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VZNavigator

Am I the only one totally disgusted with the VZNavigator 5.1? It borders on almost totally useless with an arcane user interface and uncountable bugs (I got tired of trying to wade through them all) The worst is it usually won't even fire up because it usually can't find the GPS, even though my other Aps do. I tried to downgrade to version 4.x, but Verizon refuses to make it available to me.

This is a simple general public flame, because Verizon provides no way to give feedback on products.

If you fell the same, just add your comments. I am quiiting the service anyway as it would seem impossible that this will be solved by Verizon in the short term.

Comments

SaNDman

The only useless part for me is, if the address is not part of contacts, or something it refuses to follow through. It has follow me thing. VZ Navigator tracks where I'm going. Other part??? :smileysad:

cstrait001

SaNDman wrote:
The only useless part for me is, if the address is not part of contacts, or something it refuses to follow through. It has follow me thing. VZ Navigator tracks where I'm going. Other part???

The previous verision of VZ Nav, including the last one 4.2, had the Follow Me function.

You should be able downgrade to verision 4.2 from the Application Center on the BB Homescreen or by using the BB Desktop Manager software.

Scratch that above. The App Center says a downgrade is available but when I actually try to download, it says version 5.0. Also I can only uninstall from the BB Desktop Manager. :smileymad:

SaNDman

I admit I never used the Follow Me function on the previous version of VZ Navigator. Why? Because on the Razor, the screen is small, compared to Storm. Also, only recently I started to go "off roading" with friends. Maybe it's better to get a different GPS device, instead of using Storm. :smileywink:

fenceme

For starters-

1) if it can't load the GPS when starting it crashes; and it can never load the GPS at my home even though other Aps are tracking as many as 10 satellites - so I cannot load an address until I am driving on the road

2) Favorites cannot be loaded until you start navigating - then you go back and somehow load it

3) the only option for editing Favorites is "Delete All"

4) the menu options are minimal - most screens have only Close or Exit as options

5) the back button does not work on most screens so you need to close and navigate back up the chain -see above

6) It discontinues Navigation when you go on map view

7) you cannot pick a location from a map view, and map view is unavailable except when you have started navigation

8) can't set current location to Favorite

9) I dislike the content carousel but cannot disable it

10) Places on map randomly show up even where turned off

11) It's an absolute battery killer, so you use it plugged in and be careful to exit properly, otherwise you will have no phone in an hour or so.

12) The whole user interface is extremely poorly thought out as shown by the example above.

I might not have all of them correct, I quit caring. , but there are probably more issues. SInce I can't even turn it on in my home - see #1 above - it makes it very difficult and annoying to troubleshoot it any further.

Sybella

You aren't the only one disgusted. I loved the VZ Navigator, until I was "forced" to upgrade.

Sure, the carousel is adorable but the main service doesn't work worth a darn. The menu I always used before, to find places along your route, is gone. It used to be that I could put in a "topic" and a general vacinity and get local hits, and the navigator would give me my miles from my current position, rather than they center of the city I typed in. Now, I only get the option of putting in the topic seperately and changing the destination to where I want it sometimes supercedes my initial search, and my results are not only off base but out of my way and miles and miles away from where I want to be searching. I liked being able to fill in two fields, on the same page, and hitting one button, rather than doing all these extra steps for no good reason. By off base, I mean that half the time when I search for something speficic, I get a list of unrelated stuff...like when looking for Thai food restaurants, I get H&R Block, dry cleaners and other "weird" results.

Customer service said all the same features were there, just posed a little differently but I can't get this version to do what the old one did. I want to downgrade but as you all have discovered for yourself, it's a lie. The downgrade feature in our BB applications, if it shows up on the list at all, doesn't work.

So, now I'm trying to find a way around this...Has anyone found a previous version online, and done a manual install an older version with DM? Someone must have a copy of the previous version, yes?

'Bella

normalchildhood

I absolutely hate the new VZ Navigator (5.0). Why did they have to mess with something that worked just fine? I want to downgrade but don't know how or if it's even available. I am so frustrated!! Here's what changed that I hate:

The icons that show up on the map as you're driving make it so cluttered. I just want to see the map!
The turn arrows aren't different colors. They used to be red for left turns, blue for right turns. Now they're all green.
I can't forward through the navigation. I used to be able to forward through to future directions to see what route it was going to take me, but apparently it doesn't do that anymore.
There is no easy access anymore to getting directions back home or to work. Instead I have to fumble my way through to find my favorites list (which is now buried!).
The small font size on the screen is ridiculous! The miles and street names that appear onscreen as you drive are so small it's a danger to drive with the thing.
No more dashboard view! I used to use this and it was great. It showed how many miles till my next turn, the name of the street I needed to turn on (in large font), what my current street is, miles total left, time, etc. Now that's all been ditched. The 3D and 2D view are not helpful because of such a small font size and cluttered maps.

Verizon! I am so irritated! Bring back the old version! I depend on this application multiple times a day as I drive all over the state for my work. This new version is totally unacceptable.

StreetDocRN

Hi,

I am working on trying to get an answer for you on whether or not VZNavigator can be reverted back to 4.0. I will keep you updated as soon as I can get more information.

Doc

aintigreat

Bing 411 (1-800-246-4411)

What Bing offers to set it apart are two features for users without data-connected smartphones. One is turn-by-turn directions from wherever you are, and you can even save a "home" and "work" location with the service to save time, entirely over the phone. It tells you what highways are involved at each step before rattling off the directions, and you can skip to any those highway steps if you kind of know where you are but just need a little off-ramp clarification.

StreetDocRN

Sybella wrote:
You aren't the only one disgusted. I loved the VZ Navigator, until I was "forced" to upgrade.

Sure, the carousel is adorable but the main service doesn't work worth a darn. The menu I always used before, to find places along your route, is gone. It used to be that I could put in a "topic" and a general vacinity and get local hits, and the navigator would give me my miles from my current position, rather than they center of the city I typed in. Now, I only get the option of putting in the topic seperately and changing the destination to where I want it sometimes supercedes my initial search, and my results are not only off base but out of my way and miles and miles away from where I want to be searching. I liked being able to fill in two fields, on the same page, and hitting one button, rather than doing all these extra steps for no good reason. By off base, I mean that half the time when I search for something speficic, I get a list of unrelated stuff...like when looking for Thai food restaurants, I get H&R Block, dry cleaners and other "weird" results.

Customer service said all the same features were there, just posed a little differently but I can't get this version to do what the old one did. I want to downgrade but as you all have discovered for yourself, it's a lie. The downgrade feature in our BB applications, if it shows up on the list at all, doesn't work.

So, now I'm trying to find a way around this...Has anyone found a previous version online, and done a manual install an older version with DM? Someone must have a copy of the previous version, yes?

'Bella

Hi,

I may have found a way to downgrade VZNavigator back to 4.0. Here is what to do.

Download the Enterprise .ALX file for VZNavigator from Verizon's web site. Then, open the zipped file and extract the 4.0 .ALX file for your particular phone and install that file into Blackberry Desktop Manager on your PC. Then, you have to downgrade the current version via Blackberry Desktop Manager's Application Loader on your device.

Doc

Sybella

StreetDocRN wrote:
I may have found a way to downgrade VZNavigator back to 4.0.
Doc

You rock!! Thank you for trying so hard to help me...It is soooo sweet and really appreciate it. :smileyhappy:

BUT, following your instructions, step by step, I hit a snag at step two. DM tells me that the application is not compatible with my device and cannot be loaded. Ugh.

I have an curve, 8530, and yes, I did choose that particular match in the zip. I haven't tried this with the tour, to see if there is a compatibility issue there too. I'd like to make it work on one phone and test it before I go to the next.

So, I'm at al loss as to why I got the incompatibility note. Do you would it help I removed vz navigator from my phone first, that way the phone might think it's a clean install??

By the way, I talked to customer service again today about this horrible program.In my opinion, since I'm paying for this service I should be able to get the version of the program I like so I complained again by way of asking in a reasonable way about a downgrade.

The customer service rep told me what the last one said, that once the upgrade is in the Verizon system, it's the only version available and therefore, it cannot be downgraded. When I asked if there was a way around this, to install the older version somehow, I got a bunch of gobbly-goo. Instead of aswering honestly with an "I don't know," he started making up garbage, wordy and somewhat appeasing sales-speech that really says nothing at all. Between his (borderline) rude, syrup-covered non-answers, he told me he had a BB of his own. You'd think another blackberry owner would have an idea or three...smart phones act like little computers and there is always more than one way to do something. That's the beauty of computers.

Ready for the topper? He said, "The developers upgrade this program all the time so it will only get better. Just wait it out and see. Trust me." That one about knocked me speechless...I call complaining about an upgrade, only to be assured that the next upgrade will be better. LOL! Thought you guys would like to know what treasures are in store for us.

'Bella

Sybella

I can't see how to edit but I wanted to clarify something.

The link you posted for the packet of ALX files tells me that the 8350-curve version is for Navigator 4.1.4, build 42, not 4.0...perhaps there was another file you wanted to post the link to?

'Bella

PS. See the edit now...sorry for the double posts guys.

LCromwell

StreetDocRN wrote:
Hi,
I am working on trying to get an answer for you on whether or not VZNavigator can be reverted back to 4.0. I will keep you updated as soon as I can get more information.
Doc

Doc, if the BB was backed up on desktop with the old 4.0 couldn't one go re-load that back up and get it back and then not upgrade to the newer one?

JamesT197

I also downloaded version 5 and it doesn't work. have a copy of verizon 4. I Installed it and it doesn't work either. It appears that the GPS features have changed on the server. Microsoft my phone doesn't work with the GPS either. I am not happy with verizon wireless.

mh123456

This is a terrible upgrade for VZ Navigator. The font is so small it is nearly unreadable. Any suggestions for other navigation apps available for BB Tour? Thanks

Sybella

Okay, I gave Poynt a try. Someone suggested I try it and I'm offering up the follow-up, as promised.

In my opinion, Poynt is worthless. Right after I downloaded it, I tested it. I did a generic search for local businesses.

It told me Elizabeth's Diner is a half mile away. There is no Elizabeth's. We do have a Dairy Queen about a half mile away, and unless it used to be Elizabeth's way back when, it doesn't make sense that it would come up on a currect search. I moved here three years ago and it's always been Dairy Queen.

On top of that, when I had it pull up the navigation directions, it was all wrong. My street ends where you can only turn left or right, then you have to turn left to get out at the highway. That street, according to the GPS is the one two blocks away, omitting a street or two between. From my street, you can't possibly go through (to get to that street) and follow the driving directions unless you drive through a house! LOL!

I'll stick with VZ Navigator, even if I can't get the phone to accept the older version.

(Still working on that Cromwell. Thanks again, by the way...you're a gem!)

LCromwell

Bella did you push Menu once Poynt was open? There are settings in there. One is to use BB Maps.

Sybella

I played with it for an hour or so and then deleted the thing. Are you saying I gave up too soon? LOL!

Tridragons

normalchildhood - I agree 100% with all your points - those are all the ones I'm frustrated with too! All the actually helpful items that I used on a daily basis are now wiped out (directions to home/work) or made difficult to access.

Within 2 minutes of downloading the new VZ nav, I wanted to switch it back. I tried to be patient and try to like it over a long drive over Easter Weekend, but was frustrated each time I opened it.

Is there any way to get the old version back? Sure the new version may be flashy with gas prices and movies, but I could care less about those features. I used this for driving directions with ease and now that's all been replaced.

Ugh - Verizon - give us back our old VZ Nav! I might as well cancel this and go back to my Garmin.

GTR

I also I want to switch back. I called customer service and told them about my issues and they had the nerve to tell me that I'm the only one having problems because otherwise everyone would be calling them about the issues.

We would really appreciate some help here.

TominPA

I just got a new phone about two weeks ago (Casio Ravine) and I am already trying to figure out how to get the older version I had on my LG. I don't do Face book, and I don't need everyone to know where I am.Motels and gas stations are everywhere and easy to find. I want to be able to read coordinates and do geocaching along with general navigation as I have in the past with navigator. This version is trash and I am thinking of dropping it and just buying a GPSS receiver. I like the Idea of having an "all-in-one" type device, but if Verizon is OK with loosing money because of their stupid mistake, more power to them. However, judging by all I have read by many disappointed users, I think this version will soon be revamped.

StreetDocRN

Hey, Tom,

You might consider trying Telenav. I used that program before and it is very nice. It is about the same price per month as VZNavigator. You can go to their website and try the program free for 30 days on your device. Hope that helps.

Doc

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