VZNavigator

[fenceme]

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.

[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???

[cstrait001]

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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???

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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.

[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.

[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

😎 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

[LCromwell]

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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

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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?

[Sybella]

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LCromwell wrote:

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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

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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?

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Yes, that is possible. On another forum, I found someone's thread about this very same process.

She (?) upgraded, hated the new version, then used her files from a previous back-up to restore the older version. Unfortunately, my phone is very new (as of Feb 6th) and I never had the old program to back up in that way.

I did post a new thread, asking if someone would be willing forward those files to me but have yet to get an answer. I don't think that forum is as frequented as this one. The general tone of the forum leads me to believe that people there are more inclined to be supportive when people vent and do share file links to BB websites, but are less willing to put in the effort to help others find fixes when there is some kind of puzzle involved.

However, even if the person sent me those files, it's very possible I would have gotten the same error message I did with the ones doc pointed me to.

'Bella

[LCromwell]

Bella I must have it on my Storm 1 and never activated it because I refuse to pay for something I can get FREE. I have a GPS on Poynt and I think my BB maps does it also.(Yes BB Maps when you click the BB Menu button has a setting called Start GPS Navigation. If you or someone can tell me how to save and send you the files i will be more than happy to do that for you if you really want to pay for the point by point GPS. Check out a free download in BB Appworld under the FREE apps link there. My Version of VZW Navigator if I were to install it, is 4.2.22.72 

[Sybella]

I don't know how to pull an alx from an installed or existing program on the phone...I can do it the opposit way, install from an alx , though, and I think ali files work just the same. (On a side note, I haven't figured out how to make jad files work yet.) The BB is too knew for me. I will hunt around and see if I can find instructions for this. But maybe the others here know how it is done...?

Regarding poynt, I saw it was available but I've been a little overwhelmed with all the new and unfamiliar programs. I've been hesitant about trying too many at once, thinking I'd bog down the performance of my phone. But you have a good point with the extra ten bucks a month. I'll try it and see if I like it. Thanks.

'Bella

[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.

[StreetDocRN]

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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

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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]

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StreetDocRN wrote:

I may have found a way to downgrade VZNavigator back to 4.0. 

Doc

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

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.

[StreetDocRN]

Hi,

I used the term 4.0 as a general term to describe the download you got.  I was not sure of the exact number of the 4.0 version that was in the packet.  As far as deleting the current 5.0 version on your phone, not sure, but it may do the trick.  It may be that the current version is not allowing your phone to downgrade.  If that does not work, then the only other problem I could see is that those .alx files are meant for a phone that is on the Blackberry Enterprise System and won't work with BIS.

Doc

[Sybella]

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StreetDocRN wrote:

Hi,

I used the term 4.0 as a general term to describe the download you got.  I was not sure of the exact number of the 4.0 version that was in the packet.  As far as deleting the current 5.0 version on your phone, not sure, but it may do the trick.  It may be that the current version is not allowing your phone to downgrade.  If that does not work, then the only other problem I could see is that those .alx files are meant for a phone that is on the Blackberry Enterprise System and won't work with BIS.

Doc

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Doc, I wasn't trying to be a pill or split hairs. I just thought it would be wise to follow up with the exact number so that if someone tries to do a search for that version, they'll find this. This is the most useful thread I have found, and it wasn't easy to find help or existing threads about this very topic. When I was looking for help, all I found were complaints, and no one willing to help others work through those complaints...save you guys. You all have been wonderful.

'Bella

[LCromwell]

Here are my VZ Navigator Files I have not installed on my desktop: It will not let me paste them here but I have 2 ALX and 2 COD files. The name 9530 S1 and S2 shows up in them as well as Docs to go and so on???

[Sybella]

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LCromwell wrote:

Here are my VZ Navigator Files I have not installed on my desktop: It will not let me paste them here but I have 2 ALX and 2 COD files. The name 9530 S1 and S2 shows up in them as well as Docs to go and so on???

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It looks like those are different files than what doc posted a link to. I'd love to give those files a shot.I just checked your profile and couldn't find a way to PM you...I'm leary about posting my email address publically so I made one for this.

{edited for privacy}

'Bella