iGO: Map-Based Navigation in an SD Card

[Darius Wey]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.i-go.com/' target='_blank'>http://www.i-go.com/</a><br /><br /></div><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/wey-20050922-iGO.gif" /><i>"iGO, a GPS navigation software product, offers drivers an efficient solution to these and similar problems. Its easy to use user interface and its accurate digital maps make navigation quite an experience. Even the novice will easily learn how to use the software. Thanks to its outstandingly user-friendly menu, any feature or setting can be accessed through not more than one or two clicks from wherever you are within the menu. The program is multilingual, and, naturally, written as well as verbal instructions are also available in Hungarian."</i><br /><br />Time for an update. Earlier in the year, we <a href="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=39947">reported</a> on a GPS navigation solution known as 'Nav N Go'. The final product is now known as iGO. It comes pre-installed on an SD card and requires no additional software whatsoever. Simply pop it into your Pocket PC (or GPS-enabled Pocket PC if you wish to take advantage of the navigation features) and you're good to go. For the moment, iGO appears to be usable in Hungary only, though it will be expanded to countries in central and western Europe in the near future. But on to the features - iGO includes an easy-to-use multilingual menu, multipoint route planning, automatic rerouting, verbal navigation, an advanced "bypass" feature, a very detailed map of Hungary, interactive 2D and 3D map views, automatic day and night modes, a separate digital map mode, personal track logging and POI data, a special safe driving mode, and portrait and landscape screen support. Additional information can be found at the <a href="http://www.i-go.com/">iGO website</a>.

[fable]

Hello,
the website is at www.i-go.com (http://www.i-go.com)

Fable

[KTamas]

I have to say this is one of the best GPS-map programs, if not the best. I have reviewed it (and own it) and i think it is worth to wait for the european maps for ppl in europe.

[Pony99CA]

Call me skeptical. It's only available in Hungary right now (although they say they're getting more European maps) and their Web site has no screen shots (at least, not on their English pages). In fact, their English site only has two pages. :roll:

After a little investigation, I did find some screen shots (http://www.i-go.com/screenshots/) on their Hungarian pages. The program certainly looks nice, but it's hard to tell how well it works, of course.

Steve

[Rudolf]

I think it's available in Israel too as far as I remember. And the people behind the software are the same who are running PDAMill... So... you can expect quality...

[Peseta]

Here is a review (http://www.pdamania.hu/content/4410/)

A few screenshots, looks nice. Can't understand what the verdict is though because of my limited language skills .

Anyone who can explain "the verdict" ?

[Darius Wey]

Anyone who can explain "the verdict" ?

I can't read a word of Hungarian, though I did have a word with KTamas about it (who has also written a review of it here (http://www.hardwareoc.hu/index.php/p/articles/cid/4/y/151.html)) and he speaks very highly of it. Word on the street is that this GPS package is two thumbs up. :)

[inteller]

expect these guys www.igo.com to sue these guys www.i-go.com if and when this product hits the US.

[Sven Johannsen]

Shame the original video demos don't seem to be available anywhere anymore. They really showed off the product. I think I saved them, but I'm not at home this week to look. I don't think I'd be inclined to buy an SD based program though.

[norti]

I think it's available in Israel too as far as I remember. And the people behind the software are the same who are running PDAMill... So... you can expect quality...

Wrong. PDAMill also has plans for developing - or doing it already :) - gps navigation system software for PDA, but this doesn't belong to them :) Why would they "hide" the product under a new, unknown brandname and why not use the world famous PDAMill name for it? I think they've never done bad work with any software yet :P

[KTamas]

Here is the conclusion of my article:

"So what can we get for $135, which includes games worth of $85? You get a high-quality GPS/map application, with excellent graphics and route planning, sound navigation and maps of more the 3000 hungarian city/town/village even with house numbering. East- and West-Europe maps are coming soon - and you get all with a very godo price. The next version will come with native VGA support, the new European maps are coming at the next spring. Big advantage of iGO is that it is SD-locked, not device locked, as the previous PDAmill programs. Therefore you can run this application on any device (but from only that SD card)."

[Rudolf]

I think it's available in Israel too as far as I remember. And the people behind the software are the same who are running PDAMill... So... you can expect quality...

Wrong. PDAMill also has plans for developing - or doing it already :) - gps navigation system software for PDA, but this doesn't belong to them :) Why would they "hide" the product under a new, unknown brandname and why not use the world famous PDAMill name for it? I think they've never done bad work with any software yet :P
Maybe beacuse it's a different market, and maybe because GPS software development requires a lot of investment (buying maps), so obviously they have partnered with somone. So creating a different company makes absolute sense. If you check the above post, the SD card includes several PDAMill bonus games. Previously it was nicknamed as NavNGo (I don't know why they changed the name to i-go). But still they did a great job. They did it again :)

[Rudolf]

Here is the conclusion of my article:

"So what can we get for $135, which includes games worth of $85? You get a high-quality GPS/map application, with excellent graphics and route planning, sound navigation and maps of more the 3000 hungarian city/town/village even with house numbering. East- and West-Europe maps are coming soon - and you get all with a very godo price. The next version will come with native VGA support, the new European maps are coming at the next spring. Big advantage of iGO is that it is SD-locked, not device locked, as the previous PDAmill programs. Therefore you can run this application on any device (but from only that SD card)."
I don't think PDAMill programs were ever PDA locked. But the concurrent GPS nav. softwares were (Destinator, Aeromap)

[KTamas]

Here is the conclusion of my article:

"So what can we get for $135, which includes games worth of $85? You get a high-quality GPS/map application, with excellent graphics and route planning, sound navigation and maps of more the 3000 hungarian city/town/village even with house numbering. East- and West-Europe maps are coming soon - and you get all with a very godo price. The next version will come with native VGA support, the new European maps are coming at the next spring. Big advantage of iGO is that it is SD-locked, not device locked, as the previous PDAmill programs. Therefore you can run this application on any device (but from only that SD card)."
I don't think PDAMill programs were ever PDA locked. But the concurrent GPS nav. softwares were (Destinator, Aeromap)
As far as i know and I see, they are, the registration program checks your device. I don't know how many devices allowed though..

[Rudolf]

As far as i know and I see, they are, the registration program checks your device. I don't know how many devices allowed though..
Hmm never noticed. Have switched devices at least 3 times since bought Snails and it's still working. I think they are doing online registration with their installers, but it's optional. But anyway... It's off topic... :)
I'm very happy they made such a good job, I hope it will be a success in Europe.