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Thread ID: 100918 2009-06-25 06:29:00 Mobile Phone - GPS Nomad (952) PC World Chat
Post ID Timestamp Content User
785711 2009-06-25 06:29:00 Hi,

I thought that the free GPS with cellular cost may be cheaper than a standard GPS device + software + maps .

I understand some handsets that may not be classified as GPS capable can still download the following:
A) Is it possible to download Google Maps, or Apple or Nokia Maps?

B) Then, using cellular, how much does it cost to navigate around? How much data does it use? Let's say you are in Sydney and you switch GPS on for 30mins .

C) I understand Google Maps are quite big but can you download that onto the phone, first via the desktop PC to save cost .

D) The devices are Assisted-GPS - what happens if you are in an area that has no GPS cellular reception . If you have your maps already downloaded can you still navigate around, or are left with navigating a plain map on your phone?

I see the Nokia E75 is out, expensive, or a 2nd hand E71 or get either model next year 2nd hand . I got my 6230 2nd hand in 2004 which may of been 2yrs old via Trademe . . . . . . .



Thanks . 		Nomad (952)
785712 2009-06-25 07:33:00 In respect of the iPhone, you have two options:

First, you can use Google Maps for free which will give you text directions and show your location on a 2D map. This will only work when you have coverage, or have preloaded the areas you are going to. Not really that useful unless you have someone next to you to act as your navigator, or want to be pulling over all the time.

Second, you can download a proper turn by turn navigation application which is basically the same as your typical dedicated navigation unit, offering a 3D interface with spoken voice commands. At the moment, there is only one application for the NZ market which is priced at just under $100 and provides both NZ and Australian maps and points of interest. Hopefully TomTom's application will be launched internationally later this year as well (at this stage it is only confirmed for the US).

If you are going to be using your phone as a navigation unit, make sure you get one which also has a digital compass in it so it knows which direction you are facing (ie. the iPhone 3GS rather than the iPhone 3G). The GPS will work fine when you don't have cellphone coverage, it will just take longer to get a fix than when it has the advantage of being assisted by the cellphone network. 		maccrazy (6741)
785713 2009-06-25 08:33:00 Thanks for that so it works without cellphone coverage.

If anyone have used GPS-Assisted, are data payable and how much has that been in your experience would be great knowledge.

Thanks. 		Nomad (952)
785714 2009-06-25 11:13:00 Thanks maccrazy but prob not gonna get into GPS + maps etc .. cos I go abroad and each time I try diff countries so that would be pretty expensive. Won't be driving. Will be for walking and taking the bus etc... Nomad (952)
785715 2009-06-25 16:09:00 A) In Nokia maps. You download the street map using your PC using Nokia Map loader . You then upload the maps to the memory card while the Nokia mobile is connected to your PC through USB. It is free to use only the voice navigation and navigation costs. something like $120 a year.
Google maps are downloaded as you move and it doesn't stay on your mobile. I scrolled from one side of palmerston north to the other and I already used up 10MB. Basically it used about 500KB to fillup the screen of where you are then as you scroll about 1cm it uses another 500KB.
I believe Apple Iphone and Sony Ericsson all uses Google Maps. They don't have their own GPS software

B) probably like $1. GPS doesn't use much data on a nokia device. It uses less than a MB. I would say it be at last 50MB using google maps although i've never tried. one thing Im sure is google maps use alot of data and Nokia Maps has a easier interface to follow.

C)Very expensive. Highly not recommended unless you tell Google map to hook up to a wireless connection on your mobile.

D)It'll have no way identifying where you are. It'll probably just point somewhere random like in the middle of the sea.Thats what happen on my N82.

I modded the Rom of my N82 so it allows free voice navigation and yea its very cheap on a nokia phone. Since all the streets are all downloaded . Its like around 100KB to travel around palmerston north 		Ninjabear (2948)
785716 2009-06-25 22:36:00 A) In Nokia maps. You download the street map using your PC using Nokia Map loader . You then upload the maps to the memory card while the Nokia mobile is connected to your PC through USB. It is free to use only the voice navigation and navigation costs. something like $120 a year.
Google maps are downloaded as you move and it doesn't stay on your mobile. I scrolled from one side of palmerston north to the other and I already used up 10MB. Basically it used about 500KB to fillup the screen of where you are then as you scroll about 1cm it uses another 500KB.
I believe Apple Iphone and Sony Ericsson all uses Google Maps. They don't have their own GPS software

B) probably like $1. GPS doesn't use much data on a nokia device. It uses less than a MB. I would say it be at last 50MB using google maps although i've never tried. one thing Im sure is google maps use alot of data and Nokia Maps has a easier interface to follow.

C)Very expensive. Highly not recommended unless you tell Google map to hook up to a wireless connection on your mobile.

D)It'll have no way identifying where you are. It'll probably just point somewhere random like in the middle of the sea.Thats what happen on my N82.

I modded the Rom of my N82 so it allows free voice navigation and yea its very cheap on a nokia phone. Since all the streets are all downloaded . Its like around 100KB to travel around palmerston north

You need a GPS to find your way around Palmy??? :groan: 		johcar (6283)
785717 2009-06-26 04:50:00 You need a GPS to find your way around Palmy??? :groan:

Sometimes when I don't know the street names. Palmy isn't a small town after all. 		Ninjabear (2948)
785718 2009-06-26 04:57:00 Seriously, I went to Hamilton for the Parachute Music Festival at the start of the year, it was *so* useful to be in-town with some mates, one of them says "We should go to Burger Fuel.
Another says "Ive never been to Burger Fuel before"
So the first replies "That's settled then, as soon as we find one, we're going to Burger Fuel for lunch".

Fire u Zenbu on the iPhone and I was able to find us a Burger Fuel, complete with walking directions in a matter of seconds :D

Highly recommend the iPhones GPS. Google Maps uses *very* little data (Decent speeds on GPRS-only connections), and works well even when you drive through an area where there's no signal, you can still see the path-line even if you've not pre-loaded all the map for that area, and the Pin still follows you as you drive :) 		Chilling_Silence (9)
785719 2009-06-26 09:49:00 Ninja, I want to check with you. In an area with no cellphone reception the GPS is useless - it cannot tell where you are and it cannot tell you which direction to walk?

So in that instance in hardware what is the difference between a GPS specified handphone vs a handphone without GPS that you can download maps yourself? 		Nomad (952)
785720 2009-06-26 11:37:00 An assisted GPS will work with or without cellphone reception, it will just take longer to get a lock because it doesn't have access to cell towers to help it out. maccrazy (6741)
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