Copilot Live 6

[W90BHP]

Any idea when Copilot 6 will be released?

I'm about ready to upgrade from 4, but am concious that 5 has been around for a while now so it might be worth hanging on for 6.

Martin
_________________
LG G4: Android 6 : Viewranger : CoPilot : Waze
TomTom Go 730T : Traffic subscription long expired
Nokia E61 : Nokia GPS : TomTom Navigator 6 : Retired from duty
iPAQ 3970 : Navman Sleeve : CoPilot 4 : Somewhere in the loft

[Skippy]

[W90BHP]

Indeed - I have read the various comments and have decided that Copilot 5 doesn't offer me much more than my current version 4, so I will wait for the next major release.

Martin
_________________
LG G4: Android 6 : Viewranger : CoPilot : Waze
TomTom Go 730T : Traffic subscription long expired
Nokia E61 : Nokia GPS : TomTom Navigator 6 : Retired from duty
iPAQ 3970 : Navman Sleeve : CoPilot 4 : Somewhere in the loft

[clivers]

i'll agree with skippy. mine £100+ cd is gathering dust in the draw
_________________
Ipaq 3970, Ipaq 2210 X2, Smart ST V1, Tomtom V3+V5, CoPilot V5, AA Navigator, Tomtom Bluetooth GPS, Navman 3450i Jacket, Navman Bluetooth GPS, Holux GM270, Fortuna GPS-PocketXtrack
, Tomtom GO V5 Classic, Road Angel Classic.

[PONDEROUS]

A strange thing happened to me the other day...

Having changed my PDA, I had to reinstall Copilot 5 and reactivate it over the internet. Since then, every time I run the programme it starts by announcing the availability of Copilot 6 and inviting me to log onto the following address for details:

www.ALK.eu.com/cppc6

The address does not work (surprise?), but it is clear that ALK must intend to issue a new version very soon. I shall watch with interest and with concern, for several reasons.

First, as Skippy so rightly says, CP 5 still does not work properly.

Second, only a few weeks ago, ALK launched a new version in Australia (which it calls CP 5 Australia), and, according to users down there, it appears that it has the very same routing faults that we in the UK had previously been describing for more than six months. Does this mean that ALK propose selling CP 6 with the same faults as CP 5?

Third, Dave Burrows, now on the ALK staff and previously (?) of this forum, has invited users to report bugs in CP 5 (please see thread entitled Announcement: CoPilot Live Bug Reporting). However, he also says that routing algorithm faults will most likely have to be corrected “in the next major release”. He said this at about the same time as I received the announcement of CP 6. Therefore, I am bound to ask, which major release does he mean? CP 6, CP, CP 8 or…???? By the way, in this long-awaited, if surreptitious, admission that the algorithms need fixing, the only reason that Mr Burrows offers for the routing errors is that some issues

[Tim Buxton]

Ponderous,

I'm only addressing this point, since I've never used Co-Pilot in anger.

[PONDEROUS]

Thank you, Tim Buxton, for your reply. Any issues that only Navteq can correct will, of course, need to be corrected by them

The point I was making, however, was that Dave Burrows's statement implies that Navteq's mapping errors excuse ALK's own failures, or that there are none of theirs of any significance. I refer, for example to the failure to remedy Copilot's miscalculation of Shortest and Quickest routes, or the continued problems with waypoints. These and many other problems with Copliot have nothing to do with the mapping issues that you mention.

Another matter that needs to be understood is that failures caused by a subcontractor (e.g. Navteq) does not excuse the marketing by the main contractor (ALK) of a product that is affected by those failures.

For ALK to make any progress, it needs to start listening and facing the facts.

[Skippy]

[PONDEROUS]

I can add Autoroute to Skippy's list of applications that use Navteq maps but have none of Copilot's errors.

If, as Skippy rightly says, charging money to fix a seriously flawed programme would be a dirty trick, then what about the ethics of marketing another version of Copilot in the knowledge that the errors have not been fixed.

If that happens, then I cannot wait to read the reviews. I wonder if they will include Dave Burrows's now immortal words from his review of version 5:

[Bazzer]

Interestingly, I was contacted by ALK yesterday concerning the ongoing problems with CP5.

They didn't have any immediate solution or upgrades to rectify any of my concerns.

Having read this thread, I asked the question about the proposed release of CP6, and was told that it is scheduled for mid September. I also commented that I hoped it would fix the many problems that are being experienced.

In reply, ALK asked if I would be willing to be a beta-tester for the forthcoming release to iron out any possible bugs before the actual release. I agreed to this.

I don't know if and when I may receive a beta version, which I would test in my local area. I may also be able to test any specific problems other have an issue with.

I'll let you know if this happens.

Baz

[clivers]

Well it looks like stuff V5 users here comes 6

So STUFF you ALK
_________________
Ipaq 3970, Ipaq 2210 X2, Smart ST V1, Tomtom V3+V5, CoPilot V5, AA Navigator, Tomtom Bluetooth GPS, Navman 3450i Jacket, Navman Bluetooth GPS, Holux GM270, Fortuna GPS-PocketXtrack
, Tomtom GO V5 Classic, Road Angel Classic.

[Skippy]

[jdw7]

If they attempt to bring out 6 as a paid for upgrade without ever delivering live traffic on 5, I for one will sue their arses off. Thank you.

[PONDEROUS]

Don't get too excited, Bazzer. I too was asked to be a beta tester some months ago. Having spent many hours writing descriptions of the problems and making suggestions, but refusing to refrain from airing them on the forums, I have been cut off and cannot get a call returned or any emails answered.

Is it really as it appears? Are beta-tester offers made to those who persist in raising problems in the hope that they can be bought off? If that is not the case, then perhaps ALK would like to explain on this forum.

On the other hand, since I never did receive any beta software to test before or after airing further views on the forum, I now wonder under what circumstances - if any - those supposedly appointed as beta testers actually get to test anything at all.

Another possibility, I suppose, is that ALK have acquired the belief that the distorted view of CP 5 for so long promoted by their newly acquired member of staff Mr Burrows is actually real.

If none of these explanations holds good, then just how do ALK justify their conduct? Please reply, ALK, I am sure that prospective purchasers and existing ones alike will be interested in what you say.

By the way, I too was told September 2005 for CP 6 when, four days ago, I rang their Technical support, so watch this space!!!

I was also promised, the same day, that I would be rung back or emailed the next day with phone numbers for the beta tester list organiser and David Quin, the UK ALK Sales supremo - i.e. the one who has failed to answer so many emails. Of course, as I fully expected, I have heard nothing.

One further point: was there, as it appears, a period during which Mr Burows was dismissing forum users' criticisms of Copilot's products (and apparently throwing tantrums when his ponouncements were questioned) while holding himself and his colleagues out as independent, but while also eith under offer of his position with ALK or actually employed by them?

[lbendlin]

I can answer the last part. There was no such period. As soon as "Mr. Burrows" got the ALK job offer he told the team and we agreed he should suspend his activity in the CoPilot forum - which he did.
_________________
Lutz

Report Map Errors here:
TomTom/TeleAtlas NAVTEQ

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