So I have noticed that this subject has got me many brownie points with Google so i thought I’d blog about it again, this time after using MobileNavigator a few times and also playing around briefly with TomTom.
On the whole I’m pretty happy with MobileNavigator, the only thing, I suppose, that annoys me a little is how it doesn’t take the full post code (bit like a zip code but more precise I think) which can be annoying if you don’t know the street you’re going to. But having said that it’s not really been an issue like I thought it would.
The interface is nice to use, it’s got a good database of services, restaurants, garages, pubs, shops, etc etc, and allows you to find the nearest one during a journey.
They have also recently provided a free update that gives us text to speech voice guidance, automatic day and night (not sure I understand the point of day and night modes though full stop…), integrated ipod control and the ability to send your location via email.
Overall I think it was a good purchase, nice to use, gets you from a to b and was cheaper then TomTom. I’ve not really used the TomTom much so I suppose not a totally fair review, friends who have it seem to like it. Don’t think the interface is as clear though I have to say!
I have been mulling this over in my head a lately, trying to decide what to get (TomTom or MobileNavigator for iPhone). Well today I came to a conclusion, MobileNavigator! I am downloading it as I write this!
Largly helped by the following article on Gizmodo
I think the main points to conclude from this is that firstly until the 31st of Augest 2009 MobileNavigator is on sale, then it goes back to the same price as Tom Tom. So wins on that.
Maps wise, the engines under both bits of software are identical and are both updated adequately.
In fact on almost everything there probably as good as each other!
So for me as there really wasn’t anything in it I decided well I might as well go for what’s cheaper and secondly the screnshots make MobileNavigator look like a nicer application to use, Tom Tom seems a bit ugly to me.
Of course I’ve not used it yet so I might have made a terriable mistake! I should be off the Cambridge on the 3rd of September for SENS4 so that will be it’s real world test!
Price wise the UK version of MobileNavigator isn’t on sale, but the European version is (including UK) which brings it down to the same price as the Tom Tom UK only (£59 I think). The Tom Tom Europe is £78, so a reasonable saving.
Tom Tom is meant to be bringing out a special car kit also, which sounds like it’ll be expensive. I found an in car charger for £1.25 on Amazon and a Holder for £7 so that’ll do! You will need a holder btw unless you have a death wise and battery wise it’ll brick your iphone in an hour, so keep it plugged in!
