N95 GPS MAPS and Software

Some good info.

The N95 has a native app called Maps (Smart2Go). This uses maps which are resident on your phone and can be downloaded to your pc for transfer. There is no need for a data or inetrnet connection to your phone when using the Map app, only when you want to get turn-by-turn guidance. Currently the NZ map is poorly detailed and TBT is not available, maybe next year this may improve.

Google Maps in a map-browser, it has no GPS functionality ie it cannot tell you where you are, it just displays maps on your phone, these have to be downloaded as "tiles" over the net and incur data charges!

Mobile Google Maps Or MGMAps is a freeware project that currently uses a perl script to download 100's or 1000's of "tiles" from Google Maps and store them on your phone. The app, which is free, uses the N95 in-built GPS receiver and calls up the needed map tile from your phone as required. You do have to put a bit of work in getting the map tiles but once you have done it, it's like riding a bike! However, the big issue is that currently, MGMaps is causing big problems with memory usage on the N95 and until Christien can find the answer, really MGMaps is not an option.

SmartcomGPS is a commercial product ($40US I think) that works with the N95 internal gps unit. It has voice guidance, map rotation and lots of other features but you have to make or obtain your own maps using a range of software. At first I found the procedure quite daunting but now its a piece of cake. This is the only piece of GPS software that has given me the ability to get turn-by-turn navigation and detailed NZ maps. You need to be comfy with things like Photoshop or at least stitching image files together as well as basic GPS issues. If anyone is serious about using this product I am happy to help.

SportsTracker is not a mapping app, it has some other nice features but is not going to help you with navigation.
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from
http://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?ForumId=23&TopicId=13428&page_no=10
 
I use amaze. It's quite good, gets me where i wanna go. It's only good is arrow view, since it continuously needs to keep downloading maps otherwise. That's the only shortcoming-can't preload maps.
 
You can get Route66 Mobile 7 but only version 7.30 works on N95 with internal GPS.

I like AmaZe and Nav4All. Good thing is that they are both free. Because they both have to calculate routes over GPRS/EDGE/3G connection, they don’t give me consistent navigation. I often miss turns while they are busy connecting to recalculate the direction/routes.

I’ve been comparing;

Route66, Smart2Go on N95.
TomTom, HandMap AI Gold on i-Mate

1. Easy of setting Destination
2. View during Guidance e.g. Arrow, 2/3D, day night view, auto-zoom into road crossings / junctions
3. Voice during Guidance e.g. voice prompts, street announcements.
4. Profiles for route calculation. E.g. shortest way, fastest way, avoiding motorways etc.
5. Database of POI

All can basically do points 1,2,3,4 and 5 and all eventually gets you to your destination. However, I have seen these minor differences.

On N95, Route66 rates highly on points 3 and 5. I find it less intuitive and not easy when it comes to point 1. It has more POI than Smart2Go.

Smart2Go rates highly at points 1, 2. Its voice command has been an annoyance so far to me. If I was driving with my phone stuck on my dash or windscreen, I’d be using Smart2Go without the voice commands.

I tend to use Route66 regularly because its smooth at navigating and the voice commands are precise.

On i-mate, HandyMap rates highly on 5. As an SA product, it has the best coverage and more POI.

TomTom running on a touch screen (i.e. my i-Mate) is the best all rounder.
 
I have gone for the 3-year Smart2go subscription on my N95. I am quite pleased. Some bloggers complained that the software was inaccurate and constantly prompted for a "u-turn" when you missed/ignored a turn.

I find it to be very accurate and quite quick in recalculating a route when you missed/ignored a turn.

I just hate the "turn SLIGHTLY left/right" when an intersection is not a perfect 90 deg connection or more.

Me and a friend compared my N95 and his Garmin the other day - one area where the Smart2go sw is lacking is the routing options. The Garmin's routing options prooved to be far superiour.

The Smart2go sw tends to want to take you down any road (backway dirt road included) if it connects you to your destination with "shortest route" being selected. Also, when "fastest route" is selected, it will take you on a long (very long) detour via any highway in the vicinity of your current GPS location.

Apart from that the Smart2go maps seem to be quite up to date and detailed.
 
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NoADSLyet said:
Lucky You. I cannot get my .sis signed. The site is damned!
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Yeah, I was lucky that I 'signed' before they closed the site. But, Symbiansigned is back. I've been signing a few applications already. However, for now, it only works for those had registered before they closed for maintenance.
 
dlk001 said:
Yeah, I was lucky that I 'signed' before they closed the site. But, Symbiansigned is back. I've been signing a few applications already. However, for now, it only works for those had registered before they closed for maintenance.
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Now, how about signing mine :D
 
dlk001 said:
If you have a 'key' file and unsigned 'sis' file, I can submit them to symbiansigned.com with your IMEI to get the certificate for your phone. You can then 'sign' your 'unsigned' sis files.
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Unsigned .sis I have! Key file, what is that?
 
I must say, after dlk001 helped me get Route66 working on my phone, I am even more impressed with my N95. Route66 is working very well for me, and I didn't have to pay Nokia R700 for a 3-year licence for Smart2Go.

I have found with Route66 that if you are near a highway, and it thinks the highway is quicker and shorter, then for a while it will promped you to do a U-turn (illegal). It does eventually re-calculate an alternative route though.

I will definately try TomTom when they release a version that uses the N95 internal GPS. As a side note, I see the new Nokia 6110 Navigator comes pre-loaded with a version of Route66 and doesn't require purchasing an additional licence.
 
Route66 V7? R2000.00 for N70...N95? at Boksburg Flea Market Cell shop at south Entry.
Rather wait for a free version ;)
 
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