Skip to Content

CoPilot Live now offers almost complete nav app for free

by Mel Martin Jan 20th 2010 at 3:00PM

ALK Technologies, the creators of CoPilot Live, have released a free version of their navigation app with some catches.

The free version, called CoPilot Directions [iTunes link] has turn-by-turn navigation, trip planning and 2D maps. You can download the whole map database over Wi-Fi (not via iTunes) or you can download individual states or cities to save space on your iPhone.

If you download the free version, you get a free, 30-day sample of the complete app, including voice navigation with street names, 3D views, and the ever important option to update to the full version. After 30 days users can opt to continue using premium voice-guided GPS navigation with a 12-month or 30-day subscription via in-app purchase ($19.99 and $2.99 respectively), or they can simply continue to enjoy free lifetime use of map-only, turn-by-turn directions.

CoPilot Directions sits alongside a feature-complete version called CoPilot Live North America [iTunes link], which costs U.S. $34.99 and allows in-app purchases of live services, like Traffic Reports, Gas Prices, and Live Local Search. We reviewed that version of the app and found it to be about average in terms of ease of use, accuracy of the database, and features. I don't see any way to update to CoPilot Live North America from CoPilot Directions, so if you go with Directions you are stuck and unable to recoup any of your investment. Potential buyers should carefully consider which way they go, because after a few years the subscription option gets expensive.

As a result, I think ALK has complicated, rather than simplified the choices for consumers. Even if you opt for two years of CoPilot Directions, it costs more than CoPilot Live North America.

The free version is fine, but without any voice prompts it's not the safest way to get from point A to point B.

CoPilot Directions also has run up a pretty significant negative score at the iTunes Store, with customers complaining mainly about the accuracy of the maps. Other were quite pleased with it, especially for the price.

ALK also offers versions for the UK and Ireland [iTunes link], as well as CoPilot Live Europe [iTunes link]. The app runs on the iPhone 3G and 3GS and requires at least version 3.0 of the iPhone OS.

View Tags

Related Stories

Categories

iPhone App Review

ALK Technologies, the creators of CoPilot Live, have released a free version of their navigation app with some catches. The free version,...
 

Add a Comment

Sign in »
*0 / 3000 Character Maximum

7 Comments

Filter by:
Daniel

I've had no problems with the maps from CoPilot.

January 20 2010 at 11:08 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Bill

Well based upon this I gave the app a try...after unsuccessfully trying to download the Florida maps (it just gives an error message with no explanation of the problem) it checked the website for possible information and found it lacking. So it went into my deleted pile.

January 20 2010 at 7:28 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Devon Valenti

Thanks for the write-up Mel, and we appreciate your forthright assessment.

Although the pricing might appear complicated, we are trying to offer users a variety of options at different price points, rather than forcing them to be locked into only one. And the turn-by-turn directions and map service remains free forever for users who opt not to subscribe to our premium features.

Keeping maps accurate and up-to-date is a real challenge for all navigation providers. In North America we use our proprietary database of detailed street level maps that is constantly updated. Some updates come from feedback directly from users through our MapSure service – which is a free service we provide to all CoPilot Live Directions and CoPilot Live North America users. We value this input and our mapping team looks into every comment. We verify the information, add it to our maps and distribute it along with other changes within 45 days.

And in response to the TTS comment above, we do provide TTS in the 30 day free trial of premium features. All you have to do is go into settings, language & voice and select the US English Frank voice. Frank will speak full street names!

Hope this information is helpful to everyone.

Devon Valenti
Marketing Manager for CoPilot Live North America

January 20 2010 at 5:46 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
2 replies to Devon Valenti's comment
Alex

I live in Columbus, OH. The maps for CoPilot North America are so outdated that I had to simply uninstall the app and go back to using Google Maps. It's unfortunate that I spent the money to buy a full-fledged GPS app, only to find that the maps could not be trusted.

January 20 2010 at 11:02 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Patrick

I have to agree with Alex, I have found this application to be far less than accurate.

I live in Highlands Ranch, Colorado, which while being one of the newer areas of the state has still been around for several decades. There have been several time were CoPilot has been unable to find an address. Additionally there when the application was able to find the address, the map display would show my location as either being somewhere between streets or even a street or two over.

Sadly, the TTS abilities are also below par. During the few times that the app both knew the address I was going to and managed to place my location on the correct street, it would announce a turn after I've passed it, no matter what I had the announce distance set to.

To round out my complaint is the slow speed which the application itself loads, the sluggish menus and the several times it's frozen in mid-direction giving.

I highly suggest anyone considering this to take full advantage of the free trial offer, I just wished it had been available when I purchased CoPilot Live.

January 21 2010 at 1:37 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
smokey

Unfortunately there isn't a UK version of Directions.

Hopefully it is coming soon....
Come on ALK, make it happen!

January 20 2010 at 4:26 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Mystic

First, I love this business model. I use it on GPS Drive and it's wonderful to only pay for when I need it.

Secondly, I find it amusing that people are complaining about inaccurate maps when all of the nav apps (except google and tomtom) use Navteq maps, which I have said all along are 10+ years out of date in my tests.

January 20 2010 at 3:49 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Buy an ad here

Hot Apps on TUAW

Tweets

© 2012 AOL Inc. All Rights Reserved.