Quick review of MotionX GPS Drive

Motion-X Drive is an iOS based app to replace your in car GPS. This little app is a full featured replacement for any in car GPS. Just mount it on a windshield screen or dash mount and off you go. I have found it both accurate and reliable. It gives clear turn-by-turn directions with customizable voice prompts. It has often got me from point A to B using roads that I would not have expected (I have it set to use fastest route)

Map screen

Map screen

Here is a list of things I learnt about MotionX

The good

  1. Really cheap basic mode is for $0.99 – compare to any GPS unit on the market

  2. Great features – Garmin should be scared
    Features

  3. Share directions with your friends by sending an email directly from the app, even to friends who do not have Motion-X
    Even your friends who do not have the app can get a formatted email

  4. The iPhone stays on while you drive to give turn-by-turn directions – most other GPS devices will turn the phone off without user input
    turn by turn

  5. Though the map view is clear the menu system can get confusing.

  6. Works in both landscape and portrait mode

  7. Integrates well with music player – can play music while the GPS is running in the foreground
    iPod integration

  8. Voices can be customized – there are some good choices, You can even purchase more

  9. Post to Facebook

  10. Navigate to places that your friends posted on Facebook

  11. Set up multiple stops on the way to the destination – No problem just add each one to the route. Motion XNeed to get downtown but have to pick up a friend and a gift first? This can be done

  12. Turn by turn directions are really good. Many older GPS devices would be too slow to recalculate or even to alert to upcoming turn. I had a Garmin that was so slow I would constantly miss turns

  13. Internet connectivity – to search for addresses, businesses and download current traffic information. There are some in car GPS units that can now do this but they require their own data plans. I am already paying for one on my iPhone why not just use it.

The bad

  1. Sucks battery like crazy – You must plug the iPhone into the car charger when using this otherwise you will arrive at your destination with a dead phone.

  2. The phone really gets warm from the GPS chips running (not the fault of the app)

  3. Even though I can take a call while navigating the voice prompts don’t continue, easy to miss a turn- this is not Motion Xs fault but rather a limitation to having too many things in a single device

  4. It is a paid app – but considering what I paid for my in car GPS or any other GPS unit, it is a steal even with the upgraded traffic subscription.

  5. It does require a yearly subscription for the voice navigation, real time traffic etc. I subscribe to it and love it.

  6. The menus are confusing at times. Not the most mac-like interface.
    Very busy menu

  7. You should kill the app after you are done with it. It seems to continue to drain battery power even after you have exited the application.

Conclusion

I have been using this app since my in car GPS died about two months ago, I have come to completely rely on this app, though admittedly I could not see how a $0.99 app could be that good. But after a few real world uses I have come to depend on it completely. I like this app so much that I do will not go back to the in car unit.

Motion X Drive is available on the iTunes app store for $0.99

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