Which is best to use the built in MG Navigation or Android Auto

[ptw]

Just got the new MG 3 Hybrid Trophy.

I have Sygic on my phone and it does pick up ok through Android Auto but it is very clunky, I have to set my route or any destination really on my phone first and then connect it with the USB cable, but frequently it loses the mapping. In contrast the MG built in Navigation works very well, the only problem is I can't get it to use my phone contacts or copy over all my exisitng favourites and routes that I created on Sygic. I'm fine at exporting the favourites and routes and then converting to any format for other sat nav apps but I can't find out how I coudl import them into the built in MG navigation. Does anyone know how to do this or have done it successfully.

For me Android Auto is too clunky perhaps the only way is to tediously enter everything again in the MG map and start from scratch, but if I do I also need to know if the MG app will update its maps or is this something you have to pay for?

 

[dStan]

Did you consider using Google Maps through Android Auto? It's the best solution for me

 

[Deleted member 18108]

I found the built in navigation to be too clunky for me. I use Google maps and find it suits my needs perfectly. The traffic updates being a major plus.

 

[ptw]

That's spooky, I've been looking at Google maps all day. But, try as I might I can't get it to search my phone contacts, I am using Google contacts and they are synced but there is nowhere I can find to access them from within Google Maps, I thought I would just enter a contacts band in the search box and it would appear, but nothing and there is very little to help me online

Is there anyway to import my contacts into the built in navigation?

 

[dStan]

Usually you should be able to search for your contacts in google maps. If it does not work, maybe try this? Manage your linked Google services - Computer - Google Search Help

 

[ptw]

Couldn't find the manage linked services option, not surprised as Google are forever changing their links and layout.

 

[Italy]

There are several alternatives to the integrated GPS of the MG3 which, if I'm not mistaken, doesn't include live traffic information:

Either you stay in the Google universe, in which case Google Maps and Waze are the applications to keep in mind. However, it is important not to forget that Google does not protect your privacy and confidentiality if you use these applications. Waze contains advertising and, like Google Maps, the American giant sells your data to the highest bidder (your telephone number, address, gender, shopping habits, age, preferences ....).

Or you can opt out of the Google world, in which case there are several free options available:

AMiGO (AmiGO | TomTom)
TOMTOM
MAGIC EARTH
NUNAV NAVIGATION
BLITZER (yet Android auto)

All are android auto compatible and contain no advertising.
They may not be perfect in terms of confidentiality, but most of them preserve your anonymity and, above all, perform as well as Google's

 

[ptw]

Thanks Italy for your comments. I have decided to ditch Google Maps, I was concerned about going down that route because of security concerns, I have never shared my contacts with Google but thought I would relenet to try it out but I couldn't get Google Maps to use thier own Google Contacts, despite spending several hours trying to get it all to work. Anything that is so convoluted as their data sharing is not worth the hassle - it needs to be intuitive and it certainly isn't, that's why we need forums to help and protect us.

I already use TomTom but cannot find an option for it to use Android Autom so I'll look into that and the other apps you mention.

However, I only have so much time I can spend on this, I may well decide to just go with the MG navigation and manually create all mu contacts in there. My concerns in doing so is 1) Can you sort the contacts you create and delete them easily 2) Do the maps update themselves. I have asked MG Support, lets see if they respond, but any input from members would be welcome

OK, I tried TomTom but couldn't get anywhere even installing their MyDrive app, it still wouldn't come up in Android Auto.

I've looked into the MG Navigation and it ndoes order them alphabetically automatically and you can rename them and delete them. One good thing is that it also uses what3words, many premium apps don't, so a big plus. All I need to check out now is that it will respond to voice instructions when I have contacts loaded and that IO can enter what3words addresses by voice. No time to do this at the moment but I will come back with an update.

 

[Italy]

Thank you for your messages.

Here are a few details:

TOMTOM GO is fully Android auto compatible. You need to install the version available on the Google playstore.
One of the advantages of this application is that it contains NO advertising and that the maps provided free of charge are offline and updated very regularly.
The direction changes and guidance are of very high quality, not forgetting the fixed and mobile speed cameras and, above all, the excellent live traffic.
After 7 days, however, you will have to pay for the application, but there are often special offers to get it free for 1 year.

The good alternative is AMIGO, which is completely FREE and has the same advantages but requires a permanent internet connection for ONLINE maps, speed cameras and LIVE TRAFFIC. If you authorise it, your contacts will appear.

MAGIC EARTH (Magic Earth - Free Navigation & Maps App for Android and iPhone) is an excellent, little-known but very powerful alternative.

 

[ptw]

Further update - I tried the apps suggested, Tomtom Go but as you say I have to pay again, which really grinds as I already have a paid version, so I'm not going that route. Amigo needs a data connection so that's a no-no. I'm still testing Magic Earth but I think I have resolved to use the MG inbult navigation. I got Sygic to work in the end by opening all my contacts I want to use and added them to favourites as this is the only way to access them in Android Auto.

I tried out the voice instructions when I had some contacts loaded and it didn't work, it just wanted to open Sygic, same with what3words addresses by voice, it won't do it. The only way voice control work is if you are hooked up with your phone to android auto but only to access Sygic or make phone calls. What really makes this not joined up thinking is that to make phone calls the system recognises your Contacts on your phone but doesn't for Sygic, only favourites.

So, that used up the first half of the weekend. I f anyone has more info on using the inbuilt navigation please share.

 

[securespark]

We started by using the built-in Nav.

But it got things seriously wrong finding a restaurant in central Warrington, when it literally sent us round and round in circles and, set to Travelodge Porthmadog, it sent us to the wrong end of the road, at least half a mile away.

So now I use Google Maps.

 

[Italy]

Thank you for your message and your tests.

If you already have an account with a paid subscription, all you need to do is enter your TOMTOM go registered email address and password in the TOMTOM settings.

I have just watched the MG ismart application video.
It seems that you can program your route on the application and transmit it to the navigation system built into the MG3's central screen.
The live traffic and speed cameras are updated automatically.....but using your smartphone's DATA package, which you don't seem to like

 

[ptw]

Thanks for the warning. I also found that what3words gets its coordinates wrong, Sygic will use coordinates for obscure places that don't show up in normal searches, so you can find a place in what3words and it also gives the coordinates which you copy and paste into Sygic SBC I found a few times that it was out by 100 yards (the next street over), so it's not perfect. It might sound like a lot a faffing about but once you get it saved that's it.

I don't like the data connection because apart from the cost, it stops working when you can't get a connection.

 

[Italy]

Amigo has a buffer memory that means it won't be without navigation when you're temporarily in a zone with no Internet connection.

Sygic I have tried it, I find their rates quite high not to mention, as you point out, the problem of unknown streets or fantasy.
Finally, live traffic is really not as good as TOMTOM/Amigo.

Have you tried NUNAV (NUNAV

And also FILSMEISTER (Flitsmeister.com - Real-time traffic information for your car) compatible with Android auto?

 

[ptw]

I'll certainly try them out. Thanks ?

I tried NuNav but no good as it needs an Internet connection (Mobile Data) which I won't pay for, I prefer the free offline maps. Filsmeister won't access my Contacts in search and nags you with ads. So, I have tried them but no go.

IN conclusion and having played around a lot more of the last few days. I got Sygic and Magic Earth to work, the latter being the easiest to use and sort out. One thing I have discovered that when you hook up via USB to Android Auto, you never get the options to search your contacts on the cars screen display, you only get favourites and there are differences in entering diffult /vague addresses using What3Words (W3W), some will let you enter the 3 words others you have to use coordinates, which W3W provides, but instead of copying and pasting the 3 words/coordinates there is a very simple way to sort out any problems and ease the transsferring of contact names. A long time ago I took the trouble of getting the W3W for all the contacts I would use (friends and so on, not things like companies/utilities, why would I want to visit them I saved them all within W3W. So, I found that all you have to do is open a saved W3W address and then click on Navigate and it asks you whihc app you wopuld like to open - in my case either Sygic or Magic Earth and the appropriate app opens, then all I need to do is add them as a Favourite and thats stored for all future uses after this one off process. The opther good thing is that if you want to use the MG inbuilt Navigation you can use the W3W search option it has and then save it to Favourites, again as a one off process.

I hope all this has helped some of you who like me have struggled to get to grips with using SatNav in your MG. I intend to use the MG Navigation but still keep my phone apps as I'm not always in my car and need a portable option.

many thanbks to all who have contributed.

 

[Italy]

For my part and with Android auto I open MAGIC EARTH or TOMTOM GO or AMIGO and I press the voice command on the steering wheel and I say :

"Go to [ desired address or one of my contacts ]".

And the MAGIC EARTH or TOMTOM GO or AMIGO navigation application immediately searches for the route.

It couldn't be simpler.

 

[ptw]

I could only get that to work if my contacts were stored in Favourites, which is why I have gone through all the other stuff, I agree that it goes off to search contacts but then a screen comes up with Favourites that I have to click on to select, sort of defeats the point of voice control. I would love it if it did do it seamlessly

 

[Italy]

Strange, I've never had this problem, except in the case of homonyms.
Obviously the contact's postal address has to be entered in CONTACTS

 

[ptw]

It is, I use Google Android contacts not a third party

 

[Italy]

When you installed the TOMTOM, AMIGO or MAGIC EARTH applications, did you give these applications permission to access your contacts?