisty, easily confused directions.

I love it and have been getting a lot of use from it in the last month.

[fezzik]

I will say that I really enjoyed Nav4All and I miss it.  I was getting to where I used it instead of Google Nav but since Nokia did what they did and forced them to shut down Google Nav is the best there is.