Great app, but very conflicted opinions

I didnt know how to rate this app. It is simultaneously a 5 star perfect app, and only deserving of 1 star.

My 5 star review? Its one of the only Japanese navigation apps available in English, but it doesnt sacrifice features just to rely solely on that. Very user friendly interface, with lots of options for customization of routes and preferences. It even has phone-number entry for looking up addresses (a real life-saver for those of us who cant read kanji). For a cel-phone navigation program, it is very responsive and accurate. It even includes different routing options for motorcycles. I would insist this is a must have for anybody who speaks English as a primary language and is brave enough to drive in Japan (especially Tokyo).

However... my 1 star review: I thought the price was a *tad* on the high side when I purchased the app. Imagine my surprise one year later when I find out that the purchase price is for a one-year license on the app. Nowhere on the apps page do they make this information clear; its buried deep, deep in the EULA. Personally, I feel thats an incredibly shady and highly dishonest approach to doing business.

As I will only be in Japan for one more month, I did not repurchase this app. If I were staying for over another year, its so incredibly useful Id seriously consider it, though be loathe to give any more of my money to such dishonest developers. Given my driving habits, it might be more worth my while to rely on Google maps. So I dunno: if you purchase this app with the mindset that youre getting the best English language navigation program there is in Japan for a yearly subscription of $50, its a service that warrants consideration. Cant deny the usefulness of the program, but cant stand the deceptive business practice of the developers either.

TuxedoCartman about Gogo Navigator - JAPAN