Using Cell Phone As Your GPS

[d1h]

Do a lot of you use your cell phone as a GPS? I know that using the GPS on your phone runs your battery down faster so generally you need to have it plugged into power at all times. Just wondering if this is hard on your cell phone battery since your battery is constantly charging and screen is lit up at all times. Second question for those of you that have iPhones. Do you prefer Apple maps or google maps.

[Joe-n-Doe]

We use both. Our toad is a Honda Fit and the factory GPS in it in a word SUCKS! Google maps has often been a life saver when exploring in the Fit.

[drsteve]

Lantley wrote:

paulcardoza wrote:
Don't anwser the call........... Focus on driving.

Lantley wrote:

Good point Bill,
What do cell phone users do for GPS when the phone rings?

You will still lose your GPS when it rings. Hopefully the GPS is not in the middle of an instruction.

My Android reduces the GPS to a small window when the phone rings, but doesn't close it. I just have the navigator/DW dismiss the call and maximize the GPS screen. If the ringer is turned off, it just shows a banner across the top, with the options to accept/dismiss the call, and leaves the GPS in charge.

[Lantley]

paulcardoza wrote:
Don't anwser the call........... Focus on driving.

Lantley wrote:

Good point Bill,
What do cell phone users do for GPS when the phone rings?

You will still lose your GPS when it rings. Hopefully the GPS is not in the middle of an instruction.

[Sam_Spade]

Lantley wrote:

Good point Bill,
What do cell phone users do for GPS when the phone rings?

What they SHOULD do is pull over and STOP while taking the phone call. You don't need GPS directions when stopped.

What they actually do likely is somewhat different......and now is ILLEGAL in many states.

[paulcardoza]

Don't anwser the call........... Focus on driving.

Lantley wrote:

Good point Bill,
What do cell phone users do for GPS when the phone rings?

[babock]

whjco wrote:
I use my cell phone as a backup but won't consider using it as my primary. I have both Copilot and Sygic Truck installed on my phone so the map database is stored on the phone so I'm not dependent on cellular service. Even with that, I've had times that I've been in a city trying to follow some rather intricate directions and I'll get a text or a cell phone call that preempts the GPS rendering it useless. I'll stick with my Garmin!!

Bill J., Lexington, KY

If I am going to be in an area I know will have poor cell service, I save that area to the phone and it's available when you don't have cell coverage.

https://support.google.com/maps/answer/6291838?co=GENIE.Platform%3DAndroid&hl=en

[Lantley]

whjco wrote:
I use my cell phone as a backup but won't consider using it as my primary. I have both Copilot and Sygic Truck installed on my phone so the map database is stored on the phone so I'm not dependent on cellular service. Even with that, I've had times that I've been in a city trying to follow some rather intricate directions and I'll get a text or a cell phone call that preempts the GPS rendering it useless. I'll stick with my Garmin!!

Bill J., Lexington, KY

Good point Bill,
What do cell phone users do for GPS when the phone rings?

[whjco]

I use my cell phone as a backup but won't consider using it as my primary. I have both Copilot and Sygic Truck installed on my phone so the map database is stored on the phone so I'm not dependent on cellular service. Even with that, I've had times that I've been in a city trying to follow some rather intricate directions and I'll get a text or a cell phone call that preempts the GPS rendering it useless. I'll stick with my Garmin!!

Bill J., Lexington, KY

[paulcardoza]

iPhone + Waze for several years. Now, iPhone, Waze + Carplay on my new vehicle. Huge Waze fan..........

[drsteve]

ericosmith wrote:
If you plan a route with Google Maps on your computer you can download it to your phone. That means that map of the route is stored on the phone.

Except that any modifications to the original route that you make on the computer are not saved when you download them to the phone.

[ericosmith]

If you plan a route with Google Maps on your computer you can download it to your phone. That means that map of the route is stored on the phone.

[Sam_Spade]

GordonThree wrote:

Easy to find on Google. Micro-cycling is one side affect, and other is driving "whiskers" deeper into the electrode structures, making them less likely to dissolve in future recharge cycles.

One can find almost ANYTHING searching the net....some true and some not.

In this particular case, one needs to know the general type of battery being discussed and the specific chemistry it is made with AND the design of the charger that they are working with.

Your general statement is generally NOT true across all the possible variables.

I have cordless phone batteries at home that have been on continuous (mostly) charge for over 10 YEARS and they still work fine.

[mike_brez]

Cellphone with WAZE

[lryrob9301]

carmichael wrote:
With co-pilot do you need to be on a data plan or are all maps preloaded? Can it be used on a chromebook while offline?

The Co-Pilot maps are downloaded, the traffic update addon uses cell or data connection. Not sure about chromebook, no experience, but should work just like an android tablet.