Will the GPS market last forever?
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18 years
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I'm not trying to get kicked off the board but I was wondering today if the standalone GPS market would last forever? Here's why I wonder.
I bought an overpriced Nuvi 680 about 3 years ago, maybe a little less at Best Buy. It was around $600 and at the time was near the top end of the Garmin line. A quick check on Ehay shows the average value now to be around $100. I've used it for 3 years far far more than the average user and it's been pretty good but not impressive in some respects. Map updates aren't cheap, poi's aren't live, traffic reports are lagging, weather reports were vague (MSN not Garmin I know), no satellite overlay or hybrid, etc. the list goes on and I'm sure it's been covered.
Last week, I switched phone carriers from Sprint to Verizon (which has the hands down fastest kick butt 3/4G network by the way) and my new Motorola Droid came with a built in beta version of Google Navigator. For a beta, it's kickin butt! It's always connected to the internet and so it's always live information, it speaks, it's far more accurate than my Garmin ever was (distance wise) and it does have satellite and hybrid modes. It uses either virtual keyboard destination entry or google voice (speak the destination, doesn't even have to be an address, just say for instance, IHOP in Plano Texas and it brings up a list of all the IHOPs in Plano TX, pick one and off you go!) They missed a few things in this first run but it's far superior technology nonetheless. After about 80 hours of use this week at work I've been so impressed that I bought a car cradle and charger for it and have gone to using it exclusively.
Now, to my knowledge, none of the GPS companies (I checked em out at best buy last week) are utilizing these types of technologies so how do they plan to stay competitive?
I know there will always be a niche for the standalone units but technology is moving at a screaming pace and Garmin is getting left behind in my opinion. What do you think the future of satellite auto navigation brings?
Kerry
simple is good
GPS market will be there for a long long time.
Technology is Great
I have the Android Incredible smart phone and the Nuvi 660 GPS unit. I just wanted to relay a case of how far technology with these phones has taken us.
I travel a lot for my job. When we went to Denver Co, I heard a person at the Baggage pick-up mention that the King Tut exhibit was in town. So I did the following.
1) Used my Calendar (that is sync'd with my work calendar) to determine that I had enough time to visit the exhibit.
2) Used the phone to check my emails to ensure there wasn't something pressing that I had to do for work. Those things do come up you know.
3) Used my phone to Google and purchase tickets online while waiting on my rental car.
4) Used Google Voice on my phone to "Navigate to King Tut Exhibit". Nothing more was needed. No searching for addresses or anything.
5) Opened the King Tut Website and pressed the contact us number to confirm the will-call had my reservations waiting while navigating there.
6) Used my phone as an 8meg pixil camera to take photos where it was permissible.
7) Used my phone to post those same pictures on Facebook to share with the family back home.
For a spur-of-the-moment exhibit visit, I used my phone as a PDA, email machine, GPS navigation, web browser, camera, Facebook interface, and even as a phone. *smile*
Granted that I am not ready to give up my Garmin GPS just yet, but the day is coming up pretty quickly. As soon as I can download POI's and store them easily on my phone, I can see me leaving the Garmin at home. I already leave my life-long buddies, the PDA and Ipod, at home during trips.
Garmin Nuvi 2699 with 2017.30 Maps
Forever is a very long time . . .
. . . so I'd say that the answer is a simple 'no'.
Currently have: SP3, GPSMAP 276c, Nuvi 760T, Nuvi 3790LMT, Zumo 660T
RE: Technology is Great
I agree with you. I have had a Droid X since the middle of September. Your post is how I feel about GPS vs Smartphones. Beside everything you have mentioned I have also found the live traffic is right on.
Paul..... Nuvi 765T
verrykerry wrote: I'm not
I'm not trying to get kicked off the board but I was wondering today if the standalone GPS market would last forever? Here's why I wonder.
I bought an overpriced Nuvi 680 about 3 years ago, maybe a little less at Best Buy. It was around $600 and at the time was near the top end of the Garmin line. A quick check on Ehay shows the average value now to be around $100. I've used it for 3 years far far more than the average user and it's been pretty good but not impressive in some respects. Map updates aren't cheap, poi's aren't live, traffic reports are lagging, weather reports were vague (MSN not Garmin I know), no satellite overlay or hybrid, etc. the list goes on and I'm sure it's been covered.
Last week, I switched phone carriers from Sprint to Verizon (which has the hands down fastest kick butt 3/4G network by the way) and my new Motorola Droid came with a built in beta version of Google Navigator. For a beta, it's kickin butt! It's always connected to the internet and so it's always live information, it speaks, it's far more accurate than my Garmin ever was (distance wise) and it does have satellite and hybrid modes. It uses either virtual keyboard destination entry or google voice (speak the destination, doesn't even have to be an address, just say for instance, IHOP in Plano Texas and it brings up a list of all the IHOPs in Plano TX, pick one and off you go!) They missed a few things in this first run but it's far superior technology nonetheless. After about 80 hours of use this week at work I've been so impressed that I bought a car cradle and charger for it and have gone to using it exclusively.
Now, to my knowledge, none of the GPS companies (I checked em out at best buy last week) are utilizing these types of technologies so how do they plan to stay competitive?
I know there will always be a niche for the standalone units but technology is moving at a screaming pace and Garmin is getting left behind in my opinion. What do you think the future of satellite auto navigation brings?
Kerry
I have 3 GPS: Garmin nuvi 1690 Magellan Maestro 4700 Garmin 3760 LMT
forgot one
I have the Android Incredible smart phone and the Nuvi 660 GPS unit. I just wanted to relay a case of how far technology with these phones has taken us.
I travel a lot for my job. When we went to Denver Co, I heard a person at the Baggage pick-up mention that the King Tut exhibit was in town. So I did the following.
1) Used my Calendar (that is sync'd with my work calendar) to determine that I had enough time to visit the exhibit.
2) Used the phone to check my emails to ensure there wasn't something pressing that I had to do for work. Those things do come up you know.
3) Used my phone to Google and purchase tickets online while waiting on my rental car.
4) Used Google Voice on my phone to "Navigate to King Tut Exhibit". Nothing more was needed. No searching for addresses or anything.
5) Opened the King Tut Website and pressed the contact us number to confirm the will-call had my reservations waiting while navigating there.
6) Used my phone as an 8meg pixil camera to take photos where it was permissible.
7) Used my phone to post those same pictures on Facebook to share with the family back home.
For a spur-of-the-moment exhibit visit, I used my phone as a PDA, email machine, GPS navigation, web browser, camera, Facebook interface, and even as a phone. *smile*
Granted that I am not ready to give up my Garmin GPS just yet, but the day is coming up pretty quickly. As soon as I can download POI's and store them easily on my phone, I can see me leaving the Garmin at home. I already leave my life-long buddies, the PDA and Ipod, at home during trips.
You forgot the vibrator function...
Garmin 38 - Magellan Gold - Garmin Yellow eTrex - Nuvi 260 - Nuvi 2460LMT - Google Nexus 7 - Toyota Entune NAV
The best thing about the
The best thing about the phones with all the latest features.They are driving the price down on the stand along gps.
Charlie. Nuvi 265 WT and Nuvi 2597 LMT. MapFactor Navigator - Offline Maps & GPS.
GPS
The GPS is a great invention. I do not foresee this invention disappearing. It will only get better.
I love it, but I am a gadget guy
I put an aftermarket (Kenwood) head unit in my truck 2 years ago with Garmin navigation built in. I did this because the factory units are not very good and this thing does way more than what the carmakers are offering for less money. The new cell phone technology is really good now and makes my Kenwood system look antiquated. Such is life in the technology fast lane...
Yes It Will Until the Car Manufacturers "Get It"
The car manufacturers keep using GPS software with lousy user interfaces. Few offer live traffic feeds, and the user interfaces are counter intuitive, lack the features of portable GPSs, and are typically years behind the market place.
Until/unless he car manufacturers license software and devices from Garmin, Tom Tom, or similar GPS companies, there will always be a market place for the portable GPS.
I think the portable GPS
I think the portable GPS market will last for awhile, who wants to hold up a phone to get directions on a regular basis. Plus the GPS's have more features (IMO) than the ones offered by wireless carriers. I do like my 1690 which communicates with cell towers, giving me a lot of options not available to GPS satellite receivers only. I think that is the trend.
Yup but only until humans
Yup but only until humans come with built in chips at birth.
Fred
Just remember
Nothing lasts forever, except death.
"Ceterum autem censeo, Carthaginem esse delendam" “When governments fear the people, there is liberty. When the people fear the government, there is tyranny.”
Depends who you ask
If you ask owners of 8 track and Betamax players the answer is NO
But if you ask users of pencils (1795) and rubber tires (1895) the anser is YES
Last time I checked pencils are still going strong and looking at the new 2012 vehicles coming out soon they will still have four rubber tires and one spare.
Garmin 38 - Magellan Gold - Garmin Yellow eTrex - Nuvi 260 - Nuvi 2460LMT - Google Nexus 7 - Toyota Entune NAV
In 1955 we were told...
It probably won't be too long now (20 years?) when you won't even drive your car anymore. You'll either tell your car, or input via some other means, where you want to go and the car will take you there.
The idea of a smart phone, along with stand alone GPSrs will be a quaint memory by then.
"we won't need tires any longer, the cars will ride on air...on super highways that will go anywhere forever" "The turbine engine" was to replace the "old gas one"
So much for predictions! The car has not changed much, oh I know, they are sleeker, faster, all have leather and real carpets. However, they still use rubber for the tires and run on gas and use oil.
What happened to the cars of the future? The future was to be the 1980's I think the GPS's will be here for a while longer...I hope!
"
"Backward, turn backward, oh time in your flight, make me a child again, just for tonight."
The Future
If you want to be a futurist, consider that the "big market" for GPS devices will be for subcutaneous plants at birth in a Brave New World!
That'll solve the problem of the police locating you when you had a bad thought!
Fred