N95 as a sat nav?

cormie

Howdy,
About to sign up to o2 release as a new customer so could get the N95 at 250, I think?

Anyway, was just wondering what is it like as a Sat Nav? I have an Airis t920a already which is ok, bit outdated, and seeing as I drive for a living, a GPS is a pretty important device for me. How would it manage if I was driving and had to take a call, can it do both at the same time, will the screen stay as the GPS or how will it work?

Also, can I get MSN/Skype etc with fring.com and if so, if I have the 250mb data add on for 7.50 per month, how much data would I be likely to use by being constantly connected to MSN I wonder?

Any feedback appreciated

jimmycrackcorm

It's no better nor no worse than any other GPS out there from my experience. One good thing I've noticed that it has been much easier to update than the usual GPS box. Even at the weekend I noticed a couple of new roads appear that were missing previously.

One thing is for sure though - make sure you have the car charger plugged in when using the GPS.

Kristok

msn might be blocked on 02 its blocked on vodafone, apparently they cant guarantee the data so they block it or maby its because people would be txting less.

cormie

Thanks for the replies. So do you have to pay extra for the GPS updates or anything like that or do they just automatically update by themselves without you even knowing? What happens if you have the GPS on and a phonecall comes through do you know?

o2 offer msn themselves I think, for a price perhaps now, but would they be able to block it if you were using fring.com I wonder?

AlanD

garmin xt is a great app for the N95. Check out youtube for some videos of it in use. Works really well with the phone.

You can take calls, listen to music, get navigation instructions and much more while in the car. Just ensure you have a car charger.

Splinter

AlanD wrote: »

garmin xt is a great app for the N95. Check out youtube for some videos of it in use. Works really well with the phone.

You can take calls, listen to music, get navigation instructions and much more while in the car. Just ensure you have a car charger.

i have garmin xt but when i have a bluetooth headset connected then the directions aren't spoken any ideas around it? sorry if its OT

jimmycrackcorm

Just got an email offer for Route66 for symbian at £39.

Dirk_digbee

I just got my N95 the other day and I'm not really impressed with the GPS at all. It's grand to have it in there if I'm ever stuck but I just found the screen a bit small and it took quite a while to get a satellite lock. I'm not knocking the phone or the maps because I really love the phone and it's a nice little feature but I think if you drive for a living, you need a proper stand alone GPS. I'll be hanging on to my tomtom one xl anyway.

Ardent

I've been using the sat nav feature of the N95-1 for quite a while now. The latest Nokia Maps 2.0 running firmware v 21 is quite polished IMO. I also have Tomtom on my N95 but I found - during my limited tests of TomTom - Nokia Maps did a better job navigating.

Edit: also, with latest firmware and latest Nokia maps, I get a GPS lock almost straight away every time.

120_Minutes

splinter wrote: »

i have garmin xt but when i have a bluetooth headset connected then the directions aren't spoken any ideas around it? sorry if its OT

Its because your headset is not a2dp compatible, and is the only flaw. But its really not the n95's fault. I have the same problem with my cars bt stereo, I have to disconnect to hear the voice (and not take calls) or take calls and not have voice nav. An a2dp kit or headset should solve it though

Apart from taking a while to lock sometimes , the nav is pretty good.

cormie

Thanks for the replies, so all these map updates and everything come at a price or are they free and just automatically updated once available?

120_Minutes

the maps and updates are free, you pay for the voice navigation.

cormie

what, really? that's weird, so you pay to hear "turn left after 300 metres" and stuff? I have the voice turned off when I use mine in the van, get's too annoying but is good to turn off if your next turn off isn't for another 70KM or so just so you don't forget.

So you can constantly get free updates but you just have to pay a one off fee for voice? Can you not download voice for free anywhere? What's the £39 a poster above was offered maps at for?

BeciMester

cormie wrote: »

...so you pay to hear "turn left after 300 metres" and stuff?

Not just to hear the voice, you pay for the route planning and the guiding from A to B - pretty much the navigation part... And it's a subscription service AFAIK, so it's not once-off. The only thing it does for free is that it shows you on the map where you are.

What's the £39 a poster above was offered maps at for?

Route 66 is a standalone navigational application for Symbian phones, including the N95.

cormie

Sounds like a bit of a pain, think I'll just take a freebie phone and wait till something better comes out before getting an all in wonder! Thanks for the replies!