Just a quick question about Sat Navs. Are they expensive over there,or i am i better buying one here in england.

Thanks...

I am going to use my phone - Nokia N95 8gb as sat nav when I get there,
Just don't know whether to put tomtom or garmain xt mobile on it though?

Maybe it's best to buy over there as it will have Oz maps. If you buy in the UK you will then need to buy the OZ maps as well.

Or find a torrent

Thought you got the maps free through Nokia or for a small charge?

Mostly free for 6 months.

If your phone has GPS then best thing is use the Nokia or whatever maps, then just switch to google maps - which are free - and as long as you have a GPS enabled phone and internet acess, you can do everything you need with google maps and not pay any more...

wifi has nothing to do with gps, maps


Ya you can use Nokia maps, you have to pay for the voice command part!

As someone mentioned above, try torrenting it, should find what you want for free, just check to see if its a reliable torrent.

I think the maps should be free, I mean how many new main roads are built everyday! and anyway you can still get to where you want with the previous map.

Brilliant invention though, Technology is amazing stuff.

Google maps requires an internet connection on your phone to work, and obviously GPS enabled phone as well.

Must be my phone only then as you must be right....

I see where your coming from, maps rely on gps. movement, positioning etc.

WIFI is for the internet, where the two meet is available but not for journey purposes.

If you have/get an iPhone there are numerous nagivation apps for it (including TomTom) and these are MUCH cheaper than the dedicated equipment.

May be worth checking out the Apple store online to see what is available if you are thinking about it as an option.

If you're using your phone (iPhone/any) in the car, be VERY careful, it's technically illegal unless it's in a cradle, you've started the GPS prior to driving the car and you don't touch it until you arrive. The comments in the linked thread make an interesting read.

I bought a Tomtom here as it was just as cheap as the UK one - and had Aussie maps.


Australian Road Rules Feb 2009 / page 289
Rule 300 - Use of Mobile Phones; the driver of a vehicle must not use a mobile phone...

technically you're not even allowed to touch it in the car unless you are passing it to a passenger, this includes turning it off

Very good, I was wondering about that, I will have it in a cradle, probably best anyway to see it etc.

On the Iphone suggestion, they are absolutely brilliant, but if your not an apple fan, I think the Nokia and others are just as good if not better(and cheaper) Iphone just got more fashion status going with it.

I looked into this carefully before I got the Nokia N95 8gb( it's still regarded as there best ever( build quality, apps, reliability).
I very nearly got an apple, but I just couldn't, they remind me in some way like the mafia( charging for firmware upgrade!)
You can get very much more for your money in the long run by picking a good competitor.

without wanting to sound like an iPhone fanboy - I have never been charged for a firmware upgrade , and believe the apps available far outstrip any competitor both in quantity and quality (of interface, at the very least)... I also have no issues on build quality or reliability...
The battery life is appalling, and there are features I would like which are still missing, but all in all I find it far superior to any previous phone I have had...

either way, whatever anyone goes for - the cradle thing is something I had not thought about - although if I ever use it as a satnav replacement, would have got anyway...

Good luck with whatever you choose..

I paid A$179. for my last Tomtom (dick smith)

How much does it cost (TCO) to enable and use tomtom/garmin/nokia maps on an N95 or iPhone?

[QUOTE=stevemich;7855308]without wanting to sound like an iPhone fanboy - I have never been charged for a firmware upgrade

Correct, my mistake, they charge for the firmware update on Ipod touch and Ipods.

Some of the apple apps are way ahead of the game, how much of those apps become useful to a user over a period of time is another case.
I guess touchscreen would annoy me after awhile(texting, high sensitive screen)
Apple are not the best though for conversions( Itunes for everything)
Other brands offer more choices to the user .i video, music, flash content.

I was going to get one but the charges attached with the Iphone(network) is appalling, unless you buy an unbranded, unlocked version(but then that goes against everything that apple is about).

They are probably the best innovators though, by far.