Archive for September, 2008

GPS Reviews

Compare GPS Systems for the Perfect Product

With GPS devices so popular these days, it can be difficult to distinquish the quality gadgets from the cheaply made ones. Many still cost hundreds of dollars, and because you may be paying a monthly fee for some features from services like TomTom, Garmin and Magellan, you’ll want to get the best deal on your equipment. By simply taking a few minutes to search around, you can compare GPS systems so you aren’t stuck with a GPS device that doesn’t suit your needs. User and professional reviews both have benefits and downsides, and you’ll likely want to look at both before making a purchase.

Fees or No Fees?

Many popular GPS systems don’t carry monthly fees to operate. However, extra features sometimes do cost more, such as real time updates for traffic congestion and road problems, like accidents and construction. If you don’t want extra features, you’ll probably do well just purchasing a device and having it work right out of the box. Of course, a review to compare GPS systems will help you figure out which features you do and don’t want. This allows you to get the perfect package which meets all of your wants and needs without going overboard and costing too much.

Professional and user reviews to compare GPS systems both have a variety of benefits that you’ll find beneficial. For example, professional reviews of GPS systems generally cover a much more complete set of features found in GPS devices. However, professional reviewers often don’t capture the review of the device from the perspective of the average consumer. Someone with needs similar to your own might have a different experience with the product than a professional reviewer.

On the other hand, when a user reviews GPS systems, while they are more likely catch the perspective of an average consumer, they miay not focus on as many aspects of the product. Also, if users have problems with a product, they might blame it on the product and not on themselves, unfairly criticizing the product or manufacturer. Therefore, you should check a number of reviews for each product to see what both users and professional reviewers have to say about the GPS device.

Comparing GPS systems does take a little time, but it’s free, and most reviews are easily accessible. There are many sites out there that review these products, and online retailers such as TigerGPS often have a blog that lets users post reviews of the products they have purchased to let other consumers know how the products worked for them. By taking the time to compare GPS systems, you’ll save money and find a product that suits your tastes. so you’ll get out of reviews the amount of time that you spent reading them.

You can check out Consumer Reports latest reviews here.

Kim Cattrall Lends Her Voice To Give You GPS Directions

Having your TomTom GPS guide you around town just got a whole lot sexier.

The company plans to announce that Kim Cattrall, from “Sex and the City” fame, is the latest celeb to add her voice to the global positioning system.

“This is the city, darling. Anything goes,” says Cattrall, who plays the “friendly” Samantha Jones on the award winning HBO series and recently on the movie screen.

Jocelyn Vigreux, president of TomTom Inc. believes Cattrall can bring out the lighter side of navigating about.

Vigreux said it’s all about personality. “She’ll be the one stopping you in front of that shoe store,” he said.

Other celebrities including Mr. T, Burt Reynolds and Dennis Hopper already help drivers find their way with their recognizable voices.

In a press release Cattral states that putting her voice on GPS systems is a fun and unique way to reach out and connect with her loyal fans. “I am thrilled to be able to entertain my fans by giving them turn-by-turn directions to make their trips more fun and exciting,” she said.

 TomTom ONE XL 4.3-Inch Widescreen Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator with Maps of the U.S. and Canada

Does anyone know a website with help and tips for Garmin GPS users?

Tomtom One 130 Navigation System

The One 130 is one of the newer TomTom models and the body of the unit has been redesigned, it has a larger speaker and an improved folding mount. Just as any other model, the software used on these units has the familiair TomTom interface.

The main features of the 130 are:
- It has a 3.5-inch screen
- The ability to tell the driver about speed limit warnings
- It has a foldable EasyPort mount
- Maps for the United States and Canada are preloaded in the unit

- Spoken street names (only available on the One 130S)

The body case of the unit has been made sleeker and because of that a new fold out mount can be used. This makes it easier to hide the unit for security or to take it with you while traveling. To improve the grip of the suction cup, the mount now includes a mechanical clamp. It now can be securely fixed to the window, while it still can be easily rotated and tilted. The only minus is the short extension of the unit, meaning that in cars with deeper dashboards the unit might have to be placed farther away or higher on the front windo, blocking part of the drivers view.

The new One 130 has speed adjusting volume and combined with the larger speaker it is performing very well.

TomTom has set a standard for navigation units and the TomTom One 130 absolutely complies with this. The information that is displayed on the screen is very accurate and the verbal directions are clear and easy to follow.
The One 130S (S stands for speaking) has the ability to tell the driver the streetnames where he is driving or where he has to go. This can be very convenient when driving a lot of time in very busy areas, such as large cities.

Just as most of the TomTom devices, the One 130 can be customized to the users needs. The menus can be changed or rearranged and it is possible to install voices of celebrities. The option “MapShare” allows the user to make changes to a map, such as new one way roads, Points of Interest, speed limits etc. There is also the free possibility to download and use the map corrections made by other users.

On the unit is also a special Help Me function available. This provides the user with phone numbers and directions for the emergency and safety services. If an optional FM receiver is installed, the user always has the latest traffic information, such as traffic jams and even speed controls (not allowed in all countries) available on the screen.

More information and other TomTom models are available at the number one shop for Consumer Electronics.

Garmin nuvi 255W Portable GPS System w/ Preloaded Maps

Garmin nuvi 255W Portable GPS System w/ Preloaded Maps Go wide and get peace of mind with n vi 255W. This affordable, widescreen navigator leads the way with voice-prompted turn-by-turn directions that speak street names and optional MSN Direct services to get you there on time and keep you informed. It’s packed with millions of destinations and maps for North America or Europe. Like the rest of the sleek n vi 2×5-series, this portable navigator is priced right and ultra-easy to use. View map detail, driving directions, photos and more in bright, brilliant color. Its sunlight-readable, 4.3-inch display is easy to read from any direction. Navigate With Ease n vi 255W comes ready to go right out of the box with preloaded City Navigator NT street maps, including a hefty points of interest (POIs) database with hotels, restaurants, fuel, ATMs and more. It even announces the name of exits and streets so you never have to take your eyes off the road. Simply touch the color screen to enter a destination, and n vi takes you there with turn-by-turn voice directions, 2-D or 3-D maps and smooth map updates as you navigate. Its digital elevation maps show you shaded contours at higher zoom levels, giving you a big picture of the surrounding terrain. In addition, n vi 255W accepts custom points of interest (POIs), such as school zones and safety cameras and lets you set proximity alerts to warn you of upcoming POIs. With HotFix satellite prediction, n vi calculates your position faster to get you there quicker. Take It With You Like the rest of the n vi 2×5-series, n vi 255W sports a sleek, slim design and fits comfortably in your pocket or purse. Its rechargeable lithium-ion battery makes it convenient for navigation by car or foot. With its Where Am I? emergency locator, you always know your location. Simply tap the screen to get your exact latitude and longitude coordinates, the nearest address and intersection, and the closest hospitals, police stations and fuel stations. Go Beyond Navigation Navigation is just the beginning. n vi 255W includes many travel tools including JPEG picture viewer, world travel clock with time zones, currency converter, measurement converter, calculator and more. With photo navigation, you can download Google Panoramio pictures via our Garmin Connect Photos website and navigate to them. The 255W is compatible with optional enhanced MSN Direct content and our free Garmin Garage where you can download animated vehicles that show your location on the map. It also comes with Garmin Lock , an anti-theft feature. Enhance your travel experience with optional plug-in microSD cards such as Garmin Travel Guides for detailed data on attractions.

How GPS Reviews help to choose best navigation device for you ?

While talking about GPS Reviews we must first specify the requirements of the GPS. Perfect GPS Reviews will present in details the pros and cons of various GPS devices. Appropriate reviewing proves the presence of two most essential qualities in GPS for navigation.

There are a lot of websites all over the internet that purport to rate GPS devices. The problem with this is 1) did the reviewer actually use the device, and 2) does the reviewer actually care about what you do?

You can find latest GPS reviews on alatest.com site (which you can access from the link at the bottom), they gather the customer reviews from cnet, amazon, and other sites & put together a list of what people were saying about each item.It’s fairly meaningless when you compare GPS systems by checking off which ones have turn-by-turn voice prompts, for instance. Nearly all of them do. What’s helpful is when a reviewer talks about using a Garmin Nuvi in heavy traffic with a lot of ambient noise and being able to still hear the device loud and clear.

So, You can find narrative reviews by customers a lot more useful than GPS rating systems or GPS comparisons. Ratings and comparisons can be useful, but they are more of a starting point rather than something you need to make your final decision with.

Don’t Just Look to the Experts

I know this is going to seem like a strange recommendation, but when you’re looking for a great navigation device, don’t just stick to the GPS reviews you read online and in magazines. You have your own keen instinct that you can you what is good and what isn’t. Even more, you have the ability to determine what features and functions you need. Those two aspects can help you to narrow down the list just as easily as reading what the experts have to say.

So after you check out the commentary by everyone else giving their GPS reviews, take the initiative to go to a retailer in your area to learn about their specific features. Actually hold them in your hand to see how easy it is to control the menu with your fingers. This way you can learn invaluable information that far surpasses anything the GPS reviews can offer. Because, it is you, not the reviewers who have to use the navigation system, right?

You can find latest GPS reviews on alatest.com site (which you can access from the link at the bottom), they gather the customer reviews from cnet, amazon, and other sites & put together a list of what people were saying about each item.It’s fairly meaningless when you compare GPS systems by checking off which ones have turn-by-turn voice prompts, for instance. Nearly all of them do. What’s helpful is when a reviewer talks about using a Garmin Nuvi in heavy traffic with a lot of ambient noise and being able to still hear the device loud and clear.

How do you update the directory on a Garmin GPS?

can i get custom voices for my Garmin gps unit?

Car Gps Navigation Systems

GPS devices and GPS Systems are changing the way we travel, whether it is to a new local restaurant or on a weekend get away. No longer do we have to face with dread pulling over to ask a stranger how to get somewhere and get the wrong directions so you are lost even more so than you were before. You simply turn on your GPS navigation system so you can get from where you are to where you are going. The new technology and mapping systems equipped in all of the GPS systems will help you get to where you need to be without going the wrong way, getting lost and being late for any event. These systems can come in handy especially when traveling somewhere new so you can easily get to a new location on time without the hassles of getting lost.

You can get a GPS Car Navigation at any automobile aftermarket store for an affordable price and numerous benefits.

Extra Added Benefits And Accessories Of GPS Devices And GPS Navigation Systems –

Most GPS systems have the expandability feature of being able to be upgraded with numerous products, such as MP3 player, DVD player, iPod integration, and even Bluetooth. You can add your favorite systems for playing music, and more with your affordable aftermarket GPS navigation system.

The Different Types Of GPS Navigation Systems –

There are two main different types of GPS navigation systems and devices that you can get for your vehicle. This is a brief look at these two different types of GPS devices.

Portable: Portable GPS systems are made to be attached by suction to your windshield (at the top) and are powered by your DC outlet or cigarette lighter outlet. These are great because they are portable. If you are going to be using someone else’s vehicle or renting a car you can simply take the system out of your car and use it in another. You can also get a portable GPS system that uses batteries so you do not have to use your DC outlet. Portable GPS systems are versatile, but they are also only able to be used for navigation and have a smaller screen size.

In Dash: In dash GPS systems have more features than the portable ones. They will come with a touch screen system, larger screen size, replaces your radio, and creates a navigation system and sound system for you in one machine. You can find an in dash GPS device for almost any vehicle and it will be installed (and replace) where your vehicle’s radio was. All of the options mentioned above – DVD player, MP3 player, iPod integration, and Bluetooth are available with these systems.

More About GPS Navigation Systems And Devices –

Upgrade your delorme gps navigation when it comes up with the updates you need. This will keep your unit working good and have updated information in your system. The maps are already on the hard drive of your GPS navigation, but you can easily get online and get the updates you need for your GPS system and load them onto your unit. Some GPS devices require that the updates be from a DVD and then inserted into the system to be loaded. On these ones you can get yearly DVDs to upgrade your GPS.

A GPS navigation device can change the way you look at traveling and create one spot for all of your navigational and audio needs in one convenient place in your vehicle.

The Best Handheld GPS Unit For Your Next Outdoor Adventure!

The best hand-held GPS units aren’t just for cars anymore. Thanks to the sleek and innovative designs of today’s hottest GPS units, more and more people are turning to hand held GPS units for activities that have existed for thousands of years: hunting, camping and fishing!

If you’re a hunter, outdoor enthusiast or enjoy fishing, chances are that you’ve gotten yourself lost on a weekend expedition with your buddies.  Maybe you never could figure out how to read that map, or maybe you wandered off farther than you intended – whatever the case, you can kiss the days of complicated manual navigation good-bye, thanks to the introduction of GPS handheld hiking units from major brands like Garmin and Magellan – and even those that can be used on the water! Want to know more about these pioneering products? Here’s the lowdown on the best hand held GPS units that will turn your next hunting or outdoor trip into a stress-free expedition.

Which Way To Camp?

GPS units that are made specifically for hunting, camping and fishing work just like the one that you have for your car or phone.  Using satellite technology, your GPS unit is able to track down your exact location and display your real-time position on an easy-to-read map – even if you’re travels take you to the most isolated forests.  Thanks to your trusty GPS unit, you’ll never have to spend your valuable time or resources in manually determining your position on a map: just power up your GPS unit and watch as all of the complicated work is done for you!  Better yet, use your GPS to mark down the locations of trails, campsites and other landmarks.  With the typical battery lasting up to 24 hours, you don’t have to worry about losing these important notes – so you can hunt, hike or fish without worry!

Another great advantage to GPS units that are designed for outdoor use is that they’re made to take a beating.  Accidentally dropped your hand-held hiking unit on the ground?  Whereas a normal portable GPS unit might end up in pieces, these rugged products will continue to perform without flaw.  Got to make a trek through a patch of bad weather?  Not a problem!   Lucky for you, waterproof GPS units will be able to withstand even the toughest of Mother Nature’s storms.

Some of the best hand-held GPS units out there include the Garmin eTrex, which has an exclusive BackTrack® feature which will help you navigate your way back to your camp or hunting site; The magellan eXplorist, which boasts four navigation screens on a unit that’s smaller than the palm of your hand; and finally, marine GPS units (look for ones designed by Magellan, Garmin and Lowrance), which have enough memory to store up to 500 of your favorite aquatic destinations with the ability to chart a straight course to them!  What’s the best part about these products?  The fact that many of them start under $200, so you don’t have to blow your budget in order to nab the best handheld GPS unit of your very own – leaving you with more green for your next outdoor adventure!

The Best Handheld GPS Devices On The Market Today

Remember the days when GPS units could only be installed on the dashboard of your vehicle?  We do too – and that’s why we were thrilled when we learned that our favorite techie toys are now incorporating GPS technology from trusted brands like Garmin, Magellan and TomTom.  Products from cell phones to PDAs have caught the GPS fever, turning everyday electronic essentials into convenient – and affordable – hand held GPS devices.

Want an electronic device that will allow you to store emails, maintain your busy schedule and even keep track of those to-do lists – all while navigating you from Point A to Point B? Then you need to check out the latest PDAs with GPS capabilities, many of which can be found in your favorite department or electronic store.  Not in the market for a new PDA?  Not a problem – there’s tons of great software on the market today that will turn your normal PDA into a navigating dream.  These great multi-tasking devices take all of the stress out of managing your day-to-day routine while directing you from one meeting or social function to the next. You can even use your PDA with GPS capabilities to look up information about your favorite restaurant, movie theatre or mall – all from the palm of your hand! We recommend TeleNav, an innovative third-party GPS software system that’s compatible with most PDAs, as well as some sophisticated smartphones.

Pocket pcs are also catching on to the GPS trend, as more recent models are designed with inherent navigation and mapping capabilities.  If you want to get your hands on one of the best pocket pc GPS products on the market today, check out the W800 Pocket PC, a sleek and portable device that not only lets you surf the internet and play your favorite games – you can choose from any of its detailed maps to navigate yourself anywhere in the country!  Add in the fact that you can download third-party applications and can easily find a model for under $250 online, and you’ve got a pocket pc GPS device that will give you a huge return for a small investment.

Another great handheld GPS unit on the market today is the Palm Treo 750, which not only has all of the great benefits of superior GPS navigation – it has Wi-Fi capabilities as well.  With a high-resolution touch screen, a slim design and a camera that would make professional photographers envious, the GPS for Palm Treo 750 has really stepped up the game, even besting some of its more popular competitors.  Recently released this past summer, you can find this hand held gps device for under $250.

These days, you don’t have to limit your handheld gps devices to your vehicle.  Thanks to major innovative advances in electronics, you can purchase the latest PDA, smartphone or pocket pc with superior GPS capabilities, or download navigation software that adapts to the device that you own right now.

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