Comments on: iPhone Turn-by-Turn Directions Via Subscription? No Thanks

By: cj

cj — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 05:17:52 +0000

The people who buy the iPhone are not truly interested in turn-by-turn, talk to me while I am driving and tell me if I am going the wrong way computerized GPS/Navigation systems. Otherwise they would not buy it if they wanted that as a phone feature. I have waited for 2 years now and I am so disappointed. I have a Blackberry Bold which has great GPS voice navigation.

There truly is no comparison because I actually thought about really getting the Iphone 3GS, but when I saw the demo for the Maps + Compass, I was not impressed. I even tried the new software (for $9.99 upgrade) out on my Ipod Touch, which is almost equal to the original iPhone with no monthly payments or contract or ability to call, but I tried the updated app at home with wifi and I thought: How am I supposed to click on all those screens to 1) see what the street looks like of my destination or 2) turn the maps 90, or 180 or 360 degrees and 3) so forth….I think all those Iphone 3GS features are nice, but give me one more feature–click here to get voice turn-by-turn. Even if Iphone/AT&T charged me monthly $11 or so like Blackberry, it would be worth hearing that voice navigate.

By: GPS HANDHELD

GPS HANDHELD — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 22:30:41 +0000

Hiii…its a good application but its size on memory is quite large …8GB iphone user need to think twice before installing it…and also there is voice directives in it…

By: Jay

Jay — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 12:57:43 +0000

I agree. I think that is the way to go. You pick a state and get maps for that state bundled with your initial purchase. You can then buy maps for other regions as you need. Your phone memory won’t be eaten up by maps that way.

By: Smith

Smith — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 03:08:02 +0000

I agree 100%. I will NOT subscribe for software. The fact that standalone GPS’s are now quite affordable and will probably outperform the iPhone makes the reasonable price point of no more than $49.99.

$120.00 a year….?! AT&T your nuts AND greedy IMO.

Due to the iPhone’s limitations, data connection, battery etc. An iPhone version of turn by turn will never be a hard core alternative, it will be closer to a “nice to have” feature in the event that your stuck in the middle of the city with a good battery condition.

By: Shock Me

Shock Me — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 19:48:38 +0000

Since you have no need for iPods and just need a phone with good GPS and some other nice functions the Instinct is a good choice. If the iPhone did not exist I would now own an Instinct having seen it in action for many things. The Instinct is an excellent product.

I think there are many dedicated electronics the iPhone will NEVER replace (such as point and shoot cameras with decent lens and zoom capbility). I suspect that the proper business models for GPS will find their way on to the iPhone and be quite successful. Since I seldom travel and don’t have to deal with LA Traffic this is a feature I would use very seldom on either phone. Google maps with Compass and GPS on the iPhone work very nicely with paper maps I already own.

I could get by with a nice windshield mount and the software that comes with the iPhone. But hey if someone like TomTom come up with a good product that makes sense for me, I there.

By: gngcreative

gngcreative — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 18:28:20 +0000

Interesting discussion. I hadn’t realized the iPhone was sans decent GPS. Nothing against the iPhone, but since I’m with Sprint, allergic to AT&T, and not at all into iPods, I’ve not given it much of a look.

The Samsung Instinct has great turn-by-turn spoken and visual GPS courtesy of Navquest. Living as I do in Los Angeles, I find the live traffic info and ability to reroute around the traffic jams an occasional life saver. The fact that it integrates with the contacts list and Live Search (or anywhere an address shows up, for that matter) just puts cherries on the cake, imho. No subscription, no extra download, no licensing fee… seems to me a much better model from the consumer point of view.

By: Kenny

Kenny — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 14:54:32 +0000

I agree that this all sounds great, but this isn’t a new type of product for TomTom and their competitors. I have the TomTom software and maps installed on my old Windows Mobile device and if I remember correctly it was about $100 for the software/maps – and about $100 for a bluetooth GPS receiver.

TomTom list the North America map on its own as $70

TomTom will also try and sell their subscription model with this as it’s for a connected iPhone… this includes traffic alerts etc.

By: Billy

Billy — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 13:45:36 +0000

@Wayne

I’ve been using G-Maps US West for (non-voice) Turn-by-Turn since it’s release and it works fine with or without a data connection.

Right now there’s no voice, but I’m hopeful that they’ll update. The price is much more reasonable than anything out there at the moment.

By: sitting pugs

sitting pugs — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 12:07:08 +0000

“I want my maps with me, not in the cloud somewhere.”

–Hilarious!

By: jamessye

jamessye — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 05:17:44 +0000

Or you could just use a map…. I’m just saying =]