[Desire HD Themes and Apps] dazultra2000:
So since moving to Android I have been trying to find "the perfect satnav" - but so far I've not had much luck and I find myself chopping and changing between the several that are available.

I'm used to TomTom Navigator 7 on Windows Mobile, which although was very basic, worked very well and did most things I needed. Unfortunately I can't seem to find the right balance on Android.

In researching this, I thought it would be useful to write up a quick post on the pros and cons I have found with each - and maybe others can throw in their 2 cents and other ideas - as well as hopefully suggestions on how I can get the most out of it.

So lets get started!

1. Google Maps Navigation

This is my joint favourite at the moment. The very best feature is that I can google search for an address, postcode or even place name and it will find it and get me there (though sometimes it's not too accurate!). I also like that once you arrive at the destination it will load up a StreetView picture of what I am supposed to be looking for - which is a really neat feature.

Obviously the disadvantages are that it gobbles up data, and that it's not exactly the most advanced in terms of features. Basic SatNav stuff like Points of Interest, Favourites and Speed Cameras are missing - which makes me somewhat sad. Also the UI, while very clean and functional, is missing some key items I have come to expect.

2. HTC Locations

This had a lot of potential, but it's unfortunately completely ruined by a couple of issues. Better start with the Pros. Obvious one is cached maps. Also the compass support, ease of access to maps and the ability to use google search are big plusses. However, it's seriously hampered by the lack of Postcode Lookup. Such a basic and well-used feature lacking from a SatNav product is just plain unacceptable. Also the "Footprints" system of favourites is pretty horrible to use and I can't see why having a basic faves system that actually works isn't implemented.

The "online store" for obtaining new maps and features is flaky at best. I don't know if I have done it wrong, but traffic information is non-existent, speed cameras didn't seem to load properly and because of this I am reluctant to spend any more cash on it due to the risk that it might not work!

3. Sygic Aura

A relative newcomer, I quite like the menus and the road display. Has all the sort of support I would expect, with speed cameras and the like available if required. Postcode Lookup and an interesting POI system exist too.

However, the biggest issue I have with this is the fruity routes it tries to take me down. Again I don't know if I've done it wrong, but on a trip from Birmingham to Poole, it completely avoided the motorways and I could not find a way to get it to use them. Bit of a let down as this could have been a good one.

4. Navigon

I don't give this enough credit, and I think it's probably because of the UI. In reality this is a very capable SatNav solution. It has good points of interest, good favourites, contact search, built-in google search. It also has a very nice routing engine and offers you up to 3 choices for your route, along with a recommendation. The safety camera support, however, is pretty poor (and doesn't support popular 3rd party databases like a lot of others do). The UI, like I say, is the biggest issue though. A questionable black and orange scheme with randomly low resolution icons. The main navigation display is very bare and seems to only be able to display one piece of information at once, so to switch between speed and arrival time, you need to touch the screen, which is not good at all.

5. CoPilot

This is my other joint favourite. CoPilot has a pretty comprehensive UI, support for POI, favourites, postcode lookup and also web search (not sure what engine it uses though). It also does support external safety camera databases (though importing them is a bit of a headache - due to a bug in CoPilot it seems). The routing is average, and does tend to sometimes send me along a strange route. The navigation display is quite good, and is the closest to what I would like from a SatNav on Android, but still not perfect. In fact, it's a little too advanced. There seems to be a bit of clutter and the menus appear as overlays rather than whole screens which means things are a bit more fiddly to press. Again, you can really only display 2 pieces of information at once, which is better than most but still a bit annoying.

I have had it lock up on me a few times as well, which is horrible in busy city centres when you are taking lots of turns.

One other thing worth mentioning is that the keyboard entry is buggy, and does not support holding down on letters to get numbers (detects it as 2 presses of that letter instead) with the Sense keyboard.

Any comments, tips, amendments, ideas or suggestions are welcome!