VZNAV suggestions

[sleepy]

Does anyone know how to make suggestions for the VZnav software?

I would like to ask them to add a night mode since i do a lot of driving in the dark and the brightness of the screen means i end up just using the voice to navigate or i lose my night vision

also i would like something similar to the tom tom where you can add new roads.

one other nice feature since it is a communication device would be an instant feedback through the software for other suggestions to them.

I have tried networks in motion but i get no response and i see no where else to provide feedback.

anybody got an idea?

[whitetigergrowl]

Yeah buy a dedicated GPS. A Garmin preferably since VZ Navigator uses the same mapping company anyways. Fact is, VZ Navigator has never really been meant to replace a dedicated GPS. Almost guaranteed outside the night mode, most of what you have asked for will not happen anytime in the forseeable future. VZN's purpose is as a basic GPS with Basic functions. Not as a replacement.

[macizcool]

Yeah buy a dedicated GPS. A Garmin preferably since VZ Navigator uses the same mapping company anyways. Fact is, VZ Navigator has never really been meant to replace a dedicated GPS. Almost guaranteed outside the night mode, most of what you have asked for will not happen anytime in the forseeable future. VZN's purpose is as a basic GPS with Basic functions. Not as a replacement.

When you have a phone such as the Blackberry Storm, then VZ Navigator (which is made for the Storm) can be a GPS replacement. Unfortunately, I was not happy with VZ Nav for the Storm, as it felt "unfinished." I ended up switching to Telenav... and I cannot remember if that had a night mode or not. One feature that Telenav has that needs to be adopted by VZ Navigator is the option for the backlight to stay off until a turn is approaching. This is especially handy on the Storm, as battery life degrades fast when the screen is left on.

To the OP: This is the company who makes VZ Navigator:

http://www.networksinmotion.com/

[WaltA]

I would like to ask them to add a night mode since i do a lot of driving in the dark and the brightness of the screen means i end up just using the voice to navigate or i lose my night vision

Doesn't LG phones have a light sensor which automatically dims the screen at night?

[whitetigergrowl]

When you have a phone such as the Blackberry Storm, then VZ Navigator (which is made for the Storm) can be a GPS replacement. Unfortunately, I was not happy with VZ Nav for the Storm, as it felt "unfinished." I ended up switching to Telenav... and I cannot remember if that had a night mode or not. One feature that Telenav has that needs to be adopted by VZ Navigator is the option for the backlight to stay off until a turn is approaching. This is especially handy on the Storm, as battery life degrades fast when the screen is left on.

To the OP: This is the company who makes VZ Navigator:

http://www.networksinmotion.com/

No. It can't. You are entirely reliant on the Verizon Network. You lose the signal for any reason, you lose your navigation. Simple as that. If you are driving a state away for example, and you have to take a bunch of weird turns to get where you are going, but along the way the area you are in has poor Verizon coverage, you are screwed. It simply stops working. I know, I have had it happen. It becomes almost worthless at that point. It will stop where it lost the signal and not know where you are at until you pick up another signal. If you have any turns in those areas, good luck. As well, it uses the cell phone tower triangulation method which is less accurate.

I also noticed VZ Navigator is horribly stripped down. I have used Garmin and TomTom and would NEVER rely solely on VZNavigator as a GPS alternative. I would only rely on it if I really needed to.

[The WB]

Yeah buy a dedicated GPS. A Garmin preferably since VZ Navigator uses the same mapping company anyways.

I absolutely agree - 4.3" widescreen Garmin unit is far better than the service offered by VZW.

[WaltA]

No. It can't. You are entirely reliant on the Verizon Network. You lose the signal for any reason, you lose your navigation. Simple as that. If you are driving a state away for example, and you have to take a bunch of weird turns to get where you are going, but along the way the area you are in has poor Verizon coverage, you are screwed. It simply stops working. I know, I have had it happen. It becomes almost worthless at that point. It will stop where it lose the signal and not know where you are at until you pick up another signal. If you have any turns in those areas, good luck. As well, it uses the cell phone tower triangulation method which is less accurate.

I hate to tell you, that when a portable GPS unit looses it signal (and they do), "you are screwed". The portable GPS unit "simply stops working" too.

And if you don't think a portable GPS unit can loose its reference signals from the satellites, then you haven't used a portable GPS all that much.

That's one of the differences with a built-in GPS unit, which cost $2,000, available on some cars. The built-in GPS unit on my hybrid, will switch over to what it calls 'dead reckoning' when it looses satellite signals. It will use vehicle speed (speedometer reading) and direction (compass) to temporarily start to estimate location, something portable units can't do.

[mick4394]

I hate to tell you, that when a portable GPS unit looses it signal (and they do), "you are screwed". The portable GPS unit "simply stops working" too.

And if you don't think a portable GPS unit can loose its reference signals from the satellites, then you haven't used a portable GPS all that much.

That's one of the differences with a built-in GPS unit, which cost $2,000, available on some cars. The built-in GPS unit on my hybrid, will switch over to what it calls 'dead reckoning' when it looses satellite signals. It will use vehicle speed (speedometer reading) and direction (compass) to temporarily start to estimate location, something portable units can't do.

As long as you have a clear view of the sky, you'll be fine with any dedicated GPS.

The problem with VZNavigator isn't just the actual GPS. It's that the loss of network coverage (which happens a lot more often than losing a view of the sky) means you completely lose your map. Everything is transferred over the network.

[macizcool]

No. It can't. You are entirely reliant on the Verizon Network. You lose the signal for any reason, you lose your navigation. Simple as that. If you are driving a state away for example, and you have to take a bunch of weird turns to get where you are going, but along the way the area you are in has poor Verizon coverage, you are screwed. It simply stops working. I know, I have had it happen. It becomes almost worthless at that point. It will stop where it lost the signal and not know where you are at until you pick up another signal. If you have any turns in those areas, good luck. As well, it uses the cell phone tower triangulation method which is less accurate.

I also noticed VZ Navigator is horribly stripped down. I have used Garmin and TomTom and would NEVER rely solely on VZNavigator as a GPS alternative. I would only rely on it if I really needed to.

Verizon Wireless... It's the newtwork! You will never lose a signal!

I'm not saying that VZNav is any better than a GPS unit... There are definite clear advantages of the stand-alone. However, VZ Navigator is a good replacement for many people. I enjoy VZ Navigator (or, it's competitors like TeleNav) because I always have it and can use it for finding phone numbers. Also, it's one less thing I have to worry about stashing away so my windows don't get busted.

[mick4394]

I'm not saying that VZNav is any better than a GPS unit... There are definite clear advantages of the stand-alone. However, VZ Navigator is a good replacement for many people. I enjoy VZ Navigator (or, it's competitors like TeleNav) because I always have it and can use it for finding phone numbers. Also, it's one less thing I have to worry about stashing away so my windows don't get busted.

Agreed. VZNav is a pretty great thing to have, if you're going to stay in the city. Problems really only crop up if you're planning on using it as a navigation device for a longer trip.

Verizon's network is great. However, when you hop in the car and go on a trip across a few states, VZNav does a great job of pointing out those dead spots. Just take a wrong turn, and watch it turn its wheels (trying to figure out where you are). It can be a pretty lonely feeling.

[whitetigergrowl]

I hate to tell you, that when a portable GPS unit looses it signal (and they do), "you are screwed". The portable GPS unit "simply stops working" too.

And if you don't think a portable GPS unit can loose its reference signals from the satellites, then you haven't used a portable GPS all that much.

That's one of the differences with a built-in GPS unit, which cost $2,000, available on some cars. The built-in GPS unit on my hybrid, will switch over to what it calls 'dead reckoning' when it looses satellite signals. It will use vehicle speed (speedometer reading) and direction (compass) to temporarily start to estimate location, something portable units can't do.

Like was stated above, odds are much lower of losing view of the sky than losing the network. In fact, I find it very rare.

And if you are stupid (IMO) enough to spend $2000 on a GPS system built into some cars, then that IMO shows lack of good judgment all together. The feature you mentioned I find something that is most cases would be a rare thing to have to use and very not worth $2,000. Most portable GPS's are much more capable than VZ Navigator. And more accurate. Let alone you will find open sky in more places than you will find the VZW Network. Let alone the AT&T network. Most GPS's are small enough to fit into a pocket now and are easily transportable. I have never found it cumbersome.

VZ Navigator should only be used when absolutely necessary. AAA Mobile uses the same mapping company, has far more Points of Interest, more Events with event information, reviews of hotels/motels and restaurants, AAA member service capabilities, weather, location info, movie theatres and movie reviews and times, etc. It has more than VZ Navigator for the same price and is not limited to AAA members. And looks and is used almost identical. I would only use either if I absolutely had no other choice. I would not use them to replace a dedicated GPS by any means.

[hwertz]

Some of the portable systems have an inertia sensor, and perhaps a compass, and go to dead reckoning too. Of course they don't have vehicle speed sensors so I'm sure it's not as accurate. That said, it's certainly true, GPS does cut out, but there's more areas without VZW service than the odd canyon, tunnel, or forest without GPS.

Anyway... I can't hate on VZNav too much, it's pretty decent; a TomTom or something is nicer. But for occasional use VZNav's just fine (or, if like on my recent trip we forget to bring the TomTom.) It even directed us back to the airport rental car return, instead of the geographic center like the TomTom likes to do

[WaltA]

Like was stated above, odds are much lower of losing view of the sky than losing the network. In fact, I find it very rare.

That said, it's certainly true, GPS does cut out, but there's more areas without VZW service than the odd canyon, tunnel, or forest without GPS.

GPS satellite signals are all too often lost in man-made canyons too. These are the streets in cities, boarded by skyscrapers. City streets are not "odd" nor "rare".

My co-worker has this complaint with his Garmin portable GPS every times he attempts to use it in NYC.

[WaltA]

And if you are stupid (IMO) enough to spend $2000 on a GPS system built into some cars, then that IMO shows lack of good judgment all together.

My lack of good judgement is being claimed by someone who owns an LG Dare?

[whitetigergrowl]

My lack of good judgement is being claimed by someone who owns an LG Dare?

Consumer Reports a few months back (I believe Jan. 2009) rated it the #1 non-smartphone Verizon phone. It's also consistently rated higher than most all other Verizon phones. What ratings and reviews have your phone gotten compared to the LG Dare? Guaranteed worse ones. Average at best. So try again. Because the mocking and condescending tone would be at the phone you use and the poor judgment there.

Also, the whole of America doesn't live in large cities like NYC where skyscapers reign supreme and block out quite a bit of sky. Seriously, in that case what would one expect. Even then, VZN still is not as accurate as a normal GPS. You are talking about for most people rare situations. Or ones that do not occur that often for most people using normal GPS's. Most people use them for traveling. Not for trips across town.