iSmash Takes Navigation Apps to School

Published on 08-28-2009 10:54 AM

images via iSmash

Few things are as exciting in my book as a report card from iSmash.

iSmash is out this weekend with a head to head comparison of the 5 most popular iPhone turn-by-turn navigation apps.

And their findings are interesting, although rabid supporters of each app are likely to find argument with some of the grades given.

But for now, the winner is... TomTom

According to iSmash, TomTom gets the highest grade with a respectable B+

Then again, how could it not be the winner? The TomTom app arguably emulates the top GPS navigation units with its turn-by-turn directions, voice instructions, touch-screen commands, a choice of 2D or 3D mapping, day/night screen choices and, of course, full coverage of the U.S. and Canada.

From iSmash:

TomTom is the leader of the GPS world, and there's a reason. They make a good product, and that didn't change for their iPhone app. The app works great. Just like their portable devices, the map itself looks ugly...with a thick red line over a beige background, and occasionally some jagged edges. But quite frankly, it's not there to be modeled, it's there to guide you and give you functionality. That it does.

There are still plenty of reasons, however, why we don't see any grades above the B range. Too many iPhone navigation apps need to work on a major issue that I have with them - an incoming phone call will close your nav app and go to your phone app. And this usually happens at a critical moment when you really need those directions.

Been there. Done that.

Yet until the Apple makes the iPhone more multitasking-friendly, navigation apps can't be what we all want them to be - perfect.

Other apps graded include: Navigon MobileNavigator, AT&T Navigator, CoPilot Live North America, Sygic Mobile Map US.

You can check out their respective grades and weigh in on the analysis by visiting iSmash.com

_{This article was originally published in forum thread:
iSmash Takes Navigation Apps to School
started by
Michael Essany} _{View original post}

73 Comments

muffpirate - 08-28-2009, 11:01 AM

notice the price of navigon going up in the pic posted
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xgus69 - 08-28-2009, 11:08 AM

I actually just got my hands on TomTom... nice!!! I hate the 3d layout tho.. it looks like a atari video game made in 1960 lol.. who cares tho
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Stargaze - 08-28-2009, 11:11 AM

very nice review... they should have mentioned that hte TOMTOM dock will work with other GPS programs as well not just the tom tom app.

what dock is that in the picture?? anyone know??
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luvmytj - 08-28-2009, 11:17 AM

I hav used both of these apps on 300 mile trips to Canada recently. I compared them on the same routes. The Navigon wins hands down. The TomTom has better voices, but that is all that is nicer. That linked data givin in this article is skewed. Besides, Navigon has "lane assist", that is a BIG plus in my book.
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xgus69 - 08-28-2009, 11:32 AM

im getting Navigon right now to test it out
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adp - 08-28-2009, 11:35 AM

Navigon is the winner in my books by far. Sure, TomTom has better interface and voice options, and it also takes less time to load. Their GPS, however, sucks. Although they both run by the same antenna, Navigon seems to keep in on the street you're in. Every time you make a turn, TomTom takes you 2 blocks away from where you are (similar to the native maps app), and has to constantly recalculate. Navigon smoothly goes where you are, barely ever getting off track.

Hopefully the car kit will fix this. But for now, Navigon is my choice. I haven't even bothered buying the rest.
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ixbilalxi - 08-28-2009, 11:37 AM

There is no freakin way they truly tested out these apps in realistic real world scenarios. Lane assist and reality view are extremely important in a gps app. And tom tom tracking is way off for me. The icon turns after i have already turned.
Another thing i hate having the music stopped everytime a voice direction comes in, navigon deals with this very nicely.

Plus with the new navigon update submitted with text to speech, 3d street names, route planning,and much better ipod control. Flickr: NAVIGON_'s Photostream

This will be the best nav app bar none when the update gets approved.
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confucious - 08-28-2009, 11:39 AM

I was surprised CoPilot Scored so low.
Then I looked at the chart.
No to offline maps? Of course it does!
No to iPod in background? Of course it does.
Languages? Mine has 27 Not just English

I only have the UK version so maybe the American version is different but 'Gas related' features? Mine has Fuel prices and Traffic alerts - these should be available in the next update.

I have used the POI search in the UK and it has found everything I've looked for and been spot on.

Stability? Mine's never crashed or had bugs.

Menus and other screens 'poorly designed'?

It's almost like they were reviewing a completely different product! Admitidly I have not tried the US version but I can't believe it's that different!
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confucious - 08-28-2009, 11:49 AM

Why hijack this thread? There are plenty of other threads on the subject but I've been using MMS since 3.0 came out.
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jacobgaul - 08-28-2009, 01:30 PM

navigon = winner for me F tomtom
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StealthBravo - 08-28-2009, 01:35 PM

Originally Posted by jacobgaul

navigon = winner for me F tomtom

+1

If you notice on the comparison, Navigon has a better rating in iTunes. The only thing that TomTom beats Navigon in the chart is that it has more languages and its own accessory. But Navigon beats it in a couple categories. For this TomTom gets the + over Navigon . Sounds like someone got paid off to put TomTom on top.
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shagster40 - 08-28-2009, 01:57 PM

I have used all of the following.

Tom Tom
Co Pilot Live
Navigon
G-Map US
Sygic

I can say that Copilot Live & Navigon are the best of all 5.

Tom Tom jumps off of streets gets confused very very easy.

Copilot to me is the best of all 5 apps
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Fallguy - 08-28-2009, 02:21 PM

TomTom and Navigon seems to be a little buggy , but if I had my choice it would be the TomTom. I have a TomTom one 3rd generation and I love it because of it ease of use and familiarity and thats probably why I prefer it over the Navigon as far as Iphone apps are concerned.
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DAH - 08-28-2009, 02:46 PM

Originally Posted by StealthBravo

+1

If you notice on the comparison, Navigon has a better rating in iTunes. The only thing that TomTom beats Navigon in the chart is that it has more languages and its own accessory. But Navigon beats it in a couple categories. For this TomTom gets the + over Navigon . Sounds like someone got paid off to put TomTom on top.

For me today, I can not even find out the price of this car kit. iSmash is giving points for a feature that can't be bought, nor had today... Can we say today Vapor ware? That says a lot. 27 languages, as long as it speaks one language that I understand that is all I need, that it speaks 27 is software bloat, IMHO. I am wasting valuable storage space on twenty plus languages that I don't need, nor understand simply so TomTom can sell this product in more places? Once again I fail to see an advantage for me. I purchased Navigon and I am happy with it.
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StealthBravo - 08-28-2009, 02:55 PM

They didn't even mention Navigon's next update with speech to text
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nipsey - 08-28-2009, 03:10 PM

Originally Posted by Stargaze

very nice review... they should have mentioned that hte TOMTOM dock will work with other GPS programs as well not just the tom tom app.

what dock is that in the picture?? anyone know??

That's the new tomtom dock that's not out yet but if you get the app they will email you when it's available
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confucious - 08-28-2009, 03:55 PM

Originally Posted by nipsey

That's the new tomtom dock that's not out yet but if you get the app they will email you when it's available

Then you can buy it to use with CoPilot
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