Something To Consider If You're Unhappy With Garmin

So, does the phone have a built in GPS chip that is not cell tower based?

daniel

Yes, modern smartphones have built in gps chips. They can function without cell coverage but you have to install an app which stores the map data on the phone.

That is an excellent post. I am not unhappy with Garmin, so I use a Garmin Nuvi G60 in that fashion. I do still have a pre-paid T-Mobile SIM card in it as a backup phone just in case. One of the benefits of that is YellowPages,com works via EDGE wireless internet connection. I have suggested to others to consider a used Motorola Droid, a genuine Motorola windshield mount, and then install CoPilot onto the Droid.

Or, you could just buy a device from BadElf, and use an iPod Touch as a full blown GPSr - so you don't have to get something thats like it

And the BadElf is cheaper than a used Droid too...

And, you can also use it on a Wifi-Only iPad - and have a full blown, big screen GPSr.

There are all kinds of options out there - and some of them don't involve a smart phone at all

I was wondering ----

If you have a smartphone, or whatever, and you have to hold it in your hand to select destinations, could this be considered "Texting While Driving"???

I think you might have a hard time explaining it to a police officer that is not familiar with the device.

Since there are no cellphone towers to completely cover the U.S. and Cell Phone systems can go out due to weather (Hurricanes, floods, tornados, etc.) I think I will keep my dash mounted 660 as long as possible.

You can buy a used iPhone 3GS for $200 and you got an iPod, a backup phone, and a fully functional GPS with apps like Navigon, Maggelan or Tom Tom without any data plan or internet access. The fone does have GPS chip built-in and not rely on cell tower. You also get a decent camera too.

I got mine and mount on the top of the tint windshield and record the video in front of the road as I'm driving. It's really fun and incase something goes wrong you'll have proof.

That's why they make those things called "mounts". You know, so you can mount your device to your dash or windshield. Do you hold your Garmin in your hands while driving?!?

Please read and learn before making ignorant comments like the above. As I said in the first post, if you have an app which stores the maps on your phone then you don't need cell coverage. The smartphone will operate exactly like a Garmin.

Am I testy? Yes. Because all of these topics have been covered numerous times on this site and yet folks keep repeating the same false information.

I used the example of the iPod Touch because thats a device that most folks know about. Most folks probably don't realize you can use a smartphone (whether its an android or an iPhone) even if its not activated on a phone plan.

See subject. This is supposed to be a friendly place. You're not being friendly.

Most people are not as dumb as you think they are.

I created this thread to inform folks that they have choices in addition to Garmin. Because right now there are a lot of pissed off folks who are fed up with Garmin.

But of course as soon as I mention the word smartphone the Garmin fanboys are going to post the same tired incorrect information. So yeah, I am being a bit rude. But I wouldn't have to be rude if folks didn't insist on bashing stuff they are afraid of.

Find 100 people who don't own a smartphone. Ask them if they know that you can use a smartphone without activating it on a phone/data plan. I guarantee you that at least 75% will say they didn't know that.

And I'm not saying most folks are dumb. I'm saying most folks don't understand the technology.

S M H - you are an Android fanboy, since that's the only option you ever toss out for an alternative.

There are more, as I noted above. and NONE of that was "bashing".

I must apologize up front, I'm sorry.

Every time I see a thread like this I always say to myself "Here it goes again". Same thing on either side of the fence on this subject. The GPSr fans feel the smartphone way is garbage and the smartphone fans think the GPSr way is garbage. About as bad as arguing which is better a Ford or a Dodge? It all comes down to what you like and are used too.

Yes there are still a lot of people the do not realize the a smartphone can be purchased and used without a cell plan. Yes there are people out there that do not realize that not all phone GPS chips rely on a cell phone tower for assistance. But each time a person gets defensive on either side it gets real unfriendly.

The thing I'm not a fan of with smartphones, and it is not all, is the screen size. I have a Blackberry 9700. The screen is small, it works well for walking but not driving. Yes I understand the an Iphone and HTC's and others have a screen size that rivals some GPSr's but I'm still not entirely convinced that smartphones can keep up with a full featured GPS. Not saying they can't, just not convinced yet. If it works for you great use it.

I also have an Ipad without the 3g capability. I have looked into the Bad Elf and the GNS 5870 MFI GPS Bt Receiver. Both about $100. The company I work for are getting USB air cards, I asked about the Sprint version of the Mifi since I have the Mac and Ipad. And since I do most of my work on the Ipad I can connect instead of using the laptop unless I really need it. The one they have also has GPS built in. Now whether it will allow me to have GPS without using the 3G I'll have to wait and see.

All in all most of the info from GadgetGuy2008 I find informative until he gets defensive as if his ideas are the only solutions. There are those on the other side that get the same way when GadgetGuy2008's ideas go against their thinking. I have not seen that in this thread yet. There are nicer ways of informing others without getting defensive and being a text based forum it is sometimes difficult to get a point across.

Again I do enjoy your info on smartphones and their use as GPS devices. Could you just take it a little easier on those of us that are less informed or stubborn about changing our ways of thinking.

Again this was not meant to be an attack on anyone even though I mentioned on person by name.

Thank you, and again I apologize for any perception of rudeness or attacks.

If you read my initial post you will notice that I pointed out that folks could consider buying a "smartphone." I didn't say they should buy an android.

Why did I use Droid X as an example? Because I'm familiar with android phones. Big deal. I have nothing against Apple or iPhones. I've just never owned an iPhone and hence I don't bring it up in my discussions.

I didn't intend for my post to be be viewed as "the only solution." I was simply letting folks know there are other alternatives to Garmin.

The way I see it is that everyone on this site has at least one thing in common - we all enjoy using our respective gps devices. Whether its Garmin, TomTom, smartphone, Magellan, whatever. I personally don't care which device you use.

I guess in the future I won't try to be helpful.

Indeed. But then you went down this road:

Going out of your way to justify your rudeness. Again, I smh.

The very presence of this thread in Garmin Talk is just begging for someone to come along and threadcrap.

I'd recommend moving the thread before this thread does get nasty.

What a nice thing to come back to. I guess my vacation is officially over:)

Let's all cool our jets and try to be nice or I will lock this thread and end the discussion.

Miss poi

[/quote]

I didn't intend for my post to be be viewed as "the only solution." I was simply letting folks know there are other alternatives to Garmin.

The way I see it is that everyone on this site has at least one thing in common - we all enjoy using our respective gps devices. Whether its Garmin, TomTom, smartphone, Magellan, whatever. I personally don't care which device you use.

I guess in the future I won't try to be helpful.[/quote]

I'm sure I'm guilty of it also. I believe even in another thread I got defensive against you a few times myself. I reread your post in one of the other threads, did some additional research and became more informed.

And too Miss POI I apologize if I got out of line myself. We are trying to play nice, and welcome back from vacation.

The very purpose of this thread is to help folks who currently own a Garmin and may be unhappy with Garmin. So this thread most definitely belongs in the Garmin board.

Like the kind of "help" you gave above to metricman?

I didn't know that !

You're excused.

The very purpose of this thread is to promote your biased point of view by disguising it as a solution. There are other solutions that do not require purchasing a used smartphone and all the issues that go along with it. Those solutions deserve equal airtime, because your solution isn't going to be acceptable to many of the Garmin users on this site.

Many of the Garmin users that have encountered the JCV issue are upset because Garmin has been shown to be a liar. However, our Garmin users are a resourceful lot, and have found a solution that works.

I've tried both and now I find it easier to use the Garmin. Though the new(er) 2350 really has a lot of bugs. Today, I could not turn left out of a bank (not legal) and so I went right, then right, and the 2350 never recalculated. It just picked up when I eventually got back on the route it suggested. It shows me progressing, and the purple route several blocks away. So annoying. I can't put my finger on where the logic is flawed. What do you want for $178, right?

very interesting post, thanks!!!

Geez, you're not making things any easier for yourself.

You clearly do not understand that the general public has no idea how a cellphone, smartphone or a GPS works, they just use it. Nothing at all wrong about that. It is very confusing to most of the general public. Just go to a public meeting on cell phone towers and you'll see how the general public has no idea how cell phones and the cell phone systems work. Now throw in GPS capability and satellites and the confusion factor has increased exponentially. And this new capability of maps residing on a smartphone is just that: new. I wouldn't be at all surprised if many users already thought that the maps have been residing on the phone all along. Nothing wrong with that, nor does it mean that they are ignorant. The ability of the general public to learn new technology has a time constant of years and years. Just because you get it doesn't mean everyone else that doesn't must be ignorant.

I read your first post. No where in your first post do you explicitly say cell coverage is not needed. Maybe I missed it. Feel free to prove me wrong and quote where you said that cell coverage is not needed. And it is extremely important that you should have been explicit. You shouldn't imply, or assume what the reader knows. This is a very detail rich subject that is understood by few. And I didn't see any false information posted by metric man.