Compass error on latest version

mikealder · Posted: Sat Jul 12, 2008 7:17 pm Post subject:

Using version 8 there are no options, other than turning on or off, if enabled it points North, otherwise it doesn't litter the nav screen - Far worse than the previous options we have become used to when running Navcore 7 and earlier software relative to the compass capabilty and options - Mike

PaulB2005 · Posted: Sat Jul 12, 2008 7:20 pm Post subject:

...and so if someone used a previous version where it was pointing in the direction of travel or towards their destination i can see the confusion when upgrading to v8 as it would appear to be "broken".

mikealder · Posted: Sat Jul 12, 2008 7:33 pm Post subject:

Worse than that though, if you try running a custom menu on a device running version 8 software to re-introduce the full compass options it doesn't work - they have removed this fully from the application, the only option left to those that don't like the current state of affairs it to complain to TT Support (0845 161 009) - it is a degradation of functionality in my opinion - Mike

GPS_fan · Posted: Sat Jul 12, 2008 7:58 pm Post subject:

Yes, it defaults to pointing north, so:

if the arrow is pointing to the LEFT of the screen, you are traveling EAST

if the arrow is pointing to the RIGHT of the screen, you are traveling WEST

if the arrow is pointing UP the screen, you are traveling NORTH

if the arrow is pointing DOWN the screen, you are traveling SOUTH

Surely, if you've used a real compass, the needle always points NORTH so why is this move by TomTom so illogical?

The pointer is working on exactly the same principle as a proper compass, n'est pas?
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Brickie64 · Posted: Sat Jul 12, 2008 8:11 pm Post subject:

Andy,
I agree, it works, and it's like a normal compass.
My preference is to see what direction I'm heading in. I don't really care where North is just where I'm going.
Cars that have built in compass show the direction you are headed in (in my experience).
Just can't understand why they've made the decision to remove the option Mad

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mattcu · Occasional Visitor Joined: Apr 11, 2008 Posts: 25

Hi Andy

Firstly, yes, you're absolutely right on how a compass works. It always points north. 100% correct.

The problem I think is that, as pointed out in the previous few posts (which I'm sure you've read, maybe too quickly to digest?) the v7 'compass' gave the option to point north, or in the direction of travel, or at the destination.

The v8 one doesn't and hence why some, who may have used it outside of the 'classic' mode before, now consider it broken.

Whether they do or they don't, there's no denying that TomTom have removed capability in this regard. They have deliberately degraded the functionality of their product for, as yet, reasons unknown.

I normally used it north-up, with the heading shown within. I can still have the heading but (again, as others have point out) only by foregoing some other piece of data on the status bar.

How about TT restore the 'compass' as it was, with the 3 different modes of operation and the choice to have a big one or a small one and the option to contain data within the big one if desired? Then everyone is happy, the 'compass' has been enhanced rather than degraded in the transition from v7 to v8.

Except that maybe they ought to call it a 'direction indicator', so as not to upset the compass purists like yourself.

Finally, although it's not a big deal to you that it has been changed, it is a big deal to some, and some of your posts seem to deride the fact that it is a big deal to us. That's a bit unfair I think. Different people use TomToms in slightly different ways.

As for me, like I said, usually north up with heading. Sometimes I'd change it to point to the destination, particularly when trying to find inner-city locations which TT was making a hash of doing on it's own (one-ways, no right turn, just awful routing etc). I could blag my way to the destination by using the 'compass' and some situational awareness.

Can't do that now, so V8 is retrograde for me.

edit: crossed with brickie, so slightly redundant now. also a word edit.

GPS_fan · Posted: Sat Jul 12, 2008 8:35 pm Post subject:

Yes, I've read those posts.

I guess that I'm in a very small minority, probably of 1 Wink

, but I've never seen the need to know the direction to my destination.

Unless you know where you are and which roads are suitable for detours, it's usually a complete gamble. Even when you do know where you are, the GPS often selects routes you might not have thought to use yourself.

the philosophy that I use with GPS is that it might not give you the best route, it might not give you the fastest route, but at least you shouldn't get completely lost.
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mattcu · Occasional Visitor Joined: Apr 11, 2008 Posts: 25

Yep, again you're quite right. GPS nav very rarely gets it wrong but it has done it to me once or twice before, due to the map being out of date (NB newest version with MapShare enabled) and one-way systems in London (being the most recent case). Tomtom just kept taking me around in circles. Confused

So while GPS is very good, it is also true that the computer is not king and having access to secondary functionality like a point-to-destination can be useful if it bombs.

I work in an industry where computers try to navigate us to our destination in 3 dimensions, not 2. They're usually very good indeed but you have to watch them, or sometimes they'll put you in a bind, albeit not getting you truly lost -- just as well or the holidaymakers expecting Corfu would be a bit disappointed with Helsinki! Very Happy

Kar98 · Posted: Sat Jul 12, 2008 8:45 pm Post subject:

GPS_fan · Posted: Sat Jul 12, 2008 9:05 pm Post subject:

TRUE! ...but don't your roads go predominantly N/S and E/W?

For most purposes, the simple pointer is more than enough for what I need and I can quickly determine my direction of travel from the pointer, although I accept that others have different preferences.

...and I think I shall leave it at that.
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Kar98 · Posted: Sat Jul 12, 2008 9:08 pm Post subject:

GPS_fan · Posted: Sat Jul 12, 2008 9:50 pm Post subject:

mikealder · Posted: Sat Jul 12, 2008 10:01 pm Post subject:

Try using the curent heading information for speed camera verification and then you will find it very handy - oops its not there any more, now I wonder why they decided to remove it...... Evil or Very Mad

Still there are other ways to display current heading on the device which also kill the entire TomTom application so you can still get this, but its only useful for those who want to mess around with a second device as you get no navigation prompts when doing so - a Nice map of your own creation can be displayed though - Mike

Kar98 · Posted: Sat Jul 12, 2008 10:05 pm Post subject:

GPS_fan · Posted: Sat Jul 12, 2008 10:06 pm Post subject:

Since when has having the heading displayed in the status bar killed the whole application?

Given that the camera submissions also don't need to be reported to the nearest degree, then there are other ways of obtaining it - the compass on the submissions page for one.
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