What is Digg?29 Comments
- ssttuu, on 11/10/2009, -0/+13Simple answer : Yes.
Long Answer: 64Gb Flash will be so cheap 2years from now, every phone could give up 3-5Gb's for off-line mapping. Then grab any additional data for the area your in from the LTE or HSDPA network (@ 3Mbps or so it wouldnt take long to download local shop data etc.) - Elset, on 11/10/2009, -0/+7GPS's just get your car broken into. I'll keep mine in my pocket.
(I don't do any of the stuff pathouston above mentioned, so my phone works just fine) - spazzcat, on 11/10/2009, -0/+7You cache your maps
- kenlaw, on 11/10/2009, -0/+7Main advantage of my standalone GPS is battery life. My Garmin easily lasts 15 hours on 2 AA's. I can easily support a 3 or 4 day hiking trip.
I can also download Topo maps, which are more useful when hiking. - psYcon, on 11/10/2009, -3/+9Assuming you were using an Iphone you could have just selected speaker option, clicked on home button and talk while using the GPS app.
- pathouston22, on 11/10/2009, -4/+10I bought a $300 GPS unit earlier this year for hiking/biking the back trails and national parks. It has everything: compass, altitude, maps, camping areas, hiking trails, tracks where you go, what speed/altitude/direction at every point along the way, and much more.
All while taking up several gigabytes of data with all the topo maps. Can a smart phone handle all that in the middle of nowhere with no connection? - mattkruse, on 11/10/2009, -0/+6The best thing that can come out of this is free map upgrades for stand-alone units! WIN WIN!
- pathouston22, on 11/10/2009, -1/+7Garmin 60csx. Very happy with it. It's great to take the log of where I go, load it into Google Earth, and it maps every spot I hiked or biked. Worked almost everywhere, even with mountains towering over me in Colorado.
http://www.amazon.com/Garmin-GPS-60CSx-Handheld-Na ... - master_of_fm, on 11/10/2009, -0/+5the turn by turn GPS included with my sprint hero is awesome, mainly because its free. my only issue right now is finding a dash or suction mount that isn't hideous. im thinking of putting a piece of sheet metal inside the back cover, using a generic mount, putting a neodymium magnet on the face, and covering it with thick felt. voila! a kick ass magnetic mount for my phone.
- ssttuu, on 11/11/2009, -0/+5A Good GPS system, like TomTom or a phone with background processes handles calls and allows directions to continue. But, lets be honest. We are humans, multi-tasking whilst at 70mph isn't smart.
- publiclurker, on 11/10/2009, -0/+5Phone service is a little spotty in areas where people do a lot of hiking. This makes the map cost a lot less attractive for the phone companies.
- beelz, on 11/10/2009, -1/+6I am curious as to what you got?
- j2g7d, on 11/10/2009, -1/+5having a gps on your dash and being able to use your phone at the same time is very helpful. You'll never miss a turn because you got a phone call that way. I got a tomtom for $100 over a year ago and it works great. It can connect to my phone to get traffic updates when available, but i don't have to worry about my phone getting a call or message ruining my directions. The simplicity of a product that only does GPS makes navigation much easier.
- Netmindstorm, on 11/10/2009, -0/+4Anyone know if the article author Erica Ogg is dating Mark Vorbis? I'm looking forward to the pending marriage announcement.
- EtherGnat, on 11/10/2009, -0/+2Bottom line is that GPS + a data connection is a powerful mix and improves both functions. Regardless what device you use in the future, if it doesn't do both it's going to be quickly antiquated.
- robojerk, on 11/10/2009, -0/+2Can you source any of that?
- therealrico, on 11/10/2009, -0/+1I am curious how this will affect car navigation systems. They seem to lag behind in the technology. But i just checked out my brothers brand new Ford F-150 and I was very impressed with how everything worked.
- yeahaboutthat, on 11/11/2009, -0/+1I think the core question here is really a no-brainer. To use a phone app to navigate any length of time would kill a phone's battery. Moreover, the screens are too small--even for smartphones like the iphone--and on top of the risk one incurs by using an adapter to keep a gps phone attached to the dash or windshield due to the intense heat, I'd much rather lose a $150 stand-alone gps to theft than my phone with all my numbers, contacts, and pictures.
- logir, on 11/15/2009, -0/+1I have one of those too. Also, rugged, water-proof and runs off standard batteries that you can bring replacements for or cannibalize less essential kit for.
When that blizzard hits you on the glacier, or when your car has been stuck for 24 hours well outside of cell-phone coverage, never mind 3G coverage, then you'll want a stand-alone passive unit. (both have happened to me here in Iceland)
For casual use, I think the smart-phones have it. And if not, there will be a software upgrade to make up the difference. If the unit is supposed to save your life, then you want a dedicated one. - Demistate, on 11/10/2009, -1/+2There are times when a dedicated GPS unit are best. For example, on my wedding day, I was freaking out when I called the DJ and he didn't respond to my call for over an hour after he said he would arrive. Because I couldn't get a hold of him I was trying to figure out what to do since the DJ couldn't be there. Turns out he didn't answer the call because he was trying to find his way to the location, and one of the roads had been shut down (but not marked on GPS).
For personal use, I can see having it all as one. - cyssero, on 11/11/2009, -0/+1Some people might call that multitasking, let's not get too crazy here.
Truth is he couldn't do that with TomTom (and other) applications. On the iPhone. It's either GPS mapping or the phone call. - ehaugan, on 11/11/2009, -0/+1Simple Answer : No.
But then again, you're the one who spent $300 on a device you will use maybe a few times a year. No thanks. - esc27, on 11/11/2009, -0/+1You really shouldn't be on the phone while driving...
- Eccles, on 11/11/2009, -0/+0They need to come up with a standardized interface for in-car GPSes, and if I can buy a portable GPS for $70, I should be able to buy an installed one (even with a 7" screen) for $300 or less. A combined GPS/music player/radio with voice interface should be standard on cars within 10 years (sooner, really, the tech is already available and cheap enough.)
- ssttuu, on 11/10/2009, -3/+3Thats simply a licensing issue. If Topo Maps want to a business in the iPhone/Android world they will sell there data to Google.
As for the battery, we can only hope battery tech gets better! - jrm125, on 11/10/2009, -8/+7still prefer standalones. More functional
- IphtashuFitz, on 11/10/2009, -5/+4I've had occasion to have to call 911 on my cellphone to report accidents, etc. Having a GPS unit separate from my phone was extremely helpful in providing the address to the 911 operator. I didn't have to tell him to hold on while I try to bring up the GPS on the phone hoping that I don't disconnect him, wait for the phone to triangulate where I am, etc. I could certainly see the possibility in that sort of stressful situation of inadvertently disconnecting the 911 call while trying to launch the GPS app. One wrong tap/press and bye bye 911.
- holyskeleton, on 11/10/2009, -4/+2Google Voice + Gizmo5 makes cell phone contracts very expensive, and Google maps app makes GPS expensive. I'd rather have a pre-paid phone that does Google maps, or I'll just get a Nokia N900 if it does turn by turn Google maps...
- pathouston22, on 11/10/2009, -4/+2No thanks, I prefer to grab it and go, and have the maps be there when I need them.
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