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Arkon, in recent effort to change their image, is offering the MobiNavigator software with their new GPS-enabled cradles. In this review we’ll take a look at the application, with lots of screenshots for your viewing pleasure. Read on to see how the software performed.
INTRODUCTION
MobiNavigator, like other Pocket PC navigation software, can be installed on a laptop computer.
WHAT’S HOT
The software has a desktop component,
SETUP
the map loader, that need to be installed along with it. Insert disc 1
into your computer and run the install file with your Pocket PC
connected, the software will install on both your computer and the
device. Then you’ll make your map by selecting states/regions or by
entering a central location with a radius. It’s advised to have
some type of extra storage, SD or CF, for the maps as a single state can
easily take up to 50MB. Transfer the map data over to the Pocket PC and
you’ll be done with the install. You’ll need to configure the software
and get it communicating with the GPS receiver, see your GPS receiver
instructions for help on this.
The
map loader software.
Once you’ve set yourself up in the car and
PROGRAM FEATURES
started the software you’ll be ready to go. You
might have to select your GPS device again, I
couldn’t really determine a pattern as to when
though. If you do own any other GPS software there’s
a strong chance you’ll notice similarities between
this and other GPS software. I own Dell’s
software as well and the underlying software itself
is the same, just different interfaces. In reality, most of the GPS software around is based on
Netropa’s Intellinav software so a lot of it is the
same.
When
you start up you’ll see the safety warning reminding
you not to enter data while driving and that Arkon
and Netropa aren’t to blame if you do.
This is the main screen of the display. The majority
of the time will be spent viewing this screen. On
the left is the day display and on the right the
night display. This can be set in the options. From
the main screen you can access the menu or various
shortcuts. Tapping the red speaker icon will bring
up the sound menu, the blue menu button will bring
up the menu button, and clicking the plus or minus
will zoom in or out, respectively.
Viewing the map in 3D will allow for an angled perspective on your travels. The setting can be changed in the display options. I tend to primarily keep the view in 2D since it allows for an easier view of the road names as you drive
There are also numerous color options available. Here we see grey, which probably won’t be anyone’s favorite color
White is also a color option and will aid in things standing out more clearly. You can also see the hospital icon on the map, you’ll see things like this as you drive around which could be useful in an emergency or if you’re in an unfamiliar area.
Here is the fuchsia night view.
Here
you can see the menu screen.
Set
Destination will allow you to enter the address in
multiple ways. Address allows you to manually
enter the address with some assistance from the
software. Intersection will allow you to pick
an intersection much as an address is entered.
City center and points of interest will give you a
pre-made list of places by your area.
As
you enter the name of the street it will filter down
the selection, often leaving you to only type out
the first few letters and then possibly picking one
of the few remaining words. Once you select a street
it will show you the range of numbered address on
that street. The magnify icon will go to the
next match and the red X will take you back on
screen.
Using the Points of Interest section, you’ll have a
wealth of pre-entered destinations at your hand. It
lists a wide array of places, from my college and
the pizza place across the street to nearly all the
locations of my bank. All just a few taps away.
The
volume control menu is about a simple as it can be.
The
route options will allow you to set conditions on
route planning.
Control how the map is displayed in the Display
Options menu.
The
GPS screen will display all the relevant GPS
information.
If
you choose you can record your route info in the
form of a GPS Log File for later review.
You
can set the speed alert to be automatic or manual.
The precision in which the speed is calculated is a
little slow and isn’t 100% accurate so it shouldn’t
be used in place of a speedometer but will serve as
a reminder that you’re at least speeding.
The
program itself provides multiple ways to access
features, between the graphic menu and the toolbars
you have at least two ways to get to almost every
feature.
Tools will allow you access to most of the options
themselves. Safety features are the speed alert and
a fog driving setting. Input options are which
keyboard you prefer to use, theirs or the standard
Pocket PC one.
The view menu lets you adjust the view.
One
feature not accessible elsewhere is the Almanac. It’s
essentially the sunrise and sunset times and the
status of the moon. It’s odd to include it, but it’s
nifty none the less.
The other interesting feature is the weather option.
It opens it in Pocket IE but it will provide all the
current weather info for the city you’re in and the
forecast for the next few days. Provided you have
net access available, you can essentially get the
forecast for wherever you are traveling through.
It’s a nice touch.
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HELP SUPPORT
good in program help. There are a few things
missing, information on the almanac and weather
doesn’t exist, but they’re mostly painfully obvious
features that don’t need to be explained. The
sections that need to be covered are and in good
detail, not only telling you how to use a feature
but what it is exactly, like fog driving (it alerts
you to upcoming intersections with an audible tone).
OPTIONS
version of the software.
SYSTEM
REQUIREMENTS
A Windows Mobile 2003 (SE) Pocket PC is required to use
the software, there is no Windows Mobile 5.0 support. Memory size of the actual program is
limited but you’ll need around 50MB for a map of
your area, though the size will vary based on the
size of the map you wish to make.
BUGS AND
WISHES
In testing this software I discovered no obvious
bugs. Wishes, I have a few. It annoyingly tried to
establish a Bluetooth connection just about every
time you run the software. The program itself is
rather slow when accessing menus off the main
screen, but nothing terrible. In general I’d like to
see a little more polish to the program as a whole -
especially on connecting to the GPS receiver, which
often proved finicky.
PURCHASING
MobiNavigator with maps of North America can be purchased directly
from
Arkon for $99.95 on it’s own (or the Europe version is available for $129.95). You can also
bundle the product with the new Arkon docking mount,
which we’ve already
reviewed, for $149.95
from
Arkon
Finally you can bundle the software, docking mount,
and GPS reciever together for $249.95
from
Arkon.
PROS
an almanac and weather section
software included
CONS
Mobile 5.0 support
issues
slow
Value
Ease of Use
Features
Overall
OVERALL IMPRESSION
it’s nothing new. While it is indeed a nice
application, it’s just Netropa’s GPS software
rewrapped like a lot of other software. Fact is
that if I try and run the Dell GPS software while
the Arkon software is running, it just opens the
Arkon program back up and vice versa. I did enjoyed
the laptop software option and the almanac and
weather features. If you already own a piece of GPS
software there’s a good chance it’s mostly the same,
check the Program Featuers section for a mention of Netropa.
The final call comes down to a need, if you need new
GPS software then Arkon’s MobiNavigator is worth the
buy, otherwise save your money.
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