Home PageFacebookRSS News Feed
PocketGPS
Web
SatNav,GPS,Navigation
Pocket GPS World - SatNavs | GPS | Speed Cameras: Forums

Pocket GPS World :: View topic - NEW version of Wayfinder: Wayfinder Euronavigator
 Forum FAQForum FAQ   SearchSearch   UsergroupsUsergroups   ProfileProfile   Log in for private messagesLog in for private messages   Log inLog in 

NEW version of Wayfinder: Wayfinder Euronavigator

 
Post new topic   Reply to topic    Pocket GPS World Forum Index -> Other Software
View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
Billy
Occasional Visitor


Joined: Nov 02, 2003
Posts: 39

PostPosted: Fri Sep 17, 2004 6:04 pm    Post subject: NEW version of Wayfinder: Wayfinder Euronavigator Reply with quote

Wayfinder has surprised friend and enemy. They let us see finally that they are capable to play in the navigation market.

Now they have a useable mapview with zoom and pan functionality. They also use some sort of cache system so that you can store some cities on the memstick. This will save you some gprs costs.

Traffic information is available for 8 countries! The new Wayfinder will also warn you for the speed cameras. Currently this is available for three countries.
Last but not least they have cut down the price.

This new and huge update is great news! Wayfinder has finally show their power with this.

Billy
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
drummer
Frequent Visitor


Joined: Apr 08, 2004
Posts: 256
Location: Hampton, Middlesex, UK

PostPosted: Sat Sep 18, 2004 12:16 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

That looks like a major leap forward. And AFAIK it's also the only one to support the SE P900.

I'll give the demo a go.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Billy
Occasional Visitor


Joined: Nov 02, 2003
Posts: 39

PostPosted: Sat Sep 18, 2004 9:39 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

For the UIQ version we will have to wait untill 5 Oct.

Billy
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Billy
Occasional Visitor


Joined: Nov 02, 2003
Posts: 39

PostPosted: Mon Sep 27, 2004 11:07 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

The press release of Wayfinder about this:
http://www.wayfinder.com/news/pressrelease.php?id=46

Wayfinder EuroNavigatorTM sets new standard for mobile navigation (2004-09-23)
Product launch Wayfinder EuroNavigatorTM
Lund, September 14, 2004. Wayfinder Systems AB, the world's largest company in mobile phone navigation products and services, today launches its new navigation product Wayfinder EuroNavigatorTM. This system is an important step into the future of mobile navigation as Wayfinder are now able to provide continuous updates of existing services as well as new value-added services for mobile phone customers.

"The Wayfinder EuroNavigatorTM is a milestone in the development of mobile navigation systems," says Magnus Nilsson, CEO of Wayfinder Systems AB, which provides maps, navigational data, voice instructions and directions to over a million European points of interest. And he adds, "This is a big step forward because it is the first navigational software that enables users to receive regular, updates, improvements and new features in the form of value added services". The first additional service of the new mobile navigator is dynamic route planning, including current traffic information. When approaching traffic jams related to roadwork or accidents, the Wayfinder EuroNavigatorTM guides the user around the traffic. It also alerts them to speed controls. In the future, Wayfinder plans to expand the range of services, allowing the user to tailor navigation systems to their personal needs.

Another unique feature of the Wayfinder EuroNavigatorTM is the availability of flexible maps. Users of the Wayfinder EuroNavigatorTM can download maps of cities, regions, or countries to their mobile phone and follow their current position from different viewpoints such as navigation icons, voice instructions, moving maps or combinations of these as is appropriate. With moving maps, the zoom function automatically adjusting to the users current speed to optimize the data displayed. Detailed information about restaurants, hotels, airports, or places for sightseeing are also available by clicking on the respective icons on the map. Another benefit of the navigator is the safe and speedy software installation, which only requires a multimedia card (MMC) to be inserted into the phone.

Magnus Nilsson is convinced that the Wayfinder EuroNavigatorTM will be a great market success. "With the continued increase of Smart phones, navigation will gain significant additional market share", he says, "And in the future our mobile navigation solutions will dominate the market by offering users real added value at a reasonable price. "With the Wayfinder EuroNavigatorTM", says Nilsson, "we are very well prepared to develop this market."

How the mobile navigator works: The Wayfinder EuroNavigatorTM software is easy to install. Together with a GPS receiver, it turns a mobile phone into a full-fledged off-board navigation system in just a flash. Using GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) a connection is made between the mobile phone and the Internet-based Wayfinder server. The route calculation uses digital maps from Tele Atlas and high quality points-of-interest data from Wcities. On the spot data can be received by mobile phone as voice announcements, pictures, area maps, or moving maps. Currently the Wayfinder EuroNavigatorTM is compatible with the following mobile phones: Nokia 7610, 6600, N-Gage, N-Gage QD, 3660, 3650, 7650, 9300, 9500, 6630, 6260; SonyEricsson P910i, P900, P800; Motorola A 1000, A925 and A920; SendoX and Siemens SX1. Additional mobile phones are being added continuously. The Wayfinder EuroNavigatorTM includes the route planner Wayfinder EuroGuideTM, which can also be purchased separately. The system calculates routes and also serves as an area-savvy escort in foreign cities.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Dave
Frequent Visitor


Joined: Sep 10, 2003
Posts: 6460
Location: UK

PostPosted: Tue Sep 28, 2004 6:01 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Billy wrote:
How the mobile navigator works: The Wayfinder EuroNavigatorTM software is easy to install. Together with a GPS receiver, it turns a mobile phone into a full-fledged off-board navigation system in just a flash. Using GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) a connection is made between the mobile phone and the Internet-based Wayfinder server.

I unfortunately missed the Wayfinder conference, Mike did make it but he's now off in Canada so I haven't heard what was discussed, but surely what the press release is saying is virtually identical to how Wayfinder is now ? You having to connect to the Wayfinder server over GPRS to get navigation ? If this is still the case, then people just won't go for it as this is the single most annoyance that keeps people away from Wayfinder.

Unless you can download maps and use those maps to be routed with voice prompts ?
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website
Billy
Occasional Visitor


Joined: Nov 02, 2003
Posts: 39

PostPosted: Tue Sep 28, 2004 5:10 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Dave wrote:
... but surely what the press release is saying is virtually identical to how Wayfinder is now ? You having to connect to the Wayfinder server over GPRS to get navigation ? If this is still the case, then people just won't go for it as this is the single most annoyance that keeps people away from Wayfinder.
Unless you can download maps and use those maps to be routed with voice prompts ?


Well you got a point somewhere however the new Wayfinder has changed a little bit for this. Now you are able to store the maps on your memory card. So these maps must not be downloaded.
You will also have a rotating, moving map with auto zoom possibility. Ok...this isn't high-tech anymore today but it is a huge improvement compared with the first three generations of Wayfinder.

Wayfinder has now support for 8 countries for TMC. Even TomTom users must be happy with only 4.
Also Wayfinder have a service that will warn you for speedcams, this is something that is very populair with the POI-list at TomTom.

OK...you will need a gprs connection for getting a route. But on the other hand all other users do want traffic information that also needs a gprs connection. I think Wayfinder is a step ahead today with that technology. Sadly the gprs connection are a little bit too slow for downloading the maps that's why they choose to make today some sort of cache system for it.

Wayfinder is aware that most users want a feature so that the program is able to calculate a route when the maps are stored on the memstick without contacting the server. They have said: that they will have a look at this feature. So maybe it's going to change.
But for me this was not the big issue! The big issue was that Wayfinder did missed a decent mapview. With this new version they have succeeded in this. Now the users will be able to see where they are driving.

One more thing..they have changed the price! Now Wayfinder is very competive with their price. I think Wayfinder deservt it that it gets a little bit attention at this site 8)

Billy

Billy
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
alfheim
Occasional Visitor


Joined: Mar 16, 2004
Posts: 3

PostPosted: Wed Oct 13, 2004 9:36 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Has anyone tried this yet.
I installed it yesterday, and installed a couple of the separate maps, but it seems to be using GPRS even when the maps are stored locally.

I coudn't get much usefull map info from the application when I tried it with the phone in flight mode anyways.

(Some scetchy patches of random roads in a couple of areas I had looked at before, but noting more, certainly not what I thought I had downloaded.

Erling
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
ChrisB
Occasional Visitor


Joined: Sep 20, 2003
Posts: 10
Location: United Kingdom

PostPosted: Thu Oct 14, 2004 12:28 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I've been a Wayfinder user since the early days on a SE P800 smartphone, and have to admit this latest V4 update is a BIG step forward.

Prior to this the system worked well enough, but was pretty basic compared to the likes of TomTom on PPC.

I really don't regard the GPRS usage as a major issue on cost grounds, even prior to this latest release. I have used Wayfinder on an almost daily basis over the last year and the data usage is minimal, (a few K per route if you don't require a re-route, not much more than that if you do).

This latest version allows you to download map areas via the website and synch them to your phone and Wayfinder will use these rather than downloading them from the server. I assume that the GPRS connection is still used for requesting the initial route and any reroutes during your trip, hence the GPRS connection usage - remember Wayfinder still uses a server centric route calculation model. If you look at the data transferred though, again it is only a very small amount.

Prior to this update I was seriously considering the TomTom mobile option, but have heard that they will force you to buy the GPS hardware for this product, even if you already have a GPS - anyone know if this is true?

Sadly the Route 66 product on Symbian does not seem to be available for UIQ phones like my P800, but would be interested to hear comparisons from those that have used it and Wayfinder on the S60 platforms. Only drawback I can see compared to Wayfinder is that it seems to be restricted to the Uk rather than the whole of Europe.

I would advise anyone considering a satnav system for their Symbian phone to check out the free Wayfinder Euronavigator demo. Their customer support is also worth a mention - very responsive in my experience, which is not always a given with companies these days....

I hope TomTom will release a software only version of their Navigator product for Symbian and allow a time limited trial as I like their 3D birds eye view. I guess only time will tell, but it looks like very interesting times ahead in the smartphone SatNav market with the main beneficiaries being us, the end users.

Just re-read this post and it seems like a bit of a "fanboy" post for Wayfinder Embarassed . Its not meant to be, and I have no connection other than a satisfied customer etc. I guess like anything the best way to decide is to try for yourself - I for one would be interested to see a side by side comparison of the smartphone nav products. My subscription is up in December and although I think I will probably renew with Wayfinder it would be great to see a comparison with TomTom, Route66 and the other alternatives out there.

Chris
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
traktori
Occasional Visitor


Joined: Aug 24, 2004
Posts: 16
Location: Finland

PostPosted: Mon Jan 24, 2005 1:49 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Sorry for bringing up this old thread.

Does anybody know if Wayfinder has trial for Nokia 9500 / 9300 Communicators. They say they do support these, but in trial page they support only UIQ and S60 phones. I would like to give up my dual device system (with Nokia 9300 as a phone and organizer and Palm tungsten T3 and TomTom for navigation) and do everything with Nokia 9300! I know Navicore does have pretty good system for 9300 but the real-time map-updates sounds good!
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
traktori
Occasional Visitor


Joined: Aug 24, 2004
Posts: 16
Location: Finland

PostPosted: Mon Jan 24, 2005 6:27 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

traktori wrote:
...


Ok, I found it through MyWayfinder.com. Trial is good for 5 days and works nicely with my TomTom BT-GPS! This is still in beta, and two times it has frozen so that I had to take battery out! Sounds are really late and sounds pretty bad through BT-carkit. Also the screen-usage would have been better especially with the smaller screen in 9300. And the most annoying thing is that it updates the screen pretty slowly. But the cache system helps a lot after a little wait.

Here is three screenshots, these are in Finnish, but I hope you can get the idea. There is missing speed and road names as I took these without GPS connection, but in guide-mode you have the current road-name below and next road above the direction arrow. Also you get graph and distance to next turn.
Startup
Guide
Route-following
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
traktori
Occasional Visitor


Joined: Aug 24, 2004
Posts: 16
Location: Finland

PostPosted: Mon Jan 24, 2005 6:27 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

traktori wrote:
...


Ok, I found it through MyWayfinder.com. Trial is good for 5 days and works nicely with my TomTom BT-GPS! This is still in beta, and two times it has frozen so that I had to take battery out! Sounds are really late and sounds pretty bad through BT-carkit. Also the screen-usage would have been better especially with the smaller screen in 9300. And the most annoying thing is that it updates the screen pretty slowly. But the cache system helps a lot after a little wait.

Here is three screenshots, these are in Finnish, but I hope you can get the idea. There is missing speed and road names as I took these without GPS connection, but in guide-mode you have the current road-name below and next road above the direction arrow. Also you get graph and distance to next turn.
Startup
Guide
Route-following
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message







Posted: Today    Post subject: Pocket GPS Advertising

Back to top
Display posts from previous:   
Post new topic   Reply to topic    Pocket GPS World Forum Index -> Other Software All times are GMT + 1 Hour
Page 1 of 1

 
Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum

Make a Donation



CamerAlert Database

Click here for the PocketGPSWorld.com Speed Camera Database

Download Speed Camera Database
22.034 (27 Mar 24)



WORLDWIDE SPEED CAMERA SPOTTERS WANTED!

Click here to submit camera positions to the PocketGPSWorld.com Speed Camera Database


12mth Subscriber memberships awarded every week for verified new camera reports!

Submit Speed Camera Locations Now


CamerAlert Apps



iOS QR Code






Android QR Code







© Terms & Privacy


GPS Shopping