For those wondering which real GPS app is better for the iPhone I decided to do a comparison. I’ve provided enough information that you should be able to make a decision which to pay for. At the time of this writing TomTom is about $10 more expensive than Navigon.
My opinion is that TomTom is a little bit better app for the money but that both apps are great! I like both of them better than my Garmin Nuvi. You can’t go wrong with either app.
Below is a table of some features that I thought were good to know about before purchasing.
POI = Points of Interest
TomTom
|
Navigon
|
Feature
|
10 s
|
16 s
|
Startup time |
1.2 gb
|
1.4 gb
|
Size |
|
X
|
2D Mode switches to a 3D view when approaching a freeway way entrance/exit and shows your path |
Stops Music
|
Fades Music
|
How iPod is handled while giving directions |
X
|
|
Honors vibrate mode (stay quiet when I ask you too!) |
X
|
X
|
Save current position as a favorite |
|
|
Can copy and paste a full address (duh!) |
X
|
|
Multiple voices to choose from |
X
|
X
|
Created good routes |
X
|
X
|
Good homescreen design |
X
|
|
Graphical home screen buttons (great for quick action) |
X
|
X
|
Place phone calls to POIs |
|
X
|
User selectable speed profiles for determining arrival times |
X
|
|
Has supporting hardware (or soon will) |
|
X
|
Uses familiar logos for POIs |
X
|
X
|
Supports different distance units (Miles/Kilometers) |
X
|
X
|
Map zoom relative to speed |
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Here are a few more observations…
Navigon
- Street names can be hard to read while navigating
- Further out perspective in 3D view than TomTom (I liked this feature a lot)
TomTom
- At first the routing seemed a little off. It chose strange paths to work and home. I’m not sure if this is going to get better with time (if it is collecting travel data) but after I realized that I can turn off the “IQ Routes” feature it got better. This feature supposedly uses historical traffic levels to calculate your route.
- POI database seems more thorough than Navigon
- Super cool map browser that tells you street names as you tap them!
- More POI options
- All around more aesthetically pleasing
And now, what you really came for: screenshots…
TomTom |
Navigon |
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|
Home Screens
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Home Screens
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|
|
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Points of Interest
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Points of Interest
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Points of Interest Logo Icons
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Points of Interest Logo Icons
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|
3D Mode Freeway View
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3D Mode Freeway View
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|
2D Mode Freeway Entrance/Exit
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2D Mode Freeway Entrance/Exit (switches automatically)
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