I used the latest version of Telenav during a road trip up North this past weekend. While this is perhaps one of the most exciting posts I will make, I am anxious to explain all the great features I found from this nifty software as I use it more often.
What is Telenav?
Telenav is a GPS based software that offers real time turn by turn voice directions for Nextel GPS enabled phones such as the Blackberry, which is unique from other Telenav software. In addition, services also include finding businesses such as gas stations, department stores, etc, in your current position or other address. It is offered in different languages such as English, Espanol, Mandarin, Russian, French, Cantonese, Vietnamese, and Portugese. For a pretty comprehensive (well thought out) user manual, click here.
There are 3 required steps for using Telenav + 1 as an advisory:
1 - Download the software OTA (over the air) by using your Internet Browser (a wap version may be available as well). It self installs after DL'ing. OR, DL it from their website and install it manually through DTM (Desktop Manager).
2 - Register with Telenav either through Nextel or Telenav (I recommend Telenav). I could not successfully register via online through Telenav.com so I called it in instead. It was quick, fast and easy. *Activation after account setup can take up to four hours.
3 - Log In to Telenav via your BB 7520.
4 - Copy Network Time. Options>Date and Time>Auto Time Set - enable it and clickwheel again. Select 'Copy Network Time'. *Most of the problems that occur with users who are having difficulty with Telenav are most likely a result of not conducting this step as per Telenav customer support; it does nto hurt to conduct this step prior to using Telenav for the first time after step 3.
Telenav
Under the main screen, there are 6 options:
- Real Time GPS Navigation
- Find a Business
- View a map around an address
- Compass and Waypoints
- Personalize Telenav
- How to get support, etc.
There are multiple route calcuation modes:
Faster Route, Shortest Route, Prefer Highways, Avoid Highways and Pedestrian Route.
Pedestrian Route
I visited a friend of mine who lived out of town yet accessible by train. As I got of nearby, I decided to test out the pedestrian route mode of Telenav. As the satellites were pinpointing my position, I ran into Bay Ridge Ave, the avenue my friend lived on. But Telenav made me turn away from the avenue. I decided against my will and followed Telenav.
After walking a few blocks I began to question the legitamacy of the route calculation. I felt as though I was walking further away from where I needed to go. I doubled back but Telenav insisted I stay on my route by beeping me warnings. Then it occurred to me that I was heading the wrong direction away from my friend's home as opposed to going nearer to it. After some thinking, I realized why Telenav wanted me to stray from my course....it was actually trying to get me to go around the block.
But wait, why didn't it just tell me to walk the opposite direction? It appeared that Telenav calculated a route with the flow of traffic in mind which is why it deviated away fom the Avenue I needed to be on. I walked against traffic on the pedestrian sidewalk but Telenav insisted, without recalculating my route, to take the parallel avenue which goes with and not against traffic. But then, shouldn't the directional flow of traffic not be accounted for in pedestrian mode? This mode failed for me in this incident.
more to come....
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Pros:
Real Time GPS performs well.
GPS not only gives you directions but can tell you what businesses are nearby and how to get there; i.e.: Check out the local clubs, bars, ethnic restuarants, department stores, drug stores, gas stations and much much more. It spits out full address and phone numbers whereby it allows you to make the calls seamlessly or to check it out on a graphical map in addition to providing turn by turn directions.
According to Telenav abd Nextel, the GPS mostly works independantly from Data services although at times, Telenav requires some usage of the data network thus a data plan is neccessary (it is not recommended to use Telenav with limited data services as a cost saving measure; get the unlimited data plan). If you plan on going into the woods and cell coverage is not available, this is NOT for you.
Multiple route calcuation modes: Faster Route, Shortest Route, Prefer Highways, Avoid Highways and Pedestrian Route. I only use the highways preferred and pedestrian routes btooh of which are reviewed.
Near seamless integration of phone and GPS; you can receive incoming calls when the GPS is not randomly using the data packet service. Press Alt-Escape to make phone calls which will autmoatically suspend Telenav..
Multiple language support - English, Espanol, Mandarin, Russian, French, Cantonese, Vietnamese, and Portugese.
Web support - preplan your trips online; all your Stops are logged into the Telenav database and is called upon when you access Telenav.
Ability to call in your directions via an automated reception making is safer to drive without typing (see Cons).
Links also to your BB address book (see Cons) so that you can drive directly to a friend's place without entering their address into Telenav.
Cons:
Battery life: The battery life on the 7520 is not good to begin with (a full day of use), and after a good 4 hour drive with Telenav directing me, my batteries were near drained after a full charge in the morning. Time to buy that Car adapter.
At times, the GPS works off Nextel's data packet service which may interupt incoming calls and Dirct Connect alerts/calls.
Missing a turn will cause Telenav to calculate a new route for you which will take as fast as 15 seconds and so far for me, up to 30 seconds whcih at times can mean a difference between the next 'quick' exit. It is advisable to continue on the road until Telenav advises with new directions.
I lost sound after receiving a Direct Connect call.
GPS is reliant on Nextel coverage since it uses the packet data from your data plan. If you are in areas without Nextel coverage, Telenav will not work properly despite using GPS satellites.
GPS does not work indoors; it requires like amost all GPS units, a direct beam to the sky.
No Bluetooth support, directions can be inaudible via speakerphone which can be hard to hear when driving with windows rolled down. The wired headset works however.
Can not mark waypoints on website.
Calling in directions does not work too well. While fully voice activated, I kept insisting on obtaining directions to highway I90 but yet, the digital assistant recognizes my address as I92 despite making variances in tones and spelling it '9' '0' with my voice.
Address book access does not find all addresses in my BB. Almost all my addresses stored in my contacts were found in Telenav, it did not find some important ones that I needed....for some reason.
Here' sthe latest results of my experience with Telenav.
After reading your post and commenting, I read around the Telenav site for a while and decided for 9.99 a month it's really not a bad deal at all. My Nextel bill is already huge with the bb addon and such that 9.99 for a service that is very useful in most places wasn't going to make that big a difference.
I haven't had a chance to travel with it yet, but look forward to giving it a try.
My reply: I didn't regret my purchase. Data users have to spend the $35 extra/month so what's an additional $10 for GPS. So sneaky. let us know of your results.
Posted by: jim | May 18, 2005 at 11:37 PM
That sucks that you have to be in a Nextel area for the GPS to work. The places 'off the map' that I'd need a GPS most often have no Nextel coverage. I just got home from a trip to North NM/South CO and was without cell coverage for 2.5 days. I have an Axim PDA for a GPS and would love to get rid of it and just use the phone but it sounds like from your post that isn't an option yet.
My reply: After seeing what Telenav has to offer in terms of having an abilty to store your info online for later retrieval (preplan routes and waypoints through their website) I would understand why you would need a data service but it's not neccessary at all. It would be nice if in addition to voice, the BB 7520 can also be used as a standalone GPS unit without having to be in Nextel coverage. I feel the decision was based purely on milking profits from each existing customer.
Posted by: jim | May 18, 2005 at 06:30 PM