Entered CNET Catalog: 10/06/2003
SKU: CLP4NACF
Manufacturer: TravRoute Software
Manufacturer description
CoPilot Live | Pocket PC 4 is now loaded with powerful new features, all designed to handle the tricks and distractions of every day travel while you concentrate on driving. Customizable Display lets you decide which pieces of navigation information are displayed on CoPilot Live's screen. You can choose among current Road, Crossroad, Current Time, Speed, Elevation or Nearest Town. Lane Change Warnings alert you to upcoming left exits, ensuring that you have plenty of time to safely get to the proper side of the highway. Side of Street Notification tells you which side of the street your destination is on, making it easier to locate the right building when you arrive. Waypoints let you tailor your route preferences and allow you to pass through a particular area on the way to your final destination. POI Import capability allows you to import and manage custom Points-of-Interest. Build your own POI database from personal contacts, popular destinations, or third-party lists. Regionalized POIs mean you can download only the Points-of-Interest that are within your chosen map area, saving you space while giving you access to more than 3 millions POIs across the country. Routing Options have been expanded to include Auto Quickest, Auto Shortest, RV Quickest and RV Shortest. This CoPilot Live | Pocket PC 4 comes with GPS Software for continental US.Product summary
The good: Very easy-to-generate turn-by-turn driving directions; overall solid driving directions; integrates with Pocket Outlook; Bluetooth; includes 12-volt car power adapter.
The bad: Driving directions are occasionally confusing; sometimes sends you the wrong way down one-way streets.
The bottom line: For turn-by-turn directions, GPS mapping doesn't get much easier than this.
Editors' review
- Editors' Choice: No
- Reviewed on: 01/05/2004
ALK Technologies' CoPilot Live Pocket PC 4 ($349 direct) is possibly one of the simplest-to-use GPS-mapping kits we've seen. Once the hardware and the software are working on your Pocket PC, getting directions is simple.
The kit includes a 12-channel CompactFlash receiver based on the SiRFstarIIe chipset, and the entire bundle weighs 2.1 ounces and measures 2.9 by 1.6 by 3.4 inches. (At press time, ALK started offering an updated receiver based on the SiRFstarIIe/LP chipset.) Although the receiver draws its power from the Pocket PC device, the kit conveniently comes with a 12-volt car adapter and includes an external antenna with a built-in magnet for placement on a car roof.
We found the CoPilot Live desktop software easy to use. You can select an area of any size to download, and you may adjust which types of points of interest (POI) to include. You are limited by only your handheld's available memory; for example, the dataset for New York City with a 25-mile radius and all available POI took up 15MB.
As soon the receiver acquires the necessary signals, which can take a few minutes, the software automatically provides text-based and voice-based turn-by-turn directions to your chosen destination. If you miss a turn, it will recalculate a new route for you. The receiver is very responsive, minus some momentary losses of signal due to obstructions.
The handheld software also lets you display your current location on a map, edit the directions to your liking, or customize the data shown by the app. If the handheld has wireless Internet access, it can receive a text message or even a new trip from someone using the desktop software or ALK's Web site.
Overall, we found the driving directions accurate and easy to understand. However, they were occasionally confusing or even potentially dangerous (sending us the wrong way down one-way streets). Additionally, the interface gets somewhat vexing beyond the basics, though it's nothing that studying the instruction manual won't remedy.
While there are less expensive GPS-mapping packages available, few offer the ease of use that the CoPilot Live does. For the same level of performance but with a more advanced feature set, consider the $319 TeleType WorldNavigator.
User opinions
Select a User Opinion to view: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7out of 7 user reviews
Totally inaccurate maps in the USA
Pros: Nice looking interface, easier to input destination (still have to separate street, town, state, etc), instant messaging and online tracking features are cool, text-to-speech can announce points of interest along route as well as pronounce street names.
Cons: Frustratingly inaccurate maps... poor route navigation instructions sends driver down one way streets or up off-ramps the wrong way.
out of 7 user reviews
For the price, new version is worth it
Pros: Much improved use of SD memory Much improved mapping and turn graphics in version 5 New friendlier user interface in version 5 Reasonable speech Good PC companion program for preparing data transfer Activation now simplified and with better customer suppo
Cons: Still gets one way streets wrong Occasionally suggests entrances to streets that don't exist or have been closed off
out of 7 user reviews
Poor Customer Support & QA
Pros: ALK has good in-depth transportation & guidance experience - much reflected in the product. Efficient map storage & route calculations.
Cons: Expensive, especially now that there's plenty of capable competition. Buggy (especially considering the more vanilla aspects of my iPAQ setup.) Customer support that is consistently this bad usually indicates a company with going concern issues - eg comp
out of 7 user reviews
Perhaps the best GPS Program for PPC
Pros: -Great features -Good upgrade price -5.0 Version provide new views -Activation process a little improved
Cons: -Non-Promotional Price is outragous. -Understaff Customer Support -Somewhat confusing Directions
out of 7 user reviews
Don't buy yhis product!! Don't waste your money
Pros: Features and other things are fine but like these other folks beware of the company!!
Cons: Same issue as the other two!!.Support is worst and will get you staranded when you need them the most.
out of 7 user reviews
ALK technical support and documentation are very poor
Pros: Don't know, never had the chance to use due to there technical support hours and staff lack of knowledge
Cons: I was very excited when I recieved the package due it's available features. However, when setting up the software on the weekend, I tried to pair the bluetooth receiver to my phone, and there was no PIN written in the manual anywhere!!! I could not beli
out of 7 user reviews
Warning Warning Warning Do Not Buy!
Pros: When properly configured, installed, and activated copilot is a commendable GPS mapping system.
Cons: When properly configured, installed, and activated Copilot is a commendable GPS mapping system. ALK Technologies has a self-admitted atrocious activation system. What is most outrageous is that the company does NOT have 24/7 support for the online activa
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