N900 mapping and navigation comparison request
 

I have an N810. My N900 will arrive tomorrow (25-Nov-09).

Can someone who already has the N900 comment further on its GPS, mapping and navigation features? I'm specifically interested in free solutions. I do not intend to purchase an expensive 3rd party subscription.

Examples of things I would like to receive feedback about:

How much better is GPS, mapping and navigation than the N810?

How fast does the N900 get a GPS lock under various conditions?

Will it acquire a lock without a data connection?

How does the overall solution compare to Verizon's Droid with Google's turn-by-turn navigation?

How does the overall GPS solution compare to a dedicated GPS device such as a Garmin nuvi 600- or 700-series device? (I have never used one of those.)

Any other experiences from N900 users regarding GPS? Please share!

Re: N900 mapping and navigation comparison request
 

If I had titled this "N900 GPS sucks" would I have 100 replies by now? :rolleyes:

Re: N900 mapping and navigation comparison request
 

GPS is fine, it's Ovi Maps I think you're referring to that's suck.

Re: N900 mapping and navigation comparison request
 

A little more detail would be great. I'd like to believe you that the GPS is fine, but some people are saying it does not acquire a lock quickly and that a data connection is required.

I've also read mixed opinions on Ovi Maps, so I'd like to hear from people with an N900 that are actually using the GPS heavily.

Re: N900 mapping and navigation comparison request
 

I tried mapping on the N810 I bought for my 2 year old to play with. GPS was very slow to lock, not sure if it ever did. The mapping application was terrible. I am sure the N900 app will be better but from what I have read it will be a big letdown compared to Google Maps or OVI 3.0 on my E90. My N900 should be delivered tomorrow. I will update this post when I have had a chance to try the maps.

Re: N900 mapping and navigation comparison request
 

There's another thread here called "So what did you expect?". That's what inspired me to start this thread about the N900 GPS.

Basically, my expectation/hope for the N900 would be something like this:

Ideal N900 = updated N810 + updated Maemo + voice calls + 3g data + GPS & mapping equal to Verizon Droid

That "equation" shows that the N900 will probably meet all my expectations except, I fear, for the GPS & mapping.

I already posted somewhere else a couple reviews that show the Google turn-by-turn navigation on the Droid is far from perfect. I just want something about equal on the N900. It doesn't have to be perfect at all because navigation on the Droid isn't perfect. But it's a whole lot better than on the N810.

Re: N900 mapping and navigation comparison request
 

GPS is good. It gets a lock in less than 10 seconds, but it requires data connection.

There is no real navigation software untill sygic releases their software.

Re: N900 mapping and navigation comparison request
 

It REQUIRES a data connection? What kind of GPS is this? I have an 8 year old Garmin GPS that is not a phone and has no data connection and it works just fine as a GPS. And it gets a satellite lock typically before I can back the car out of the driveway.

I don't agree with this statement, until I can see it for myself or someone else can comment otherwise.

Re: N900 mapping and navigation comparison request
 

Typically, the first time your car has to get a SAT lock, it takes a long time. But my car NAV system, like many others I suppose, keeps track of where it last was. So, it knows which satellites to scan for.

Hand held NAV units are the same way. But jump on a plane and travel a long distance while they are powered off, and you will find they also take an annoyingly long time to get a lock.

Re: N900 mapping and navigation comparison request
 

How does google maps behave in the browser?

Re: N900 mapping and navigation comparison request
 

That very thorough preview that came out a couple months ago addressed the lock times with and w/o AGPS. If you don't have access to the Nokia server, it takes a long time (minutes vs seconds). AFAIK, nothing has been changed nor is likely to be on that front. There's a bug report about similar problems (i believe on N810) and it sounded like there was a problem with caching data. Anyway, there are a few threads on here discussing that particular aspect of navigation, and you can read through the bug tracker comments for more info.

It's the mapping/navigation software that's a moving target. Ovi sounds like it will be a big disappointment in N900 edition. I'm curious to hear peoples' experiences with the other options.

Re: N900 mapping and navigation comparison request
 

It's a bug https://bugs.maemo.org/show_bug.cgi?id=5337 and hopefully it gets fixed.

Personally it hasn't bothered me because N900 is a cell phone and there's coverage everywhere I go.

Re: N900 mapping and navigation comparison request
 

I know there was talk of Nokia adding spoken turn-by-turn directions before the final release. This didn't happen. You can get directions (either by searching for a location, or by panning the map to a location that you want to go to). It will show you the route on the map or give you a list of turns to review on the screen. Also, when you're looking at the route on the map you can click a little button that says "Track me," which causes the map view to follow your GPS location and rotate corresponding to the direction you're traveling. That's it.

Also, maybe it's just me, but I've been using it for a while now and I still find the UI for the maps application confusing.

Google maps is technically possible in the browser, but you have to use the pointer/selection mode to pan and zoom the map. It gets kind of slow and frustrating.

Re: N900 mapping and navigation comparison request
 

Ok, I have to ask...why the hell would anyone let a 2 year old play with their N810?

Re: N900 mapping and navigation comparison request
 

OK.

This might be better:
http://tomch.com/maemaps.html

Re: N900 mapping and navigation comparison request
 

See here:

http://nokiaexperts.com/tips-shortcu...00-user-guide/

If it's correct, you do not need data connection as you can store the maps on the phone like other Nokia S60 devices.

Re: N900 mapping and navigation comparison request
 

I voted for the bug.

What is not clear to me is whether any cellular connection (e.g., voice) is sufficient to work around the bug -- or whether a data connection is required. I would guess it needs a data connection. That's a problem for me because I plan to use my N900 with only WiFi and a T-mobile prepaid voice plan -- no 3g atm. So maybe the GPS won't work at all for me (unless this bug is fixed)??? That would be bad.

Re: N900 mapping and navigation comparison request
 

So much better! Thanks.

Re: N900 mapping and navigation comparison request
 

I notice that this is a completely stand-alone html page with the needed javascript embedded (with the exception of the remote call to google). So, you don't necessarily need to run it from the web site...it works fine locally (at least on my desktop....still waiting on my n900 to test but I can't imagine it not working the same way especially with Fennec).

Re: N900 mapping and navigation comparison request
 

http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2009/...zon-droid-mod/

Can this be done for the N900? What's involved?

Re: N900 mapping and navigation comparison request
 

No.

So does the N900, but having a data connection helps getting a lock far quicker. This is A-GPS.

Re: N900 mapping and navigation comparison request
 

Have you tried it? I turned off my net connection and the GPS stopped working (although the device only had half the sky unobstructed). There is apparently an issue with the power saving turning off the GPS chipset before it is able to get an unassisted lock.

Re: N900 mapping and navigation comparison request
 

Everyone please go vote for this bug.
You have to register with the bug tracker.
Then you have to struggle a bit to understand the bug voting UI.
After you vote, make sure it shows you a summary indicating your vote was recorded.
Once you get the hang of it, it's easy. You'll be able to vote for any bug that is important to you.
Using the bug tracker to vote for bugs is MUCH more effective than complaining in this forum. Don't waste too much your time here if you are bothered by a bug -- go vote for the bug!
https://bugs.maemo.org/

Re: N900 mapping and navigation comparison request
 

I've written a simple drawing program (like the sketch on it, but with fullscreen drawing and quick clear screen from ESC and it makes funny noises occasionally) for my daughter (18months) and she loves that.

Re: N900 mapping and navigation comparison request
 

Go to Settings > Connectivity > Location and deselect enable underneath Network positioning then press save.

Edit:I've had one comment on Bugzilla, this did not work for them.
Can people post in this thread stating whether it worked or did not work for them and under what circumstances it worked/didn't work.

My N900 got a fast fix under clear skies and my desk near the window, the GPS tracking is near-enough real-time.

Re: N900 mapping and navigation comparison request
 

Thanks for starting this thread as I am also interested in the N900 mapping and navigation capabilities. I am currently using a Nokia N95 8GB smartphone and have experience with Nokia's charged
Navigation (Turn-by-Turn) application/feature.

As far as the N900 I suppose it couldn't be as slow as the N95 to lock onto the Sat-Lock. But once the N95 is locked it gets good reception. I would assume the same for the N900. I am trying to decide if I want to purchase a new N900.

Compared to a standard GPS unit (Garmin) the Nokia Maps/A-GPS/GPS/Navigator(Turn-by-Turn) audible voice navigation did not loose sat-lock as much as a standard GPS unit would. And the Nokia Navigation Turn-by-Turn is quite a chatty kathy (compared to a standard GPS unit) which is nice cause I could just listen and keep my eyes on the road. However, the Nokia Maps software routed me through the worst path to get to my final point of destination compared to a Garmin GPS unit.

Is the OVI Maps any better? Will Nokia still charge for voice Turn-by-Turn Navigation on the N900? No free voice Navigation offer for new N900 purchases?

I would like to see Andriod's Google Navigation become compatible with the N900 also. As MOUNTAINX posted couldn't the Google Navigation be ported to the N900? Considering with the N900 user has access to root and Andriod and Maemo are both versions of linux. I saw on an online video that N900 had a google voice websearch app installed.

So the GPS software and VOIP capabilities are keeping me from making the N900 purchase.

Now that FRING has video VOIP chat on their new software release for Symbian, Maemo shouldn't be far off right?

I would like to see if Garmin Mobile XT could be ran on the N900, anybody know? Officially it is not supported, but the N900 does have the memory card drive for it, and the Garmin Mobile XT does support the Nokia N95, etc.

Anybody know more information on the GPS software compatible with the N900 other than OVI Maps?

Thanks!

Re: N900 mapping and navigation comparison request
 

To add some perspective, here is a thread about GPS issues on the Droid.

http://www.droidforums.net/forum/tec...html#post34775

Re: N900 mapping and navigation comparison request
 

What i have understood is that N900 use same GPS chipsets as Omnia HD so you could say it's next generation compared to new arm11 Nokia S60 phones.
So there should be potential hw wise, but the ovi maps on Maemo just don't deliver.

Re: N900 mapping and navigation comparison request
 

I would like the map program to track my location and move the map as I drive without having to specify a route. Am I missing a setting?

I have the same issue with GPS mentioned here. If I turn off A-GPS, I do not get a GPS lock.

Re: N900 mapping and navigation comparison request
 

SIP inbuild capabilities work just fine, did succesfully configured myself voipdiscount.com VOIP provider and it works like a charm...

Bundled OVI Maps is what that sucks, useless without turn-by-turn navi...:mad:

Re: N900 mapping and navigation comparison request
 

I can tell you that Ovi Maps is a big improvement over the previous solutions, it works quite well, and best of all as you may know, it's free to use on Nokia phones. It is still not as good as dedicated GPS devices it does take a while to find the signal, even with A-GPS sometimes....but thats on s60 phones I think, yet I don't think it's software related that much, probably hardware, either way dunno if maemo does a better job at it just yet.....