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| Thread ID: 122641 | 2012-01-04 07:36:00 | Wanting to buy a GPS unit/phone app. | decibel (11645) | PC World Chat |
| Post ID | Timestamp | Content | User | ||
| 1252091 | 2012-01-04 07:36:00 | I have decided to bite the financial bullet and buy a GPS unit - but which one? I've read a lot on the web but I am still none the wiser. Do I get a dedicated unit such as Navman, Garmin, TomTom or do I get a smartphone with a GPS app? I need one that I can use in the car while driving, I need voice instructions. Some vendors (Garmin & TomTom) have models that have a free maps for life option - is there a catch to this? Do any of you guys have experience with one device or the other? Specially welcome are comments on what to avoid. cheers. |
decibel (11645) | ||
| 1252092 | 2012-01-04 07:48:00 | I have used a TomTom for a couple of years and have found it satisfactory it also gives handsfree mobile phone connectivity. I cannot comment on others as I have not used them. I would go for a dedicated unit rather than phone partly because of battery usage and partly because it seems to me it is better to have a specialized device for the task. I am not overly impressed with gps on my phone it seems to be a bit on the slow side. | CliveM (6007) | ||
| 1252093 | 2012-01-04 08:17:00 | I have a Garmin Nuvi 3760 with free lifetime maps (NZ and Australia only), there is no catch to them. Really like it and good software for software and map updates. Never had a Tomtom so cant compare, but heard they are not bad also. | Iantech (16386) | ||
| 1252094 | 2012-01-04 08:33:00 | I use navigation on my android. After having it for about 6months I was surprised to see how few places I actually drive that I don't know how to get to! I've only used it half a dozen times tops! | globe (11482) | ||
| 1252095 | 2012-01-04 08:42:00 | I have a TomTom, and it's satisfactory. I also have a Sony Ericsson X10 mini pro, and the GPS is useless. Hardly ever get's a 'lock' and when it does, it loses it easily. Same with my wife's LG smartphone. | pine-o-cleen (2955) | ||
| 1252096 | 2012-01-04 08:45:00 | If you have an iPhone, there's a free app called Navfree GPS Live Aus and NZ. Have been using it for about 6 months and its pretty good. Has lots of features and voice instructions, and its also updated with all the new roads and motorways as well. | ronyville (10611) | ||
| 1252097 | 2012-01-04 08:59:00 | I am not that aware of the free solutions . Just maybe the generall know how . . . for the masses . The main point for me is a LARGE screen if you are driving . Matter of taste but I like Navman simply because of the map design and icons etc . I think Pctek bought a Navman on this as well . Navman might have a degraded reputation now esp . after service and the availability of map updates and optional map purchases for other countries . If you want that maybe TomTom or Garmin is better, I think TomTom also allow people to improve the maps within a online community . They also have a lot more maps for purchase (overseas) . Navman has the least . I think Garmin has a NZ Open GPS Project (?) . Maybe look them up . I have it on my hiking GPS . Free map and free regular updates even incl shop addresses, phone numbers, restaurant cuisine type etc . Re: cellphones . Bro has a HTC not a highend, so he uses Google . The voice guidance sounds like a robot . Plus you don't get guidance unless you start at a area with a internet connection like WIFI at home . You can cache radiuses . But if you woke up in a hotel and wanted to drive home that didn't have a internet connection, then you cannot start up voice guidance . Either cases, if you want to look up accom or petrol stations you cannot . That needs a live internet connection like 3G . But 3G isn't htat $$$ these days really for GPS usage . Nokia is superb it's offline and great voice guidance quality . But many people prefer non-Nokia phones . The highend HTC do have offline GPS but voice guidance is a premium subscription service based on a year or a month I think with a credit card . |
Nomad (952) | ||
| 1252098 | 2012-01-04 09:02:00 | I have a TomTom, and it's satisfactory. I also have a Sony Ericsson X10 mini pro, and the GPS is useless. Hardly ever get's a 'lock' and when it does, it loses it easily. Same with my wife's LG smartphone. I've found that similar with bro's HTC Wildfire and my Nokia. The lock on without aGPS can be slow. Esp if you just want to start the car up and drive off and then turn on the GPS after the car is moving. My Navman can do that. My Nokia can take a while but can do it ... but if I was in a area I have not been to, it may not. I have also found that even if you get a lock, if you are driving beside mountains/hills, it can deviate your position by a kilometre to the other side then when you have a better sky view it may correct itself but this thing can get repetitive if you are travelling around many mountains/hills. I somewhat found a Garmin hiking GPS quite slow to work in a moving vehicle too. Maybe hiking devices are just not designed for cars. For personal use, I guess Smartphones are okay. If you are at home you may not need it. Maybe only for travel. So maybe the casual use 3G data is okay. Saves you dragging another item as well, and to pay for it. But yeah ... robot voices, haha. |
Nomad (952) | ||
| 1252099 | 2012-01-04 09:05:00 | I think TomTom also allow people to improve the maps within a online community. They also have a lot more maps for purchase (overseas). Navman has the least. I totally gave up with my TomTom Start trying to correct maps. Was bloody useless. |
mikebartnz (21) | ||
| 1252100 | 2012-01-04 11:59:00 | I used a Navman and a TomTom for work about a year ago and now have a Galaxy S using the included Navigator app. Personally I think all 3 are good. The dedicated units are only a little better in my opinion, and the phone has other uses. The screen on my phone is large enough and I mount it in a holder in landscape mode and plug it into the cigarette lighter, but with voice instructions you don't really need to look at it at all. It does occasionally seem to take forever to find a GPS fix to begin with, especially if you have GPS turned off prior to using it for navigating. It does also need cellphone coverage and uses a little bit of data but it's fairly minimal. You wouldn't want to use a smartphone on batteries for anything but a short ocassional trip though, they just don't last. Several friends at work have purchased the $199 LG smartphone and it seems to have a better GPS app included, with offline maps so no data usage is needed. Comparing them side by side it is a little better than navigator on the galaxy and faster at finding the satellite fix (I looked at getting the app but it's over $70 and I don't use it that much) |
dugimodo (138) | ||
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