Video: Three GPS navigation options for the Sprint HTC EVO 4G

A couple weeks ago I posted my first impressions of the HTC EVO 4G and then just a few hours after returning from my vacation I went to my local Sprint store and waited in line to buy my own HTC EVO 4G device. I plan to post several articles and videos on my experiences with the EVO 4G, including some tips & tricks posts. To start off with I wanted to discuss some of the GPS navigation options available on this large 4.3 inch screen device since the EVO 4G may be one of the best navigation smartphones available today. In this post and video below you will hear about Google Maps Navigation, Sprint Navigation, and CoPilot Live 8.

Smartphones are getting more and more powerful with larger and higher resolution displays so it makes a lot of sense to use your new smartphone as your in car navigation solution. IMHO, the navigation solutions for Google Android and iPhone devices are the best available today and are tough to beat. In the case of the HTC EVO 4G, you get two options included out of the box. Both Google Maps Navigation and Sprint Navigation do require a data connection to work so I also included ALK's CoPilot Live 8 software that offers on board maps for offline GPS navigation. These are the primary options available today, but we should soon see others like Navigon's Mobile Navigator software that has already been announced as coming soon to the Android platform.

Google Maps Navigation (beta)

After I used Google Maps Navigation on my Google Nexus One, I rarely looked to any other GPS navigation solution. While there is not a ton of options, the service is fast and attractive. I like the way the software dynamically zooms in to turns and then back out after the turn. The voice is provided over the network and is surprisingly quite good for something served over a wireless data network. Google Maps Navigation does require you to have a data connection and there is currently no offline support.

Search is excellent, obviously, and with Google Maps Navigation you can search in plain English like you would with Google and even conduct searches by speaking the destination. Traffic is a supported layer and gives you basic information and visual status (green, yellow, or red). I also like the way that Google Maps Navigation automatically switches into Street View when you reached your destination so you can quickly confirm your destination. This has proved handy for destinations that are inside larger buildings so you can physically see the building is correct.

The alternate routes function is slick and when you choose this option you will see a few routes in lighter color that you can tap on to select. I don't always take the route provided by navigation software and like the ability to choose an alternate quickly and easily. You can also view directions in a list view instead of on the map with the distance to the destination and time left in the trip.

You can easily place a call to the destination (if there is a number associated with the business), add as a contact, or view the destination on the map before you choose to navigate to the destination. I am a big fan of the ability to setup destinations from my computer's web browser before traveling and like that you can easily access your starred items within Google Maps Navigation. These starred items are associated with your Google account.

Sprint Navigation

In the past I used TeleNav's GPS navigation solutions with my Windows Mobile devices while on business trips. TeleNav is a $10 monthly subscription service on AT&T and T-Mobile, but with Sprint the Sprint Navigation branded version of TeleNav is provided for free with your data plan. Thus, you have two free solutions provided on the HTC EVO 4G out of the box and can pick and choose which you want to use or are most comfortable with. Like Google Maps Navigation, Sprint Navigation is currently only a connected solution that requires a wireless data connection to work.

I have posted articles on TeleNav's GPS navigation software in the past and won't go into all of the details here again. However, the Sprint Navigation software that is on the EVO 4G is version 2.8.0.1055 and does have some functions that are new to me. Under the Share & More button you will find an options for Movies that lets you search for movies and theaters near you (or another location) to see when movies are playing. You can call or navigate to the selected theater and even purchase tickets right from within Sprint Navigation. The ticket purchase functionality is provided by Fandango. I also see some dynamic menu animations and slightly different preference options within Sprint Navigation.

Similar to Google Maps Navigation, you can enter a destination by typing it in or by speaking the name of the destination. You can also preplan trips and enter destinations in your web browser by visiting the TeleNav mapping site or even installing the free browser plug-ins. As a guy who has been running 2-3 times a week for the past month I really like the new TeleNav pedometer tool that lets you create your route on the map and save it for future usage. You will be able to see the route distance, select biking or running, enter your weight and see an estimate of calories that will be burned along the route. There are quite a few very cool features and functions in this free online mapping tool and I highly recommend you take it for a spin.

You may wonder why you would even consider using Sprint Navigation over Google Maps Navigation and I would say that Sprint Navigation offers a bit more in terms of route info and more helpful traffic information. As you can see in my video earlier, you can view route, map, and traffic summaries with Sprint Navigation. You also have the choice to view your navigation session in 2D and turn icons only modes, in addition to the default 3D mode. The traffic support is so good in Sprint Navigation that you will want to use it if you drive to work to keep up to date on traffic. The folks at TeleNav even provide support for major event road closures to route you with the most accurate information available. I personally also prefer to see ETA information rather than total time to destination when I am navigating in a vehicle.

BTW, you can login and manage your Sprint Navigation account using either the TeleNav site or Sprint Navigation site. You can quickly enter addresses into your account and in the past I have placed a full month's worth of soccer and basketball games into my account for quick and easy destination selection when I jump in a car to get to a game.

CoPilot Live 8

You won't always be traveling in locations where you have a wireless data connection so it is good to have an offline mapping and navigation solution available as well. The best I have found so far is CoPilot Live 8 for $29.99 in the Android Market. I just purchased this software on my EVO 4G and downloaded maps for the Pacific Northwest and Alaska since that is where I travel most of the time. I capture a bit of navigation with CoPilot Live 8 in my earlier video, but recommend you take a look at my in-depth review and video with the software running on a T-Mobile HTC HD2 since it has the same size display and the software version is about the same as the one currently available for Google Android devices.

IMHO, CoPilot Live 8 is a steal at only $30 for all the North American maps that can be placed onto your microSD card for offline navigation. There are a TON of features and functions in CoPilot Live 8, including the following:

• Lane indicator display (very helpful for unfamiliar highway driving)
• Next turn indication
• Speed limit alerts (I often miss these signs in new areas I travel)
• Walking mode for getting around a new city
• RV mode
• Cycling mode

While CoPilot Live 8 can be used without a data connection, they also have data-enabled services that you can subscribe to for viewing the latest weather and traffic, conducting searches for businesses that may not be in the POI database, and checking live fuel prices. It is a bit confusing which services are for premium subscribers, but it looks like weather and local search may be available for free. There are so many features and options in this software that I recommend you check out my earlier HD2 review and visit the CoPilot features page to decide if you want to make the purchase. Unfortunately, there is no trial version available for you to try out.

What do you like for GPS navigation?

I am very pleased to have a number of available solutions on my EVO 4G and plan to continue using each of them as I figure out which I like best. I usually travel in areas with data connectivity so I imagine that Sprint Navigation will be used more than other solutions.

Do you have a favorite GPS navigation solution on your smartphone?