rjsurfer
North Carolina
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Joined: 10/19/2007
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With Google now giving you free GPS service on all the new Android phones on the Verizon network it might not pay to buy a new standalone GPS for "normal" mapping/driving use.
And with the free real time traffic and weather overlays you can see traffic and weather radar on top of the planned route. Very little air time is used, your only connected for a short time to download the route info and whenever you go off route or receive traffic/weather updates.
Stocks of Garmin and Tom Tom were down 20%.
One thing I always disliked about Garmin was paying $70 every few years to get new maps...I'll bet that will change real soon.
I have used the Verizon VZW mapping turn by turn directions on my cell phone when on my motorcycle, using the Blutooth capabilities it connected to my helmet intercom perfectly giving me very good voice directions. Of course the screen is almost impossible to see in the daylight and there is no way to mount the cell correctly but I'm sure those things will change in time.
My next camping trip is coming up soon I just might try relying on Verizon for directions.
Ron W.
03 Dodge 2500 SRW,SB,EC
2008 Keystone Cougar 245RKS 5th Wheel
DRZ-400SM
DL-650
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Bumpyroad
Virginia
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Joined: 12/01/2005
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my first GPS had a phone sized screen. none of the ones since then have had one that small.
bumpy
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joerg68
Ueberherrn, Germany
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Joined: 02/27/2009
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Hi, that is if you have coverage, right? As far as I understood, the current Google approach needs to access the map data more or less continously; there seems to be no way to cache a map for the current route beforehand. So... no coverage, no navigation.
Best regards,
Joerg
"Pickups are very handy cars. One step on the brakes, and everything you need is right behind you!"
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trop-a-cal
Palm Coast Fl
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Joined: 09/24/2007
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Yes, I heard about it and it makes things simpler. You should be able to tracked by a third party if you get one, just like they track stolen vehicles. I phone is switching to Verizon also, for better coverage.
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david_42
Oregon
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Joined: 04/08/2005
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Which is fine if A. you have Verizon and B. you're in their coverage. Many of the newer phones have GPS built-in, but I like a dedicated device. Bigger screeen, more functions.
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Humpty
Clayton, NC
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Joined: 04/20/2006
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rjsurfer wrote:
One thing I always disliked about Garmin was paying $70 every few years to get new maps...I'll bet that will change real soon.
It already has
Lifetime maps
nüMaps Lifetime™
Navigate with Confidence
nüMaps Lifetime is a 1-time purchase that lets you download the most up-to-date map information on streets, highways and points of interest as soon as new content is available — for the lifetime¹ of your Garmin device
2007 Challenger 33DBB w/ Sidewinder
2002 Chevy 3500 CC DRW D/A
B&W Companion Hitch / Prodigy
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just me
Salt Lake City Utah USA
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Joined: 10/30/2003
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And today there was a GPS add that had popular unit for under $100.00. Sold by many outlets and made by many manufactures.
95 Dodge CC #5 TST plate Flame Red/Silver
not totaly stock
2007 fiver
Tag Ma-haul has been suggested for a name but now The Shoe box
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Artum Snowbird
Campbell River, B.C., Canada
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Joined: 05/28/2004
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In my opinion maps should be free to download as often as one can. Purchase of the product should come with the most up to date maps available as often as they come out.
The last thing you want is to be sitting on a busy highway, having missed your turns because you haven't got the right map, pulled over, impeding traffic, possibly causing accidents as you try to figure out what you are doing next.
Relying on an out-of-date device to tell you when to turn off a busy highway is just fraught with danger. It should not be an option, it should be required and automatically updated when one plugs their Garmin into their computer.
Mike
Mike and Carole
2006 Triple E Regency 27 foot SXL
2005 16.6 Double Eagle
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Big Katuna
Deland, FL
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Joined: 12/27/2003
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Tom Tom for iPhone ($99) comes with lifetime updates. A nice feature of phone based GPS is when you look up a POI, it asks if you want to call or get directions.
Also, I ain't loaning my iPhone to people like I would a dedicated GPS.
My Kharma ran over my Dogma.
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mavapa
Rome, Ga, USA
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Joined: 11/08/2002
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The problem with cell-phone-based GPS mapping is that you do not have the maps in your unit - they have to be downloaded from your cell-phone service. That means response can be slow. I think dedicated GPS units with on-board maps are going to be the best way to get GPS mapping for a while to come.
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