Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Last month I got a number of queries from my friends seeking advice on GPS device for a car. To avoid writing or resending same e-mail again and again I decided to post my wisdom on this matter here :
1) NO, iPhone or iPhone 3G CAN NOT be used as car GPS. There are legal issues with Google Maps (cannot be used for turn by turn navigation) and many others, technical, like a battery power, no mounting h/w, etc. It may be possible to write application for iPhone and make mounting/powering h/w for iPhone. We may see such contraptions in the future ( mini car PC !) :-) I am not aware of such as of today ( check AppStore ) often
You can use iPhone in car to find your way or with help of second person clicking NEXT on build-in Google Maps application and provide you routing. This person will need to work hard, powering device back and fighting power management that dim screen. It has to do Text-To-Speech as well. It is painful ( trust me I tried) and best you can do is stop the car, get and understand directions and go having your eyes ON THE ROAD ( you may need to repeat this process a few times) :-)
iPhone is great device and can save you if you are lost, but it is not suited well as of today to replace your dedicated GPS navigator :-) Sorry :-) That was not the goal :-)
2) Can a Laptop be used as car GPS? There are programs with GPS receiver bundled ! :-) NOOOOOOOOOOOO ! :-) That is VERY PAINFUL. I tried this for a few years ( saving money : GPS units were much more expansive just a few years ago) and it is just plain lethal if you drive with a wife :-) Just image : computer power on, ...,...,..., program starts ............. ( are we THERE YET !!!???) Also, Laptop is UNWIELDY and I do not know if it will fit well even in your Macho Hummer. I say: yes, it is cheap, yes, you have Laptop, but just say NO! There are a MUCH BETTER way !
3) OK, REAL , car GPS. YEZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!!! There are quite a few to choose and prices drop dramatically. You can even buy one for you motorcycle ( work with gloves on!) or bicycle. Cool! Best units are small and light, work outside of the car as well and you can put them in your jeans pocket. That is if you do not have one build-in your car already
So, what unit to buy? Do your own research. I am very happy with Garmin NuVi unit. Mine is old , over 3 years, but ... maaaan!!! It was HAPPY years and I still use it. It works like a charm.
What are main points to look ?
1) Maps! Best if it has USA+CANADA+EUROPE build in. You can take it with you on travel. It have to be on SOLID STATE STORAGE: no Hard Drives please !
2) Real Text-to-Speech - you WOULD like street names spelled. Just turn LEFT or RIGHT is not good enough today.
3) Size - I like it small ;-), so I can take it from the car. Do not live it behind , GPS or even it wires will make your car a nice target for these nasty folks who brake windows to steal staff from your cars. I remember a cool radio was such a targets a while ago. :-)
Note : some people may like a bigger units.
OK. So there are only three recommendations.
1) That what I would buy if I had to get a new unit NOW:
Garmin nüvi 370
It has all maps and Text-to-Speech: very much like mine current unit ( but if I need Europe I have to buy SD card with maps)
2) If you absolutely positively not going to leave USA and want it cheap:
Garmin nüvi 350
3) If you like ALL FEATURES ( like multi-point) and LARGE screen
Garmin nüvi 770
You can see a feature comparison table if you scroll down on this page
Garmin also have some cool features as Dictionary, Media player( your photos and MP3 from SD card ): it is not just a GPS. It is a nice gadget. It will even pause music to answer you call via Bluetooth( if supported) or give your advanced driving direction when you close to intersection.
There are others GPSs of course, do your own research, I can only tell what I use and like and I DO like Garmin NuVi a lot and would recommend it warmly !
1) NO, iPhone or iPhone 3G CAN NOT be used as car GPS. There are legal issues with Google Maps (cannot be used for turn by turn navigation) and many others, technical, like a battery power, no mounting h/w, etc. It may be possible to write application for iPhone and make mounting/powering h/w for iPhone. We may see such contraptions in the future ( mini car PC !) :-) I am not aware of such as of today ( check AppStore ) often
You can use iPhone in car to find your way or with help of second person clicking NEXT on build-in Google Maps application and provide you routing. This person will need to work hard, powering device back and fighting power management that dim screen. It has to do Text-To-Speech as well. It is painful ( trust me I tried) and best you can do is stop the car, get and understand directions and go having your eyes ON THE ROAD ( you may need to repeat this process a few times) :-)
iPhone is great device and can save you if you are lost, but it is not suited well as of today to replace your dedicated GPS navigator :-) Sorry :-) That was not the goal :-)
2) Can a Laptop be used as car GPS? There are programs with GPS receiver bundled ! :-) NOOOOOOOOOOOO ! :-) That is VERY PAINFUL. I tried this for a few years ( saving money : GPS units were much more expansive just a few years ago) and it is just plain lethal if you drive with a wife :-) Just image : computer power on, ...,...,..., program starts ............. ( are we THERE YET !!!???) Also, Laptop is UNWIELDY and I do not know if it will fit well even in your Macho Hummer. I say: yes, it is cheap, yes, you have Laptop, but just say NO! There are a MUCH BETTER way !
3) OK, REAL , car GPS. YEZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!!! There are quite a few to choose and prices drop dramatically. You can even buy one for you motorcycle ( work with gloves on!) or bicycle. Cool! Best units are small and light, work outside of the car as well and you can put them in your jeans pocket. That is if you do not have one build-in your car already
So, what unit to buy? Do your own research. I am very happy with Garmin NuVi unit. Mine is old , over 3 years, but ... maaaan!!! It was HAPPY years and I still use it. It works like a charm.
What are main points to look ?
1) Maps! Best if it has USA+CANADA+EUROPE build in. You can take it with you on travel. It have to be on SOLID STATE STORAGE: no Hard Drives please !
2) Real Text-to-Speech - you WOULD like street names spelled. Just turn LEFT or RIGHT is not good enough today.
3) Size - I like it small ;-), so I can take it from the car. Do not live it behind , GPS or even it wires will make your car a nice target for these nasty folks who brake windows to steal staff from your cars. I remember a cool radio was such a targets a while ago. :-)
Note : some people may like a bigger units.
OK. So there are only three recommendations.
1) That what I would buy if I had to get a new unit NOW:
Garmin nüvi 370
It has all maps and Text-to-Speech: very much like mine current unit ( but if I need Europe I have to buy SD card with maps)
2) If you absolutely positively not going to leave USA and want it cheap:
Garmin nüvi 350
3) If you like ALL FEATURES ( like multi-point) and LARGE screen
Garmin nüvi 770
You can see a feature comparison table if you scroll down on this page
Garmin also have some cool features as Dictionary, Media player( your photos and MP3 from SD card ): it is not just a GPS. It is a nice gadget. It will even pause music to answer you call via Bluetooth( if supported) or give your advanced driving direction when you close to intersection.
There are others GPSs of course, do your own research, I can only tell what I use and like and I DO like Garmin NuVi a lot and would recommend it warmly !
Labels: What GPS to buy or can I use iPhone for that?
Tuesday, July 01, 2008
Japanese are very smart and like beer. This machine is just amazing :-)
Labels: Amazing Japanese Beer Machine
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