ksanger wrote:Cell phone GPS is unreliable. Just drive into a roaming area. Data roaming is a joke. Maps don't update in real time if at all. First you have to enable the extra data charges. $ $ $ and maybe you get to a map that tells you where you are.

I think you're complaining about the "Assisted" part of A-GPS. There's no reason for a cell phone's GPS information (that is, your position on earth and the time only) to be unreliable if the radio and antenna are there and working. I had a well-functioning Garmin unit for a Handspring PDA 10 or 12 years ago.

But if the mapping software is depending on data from a cell-provider's network, then I guess it's possible to run into the problems you mention. I haven't, but that doesn't mean much, huh? ;)

-- Ed

edit - michaelsalley's post made me remember that the Handspring add-on was a Magellan.

I ain't buying that piece of crap. No matter how long I wait, or how many times I refresh my screen, it still says "waiting for GPS signal"........what a turd.

Then again, maybe you just need a better editor to make sure stuff like this don't happen and make you all look like a bunch of OMGOMGOMGPONIESOMG PWNIES OMGs.

How much ya willing to pay?

I've had a tomtom and garmin, and like the tomtom screen and interface much better. You can display at more things at once on the tomtom (time, distance, arrival time, etc)-at least on the two models I used. I liked how easy it was to adjust the volume on the tomtom. The tomtom seemed quicker to respond to turns/changes as well.

But the battery went bad on the tomtom (a refurb from Amazon). If it hadn't been plugged in for a while the screen would not light up for 10 minutes or so after plugging in to the car outlet.

What is the USB for? If connecting to a pc, whatever for?

adamwlewis wrote:Having been one that used to swear by my cell phone GPS... here is my current opinion.
...
Hope that helps.

Excellent review! I hadn't thought about the part where you don't have to remember to bring it out from the house each time!

Here's my comeback - 7" tablet. It's only a partial reply to all your points, but boy do I like looking at big(ger) maps!

I don't have my maps talk to me. Maybe I would if I did more driving where the traffic was too bad to pull over and refresh my memory of the route. But I can "see" that phones and tablets might well be hard to hear.

-- Ed

got it in mail yesterday..screen in Polish contacted TOMTOM for help..what they told me to do filled the drive now can't do anything with it

wootSdotdot wrote:So tempting. Do we know how long this will be up for?

Umm... until it sells out or until tomorrow's offering... just like every other non-woot off product?

sr6376 wrote:The only thing I can add to this is that I have the iPhone4 from Verizon. I purchased the $.99 MotionX "GPS Drive" program. I used it for a road trip to NYC and it was absolutely fantastic. The main reason that I went with that program over the ones that you pay $50-$70 for is that I only need a GPS two or three times a year. I can't see paying that much money when I don't have to.

The MotionX App charged me $.99 for the first months service. Once it ran out, the next time I need to use it I will pay $1.99 for the next month. It will run out again and the next time another $1.99, etc. They also have a version for unlimited use which I can't recall off hand how much/little that was, etc.

Motion X is the gps I am referring to. I bought the year package for 19.95 For that it gives you true street names by voice (Only "Heather" is programmed to tell you the actual street names" and a couple of other goodies which I don't care about. It is not nearly as elegant as the Garmin but it does get the job done. I assume the slowness in letting me know one of us screwed up is the processor speed of the iPhone but it seems to me that should still be much quicker. Garmin spoiled me in that dept! The other thing I don't like about it is it waits too long for the warnings. On the plus side of the ledger the customer service is great. They always respond within a day and want to make sure you are still good with it.

Everybody's talking Garmin vs Tomtom and I'm a Magellan man myself, but that's neither here nor there.

In response to "What's the advantage of a GPS unit over a cell phone"... here's been my personal experiences with this.

1. In many of the states that now have the (ridiculous) no-texting-while-driving law, using a real GPS is legal but using the telephone EVEN IN GPS MODE is illegal. These tickets are expensive.

2. This is the single biggest disadvantage of using the phone: Some phones can't manage it even though they're equipped. I'm talking about battery life. My Samsung Epic 4G (even with 4g turned off) drains the battery when the GPS is enabled, faster than the car charger can replenish it. It drains more slowly than if it weren't plugged in, but nonetheless it drains. This is obviously not an acceptable state of affairs.

When I'm using Trapster the problem becomes even more serious. I'd rather have that screen up on the phone than a GPS anyway.

3. I've never had a phone that was able to pick up gps signals as RELIABLY as a dash mounted unit could. Yes, it eventually works, but on mine, after you enable the GPS it's a good 4-5 minutes before it has a connection and then it may well lose it a time or two before it finds enough sats to be happy.

Is this a good deal?

profun7 wrote:cell phones use information from signal from towers. If you go out of range of your provider's towers or a cooperating provider you will no longer have location information.

As several people have already pointed out, this is not the case. A-GPS radios in cellular devices stands for Assisted GPS. The "assisted" part means that the towers can help the GPS radio obtain a satellite fix much quicker than a normal GPS radio would be able to without assistance. However, it is still a real GPS radio, that can work from the satellites alone, just like any other GPS radio.

To prove this to yourself, put your phone in airplane mode, fire up your GPS app, and watch it obtain a fix. It may not be able to download map information without a data connection, but it will obtain a fix.

phacopida wrote:Is there an advantage to having a dedicated GPS device as opposed to a GPS app for a smartphone or tablet?

As I have an iPhone 4 and a iPad2 (w/3g) with the TomTom app, I do not have any issues using it but..

The major factor to consider having a dedicated GPS is that there are no phone call or message interuption.

Although, using the app on my phone I get to use the following.

Traffic updates.
-Google search for POI integration.
-Free map updates when I sync and update the TomTom app.
-Access to my music library

Hope this helps!

moira222 wrote:I have to agree - I am here looking to upgrade from our Garmin. Its really freaking annoying. Despite what setting you give it, the maps continuously take you through major cities, never the alternate route, and despite "detouring" several times, can take a long time to update to the better route.

but does TomTom let you drag your route on screen (sort of how you can on google maps)?

That's what I want in a GPS.

yes, it will let you drag on screen. There is also a setting where you can choose fastest or shortest route, as well as options for limited speed or off of highways. Some of those may give you the alternate routes you desire.

lingallabaal wrote:What is the USB for? If connecting to a pc, whatever for?

Updating the map, downloading new voices, icons, map colors, POIs, or traffic camera locations.

phacopida wrote:Is there an advantage to having a dedicated GPS device as opposed to a GPS app for a smartphone or tablet?

Using GPS on a smartphone or tablet will drain the battery. Even if you have it plugged in and charging, the mix of your screen being on and the GPS didn't last to Huntsville from Dallas. Fortunately I knew the way to Beaumont.

jaf12 wrote:Is this a good deal?

Not if you don't need it.

On the other hand, the exact same refurbed item is $135.95 from TomTom directly.

-- Ed

Ironic claiming it'll keep you from getting lost in the desert. NPR did a story two days ago re: people getting lost in Death Valley *because* they followed their GPS.

daletx wrote:Ironic claiming it'll keep you from getting lost in the desert. NPR did a story two days ago re: people getting lost in Death Valley *because* they followed their GPS.

Forgot the link: http://xrl.us/bk3fgv

Has the navigation on these things improved recently?

About four years ago I borrowed a friend's TomTom, and trying to navigate to a major hotel (the Hill Country Hyatt in San Antonio), it routed me to a country road past houses with cars on blocks in their front yard, then it came to a dead end.

When returning home to Richardson, it didn't seem to know that Campbell Rd connects from Plano Rd to Jupiter Rd, so it wanted to route me a few miles to the north to make this one-mile segment.

I bought a Magellan unit about three years ago, and it doesn't seem to know that Hwy 380 connects from Decatur to Denton. Coming back home last weekend I was using it, and on the path from Wichita Falls to Richardson, it was telling me a path that was a full hour longer than the optimal path (Decatur-Denton-Lewisville-Richardson). It wanted to send me through Ft Worth instead. As soon as I turned off 287 in Decatur and got on 380, it suddenly figured out "Hey, here's a better path!" and cut a full hour off my estimated arrival time.

Pretty much every time I've used it there is some major screw-up like this. I thought the point of having a GPS was to reliably get you from one place to another, but since I can't trust it, I have to verify the route through another method before the trip. What's the point then?

barbarianprince wrote:Garmin is just as bad as TOMTOM in this regard ... takes time to find all those satalites floating around out there.!!

I don't know if the Garmin offers this, but I download the GPSFix info via TomTom+ using my phone's BlueTooth weekly (you can also dock it with your computer and download the information this way). It provides the unit with expected satellite positions for the next week and greatly speeds up signal acquisition.

Of course that doesn't help a whole lot when I come out of a garage in downtown Seattle. The buildings block too much signal...

daletx wrote:Ironic claiming it'll keep you from getting lost in the desert. NPR did a story two days ago re: people getting lost in Death Valley *because* they followed their GPS.

daletx wrote:Forgot the link: http://xrl.us/bk3fgv

Yeah, we got that handled already.

-- Ed

I have had my first Tom Tom, the Tom Tom One 3rd Edition, for 5 years. I have updated it about 4 times and it is a sturdy device. It is slowly dieing, although I think if I replaced the SD card it would have a resurgance of life.

I purchased this unit because I am aging quicker than my original Tom Tom and would love a BIG screen.

In reading most of the negative reviews on Amazon, it deals with the mount and they dont like how it works. Tom Tom tends to have the most up-to-date maps. It took Garmin 3 years to add the street I live on. Tom Tom had it the day I bought it, about 8 months after the street had been installed.

The EasyMount is incredible. You can put it on a weighted GPS dashboard pad, then fold the whole thing up flat and slide it under a seat.

The thing TomTom has is the excellent Home software and, generally, a large amount of customization potential. You can:

Get free user-generated map updates.
Get "safety" (or "revenue") camera locations and it will alert you to those.
Load on any sound you want.
Load on any POI you want.
Change the picture of the car to any picture you want fairly easily (I edited a sprite of Super Mario Kart)

TomTom's computer connectivity and Home software is great and is an oft-underutilized feature.

Sadly this model requires the traffic receiver to be integrated with the charger cable, which cuts down on wiring but is more expensive to purchase.

I use GPS on Droid X- even with the phone plugged in it runs out of battery if you make phone calls.

I had this same model and it is a pice of crap. I used it on a vacation and out of ten places we wanted to go to it directed us the wrong way four times. There are defiantly better units out there. The only good thing about this GPS it is flat and you can use it like a rock and skip is on a lake like I did. Tom Tom customer servive on line is also useless.

I have used both TomTom and Garmin and I prefer Garmin hands down. I just got my wife a Garmin 1300 4.3 inch WITH lifetime map updates for $125. And even though the "roads in my area don't change a lot", the updates are critical for Points of Interests and other things.

nickmcmahon wrote:You will always have coverage no matter what, and dependent on your carrier, you will always have voice and data at the same time. One plus about cell phone GPS, is whenever there is a map update, its usually free.

Are you friggin' kidding me? You have to be joking right? "always have coverage no matter what"??? Unless you're just navigating around a major metro area...maybe. Otherwise I've found my Blackberry google maps to be inconveniently unavailable, like when you're out in the sticks lost and you need it!!!

adamwlewis wrote:(mod edit: big ol' post you should read)

100 million times agree...

routtwooter wrote:Partially correct on the cell tower issue--this is the case for cell phones that use location-based data IF they don't have built-in GPS. However, many smartphones, including the latest iPhones as well as Android handsets, have an actual GPS chipset built in and can utilize GPS satellites as well as cell phone tower triangulation to determine the device's location.

A correction: Even if your cell phone has a GPS receiver, the MAP must download through your phone's data plan. Only the screen currently displayed downloads, it does not store your entire route on the phone. If you have no cell signal for awhile, the map display will disappear, leaving you with either an error or a blank screen.

I'm a gadget person and I must admit I've been tempted to buy a GPS for a while, but the simple fact of the matter is I have no problem getting where I need to go by consulting Yahoo maps, printing the turn-by-turn directions, and carrying an atlas in my car for those rare occasions I get turned around or need to change my route. I traveled with a friend who had a Magellan and he spent more time parked and fiddling with the thing than he could have possibly have saved by having a GPS.

Now if they had one that was voice controlled this would be a tipping factor.

"Computer: Lay in a course for the nearest barbecue shack... Engage!"

lingallabaal wrote:What is the USB for? If connecting to a pc, whatever for?

For updates and map sharing.

kfurrow wrote:A correction: Even if your cell phone has a GPS receiver, the MAP must download through your phone's data plan. Only the screen currently displayed downloads, it does not store your entire route on the phone. If you have no cell signal for awhile, the map display will disappear, leaving you with either an error or a blank screen.

EXACTLY my point, nicely done. GPS only devices are the way to go in this regard.

tomtom da bombbomb. my 3.5" model had lat/long which i never saw on a garmin. but i've had it five+ years and now it will only run plugged in. the batt is toast. this should be more than a worthy replacement. ty woot.

for less than $25 more you can get lifetime maps
http://cgi.ebay.com/TomTom-XXL-550M-5in-GPS-Navigator---Lifetime-Maps/190560165310

kfurrow wrote:A correction: Even if your cell phone has a GPS receiver, the MAP must download through your phone's data plan. Only the screen currently displayed downloads, it does not store your entire route on the phone. If you have no cell signal for awhile, the map display will disappear, leaving you with either an error or a blank screen.

There are a few phones with have internal GPS that is not cell data-dependent, like a lot of Nokias.

lingallabaal wrote:What is the USB for? If connecting to a pc, whatever for?

It's hard to believe this question is for real, but I'll assume it is. YES, it's for connecting to a PC - if you read the feature list, you will see the following:

• With MapShare you can correct errors on your map and share those corrections with other people in the TomTom MapShare community as well as receive corrections made by others
  
• TomTom HOME desktop software has everything you need to keep your TomTom device up to date - get new software, download new maps, access free content from the TomTom community and subscribe to services
  

I appreciate your attempt to help but I think you're missing the two biggest points.

Pro: 1. Cell phone GPS through Google Maps has traffic for free which is extremely accurate.

Con: At least in the world of Verizon, you can't do data and talk at the same time, meaning if your talking on the phone, and miss a turn, the phone can't redirect you or find an alternative while you're on the phone. Also, if you're in an area where you can't get a signal then the GPS is worthless, and let's face it, that's when you REALLY need help getting back to civilization!

Also, unless your using an iphone, why can't you run pandora in the background while using google maps? I do it all the time!

adamwlewis wrote:Having been one that used to swear by my cell phone GPS... here is my current opinion.

I love Google Maps/Navigation. It works great, is (fairly) up-to-date, and best of all: it's free. It was all I used for years, and prior to that I did VZ Navigator on my non-smart phone. Earlier this year I purchased my first vehicle with a built in navigation system. When I first got it I said, "Well that's one feature I'll never use..." But, I was wrong. Here are the reasons I like having a stand alone GPS over my cell phone:

1. I can use my cell phone for something else like: making calls, letting my daughter play games on it, internet radio, etc.

Not to say it can't multitask, but if I have Pandora up playing music then I can't see the map which... is nice to see.

2. Going off of point 1, I love that with the stand alone GPS I can ALWAYS see the map. My phone doesn't get a text message, low battery alert, go to sleep, etc etc etc. I realize there are lots of ways to turn off all these things on your phone to assure you always see the map, but I don't want to. I don't want to turn off my low battery alert, and at the same time I don't want to have to have to try to close the low battery alert while I am driving 70MPH and trying to decide what exit I am suppose to get off.

3. Depending on your cell phone and the GPS, the voice instructions are typically much louder from the stand alone GPS. This isn't always the case, but it is something to consider especially if: you really like voice instructions and/or you have loud people traveling with you often.

4. The stand alone GPS is (or should be at least) always in your car. Cell phones get forgotten, lost, broken, etc. and if you need navigation and don't have a phone... then you're screwed. By having a stand alone GPS that you leave in your vehicle, you insure that you always have a GPS.

5. The stand alone GPS can be used by other drivers. If someone borrows your vehicle, a spouse/parent/child for example, they now have a GPS too. You can even pre-program it for them (good if you have older less tech-savvy parents). If you rely on your cellphone GPS then they don't have GPS when they borrow your car, unless you let them borrow your phone too.

6. As great as Google Maps/Navigation is, or VZ Navigator, they are simply not as easy to use as any stand alone I've seen. The stand alones have large buttons, less clutter, and (typically) bigger screens. Depending on who's going to be using your GPS, these the GUI factor alone could be reason enough to purchase a stand alone.

Now, with all that said, there are some advantages to cell phone GPS...

1. If you need a navigation system while you're walking with traveling with a friend. You probably won't have your TomTom in your back pocket, but you will have your cell phone.

2. Maps are updated on cell phones for free (usually). Map updates with stand alone GPS units typically cost some money.

Hope that helps.

Bought one of these for my in-laws last year. Should have stuck with Garmin. The 5 inch screen is nice but this unit is not user friendly or user intuitive. Garmin has a much better user intuitive interface

lingallabaal wrote:What is the USB for? If connecting to a pc, whatever for?

It's for charging, as well as connecting to a pc. You can connect to tomtom and download map packs, or more importantly, you can download data on the satellite locations for the next 7 days. Makes finding a signal 10 times faster!