Navigator

westscape · 07-08-2004, 01:08 PM

Just noticed the new version of Navigator is out
Anyone tried it yet?
http://www.directions.ltd.uk/

Pabs · 07-09-2004, 06:48 PM

Same question here, what is the difference between navigator 4 and the previous version? From what i have read, its the same? I have the older version which is O.K

Falken · 07-10-2004, 02:37 AM

I've got the new version in stock and in all honesty I think it is excellent.
Major improvements include:-
Improved maps. One way streets and house numbers are now shown. Maps seem bang up to date. Certainly the M6 toll is on there. Street names are now seperate entities and are show as near horizontal as possible. There are now 23 countries covered including Vatican City, Lichtenstein and Andorra. Visually they are much more attractive with patterns so look more like Ordnance Survey.
Routing. Much improved. You can now add/remove waypoints or block roads from being used. Reverse routes, save them or print them out.
Navigation Routing and navigation are now the same. You can plan your route with numerous waypoints, optimise the route and then navigate it. The next junction panel is now an accurate representation and also displays your current position on it. If you are going the wrong way it will take your direction into account when recalculating. Still does map rotation, visual and spoken (human) directions and automatic recalculation if you stray off-route. Warnings are given in either miles/yards or kilometers/meters. In navigation mode only the two panels are shown. The junction overview on the left and the map on the right.
Touchscreen. The icons can be displayed double size making them usable on a touchscreen. The two panel mode in navigation gives a lot more screen space to what you need with a lot less clutter. This version also seems to embed very nicely into MediaCar.
Cross border routing. You can now have start and end points in different countries. It does take a while though. On my VIA 900 it took 3 minutes to calculate the route from Newcastle to Alcudia on Majorca. Calculating a 200 mile journey in the UK took 10 secs.
That's the major improvements I can think of at the moment. I used to think the old version was astonishing value for money. Navigator 4 is a significantly better product for the same price. £35 for GB & Ireland. £50 for Europe (including GB & Ireland). Upgrades are £25 and £35 respectively. If you bought your copy from me in the last couple of months then get in touch as I've negotiated a special deal for upgrades for my customers.

Regards
Doug
www.action-replay.co.uk

westscape · 07-10-2004, 08:56 AM

Just got a copy today.
In general the niggles I had with the previous version have been fixed. One welcome improvement is that the auto-rotate no longer dances around like crazy when stationary, also I got the impression that it keeps the map more centered so you can see ahead without panic, although I need to test this further.

The next manouvre panel is great. The navigator is much better at sensing when you get lost and re-routing. The voice prompts seem improved a little too; a few more prompts and the tone is a little more pleasant working very well with the laptop speakers.

It still tried to take me the wrong way down a one way when I deliberately tried to confuse it (well to top that it was a pedestrian zone too!) but I guess that is just the map data at fault. Generally speaking though I had more confidence in the navigator; it didn't seem to get confused in the way the previous version did and there were no stupid pop up boxes informing you that something was wrong.

For the first release I'd say 8.5/10 and maybe some free updates might come along, although at the moment I can't see what needs fixing.

david_liz · 07-10-2004, 09:42 AM

System Reqs:

Any PC running Win 95/98/NT/2000/ME/XP or Linux running QT 3.3 or higher (800MHz processor, 256MB RAM recommended)

Finally a routing soft for linux?? I can't believe it, I'll give it a try as soon as I can get a copy!

Does anybody know if Navigator is avaiable in other languages? Spanish may be? Then I'll be in heaven

Falken · 07-10-2004, 01:56 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by david_liz

System Reqs:

Any PC running Win 95/98/NT/2000/ME/XP or Linux running QT 3.3 or higher (800MHz processor, 256MB RAM recommended)

Finally a routing soft for linux?? I can't believe it, I'll give it a try as soon as I can get a copy!

Does anybody know if Navigator is avaiable in other languages? Spanish may be? Then I'll be in heaven

They've always included a Linux version AND a Pocket PC version. You get all three versions as standard for £50.
Navigation prompts provided in Czech, Danish, English, French German and Italian. Currently help is available in Czech and English. I would expect to see other languages made available before long. I happen to know the lady they use to record the voice prompts is Portuguese.

Regards
Doug
www.action-replay.co.uk

Falken · 07-10-2004, 02:09 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by westscape

Just got a copy today.
In general the niggles I had with the previous version have been fixed. One welcome improvement is that the auto-rotate no longer dances around like crazy when stationary, also I got the impression that it keeps the map more centered so you can see ahead without panic, although I need to test this further.

We've been out testing this all week and I agree. Although to be honest I only found this a problem in the earlier version if you didn't have a good satellite lock.

Quote: Originally Posted by westscape

The next manouvre panel is great. The navigator is much better at sensing when you get lost and re-routing. The voice prompts seem improved a little too; a few more prompts and the tone is a little more pleasant working very well with the laptop speakers.

Even better is that is takes the direction of travel into account when recalculating the route. I particularly like having the prompts in miles and it now starts warnings 2 miles before the junction instead of the 1km in earlier versions.

Quote: Originally Posted by westscape

It still tried to take me the wrong way down a one way when I deliberately tried to confuse it (well to top that it was a pedestrian zone too!) but I guess that is just the map data at fault. Generally speaking though I had more confidence in the navigator; it didn't seem to get confused in the way the previous version did and there were no stupid pop up boxes informing you that something was wrong.

Again it's much improved with the warnings now being spoken and displayed instead a popup box.

Quote: Originally Posted by westscape

For the first release I'd say 8.5/10 and maybe some free updates might come along, although at the moment I can't see what needs fixing.

I've been looking at the new version for a few months now and I'm delighted to see most of failings of the earlier version sorted out. The only tweak I'd really like to see is zoom in and out as buttons on the navigation screen to make it even more touch compatible.

Regards
Doug
www.action-replay.co.uk

NotchbackVW · 07-12-2004, 11:51 AM

Will be sending off for the upgrade soon. Dissapointed to hear about the lack of Zoom buttons, that seems very necassary to me. Also I assume still no on screen keyboard?
Anyone know if coyote may include Navigator in media car as a proper GPS Software. I hope he does...

Falken · 07-12-2004, 12:04 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by NotchbackVW

Will be sending off for the upgrade soon. Dissapointed to hear about the lack of Zoom buttons, that seems very necassary to me. Also I assume still no on screen keyboard?
Anyone know if coyote may include Navigator in media car as a proper GPS Software. I hope he does...

F5 & F6 still work to zoom in and out. The icing on the cake would be to have buttons on the Nav screen so I can do it all from the touchscreen. I'm launching Navigator embedded in Mediacar and it works well. For an OSK I'm using the VirtualKeyBd from here. I'm really sorry, I've forgotten the author but it works well for me.
I've passed all this onto Directions but it never hurts to have a couple of other people request it as well.

Doug

badass101 · 07-12-2004, 12:16 PM

Sounds sweet...
I was thinking about Navigator before, now I think I'm going to buy it.
I guess the Europe version is a must... (even though I don't go there much.. it'll be worth it if I ever do!)