Google has announced that it'll be bundling free turn-by-turn navigation with Android smartphones.

Potentially, this could yank the carpet out from under the feet of sat-nav manufacturers, both for their standalone PND devices, like the TomTom GO, and for paid-for mobile phone apps.

Or, the turn-by-turn nav that Google offers might be a bit bobbins, and we'll happily pay for better software and/or devices to get us home on time.

What do you think? We're doing a feature on this in Stuff's Jan issue, so post with alacrity and you might get your name in print. 

The biggest issue with seperate Sat Nav units is that they are just that, another piece of kit to carry around/get stolen from the car etc. Also, TomTom particularly has not really made their iphone app attractive in price, especially when compared with the CoPilot app.

As someone who doesn't use the car much, I mainly use sat nav to find my way around on foot and having a seperate unit just adds to the bulk. By having a single piece of kit with everything to hand is far easier and having viewed the preview of Google maps in action, the Google aspect does look very helpful in finding local amenities, rerouting due to traffic issues etc.

The main problem that the Google navigation will have is that it doesn't appear that you can preload the maps onto the phone, so when you are just coming of teh big main road with the handy signposts (how people used to find places), and go off the beaten track where you will actually need your sat nav, the 3G signal will inevitably fail and you will become horribly lost and end up having to ask directions, or actually use a map.

I have used the TomTom since the classic which I got off my Dad. I currently have the TomTom 740 which I absolutely love as it has the bluetooth connectivity to connect to my phone and can listen to my music through my car stereo that I have loaded on the SD card.

 The reason I prefer this seperate Sat Nav device is the fact that although its something extra to carry, I can leave it in my glove box/boot and if I ever happen to need it, its in my car ready to connect up.

I have Wayfinder Navigation on my W995 and although its good as a last resort the one thing I have come to find with sat nav software on mobile phones is that it drains the battery so bad.  I had always thought that if you have the phone it should be able to last at least 2 days without a charge. If you are going away visiting family or friends you need to remember to pack a charger or purchase the car charger for the relevant phone. Surely then car chargers should come as standard in the box with the phone.

I agree with Tenacioushail that it is useful for navigating on foot but then again just buy an A to Z and use some basic map reading skills. I live in London and use an A to Z to find may way to find certain places if im not sure. I carry around a bag with me most of the time and so a small extra book in the bag is nothing really. Plus I have the reliability of it not running out of battery. Just imagine the situation. Your in the middle of nowhere trying to find somewhere and your battery runs out. Firstly you aren't able to phone anyone and second of all you wont be able to find where you came from/where your going. Especially if you are on foot and not in the car. 

If they improve battery life on these portable devices I think they have the problem solved. 

It looks crappy to me.

 

 

..... am I in? 

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skype: kevin.b.yates
Twitter: DrunkenMax mention stuff.tv otherwise i tend to block

Will you get stung for roaming charges when you navigate abroad?

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First I will need to splash out on an Android phone + contract, then some form of mounting cradle for the car, together with a 12v charger. As others have mentioned, maps apparently are not preloaded, so signal strength will be an issue, particularly for those of us who live out in the sticks. I have a £70 Navman which is fine for the few times a year I use it, so no, I will not be signing up just yet.....

I think the big thing for me, a self-confessed unvergence fan, is having my phone do anything other than manage my comms. i don't even listen to music on my phone, because I don't want it to be interrupted by a call coming in.

Guaranteed, just as I am bulleting towards some major interchange in a foreign country, in the dark, at rush hour, Vodafone will call me with some 'amazing' deal on an upgrade, the sat-nav will crash and then, perhaps, so will I!

So, I agree with the others here who said that a separate sat-nav device, well set-up to my preferences, and giving me premium info like live traffic, is preferable.

Then again, I am in the privileged position of having access to all sorts of expensive sat-nav devices; free sat-nav might be too much of a draw for some...

Fraser

Editor   

Sat Nav isn't expensive when compared to a phone over 12 months. I also like as many gadgets as possible to distract me from driving safely so a seperate sat nav is essential even when I know where I'm going.

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skype: kevin.b.yates
Twitter: DrunkenMax mention stuff.tv otherwise i tend to block

My current phone has sat nav on it, it doesn't crash when i get a call but can be annoying if you need it while in conversation.... I would prefer to be able to still see the direction i need to travel while the call is in progress rather than a picture of a person...... I use Tom Tom because it just works, and works well I have tried others but stick with what works.... Yes it's over priced and that needs to be addressed but i don't see it happening any time soon.... The "yet another sat nav app" syndrome springs to mind but if google get it right and  it does work and work well it could be worth considering.....Especially if down the road it becomes a paid for subscription app that would/should mean it works as well as other paid for software... But then again i would probably prefer any paid for software to be integrated into the phone contract itself, otherwise it's just more money being laid out on top everything else yet again.... But saying that it could also benefit from being an app that could be "turned on or off" as required, that way if you weren't going to use it much you aren't buying into something you don't need.....

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If your not sure shut up and listen, you just might learn something...!!!

Looks like Nokia are having first shot at the sat nav makers after annoucing its map service is going free to S60 phones.