Feature Request: Implement navigation turn directions natively

Product Feedback
1

There is one app specifically for Google maps but well, that shouldnt be the only one that works. Then there is PebbleNTN but it requires an additional app and still somehow doesnt work.

The concept is simple, the app already has notification permission and would read the turn direction notifications by apps like OSMAnd and display them on the watch.

This would be fantastic to use for light navigation while still relying on the regular phone apps to do the calculations.

There are some standalone navi apps but I think overall the UX is not amazing.

2

Extending that idea, I think it would be advantageous to have pebble build a suite of consistent, native, first party apps in general. It would give pebble a stronger “out of the box, batteries included” feel, which would make it easier to attract people from the apple watch / wear os crowd.

But don’t get me wrong, I think the open source / community developed app culture is amazing and really defines what pebble is as well!

3

I think you can actually kind of do this with Notification Centre 2 but you have to set it up a little with phone app.

Basically, if the Pebble Notification system supported ongoing notifications I think you could get what you were looking for. It’s clearly possible, but I think it might need to be part of a bigger upgrade to how notifications work.

(I’ve at least never seen an ongoing notification displayed on my pebble with the native notification app)

4

This works (or at least worked a few years ago when I used it) with GadgetBridge and OSMAnd.

5

I suppose this would include needed support for ongoing notifications.

To be clear, all I want is to get turn directions working from different map apps.

Native integrations with rendering and e.g. an OSMAnd extension would be fantastic but way more complex.

So please keep this thread focused on this simple proposal, no big app ecosystem etc.

6

Finally found the time to test this with my Pebble, the Core Pebble App and OSMAnd. It works the same way I remember from years ago with GadgetBridge:

  • Notifications for OSMAnd should be enabled in the Pebble App
  • On OSMAnd:
    • Go to Menu (the three horizontal lines) > Navigation > Settings
    • Enable Sound and tap the settings wheel next to it.
    • Scroll down to the Output section and set Voice guidance output to “Notification audio”
    • Optional: use “Simulate navigation” to test if it works as expected

I don’t think I changed anything else to make it work, but if it doesn’t work this way for others, just let me know and I’ll double-check.