Ok so I signed up to a two week free trial of MyRoute App and Navigation next. Weather was good today so I thought I'd give it a workout in comparison with my Zumo XT. I prepared a route using Here maps in my route app and came up with this mostly minor roads with loads of junctions.
Imported it as a track into Basecamp Did the Direct route conversion thing using 33 points (same number as required by My route app to complete the Journey) The underlying track is visible and a small amount of variation but highly acceptable. (grey bits)
Both heading in the same direction for the start (good!)
I had the bike set up as the hub so phone and headset connected to the bike and connections to the Zumo XT deleted.
First thing I noticed was that the Zumo gives more of a heads up as to what the next junction looks like from further out.
Wee bit of work required in relation to imperial units. Miles are yards and so are yards.......easy to fix and both navigating the routes as designed.
Another example of the heads up advantage of the Zumo XT also there must be some way on the app of turning off shaping points?
Lucky to live in such a senic part of the world (not smug at all
)
Purposefully missed point 30 on the route and rejoined just before point 31. Garmin headed straight for point 31 and My Route app next tried to get me back once then trundle off properly for the remainder of the route
General observations
1. Both methods of navigation operated flawlessly. A few bits to be tidied on the AA app regarding units
2. I tried spotify along with the app. Its difficult to hear verbal directions because the app does not mute the music when providing directions. The XT does do this.
3. Phone worked fine with the app in operation. Not sure if it mutes or not as I always stop to make/take calls. I think the XT does but again I stop to take make calls, so not sure.
4. Directions work fine over bluetooth AA not necessary if you unplug the phone and stick it in your pocket (very wet weather for example)
5. Seems to be very resource hungry. Took ages for photo app on phone to work when it was running.
6. App seems want to be running before connection to AA (this might be because the CPU on my old motorola G8 power was struggling)
7. Related to above phone got very hot much more so than when running Google maps or Waze. Started with 50% battery when I started the route and the phone ws plugged into the bike. Only 57% after returning home. The route was 3 hours 82 miles ish.
Conclusions
Q would I be happy to swop my Zumo XT or other dedicated GPS to use this app exclusively?
A No the Zumo is more polished does everything AA does and it means my phone has less to do and I already own it.
Q Would I stump up 19 euros PA to use the app as a backup to the Zumo for trips in case the Zumo got broken/went on the Fritz?
A Yes seems to route well and behave as expected. Predicated on having access to Here maps on the App so the Garmin routes would largely match.
Q If I didn't have Garmin GPS devices would I bother purchasing one now that this app is avaliable?
A. Probably not. This would work fine either with AA or with your phone mounted.
The only other question I have with the APP is if the company will be around in X number of years (that said the way garmin are going......) Also hopefully at some stage Google might make it possible to navigate routes created in google MyMaps using google maps if that was the case its likely to wipe out apps like this, OSMand, Calimoto and Kurviger.
Hope this is useful!
Imported it as a track into Basecamp Did the Direct route conversion thing using 33 points (same number as required by My route app to complete the Journey) The underlying track is visible and a small amount of variation but highly acceptable. (grey bits)
Both heading in the same direction for the start (good!)
I had the bike set up as the hub so phone and headset connected to the bike and connections to the Zumo XT deleted.
First thing I noticed was that the Zumo gives more of a heads up as to what the next junction looks like from further out.
Wee bit of work required in relation to imperial units. Miles are yards and so are yards.......easy to fix and both navigating the routes as designed.
Another example of the heads up advantage of the Zumo XT also there must be some way on the app of turning off shaping points?
Lucky to live in such a senic part of the world (not smug at all
)Purposefully missed point 30 on the route and rejoined just before point 31. Garmin headed straight for point 31 and My Route app next tried to get me back once then trundle off properly for the remainder of the route
General observations
1. Both methods of navigation operated flawlessly. A few bits to be tidied on the AA app regarding units
2. I tried spotify along with the app. Its difficult to hear verbal directions because the app does not mute the music when providing directions. The XT does do this.
3. Phone worked fine with the app in operation. Not sure if it mutes or not as I always stop to make/take calls. I think the XT does but again I stop to take make calls, so not sure.
4. Directions work fine over bluetooth AA not necessary if you unplug the phone and stick it in your pocket (very wet weather for example)
5. Seems to be very resource hungry. Took ages for photo app on phone to work when it was running.
6. App seems want to be running before connection to AA (this might be because the CPU on my old motorola G8 power was struggling)
7. Related to above phone got very hot much more so than when running Google maps or Waze. Started with 50% battery when I started the route and the phone ws plugged into the bike. Only 57% after returning home. The route was 3 hours 82 miles ish.
Conclusions
Q would I be happy to swop my Zumo XT or other dedicated GPS to use this app exclusively?
A No the Zumo is more polished does everything AA does and it means my phone has less to do and I already own it.
Q Would I stump up 19 euros PA to use the app as a backup to the Zumo for trips in case the Zumo got broken/went on the Fritz?
A Yes seems to route well and behave as expected. Predicated on having access to Here maps on the App so the Garmin routes would largely match.
Q If I didn't have Garmin GPS devices would I bother purchasing one now that this app is avaliable?
A. Probably not. This would work fine either with AA or with your phone mounted.
The only other question I have with the APP is if the company will be around in X number of years (that said the way garmin are going......) Also hopefully at some stage Google might make it possible to navigate routes created in google MyMaps using google maps if that was the case its likely to wipe out apps like this, OSMand, Calimoto and Kurviger.
Hope this is useful!
