[mkiker2089]

It works ok if I plan the route at home (on wifi) and DON"T MISS A TURN. I downloaded some maps in the Maps app because the Navigation app doesn't have any features. I haven't been able to test it myself but some people have said that the two apps don't communicate.

I've been advised to buy the Garmin software.

Anyone else have info to share? I don't think I'll use GPS very often but when I do need it chances are I won't be at home. Stopping at McDonalds to download a route or recalculate would be annoying.

[mkiker2089]

Well I just confirmed it. The Nav app is useless. It can't read the cached maps.


Sent from my Nexus 7 using Android Central Forums

[EJT]

That's correct. Navigation will only work with an internet connection. Either buy a stand-alone GPS navigation program, or tether the tablet to a phone so you have data. Unfortunately, those are really the only options.

[keithz]

Well I just confirmed it. The Nav app is useless. It can't read the cached maps.


Sent from my Nexus 7 using Android Central Forums

This has always been the case. The cached maps are there to give you a reference. They won't give you directions. The engine which maps out your nav directions is in the cloud, not on your phone.

[Small_law]

I got my N7 yesterday. I borrowed my girlfriend's Sprint hotspot and tried out the N7's Navigation app driving back to my place across town. While tethered, it worked as well as Navigation on my Galaxy Nexus. It looks like you need a data connection.

[Deradorn]

Try navfree from the app store you have to download the States you need ahead of time while you have a connection.

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Android Central Forums

[pete_lockwood]

Wow. That's ridiculous. So the point behind downloading a map is .. what? I guess you can use it like a fold-out paper map

[mkiker2089]

Exactly. Am I the only one that thinks that's insane. Why would Google put two apps on here when the Nav app is what people will want, but it doesn't work. Telling me to keep wifi in the car won't do it. I can buy a GPS unit for less than what wifi tethering costs.

Navfree is OK but it's database is borked. My town is listed 4 times and through random luck I found the one that actually has addresses. Going by that I learned to choose the town with a number in front of it for it to work. It does use a google search engine to find locations so if you find what you want on wifi then it should in theory work well on the road.

I tried a different one but it was deceptive. It was supposed to have a free trial but it kept saying I wasn't authorized. I think it was syrgic or something like that.

Maybe I just need to get the Garmen app. I'm told they have the best maps.

[TabGuy]

Do none of you have a smart phone? Navigation works just fine on my Galaxy Nexus phone. Why were you expecting a wifi-only product to be a good navigation device?

Using a smart phone is a lot cheaper than plunking down money for a Garmin.

If you have an Android smart phone then just download the FoxFi app and get free wifi tethering. You can then use your Nexus if you like.

[mkiker2089]

I was expecting it to work since all GPS devices work on cached maps. No I don't have a smartphone. I don't need one as I have a nexus.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Android Central Forums

[bkorver]

Do none of you have a smart phone? Navigation works just fine on my Galaxy Nexus phone. Why were you expecting a wifi-only product to be a good navigation device?

I don't think I could agree with this statement any more.

[1812dave]

Me too...

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Android Central Forums

[paa79594]

I was expecting it to work since all GPS devices work on cached maps. No I don't have a smartphone. I don't need one as I have a nexus.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Android Central Forums

I'm not sure you are understanding... you need data in order to get GPS.. N7 is WiFi.

[EJT]

I'm not sure you are understanding... you need data in order to get GPS.. N7 is WiFi.

No you don't. GPS works stand alone. The NAVIGATION requires a data connection. The GPS in maps still works fine. It'll show you where you are on the map, just like any other GPS (as long as you have the map cached). It just won't give you turn by turn directions.

[paa79594]

No you don't. GPS works stand alone. The NAVIGATION requires a data connection. The GPS in maps still works fine. It'll show you where you are on the map, just like any other GPS (as long as you have the map cached). It just won't give you turn by turn directions.

You know what I meant.. but regardless, there needs to be a data connection.

[pete_lockwood]

Do none of you have a smart phone? Navigation works just fine on my Galaxy Nexus phone. Why were you expecting a wifi-only product to be a good navigation device?

srsly?

Stand-alone GPS is effectively the equivalent of downloading a map to the Nexus (or would be if Google sorted out the software). Stand-alone GPS doesn't have a 3/4G signal but copes with giving directions just fine.

Or how about you're going abroad, taking your Nexus but your cell phone doesn't work (obv) so you download maps local to the area you'll be traveling in except, again, the maps are basically useless.

Or you travel out of cell range (it's happened to me and I was using my phone for GPS directions).

The sensible question is: with downloaded maps, why would you NOT expect it to be a good navigation device? It's purely a software decision - they could do it but they haven't (yet?).

[mkiker2089]

Stand alone GPS units don't require WiFi since they store the map. Navfree does this as well. Google just needs to fix their app to do the same.

[kgi4]

wellll .... the smartphone has a much smaller screen - for those of us who need reading glasses sometimes, the larger, NEXUS7 screen with high resolution is a much better for looking at maps

[1812dave]

I tried reading the n7 outside. I can't see it. I can easily see the screen of my bionic outside. So much for 7 inch GPS

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Android Central Forums

[dougltc]

Wow. That's ridiculous. So the point behind downloading a map is .. what? I guess you can use it like a fold-out paper map

Well when it comes to Nav, it's not a matter of the maps being the problem. It's the engine -- the software that does the nav function - isn't on the device. It's in the cloud.

Downloadable maps give you the offline mapping capability which isn't the same as navigation...

[strudel#AC]

If you tether to your phone for a data connection Google Maps Navigation works great. I tested it out yesterday tethering to my Evo and it worked flawlessly

[rsuplido]

I tired the Navigation app this morning to work. What I did was plot the directions at home on wifi, and then started driving. I was surprised that it *DID* cache the directions. Voice prompts were working and I did notice that roads around the route do render.

I decided not to take one of turns in the directions and I was surprised that it did automatically recalculate.

So, it looks like there is some type of map library built-in, or at least cached, and it looks like you have to set your destination on wifi first.

[biogon]

Yeah, I expected that downloading the maps would have let me navigate within the cached region just like a standalone GPS.

Boo on Google -- nice to be able to use it like an old-school paper map, but seriously? There is no reason why the mapping function has to be in the cloud.

First, it's not like it's a hard calculation (any first-year CS student has to learn to solve the travelling salesman problem), and any old standalone GPS can do it. It's not like voice recognition like with Voice Search and Siri.

Second, there's no benefit to Google -- it's not like we get ads while navigating!

[booboolala2000]

Wireless Hot spot with your phone. It's free and easy. Just keep the phone plugged in because on 4G and providing a hot spot you won't have any left after you reach your destination.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

[giograves]

After hearing the announcement of OFFLINE maps at Google IO, I think it was only logical for alot of people to think turn-by-turn would function since navigation is magic to most peeps even the Android geek inclined.

One of those ***-umption dur-durps I guess.