Navigators for Android. Which navigator is better to install on Android? On which smartphone can I put the navigator
it universal device, serving not only for communication, but also for performing many other useful functions. One of the new features of the device is navigation. It became available thanks to the introduction of GPS sensors into the phone. How to choose and install navigator on smartphone?
GPS navigation on a smartphone
Majority modern smartphones has built-in GPS sensors. This makes it easy to use your favorite device, for example, as car navigator to quickly find your way in unfamiliar places. It is very easy to take advantage of this opportunity.
With convenient apps install the navigator on a smartphone of any manufacturer possible in minutes. The only thing is that for different operating systems this process has its own nuances. Let's consider in more detail, how to use navigator in smartphone, and what programs are better to use for this.
Useful programs and applications: how to choose a navigator
Using a smartphone as a navigator made possible by the work of various programs and applications. They are of two types:
- Online (Yandex Navigation, Google Navigator and others);
- Offline (for example, Navitel).
The first option requires a mandatory Internet connection, so it is recommended to use them only with an unlimited tariff. A significant advantage of these programs is that they are regularly updated. In the basic version, these applications are free.
The second type of navigators can also be used when the Internet is turned off. All information is in the internal memory of the smartphone, however, it takes up quite a lot of space. These programs are paid.
Setting up the navigator on the base
Setting up a navigator for a smartphone on Android is very simple. You just need to download desired program through Play market. The action plan is very simple and includes several actions:
- First of all, you need to create an account Google entry. This is necessary to work with the Play Market;
- With login and password account you need to log in on your smartphone;
- Next, you need to launch the Play Market and select the desired application, for example Navitel. To speed up the process, you can specify its name in the search bar;
- When the application is displayed in the list of found, you need to click on its name and in the window that opens, click the "Run" button.
To use the navigator, you need to make sure that the GPS sensors are turned on. For example, for this you need to go to the "Settings" menu, select the "Location" item in it and configure the appropriate connection settings.
Android supports the following navigation apps:
- Navitel;
- 2gis;
Navigator selection based on
Now let's answer the question of how to set up a navigator on an iphone? The iOS operating system supports many navigators, including:
- Navitel;
- Navigon;
- CityGuide and others.
You can download the navigator for iphone, like other programs - through the App Store. You also need to download maps, as the pre-installed application is not always accurate.
To turn on GPS on your iPhone, you need to sequentially go to the "Settings", "Privacy" and "Geolocation" menus. In this section, you need to move the "Location Services" switch to the ON state.
Navigation based on Windows Phone
As a navigator in smartphones based on Windows Phone, for example, Lumia 640 using "Here" app. It allows you to view both a schematic map and a panoramic map with photos of houses. But you can also download another navigator through the Windows Store. The best options are:
- Yandex.Navigator;
- Navitel;
- 2 GIS;
- Windows Maps.
Knowing how to use a smartphone as a navigator, you can quickly get directions, find the nearest cafe or gas station, and determine the location of loved ones. And this is really a very useful and necessary feature for any smartphone owner.
If we talk about gadgets, without which today it is simply impossible to imagine the existence of a person, then, undoubtedly, a smartphone will be at the top of the list.
In the conditions of urban space, especially if a motorist or a pedestrian is here for the first time, it can be difficult to get the route right. It is easy to solve such a problem: a communicator with a convenient navigational guidance function will give confidence to a person who is in an unfamiliar place.
This article will talk about what parameters you need to consider when choosing a smartphone that can be used as a navigator, and which device is really suitable for taking it with you on a trip or business trip.
Today, navigation is a service distinguished by its simplicity, popularity and a real need for a large number of users.
The main advantages of GPS are its accuracy (accurate positioning) and availability (the service is absolutely free). If you want to receive a specific program, of course, you will have to pay for it, but you will need to do this once.
Almost all modern phones are equipped with a GPS system, but this does not mean that each of them is capable of becoming a good and reliable navigator. In order to fit this role, the gadget must have a whole set of certain characteristics.
On a long journey, a device with the following parameters will be extremely useful:
- GPS support;
- availability of 3G and Wi-fi;
- battery with a capacity of at least 1800 mAh;
- screen at least 4.8 inches.
In addition, when purchasing a smartphone that you will often use as a navigator, do not lose sight of the amount of energy that the screen of the device consumes. The most optimal are IPS and AMOLED matrices.
Do not forget that you need to equip your device with a navigation program, of which there are many: both paid and freely available.
Rating of smartphones with good gps navigation
A beautifully bright 5" high-contrast display clearly displays maps, without letting them distort, no matter what the selected viewing angle is.
Color transitions are quite imperceptible and accurate, color reproduction is not bad.
Android Lollipop, known for its low battery consumption, will prove to be very useful on a long journey.
Battery capacity - 2050 mAh. Quad-core processes with a frequency of 1.2 GHz, 1 GB of RAM and 8 GB of internal memory. The phone is fully charged in about two hours.
The eight-megapixel camera is also good, with autofocus and allowing you to use the phone as an alternative to a digital camera.
The kit is standard: the device is equipped with everything you need. Headphones that come with a smartphone are not bad for conversations, however, if the main purpose of the headset for you is listening to music, it is worth changing it.
The sound is not High Quality If you set the volume to maximum, a crackling sound is heard.
The smartphone is very compact, fits well in the hand and takes up little space.
The cost of the device is from one hundred and twenty dollars.
9
Nice and high-quality device of average cost, having a balanced set of both positive and not so features.
The built-in navigator works quite well, it can find satellites without spending a huge amount of time on it, and determine the location just as quickly.
The smartphone builds routes pretty soon, offering the user several options at once, supports navigation in GPS and GLONASS.
The device is equipped with a high-quality bright, clear and glare-free 5.2-inch display and a thirteen-megapixel camera that is quite good for this price segment, which can easily withstand the competition.
The battery with a capacity of 2540 mAh will allow you to continuously use the navigator for several hours. The device is equipped with an eight-core processor with a frequency of 1.3 GHz and 2 GB of RAM. The phone does an excellent job with the main tasks, but it “slows down” a little on games.
The smartphone has a main camera of 13 megapixels and a front camera of 8, both cameras have flashes. Parameters that are consistent with the cost category.
The cost of the apparatus is three hundred dollars.
8
Nice and high quality gadget made in China. In some respects, its quality even exceeds the declared cost.
Built-in smartphone GPS-navigator shows itself very, very well.
For example, being in an urban environment among numerous buildings, the device will be able to find a satellite quite simply and quickly, and it will be able to determine your location almost instantly.
Building the necessary route using the Xiaomi Mi 5 phone will not take much time and will not create difficulties.
In terms of phone battery life, 3,000 mAh is pretty good, and enough for about five hours of navigation. This indicator, of course, is not at the highest positions, but quite confidently keeps somewhere in the middle.
The gadget has a 5.15-inch screen, so even using the navigation in the car, you can easily see the intended route.
RAM - 3GB.
The package bundle of the device is modest: smartphone, charger, USB cable and instruction manual.
In terms of other indicators, the device is defined as a quite powerful device: 4 B of RAM, a 16-megapixel main camera, which pleasantly surprises the user, equipped with a dual flash and autofocus, as well as an affordable price - about five hundred dollars.
7
A smartphone that cannot be left without attention: the navigation functionality here may not be quite common, but the navigator functions quite quickly and efficiently.
For example, your gadget will determine your location in fifteen seconds, which is very, very good.
The user is offered a choice of several route options with time indicators that will be spent on the road.
The maps themselves are perfectly viewed in 3D, the building numbers are not blurry, and so on. The navigation process is carried out using built-in Google Maps using GPS, A-GPS, Bei Dou and GLONASS satellites.
If you use the device only as a navigator, the 5.8-inch screen is a great aspect, but in other cases it may seem too bulky.
Other functions of the device do not give you the opportunity to doubt it: 6 GB of RAM, which is able to provide high-quality operation of the navigator, a 4000 mAh battery - the indicators are good.
In addition, the smartphone is equipped with a 12 megapixel camera and a huge number of features that will not let the user get bored.
A distinctive feature of the device is the presence of an iris scanner, which until then was only on Lumia950.
6
Smartphones in the Sony Xperia X series have good navigators, comparable in functionality even to standard standalone GPS devices.
The most powerful device in this series, the Xperia XA is perfectly matched in all available properties.
With this gadget, the user will be able to easily navigate both on foot and while driving: the satellite will be found very quickly, and the proposed routes will be comfortable and optimal.
The route can be drawn up by moving around by public transport, which is very convenient. Paving the way, the smartphone can also use GLONASS satellites.
Other properties of the device can turn it into a good car navigator: a five-inch display, not great but not bad, a powerful eight-core processor, 2 GB of RAM, that is, it is unlikely that the device will “slow down” during the navigation process.
Battery resources - 2300 mAh, the manufacturer claims that the smartphone can last without recharging for two days.
The cost of the device is about four hundred dollars.
5
A good device, located in the middle, affordable cost category. The performance of the smartphone is not as powerful as that of other competitive models, but the navigator in operation shows itself just fine.
The phone determines the location very decently and quickly lays the necessary routes.
It should be said that for its use as a car navigator, it fits perfectly thanks to a 5.5-inch screen and a fairly powerful 4000 mAh battery.
Among other things, the device is also equipped with 4-core processor, 13 megapixel camera with dual flash and fast autofocus and four GB of RAM.
The material of the smartphone is practical, fingerprints do not remain on the back panel, and minor damage will not be noticeable. In the hand lies well and does not slip.
The screen brightness is adjusted manually, the phone is equipped with a screen lock function when you bring the device to your ear during a call. The contrast is average. On-screen settings allow you to use the Custom Mode feature.
The sound is quite modest, things are a little better in headphones, the maximum volume level seems insufficient.
The cost of the Lenovo P90 smartphone is just over two hundred dollars.
4
The characteristics of this phone are average, but quite decent, but the work of the navigator and excellent autonomy during operation are really surprising.
The manufacturer says that the apparatus for the implementation of the navigation process consumes almost forty percent less energy than previous models.
According to the test results, without charging the gadget in navigation mode can last about eight hours, which is an achievement with a relatively small battery capacity of 2300 mAh.
If we talk directly about the work of the navigator, everything is worthy here: it searches quickly and, more importantly, quickly finds it. Route selection also takes little time; during navigation, the smartphone can use GLONASS satellites and even Chinese Beidou.
The navigator is assisted by a quad-core processor, RAM is 2 GB. The screen is not gigantic, but comfortable to use both for navigation and in normal mode - 4.9 inches. In addition, the smartphone is equipped with a thirteen megapixel camera and a lot of entertainment options.
The cost of the gadget is just over two hundred dollars.
3
Today, smartphones made in China are devices of no less quality than their counterparts made in Western countries.
The price of such gadgets is quite affordable, and the characteristics are powerful. If you need a quality device with a good navigation system, this model is a good option.
In addition to GPS, it also has A-GPS, this navigator finds satellites quickly, as well as plots routes.
Studying the rest of the characteristics of the phone, we can conclude that its work (which includes the functioning of the navigator) should be very fast: 8-core processor, sixteen GB of permanent memory and a battery capacity of 3090 mAh. The phone fully charges in about three hours and allows you to use it in surfing mode for about six hours.
The results of the work will be perfectly visible on the large 5.2-inch screen with Full-HD resolution. Screen brightness is good.
The device is also equipped with a wonderful thirteen megapixel main camera, which has become its main feature. The rear camera, along with the flash, pops up very easily, allowing the user to take beautiful high-quality selfies.
Minus - not very strong mechanism for mounting the camera.
The cost of Huawei ShotX is about $350.
2
For those users for whom the price of a smartphone does not matter at all, we can recommend the latest Apple Iphone that has come out to date.
It will absolutely have no problem finding and communicating with satellites, which a good 2-core processor can take care of.
You can see the results of your work on a four-inch display, which is reliably protected from damage by a special coating.
The device carries out the navigation process using GLONASS and GPS satellites, and the operation of the navigator does not give rise to doubts.
The screen is 4.7 inches, has an extended color gamut, which allows the image to be made three-dimensional. The auto brightness control works great.
The downside is short-lived battery life, you can afford to use the Apple Iphone 7 without recharging for only three or maximum four hours.
The main camera is 12 megapixels, the front one is 7.
1
Not the most expensive, but a high-quality gadget that has not only an excellent navigator, but also a good processor, camera and large screen.
The navigation system here is really good: while functioning, the device rarely “slows down”, the location is determined extremely accurately, and routes are laid quickly.
Yes, the Nokia Lumia 650 will not yield to its competitors.
In order for the user to be able to comfortably navigate the maps, there is a wonderful five-inch screen protected from damage. The work will be fast thanks to the 4-core processor and built-in memory of 16 GB, there is also a place on the cloud.
The battery capacity is 2000 mAh, which is average when compared to standard Android smartphones, but this device, which operates under Windows control Phone will be able to work offline for a long time. Not bad and the camera is eight megapixels.
The cost of this smartphone, which is quite solid in terms of characteristics, is about three hundred dollars.
Here is the final part of the "series" about the popular car navigation applications for Android. In it, we tried to sum up all the information from the five previously published reviews of individual applications and give a final assessment. In order not to burden the reader, we will try to make it as concise and illustrative as possible using tables, providing them with relatively small comments.
What is the reason for choosing these particular applications? The main criteria were popularity and the presence of a large number of positive reviews, as well as ease of use. The updated Shturmann did not fit into the first two criteria a little. According to all three criteria, the application "Seven Roads" did not pass. Google Maps as a navigator is still in beta. Megaphone-navigation, in fact, the same Progorod, but only in the online version. The iGO app for Android has not officially appeared yet. Therefore, there are only five participants.
Prices and popularity
Putting ourselves in the place of the buyer, let's start by looking at the price tags and studying the information about how popular this or that product has gained among users.
| Navitel | Progorod | Sygic | CityGuide | Yandex | |
| number of downloads per Google Play, mln. | 5-10 | 0,1-0,5 | 10-50 | 1-5 | 5-10 |
| rating on Google Play | 4,1 | 4,2 | 4,2 | 4,1 | 4,2 |
| price of Russian cards | 1350 r. | 1290 (950*) p. | €40 | 1800 r. | is free |
| minimum price | $1** | - | €20 | 990 r. | is free |
| update fee, rub | is free | is free | is free | is free | is free |
| traffic jam service fee, rub | is free | is free | does not work in Russia*** | is free | is free |
| allowed number of resets | 1 | 3 | n.a. | 3 | not limited |
| free third party maps | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| test period, days | 30 | 30 | 7 | 15 | - |
* if you purchase a key on the developer's website. The price is for the application itself with unlimited access to maps.
** rent of foreign cards.
*** for Europe, the service is paid - from 12 euros per year.
So, the most expensive product is Sygic. It is aimed at the European consumer, so the price tag is quite appropriate. In addition, traffic jams and advanced camera information will have to be paid separately, but this only applies to Europe. In Russia, network services do not work.
The prices of Navitel and Progorod look the most adequate. However, Navitel has a very strict reinstallation policy. Transferring the application to another smartphone, most likely, will not work at all.
Against the backdrop of all these restrictions, Yandex looks like a king. However, the application has a number of significant limitations, thus leaving a good chance for the rest.
Feature set comparison
The developers of most of the applications presented are trying to attract users with various additional features, such as weather, photos on the map, articles from encyclopedias, social media tags, displaying the location of friends, and even augmented reality.
We have summarized the entire core feature set of all five applications into one table:
| Navitel | Progorod | Sygic | CityGuide | Yandex | |
| Interface | |||||
| Manual map scaling during navigation | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Battery/Satellite/GSM indicators | Yes Yes Yes | yes / yes / no | in the menu / in the menu / no | Yes Yes Yes | OS status bar |
| Change map orientation | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Manual map rotation | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes |
| Mileage Information | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Satellite view screen | Yes | Yes | No | No | No |
| 3D mode | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Map tilt | only in 3D | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Quick Access Toolbar | DPOI only | Yes | Yes | Yes | DPOI only |
| "Trip computer" | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| Night mode | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| augmented reality | No | Yes | No | No | No |
| Search | |||||
| Universal | No | No | Yes | No | Yes |
| Address | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| By coordinates | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| POI around / at the point / at the finish line | Yes Yes Yes | Yes Yes Yes | Yes Yes Yes | Yes Yes Yes | Yes Yes Yes |
| Voice input | No | No | No | No | Yes |
| Working with routes | |||||
| Save / Load | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Route simulation | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Full display | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Working with tracks | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| Operating modes: passenger car / truck / pedestrian | Yes Yes Yes | yes / no / no | yes / no / yes | yes / no / yes | yes / no / no |
| Cards | |||||
| Map update | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Provider | n.a. | own | Navteq | many, different | Navteq, Scanex, etc. |
| Installation of third-party and free maps | Yes | yes, based on OSM | No | yes, based on OSM | No |
| Online services | |||||
| Traffic display | Yes | Yes | No * | Yes | Yes |
| Dynamic POIs | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Friends on the map | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| Thematic news feeds | No | No | No | Yes | No |
| Photo on the map | No | No | yes (panoramio) | No | No |
| Weather | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| Deny access to the network | Yes | by turning off the traffic jam service | No | Yes | No |
* only for European countries for a fee
This table is for self-study. Here everyone must answer the question whether this or that program has a minimum sufficient set of functions. For example, someone definitely needs to work with tracks, and someone needs to install free OSM maps. Some applications also have extraordinary abilities. For example, displaying on the map photos of places taken by Panoramio users (from Sygic), or augmented reality mode (Progorod), as well as speech recognition and voice commands (Yandex.Navigator).
There are applications and major "punctures". So, Sygic does not have a function for displaying traffic (traffic jams), and Yandex.Navigator will not fully work in the absence of an Internet connection.
Interface
Since each of us has our own ideas about beauty, we will not talk much about which interface of which of the programs is more beautiful. Our eye turned out to be nicer to the “picture” of Navitel Navigator, Progorod and Yandex. But this does not mean that the other two programs have some problems with " appearance". They are all good. They just stand out a bit from the general background.
But if we move away from looking at the "pictures", then completely different properties of interfaces come to the fore - practicality and informativeness. The first of these is when you always feel at ease. A cursory glance at the screen is enough for you to get the maximum information you need. Not a very good example of practicality is the interface of the same Navitel - a pile of thin lines and small details makes it difficult to read information while driving. Also, practicality includes the convenience of working with the menu and search.
By information content we mean displaying various related information on the screen, such as the speed limit on a given section, information about cameras, etc. The presence of all kinds of tips and additional information in the POI database.
So, below we will give screenshots of the interfaces of all programs with a short list of the main advantages and disadvantages. This time we will use a smartphone with a small screen resolution of 480x800, which is regulated by almost all software developers in today's test.
Let's start with the vertical map view, which is most natural for smartphones and more practical for navigation. Place a 3D version next to the regular map view.
Navitel Navigator 8.5
Progorod 2.0
Sygic 13.4
CityGuide 7.8
Yandex.Navigator 1.5
This is the junction of the Varshavskoye highway and the Moscow Ring Road. Alas, the picture is static, and its perception during movement, when the scale of the map is constantly changing depending on the speed and upcoming events (turns), is radically different from what you get just by contemplating these two sets of screenshots. In addition, in 3D mode, a lot depends on the tilt angle, which is adjustable in all programs. The developers made it so that from one angle the map is beautiful and practical, but from another it is already inconvenient to use, because the detail, perspective, etc. change. A similar observation can be made about scales. Therefore, we will give a verbal comment, but first we will post one more portion of screenshots taken in navigation mode:
Navitel Navigator 8.5
Progorod 2.0
Sygic 13.4
CityGuide 7.8
Yandex.Navigator 1.5
Navitel Navigator
The picture deserves all the praise, but it is extremely impractical. The heap of small lines and contours makes it difficult to perceive the route line on the screen, which is slightly thicker than the road itself, but with loaded traffic jams, does not differ in color from it in any way. Camera icons, signs and other details are barely visible on the screen.
Progorod
The “picture” is a bit like Navitel, but there are fewer small details, and the route line is much easier to read than in the previous case. There are two complaints: the status bar takes up a lot of space on the screen and chaos reigns on it, as well as small graphics and all control buttons.
Sygic
In the screenshots, the interface is plain, but in terms of ease of reading information while driving, it deserves the highest rating. A significant minus one is that house numbers are not displayed in navigation mode. They only appear if you try to scroll the map in one of the directions, which will put it in view mode.
CityGuide
The map interface is quite good in practical terms. It may not be as pretty, but it's comfortable enough.
Yandex.Navigator
Trying to find fault with the Yandex.Navigator interface did not work well. He is very practical. The only point is that users of platforms with high pixel density screens complain about small buttons and other menu items. For some reason, these interface elements do not fully comply with the Google recommendations for developers, and programmers operated with absolute units of element sizes instead of relative DP and SP.
Well, for those who for some reason prefer the horizontal position of the map, we will post another set of screenshots.
Navitel Navigator 8.5
Progorod 2.0
Sygic 13.4
CityGuide 7.8
Yandex.Navigator 1.5
Cards
Alas, most developers do not provide detailed information about their cards, because they may not look so brilliant against the background of competitors.
We tried to collect as much information as possible and bring it into one table. Pay attention to the line "Map online" - this is your chance to independently evaluate the quality of coverage. True, it also does not accurately reflect the situation. Navitel and Progorod have not posted the latest release online, while Yandex maps in the application and online are strikingly different in places, which, at times, is puzzling.
| Navitel | Progorod | Sygic | Cityguide | Yandex | |
| Russia: settlements | 149 047 | n.a. | n.a. | n.a. | ≈170 thousand |
| Russia: cities with detail | 8762 | n.a. | n.a. | n.a. | n.a. |
| Road graph, km | 3 809 652 | n.a. | n.a. | n.a. | n.a. |
| POIs | 992 163 | n.a. | n.a.* | n.a. | n.a. |
| Card size, MB | 1250 | 1131 | 623 | 1900 | 1910** (Moscow only) |
| last update date | 25.10.2013 | 22.10.2013 | 12.2013 | 22.01.2014 | n.a. |
| Frequency of updates per year, times | 3-4 | 2 | 1-3 | 2-10*** | n.a. |
| Map online | - | - | |||
| Maps of foreign countries, pcs. | 52 | 28 (OSM) | ≈130 | 10 | 1**** |
| Information about maps on the developer's site | - | - |
* data from Foursquare is also used as POIs
** the volume of the full map of Moscow is indicated
*** The map of Russia is updated almost every month, but the changes in it each time concern a couple or three of some individual regions. If we take, for example, a map of Moscow, then it is updated twice a year.
**** Ukraine, Belarus and Turkey are mentioned. There is no longer a word about Turkey in the branded video, and only Ukraine appears on Google Play. However, in the list of maps for download, you can find, for example, a map of Almaty.
According to the results of the 2010 census, the number of settlements in Russia was slightly more than 153 thousand, and about 20 thousand of them do not have a permanent population. Where did Yandex get 170,000 from then? First, nesting. A particular locality always belongs to other territorial units. Secondly, the census does not take into account all types of settlements. Railway stations, winter quarters, etc. may fall out of it.
So, our leaders, apparently, are Navitel and Yandex. The volume of maps is an indirect indicator. In Yandex.Navigator, it has such unimaginable values because these maps contain a huge number of raster images.
As for the details, this issue is complex, and it takes a lot of time to study it. For our own understanding, we took several settlements and looked at how things are with this issue.
| Navitel | Progorod | Sygic | Cityguide | Yandex | |
| Olenegorsk, Murmansk region | detailed, with houses (3D) | three main streets | only the main street, with errors | detailed, with houses | three main streets |
| Bogoroditsk, Tula region | detailed, with houses | detailed, with houses (3D) | only main street | detailed, with houses | three main streets |
| Angarsk, Irkutsk region | main road network | detailed road network | only main street | detailed, with houses | detailed, with houses |
| Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky | detailed, with houses | detailed road network | only main street | point on the track | detailed, with houses |
| Astrakhan | detailed, with houses | detailed, with houses (3D) | detailed, with houses | detailed, with houses | detailed, with houses |
| Sochi | detailed, with houses | detailed, with houses (3D) | detailed road network | detailed, with houses | detailed, with houses |
| Chekhov, MO | detailed, with houses | detailed, with houses (3D) | detailed, with houses | detailed, with houses | detailed, with houses |
| Tver | detailed, with houses | detailed, with houses (3D) | detailed, with houses | detailed, with houses | detailed, with houses |
| Rybinsk | detailed, with houses | detailed, with houses (3D) | detailed, with houses | detailed, with houses | detailed, with houses |
| Pechory, Pskov region | detailed, with houses | main road network | three main streets, with errors | detailed, with outlines of houses, without addresses | three main streets |
| village Lanshino, MO | part of the road network | a point on the map | detailed road network | detailed road network | main road network |
The leaders were Navitel, Progorod and Citygid. Moreover, the maps of Progorod in almost all settlements from the table have buildings not only with the corresponding contours, but also with height. Although CityGuide is good (OSM maps are used), you will have to look for maps of the regions you need in a large list and download them separately, which is not very convenient. For some reason, it is impossible to download the entire map of Russia at once. In addition, the Kamchatka Territory was absent from the list.
I was a little surprised by Yandex.Navigator, and this is taking into account the fact that the online browser map is beyond praise. At the same time, it is very funny that in the same Bogoroditsk you can specify the exact address, it will be marked with a marker on the map and the route to it will be built. But "last mile" will be displayed incorrectly.
Well, Sygic dislikes small towns most of all. He knows them only by hearsay.
The relevance of maps is also important. Here we focused on the map of Moscow, noting the presence of new well-known roads, overpasses and interchanges opened during the summer-autumn of 2013. Progorod, Citigid and Yandex had no problems with this. At Navitel, all the interchanges and overpasses we were looking for were present, but for some reason there was no turn under the overpass at the intersection of the Yaroslavl highway and Malyginsky proezd. But Sygic has a map that is at least a year old. We did not find a single desired road object on it.
Our selection of cards: Navitel, Progorod and Cityguide.
Routes and navigation
All applications build quite adequate routes. And this is the most important thing. Small minor "glitches" happen with Navitel. We described one of them in his detailed one, but there is no reason to panic here. But it is definitely worth reducing the sensitivity to traffic jams in its settings for residents of megacities.
To save time for the reader, we will collect information on routes and navigation in one table.
| Navitel | Progorod | Sygic | Cityguide | Yandex | |
| adequacy of the constructed routes | OK | OK | OK | OK | OK |
| number of alternatives | No | 2 | 1 | No | 1-2 |
| exclusion of toll roads / other settings | Yes Yes | Yes Yes | Yes Yes | Yes Yes | no no |
| logic of behavior when leaving the route | customizable | return to the old route | rebuilding in "detour" mode | rebuilding in "detour" mode | |
| traffic jams on the route | Yes | Yes | No | yes, but at a short distance | Yes |
| speed warnings | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| camera alerts | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | yes, late |
| DPOI | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| work without internet connection | Yes | Yes | only offline | Yes | features are very limited |
It will be most convenient to travel with Progorod, Cityguide and Navitel. Sygic, despite its very practical interface, works only offline: no traffic jams or DPOI. In addition, its logic of behavior when the driver leaves the route is far from civilized. But there are no less problems with Yandex: it will not warn you about speeding, it will tell you about the camera only when you pass it, and without connecting to the Web, search and route planning will not work in the application! But before starting navigation, he will offer the user alternative route options that can be viewed on the map and choose the most suitable one. Progorod can also do this, although it uses a slightly different logic. We really liked both of these features.
Our choice: Progorod and CityGuide. With some interference - Navitel and Yandex.
Tests
We ran a series of tests to show how fast these apps will run on various mobile platforms. In a separate table, we summarized the results obtained on two systems, the main characteristics of which are as follows:
Both platforms are budget, but the tablet has a 4-core SoC, and the smartphone has a single-core, but with a more modern architecture. Will there be any significant difference between them? In the table, smartphone and tablet data are separated by two vertical bars.
| Navitel | Progorod | Sygic | Cityguide | Yandex | |
| Loading time, s | 11 || 8 | 5-6 on both platforms | 6 || 3 | 12 || 9 | ≈2 in all cases |
| Satellite search time | according to GPS technologies (1-2 min.) | ≈20-30 sec** on both platforms | |||
| Route laying time, s* | 2,5-5 || 1,5-5 | 1-4 on both platforms | 12-20 || 6-15 | ≈2 in all cases | -*** |
| Utilization of computing cores in motion, % | 60 || n.a. | 70 || n.a. | 40 || 15 | 65 || 19 | 20 || n.a. |
| Smooth scrolling and zooming with traffic jams disabled | with strong jerks | with jerks | relatively smoothly | relatively smoothly | smoothly |
| Volume of network traffic on the route, MB/h | 2,5 | n.a. | - | n.a. | n.a. - four**** |
| Volume of network traffic in the metropolis, MB/h | 4,5 | 1 | - | 1 | 3,5-6,5**** |
* a dash indicates the time of laying two routes: from the south of Moscow to the city of Olenegorsk in the Murmansk region; the second route - to Vladivostok.
** within two seconds after downloading, you can see your approximate position on the map, determined by the signals of base stations and their coordinates. And after another 20-30 seconds, the device "clings" to the satellites.
*** routes are calculated on remote server, and the construction time depends on the quality of communication at a particular time. In the coverage area of GPRS or EDGE, it may take a minute or more, but with a good connection - 2-3 seconds.
**** The first digit indicates the amount of traffic in the case of a pre-loaded full map of the region. The second digit is for an empty map cache.
So, the main problem of application speed is the inability to use all available SoC computing cores. And although multithreading is declared by almost all developers, in practice, on a 4-core system, this results in the fact that one core is loaded at 100%, the second at 30 percent, and the other two are idle. The only exception is Yandex. The application not only has low requirements for system resources, but when actively working on four cores, it can show a total load of 60-70%, which suggests that someone still manages to create multi-threaded applications (benchmark developers are not in check).
If we talk about the smoothness and comfort of working with the map, then Yandex, Cityguide and Sygic behave quite decently, which cannot be said about Navitel and Progorod. Scrolling the map and scaling them pass with noticeable jerks, slowdowns and jerks. Moreover, if your smartphone has a resolution of 1280 pixels or more, the situation will be aggravated regardless of the type of SoC installed in the system.
Our choice: Yandex, CityGuide and probably Sygic. The latter builds routes for a very long time, but otherwise it is very smart.
Application features
Since the competition is great, the developers are trying to add a few zest to their creation, and it would be a sin not to mention them.
Navitel Navigator
Progorod
Here we note only the augmented reality mode, which will work quite tolerably on those devices where there is an orientation sensor.
Perhaps it will come in handy when traveling by car.
Sygic
Sygic tries to attract users with all sorts of useful and interesting little things: universal search, photos on the map from Panoramio, POIs from Foursquare, articles from Wikipedia (if they have binding to coordinates), a sidebar and a trip computer. All details in the corresponding .
CityGuide
Nothing unusual.
Yandex.Navigator
The main trump card is a universal search with a speech recognition system and voice commands, which works quite well.
Results
So, CityGuide and Progorod got the most mentions marked “our choice”. Navitel, Yandex.Navigator and Sygic are lagging behind. But if we evaluate applications by their main functions (the quality of maps and the navigation process), then we see the following three leaders: Progorod, CityGuide and Navitel. The cheapest of them is Progorod. The most expensive is CityGuide. And Navitel will receive the title of the most unfriendly due to the impossibility of transferring the application to other smartphones.
If you live in one of the Russian cities, your region has reliable and high-quality cellular communications, you are not afraid of speed cameras and prefer not to spend extra money, then you can use Yandex.Navigator. It's free. And besides, it works smartly and has a practical interface.
Sygic can be useful when traveling abroad. However, it will cost quite a bit. In this regard, Navitel is many times more attractive, but it will not contain information about traffic. As well as Sygic in Russia.
P.S. Better to see once than hear a hundred times. Therefore, we encourage you to independently try out the apps you like and draw your own conclusions. However, it is important not to forget that all navigation programs without exception, after deleting them through the application manager, they leave almost all their files in the internal memory of the phone forever, “freezing” hundreds of useful megabytes. Do not forget to delete them manually later, guided by the names of the folders on the drive. Oh Android, Android...
Sooner or later, each of us has to travel to unfamiliar places, be it another city or some place outside of it. To navigate in space, there are many tools, such as a compass or a map. As for the city, usually people are guided by street names and house numbers. In extreme cases, you can always ask passers-by for directions.
However, these are too outdated methods of orientation, which are extremely inconvenient to use. Moreover, there are many modern technologies that can facilitate this task.
First of all, mention should be made of the so-called GPS navigator s. This technology most reliably helps to navigate in space, and it is oriented, first of all, for car drivers.
With regard to pedestrians or cyclists, the most convenient tool can be considered mobile devices with built-in GPS navigator.
The most common gadget at the moment can be considered a smartphone on operating system Android. Most of the devices on this system have complex specifications, including many modules and sensors. Among others, almost every device has a built-in GPS module. In fact, any smartphone can be turned into a GPS Navigator, albeit not as high quality as a full-fledged device.
When purchasing a new device, usually the operating system already has a built-in application for navigation, however, most often it is Google Maps, which, although easy to use, require the user to have a permanent connection to the Internet.
The Android operating system is good because you can install any software on it, at the discretion of the user.
First, you need to turn on the GPS module and, if possible, . Internet access will help you quickly connect to satellites and determine the approximate location.
Navigation is enabled in the system settings, namely, in the section " Location" or " Geolocation", may still occur" Geodata". To enable GPS navigation, you need to put the switch in the active position, after which you can see which applications have access to navigation services.
Another way to quickly turn on the navigation module is to open the curtain vertically from the top of the screen and click on the corresponding icon.
In the first section " Mode”, you can select the positioning accuracy and speed. Choosing the first item By GPS, Wi-Fi and mobile networks ”, a person receives the fastest and most accurate connection to satellites, but at the same time, energy consumption and should be taken into account.
The slowest navigation is the determination of the user's location, only by GPS satellites.
Choosing and installing a third-party navigation app
As mentioned above, on any smartphone, be it iOS or Android, you can install a third-party application. For navigation in space, there are dozens of high-quality programs. Some applications are oriented for navigating the city and city roads, others for moving along intercity connections. There are also those who help specialists in complex, geodetic work.
As navigation satellites, American, Russian and Chinese satellites can be used, however, most smartphones use American GPS technology. If the smartphone supports other navigation systems, it will not be difficult for any program to connect to certain satellites.
One way or another, all navigation applications can be divided into two categories: those that work on a pre-compiled map and those that are positioned on satellite images. The most popular applications that work with satellite images are Google Maps and Yandex Maps. Both applications meet all the requirements, and yet, Yandex Maps is a more convenient application that allows you to save the entire previously displayed route in memory.
As the main program for moving on the roads, it is worth stopping your attention on the paid Navitel application.
Like any other application, Navitel is downloaded from the Play Store. After installing and running the program, a special directory " NavitelContent". Inside this folder, there is another directory called "Maps". It is in this folder that new maps should be loaded.
After launch, the application automatically starts searching for satellites. When the smartphone connects with at least one satellite, the application will display the approximate location of the person on the map. The more satellites are involved, the more accurately the user's location will be determined. It should be recalled that the Navitel application is paid, but it's worth it.
Unlike the previous application, Yandex Maps is absolutely free. To get started, you just need to run the program and wait until the program loads the selected area.
Yandex Maps can work both in satellite mode and as a map. For offline operation, you can download a map of your hometown. Unlike many other navigators, maps this application are absolutely free.
In the satellite imagery mode, a person can move not only on roads, but also on other terrain, such as a field, lake or forest.
On the right side, there are keys for scaling the map. You should be extremely careful, because the same area, but with a different scale, will reload the location. Thus, the phone's memory will fill up pretty quickly.
Of course, it is best to use a phone with a permanent internet connection. At the same time, the created cache must be cleared regularly.
If a person wants to use a smartphone without access to the Internet, the cache of satellite images can be downloaded in advance, while setting the same scale.
Summing up, it should be noted that, if desired, Yandex Maps can be replaced Google Maps, and Navitel, any other free alternative, such as 2Gis.
Thus, any smartphone can be turned into a powerful navigation device.
In our age in the city it is hard to do without a map. This is especially true for motorists who travel long distances, travel by car between cities and often travel to unfamiliar areas. Assistant in finding the path - navigator. This is an application that is installed on the phone and builds a route along which the traveler leads. In this article we will talk about which navigator to install on android.
The advantage of using the navigator in the phone
Previously, navigators were only separate devices that needed to be purchased and selected separately. This entailed unnecessary expenses, the need to understand the technical side of the gadget. The danger of making a mistake and choosing a bad device, the danger of breakage.
They are preferred because they:
- Free. And if you want to buy a paid application - the amount is not large.
- If you don't like the program, uninstall and install a new one.
- Does not require a separate device.
- Performs all the functions of road navigators.
- Can work without internet.
Benefits in person.
Android navigators for car
But which navigator is better to install on android? There are dozens of items in the app store. There are paid and free ones, working with or without the Internet, with voice assistants, maps for individual countries and cities. With a different interface, those where you can watch traffic jams and traffic police posts. We chose the TOP similar applications in the Play Market and compared them:
| Navigator without Internet on Android | |||
| Navigator | Offline mode | Is free | Voice control |
| Google Maps | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Yandex Navigation | There are maps, no routes | Yes | Yes |
| Navitel | Yes | Not | Not |
| Yes | Yes | Not | |
| MapFactor | Offline only | Yes | Not |
| Waze | In Russia | Yes | Yes |
| Yes | Yes | Not | |
| 7 roads | Yes | Yes | Not |
| OsmAnd | Yes | Not | Not |
| Sygic GPS Navigation & Maps | Yes | Yes | Not |
And now more about each of the applications.
Google Maps
Google MapsInternet Corporation specializes not only in Internet search. In Google Maps, you can get directions for different modes of transport. Google Maps is on all modern phones that run on android. If you don’t really like to choose and download applications, the question of how to install a navigator on an android will not arise.
There is an online and offline mode. When connected to the Internet, you can build any route, even by public transport. And offline, only a car route, if the map has been downloaded to the phone’s memory in advance. It swings in the application.
Google Maps has maps for almost the entire world. Wherever you go, the path is always with you. There is a voice assistant and the ability to view the area in 3D format.
Yandex Navigator
Yandex Navigator Yandex Navigator is one of the leaders in the Russian segment of the Internet. For Russia, it is this application that paves the most accurate route. It takes into account traffic jams, accidents, repairs and even toll roads. Yandex Navigator is easy to install on Android - you just need to download it for free in a couple of minutes.
Sometimes you can't download the app due to the common df-dla-15 error in the Play Market. We how to deal with it.
Builds routes taking into account all the information about the road. Convenient thanks to voice control. You need to turn: "Listen, Yandex!". He will lay the route, listening to the instructions by voice. This minimizes emergency situations on the road - you do not need to be distracted to set up Yandex Navigation. The question of how to update Yandex navigator on Android has a simple answer: connect your phone to the Internet, go to the Play Market, select the "Updates" tab and click "Update" under the application icon. The whole process - no longer than five minutes - and up-to-date information is already in your smartphone.
Of the disadvantages - you can not pave the way without connecting to the network. If you are well versed on the map, you can get there by looking at the image of the area.
Navitel
Nativevel Navitel is often used by taxi drivers and delivery drivers, since without the Internet it works perfectly anywhere. But he is paid. After installation, there is a week of trial period for free. You can use maps of 64 countries. After 7 days you will have to buy maps of countries and cities. For taxi drivers traveling in one city - not expensive, but the trucker will go broke on the application - buying a map of the whole country is expensive!
The SpeedCam function notifies about speed bumps, traffic cameras, radars, traffic police posts.
Navigator 2GIS A very popular navigator that works without the Internet for Android. There is also an online mode. 2GIS has an extensive database of enterprises. In shopping centers, shops and cafes are marked on a detailed map of each floor. The base is up-to-date, as moderators often call the company or institution and clarify the information.
Of the minuses - many small settlements are not on the maps, so it is not suitable for residents of villages or towns.
MapFactor
MapFactor This is a free navigator for an android smartphone without internet, it uses OpenStreetMap to work. Updates happen once a month. But there will be no information about traffic jams and accidents. Information about cameras installed along the way is also updated only once every 30 days.
Controls if the driver is speeding. Will build routes for the car and for the pedestrian.
Waze
Waze In Russia, it can work without the Internet as a simple navigator, but the data will not be updated and you will not know about traffic jams, traffic police ambushes or accidents. If you stand still for a long time, the application will close itself so as not to drain the battery on your phone. Automatically changes the route if there is information that there is an accident, traffic jam or other unpleasant cataclysms along the way. But the function only works with the Internet.
Of the minuses - it quickly uses charging, and also in the navigator there is no numbering for some houses.
7 roads
7 roads A navigator program for android that works without the Internet and uses OpenStreetMap. Available for free. The interface is similar to Windows 8 or 10.
If music is playing on the phone, the program will turn it down to give a voice prompt when needed. Then everything will come back. The disadvantage is that you can not follow accidents or traffic jams.
If you often move between cities, this GPS navigator for android without the Internet will not suit you. In the application, city maps are installed separately, despite the fact that there is a general map of Russia. Therefore, if the route is built from one city to another, there will be small errors along the way. And when traveling, even a small mistake can be significant.
The maps are updated almost daily in order for the application to work efficiently in offline mode. Each person can add information about the objects that appeared in the city. After editing, specialists check their accuracy and update maps.
In offline mode, it works perfectly, the detail of the terrain is at a high level. But maps take up a lot of memory on the phone, and the weight of the application is constantly increasing due to updates.
Another disadvantage is that since the application works without the Internet, there will be no information about traffic jams, accidents and what is happening on the road.
The developers are TomTom. This is an indicator of the accuracy of the image of the relief and roads. Almost all maps that are available also have a 3D view.
The application is paid, but the main functions and free version. The voice assistant differs from the assistant in analogues: it not only notifies you before turning, but also tells you if you are passing a landmark or along a historic street.
The maps have information about cameras, traffic jams and road posts. Additionally, there are marks about parking spaces and parking prices, there is information about gas stations, hotels, shopping centers, cafes along the road, and so on.
Through the application, you can keep in touch with friends, but the function is only available when connected to the Internet. You can connect via BlueTooth with the radio in the car if the sound on the phone is bad.
OsmAnd
Navigator Osmand Also a great choice if you need a GPS navigator for android. The application is paid. Works without the Internet, offline shows all the necessary maps and routes. It can work with OpenStreetMap, Yandex and Google maps, as well as others that are installed on your smartphone by default or by choice.
Attractions and useful places are marked on the maps: cafes, gas stations, shopping centers, theaters, and so on.
It builds a path well in mountainous areas. But there are only 2D maps.
Please note that viruses can interfere with the normal operation of the smartphone. We advise you to familiarize yourself with if you want to extend the life of your smartphone.
Conclusion
We have given a description of only a part of the programs that you can download for free in the Play Market. But the question of which navigator is better for android is subjective. It is important for someone to work without the Internet, someone needs 3D maps. Prioritize features for yourself and use them when choosing an app. How much can you pay or don't want to pay?
Look at the "weight" of the application, whether there is enough space on the phone for it. This market is constantly evolving and soon there will be better options if you are not completely satisfied with any of the existing ones.
