Best turn by turn software? IGO8 Tom Tom? Other?
 

Hi All,

Im new im wondering if someone out there might be able to help me out. Ive read about all the different turn by turn programs out there. I just want to know what the opinion is from the people that have experience using them.

The ones ive read about are IGO8 and TomTom. Any insight as to wich is better? I live in canada will the maps and directions work here? How do i go about installing one of these programs?

Thanks for the help. :)

Re: Best turn by turn software? IGO8 Tom Tom? Other?
 

I've played with TomTom.

Remember, most/all of these packages use the same map data from 2 or 3 different companies.

So best? Rand McNally road atlas. Not very automated, no turn by turn. hahahaha (Doesn't need power tho)

Re: Best turn by turn software? IGO8 Tom Tom? Other?
 

Re: Best turn by turn software? IGO8 Tom Tom? Other?
 

I'm a big fan of garmin mobile XP. It seems to always lock my GPS in seconds, is accurate and easy to use. It also interfaces nicely with win mobile, so you can easily attach gps points to your contacts. Its not as smooth as iGo but I could never get used to iGo.

Re: Best turn by turn software? IGO8 Tom Tom? Other?
 

i recommend igo8. Besides the 3d pretty stuff it just simply works. Garmin XT is ok for the price, but i think its definitely not as easy to use.

First off the searching for POI on Garmin is PAINFULLY slow- it searches 2mi, 6mi, 12mi, 30mi etc then gives the results which can take a minute or two sometimes. On igo8 is basically instant when you type it and shows next to where youre typing how many POI match that spelling. Much much more intuitive and much faster. Ive had some problems with missing POI that igo8 had and Garmin on 2009 maps didnt which is aggravating after moving to a city where i dont know where things are at all.

Second you cant scroll on the map during navigation on Garmin, while on igo8 you can. Very useful if you want to see whats coming up, turns on the route, etc. Another good use is sometimes ill see the overview map and a cross street that looks quicker or to get around something happening on that road, so i can finger scroll on the map ahead a little while routing and see that street and then get rerouted after i make the turn-off.

Finally igo8 can announce the street names by dragging and dropping about 5 files onto your card. Garmin only says turn left/right in x feet. Not very useful if you dont know where you are or never been in that area. Street names are MUCH more useful (ex. "turn right in 400ft onto main st" and you can see the physical street sign for main st.). distances are hard to judge for some people (like whats 700 ft going 45 mph?)

Garmin is nice because it does traffic. I like igo's avoidence settings better though. i can set it to not take me on the highway, on Garmin you cant for some reason- it just has minor and major roads but major roads include bigger city streets too. I dont always think highways are the fastest route or sometimes just dont feel like dealing with highway drivers or going 70mph in pouring rain/bad weather and prefer to stick to side streets.

Igo8 simply gives you many more options, it just lacks traffic. but remember traffic is strictly that- construction or closed roads. it wont pick up the car accident 10 min ago that backs up the road, i dont know how often the traffic is updated in Garmin's system but its not real-time either and mainly good for construction really. so its not all that useful and usually there are signs for construction so you can get off the road and the system reroutes you anyways. The best real-time traffic is still pop on an AM radio station to the news and its up to date

Re: Best turn by turn software? IGO8 Tom Tom? Other?
 

I've tried the big 3 .. I've used Garmin more often because it locks fast without priming the GPS. As far as traffic updates, that I kinda wonder about. Every morning, no matter what, it'll report medium congestion, 45 mph .. never true.
iGo and Tom Tom are kinda of a pain because of the priming .. but after some positive feedback on iGo, I'll have to give it another shot.

Re: Best turn by turn software? IGO8 Tom Tom? Other?
 

i say TOMTOM all night. man my advice to you go for tomtom iwe tested it in many different ways and its far best gps software for mobile ( att tilt) interface is not that great but who cares it will give you best coverage and more accurate gps position then garmin igo navigator etc... peace

Re: Best turn by turn software? IGO8 Tom Tom? Other?
 

very simple to solve that. just download astro. its a small .cab files to install and someone here made an igo8 link, just replace the one the igo program installs with the astro one. one click opens astro and igo8 youll never know the difference vs running igo alone. works perfectly.

and to above thats just propaganda. no gps software is "more accurate" than another. gps receiver dictates accuracy. Tomtom is essentially the same software it was 5 years ago, they update it very little and its a decent very basic gps program for a soccer mom but lacks a lot of powerful stuff igo and garmin offer in the newer software for similar prices

Re: Best turn by turn software? IGO8 Tom Tom? Other?
 

actually, some software seems to have a little delay in its reading. for example, iguidance is usually a little behind where i actually am whereas destinator keeps up well.

Re: Best turn by turn software? IGO8 Tom Tom? Other?
 

of course and itll depend what device you use it on too as to the rendering speeds too. Like is aid i use both XT and igo8 and theyre both smooth in the navigating. GPs is as accurate as the receiver providing the data though, the program just translates that into a dot on the map.

but to say one program is "more accurate" or "better coverage" are totally inaccurate and makes no sense

Re: Best turn by turn software? IGO8 Tom Tom? Other?
 

I went to the NavNgo website and they didn't offer Igo from their site. Also it appears its only for Europe??

Just wondering where you guys got your copy of Igo 8 and i'm not asking for warez, i'm just wondering where you buy this product.

Thanks.

Re: Best turn by turn software? IGO8 Tom Tom? Other?
 

your answer is in your response how we have it- its not offered in the Us as of yet though.

Re: Best turn by turn software? IGO8 Tom Tom? Other?
 

my vote goes to IGO8

Re: Best turn by turn software? IGO8 Tom Tom? Other?
 

I currently use IGO8 mainly because it's map movement is almost continuous as opposed to Garmin which moves the map every second or so.

One thing that annoys me about IGO8 and Garmin is that they don't have a feature to turn off U-turns unless absolutely necessary. For example, IGO8 happily instructed me to do a u-turn at a very dangerous intersection not to mention that u-turns there were illegal. IGO8 will also repeatedly tell you to do a u-turn and go back at every intersection even though you know the destination can be reached by going forward.

Other things that you should be aware of is that IGO8 is chatty whereas Garmin not so much. So if you don't like your nav software constantly beeping and giving you instructions, then go with Garmin.

As for routing calculations and efficiency I think Garmin is better. I have IGO8 installed on my own Touch as well as my wife's Touch. We decided to turn on nav at the same time in the same car just for some amusement. We put in the same destination and upon approaching an intersection, my touch told me to turn left and her touch told her to turn right... although both directions can lead to the same destination. So I thought her routing method was different but upon checking it, it was the same as mine so I was confused and amused at the same time.

In Canada, the IGO8 maps are a little out-dated whereas Garmin maps are more up-to-date.

The reason I chose IGO8 is the ability to read out street names and the smooth and continuous map movement while navigating.

BTW, stay away from Route66... it sucks.

Re: Best turn by turn software? IGO8 Tom Tom? Other?
 

I just installed IGO8 on my Touch for the ability to read out street names, but I tested it out last night and it did the usual turn right in 400 ft etc...no announciing street names :( Is there a option or something to turn on/off?

Re: Best turn by turn software? IGO8 Tom Tom? Other?
 

you need to add those files in. you should be able to find them where you got the program.

Re: Best turn by turn software? IGO8 Tom Tom? Other?
 

i want igo8....where do i get it from