Just switched from Windows Mobile to Android.... - Page 3

Dorset Bob · 9th August 2012, 08:59

The other option is that TomTom is scheduled to release an Android app this summer.

http://www.phonesreview.co.uk/2012/0...ay-why-bother/

Unclefista · 9th August 2012, 09:01

With 500mb limit I think you're worrying unnecessarily.
Unless you drive for a living and use your phone as a satnav all the time, I think you'll be surprised how little data navigation uses

Try a data counter app to check on how much you use is my recommendation

mmarks · 9th August 2012, 09:15

I have been an avid Android user for many years, having also come from WM.

I have tried most, if not all of the navigation options on Android and most are pretty good.

For the paid options, TomTom have announced they will be introducing an Android version, the surprising thing is the time taken bearing in mind that their dedicated units are based around Linux and Android is running a Linux kernal.

Co-Pilot, Navigon, NDrive, Sygic are good 'on board' solutions - if you dont have a data plan then be aware that some of the (additional) subscriptions for these products such as traffic do require data. The maps are, however, stored on the phone and the routing is performed locally on the device.

Google Maps/Navigation can be used locally but ideally works with a data plan. You can cache map data but re-routing and straying off course (together with searches) require online access.

There are a few free solutions - somebody already mentioned navfree which is OK but not up to the standard of the paid apps but one to look into is MapFactor Navigator which is completely free and onboard (map data and routing performed on the phone). It uses OSM (OpenStreetMaps) as its data source which is getting better every day, especially in the UK. To be honest there are not many places that it is either missing roads or inaccurate. OSM is like an open source mapping project. If you find map errors or new roads, you can contact them and add them to the map.

Hope this helps, please feel free to pm me if you have any other questions.

Michael

uk_dave&gill · 9th August 2012, 10:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by Unclefista

With 500mb limit I think you're worrying unnecessarily

I probably am! Thing is, I have no idea how much usage the 500mb will get me. The irony is that the previous plan (T-Mobile on the HTC HD2) gave me unlimited data, which I never used at all!

uk_dave&gill · 9th August 2012, 10:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by mmarks

Hope this helps, please feel free to pm me if you have any other questions

Thanks for this! At the moment I am leaning towards Co-Pilot but if I change my mind.....

guru · 9th August 2012, 14:45

Actually something else comes to mind, the Note should be running ICS by now which has a bandwidth monitor built in so you can keep an eye on your usage!

Do try Google Maps before you pay for one, as said I have a 500Mb limit and as an IT Consultant use my phone for data a LOT but am yet to go over.

uk_dave&gill · 9th August 2012, 16:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by guru

Actually something else comes to mind, the Note should be running ICS by now which has a bandwidth monitor built in so you can keep an eye on your usage!

Do try Google Maps before you pay for one, as said I have a 500Mb limit and as an IT Consultant use my phone for data a LOT but am yet to go over.

That's encouraging with regard to the 500mb limit!

Spookily, I just found something on the phone that looks like the bandwidth monitor you are referring to!

rovexCDTi · 9th August 2012, 17:47

You can cache maps locally in google maps and no you wont need data while travelling in the area you cached.

In my experience its far better than tomTom, i often pit them against each other, and TomTom always loses, even if its as up to date as it can be.

In theory you can cache the whole country, but only in sections. You can do an area about the size of Devon at once.

al_dente · 10th August 2012, 17:59

There's a good app called My Data Manager which tracks your data usage. Then if you get near your 500MB limit it alerts you.

You can download it on Google play.

uk_dave&gill · 10th August 2012, 18:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by al_dente

There's a good app called My Data Manager which tracks your data usage. Then if you get near your 500MB limit it alerts you.

You can download it on Google play.

I'll have a look at that, ta!

9th August 2012, 08:59	#21
Dorset Bob Senior Citizen Rover 75 2.5 Connoisseur SE,Chrysler 300C,124 Spider, Daytona 955i,Honda XL250 & Royal Enfield 650GT Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: The Kingdom of Wessex Posts: 6,976 Thanks: 2,391 Thanked 2,685 Times in 1,686 Posts	The other option is that TomTom is scheduled to release an Android app this summer. http://www.phonesreview.co.uk/2012/0...ay-why-bother/ __________________ Let the good times roll............

9th August 2012, 09:01	#22
Unclefista Posted a thing or two Rover 75 CDT Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Bradford Posts: 1,478 Thanks: 1 Thanked 14 Times in 8 Posts	With 500mb limit I think you're worrying unnecessarily. Unless you drive for a living and use your phone as a satnav all the time, I think you'll be surprised how little data navigation uses Try a data counter app to check on how much you use is my recommendation __________________ Love is like a snowmobile, speeding across the frozen tundra. Which suddenly flips, pinning you underneath. At night the ice-weasels come... http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5331/6...77671f80_n.jpg

9th August 2012, 14:45	#26
guru Posted a thing or two MG ZT, Rover Sterling, MG ZS EV & BMW X5 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: The Norfolk Broads Posts: 1,491 Thanks: 20 Thanked 196 Times in 117 Posts	Actually something else comes to mind, the Note should be running ICS by now which has a bandwidth monitor built in so you can keep an eye on your usage! Do try Google Maps before you pay for one, as said I have a 500Mb limit and as an IT Consultant use my phone for data a LOT but am yet to go over. __________________ My car history http://m6jkk.com

9th August 2012, 17:47	#28
rovexCDTi This is my second home MG ZT+ 135 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Exeter Posts: 3,626 Thanks: 9 Thanked 42 Times in 26 Posts	You can cache maps locally in google maps and no you wont need data while travelling in the area you cached. In my experience its far better than tomTom, i often pit them against each other, and TomTom always loses, even if its as up to date as it can be. In theory you can cache the whole country, but only in sections. You can do an area about the size of Devon at once. __________________ [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC] Last edited by rovexCDTi; 9th August 2012 at 17:54..

9th August 2012, 09:15	#23
mmarks Regular poster Rover 75 Saloon Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Southampton Posts: 75 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	I have been an avid Android user for many years, having also come from WM. I have tried most, if not all of the navigation options on Android and most are pretty good. For the paid options, TomTom have announced they will be introducing an Android version, the surprising thing is the time taken bearing in mind that their dedicated units are based around Linux and Android is running a Linux kernal. Co-Pilot, Navigon, NDrive, Sygic are good 'on board' solutions - if you dont have a data plan then be aware that some of the (additional) subscriptions for these products such as traffic do require data. The maps are, however, stored on the phone and the routing is performed locally on the device. Google Maps/Navigation can be used locally but ideally works with a data plan. You can cache map data but re-routing and straying off course (together with searches) require online access. There are a few free solutions - somebody already mentioned navfree which is OK but not up to the standard of the paid apps but one to look into is MapFactor Navigator which is completely free and onboard (map data and routing performed on the phone). It uses OSM (OpenStreetMaps) as its data source which is getting better every day, especially in the UK. To be honest there are not many places that it is either missing roads or inaccurate. OSM is like an open source mapping project. If you find map errors or new roads, you can contact them and add them to the map. Hope this helps, please feel free to pm me if you have any other questions. Michael

10th August 2012, 17:59	#29
al_dente Loves to post Rover 75 Tourer Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Nr Telford, Shropshire Posts: 375 Thanks: 6 Thanked 15 Times in 15 Posts	There's a good app called My Data Manager which tracks your data usage. Then if you get near your 500MB limit it alerts you. You can download it on Google play.