iGo My Way iPhone GPS navigation app: Review

Attractive design and useful features, but a few wrinkles that are likely to improve with updates

Like other iPhone navigation applications we have tested, the iGo My Way software from NNG Global Services looks and operates like a traditional portable navigation device. In fact, it has a similar interface to the Nextar 43LT portable navigation device (PND), though it performs better on the iPhone platform than on that mediocre unit.

Purchased through the iTunes store, iGo My Way has a one-time fee, and the downloadable application includes maps and points of interest. Consequently, My Way does not need cellular or Wi-Fi coverage to navigate. Updates are managed through iTunes, and quarterly map updates are free through December 2010.

We paid $79.99 for version 1.1, which included a map database covering the entire United States and Canada. It uses 1.03 GB of memory.

Key features include:

• Five languages
• 3D buildings
• Lane assistance
• Reality view
• U.S. and Canada maps
• Landscape and portrait view
• Free quarterly map updates through Dec. 2010
• iPod integration

Initial impressions

The iGo My Way benefits from the iPhone platform, providing a more vivid screen, better touch sensitivity, and a more fluid menu structure than the similar Nextar PND does. It includes several welcomed features, such as lane assistance, location help, reality view, speed-limit icons, and automatic adjustment for day and night display. A neat extra feature is three-dimensional rendering of major landmarks, such as famous buildings. (The company claims to offer 3D terrain mapping, as well, but we did not observe this in our testing.) There is a generous selection of icon vehicles to choose as the navigation pointer.

Rather than use the standard iPhone onscreen keypad for address entry, iGo My Way has a custom design. The keys are arranged alphabetically in portrait mode, and it has a QWERTY layout common to computer keyboards when in landscape mode. The setup allows for larger buttons than are typical, making address entry easier. It goes one step further, with predictive data entry, a feature that we appreciate on PNDs that grays out impossible letter combinations (based on its database), speeding up address entry. (With each letter entered, it filters out impossible combinations.) This was the first application we have tested on the iPhone with this feature, but the Magellan RoadMate application now has this feature, as well.

Once an address is entered, My Way asks for confirmation of the desired route type: Fast, Short, Economical, or Easy. The routes are displayed from an aerial-map view; selecting one of the routes highlights the associated roads on the map that a user will take.

It is lacking some useful features commonly found on PNDs, such as text to speech (for spoken street names), a directions list, multi-destination routing (only one via point can be inserted per trip), and the ability to exclude a road.

In terms of iPhone integration, iGo My Way has made some strides. It now offers a nice interface for music playback with the ability to access the user's music library. The interface is full screen with large buttons for pause, play, previous, next, and shuffle controls. The artist, title, and song timeline are also displayed on the music interface. So far it is one of the nicer layouts for music control. Aside from music integration, it is possible to route to a stored destination from the user's contact list, and iGo My Way also has the ability to call POIs.

The downside of its integration is in relation to call handling, After a phone call ends, the user must tap the screen to get to the map view to return to the active route. The navigation program takes some time to start again, and we found that it can get stuck on the opening product screen, and consequently one of the largest complaints of the software.

Like other iPhone applications we have tested from Navigon, TomTom, and XRoad, the iGo My Way has compromised GPS accuracy—a trait that appears to be inherent to the phone. The GPS will often place the current position on a surrounding road, rather than the road on which a user is traveling. This can cause the software to recalculate and confuse the driver. The remedy for this problem is an additional purchase of a car kit. Currently TomTom and Magellan are providing a product that enhances GPS reception, adds hands free calling, and improves sound quality while also addressing the need for a mounting and charging solutions.

Because it is a software application, iGo is expected to make ongoing refinements, as we have seen with some competitors. Specifically, iGo My Way will benefit by including features such as Text-to-speech, a directions list, and connected features such as traffic integration in future updates.

CR's take

The iGo My Way application is a solid iPhone navigation app. Its software interface is similar to the best Nextar PND we tested, but that dedicated navigator scored lower than competitors from leading brands.

The iGo My Way software has a pleasing design and layout, a competitive price, and some useful features, but it lacks some elements that make navigating easier. My Way is expected to improve as updates are released.

Our advice remains that a PND would be a better option for most drivers, as the purpose-built device is typically more accurate and reliable. It is ready to work right out of the box, and it can be readily shared with family and friends. If a user is adamant about having one do-it-all gadget, there are better options on the iPhone for similar prices. Namely, applications such as Navigon TomTom, and Magellan offer more functionality and refinement.

For more information on portable GPS navigation systems, see our special section with Ratings (available to subscribers) and buying advice. Discuss GPS with other shoppers and owners in the forums.