GSP App

[scf]

GPS dammit...GPS!!! Arghs!

So, the stock google maps has now gotten me completely lost twice. Both times it was during a "must need to get there as soon as possible" scenario. So needless to say, wifey wanted to skip the droid across the traffic lanes...that or me. Not sure which, if not both. LOL!

Anyway...I think my main problem is the way it finds the directions. On the internet I can use google maps to find fastest/shortest/etc. There are a few choices of the route you want to take. On the droid, well, not so much.

Any body have some pointers on how maybe I can improve what I have, or direct me to an app that will be better.

Thanks!

Oh, and point of order. Don't try to use the zip+4 address to find a location. It doesn't work so well. *sigh*

 

[Vulcan1600]

I've had my Droid since November and so far it's been right on for me thankfully. I guess the thing to remember, it is still in "beta" and isn't guaranteed to be 100% reliable.

 

[scf]

Yup, keep reminding myself that. It's basically free, including updates, and it's beta.

Seeing your bike, makes me akin to a pavlovian dog. My steed is in need of some jug work, and will see the surgeon this week.

 

[Big Lou]

Google Navigator is one of the coolest, yet infuriating apps available. The concept is incredible and when it works, it works incredibly.

The problem is it has been completely stripped of most modern GPS features. One such feature is avoidances and route preferences. I really hope they expand the capabilities soon. It seems they haven't upgraded much aside from night-mode in a long while.

 

[takeshi]

Any body have some pointers on how maybe I can improve what I have, or direct me to an app that will be better.

With regard to "better" apps, you'd just need to try them. I've had absolutely no problems with Google Nav so far.

You say this:

So, the stock google maps has now gotten me completely lost twice.

But then also say this:

Anyway...I think my main problem is the way it finds the directions. On the internet I can use google maps to find fastest/shortest/etc. There are a few choices of the route you want to take. On the droid, well, not so much.

Routing options shouldn't make or break whether you get to your destination. Regardless of the option (or lack of) you should get to your destination one way or another.

What exactly happens when you get lost? Is it because Google Nav isn't taking you to the proper destination? I mean, is the issue with finding addresses?

I do, however, agree that there are a lot of options that we tend to expect from GPS nav apps/devices that Google should really add. I also wouldn't mind having more app options. Co Pilot is probably the only other one at this point that I'd seriously consider based on what I've read.

 

[pyro6128]

in the nav screen, press the menu button, then press route info. Then press the second button from the right on the screen. It will let you choose alternate routes. Also, if you have a basic idea of how to get somewhere, just go how you know/want and let it update its route. Lastly, you can plan your route in advance on a comp and then just add the my maps layer to google maps, or i guess even link the directions to your phone through an email or something, and you should be good to go. I have never had a problem with nav not getting me to where I need to be.

 

[tameone]

The only downside I've found with Google Nav is that it doesn't really know what roads are actual roads that someone will want to or can travel on.

For example, my Droid once told me to enter a toll highway via a service entrance, not through an actual on-ramp.

Another time I routed me to a road that I have to imagine has been 100% closed since 1995.

 

[scf]

first issue was that it had me get off of a major highway and onto a secondary road. followed road for probably 12-12 miles and DID in fact get to my destination. Right next door to the hotel was an offramp for the highway. Uhmmm..wut? My best guess was that it was looking for "shortest" route, instead of "fastest". next was that I used a zip+4 as my destinaiton. ended up in the middle of nowhere, next to an airport. high school I wanted to go to was on the other side of town. Huh?

Live and learn. I'm not relying on it as gospel, apparetly I was according to my co-pilot who isn't allowed to fart/belch or sweat..so she has to b*tch or she'll explode.

 

[MiXoLoGiSt]

The only downside I've found with Google Nav is that it doesn't really know what roads are actual roads that someone will want to or can travel on.

For example, my Droid once told me to enter a toll highway via a service entrance, not through an actual on-ramp.

Another time I routed me to a road that I have to imagine has been 100% closed since 1995.

This would be why its still in beta.

 

[tameone]

The only downside I've found with Google Nav is that it doesn't really know what roads are actual roads that someone will want to or can travel on.

For example, my Droid once told me to enter a toll highway via a service entrance, not through an actual on-ramp.

Another time I routed me to a road that I have to imagine has been 100% closed since 1995.

This would be why its still in beta.

Yup, for sure. It's great though, no matter what phase of development it's in.

Comparatively, my Garmin GPS doesn't even know what a friggen U-turn is :icon_ banana:

 

[sarreq]

:icon_eek: learn to read a map better......

no seriously, I've not had any problems at all with maps or nav giving me wrong directions yet, maybe a misguided choice in route once (telling me to take a red-light-at-every-block/~0.1mile-for-6miles-surface-street instead of the interstate-with-an-entrance-right-where-I-was), but that's it. it was technically the most direct route, but it would have taken nearly quadruple the time.

as for zip+4, I think the post office has some kind of lock down on that information, for anything other than mail, something in their terms of use probably. I've never seen anything reliable for mapping zip+4, other than their own website and tools.