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Alk - Sneak Peak at CoPilot v9
Article by: Darren Griffin
Date: 17 Feb 2011
 Alk gave us a sneak preview of CoPilot Live v9 when we visited their stand at MWC2011.
This latest version of CoPilot is receiving final tweaks but David Quinn, Marketing Manager at Alk gave us a demo of the software and explained the new features and the thinking behind them ahead of the launch. Version 9 is a ground up re-design of the software with a new layout, vastly improved menu system and a number of new features.
The map display is now cleaner with all the information users expect but displayed in a simple dashboard style display across the bottom of the display. The menus have been re-designed so that all options are only one or two finger presses away from the top level, no more options buried 5 or more layers down.
Another new feature is the the map is now clickable in the main view. You can pan, zoom and select destinations or look up information on a street or location from the main view. Selecting a location brings up an information page with options to add to favourites, add to a trip and share via Facebook and/or Twitter.
Another nice feature, new to CoPilot although already seen on other systems is that for every route calculated, up to 3 alternatives are offered to you, allowing you the freedom to choose a preferred option.
Other features include Bing local search and traffic (available as an in-app purchase). Alk are hoping for a release early April and we will of course keep you informed.
  
 
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| Comments
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 Posted by Darren on Thu Feb 17, 2011 2:29 pm |
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And I notice TechRadar are calling their preview, a 'review'!
Quite how anyone can review an app having spent 20mins with it inside a trade hall I shall never understand. And it's unfinished software at that!
Darren Griffin |
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| Posted by mrclonkey on Fri Feb 18, 2011 9:39 am |
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mmmm - I've been using various satnav on smartphones for years and TomTom Navigator has always been head and shoulders above the rest for route planning. I bought an android phone recently and, with no TomTom option for android, I tried copilot (briefly) - awful!! Route planning was bizarre - nowhere near the best route compared with TomTom. Dundee to Lancashire was the worst route of all. If only TomTom would remove their heads from their *rses and get a version out for android smartphones!!! What on earth are they up to??
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| Posted by coconut on Fri Feb 18, 2011 9:42 am |
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Will Version 9 have the QWERTY Keyboard layout ?
.... and any news on the Version 8 QWERTY keyboard thatwas promised
Sooooooooooooo Long ago, but (AFAIK) never delivered ?
iPhone SE, TomTom Go 5000, Garmin Zumo XT. |
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| Posted by Darren on Fri Feb 18, 2011 10:03 am |
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| coconut Wrote: | Will Version 9 have the QWERTY Keyboard layout ?
.... and any news on the Version 8 QWERTY keyboard thatwas promised
Sooooooooooooo Long ago, but (AFAIK) never delivered ? |
Sorry, i don't recall seeing the keyboard on the iPhone demo.
Darren Griffin |
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| Posted by Chriscward on Fri Feb 18, 2011 11:11 am |
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I'm using Copilot 8 and it does use a qwerty keyboard on the iPhone and iPad.
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| Posted by topgearuk on Fri Feb 18, 2011 2:36 pm |
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| mrclonkey Wrote: | | mmmm - I've been using various satnav on smartphones for years and TomTom Navigator has always been head and shoulders above the rest for route planning. I bought an android phone recently and, with no TomTom option for android, I tried copilot (briefly) - awful!! Route planning was bizarre - nowhere near the best route compared with TomTom. Dundee to Lancashire was the worst route of all. If only TomTom would remove their heads from their *rses and get a version out for android smartphones!!! What on earth are they up to?? |
Couldn't agree with you more.... It would be nice if they could up there game and make a real alternative.
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| Posted by Darren on Fri Feb 18, 2011 2:45 pm |
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| mrclonkey Wrote: | | If only TomTom would remove their heads from their *rses and get a version out for android smartphones!!! What on earth are they up to?? |
They have a version for smartphones - TomTom iPhone. And there are good options for Android already including Sygic and Navigon. If you want TomTom maps then there will be Route66 very soon.
Whether we will ever see a Windows Phone 7 version is moot, Nokia own Navteq and so, with the Microsoft tie up it would be very interesting for TomTom to dip their toes in on that platform.
Darren Griffin |
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| Posted by Bazzer on Fri Feb 18, 2011 9:21 pm |
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After using the serious flawed Copilot 5 many years ago and dealing with their inept support desk, I wouldn't touch anything ALK produced again. TomTom all the way for me.
Garmin DriveSmart 61 LMT-D
TomTom Go 50 - Going in the BIN
TomTom Go 730 (RIP)
Garmin Montana 650
Garmin Oregon 45oT
Garmin Edge 1000
Tracklogs Digital Mapping |
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| Posted by therm on Sun Feb 20, 2011 8:45 am |
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Having just bought Copilot live 8 I wonder how much ALK are going to charge for the upgrade?
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| Posted by Darren on Sun Feb 20, 2011 10:29 am |
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| therm Wrote: | | Having just bought Copilot live 8 I wonder how much ALK are going to charge for the upgrade? |
ALK did say that they would be working something our for existing customers. The issue is complex as there isn't a path for upgrades in Appstore.
But they are looking at other options to recognise loyal customers.
Darren Griffin |
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| Posted by MaFt on Mon Feb 21, 2011 9:40 am |
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Simple solution: release a 'free' version to appstore that only functions when you add a specific code to it. To get the code you go to Alk's site, enter your existing details and pay the upgrade fee... Apple might not be happy though!
MaFt
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