Mickey Papillon

Mobile Maps for iPhone from Sygic Review

A few weeks back, I looked at Navigon’s Mobile Navigator for the iPhone. After the review was posted, I was contacted by Sygic to review their offering as well. While not as well known in North America, Sygic is the creator of Mobile Maps for iPhone software. The application market for stand alone GPS solutions is finally maturing to the point where the end user has multiple options, and Mobile Maps for iPhone is another full featured example of these applications. The application is available for purchase through the iTunes application store in the North American version for $79.99. However, there are other versions, such as the US only, Europe, Southeast Asia, Russia, Brazil, and Australia/New Zealand as low as $59.99. Thanks to Sygic for supplying The Cell Phone Junkie with this software for review. More information about Sygic, and Mobile Maps at www.sygic.com

About Sygic
Sygic develops and sells market leading GPS navigation software for a wide range of mobile devices. Sygic delivers its GPS software worldwide in more than 30 languages, including Chinese, Arabic, Farsi, Malay, Greece, Russian and all European languages. Sygic cooperates strongly with leading PND, Phone and PMP manufactures worldwide to bring the latest technology to the market. The company was founded in 2004 with a vision to operate as a strong technically oriented company with innovative products for the LBS/Navigation market. Sygic was honored in the Deloitte Fast 50 List as a rising star of Central Europe. For more information visit www.sygic.com.

Features and Functions

• Similar to Navigon’s offering, the following features are available.
• 2D and 3D map displays
• Can be used in portrait and landscape mode
• Voice announcements in a variety of voices and languages
• Predictive address entry
• Lane Assistance
• Sign display
• Speed warnings
• Day and night mode for map display
• Navigation is automatically resumed after an incoming phone call
• Quick access to user-defined POIs in the area and along the route

Around the Application

One thing about having an entire country of maps on your device, it takes up a lot of space. The download of Mobile Maps is about 1.4GB, so make sure you have some time to download, and space available on your phone. After the all important acceptance of your terms of use, you’ll be placed right into the map, showing your location. I was shocked when I first loaded the application and noticed that while sitting at my desk, the phone showed my location within feet. A signal strength indicator showed 2 bars of GPS service on the bottom of the screen, proving that it had indeed picked up my location from the satellites. I’ve never seen a GPS application do this so quickly, and found through my use, the locking of the signal was nearly instant each time. Notice that you can choose to zoom in or out from this screen as well, depending on the type of view you want.

Pressing on the screen brings up the Main menu, giving you 2 screens of options:

If you click on “Navigate to” it gives you these 2 screens of options:

When routing, here is how the screen is displayed. Clicking on it will then bring up the entire route, in a birds eye view:

If you click on Browse map, it brings up a map that you can zoom and pan around on:

Here are some shots of a how the zooming function works:

Next, you have a few settings menus:

One of the settings gives you the ability to choose a night mode, which changes the color scheme of the application.

Finally, one of the more interesting things, an extras menu that has a world clock, calculator, unit converter and country info:

Overall
Using the Mobile Maps for iPhone from Sygic is a good experience. In comparison to Navigon’s Mobile Navigator, many of the features are similar, and the user experience is very good on both. If looking at both of these applications and trying to decide which one to purchase, I have a hard time giving an edge to either. Both function as advertised, but you are still dealing with GPS on your phone. Again, keep in mind that due to limitations by Apple, you won’t be able to run other 3rd party applications at the same time as you use this software, so you’ll have to quit navigating before you can do anything else. If you can get past this limitation, the Sygic application will treat you well, and if you can get by with only the US, you’ll find yourself saving a few bucks along the way.

Navigon for iPhone Review

For the past 6 years, I have used the GPS navigation built into my car for everything from finding my way to determining the location of the nearest gas station. Whenever asked the question “Do you prefer built-in or stand along GPS systems?”, my answer was invariably “Built-in”. Then about 2 years ago, I started to find myself more and more in need of GPS when I wasn’t in my personal vehicle, and the idea of having a separate GPS unit started to appeal to me. There are plenty of products on the market today that offer a good turn-by-turn navigation experience, but what if you want something that is integrated with your phone? Until recently, Windows Mobile has been the primary operating system used by software developers. However, with the proliferation of the iPhone, and now with the 3G and 3GS versions with built-in GPS, it was only a matter of time before personal navigation software came to Apple’s flagship device. EnterNavigon, and the release of MobileNavigator for the iPhone. This software brings the turn by turn simplicity of a stand alone system, right to the iPhone you already have in your pocket. The application is available for purchase through theiTunes application store for $69.99 until August 15th, 2009, and will then increase to $99.99. Thanks to Navigon for supplying The Cell Phone Junkie with this software for review. More information about Navigon, and MobileNavigator at www.navigon.com.

About Navigon
NAVIGON AG is a world-leading manufacturer of navigation systems. With its own portable navigation systems, NAVIGON stands for high-quality GPS navigation on pocket PCs, PNDs and mobile phones. NAVIGON also provides professional navigation solutions such as driver-assistance features for the automotive OEM market. NAVIGON was founded in 1991, and employs over 400 workers in locations in Asia, Europe and North America.

Features and Functions

• 2D and 3D map displays
• Can be used in portrait and landscape format
• Precise voice announcements
• Intelligent address entry
• Reality View Pro (realistic display of motorway interchanges and exits)
• Lane Assistant Pro
• Real signpost display
• Speed Assistant with adjustable audio-visual warning
• Day and night mode for map display
• Direct access and navigation to contacts saved in the iPhone’s address book
• The latest NAVTEQ map material including more than two million (EU version) places of interest (POIs)
• Navigation is automatically resumed after an incoming phone call
• Quick access to user-defined POIs in the area and along the route
• Take Me Home function with a single click
• Automatic language selection to match the iPhone’s user language

Around the Application
Once you download the application from the iTunes store, you’ll notice something, the file is 1.3GB! One of the trade-offs for having navigation on your device without the need for an Internet connection is that you will need a lot of space to store all those maps. The download from Apple will take anywhere for 15 minutes to a couple hours depending on your connection speed. Keep this in mind when clicking the “Buy” button.

Like any other application for the iPhone, simplicity is key. Upon launch, you are greeted with a screen of 4 main options, plus 4 additional tabs.

First, you can choose to enter an address. This is done by entering the City, Street, then number.  It then renders a map of the location, and you can choosewhether then to start navigation, or save the location.

Second, choose to search for Points of Interest (POI’s).

These can also include pre-selected ones such as gas stations, very handy when you’re in an unfamiliar area.

Third, choose the “Take Me Home” function and you will be routed from your current location to the address that you set as your home.

Finally, simply choose to show the map of your location. It shows a 3D view, but can be switched to birds-eye if preferred.

Under the tabs, you’ll first find favorites. I love using these saved points for places that I often visit, but can never seem to remember exactly how to get there.

Also, a basic recent list shows you places you’ve routed yourself recently.

Lastly, a Contacts tab that uses your address book to find a person and route yourself to the address saved as their location.

Of course with most applications, there is also an options menu, which allows for a certain level of personalization.

One of the unique features ofMobileNavigator that I haven’t seen in other GPS software, is the warning system that informs the user if they are exceeding the posted speed limit.

Navigation and real world use
After you’ve determined what you’re going to do, the app will present you with the map, and of course, your path. The GPS takes just a few seconds to obtain a signal, and then you’re off and running. Accuracy is quite good, and I never had much problem with the software finding me within about 10 seconds. If you plan on using this as a full-time navigation replacement, you can easily do so without much trepidation. The only recommendation is to have some sort of power source to keep your phone charged. Using the iPhone 3GS for this review, the application drained my battery about 25% every 40 minutes.  Also, a nice feature is the ability to use the phone in either portrait or landscape mode.  Depending on how you choose to mount the phone, this can nicely take advantage of the screen real estate.

Overall
Being in the pole position for the iPhone on-device navigation market gives Navigon an edge over its competition. After the last 2 weeks of using the software as my sole form of navigation, I have no hesitations about recommending it for purchase.  However, keep in mind that due to limitations by Apple, you won’t be able to run other 3rd party applications at the same time as you use this software, so you’ll have to quit navigating before you can do anything else.