Speed round: TeleNav launches on the BlackBerry Storm, your first look
It’s no secret we’re pretty big fans of TeleNav around here (heck, we’d even venture and say that the carrier-branded versions like AT&T Navigator and Sprint Navigation are top-notch), so it should come as no surprise to you that we’ve been given a first look at their new version for the Verizon BlackBerry Storm. Let’s not beat around the bush: this thing is fantastic. While our Storms used to lay lifeless with no battery charge, we’re seriously considering just using one of them as a GPS unit. It’s that good. TeleNav Navigator has been brought up to OS 4.7-level compatibility and using the touch screen on here is a joy. It’s the most fun application to use on the Storm at this point. Any current user of TeleNav (or those carrier-branded versions we talked about above) will feel right at home. The menu structure is the same, but the application is super polished and extremely well thought out. The only thing we didn’t like was that when zooming in and out of the map, the zoom buttons were touch sensitive instead of utilizing the click screen. Oh well, it’s still one of the best GPS programs on the BlackBerry and for once, the Storm adds, not subtracts. We’ll post some more screenshots and a little walkthrough in a bit!
How do you get TeleNav on the Storm? I thought it was locked to VZNavigator?
not locked!
@Evilhomer
A-GPS is locked apparently, but the actual GPS is not locked at all.
Wow that looks really clean.
So will TeleNav work without the AGPS? I have only used Telenav with AT&T and it always used the AGPS. I may go ahead and get my Storm back if that’s the case.
@Evilhomer – you can get it directly from our web site – telenav.com – we are also giving away a free 30-day trial if you want to test it out first.
How does TeleNav stack up to Verizon’s VZNavigator?
Mary Beth,
I see that there is a monthly charge of $9.99 for this service. VZNavigator is the same price. (verizon also waives the 1st month’s fee) I guess what I want to know is, why should I use your service over Verizon’s?
Thanks Mary Beth. I am supposed to get my Storm back today and it will be my first download. As far as TeleNav vs. VZN, my personal experience is that TeleNav is a much more polished product. VZN has some good features and is not a bad program but TN seems more like using a dedicated GPS device.
@ evilhomer: The only difference is that when doing a first-time fix, POI look up, or “where am I” you will need to have a sky view for it to find your location (VZNavigator and Telenav with aGPS can find you indoors). For turn-by-turn directions, however, the functionality and accuracy should be no different, as tracking mode uses the GPS satellites exclusively and not the assistance data.
@Mr Anderson – there are a few differences. For example TeleNav includes 3D maps, speech recognition and one-click traffic rerouting. VZ Nav includes traffic but I don’t believe it will reroute you with one-click – which is important when you’re going 60+ mph. These are just a few examples. Try them both out and let us know what you think – we always appreciate the feedback.
@Evilhomer – thanks for the feedback!
I should clarify that “Telenav with aGPS” in my previous post refers to Telenav for Corporate Accounts using the Verizon 8330 Curve and 8130 Pearl (not available for personal or employee-liable accounts).
@ mary beth
thank you. happy holidays.
@Mr Anderson – My pleasure. We really do want the feedback so feel free to email me at any time: marybethl@telenav.com. Happy holidays – MB
I just downloaded the Telenav for the storm and I like the cleanliness and smoothness of it a lot better than the VZNavigator, the main thing I always disliked about VZNavigator was that the local search option was really pointless because it never actually showed you the nearest things, just yesterday I had to use BBMaps to find something, so I appreciated a change period
I currently use VZ Navigator with AGPS which locates faster the regular GPS, and I can use it to search and locate places while I’m inside of buildings, unlike regular gps which only works next to a window or outside. Does telenav use AGPS or just GPS? Do you need a skyview for telenav to work on the Storm?
Ok guys, I just got off of the phone with Telenav, and I was told that Telenav doesn’t use AGPS, it only uses GPS. Right now, I use VZ Navigator which uses AGPS. So when I’m in a a building, I can still look up directions, addresses, phone numbers, etc. However, Telenav informed me that, with their service, I have to either be outside, or have a clear view of the sky for that to work. That is a huge negative point for me. The only thing that Telenav does that VZ Navigator doesn’t do is speech recognition. I could care less about that. I prefer to be able to use my Navigation indoors, as well as outdoors, so I will stay with VZ Navigator. If Telenav ever decides to use AGPS, I will consider them.
@Iphoneuser – Currently TeleNav on the Storm uses autonomous (vs. assisted or A-) GPS as AGPS is locked. @VerizonGuy is correct when he says that Verizon allows us to use the AGPS for corporate-liable accounts (non consumer). Hopefully this will change in the future.
All of that said, as a consumer, you shouldn’t notice a major difference. Garmin and Tom Tom devices, for example, use regular (autonomous) GPS. The only difference you might notice is in the “time to first fix” – when you launch your first destination – it may take up to a couple of minutes (max) to get a GPS lock. Could be much shorter though – a matter of seconds. You also probably will have a harder time getting a GPS fix indoors – which is not necessarily a big issue for a GPS navigation application. If you want to search for POIs or plan your trip while indoors, I recommend doing this online (via My TeleNav) – it’s easier anyway – then you can send these to your phone.
@iphoneuser – try TeleNav free for 30 days and be sure to use My TeleNav for preplanning (which VZ Nav doesn’t offer). It is so much easier because you can send addresses/POIs to your phone from your PC. You can even download our browser plugin (from our web site) and then you can send them from any web site. So say you find a restaurant’s web site and want to save the address – just click on it and use the browser to save the address to your TeleNav app.
I was told by Telenav, that Telenav doesn’t use AGPS on AT&T phones either. The major difference is that I won’t be able to look up addresses, phone numbers, and routes inside of buildings if I use Telenav, whereas, I can currently do that with VZ Navigator. I guess I’ve been spoiled by VZ Navigator. Thanks for the responses.
@MaryBeth,
Actually, VZ Navigator does offer pre-planning. I’ve been using it on my other VZW phones, and I use it on my Storm currently. I can even send directions from my Storm to other VZW phones. I can send the Poi’s to my phone from the pc, and to other phones. So, the only benefit that I see of Telenav is speech recognition. But, with VZ Nav, I can use it indoors.
I use telenav and I love it. Im with BM in Canada. My favourite function is how it will locate things based on your proximity.. example
I was going to a Christmas party and I had to stop and pick something up from a grocery store. I had no idea where to find one in the area I was in – launched my trust TN asked it top find me a Safeway and it got me there. Ima big fan
@iphoneuser – ok I didn’t realize that. I would also say another major difference is the 3D navigation and the one-click rerouting around traffic. Here’s the net net: you can try TeleNav for free so why not and see what you think? Maybe we’ll make a believer out of you…
@MaryBeth,
VZ Navigator does use 3D navigation, and does re-routing. Maybe not one-click re-routing, but it is simple. Not having the ability to use it indoors is a major difference, and I use it almost as much indoors as I do outside, but I will give it a shot since it’s a free trial. Thanks.
@iphoneuser VZ Nav has very basic 3D drawings that show up at turns – not true 3D moving maps that constantly update position – like a Garmin device for example.