[Touch 3G General] ronp76:
2. Selection of the right version of iGO8

If you participated in the Easter Egg Hunt last week, you will notice that one of the hyperlinks took you to another thread here in our Jade sub Forum. Before I repost that link, I would like to explain further about why I posted this there:

http://xdaforums.com/showpost.php?p=4985374&postcount=20

The right version of iGO8 is not necessarily the most current version. In upgrading to iGO8 from ONC6 during the past year I have noticed that NavNGo was pumping out versions like short order cook in fast food restaurant. Some times the versions were great because they corrected errors from previous updates. Some times the new versions were more buggy than the previous update.

My best advice to fellow Jade Clone owners is that if you want to experience iGO8, you do with a version that is known to be okay. As each new version came out, I wait one or two months to see what others thought of the update. If the update was not a good one, I passed on it. My Dad always said if you have a good thing, you should not be in a hurry to change just because others are jumping off a cliff.

RECOMMENDED VERSION - v8.3.2.71348

With that in mind, I am currently using iGO8 PNA version which was released during July 2009 with Gurjon skin 6p. I am basically a minimalist - iGO8 has a lot bells and whistles. While I use most of its features, I don't need every single item displayed onscreen. Why over tax the capabilities of my Jade Clone? My basic tenet is that I will do no harm to my Jade Clone (that should be your belief too)! While iGO8 should not be able to do something bad to your Clone, why take the chance by going beyond my recommendations.

I recommend you buy PNA v8.3.2.71348. Maps will vary. I prefer TeleAtlas for where I am in the United States. NavTeq works fine. This version has the standard lane assist, 3D effects and TTS features.

One of the nice things about iGO8 is that the majority of the update is built into its iGO8.exe file. Typically I wait until I know a good update comes out; download the updated file and post it to my SD card. I always keep a backup SD card with the old version that does not get changed or updated until I know the new version works for me.

With that in mind, I know that everyone has free choice. In the fore mentioned post from the first paragraph of this post, I will now point you to the current version:

http://xdaforums.com/showpost.php?p=3325079&postcount=16

In that post, Tom Lenferink posted a link to a test drive version of iGO8 which is an update to v8.3.2.71348. The latest version with its driver alert feature exposed a flaw not only in iGO8 but also the maps available to be used with it. Supposedly only one version of NavTeq maps can be used with this new version. And then, even all the driver alerts are not fully implemented or working.

NavNGO seems to have slowed down on putting out a new version since this August update. This has led some to wonder about its future. I believe iGO8's future is bright because most likely NavNGO is working on its next version with both map vendors to get it right.

Last night I read an Associated Press article on Yahoo News about Black Friday GPS sales. The gist is that while the PNA/PDA *might* fade, the indash automobile (double din aka 2DIN) installations is growing faster than even the iPhone and smartphone markets at about 25 percent. Just about everyone has a car and when it gets replaced, chances are a new indash 2Din satnav program will be installed in the center screen. That is the future of iGO8 if you ask my humble opinion.

Guess what? My recommendation of v8.3.2.71348 works on a 2Din with slight modifications of the sys.txt file which will be covered in a future topic.

You can read about the GPS predictions here:

http://tech.yahoo.com/news/nf/20091125/tc_nf/70316