Not entirley true.
The Nav mount is matched to the Nav unit, that is true,
but if you put a basic nav mount ( power only) onto any of your bikes you can transfer the Nav unit it as easily as a phone or car type sat nav
The Nav unit will still function on a non BMW unit, you just loose the extra stuff thats tied in ie (Wheel control / extra display ) etc.
In terms of the type Nav units and functionality, they all perform differently.
Pheone -
Will do Nav , but invariably needs mobile data & location services to lock / function (cell/ mast info & GPS)
Car/bike nav unit -
Dedicated unit does not need cell / mobile data to operate but needs to get a gps data lock to orient itself ( struggles indoors)
Handheld GPS -
Dedicated GPS unit, does not come with road mapping - but will give your location - map position anywhere you have the correct map loaded.
Will get a gps lock near on anywhere .
It's unfortunate there is still a lot of BS being touted as evidence that a dedicated GPS is better. There are some real advantages to using one instead of a phone, but outweighed IN MY OPINION by the disadvantages. However, claiming that phones need cellular data in order to get a fix and are susceptible to vibration etc is simply wrong. Please, argue either case with facts, or opinions based on those facts, not nonsense like this.
To be more specific in response to what was stated earlier, Apple products are not flaky and their iPhone is not particularly fragile. The only problem I have had in over 10 years SatNav'ing around Europe has been with a dedicated SatNav device or an accessory being used with the iPhone. An iPhone has NEVER failed on me. Do I think there's any need for a backup device? Not on my usual trips no as I will be travelling with others and there will ALWAYS be another mobile device that could be used in an emergency. If I was travelling alone on a world tour? That's a different matter entirely and requires a different mind set and plan, with emergency backup contingency plans and is not really relevant to a simple dedicated GPS device vs. mobile phone debate.
I think we can all agree that trying to use a phone for SatNav with just an on-line mapping app (Google or Apple maps etc) is an inferior solution. The comparison is really between a dedicated device such as BMW offer for their bikes (or other similar device) vs. a mobile phone used with a dedicated SatNav app with off-line, i.e. fully downloaded map data. So in each case the maps are already there on the device and the GPS should be working in an equivalent manner (if not, I suggest there's a problem with the device). The comparison is therefore between the actual usage of each device. How it connects to and interfaces with the vehicle. How YOU interface with the device and what is required to operate it.
I am still firmly in the mobile phone camp on this. It's not a perfect solution, but for me, it's better than having to integrate an additional device into my biking life. I would never use a BMW Nav. device from a GS in my car and I would NEVER go out on a walk with it and if I find myself out and about in need of directional guidance, there's NO chance it would EVER just happen to be in my pocket. However, my mobile phone has got all those covered and since I am therefore very familiar with using it, adapting it for use on the bike is a no-brainer. But that is JMO. Others obviously prefer the fact that the BMW Nav is (possibly) better integrated into the bike and maybe easier to use with gloves and these are valid points, but for me they are outweighed by the advantages I have experienced using a mobile phone. Even simple things like making it easier to unpack and walk into the Hotel at the end of each day and vice versa in the morning. iPhone off the bike and in my pocket, helmet in one hand and bag in the other. Anything else is a faff and since I'm normally the one who planned the trip, gives me time to organise our arrival with the hotel while everyone else struggles getting all their stuff (and SatNavs) off their bikes etc.
One of the biggest remaining problems for my use of SatNav on longer trips is planning the route and transferring that to the device. I have been using the CoPilot app for many years now and although excellent in many ways, its developers are deaf when it comes to requests from users for the ability to copy routes from computer (PC, Mac) to the phone. However from the mention here of the WunderLINQ adapter I have become aware of the Scenic app which does provide such functionality and on my next trip I look forward to trying that - on the iPhone of course.
It's unfortunate there is still a lot of BS being touted as evidence that a dedicated GPS is better. There are some real advantages to using one instead of a phone, but outweighed IN MY OPINION by the disadvantages. However, claiming that phones need cellular data in order to get a fix and are susceptible to vibration etc is simply wrong. Please, argue either case with facts, or opinions based on those facts, not nonsense like this.
To be more specific in response to what was stated earlier, Apple products are not flaky and their iPhone is not particularly fragile. The only problem I have had in over 10 years SatNav'ing around Europe has been with a dedicated SatNav device or an accessory being used with the iPhone. An iPhone has NEVER failed on me. Do I think there's any need for a backup device? Not on my usual trips no as I will be travelling with others and there will ALWAYS be another mobile device that could be used in an emergency. If I was travelling alone on a world tour? That's a different matter entirely and requires a different mind set and plan, with emergency backup contingency plans and is not really relevant to a simple dedicated GPS device vs. mobile phone debate.
I think we can all agree that trying to use a phone for SatNav with just an on-line mapping app (Google or Apple maps etc) is an inferior solution. The comparison is really between a dedicated device such as BMW offer for their bikes (or other similar device) vs. a mobile phone used with a dedicated SatNav app with off-line, i.e. fully downloaded map data. So in each case the maps are already there on the device and the GPS should be working in an equivalent manner (if not, I suggest there's a problem with the device). The comparison is therefore between the actual usage of each device. How it connects to and interfaces with the vehicle. How YOU interface with the device and what is required to operate it.
I am still firmly in the mobile phone camp on this. It's not a perfect solution, but for me, it's better than having to integrate an additional device into my biking life. I would never use a BMW Nav. device from a GS in my car and I would NEVER go out on a walk with it and if I find myself out and about in need of directional guidance, there's NO chance it would EVER just happen to be in my pocket. However, my mobile phone has got all those covered and since I am therefore very familiar with using it, adapting it for use on the bike is a no-brainer. But that is JMO. Others obviously prefer the fact that the BMW Nav is (possibly) better integrated into the bike and maybe easier to use with gloves and these are valid points, but for me they are outweighed by the advantages I have experienced using a mobile phone. Even simple things like making it easier to unpack and walk into the Hotel at the end of each day and vice versa in the morning. iPhone off the bike and in my pocket, helmet in one hand and bag in the other. Anything else is a faff and since I'm normally the one who planned the trip, gives me time to organise our arrival with the hotel while everyone else struggles getting all their stuff (and SatNavs) off their bikes etc.
One of the biggest remaining problems for my use of SatNav on longer trips is planning the route and transferring that to the device. I have been using the CoPilot app for many years now and although excellent in many ways, its developers are deaf when it comes to requests from users for the ability to copy routes from computer (PC, Mac) to the phone. However from the mention here of the WunderLINQ adapter I have become aware of the Scenic app which does provide such functionality and on my next trip I look forward to trying that - on the iPhone of course.
It's unfortunate there is still a lot of BS being touted as evidence that a dedicated GPS is better. There are some real advantages to using one instead of a phone, but outweighed IN MY OPINION by the disadvantages. However, claiming that phones need cellular data in order to get a fix and are susceptible to vibration etc is simply wrong. Please, argue either case with facts, or opinions based on those facts, not nonsense like this.
Very well put.
TomTom App which costs £15 per year including speed camera and traffic updates allows you to load gpx or itn routes via a pc or mac
Not for satellite fix but it does use it to intermittently check the licenses. I've had some apps not start because the app store could not be contacted to check the purchases of the app. Real great when you're in the middle of nowhere with no signal.
Also had issues with the iPhone overheating, admittedly this was back in the iPhone 4 days.
In the long run, I think this debate will be ended by Technology. The rumors has it that BMW is working on an removable TFT, and it's a waste to operate with two screens, where the GPS screen is far inferior to the TFT. Combined display has been around in cars for a few years now, and it is bound to come on bikes as well. Just imagine a pad with an Instruments app and a CAN bus adapter, and you have it all.
I can clearly see that in many ways the phone is way ahead of the GPS when we debate what is the most advanced contraption.
Personally, the way I prefer to use the GPS, the NAV is for me. I like it because it is rugged, takes a beating, may be used with gloves on and may be controlled by the wonderwheel, and it gets me where I think I want to og, as long as I manage to program it with the proper destination. It also integrates with the bikes sytems, even if the TFT has made such a requirement obsolete.
I do not, however, get offended by anyone not sharing my point of view. We must all do as we find is best for ourselves.
In the long run, I think this debate will be ended by Technology. The rumors has it that BMW is working on an removable TFT, and it's a waste to operate with two screens, where the GPS screen is far inferior to the TFT. Combined display has been around in cars for a few years now, and it is bound to come on bikes as well. Just imagine a pad with an Instruments app and a CAN bus adapter, and you have it all.
I agree that this is quite likely, though in the case of many cars the satnav and other non-critical display elements are on a secondary display. Once you start combining these on a single display, particularly when the external connectivity and processing power is provided by a smartphone app linked to the display, then there is always the possibility that critical stuff like speed display and system warnings might get corrupted or crashed by stuff like satnav displays, unless they can be completely electronically partitioned from each other.
It might be better and safer if BMW just produced a removable secondary display which would take the place of the current NAV, and take over the smartphone connectivity task from the instrument panel, possibly using industry standard Apple and Android car type connectivity which is being rapidly developed. This would give owners a choice of what satnav and other apps to use and display on this secondary screen, and would leave the now standard TFT dedicated to just being an instrument and bike systems menu display, not needing the current problematic and BMW specific smartphone Bluetooth connectivity. Why have the hassle and issues of developing and maintaining a BMW specific smartphone connector app when Android and Apple already provide one?
I have to say I have not experienced this. Until recently I would turn off data roaming when abroad (for cost reasons) and so not possible for any mobile data usage whatsoever and never had any problem with an app that refused to run due to that. I guess it might occur if it's the first time you have ever run the app, but I cannot imagine any app trying to do that on a regular basis. Of course, some apps are just front end interfaces to web servers and so they cannot run without a data connection, but we are specifically discussing off-line SatNav apps whose entire purpose is to NOT require any data connection so they should never have that problem.
Having said that, I have had a situation with CoPilot that wanted to update its maps and was unusable until I had downloaded them. However, that has never happened in normal usage and I may have inadvertently already started the update process prior to leaving so possibly my fault. It was annoying though to be out on the road and not being able to use that favourite SatNav app. Fortunately, as its a mobile phone I was simply able to use an alternative that I had available (cannot remember what that was now though).
The one overheating problem I have experienced (when it was packed in a heavily insulated waterproof cover) was also with an iPhone 4. Subsequently with later iPhones and more 'open' mounts, it has not re-occurred.
In cars, the combined screen where you mix navigation and car relevant data in one screen works fine, without the need for a phone to be connected. So the technology is allready there. However, since the instrument panel is not too tall, and rather wide, a secondary screen is currently in use for detailed menues
On a bike, there is no need for locking to this format. Imagine replacing the current TFT and GPS with a tall TFT with an area covering the space for both units. This will provide plenty of space for a large map display with bike relevant information at the top or bottom, and when requred you may display a detailed menu for setup and so on. This could easy be done even with current tecnology, it's merly a question of making a sturdy display and write the proper software. I feel quite confident that since even stupid me can think of this, brains supperior to mine has toyed with this potential for quite a while.