why isn't there software similar to the AVIC or Alpine Navi systems?

starbai · 04-11-2006, 02:04 AM

I love the maping interfaces, and the POIs and everything...

after looking at the PC navigation programs out there, I've yet to see anything that parallels their navi software...

why isn't this easier to for a computer program rather than a built in aplication in an incar unit?

DarquePervert · 04-11-2006, 07:03 AM

That software have you looked at to compare?
iGuidance is a very clean interface. CoPilot is the same software that the Magellan standalone units use, and is very slick.

Cirion · 04-11-2006, 07:44 AM

I have to agree... iGuidance cant even beat a PDA with TomTom...

The problem is that there has not been a big enough market for it yet. And the navigation system makers has concentrated on makeing units for incar installations and handheld units.

Incar systems cost a lot! They are expensive to install, and are expensive to buy. There is a reason for it. The HW is expensive. They have a special type of GPS called DR GPS. These GPS's have extra sensors and a CPU to calculate an accurate position when there is low or no GPS coverage. Since these units cant compete with the production numbers of PC's they will allways be more expensive than a Carputer.

There is hope... Flux MEDIA is developing a system for Carputers. That delivers a lot more than Incar Navigation system. It's more like a MediaCenter for your Car, with navigation as an addon...
http://www.centrafuse.com/centrafuse.aspx

In the version out right now Beta 1.6 they are using Destinator 3. Nothing to celebrate there... But they are cooperating with Destinator and using their latest SDK to make a better navigation system with the latest maps. Expect Beta 1.7 to be out later this month with the first version of the new navigations system.

If you want a DR GPS in your Carputer you could build your own...
http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/gps/66935-ublox-dead-reckoning-gps.html

PURDooM · 04-11-2006, 12:28 PM

Tomtom might look pretty, but its maps suck.

starbai · 04-12-2006, 03:51 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by PURDooM

Tomtom might look pretty, but its maps suck.

yea it sure does... I have Navigator 2004 on my Pocket PC for now, it does the job... but not well.

so the DR is the only real thing holding back the pc Software in comparison to the interfaces of the headunit companies? ie; Pioneer, Alpine, kenwood etc...

I mean i could build a DR setup like what was referenced above, but still wouldn't have comparable software/maps.

thoughts?

Cirion · 04-13-2006, 03:30 AM

If you build yourself a DR GPS, then the biggest difference will be software.
TMC is also something you want to integrate... This is traffic info over the radio. Both Destinator PN and Navigon NCK5 support TMC.

Navigon NCK5 is made for laptop nagvigation and looks very promising. I have not gotten to test is yet.
https://www.navigon.com/site/int/en/...ns/shop/pc/697
http://www.cartft.com/catalog/il/129

Destinator PN is only for PDA, but as I said in an earlyer post CentraFuse will eventually integrate this version. I am already using Destinator PN maps in CF and Freedrive, but it required some hacking of the map (removing some files and cutting it in mapmonkey). The solution is better than Destinator3 but none of the advanced PN functions work.
http://www.buygpsnow.com/destinator-...stern-447.html

The main reason for me to make a Carputer was to do something more with my navigation system than just navigation.... My Car came with a "Honda Navigation System" it's a TravelPilot from Blaupunkt. Worked great, had DR GPS and had no problems in tunnels or low GPS coverage. I even tried unplugging the GPS and the navigation is spot on... But these systems are not dynamic. You can uppgrade maps but not GUI/GFX. They are horribly expensive to uppgrade (wich includes changing the whole unit). Mapuppgrades cost the same as a PDA Navigation software with maps, and that is just for 1 region...

A Carputer hovever is endlessly uppgradeable. You will not be stuck with an old GUI, you can change the software whenever you want. You are not stuck with just one application. You can add as many as you want, and the coolest thing is the Frontends you get here on the forum. These let me do a lot more than Navigation...

I went to a shop here in Oslo, that installs multimedia and navigations systems in cars. I wanted a navigation system, TV tuner, DVB-t, tuner DAB, DVD, MP3 and possibilty to play DivX... DivX they could not do... But the rest came to almost 10 000$ with installation. I know I could probably find it a lot cheaper, but it will definately not compare to what a Carputer can do. Imagine what a Carputer would look like with a price of 10 000$... So far I have passed 800$

ccsnet · 04-13-2006, 06:20 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by Cirion

Navigon NCK5 is made for laptop nagvigation and looks very promising. I have not gotten to test is yet.
https://www.navigon.com/site/int/en/...ns/shop/pc/697
http://www.cartft.com/catalog/il/129

I have and its very smooth.... with a basic video card the 3d views where so smooth and bob on I was amazed. The interface needs a little working on but there is hope as there is an SDK.

Only down side on NCK5 is the POIs, there are a bit static and you need extra software to change etc - how ever if it really takes off I'm sure some one will find a work around.

Terran

PS I havn't been able to confirm its TMC status in the UK although last year Navigon signed a new TMC deal with RAC Trafficmaster - this problem has also affect the PPC version too.

RPM_VR4 · 04-14-2006, 02:56 AM

Also worth mentioning...

No navigation system could possibly compare with using Google Earth in your car. It's by no means a real navigation system if you are looking for voice-prompts and turn-by-turn directions. However, I usually know where I am going and have no need to see always shown POI. Google Earth gives you the ultimate 3D satellite view with elevation and buildings. This makes it very easy to see "short-cuts" while navigating heavy street traffic in LA through side-streets and back-alleys. There is also a color-coded live traffic overlay on the freeway system which has saved me countless hours when traveling long diagonals across LA/Orange countys. If you want to find a specific POI, Google Earth can search all of the Google Local yellow-pages. Try to fit that database on a DVD!

Anyway, it is not perfect yet as there is not much of a touch-screen friendly interface, but I am (slowely) working on making it better...
Screen-Shots: http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/sb-skins/71802-goops-cf-1-6-a.html

theheel · 04-14-2006, 03:34 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by RPM_VR4

Also worth mentioning...

No navigation system could possibly compare with using Google Earth in your car. It's by no means a real navigation system if you are looking for voice-prompts and turn-by-turn directions. However, I usually know where I am going and have no need to see always shown POI. Google Earth gives you the ultimate 3D satellite view with elevation and buildings. This makes it very easy to see "short-cuts" while navigating heavy street traffic in LA through side-streets and back-alleys. There is also a color-coded live traffic overlay on the freeway system which has saved me countless hours when traveling long diagonals across LA/Orange countys. If you want to find a specific POI, Google Earth can search all of the Google Local yellow-pages. Try to fit that database on a DVD!

Anyway, it is not perfect yet as there is not much of a touch-screen friendly interface, but I am (slowely) working on making it better...
Screen-Shots: http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=71802

now only if i had a constant internet connection in the car....

BartDP · 08-30-2007, 06:37 PM

As the last post in this topic if from more than an year ago, I am wordering if something has changed last year.

I did last week a 10 day trip over 3000 km with a Pioneer GPS system (Pioneer AVIC-800DVD) and the screen interface (GUI) is realy usefull.

Nobody who made a lookalike on a carpc ?

Wiredwrx · 08-30-2007, 10:17 PM

IG is still the best out there, in mine and many peoples eyes.

The major difference is cost. When an avic is between 1500 and 2500 bucks, and the companies sell the software to manufacturers, and pay say 1000 bucks, and sell a couple hundred thousand copies, they can afford to spend gobs of mopney on development, but INAV, for example, sells FAR RWER copies of it's software, and for under a 100 bucks. Lets guess who is gonna have more cash to develop products.

That is just how it is, and truth be told, us carputer people, who are for the most part CHEAP AS HELL, that probably won't change much.

Michael

tkn · 08-31-2007, 09:29 AM

I think the best interface right now looks like the Provia A1 in Korea. Those 3D navigation windows are beautiful:

http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/26/h...ator-with-dmb/
http://www.provia.co.kr/

If you are going to do 3D navigation GPS, might as well make it look as good as possible.

Marvin Hlavac · 09-01-2007, 01:18 PM

The PC/UMPC/CarPC market is so very small. The PPC market is shrinking (disappearing), too. Who knows what the future holds for GPS navigation on these platforms.

Ruffy · 09-02-2007, 06:26 PM

I actually dont like the AVIC software. I have a AVIC Z2 in my tahoe. I only like a few things about it. Iguidance+Roadrunner all the way.

I'd like to try copilot but it doesnt integrate properly. The Provia does look good but we're a long way from having maps of every area in the US like that.

tkn · 09-11-2007, 11:13 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by Ruffy

I actually dont like the AVIC software. I have a AVIC Z2 in my tahoe. I only like a few things about it. Iguidance+Roadrunner all the way.

I'd like to try copilot but it doesnt integrate properly. The Provia does look good but we're a long way from having maps of every area in the US like that.

I know there are 3D maps of major cities, and a smart GPS solution would be to use the 2.5D style navigation when that data is not available, and use it when it is.

What amazes me is that mapping should theoretically get more accurate if they would just have the thing anonymously log all travel and aggregate it to make the maps more accurate. It is not like HD space is expensive (although you would think so by the general crappiness of the built-ins like the Pioneer units with their stupid DVDs.)