GPS for your car. Who has them??

[Walker]

I use GPS software on my blackberry. I think I pay about $5 a month for the service. My wife has a Garmin in her car. We both think the blackberry software is better for a couple of reasons:

(1) I never have to cough up another $150 (or whatever) for map updates. My maps are constantly kept up-to-date.
(2) I get live traffic alerts with the option of detouring around bad traffic points
(3) I've always got it with me, even if I am in a friend's car somewhere

It does react a little slower than a dedicated GPS device, but it sure is nice to have a GPS, serius receiver, video and still camera, web browser, media player, etc, etc all in one compact little unit.

 

[beerjunky828]

It's still a tough decision. I mean there are great points in both cases. I might just wait until Droid v2 comes out soon then reweigh the options again. Until then, I shall just buy a map. Are there any Magellan users out there? It seems to me that the optimal GPS unit to purchase is a Garmin because of its cost and reliability. But I was in Best Buy today and they seemed to have 2x as many Magellan units than Garmin.

 

[JoshuaWhite5522]

I have had 2 tom toms, the first one was stolen. Like revvy says leaving them out is an invite for theives. I like them. The only problem I've ever experienced is that mine seems to run slower in large cities where tall buildings reduce the signal quality, resulting in me missing a few turns

 

[Laughing_Gnome_Invisible]

Gps systems are for p#ssies. That's why I have one.

 

[Revvy]

GPS should refer to "guy's positioning system" rather than global, since it's been a godsend for us men. Since we hate asking for directions when we are lost.

 

[olllllo]

I have a Droid and a Garmin. There are reasons to have both.

I would never use my Droid on a multi-day road trip.
If you travel internationally, the Garmin will function no matter what your phone network situation is.

It takes fooooorrrrrrreeeeevvvveeerrrrrrr for the Garmin to figure out where you are once you de-plane. Droid is on it once you are wheels down.

Beside the standard google maps, the Droid lets you access Beermapping, Yelp and Foursquare, twitter, HBT, HBT chat so you can always get good beer advice.

 

[Laughing_Gnome_Invisible]

I have John Cleese's voice to tell me where to go. It never gets old!

 

[Revvy]

I would never use my Droid on a multi-day road trip.

.

Why wouldn't you use the droid for a multi day road trip? Battery drainage issues? I would assume you'd hook it to a car charger. Or am I missing something else? I a noob to droids, that's why I am asking.


Oh I had something strange/interesting happen using my droid the other day. I live on the border with Canada, with the St Clair river seperating us. Last week I was in a town about a half hour down the road, at a point where the river is really narrow, so Canada is really close. I always get lost in the downtown of that place, so I fired up my droid navigator and punched in my destination.

During the entire trip I was given info in kilometers instead of miles.
Every other time I use it, when I'm usually further from the border, it gives me miles. Including using it since that time, so it's not like a setting has changed.

The only thing I can assume is that the gps coordinates of my phone was being read by a satellite over canada, so it assumed I was on the other side of the border. At that location Canada is less than a 1/4 mile so the satellite's footprint is probably over the both coutries and it was hard to distinguish.

Anyone else had something like that happen?

 

[olllllo]

Why wouldn't you use the droid for a multi day road trip?

1) Because I have yet to see an unlimited data plan that is truly unlimited.
2) Assuming I'm not always the driver, I like to use my phone!

 

[BioBeing]

I have a Garmin and an iphone.

We got the Garmin several years ago, before we got smart phones, and it certainly was a great buy. We used it for long trips, and my wife used it to drive to clients homes all over town.

The iphone is great, as it is always with me, while the Garmin might be in my wife's vehicle.

But the Garmin can be mounted up on the dash, and stays on and clearly visible. The display is better than the iphone, and doesn't turn off after a couple of minutes. [Sure, you could mess with the iphone settings, but for short trips I don't want to keep bothering with that].

I also don't have turn-by turn voice prompts for the iphone [sure, I *could* buy an app for that]. The directions on the Garmin are very clear - it even tells you which lane to get in when etc.

The search function on the iphone is about 1,000 times better than on the Garmin though. I could never get my Garmin to find the local Putt putt course, for example, as I didn't have the correct name. Just type "putt putt" in maps on the iphone though, and it pulls up all the nearby ones.

So, I like the Garmin, certainly for long trips. But you can't beat the convenience of a smart phone.

 

[mullenite]

1) Because I have yet to see an unlimited data plan that is truly unlimited.

My data plan is unlimited, I have used my phone as a modem for my laptop and downloaded several hundred megabyte files with no reduction in speed and no additional charges. A bad service provider is no reason to knock the software.

 

[mullenite]

The display is better than the iphone, and doesn't turn off after a couple of minutes.

I also don't have turn-by turn voice prompts for the iphone

These things are not an issue on the Android platform using Maps with Navigation. (Which is free.)

 

[klyph]

+1 for an Android phone, and with multitasking, you CAN use the phone and navigate, albeit somewhat inconveniently. The benefits just so massively outweigh any downside.

 

[olllllo]

I am in no way criticizing the software. If I am surfing the web, then the driver no longer has navigation at their disposal.

As for data plans, you may periodically exceed and they won't do anything, but go ahead and Google [insertcarrierhere] unlimited data plan. It is not unlimited.

 

[mullenite]

I am in no way criticizing the software. If I am surfing the web, then the driver no longer has navigation at their disposal.

As for data plans, you may periodically exceed and they won't do anything, but go ahead and Google [insertcarrierhere] unlimited data plan. It is not unlimited.

I did this for a year as I had no internet at my house at the time. I connected daily and browsed forums, paid bills, downloaded software. No issues. When I switched to the current iteration of the unlimited data plan I asked specifically if this would still be the case and was assured that the plan was truly unlimited and as of yet I have no reason not to believe them. I have had no caps on speed and no cutoff on my data service.

Oh, and Navigation doesn't close when you open the Browser app... you will still get turn by turn directions and pertinent information in the notification tray.

 

[Revvy]

I did this for a year as I had no internet at my house at the time. I connected daily and browsed forums, paid bills, downloaded software. No issues. When I switched to the current iteration of the unlimited data plan I asked specifically if this would still be the case and was assured that the plan was truly unlimited and as of yet I have no reason not to believe them. I have had no caps on speed and no cutoff on my data service.

Oh, and Navigation doesn't close when you open the Browser app... you will still get turn by turn directions and pertinent information in the notification tray.

Same here. When I got this new phone and plan I was told Unlimited means unlimited, not capped off. Can't seem to find anything on my paperwork to dispute it.

 

[olllllo]

You're missing the point but on the data plan, I'm glad everything works for you.

On the second point, if I have the device in my hand and I am wont to do when I am using it the driver doesn't get to use it.

 

[klyph]

Are you talking about roaming charges?

And whoever's riding shotgun should be the navigator anyway

 

[olllllo]

http://m.wired.com/gadgetlab/2010/06/verizon-signals-the-end-of-the-unlimited-data-plan/

I'll use Verizon as an example. Prior to this they have capped customers in various markets.

 

[mullenite]

You're missing the point but on the data plan, I'm glad everything works for you.

On the second point, if I have the device in my hand and I am wont to do when I am using it the driver doesn't get to use it.

I must be missing your point on it, I really don't get what you're trying to say. My unlimited data plan is unlimited, by contract. If they capped my bandwidth or otherwise impeded my data use it would be a violation of the contract and I could end it at will (also, in my contract.)

If you have the device in your hand and it says (audibly) turn left, 300 ft you can't look at the driver and say "hey, you need to turn left up there" if they don't hear it?

I just drove to Micromatic's Florida warehouse a couple weeks ago. Not an easy place to find as it is off the main road and in the back of an industrial complex that is on the back side of an airport with no signs or even street names. My roommate went with me. He used Google Places and Browser to find us a place to get lunch while the navigation ran. We turned off the voice navigation and he was still able to say "hey, it says you need to make this right up here" because the navigation software told him to.

How much experience do you have using Maps + Navigation to actually navigate somewhere? I do this regularly and do not have any of the issues you are talking about.

EDIT:

http://m.wired.com/gadgetlab/2010/06/verizon-signals-the-end-of-the-unlimited-data-plan/

I'll use Verizon as an example. Prior to this they have capped customers in various markets.

As I said, a poor service provider says nothing about the software. Especially since they are not the only ones who provide phones on that platform.

 

[olllllo]

http://m.wired.com/gadgetlab/2010/06/verizon-signals-the-end-of-the-unlimited-data-plan/

I'll use Verizon as an example. Prior to this they have capped customers in various markets.

 

[mullenite]

I'm an adult... I know how to share.

I don't need to stare at the GPS while I'm driving anyway so why do I care if it runs in the background (and still gives turn-by-turn directions) if someone needs to use the internet?

 

[klyph]

All I saw was that they will soon stop offering unlimited plans, and the unlimited plans now are capped at 5GB (which isn't unlimited).

I see your point, but still, it'd be difficult to exceed 5GB on mobile data usage. Especially just using Google Maps/Navigation. Unless you have the Satellite image layer turned on, it doesn't use that much data.

 

[olllllo]

You win the internet dude. But we're not solving your problem.

I have both devices. Droid and Garmin and both have their place.

I'll put my travel and navigation up against anyone.

 

[mullenite]

You win the internet dude. But we're not solving your problem.

I have both devices. Droid and Garmin and both have their place.

I'll put my travel and navigation up against anyone.

You are providing an argument for getting a dedicated GPS. I am providing a counter-argument that it isn't worth the initial cost + map upgrades. Especially if you might be getting a new phone anyway (like the OP is.)

My roommate sold his Garmin after getting his droid. His is a paramedic and uses both to find places in areas he isn't familiar with.

 

[olllllo]

Using the mapping API costs the developer per rendered geosquare. There are bulk plans but there is a cost to keep downloading them. Over 8 hours per day on a roady! All of those uncached. That,'lll add up.

 

[klyph]

You win the internet dude. But we're not solving your problem.

I have both devices. Droid and Garmin and both have their place.

I'll put my travel and navigation up against anyone.

I'm not trying to get into a flame war, or measure our e-dicks. I was just trying to understand what you were getting at.

With the price point of stand alone GPS, you might as well enjoy the added functionality of a smartphone. And if someone is willing to pay for all the benefits of a smartphone, the only reason for them to have a GPS device would be if they're facing possible huge roaming charges, or if the guy in the passenger seat is grumpy bastard who doesn't have his own phone

 

[olllllo]

or if they live in the Mountain West and you're not going to get 1x or 3x connectivity. Go look at a coverage map.

I use my droid heavily,
Lookey. Here is my navigation stand and everything. I use it alot in the city even when I don't need to, because it's fun.

I love it. But, as I stated, I'd want a dedicated GPS for long haul trips. Does your provider give you unlimited European coverage? Mexico (CDMA)? I'm assume you "unlimited is unlimited" guys are Sprint. I've been through the Unlimited wars before. If they can't offer unlimited cable internet access then.... it's just a matter of time.

I've gotten calls while the navigation was barking out directions. That's a pretty distracting business call when you're running late for a meeting.

If I'm flying into town for a beer festival and minimally driving, sure, I'll skip the Garmin. But If I am driving from Phoenix to Denver, then you can't beat a Garmin. It's not like they moved Durango or re-routed i-17 in the last 5 years.

The Garmin is much easier to load in multiple locations too.

Fixed cost for a Gamin is $200 ish, I think the minimum buy in for a GPS enabled phone is about $2250 for 2 years.

Again I have both, so. that wasn't an issue.

 

[Schlenkerla]

I have a Sprint EVO 4G with the google and sprint GPS apps. I think this is good enough for me. I would not spend the cash on the Garmin, Nuvi or Tomtom.

My car setup has the Jabra bluetooth with the hands-free talking and the FM transmitter. The directions can be blurted out over the radio using the car speakers. Its pretty damn cool. I use the phone with Pandora streaming, through the stereo, when I need to turn, it cuts in to say turn and so on, then back to the tunes. I can also take a call with the Jabra or ignore it altogether. If I want to take the call I tap the Jabra on the visor. Its has a big-a$$ button that is makes it easy as hell to answer.

 

[Revvy]

I have a Sprint EVO 4G with the google and sprint GPS apps. I think this is good enough for me. I would not spend the cash on the Garmin, Nuvi or Tomtom.

My car setup has the Jabra bluetooth with the hands-free talking and the FM transmitter. The directions can be blurted out over the radio using the car speakers. Its pretty damn cool. I use the phone with Pandora streaming, through the stereo, when I need to turn, it cuts in to say turn and so on, then back to the tunes. I can also take a call with the Jabra or ignore it altogether. If I want to take the call I tap the Jabra on the visor. Its has a big-a$$ button that is makes it easy as hell to answer.

Whoa, like i said I'm a droid newb, you gotta link to the Jabra doohickey, sounds like the perfect thing for my new car.