SatNav reviews

From: koswix 9 May 2011 13:25
To: Kenny J (WINGNUTKJ) 16 of 80

Never had to use it to get there - although i suspect it says it wrong.

 

The one that sticks in my mind is always Jodpurs for Jedburgh :D

From: Iain (WIBBLEBOY) 9 May 2011 14:22
To: af (CAER) 17 of 80
I tried a few different ones, but finally settled on a large chinese jobby from DealExtreme.

Linky

Yeah, it's the US version, with outdated maps, but it comes with iGo 8 and the maps are easily obtained. I replaced that with iGo Primo 1.2 and it works really well. I also enjoyed fannying around with various CE applications and addons.

If you find the right files, iGo will accept either Navteq or TeleAtlas maps, supports terrain elevation files (for 3D maps), configurable POIs, replaceable voice files (including Text to Speech for reading out street names).

The only real downside is that the screen is hard to see in bright sunshine, and the battery only really lasts for around 2 hours unless its plugged in. Still, it's only around £50.
From: af (CAER) 9 May 2011 14:38
To: Iain (WIBBLEBOY) 18 of 80
6" screen 8-O

And what's the map display like in use? Can you provide pictures? :D Is it smooth? My Navman was kinda jerky, but the video review of the TomTom GO LIVE 1000 showed that one as being pretty smooth. I bet these things would look much nicer with some actual 3D hardware, but hey.

Not really bothered about battery life tbh, as it's only really gonna get used in the car.
From: ANT_THOMAS 9 May 2011 14:56
To: Iain (WIBBLEBOY) 19 of 80
I've been tempted with some of the DealExtreme Windows CE knock offs. Can't you stick TomTom on some of those too?
From: koswix 9 May 2011 15:40
To: ANT_THOMAS 20 of 80
I got an ebuyer value one for about 30 quid, and then TomTom accidentally fell of the internet onto it.
From: ANT_THOMAS 9 May 2011 15:45
To: koswix 21 of 80
I thought that was the case with these. A huge screen is tempting to have a dedicated satnav.
From: Chris (CHRISSS) 9 May 2011 17:14
To: af (CAER) 22 of 80
I used to find TomTom on my WM phone much easier to follow than Google Nav on my Desire. Not quite sure what it is, maybe the lines too narrow or the colours too similar but on a few occasions I've been confused where to go at junctions with lots of roads off them.
From: af (CAER) 9 May 2011 17:16
To: Chris (CHRISSS) 23 of 80
One of the things I liked best about my Navman was that all the roads were grey except the one you were following, which was green (and I think motorways, which might have blue). It was really nice and easy to follow. I'd show you a picture but every single screenshot of the actual device on Google Images seems to show the exact same image.
EDITED: 9 May 2011 17:18 by CAER
From: Iain (WIBBLEBOY) 9 May 2011 17:26
To: koswix 24 of 80
I got an ebuyer value one for about 30 quid, and then TomTom accidentally fell of the internet onto it.


I tried the eBuyer G422 before Xmas, it was dire. The supplied software was awful; even after replacing this software with iGo, the voice directions were difficult to understand due to the feeble internal speaker which distorted when turned up loud enough to hear.
From: Iain (WIBBLEBOY) 9 May 2011 17:37
To: ANT_THOMAS 25 of 80
quote: ANT_THOMAS
I've been tempted with some of the DealExtreme Windows CE knock offs. Can't you stick TomTom on some of those too?


You can put TomTom on most of the generic ones, though there seems to be a problem with stability on the Windows CE 6 ones with more than 64MB of RAM, apparently TomTom doesn't expect 128MB of RAM so screws up if you're not careful. There's no such problems with iGo, in fact it works better with 128MB RAM if you're planning on adding loads of plugins.
From: Iain (WIBBLEBOY) 9 May 2011 17:46
To: af (CAER) 26 of 80

The update speed depends on how much information is in the data files, plus how complicated the current location is. I've been using the full UK and Northern Ireland Navteq maps, complete with the full UK POI data (albeit only displaying parking and fuel on the live map) and 3D buildings for main cities. With text to speech enabled I'm still getting around 10 FPS most of the time. I did try running with the elevation data (which renders the map in 3D instead of on a 2D plane), but that dropped the display to approx 2-3 FPS at times.

 

If you check the "User Pictures" section of Deal Extreme, you'll see more pictures. I'll try and upload some shots later.

From: af (CAER) 9 May 2011 17:50
To: Iain (WIBBLEBOY) 27 of 80
Hm, very few of the map display. I swear, when I get a satnav I'm going to make a video of it in use as I'm driving around.

PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW
From: Ixion 9 May 2011 18:41
To: af (CAER) 28 of 80
You can change the colour scheme on TomTom's I have blue motorways on mine, and green A roads, it looks just like a road atlas!
From: af (CAER) 9 May 2011 18:51
To: Ixion 29 of 80
That sounds more sensible than some of the colour schemes I've seen. Any chance of some pictures? :$

This, for example, is a horrible confusing mess:


(I know the numbers in yellow circles aren't part of the display, but even so.)

Is it possible to make the non-road parts grey or maybe less garish than that yucky peach colour?

edit: a video of the GO LIVE 1000 in action showed it having much more subdued colours, so hmm. Still, this was based on a ~10 second segment in a 4 minute video, most of which was spent blathering on about the menus and cables and other uninteresting stuff. This is reet annoying :@
EDITED: 9 May 2011 18:59 by CAER
From: milko 9 May 2011 19:52
To: af (CAER) 30 of 80
blimey, just follow the red bit and you should be fine!
From: af (CAER) 9 May 2011 20:30
To: milko 31 of 80
Well, having watched a splendid video of the GO LIVE 1000 in action it actually looks rather nice, much nicer, in fact, than the TomToms of old.

So yes, I shall indeed follow the red bit :D
From: Iain (WIBBLEBOY) 9 May 2011 20:50
To: af (CAER) 32 of 80
Well, I managed to grab a rough video on my mobile.

This is iGo Primo v1.2 with:
  • UK & NI Maps
  • 3D buildings
  • Full UK POI list, showing parking and fuel on maps.
  • UK Text to speech
  • Default colour scheme


http://img689.imageshack.us/i/igo1.jpg/
http://img339.imageshack.us/i/igo2.jpg/
http://img844.imageshack.us/i/igo3.jpg/
http://img202.imageshack.us/i/igo4.jpg/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvNGDuZnAvA

The video is with it using the inbuilt 2GB memory which is sluggish compared to a fast MicroSD, but it's fine for my occasional use.
From: af (CAER) 9 May 2011 20:56
To: Iain (WIBBLEBOY) 33 of 80
See now that is useful! Thank you so much :D

Hmm, now I'm wondering what it'd be like to have a 6 incher (y,j)...
From: Ixion 9 May 2011 21:51
To: af (CAER) 34 of 80
I downloaded it through tomtom home yonks ago, couldn't tell you what it's called but there's plenty about on the web http://www.colorschemeeditor.com/index.php?p=schemes&lang=EN has several options including Michelin colours and OS map colours amongst others, or the ability to make your own schemes!
From: Peter (BOUGHTONP) 9 May 2011 22:25
To: Some call me... (PSYCHO_GEEZER) 35 of 80