Get Rid Of Your GPS?

 

In the New York Times Article

Gadgets You Should Get Rid Of (or Not)
By SAM GROBART
Published: March 23, 2011

the author writes

"GPS UNIT Lose it. The least expensive GPS units cost around $80. But your smartphone can do the same thing, if not more, for half that price, or even free. Android smartphones already have Google’s turn-by-turn navigation app built in. And earlier this month, Google announced that the company would be including live and historical traffic data in route planning, so you hopefully get to where you are going faster.

If you have an iPhone, you have several options for GPS apps, including Navigon’s MobileNavigator (which starts at $30) and ALK’s CoPilot Live ($35). Renting a car? Decline the optional GPS; if you have a smartphone, you already have one with you. "

Of course, I don't agree -- but that's me.

What do you think?

Reference:
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/24/technology/personaltech/24...

GARY HAYMAN

--
Garmin DriveSmart 61 LMT-S, Prev.GPSs: Drive61 LM, nuvi 3790LMT, 755T & 650, GPSIII+, SP 2610, 250W; Magellan 2200T; Originator of GARMIN NUVI TRICKS, TIPS, WORKAROUNDS, HINTS, SECRETS & IDEAS http://bit.ly/GARMIN-TNT
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What I think

My opinion on most Duz-It-All things is summed up by the old saying: “Jack of all trades but master of none.” I have a swiss army style knife but there are times I prefer a good sheath knife for the task involved. I am not ready to replace my Automobile style and Trail style GPS receivers with a smart phone. Nor would I use my Automobile style for hiking in the mountains.

I also don’t agree with the advice to lose USB drives.

I love my GPS

Evert wrote:

My opinion on most Duz-It-All things is summed up by the old saying: “Jack of all trades but master of none.” I have a swiss army style knife but there are times I prefer a good sheath knife for the task involved. I am not ready to replace my Automobile style and Trail style GPS receivers with a smart phone. Nor would I use my Automobile style for hiking in the mountains.

I also don’t agree with the advice to lose USB drives.

I wouldn't give up my GPS.

get rid of GPS

You have to admit the gap is getting smaller all the time.

--
Flip Garmin Street P.330 Garmin 255WT Garmin LM50

Have to?

FLIP wrote:

You have to admit the gap is getting smaller all the time.

No I don't - I am a stubborn old Dutchman. smile

If using an app on a phone, or pad/tablet device

Make sure it has full maps on the device - if you are using one that depends on a data connection to pull maps, you'll be SOL if you are in an area and have no data.

--
*Keith* MacBook Pro *wifi iPad(2012) w/BadElf GPS & iPhone6 + Navigon*

Will hold out until the end.

Will hold out until the end.

--
Charlie. Nuvi 265 WT and Nuvi 2597 LMT. MapFactor Navigator - Offline Maps & GPS.

My GPS - Keep it. I use it daily.

The New York Times - Lose it! Who needs a newspaper these days? Haven't read one in last 3 years.

--
Garmin nüvi 3597LMTHD, 3760 LMT, & 255LMT, - "Those who wish for fairness without first protecting freedom will end up with neither freedom nor fairness." - Milton Friedman

Yes, but

FLIP wrote:

You have to admit the gap is getting smaller all the time.

Absolutely correct, the gap is getting smaller. But a dedicated GPS unit is still far easier and less distracting to use than the best smartphone based system (meaning far safer, too). I've actually been pretty impressed with the Google turn-by-turn navigation on my TP2 which is absolutely free, unlike some of the turn-by-turn systems available for smartphones. But I'm not giving up my Garmin.

--
--- GPSmap 60CS, Nuvi 650 & Nuvi 1490T---

I agree

selfruler wrote:

The New York Times - Lose it! Who needs a newspaper these days? Haven't read one in last 3 years.

Also, my Blackberry is no where near as fast or reliable as my Garmin when I'm navigating to an address. Never mind when you're in a no service area, where you really need the GPS.

--
I drive, therefore I am happy. Rodeo, wildlife and nature photography rodeophoto.ca

Be not the first...

ghayman wrote:

In the New York Times Article

Gadgets You Should Get Rid Of (or Not)
GPS UNIT Lose it.

by whom the new is tried, nor the last to set the old aside...

--
"Backward, turn backward, oh time in your flight, make me a child again, just for tonight."

Airplane use

I like being able to plan a route and review streets while on my flight to the location (with the GPS in simulator mode). Can't do that with my blackberry since it doesn't have any maps on it without data. Plus, at least with my blackberry the screen size is way to small to navigate with in heavy traffic. I like being able to put my GPS up on the dashboard where it becomes another instrument.

No thanks on the phones. I

No thanks on the phones. I use my hand held Garmin which came pre-loaded with the marine maps when I'm kayaking all over Florida's southwest coast. This includes the Everglades and 10,000 islands area.

There's no reception in most of the areas there and GPS is the only way to go unless you want to get lost for a day or two. There's still spotty reception on some of the populated islands down there as well.

Keep the GPS - Murphy's Law Hasn't Been Revoked

Murphy's Law still rules: When you need connectivity the most, that's when you'll lose it... Hardware-based mapping is still the most reliable, easiest to use, view, etc.

I think I will keep mine for

I think I will keep mine for now. I like dedicated unit and phone os cumbersome in car.

--
John B - Garmin 765T

I'll keep my GPS

As I've said in other threads, I've run my 660 alongside my Droid X with Pilot running side by side and the Garmin is much easier to see and as someone said less confusing. I like my Droid X for a lot but not as a GPS.

--
NUVI 660, Late 2012 iMac, Macbook 2.1 Fall 2008, iPhone6 , Nuvi 3790, iPad2

I'll keep my GPS

Sorry for the double post. I don't know how it happened.

--
NUVI 660, Late 2012 iMac, Macbook 2.1 Fall 2008, iPhone6 , Nuvi 3790, iPad2

The Times

The New York Times has never been reliable. I remember when they supported Castro before he took over Cuba.

I couldn't get by without Lola

She's become a close friend. I would never get rid of her. grin

--
With God, all things are possible. ——State motto of the Great State of Ohio

Obviously never been to a site like this

It's more than just directions and the people on this site know that. If they use the GPS to it's full potential (POI Factory and others) they would have never made such a statement. GPS's live on....

--
BMW Nav V Montana 650 Zumo 660 Garmin 78S Garmin 76CSX

Get rid of the reporter

... problem solved!

--
Harley BOOM GTS, Zumo 665, (2) Nuvi 765Ts, 1450LMT, 1350LM & others | 2019 Harley Ultra Limited Shrine - Peace Officer Dark Blue

Urban environment

Clearly written by someone in an urban area with loads of wireless connectivity who has no need or desire to go outside those confines.

To sum up his position, get rid of everything except your smartphone, alarm clock and books, excluding cookbooks.

--
Drivesmart 66, Nuvi 2595LMT (Died), Nuvi 1490T (Died), Nuvi 260 (Died), GPSMAP 195

The article, interestingly

The article, interestingly enough, ignores NY law on cell phone use.

8 states (CA, CT, MD, NJ, NY, OR, WA), D.C. and the Virgin Islands prohibit all drivers from using handheld cell phones while driving. Except for Maryland, all laws are primary enforcement—an officer may cite a driver for using a handheld cell phone without any other traffic offense taking place.

(Source: http://www.ghsa.org/html/stateinfo/laws/cellphone_laws.html)

It makes no distinction as to what the phone is being used for, so that to me includes GPS usage.

--
"Anyone who is capable of getting themselves made President should on no account be allowed to do the job." --Douglas Adams

.

Strephon_Alkhalikoi wrote:

The article, interestingly enough, ignores NY law on cell phone use.

8 states (CA, CT, MD, NJ, NY, OR, WA), D.C. and the Virgin Islands prohibit all drivers from using handheld cell phones while driving.

Maybe that's because those laws don't apply to using a cell phone as a gps device unless of course you happen to hold the device in your hands while you're driving!! Oh, and here's the NY page on cell phone use if you want to find out the rules http://www.safeny.com/phon-ndx.htm.

And for those who keep repeating the same false information, smartphones CAN be used as gps devices even if you don't have cell coverage. You just need to use an app which stores the maps on your phone such as Navigon, CoPilot, etc.

Keep the GPS (for now)

I have a Droid X and used it to successfully navigate on a business trip to Dallas. I didn't want to take my Garmin, power cord, beanbag mount, etc. through airport security, as I was packing light and not checking a bag. The phone's google/built-in apps did the job, but definitely not as well as my Nuvi. I like the idea if an all in one unit, but the battery life is limited even if you don't use it as a gps. Oh well, good to have a backup.

--
dja24 - garmin nuvi 200W, etrex vista, etrex vista Cx

Never

Could never part with my GPS!

You are a lawyer?

GadgetGuy2008 wrote:
Strephon_Alkhalikoi wrote:

The article, interestingly enough, ignores NY law on cell phone use.

8 states (CA, CT, MD, NJ, NY, OR, WA), D.C. and the Virgin Islands prohibit all drivers from using handheld cell phones while driving.

Maybe that's because those laws don't apply to using a cell phone as a gps device unless of course you happen to hold the device in your hands while you're driving!! Oh, and here's the NY page on cell phone use if you want to find out the rules http://www.safeny.com/phon-ndx.htm.

Here's some quotes from the law:

§1225-c. Use of mobile telephones.

1. For purposes of this section, the following terms shall mean:

(a) "Mobile telephone" shall mean the device used by subscribers and other users of wireless telephone service to access such service.
(b) "Wireless telephone service" shall mean two-way real time voice telecommunications service that is interconnected to a public switched telephone network and is provided by a commercial mobile radio service, as such term is defined by 47 C.F.R. S 20.3.

Now, I see no exemption for a smartphone used as a GPS in the remainder of the section while while 1(a) clearly states "Mobile Telephone."

I believe, and this is only my belief, the reference to Title 47, Code of Federal Regulations Section 20.3 refers to this definition:
Interconnected Service.
A service:

(a) That is interconnected with the public switched network, or interconnected with the public switched network through an interconnected service provider, that gives subscribers the capability to communicate to or receive communication from all other users on the public switched network;

1225-c is followed by this:

§1225-d. Use of portable electronic devices.

1. Except as otherwise provided in this section, no person shall operate a motor vehicle while using any portable electronic device while such vehicle is in motion.

2. For the purposes of this section, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

(a) "Portable electronic device" shall mean any hand-held mobile telephone, as defined by subdivision one of section twelve hundred twenty-five-c of this article, personal digital assistant (PDA), handheld device with mobile data access, laptop computer, pager, broadband personal communication device, two-way messaging device, electronic game, or portable computing device.

1225-d can include a ban on GPS use as it can be considered a "portable computing device" because of its processor, but that would be stretching the definition. It appears as if the NYS law is pretty clear on banning any connected device that can be handheld. Where a docked smartphone or tablet would fall under these definitions is something best left to the lawyers - and I neither play one on TV or have a license to practice law in any part of the universe.

EDIT: Section 1225-c does have an exemption allowing you to hold a cellular telephone to activate or deactivate a function, so it would be up to the driver to be able to convince the officer they were accessing only the GPS function and not using a "A service:

(a) That is interconnected with the public switched network, or interconnected with the public switched network through an interconnected service provider."

The 'gotcha' is in order to get the needed maps and route it would have to be downloaded from the interconnected provider.

--
Illiterate? Write for free help.

One of life's pleasures is

One of life's pleasures is being in a car, GPS on, nice music or an audiobook playing, and telephone off.

I don't need to "connected" to the whole friggin' world every second of every day. That's fine for 13 year old girls, not so much for adults.

.

No, I'm not a lawyer. But I can read.

§1225-c. Use of mobile telephones.

1. For purposes of this section, the following terms shall mean:

(c) "Using" shall mean holding a mobile telephone to, or in the immediate proximity of, the user's ear.

§1225-d. Use of portable electronic devices.

2. For the purposes of this section, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

(b) "Using" shall mean holding a portable electronic device while viewing, taking or transmitting images, playing games, or composing, sending, reading, viewing, accessing, browsing, transmitting, saving or retrieving e-mail, text messages, or other electronic data.

My son't droid gave us

My son't droid gave us directions quicker in one case where we were using it and my 760 side by side but overall I would not want to be stuck using a smart phone for the functionality I get from my GPS. Both of mine are coupled to my blackberry for bluetooth and the GPS puts the phone call through the car speakers and has a remote microphone. I also have SD cards with tunes in both GPSs and use this as my main playback device. I know I can do the same things with a phone but not as well, at least for now. I don't think I would want to carry a phone with the display of my GPSs. Far too large. A smaller display, like a phone has, is too small for a GPS IMHO.

Jim

I prefer to keep my GPS as a

I prefer to keep my GPS as a stand alone device. However, there are a lot of people that use their phones for this purpose. Only time will tell if they will truly survive.

--
Tight lines

GPS vs. Smartphone

I use my phone in a pinch, but the GPS dosent need cell signal, and isnt prone to interruption like a phone. I keep wavering, but am not ready to get rid of my GPS yet.

Not Ready -

I'm not ready to give my GPSr up. Smart phones are fine if you are walking around and need to get your bearings, but I like the bigger screen and the liberty of not having to transmit my location to the rest of the internet.

I still like my GPS and I

I still like my GPS and I use my phone sometimes as well, when I don't have the GPS with me. I have my GPS all set up for destinations so it's easy to use. Once I find that I am using my phone more I may not want the GPS but as of now I don't see that happening. At least anytime soon.

ghayman wrote: But your

ghayman wrote:

But your smartphone can do the same thing, if not more, for half that price, or even free.

Smartphone? What's so smart about that expensive data plan? Once I bought my GPSr there were no further expenses except for a map update now and then (or maybe not). You have to consider ALL the expenses.

My cell phone is just that, a phone and nothing else and only costs me about $80 per year. Yes, per year not per month. Now tell me my $150 GPS with no additional expenses is not a bargain.

not for me

I don't do google or apple. Also, a dedicated box is more advanced and feature rich than any all-in-one.

--
___________________ Garmin 2455, 855, Oregon 550t

A Missquote

Avandyke said
==========
ghayman wrote:

But your smartphone can do the same thing, if not more, for half that price, or even free.

==========

BUT

ghayman didn't write that at all !!!!

I don't even have a smartphone. I'm a true GPS man.

If I want to make a phone call I use two tin cans and some string. wink

--
Garmin DriveSmart 61 LMT-S, Prev.GPSs: Drive61 LM, nuvi 3790LMT, 755T & 650, GPSIII+, SP 2610, 250W; Magellan 2200T; Originator of GARMIN NUVI TRICKS, TIPS, WORKAROUNDS, HINTS, SECRETS & IDEAS http://bit.ly/GARMIN-TNT

get rid of your GPS

First of all i do not want an iPhone or anything like it ,i like my GPS as it does not cost a cent to run and my phone is not connected to my face,besides Bluetooth makes you look like an mumbling idiot when you are walking around. So there.

--
The Home of BLUMARU HOUNDS

I just can not understand

I just can not understand why Garmin does not make a Android app.

Not hard to get

mtunender wrote:

I just can not understand why Garmin does not make a Android app.

Why would they want to give 30% of the app price to Google?

--
nüvi 3790T | Those who make peaceful revolution impossible, will make violent revolution inevitable ~ JFK

ghayman wrote: In the New

ghayman wrote:

In the New York Times Article

Gadgets You Should Get Rid Of (or Not)
By SAM GROBART
Published: March 23, 2011

the author writes

"GPS UNIT Lose it. The least expensive GPS units cost around $80. But your smartphone can do the same thing, if not more, for half that price, or even free. Android smartphones already have Google’s turn-by-turn navigation app built in. And earlier this month, Google announced that the company would be including live and historical traffic data in route planning, so you hopefully get to where you are going faster.

If you have an iPhone, you have several options for GPS apps, including Navigon’s MobileNavigator (which starts at $30) and ALK’s CoPilot Live ($35). Renting a car? Decline the optional GPS; if you have a smartphone, you already have one with you. "
GARY HAYMAN

I would have a problem for I do not have or need any type of cell phone.
If anyone wants to get a hold of me they have 4 options.
1)call me on land line and if I am not home leave a message.
2) Email me and I will answer eventually
3) Send me a letter
4) Drive up to my house and knock on the door
My wife does have a cell phone but it is only used when she/us are traveling out of the city and in case we have car troubles. It is so old that it will not text.
Today I received a letter from my niece asking me if I could help pay for her trip to China to pass out bibles to the people.
Had she Emailed me I probably would not promised as much as I did for the impersonality I find in them.
I would not get rid of my GPS for any reason for it is like The yellow pages with thousand other places listed. My GPS has everything from Jazz Clubs, Nuclear sites, Historical Markers, Prisons, Places to eat from the Food Network, etc. I can see them as I drive without asking for the information. It costs me nothing and is on a 4.5 inch screen.

'

Juggernaut wrote:
mtunender wrote:

I just can not understand why Garmin does not make a Android app.

Why would they want to give 30% of the app price to Google?

Apple's app store is the same kind of deal for developers. I imagine they are working on it.

--
*Keith* MacBook Pro *wifi iPad(2012) w/BadElf GPS & iPhone6 + Navigon*

ghayman wrote: Of course, I

ghayman wrote:

Of course, I don't agree -- but that's me.

What do you think?

I think that this site is for GPS lovers (me included) so I would expect that most of us would vote for keeping our standalone GPSr's. I also think that the GPS manufacturers know that the standalone GPSr market is very mature and that they better have a Plan B in place or they'll be out of business in five years. There are only so many bells and whistles that you can add to a GPSr to attract fresh customers. Oh, well, technology marches on...

--
"No misfortune is so bad that whining about it won't make it worse."

try both!

why not have a smartphone AND a dedicated GPS? It's only $$

--
non-native nutmegger

Yea, they are... ;)

kch50428 wrote:

Apple's app store is the same kind of deal for developers. I imagine they are working on it.

Rejected by Apple, iPhone developers go underground
http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/08/07/iphone.app.developers/ind...

--
nüvi 3790T | Those who make peaceful revolution impossible, will make violent revolution inevitable ~ JFK

Keeping my GPS. I just got

Keeping my GPS. I just got an Iphone and love it but the last thing I need is to have a call when I need to see directions.

Get rid of your GPS?

Each have advantage and disadvantage. So I'll keep both for now.

I have 3 Garmin GPS units, 2

I have 3 Garmin GPS units, 2 TomTom units. The GPS I use most of the time? My Android phone. Works amazingly well.

I'll never get rid of my GPS, but I probably won't be buying another GPS for a very very long time.

I only use my stand-alone GPS when on long road trips.

Android's GPS and google maps with real time updated data is amazing.

--
http://www.poi-factory.com/node/21626 - red light cameras do not work

Predictions and Prognostication

People who predict the future are never wrong - they just forget when they're not right razz

When I am driving to an new location my GPS is silently working - telling me when to turn, advising me how far it is to my destination, and approximately when I will arrive. What would the connection fees and roaming charges be for using my smartphone to provide me with the same information?

Don't want

If I bought a smart phone, which I don't need nor want, it would cost me $180.00 a year extra for a data plan. I like toys like most of the guys, but I have a phone for one reason....to make or receive phone calls.

--
Anytime you have a 50-50 chance of getting something right, there's a 90% probability you'll get it wrong.

from a smart phone user

Some of us use dedicated gps units to help navigate on the water, in the air, while walking on trails and to find our way on unfamiliar city streets. Sometimes when you have a job to do it helps to have a tool made specifically for that job. Ask the mechanic who has tried to disassemble a motor with an adjustable wrench. I'll continue to value the functionality of my smart phone, including as a backup to my dedicated gps.

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