Help Optimus V and GPS navigation

[DBNissan]

Have you used it? Comments in the market are terrible. It's also $30 euro, but it says it gives 7 days....

Yes, I was using it until my 7 days ran out today

I actually like it. It seemed to work well. The 3D view is very nice. What I don't like is having to download maps by state. The maps are also not up to date like google maps. I am going to try the Waze app next. I like that new roads can be added to it and that it is completely free.

 

[lou61166]

Yes, I was using it until my 7 days ran out today

I actually like it. It seemed to work well. The 3D view is very nice. What I don't like is having to download maps by state. The maps are also not up to date like google maps. I am going to try the Waze app next. I like that new roads can be added to it and that it is completely free.

I tried Waze,did not like it,but it's hard to compete with Google maps navigation.

 

[TampaShooters]

Yes, the Optimus V has a GPS chip and it's free to use. It uses Google Maps. I got rid of my TomTom it's so good. It sometimes takes a few seconds to render maps when first turned on, but once it's on, its flawless. The phone gets hot when using GPS and Plugged in, so make sure you keep it cool or turn off the screen when not watching it.

 

[lou61166]

I am trying Aura now,it says for the USA maps,it's 29.99 EUR what would that cost in American dollars

 

[DBNissan]

Current exchange rate is 1.45

 

[lou61166]

Current exchange rate is 1.45

So that would be about 40 dollars american

 

[DBNissan]

Should be about 43.50

 

[lou61166]

Should be about 43.50

Thanks for the info

 

[lizm]

Yes, I was using it until my 7 days ran out today

I actually like it. It seemed to work well. The 3D view is very nice. What I don't like is having to download maps by state. The maps are also not up to date like google maps. I am going to try the Waze app next. I like that new roads can be added to it and that it is completely free.

I guess it makes sense that the maps wouldn't be totally up to date since they are stored on the phone and not on the net like google's are? Like a regular TomTom or other dedicated nav?

I wonder if those downloaded maps on Aura work in areas with no data service? That might be worth $43.50 right there.

I'm still using Waze but not for trips to places I haven't been before. Some routes it suggests are generally longer - sometimes a lot longer - than the ones Google suggests. So I use the google nav to route my trip but let waze run too. Like that it is supposedly collecting data and getting smarter.

I live in a fairly rural area and I think waze does a lot better in major metro areas where there are a lot of users that have gone before and mapped roads and lights/speeds/etc on those roads.

 

[lou61166]

After trying all the free and trial GPS mapping apps,Google maps Navigation is the best in my opinion,easiest to use, finds locations fairly well, and the satellite view is nice.

 

[DBNissan]

After trying all the free and trial GPS mapping apps,Google maps Navigation is the best in my opinion,easiest to use, finds locations fairly well, and the satellite view is nice.

I agree. I do like the way Waze users can do traffic and police notifications. I will do like lizm and map out unknown trips through google maps but have waze up for notifications.

 

[YankeeBelle]

I know I'm a little late getting in on this discussion, but I wanted to say that the Google Nav on my Optimus V works SO WELL and SO FAST, I just wanted to add that. Seriously, I'm very impressed with how well it works in my somewhat nowhere small town.

 

[JerryScript]

For those that would like to have some form of social networking built in, be it friends or police/traffic notifications, while using Google Nav, SwipePad (or other apps like it) can give you easy updating via a single swipe.

It's a hidden dock that allows you to set up a spot on the edge of the screen that when pressed and swiped from, opens up a hidden dock from any application. You can set bookmarks to update your status on whatever website you like. So you don't need to press any buttons or navigate thru any menus, just a quick swipe and your can update your status. Then you can swipe to go back to Google Nav once your status has updated.

Websites can use the location feature of html5 to determine your location. If a social website takes advantage of this feature, you can bookmark it, and a quick visit to it's status update page can work as well as the built in features of some social gps apps, even better since you are actually visiting the website while google nav is running in the background.

Note- This setting may not be enabled by default on your phone, depending upon your ROM/browser, so check your settings for your ROM, launcher, and browser. The website also will most likely need to be set up to make this work, and each site will have it's own security features that may come into play.

I'm sure there are other apps that can do something like this, maybe someone knows some, even better apps for switching apps with a single gesture.

 

[fightingirish]

The stock Navigation app works flawlessly! The voice becomes somewhat obnoxious (and LOUD!) after awhile (but can be turned off). Can be used at the same time as any media player (Nav voice will temporarily turn off music, then turn back on).

I am kinda amused that VM sells their own navigation app for a $5 monthly subscription via their site. Can't imagine there are many takers.

 

[lizm]

The stock Navigation app works flawlessly! The voice becomes somewhat obnoxious (and LOUD!) after awhile (but can be turned off).

It also has its own volume control separate from the media one.

When Google Nav is open, turn down the volume...you'll see it turns down "navigation volume". Relative to your music, it'll be quieter.

 

[agianne]

I am kinda amused that VM sells their own navigation app for a $5 monthly subscription via their site. Can't imagine there are many takers.

That app is for non-Android phones. If you are signed in to the VM USA website and take a look at that app, after you select the Optimus V as your phone, the site returns a "Item "Virgin Mobile Navigator" is not supported for the selected device" message.

 

[foxmajik]

The GPS works fine on my activated Optimus V.

doesn't cost anymore (part of the unlimited data).

It uses GOOGLE nagivation and maps.

I have the Optimus V with Virgin Mobile. It is the best Android phone I have used. I have never had any problems with it.

There is one thing you should know about Goog Navigation though. It has a problem under three very specific conditions:

1. You have something plugged into the headphone jack (like a headphone cable to your car stereo) or you are using Bluetooth audio.
2. You are playing music.
3. You are using Google Navigation.

Under these conditions you won't be able to hear the voice navigation prompts.

The bug is detailed here.

If you do get the Optimus V I highly recommend Cyanogenmod AoSP. It significantly improves the phone's performance and overall useability, and gets rid of that annoying "HnnGUnGHHHHrrVIRGIN MOBILE" noise you get when you power on the phone.

 

[lou61166]

I have the Optimus V with Virgin Mobile. It is the best Android phone I have used. I have never had any problems with it.

There is one thing you should know about Goog Navigation though. It has a problem under three very specific conditions:

1. You have something plugged into the headphone jack (like a headphone cable to your car stereo) or you are using Bluetooth audio.
2. You are playing music.
3. You are using Google Navigation.

Under these conditions you won't be able to hear the voice navigation prompts.

The bug is detailed here.

Never had this problem using bluetooth headphones to stream music using audiogalaxy and using google nav,it pauses the music when the voice guidance needs to work and returns to music when not and maintains the volume level.

 

[lizm]

Never had this problem using bluetooth headphones to stream music using audiogalaxy and using google nav,it pauses the music when the voice guidance needs to work and returns to music when not and maintains the volume level.

Same here. The Nav pauses the music to speak (at whatever I set the Nav volume to) then the music resumes after the Nav prompt (at whatever volume i have set "media" to).

It all happens over the car speakers when I have it plugged into my aux jack.

This happens whether I am listening to music stored on my phone or to Pandora or Vibe Vault or whatever.

My phone is stock rom, not rooted, so Froyo.

 

[Investor22]

AAA released a GPS navigation app for Android users -TripTik Mobile app.

 

[AutoAdvizR]

most cell phones have a GPS-a chip in them meaning they are cell tower assisted. No cell tower no gps maps to reference. Maps are supplied via the data connection. You need to find an app that downloads maps for your area or region onto your SD card and then the app uses your GPS chip to show your location on the non-data connection maps. Your GPS is satellite driven, the phone just needs to know which source to pull the maps from. Place your phone in air plane mode when using these off network apps and maps.
Good luck!

 

[bac22]

Wow...bringing up post that are 8 months old !

 

[AndyOpie150]

They probably just didn't realize the thread was old. When some people are new here it takes them a while to get used to everything.
I made some pretty silly mistakes when I was new.

 

[lizm]

most cell phones have a GPS-a chip in them meaning they are cell tower assisted. No cell tower no gps maps to reference. Maps are supplied via the data connection. You need to find an app that downloads maps for your area or region onto your SD card and then the app uses your GPS chip to show your location on the non-data connection maps. Your GPS is satellite driven, the phone just needs to know which source to pull the maps from. Place your phone in air plane mode when using these off network apps and maps.
Good luck!

Copilot is one such mapping app. I have it and use it when I am away from a data connection.

It's huge, several gigs of SD card as I recall, and 10 meg of phone space, but SO worth it when in the middle of nowhere.

 

[Petrah]

Wow...bringing up post that are 8 months old !

They probably just didn't realize the thread was old. When some people are new here it takes them a while to get used to everything.
I made some pretty silly mistakes when I was new.

Damned if you do, damned if you don't... they say something for creating a new thread and not using the search feature and posting in an already existing thread of the same topic. And when you do use the search feature and comment, it's called a newbish silly mistake.

Lucky for us thread necromancy isn't against forum rules.