FREE GPS Navigation Software

nava

As posted in the Bargain Alerts section but also suitable for here.

You can get it by searching for Navfree in Itunes, I installed it but haven't use it, so far I see some streets names are missing.

rivalius13

I downloaded it, saw half the roads around were missing and uninstalled.

BobbyT28

I downloaded it tonight. Used it getting from Celbridge to Citywest, not a great distance!! but it had all the roads on it. Was impressed with it.

Worth the downloaded.

PGL

I also downloaded it last nite and used it for a very short journey in the Lucan area this morning and it worked fine. If your route relates to major cities and towns then it looks like it'll be fine. However when i plugged in other small towns around the country it was not able to calculate a route. Furthermore villages around the country do not appear at all. I'm sure the mapping will improve in time. However all in all considering this is free, its worth downloading imo.

seamus

Depends on where the map data comes from. Skobbler is free and using OSM which are the most comprehensive maps out of everyone. Tried it out last night, and it works great. The only problem is that there's no general "Just show me where I am right now" function - you always have to search for an address.

Fingleberries

The maps for NavFree comes from OSM also (OpenStreetMap). I noticed that there were a few streets missing on my route, so I registered with OSM and added them manually.

Overall, I found it has a bit more professional feel than Skobbler, as Skobbler always
feels that it is downloading the maps each time you access it.

Does anyone know how often NavFree will download new Map information from OSM?

It mentions that it requires a Data connection for searching for addresses, but not for maps or routing ... is that not the same thing?

Also, I agree that it appears to miss a "Where am I?" button to just go to your current location.

I think I'll stick with it for a while to see how it progresses. I wouldn't be using it for critical journeys at the moment, though.

PGL

seamus wrote: »

The only problem is that there's no general "Just show me where I am right now" function - you always have to search for an address.

This function appears to be available. If you are looking at a map which is not positioned at your current location, there should be a blue arrowhead type button on the top right hand side underneath the pin button. When you press this arrowhead button it finds where you are right now so to speak. Then to find a route from your current location, press the play symbol button at the bottom, select an address, or alternatively manually scroll on the map to your destination, and then select the option to calculate the route from your current location.

Hope this helps

seamus

PGL wrote: »

This function appears to be available. If you are looking at a map which is not positioned at your current location, there should be a blue arrowhead type button on the top right hand side underneath the pin button. When you press this arrowhead button it finds where you are right now so to speak. Then to find a route from your current location, press the play symbol button at the bottom, select an address, or alternatively manually scroll on the map to your destination, and then select the option to calculate the route from your current location.

Sorry what I mean is that on my Garmin, I can just look at the map without having to select any destination. So while I'm driving it shows me where I am on the map and tracks me without giving any directions. I personally find it very useful, maybe nobody else does!

keith_d99

Better off keeping an eye on the price of Navigon ... they do promotions from time to time. Have used a few navigation apps ... and nothing has come close to Navigon. Was spot on in Europe for me too.

They included map updates in a recent update for free too.

PGL

seamus wrote: »

Sorry what I mean is that on my Garmin, I can just look at the map without having to select any destination. So while I'm driving it shows me where I am on the map and tracks me without giving any directions. I personally find it very useful, maybe nobody else does!

This app does track your journey without giving you directions. It also estimates your speed. One minor criticism is that the speed limits are wrong, and cannot be changed as far as I can see.

muchos04

Hi Guys,
Do you have to have Locations Services set to 'ON' to use Navfree on iphone 3gs iOS4? I was under the impression that an internet connection was not necessary?

Regards
Dave

Gumbo

used this for the first time yesterday, its very very good.
got me from Finglas to Dundrum no probs and looks better than my old Tom Tom!

even has 3D viewing!

Fingleberries

muchos04 wrote: »

Hi Guys,
Do you have to have Locations Services set to 'ON' to use Navfree on iphone 3gs iOS4? I was under the impression that an internet connection was not necessary?

Regards
Dave

Hi Dave,

You would need to set on Location Services for this to work (That's a fancy term that also includes the GPS Chipset). The maps are all local, so there's no internet connection required to download maps.

Hope that helps,
F.

muchos04

Thanks very much Fingelberries for that useful info.

How do you find using it? Is it accurate?

Regards
Dave

lordgoat

Used it last weekend, from leopardstown to kimmage, via templelogue.

Once i got it going it was excellent. Hadn't time to properly figure out the interface but for free it gets a thumbs up.

mackeminexile

Anyone got any idea how much it costs in terms of data usage when you're using it? On Vodafone with 2gb free, just wondering how heavy it would be.

Wossack

my understanding of the maps being local, is that there is 0 'data' usage

I didnt believe it at the time, but sure enough, sticking my 3gs to airplane mode did nothing to the maps use (only stopped me being able to search for addresses, as mentioned previously in this thread), and was able to scroll around, manually find where I wasnt to navigate to, and set up a route

I find the search a bit crap, but other then that, tis a fine app - and the price is certainly right

Quick unrelated bug (perhaps) I noticed: you have to turn the gps off, if you want to set your location on the map to anywhere other then your current. Otherwise, once you've changed your position, a split second later, the gps re-updates your position to where you actually are. Little bit irritating, if you want to do some routing between 2 remote points, but there you go - gps off before you try

brophs

Does anyone know how I include a 'via' in my route? I have picked a fairly basic route from Carlow to Naas but when it gets to the outskirts of Naas it wants to bring me through town rather than on the much emptier South Ring Road.

Cheers.