[sjb2711]

Hi All

As i cant get my Tomtom 720 working fully the other option is the Garmin mobile for Blackberry. Has any one used it and how do they rate it for ease of use and fuctionality.

Your thoughts much appreciated

Regards

Simon

[gptoyz]

i got the 7 day for now

and i'm definitely impressed by it.

I had used the at&t navigator b4, but it is very cumbersome to navigate through

i have also used the tom tom stand alones and simply put i hate their interface

definitely going garmin

[mapimages]

I have garmin xt on my nokia device and it's really awesome. I can't imagine it not being exactly the same for the BB platform.

[AStranger]

What is the benefit of garmin on the phone instead of getting a standalone garmin unit for your car?

I usually only use navigation in the car after all.

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[Phish]

What is the benefit of garmin on the phone instead of getting a standalone garmin unit for your car?

I usually only use navigation in the car after all.

Posted from my CrackBerry at wapforums.crackberry.com

For one, always having your GPS with you in case of emergency or unforseen need. The Garmin also has a "walking" route type, so you can use it for sightseeing in unfamiliar locations. Not having a dedicated auto unit also limits your risk of theft from your car since you won't have a GPS mount to attract thieves.

Also, having the maps being generated real-time on the Garmin servers means that your map data will always be up to date, minimizing the risk of phantom roads or wild goose chases. Try that with a 1 or 2 year old nav unit in a rapidly expanding city.

[omaralt]

i just switched over from nokia, so one thing i absolutely hate is that fact that you cant store all your maps on your memory card; you need to download them over the air. i use my gps sometimes in areas of weak/no reception.. i wish there was a way to save the maps to memory card

[KevinM®]

I loaded it as a 7 Day trial too , looks very nice. Still need to try it driving and see how well it works, but knowing Garmin it should be good.

[Phish]

I loaded it as a 7 Day trial too , looks very nice. Still need to try it driving and see how well it works, but knowing Garmin it should be good.

I've been using Garmin on my Bold (using t-mobile, so no 3G) for several months, and it's worked wonderfully. I did a side by side comparison with my stand-alone Magellan Maestro GPS on a long 4 day cross country road trip, and the garmin and magellan prompted for turns at virtually the same time through the entire trip. Never did I have an instance where the Garmin app notified me of a turn after I'd passed the intersection, nor did it wait until I was too close to get into the correct lane. My only complaint is that the voice volume isn't loud enough to punch through the sound of my radio.

While the Garmin doesn't load the actual maps onto the phone, it appears that the application generates directions and downloads the audio prompts for a substantial number of turns so that you won't have a drop in navigation unless you have a very prolonged loss of signal.

[rehab0808]

I have heard nothing but positive comments regarding the Garmin Mobile, except maybe the price. I use Google Maps and except for no turn-by-turn, it is great, and free.

[K B]

I love the Garmin app. It is always precise. I would rather have a navigation app on my phone than as a stand-alone unit in my car. First, I'm not a fan of "single-use appliances." mJust means you have to have too much stuff to manage. Not efficient. Second, if it's on my berry, I can use it in someone else's car too. Has come in handy a few times. If I am on a trip with someone else, I would rather not take along two devices.

I agree that the volume could be louder. That would be my only suggestion for the Garmin.

It is very accurate, very easy to use, and has always worked great for me. Expensive, yes, but you get what you pay for.

[krazd]

What happens if you lose 3g or your reception? does it predict where you are by your speed until it is re-obtained?

[Mufflon]

Garmin Mobile looks like a full-fledged gps-system to me, but I havn't given it a try.

I made some good experiences with nav4all (but it is a little bit to simple for me).
I've you are in Europe however, I might suggest giving
oe-navi (oe-navi.de )or skobbler (beta.skobbler.de/mobile)
a try. I, however, don't know whether they work outside Europe/Germany. Both feature turn-by-turn instructions and get their maps over-the-air by 3G or GPRS/EDGE. Best Thing: Both are free.

[Shaggy23432]

I love the Garmin app. It is always precise. I would rather have a navigation app on my phone than as a stand-alone unit in my car. First, I'm not a fan of "single-use appliances." mJust means you have to have too much stuff to manage. Not efficient. Second, if it's on my berry, I can use it in someone else's car too. Has come in handy a few times. If I am on a trip with someone else, I would rather not take along two devices.

I agree that the volume could be louder. That would be my only suggestion for the Garmin.

It is very accurate, very easy to use, and has always worked great for me. Expensive, yes, but you get what you pay for.

I completely agree. I've been using Garmin for a month now and it's great.
A handy function is that it will pull addresses directly from your contacts. Makes for easy navigation. I also like the 3D view. Give it a try with the free trial.

[cmenglish]

i just switched over from nokia, so one thing i absolutely hate is that fact that you cant store all your maps on your memory card; you need to download them over the air. i use my gps sometimes in areas of weak/no reception.. i wish there was a way to save the maps to memory card

I agree, being able to cache maps would be excellent.

[Jerry5k]

I have a stand-alone Garmin I have used for years. I happened to be going somewhere with a friend that had a BOLD and using AT&T Navigator. I could not believe how good it was. A few days later I got an Email from Garmin that a new map was out and it would cost $50+ to download. Checking with AT&T I found out Navigator was $9.99/month(free map updates), but I could turn it off(not just log off) and not be charged for any month until I activated it again with AT&T. I signed up for Navigator. (Note-it also has a pedestrian feature) (Now when I fly somewhere don't have to take Garmin stuff)

I am able to use Navigator, and Pandora(or my stored music) at the same time through my car Stereo radio. Navigator info can be heard over Pandero. And, I can still receive calls and both Navigator(sound only) and Pandoro allows the phone call to be received. (Hard to beat that)

LOVE MY BOLD.

[AJ_Franklin]

This app has a good interface, turn by turn directions, and it's free. I really like it but it takes a little while to get used to some functions... amAze - Free GPS Navigation for your mobile phone!

[jimpilot]

I just renewed Garmin for 2nd year. Gone over to the lifetime per phone version this time (hope my Bold doesn't die on me now)

I travel a lot and used to carry a Garman, now I just use it on the phone. Works at least as well as the dedicated unit, but the maps are always up to date.

Bottom line it was well worth the $$ to me.

[AJ_Franklin]

I just renewed Garmin for 2nd year. Gone over to the lifetime per phone version this time ...Bottom line it was well worth the $$ to me.

JimPilot how much is the lifetime per phone subscription?

[TheElderBerry]

I think the Garmin app is sweet, it's just as good as my NUVI, and I like the fact that I don't have to update it. Only downside is that I think you lose it when you ugrade to a different device, you can't take it with you. This appears to be an expensive habit if you change phones frequently.

[kneeman]

To answer the question a ways back. You have to have a signal (any signal) to get the directions from Garmin to your phone. After that, if you drive in an area that has no signal the Garmin app uses the GPS in the phone and continues to work fine. You only need a signal if you key in another location you want to go to OR this might be the only problem, if you stray from the course it originally gave you because you missed the road or there was a wreck you were trying to avoid it cannot "recalculate" new directions for you. I haven't had this hurt me yet and I drive in big cities and in the middle of BFE South GA.

To the other comment I saw, Garmin will allow you to change phones once and not have to pay a fee. That is what I was told in December when I purchased it.

Great to have, you would be amazed when you need it. Or if you are riding with others and it is needed.

My Bold is now a phone, scanner, gps, flashlight, internet computer, radio, and satelite tv and more. Love it!!!!

[kpomeroy]

I have been using Garmin mobile since November. I love it I do not go anywhere any more without turning it on. I love the fact that it route you around traffic. For $99.00, you cannot go wrong.

[LPeeples]

[QUOTE=Jerry5k;2076174]I signed up for Navigator. (Note-it also has a pedestrian feature) (Now when I fly somewhere don't have to take Garmin stuff)QUOTE]

Jerry, you mentioned that your ATT NAvigator has a pedestrian feature. I use the same (through ATT, not Telenav) and can't locate that feature. Am I missing anything?

[Teek]

Noone mentioned battery life, is there an excessive drain?
Good to see all positive reviews, I'm going to consider Garmin.

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[thecleric]

Only had my forst BB a week and hope to get Garmin installed on it very soon, so all this info is great.

Thanks.

[LPeeples]

I'm a big Garmin Nuvi user and tried both versions on my Bold. I preferred the maps/screens of ATT over the Garmin. Just my prefernece.