Too bad I couldn't make it this year, would have liked to check out the NAVTEQ maps. Rumor is the POI search has been fixed as well.

 

I haven't tried the AppRadio based nav tools since I'm on Android, but to me - depending on your mobile carrier for navigation is workable in the city, but once you get away from the urban centers the reliability of the mobile networks is just not where it needs to be. I would be very hesitant to wander off the beaten path with a mobile navigator, the way I often do with a dedicated GPS. The majority of roads in America (by distance) does not even have 2G coverage, never mind 3G.

 

If you want a sat-nav, get a sat-nav.

Well I guess if you have a phone without a gps receiver. Most phones that provide navi have one however.

The problem is that the phone app doesn't have the maps on board, they download content from 3g or 4g as they travel. I've had this happen when I am out of the city. The phone knows where it is long/lat wise, but I get a nice little arrow in the middle of my screen representing me with the compass arrow telling me which way is north, but no map and no data to tell me where to go.

Google Navigation has partially fixed this by letting you map a route while you have good coverage, and it will cache all the map data needed to get from A to B, but you have to tell it to do so speciffically, it's not automatic. Get a big enough SD card and I guess you could cache the whole country.

 

 

Well I guess if you have a phone without a gps receiver. Most phones that provide navi have one however.

That's shortsighted. Yes, most phones have GPS receivers, but they need a data connection to download the maps. None of the popular phone based nav tools do a great job of caching the maps. Google will cache maps on the planned route, but will not download any additional data. If you veer off the planned route, you're hosed. Have you never asked your satnav to find the next gas-station? You can't do that if you're 30 miles from the nearest cell tower.

I stand by my recommendation. Unless you're guaranteed %100 data coverage, then depending on your phone for navigation is foolish.

FYI: From Pioneer's Facebook page:

http://www.facebook.com/PioneerNorthAmerica

"Greg Kenney

Any word if the AVIC-Z130BT will have software upgrades to being it up to par with the AVIC-Z140BH as far as the navigation and advanced app mode goes?

Like· · 5 hours ago ·

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    Pioneer Electronics (North America) The navi upgrade will be available around the summer timeframe. The upgrade will offer NAVTEQ mapping and we will have more info on specific features in the near future.
    2 hours ago · Like"
    

So in other words, buy a Z130 now, and upgrade it to a Z140 in a few months time? Would the upgrade allow Android support too? Or is that still only on the 140?

 

 

That's shortsighted. Yes, most phones have GPS receivers, but they need a data connection to download the maps. None of the popular phone based nav tools do a great job of caching the maps. Google will cache maps on the planned route, but will not download any additional data. If you veer off the planned route, you're hosed. Have you never asked your satnav to find the next gas-station? You can't do that if you're 30 miles from the nearest cell tower.

 

I stand by my recommendation. Unless you're guaranteed %100 data coverage, then depending on your phone for navigation is foolish.

I use the navigon app on my iPhone and must say its better than the z120 nav. The app does cache maps and I think the recent update allows you to download maps for specific states you want ahead of time, where before it stored all the data on your phone and took up alot of space. I took a trip from Pittsburgh to Lynchburg TN last summer (Jack Daniels fan) and the navigon app never missed a beat. That included a sightseeing trip through the smoky mountains with scattered cell service. I guess my original point was that it seemed crazy to pay an extra $700 for the z140bh if one of the only feature gains over the avhp8400bh is the onboard nav when advanced app mode allows you to still have a nav option.

I use the navigon app on my iPhone and must say its better than the z120 nav. The app does cache maps and I think the recent update allows you to download maps for specific states you want ahead of time, where before it stored all the data on your phone and took up alot of space. I took a trip from Pittsburgh to Lynchburg TN last summer (Jack Daniels fan) and the navigon app never missed a beat. That included a sightseeing trip through the smoky mountains with scattered cell service. I guess my original point was that it seemed crazy to pay an extra $700 for the z140bh if one of the only feature gains over the avhp8400bh is the onboard nav when advanced app mode allows you to still have a nav option.

That is a big premium. But, the street price of the Z130 is currently about $800, making the incremental cost closer to $400, about the cost of a good standalone GPS. For something that works pretty much anywhere, including in tunnels and the top of mountains in Montana - that's good value for me. YMMV, as they say.

So in other words, buy a Z130 now, and upgrade it to a Z140 in a few months time? Would the upgrade allow Android support too? Or is that still only on the 140?

Well, I am keeping my Z130, and hopefully it will get all of the features of the Z140, but who knows. I am encouraged by the response, but it could be that they will leave out some features. Won't know until they outline it. Hopefully it will be just a full update like they have been doing in the past. (well, I think they have been doing a full update)