Sprint Navigation on the Palm Pre: My New BFF
This week has been a hectic one, with visitors in from out of state I have been running all over town. I wanted to be a good host so we have visited many attractions I rarely visit, and we have been driving all over the place. I am a firm believer in using a good GPS navigation system and I am quite pleased how well the Palm Pre has stepped in to fill that need. The Sprint Navigation system that comes with every Palm Pre has been not only incredibly useful, it has become my new BFF.
The Sprint Navigation is powered by the Telenav system, one I have happily used for years. When I first started using the included version on the Pre, dubbed Sprint Navigation, I figured it was a stripped-down version of the Telenav system since Sprint includes it for free. I am delighted to say it is the full version, no shortcuts were taken (pun intended). The Telenav service normally costs $9.95 monthly, so this is a real bargain on the Pre.
When you first fire up Sprint Navigation, the software taps into the GPS hardware in the Pre. A valid GPS lock happens in just a second, and the software presents a menu offering a number of choices.
These are fairly self-explanatory, and getting going on a route is just a few taps on the screen away. It is a simple process to enter a destination address, or you can search for a business. Places that you visit often can be added as Favorites, making them just a tap away. If you don’t feel like typing in an address on the tiny Pre keyboard, you can choose to call it in. I haven’t used this method myself but it sounds pretty handy when you’re in the car and have your hands occupied.
I find that a little planning makes entering addresses even easier. Sprint Navigation is tied into the Sprint Navigation account that Pre owners have, and addresses can be entered (or pasted) at a computer on the web. These addresses are then pushed down to the Pre, and they can be selected as destinations. I have used this method a lot, and it makes Sprint Navigation extremely useful.
Once the destination is entered using one of these methods, Sprint Navigation determines the best driving route based on user preferences. The 3D map appears and off you go, with spoken directions keeping you on track. The map can be toggled into a 2D version for those who don’t like the 3D map.
We have done a lot of driving in town this week, and city traffic has been a nightmare. Sprint Navigation has been very good at keeping us informed of adverse traffic conditions on the route ahead, and giving us the opportunity to avoid the bad stuff.
Sprint Navigation is a wonderful utility for Palm Pre owners, and providing it free is a good benefit. The service works as well as dedicated GPS navigation systems, and the convenience of having it right in the Pre is nice. The only thing it won’t do that I wish it could is an option to rotate the map into landscape. The Pre can do this no problem but Sprint Navigation will only display in portrait. This is minor and doesn’t detract from a useful utility. I am going to get one of those extended batteries for the Pre, though, as heavy use of the utility does hit the battery hard. Sprint Navigation is a stellar feature for the Palm Pre, and it’s been so useful this week it is my new BFF.
Does you car not have a built-in GPS?
Nope, and it wouldn’t have mattered this week. Due to the large crowd we’ve been driving my daughter’s mini-van everywhere. That’s an advantage to the Pre, the ability to use it in anyone’s car.
I don’t have a Pre, but that’s a good thing that Sprint is providing for free. That comes in handy while traveling especially in a friends, family, etc… Vechile that might not have GPS.
Hi James, are you going to do a video of the Pre Navigation in use after the family have returned home?
Probably not, as videos are very difficult to do in the car. There is not much to see on such a trip anyway, unless I do 100 mph.
Forgot to mention but I think Sprint provides Navigation with all their full data plans. When I Sprint and used my BlackBerry Curve, I also could use GPS from Sprint which was by TeleNav. Didn’t have to pay extra, it was included in my data plan. Verizon should do something like this as well.
I’m apparently the one subscriber who switched from Verizon to Sprint last year. One reason is that Verizon crippled their devices (GPS lockdown, less RAM in the Touch Pro, fewer devices with WiFi). The other was the competitive pricing on Sprint’s Everything Data plan, which as you now know includes GPS. I had never used GPS before, and would not have tried it if it was a paid add on. Now I can’t live without it.
Three very important frustration-saving features:
1). You can push your location from SprintNav to another SprintNav enabled phone. That way your recipient can now be routed to your location turn-by-turn.
2.) You can push a location via your computer as stated in the blog post. Wife was traveling out of state and called me for directions to a destination. I logged onto sprint.telenav.com, found the POI and pushed it to her Treo 800w. She fired-up SpritnNav and in a few seconds she was routed to her destination.
3.) Voice announce street names. It’s frustrating not being able to hear the street names. Luckily TeleNav does….since you’re supposed to keep your eyes on the road anyhow.
I’m surprised you didn’t mention SPOKEN STREET NAMES in this article. Awesome that TeleNav’s program offers this.
I also highly recommend a $15 Bracketron A/C-vent mount. Great for holding the Pre during long trips, and it easily accommodates a power cord from the car power adapter.
What about when you move out of Sprint Data coverage area. Happens here in the midwest. I rode “RagBri” I bike ride that goes across Iowa. I had my Garmin Maps loaded on my MicroSD. My friend with his blackberry could not get his maps to work cause of the service area. Good thing the Treo Pro has a SD Slot and Garmin supports WinMob.
Yeah, I don’t understand if it’s GPS why it fails when off the Sprint digital grid.
It’s the Des Moines Register’s Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa, RAGBRAI. One of the largest moving parties.
I don’t follow how the MicroSD makes it work for Treo.
I’m surprised you don’t have a car power-to-USB adapter in your gadget bag. When not powering/charging your Pre the kids can power/charge their iPod or DS Lite.
i bought an in car charger for al my families cars, they are only a few quid each, so i dont have to worry about power for the mobile in any car, i think all cars should have a usb port!!
I didn’t know hardly any of this about Sprint Navigation. Would I have if I’d spent more time at my Sprint Store when I bought my Pre?
When will Sprint Navigation provide the option to add the name and address of my destinations to my google contacts on the Palm Pre?
James – will the Pre navigation allow for the playing of podcasts or such while navigating? And interrupt with instructoins? How about a phone call? will it handle it in speaker phone or bluetooth mode? Thanks for any info.