Consumer.org didn't like Ovi Maps

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turb

821 posts

Ultimate Geek

#62586 10-Jun-2010 10:31

Hi All,

I'm on the brink of getting a Nokia 5230 touchscreen. I just read Consumer.org's new report where they slate the performance of a nokia/ovi combo compared to an iphone.

In your experience is it as bad as they say? Slow, innaccurate?

The comments people have sent in point out that it's not really comparing like with like.

There's no way I can afford an iphone, or a dedicated car GPS. I don't even plan to use it much, but it would be nice if it worked!

PS also A-GPS and WiFi location help the GPS but how much data do they use up?

PPS also are there any apps where is it possible to preload topo maps/marine charts to use with the GPS? (like google maps, but without having to download the data off the cellphone network).

Cheers

Interests: HTPC, Web App authoring.

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1874 posts

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#340107 10-Jun-2010 10:42

I use ovimaps on my 5800xm.. works really well! and has some of the better graphics i have seen for a gps app. Its leaps and bounds ahead of the tomtom app i have on my HTC touch pro 2.. Ive never used an iphone for navigation so cant compare it with it but i cant beleive it is that much better. I have not found it slow or inaccurate, maybe they had a bad sample?

With ovi maps you download the map data to your phone, i have a-gps off and all internet functions off too, so it does local searches on the phone.. There is no data usage this way.

Im sure others will chime in with there experiences too as i know there a quite a few users on here with nokia's that use ovimaps

semigeek

1555 posts

Uber Geek

#340109 10-Jun-2010 10:44

+1

and who listens to Consumer anyway. I have Ovi maps installed on my 5800XM and works very well.

hairy1

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#340112 10-Jun-2010 10:49

I can't say what the iphone app is like but Ovi Maps works a treat on my E71. Great clear graphics and voice directions. Offline (with no data use) and worldwide free licence is a pretty hard combination to beat.

My views (except when I am looking out their windows) are not those of my employer.

Mattnzl

245 posts

Master Geek

#340129 10-Jun-2010 11:33

Another vote for Ovi + XM5800.

I've never been a huge Nokia fan, but now looking forward to the N8!

wongtop

543 posts

Ultimate Geek

#340134 10-Jun-2010 11:43

I use OVI on a 5800. Don't have an iPhone or stand alone so can't compare. I find it pretty good, and the worldwide offline is a big plus. Has given me a bad route once (sent me down a dead end).

One thing I've found is that it doesn't know what the speed limits are on all the roads that I travel on.

I am on 2degrees and a-GPS was costing me 1c (probably the minimum billable amount) a time.

NonprayingMantis

6434 posts

Uber Geek

#340138 10-Jun-2010 11:48

I've only used it a couple of times (on my E72) and once it worked perfectly and the other time it just could not lock on to a signal no matter how long I left it, making it useless as a GPS system (but still ok if you just wan to use it like a regular map).

Likely that is a problem with the phone rather than the app though I would think.

garvani

1874 posts

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#340140 10-Jun-2010 11:53

if it doesnt lock on, turn on a-gps and it will.. which is something i found

hairy1

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#340143 10-Jun-2010 12:01

I have found on the E71 if you don't get a lock when you start the application (mainly because I am in the house away from a decent GPS signal), exiting and restarting OVI maps will attempt another lock and that works.

My views (except when I am looking out their windows) are not those of my employer.

lurker

719 posts

Ultimate Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#340147 10-Jun-2010 12:19

Just a snippet from the Consumer article (fair use I hope):

"We found the Nokia?s navigation atrocious. Our position icon on the map view was often 100 metres or more behind our current position on the road and voice instructions were similarly late."

I use Ovi Maps on an N95 and my position has always been spot on?

wongtop

543 posts

Ultimate Geek

#340153 10-Jun-2010 12:35

lurker: Just a snippet from the Consumer article (fair use I hope):

"We found the Nokia?s navigation atrocious. Our position icon on the map view was often 100 metres or more behind our current position on the road and voice instructions were similarly late."

I use Ovi Maps on an N95 and my position has always been spot on?

I've never had that issue. Only issue that I have had is that the houses on our street are about 50m away from where the GPS thinks they are so it thinks our house is about 3-4 doors down from where it really is.

Don't think it is an issue confined to Ovi though - we see most taxis for our house sail by and have to do a U turn about 50m down the road. A friend had a Tomtom that also thought our house was a few doors down the road.

As for position on the map vs actual - once the unit has GPS lock it has always been spot on in my experience.

eracode

Grumpy GeeZer
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#340178 10-Jun-2010 13:20

semigeek: +1

and who listens to Consumer anyway. I have Ovi maps installed on my 5800XM and works very well.

+1 re Nokia 5800XM

Sometimes I just sit and think. Other times I just sit.

langers1972

1039 posts

Uber Geek

#340180 10-Jun-2010 13:21

I used to subscribe to the website but got put off by their 'technical' reviews as they were often quite clearly written by people who had no idea.

gpsboy

38 posts

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#340199 10-Jun-2010 13:57

Ovi Maps 3.03(246) on Nokia E55 - no problems.

oxnsox

1923 posts

Uber Geek

#340223 10-Jun-2010 14:41

It's GPS folks and how you use it depends on 'how good it is'...

Use it as an aid to find an address its great, because you look at the letter boxes for a number when you get close. Use it to take you to someones address, without looking at the numbers, and you'll probably be out. GPS accuracy is about the width of the average road but we all use our eyes to get us the last 20-meters and thats why folk claim its spot on.

If you follow it blindly, expect to be blindly lead and don't blame the device for the route it takes (or tries to take) you. The comments on Consumer are indicative of a blind user, but I guess thats how they do their tests.

The accuracy of the Maps is totally dependent on the accuracy of the Map database the application uses, some can be out by many meters. (A way to see obvious examples of this is to look at Google maps. How often does the Map overlay actually follow the road pictured...... ) And theres a certain amount of software position 'fudging' in every application to (amongst other things) keep your position on the correct side of the software road.

If you take the technology for what it is, the ability to put you on the map and show you how to get to where you want to be, and accept the responsibility for making the decisions associated with piloting the vehicle it's all bloody brilliant.

Technofreak

3991 posts

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#340779 11-Jun-2010 20:16

I haven't used the maps app on an iPhone, I've seen it used but not used it myself.

I have the Ovi maps on my 5800XM and it works exceptionally well. The 5230 is basically a 5800XM without WiFi and perhaps one or two other features. The 5800 is a great phone and I would expect the 5230 to be the same.

The big advantage of Ovi maps is that it works off line, no data charges and works outside of mobile coverage areas. You cannot do that with the iPhone. If you want to use the Ovi Maps satellite view you need to go online as you do if you want the latest data for the Lonely Planet function.

Personally I think Ovi Maps is much better than the iPhone app. The voice guidance works very well in the car and the information on the screen is very helpful. You can choose the voice Male/Female, English/American or there is an app that allows you to record your own voice to use on the voice guidance.

True the iPhone app has better graphics for the satellite view but that's about all.

The iPhone is overe priced and over rated. I am sure that you would be very happy with Ovi maps

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