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paulkbiba
USA
5064 Posts |
 Posted - 12 déc. 2007 : 22:53:35
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Reviewed - iGuidance Version 4
Introduction
This isn't a "full review" of iGuidance because iGuidance has been around forever (and a good thing for us), but is a look at the latest version and at a new way of using it that has just been made possible by Apple changing to Intel processors on their Macs.
Installation on a Macbook
Last year it was time for me to get a new computer and I decided to go for a laptop rather than another desktop unit. At the same time I was getting heartily sick of the Windows OS and thought it would be good fun to take the plunge into the Mac world. This was especially appropriate as Apple had switched over to Intel processors and I could easily run a Windows installation either natively, through Bootcamp, or virtually, through Parallels. I bought a Macbook Core2 Duo with 3 Gig of memory and I was off and running. Rather than go the Bootcamp route, I installed Parallels and have been running Windows XP Pro in a virtual installation ever since.
When iNav sent me iGuidance Version 4 I had a problem in that I hadn't used any of my Pocket PCs in so long that they no longer had working batteries. I wasn't about to resurect them, the platform is almost dead, so I decided I would run iGuidance on my Macbook. iGuidance is one of the only programs that can run on a Pocket PC, latpop, UMPC or car PC. All for one price.
Installation was pretty simple. I started Parallels and then started Windows XP. All I had to do was insert the iGuidance disk and it installed just the same as if it were on a Windows machine. Then came the choice of GPS receiver. I could use one of my Bluetooth ones, but I wanted only one battery to worry about, the laptop's, so I chose to use my USB Globalsat BU-353 SiRF III unit. I downloaded the Mac USB driver from the Globalsat site and iGuidance recognized by GPS unit immediately. (I'm not sure this step was necessary, but I didn't try it without the driver so I can't tell for sure.) By the way, the front part of the MacBook is magnetic, so the Globalsat receiver sticks there and it makes for a rather neat setup. Note: I have found that iGuidance likes you to have the GPS unplugged when you start it up. After it is running plug in the GPS and it will be recognized right away.
Suffice it to say, iGuidance works perfectly in my Mac/Windows installation. Every feature, from recognizing the GPS to text to speech, works just as if it were on a Windows machine. For all you Mac users out there - we've found a new GPS program!
New Features
iGuidance changes little from version to version, preferring, I guess, to refine the program, rather than to specialize in feature creep. However, version 4 has some important new features.
6 million points of interest - I've always thought that iGuidance was lacking in this area and evidently they did too, because now they are right up there with the competition
Text to speech - This is an important addition and not every program out there incorporates it. In my testing the speech engine showed itself to be first rate and pronounced even difficult road names correctly. By the way, iGuidance will tell you what side of the road your destination is on - an important feature, in my opinion, which many programs, and even PNDs, lack.
Seamless map - you used to have to compile maps on the program, adding the states you wanted, to make one big map. Now the map is seamless, but it requires a 2GB SD card if you use the PPC version.
Map data - now includes Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands. To be clear the data also includes the entire US (including Hawaii and Alaska) and Canada.
Activation: each iGuidance allows a maximum of two activations and will allow you to use the program on two different PCs. If you change a PC you can de-activate the old one and then re-activate the new one. Upgrades and uninstall/reinstalls do not affect activation. I found that activating my copy was easy and painless.
Working shots
Here you can see iGuidance running on my MacBook. At the very bottom of the screen you can see, in grey, my eta, time to go, miles to go, and speed. On the top left of the screen you see an arrow showing me my next turn and the distance thereto. My destination street is in green at the top. iGuidance can, of course, display in 3D, but I used the 2D screen here.
Here is a shot of a route using the 3D mode. You have a choice of three different perspectives for the 3D mode.
When you approach your turn iGuidance switches to the guidance mode:
And here is a shot of the guidance mode in 3D:
iGuidance can call up a number of small windows that float over the map. These can display the GPS status, the route list, a trip compter which can record 3 different trips, and an iGuidance trademark, the almanac. Here they all are opened at once:
If you have an internet connection iGuidance can also call up, in Internet Explorer, the weather at your destination:
This version of iGuidance does not have predictive traffic, by the way.
Conclusion
I've never had a laptop before, so I wasn't prepared for how great the large screen makes GPS navigation. iGuidance runs so well in a virtualized mode that I will definitely be looking to find a way to set up my laptop in my car.
As to the program, itself, iGuidance just gets better with every incarnation and can be heartily recommended as one of the staples of the industry. You can buy it from them for $109 and our long-time sponsor Semsons is offering for less (and even less if you join the GPSPassion club). I note that Semsons is also selling a 14 evaluation DVD for $3.99.
PS: I just tried out Marvin's iGkeys and it works just fine in the virtual environment. So even under a Mac we can have the convenience of the program.
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Don't forget the GPSPassion Club! |
Edited by - paulkbiba on 12 déc. 2007 23:26:23
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Marvin Hlavac
Canada
6899 Posts |
Posted - 12 déc. 2007 : 23:07:07
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| Wow, it would make me very happy to see Paul switching from PNDs to a laptop!!! Great review, Paul. I took the liberty of placing a link to this review to a list of PC GPS software on another site :) |
Marvin Hlavac |
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paulkbiba
USA
5064 Posts |
Posted - 12 déc. 2007 : 23:39:38
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| Now I have to think about the mounting problem. |
Don't forget the GPSPassion Club! |
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gpspassion
93400 Posts |
Posted - 13 déc. 2007 : 00:08:31
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Very interesting review, thanks, the maps look great, it's amazing to think you can now run full Windows apps on a Mac with serial port support, I remember trying to run Windows on a Mac SE back in '91, I think the software was called Soft PC...a real nightmare !
It appears to be a wide format, I take it you resized down to 640x380, what is the native resolution ? Good to see iNav adapt well to various resolutions out there.
On the laptop vs PDA vs AIO question, it's really hard to compare, the killer feature for PDAs was to offer navigation in your field of view, something AIOs built upon, but trip planning is clearly superior on a laptop and if you can learn to rely on vocal guidance coming from the side seat, it would work well too. |
Discounts and Assistance/Réductions et Assistance (Club GpsPasSion) / Où commencer? |
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paulkbiba
USA
5064 Posts |
Posted - 13 déc. 2007 : 00:41:35
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| Well, the pictures were "shot" at 1198x696. |
Don't forget the GPSPassion Club! |
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Marvin Hlavac
Canada
6899 Posts |
Posted - 13 déc. 2007 : 01:13:02
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| Paul, for car mounting solutions visit www.ram-mount.com From the drop-down list select the year, make, and model of your vehicle. It's that simple :) |
Marvin Hlavac |
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gpspassion
93400 Posts |
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paulkbiba
USA
5064 Posts |
Posted - 13 déc. 2007 : 01:34:13
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| Nope, it will run higher and don't give up any speed at all. The native Macbook resolution is 1280x800. |
Don't forget the GPSPassion Club! |
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Review - iGuidance Version 4 - on a Mac!
