Samsung Fascinate and "Navigation"

Hello all,

I got my Verizon Samsung Fascinate almost a month ago along with the Motorola Droid X. Just wanted to say that I am really looking forward to Android 2.2 (Froyo) and really hope that Verizon will "come to their senses" and remove Bing from being the "Default" for this otherwise Fantastic smartphone!

The other day I was taking my sister to turn in her Lease Vehicle. I had both the Fascinate (added another line to put it on) and the Droid X (which I put on my Primary Line, replacing my Original Motorola Droid), so I punched the address to the Dealership (which was about 40mins away) into the Droid X and started on my way.

I was curious about Navigation on the Fascinate, so I attempted to program the address into it. I think I did a Search for the address (via Bing) and I was then prompted to use VZ Navigator or Bing Maps. First off, the Fascinate is a Google Android phone. Android has the free Google Maps app, so why would I pay Verizon for VZ Navigation when Google is free? Secondly, when I pulled up Bing Maps I was only given a map if the actual route, sort of like Mapquest or Yahoo Maps & Directions, minus the Turn-By-Turn Voice Directions and GPS Location Updates. Therefore, what good is it to have Bing as the Default Search and Map app?

I know I am not the only one that feels this way...just wanted to add my two cents.

LJackson10

Thanks for the info. A little nervous about the "Rooting" and all, but then again, the Fascinate is not on my Primary Line, my Droid X is. Thus, it shouldn't hurt to play around with the Fascinate a bit. I am fairly good with computers, so, with these phone being "mini-computers" now it should not be all that difficult. As long as I can get it "back to stock" there should be nothing to worry about. OK, I think I'm "going in". Say a prayer for me...smiles.

LJackson10

After doing a little more research on this, I tried an app called GPStest.  If you start that up, and let it find a few satelites, you'll be able to hook right up to navigation.  I just have to let that run for 2 or 3 minutes, then I'm able to log on to all my other gps apps. 

It's worked good so far for the last 2 days at least.  I know it's kind of a bandade for the problem, but at least I'm able to use the phone like it's supposed to be used.  I tried the navagation on my way to work this morning, and it worked great.  This was also the 1st time I've ever been able to log on to GPSstatus. 

"really hope that Verizon will "come to their senses" and remove Bing from being the "Default" for this otherwise Fantastic smartphone!"
-> Verizon won't remove Bing on froyo update, but they will let us use Bing and Google search at the same time.

"Fascinate is a Google Android phone. Android has the free Google Maps app, so why would I pay Verizon for VZ Navigation when Google is free?"
-> Yes! That's strange, isn't it?

"when I pulled up Bing Maps I was only given a map if the actual route, sort of like Mapquest or Yahoo Maps & Directions, minus the Turn-By-Turn Voice Directions and GPS Location Updates. Therefore, what good is it to have Bing as the Default Search and Map app?"
-> I didn't even bother using Bing Maps. I'm sure you already have google map installed by now.  Make sure to 1. "use my location for google search" under privacy is checked; 2. Under location & security, uncheck on "VZW location services" and check on "Google location services".

The point is moot regardless, rooted or not. The aGPS on the Fascinate sucks because its only meant to work with Bing and VZNavigator. Google Maps/Nav will work after 5-10 minutes of forcing it to track GPS satelites with 'GPS Status'.

I agree with the post on downloading google maps.  I use it all the time and it is awesome.  It is as accurate as mu nuvii.  I have tried verizon naviagtor and it just does not work as well.  Only concern is that the audio is not very loud.