By Buy an Android Phone, use Google Nav, never buy another Garmin- that’s the thought process I think a lot of people have when looking at Android’s positives. Yes, I know there will be plenty of people saying that nothing can replace a dedicated GPS unit for many different reasons – reliability, size, map data, battery life etc… – but the bottom line is that in most cases Google Nav does a great job.
Remember Mapquest? I rarely ever use Mapquest anymore, almost exclusively using Google Maps on my computer and phone for everything I do that is location based. Yet, when talking to friends, I often accidentally tell them to “Mapquest it” much like I would tell someone to “Google it” for a search term.
Mapquest has just launched a free Android Application – they’ve had an iPhone app for awhile – and the app takes advantage of many of Android’s core competencies including:
- Turn-by-turn navigation with voice guided directions
- Voice search
- Attraction/Destination guide to find restaurants and whatnot
- Walking and driving directions
- Live Traffic
Google has a huge advantage in the mapping and navigation world right now, but nothing that can’t be overcome or no reason a competitor can’t reclaim a boat load of market share. Mapquest’s SVP and GM said their iPhone app is used as much as Google Navigation on the iPhone, a claim I can’t verify and I’m not sure if Christian Dwyer can either. There are some advantages to Mapquest over Google Maps/Nav, including leveraging OpenStreetMap data so they can much more easily provide international data.
Download Mapquest, give it a whirl, and let us know how you like it!
[Via SearchEngineLand]
Mapquest is in a hard fight, Google Maps and Nav is so good I wouldn’t even bother trying another service at this point.
start adding market links please… thanks
The data and routing used by Mapquest, provided by NavTeq, is superior to the data used by Google Maps. It isn’t a significant difference in many areas, but some areas it is the difference between getting to the right address or being on the totally wrong end of town. Google used to use NavTeq, but after Nokia acquired them, they parted ways, and I definitely noticed the loss, as my house at the time went from in the right spot to 4 miles down the road on Google Maps. I’ll definitely give this app a shot.
@eman – Learn how to:
1.Google it
2.Open Market on phone and search it
3.Open Market on Computer and search it
4.Download Barcode Scanner from market to phone, run app, scan QR code.
jesus, are they serious? i feel bad for the developers on this app but do not feel bad for the inevitable outcome of this. some high end dev manager should be let go/raped by pigeons.
@MT It should be faster for them to get the market link, than add the QR code. It’s faster for the reader, too.
@eman I second this. What is this, 2010?
Downloadable maps.
With AT&T going to metered data plans and sometimes you are out of range and need GPS.
Without downloadable maps google nav is not a replacement for a true GPS.
I tried Copilot but could not get it to work on my HTC magic.
Mapquest brings back old memories. Haven’t used it in years, not sure why I’d want to with Google Maps available.
Where’s the QR code?
@MT With web-triggered downloading, a simple link to the android web-market does everything. It really should be included in these articles on a pro-Android site.
Downloadable maps would be great. (This would save battery on a continuous data connection, and it would prevent losing the map when you lose a data connection. The GPS connection is always there, so if the map was already downloaded, I would get lost a lot less.)
One thing about a story like this.. It makes me check it out. I hadn’t realized how much Mapquest had improved. Although they are still behind Google (the SVG update has been awesome)
Why use free MapQuest or free Google maps when you can use AT&T Navigator for only $9.95 per month?
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But hey, this is from a network carrier that sells you XX GB of data, and then thinks that if you use it in a certain way (example: tethering) that those same XX GB of data should cost more.
Can somebody confirm whether or not these are downloadable maps? If so, then it could be useful.
Why would anybody want Ass t&t mapquest and pay 9:99 Google maps BLOWS THIS OUT THE WATER… This is why android devices on Ass t&t ARE NO GOOD cause of this crappy bing search, mapquest, no sideloading applications… ASS T&T is so far behind reality… ANDROID WILL ALWAYS RULE BUT CARRIERS NEED TO STAY OUT OF THE WAY OF THE PLATFORM CAUSE TRUE ANDROID LOVERS ARE MARRIED TO THE PLATFORM NOT CARRIER GARBAGE
I agree with Mark, without downloadable maps google nav has a major flaw. I don’t know what it’s like in the US but in the UK I’m limited to 500mb data and then get charged a fortune, I don’t want the hassle of pre-loading a route before I get to my car (only to find I take a detour and all is lost).
I’ve tried the htc nav option pre-loaded on the Desire HD which doesn’t support postcode search and am now trying “Aura” which so far seems very nice!
I’ve installed it and will be trying it out on my drive home. I’m a little worried about the OSM integration and hope it’s not what they use for mapping on the phone. My whole giant neighborhood is completely missing from the OSM maps right now. I’m a little scared to know just how much else is missing.
Mapquest sucks. It may be hard to believe to some of yall, but Google Maps is more accurate with driving directions. Google Maps tells you lil details that mapquest leaves out.
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I’m speaking from experience using the PC versions of both.
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AAA is more accurate than both..
I’d love to see a review or even just a quick post regarding Google Maps vs Mapquest, weighing the pros and cons between the two, and concluding with your opinion if which one you think is better.
Google maps can be cached and used offline:
—- http://www.google.com/mobile/maps/3d/ —-
Offline rerouting
Google Maps Navigation (Beta) automatically reroutes you, even if you lose your connection after starting a route.
—- http://www.google.com/mobile/maps/3d/ —-
I recently used this feature when driving around Mexico and it worked well.
The next revision of Google Nav will have downloadable maps.
Even though my Nexus One and Google Nav mean I no-longer carry my Garmin with me in the car, Google Nav still falls seriously-short when it comes to picking the quickest routes in traffic, or even giving you enough options in traffic (as compared with the Garmin). Will be trying this app in hopes that it’s better at handling traffic/detours/small street shortcuts.
@everyone who’s stuck on a tiered plan: I agree not being able to download maps is a limitation and gives Garmin an advantage. But for those complaing about using their data up, GO WITH SPRINT, IT’S UNLIMITED!!
No where in the article did it state anything about AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, data plans, etc.
If you are going to comment, COMMENT ON THE ARTICLE! Leave any other opinions that are completely irrelevant out. There are forums for people to b!tch, whine, and complain about every little thing that isn’t right in their world, but, NOT in comments sections of an actual article.
Comments boards are getting as bad as talking to people in real life. I talk to people all day long at work and I hate it when I ask a specific question and get an entirely different answer. ANSWER my question and maybe we’ll solve your problem. If I ask a question such as “Does it happen every time?” That is a close ended question. Yes or No. NOT an open ended answer for people to babble on for the next ten minutes.
SO LEAVE UNRELATED COMMENTS OUT OF THE STORY COMMENTS SECTIONS.
Bob, why don’t you tell us how you REALLY feel… o_o
iphone is better!
sprint is cooler than everyone else!
everyone should get windows phone!
android is fragmented!
troll? me? absolutely not…
what was the article about again?
solve all your problems beggining people: have the QR code picture a clickable market link — so it can be clicked or scanned
actually better than google maps in europe, since google maps has no voice navigation available here.
Bob you’re awesome – your reprimand about going off topic immediately turned into complaining about your job. I love it!
No, I was pointing out an inherent problem with society and our absolute inability to communicate effectively. Ironic that it shows up so abundantly on a website that deals with devices that are for communication. Our inabilities run deep.
Downloaded this. It does cache maps. So far so good but going to give it a few more days. Either way it’s free so I’m not complaining.
@Bob…. SHUT UP and go teach your class… Leave this forum stuff up to us..
I just tried it out. It’s got that horrible navigation voice like Google Maps and when I look at the list of directions, it has me turning left to get onto a freeway where you have to turn right (hasn’t been a left turn for 10 years) and then has me going past the exit I need to take at the end of the trip to get to my house. Back to Telenav for me.
it is good to have another competitor offering free navigation in android.
Google maps is a good SatNav application but it is let down by not allowing to download maps and store them on the phone to use them off-line.
if Mapquest brings that facility, i will definitely swith over to them.
I have downloaded the application but i haven’t tested the navigation service. however if no offline maps are over what is the point of having it?
It’s worth trying just because it can be installed to the SD card on an non-rooted phone. That much I like.
Ovi Maps is really bettre than Google Navigation appart from the fact tha the maps can be preloaded. I believe there is plenty of space for a Google navigation competitor. Google navigation is among the worst navigation engines I ever tested. I bet if Tomtom makes an Android app with preloaded maps, it will be a huge success. Tomrom is the best navigation engine to date, even better than latest versions of Ovi Maps, and it’s been a time it’s been so.
Take care Ovi Maps will run on Windows Phone in the future, and may be free on WP phones like it’s on Nokia Symbian today.