Apparently Google are set to rival Garmin and Tom Tom.
After enjoying years of seemingly unassailable popularity with gadget fans and travelling salesmen, sat-navs could be under threat from a new breed of mobile phones that feature the sort of mapping technology that wouldn’t look out of place on the most expensive TomTom.
Google has just announced that its new Android 2.0 operating system will support Google Maps Navigation, a new tool, based on Google’s existing road maps platform, that will provide turn-by-turn directions, automatic re-routing and 3D street-level views. In short, pretty much everything your satnav can do, but without the need to worry about an extra bit of kit when you load up the car.
Not for me, it won’t. Two points spring immediately to mind here. Firstly, a phone has a small screen. I need my reading glasses to see it properly. I don’t need my reading glasses to see my Garmin’s screen.
Secondly, I buy a mobile phone to make phone calls. I’m not much interested in apps beyond simple calendar facilities. As I said, it’s a phone and I use it (occasionally) for making phone calls. The satnav is designed for mapping in the car and on the bike. It is, therefore, more suited to that job – it doesn’t make phone calls. I have a phone for that (although it does act as a hands-free device via Bluetooth should I want to use it).
Secondly and this is particularly important for me – points of interest (POIs) on Garmin’s maps are rather more accurate than Google’s. An example here was the local doctor who was placed by Google maps several hundred metres away in entirely the wrong street. Not an unusual situation – and using Google waypoints to find the Gare Maritime in Roscoff drove me to distraction, whereas the Garmin one was spot on. That said, the Garmin works with Google Maps, so I have the best of both worlds.
And, not only…
But there are few key things Google Maps Navigation – and other similar, mobile apps that are sure to follow in its wake – will need to address before we can start writing the satnav’s obituary.
The first is speed; when you’re driving on a motorway or in busy town traffic, you need to know exactly what lane you should be in, and where you need to go next. This is where modern sat-navs excel, with their advanced lane guidance, clear spoken instructions, and ability to quickly recalculate routes if you take a wrong turn.
Indeed.
Thanks, but no thanks. My next satnav will be another Garmin and and my next mobile phone will make phone calls.
You seem to have missed the obvious reason for not owning one of these devices. A mobile phone that can now pinpoint your exact location. I shall be home soon darling, I am still at the office (errrrrr pub, mistresses bedroom, etc.)
They can be used for that already.
Secondly, I buy a mobile phone to make phone calls. I’m not much interested in apps beyond simple calendar facilities.
I’d agree but I don’t think we’re in the majority.
.-= My last blog ..Lieberman puts what we’re thinking into words =-.
You are probably right, but I will continue to buy several items that do one job well rather than one item that does several jobs less well. And, frankly, I really dislike monopolies, so will resist products from such companies wherever possible.
I find that a map & the gift of speech are usually enough to get me to my destination.
Yes, well, I’ve had this discussion before. Neither are much good in a busy city with multiple lanes and there is nowhere to stop. A satnav is a tool. A useful tool. On a motorcycle, a map is about as useful as a chocolate teapot. A satnav on the other hand, is a godsend. I wouldn’t go back to missing my junction, trying to find somewhere to stop and then trying to locate my position on a map. I use a map for route planning in the warm and dry. I use the satnav when out on the road. Like all tools, used properly it makes the job easier.
Oh, it could be worse. Much worse:
http://io9.com/5393880/in-the-future-your-car-will-know-all-about-you
.-= My last blog ..Spare The Rod, Spoil The Child Footballer… =-.
Well I am looking forward to this better FREE sat nav Android 2. system being released here, I shall upgrade my phone to the Hero or Dext and not buy from another monopoly tomtom/garmin with need to update. Real street views, daily updates, finds places without address and Add all other Apps on the cloud, i.e. ( loose your phone ) everything still there when you replace phone.This is the future and SO I AM changing my OS on my PC to Google chrome OS next year to escape the microsoft concentration camp. At least Google has some form of constitution and morals, not Gatesville. Apples and iphones too expensive, so roll on Cloud and Android.
Google are neither better nor worse than any other big business. As for something being FREE – well, one gets what one pays for in this world. The Garmin system isn’t cheap, but is is an excellent tool. Consequently, I’ll buy another one with its nice big screen, clear instructions and accurate waypoints.
As for OS’ I’ll stick with Windows, faults and all. It works and I have no problems with it. My work means that I am tied into MS apps, so, reluctantly, I’ll be sticking with those, too.
As for apps on a phone – I made this point in the main piece. I’m really not that interested. I have a smart phone that will do a great deal more than I require. What I need is a phone with good coverage that makes and receives phone calls. That’s it. So losing the phone and losing apps isn’t an issue for me.