Got a new GPS for $14

This would be nice to get grand kids as they could play wi-fi games on it and leave our tablet and phone alone.
Maybe even get the older ones a pay as you go account...
Something for me to think of.
Is the $20 all the time or just now?

Don't you need a data plan to use it as a GPS?

No. It has a GPS radio in it which means it doesn't require a data plan.

As a follow-on to the data plan question, how does the unit handle maps to show where you are or are going. Is the GPS useful without maps?

It is not useful as a GPS without maps. Android GPS apps download maps on the fly as you drive. For that you would need a data plan.

If I'm wrong, please explain, but if the unit supports WiFi, and it functions (At least when in range of WiFi), why do you think he needs a data plan? .

I have an Android smartphone that has an app (Navigator) that allows downloaded maps (full and partials). All for free too. Maps are downloaded by Wifi.

Therefore a data plan is not required! I've used it when my Garmin was not available .... works well.

I understand that there are several Android apps that are similar.

I haven't shopped at Radio Shack for almost 2 decades.

sounds like a deal to me. My only issue with it would be the size of the screen. I am sure u can load maps from the play store and it would be a great Montana substitute for that price.

Just use the phone in the portrait mode instead of landscape a the view ahead view will be as good as many stand alone GPSr's that only work in the landscape mode.

When I upgraded and got a new phone I gave the old Droid Incredible 2 to my daughter. It is useable for everything except phone calls. If she were to install Skype she could still use it for phone calls when WiFi was available. With a WiFi connection she could certainly download maps and an app to run them when "in the field" where no WiFi is available.

She currently just uses it for a music player and for games but it can do much more - even though it doesn't have a data plan.

Or, get a free Google account (which you likely have already if you are an Android user) and install GrooVe IP Lite. You can then make (and receive) free Google Voice calls to other phones when in Wifi areas (Skype calls to phones are not free, and I've had problems with Skype under Android, ooVoo seems to work much better). Plus, of course, she can still use the phone to make emergency calls (non-wifi) to *911 even without a contract.

I don't use a smartphone so I'm not up to speed on some of the ins and outs on the way they work navigating. My son gave me his old Samsung S to play around with and it has the maps icon on it that I have played around with some. It will let me pick a destination and route to it using different options, Car, walking, etc. It will also give me viewing options, map, satellite, etc. I have also scrolled the maps as far as 75 or 100 miles from home. But I have not taken it in the car which brings up my question. If I were to route to a place 100 miles from home and had no wifi would I eventually run out of maps? That's what some of the people seem to be saying.

What is the Map application name? Some apps keep the map on the phone, some don't.

For me it has been more than three decades. I grew tired of Radio Shack insisting on obtaining my name and address every time I purchased anything from them........the solution, never again to darken the door of another Radio Shack.

The free Google Maps will allow you to download maps for offline use. Just tell it the region you want. If I remember it's just a matter of zooming out and making a selection box.

In general, yes. But the basemap will still give the major roads. And many map/GPS apps let you download the areas of interest in advance and then use them when no wifi or dataplan is available.

I expect that this is a close out of this model. My $20 price was based on on-line statements I had seen saying 60% off, and I believe that was based on a $49.99 original price, but you would have to check stores to see if you can even find the device. I don't suggest buying this for kids for games, low power single core devices are not great for games, and the kids will likely hate it if they are expected to play games on it. But understanding that limitation when I bought it, it is an amazing toy for the money.

I saw the model in Radion Shack in FL. The sales clerk said it was on the close out list and was not as fast as the newer models. It was 19.99 plus tax. Didn't purchase it though. Was just killing time while my wife was shopping. next door.

It's like a less interesting version of Brookstone.

Thanks to OP on the phone info. I'll have to look into it.

Unfortunately Google has changed Google Voice to a proprietary protocol which will go into effect in May. At that time Groove IP, Talkatone, and other means to use your google voice from a phone or tablet WILL CEASE to function.

An alternative is Skype which for about $10 per month will give you a real telephone number and unlimited USA phone calls. (but there are no texting plans - texting is charged per text)

It sounds like a very low powered phone. You will need several GB of SD card storage to store the USA maps from NAVFree. If you have enough space, I can see this working OK.

I found that unless they have sales, Radio Shack is more expensive than other stores. I only shop there when there is a sale.

All phones no matter weather they have subscriptions or not can still be used to call 911 for emergency purposes for those of you that would buy this phone for their grand kids to play with. be careful with that as it will take an officer away from what could be an emergency situation elsewhere.

The magic Jack Android APP will work when you have internet.Don't confuse this with the one that connects to PC or Router.I have used this on my Android Tablet. See https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.magicjack .

Here is info on Talkatone https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.talkatone.... .The 20 FREE outbound call minutes per month to U.S. phone numbers is a let down.

Yea, memory cards are pretty useful and I tend to pick them up when I see fast ones on a good sale. Had several sitting around, popped in an 8 gig one that I paid about $4 for even before I installed the phone's battery. I'm also using another 8 gig one in my nuvi to hold the free Open Street Maps for the entire U.S., and still have a couple of larger ones for use with my tablet.

Not sure about the reference to NAVfree though. I had not used it and just tried it on my Android tablet. But, while it supports a few dozen countries, it doesn't seem to have a U.S, map. Can't get past the screen where I'm expected to download a map. While it MIGHT be OK if I was going to visit one of the supported countries, since I can't test it at all in the U.S. I'm not likely to set it up and depend on it for a trip to a foreign country. I'll just use some of the many apps that work both in and outside the U.S. Not sure why you would mention it in a thread about a U.S. phone.

Damn, Google does indeed keep getting more evil. It really sucks that they are making that change, apparently to screw people.

With Skype owned by Microsoft I really don't see paying them to be an option. Didn't try Skype on my phone, but it didn't work right on my Android Jelly Bean tablet (wouldn't see the camera). I will find other options.

There are two versions of NavFree. The version you want is NavFree USA. It sounds as if you downloaded the European version, which would explain the lack of USA maps.

Be aware that both NavFree USA and Osmand/Osmand+ require you to download each state separately. From what I recall this is a limitation of the source, not of NavFree or Osmand/Osmand+.

To download NavFree's maps, tap the button on the lower right of the navigation screen. The menu that pops up will have nine icons in a 3x3 grid. The last icon in the second row is the "Upgrades" screen. This is also the screen used to initially download the maps.

Speaking of updates, I have a few to update myself. I'll be back in several hours. ;)

Thanks for the info.

Thanks for the link. The version that I got had a lot of Europe, but also South America and Canada and Mexico, just not the USA. Not at all sure why they would have two different versions, rather than let you pick and choose from one large pool of maps. But I have the one that you provided a link to queued up for install.

Yea, OSMand requires you to install state by state. Clearly that isn't an Open Street Map restriction, as I can download the entire USA OSM as one file (a little under 4 gig in size) for use with my nuvi, as well as smaller multi-state slices. While I wish it would let me just put the entire USA map on the MicroSD card at once, I can live with the state-by-state approach if I have to for the price.

For some reason NavFree doesn't use Osmand's approach, which is to check states to be downloaded. At one point NavFree did have the entire US available as a separate download, but that hasn't been the case for some time now. One thing I do know is I need to send a message to Navmii telling them to update NavFree so users can select more than one map at a time for download.

Merging the two apps would be a good idea, but I'm sure Navmii has a reason why they keep two functionally identical apps in the first place.

The last time I purchased from them is when they were still under the "Tandy" banner.

Nuvi1300WTGPS

Radio Shack is apparently downsizing their footprint by 1100 stores. Best take advantage of this deal soon.

http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB1000142405270230481500...

Wow!

Google is making this change because they want to integrate their products.
Instead of having 4 apps that do the same thing, only one is needed.
For more info, see: http://www.androidpolice.com/2013/10/07/all-but-confirmed-go...
Also Google Hangouts is bringing VoIP, which is why they are making this change in protocol. And of course, the carriers are fighting it.
Read: http://www.androidpolice.com/2014/03/18/google-reportedly-pl...

Amazing that people can claim that Google is screwing them when it's their carriers this is in fact doing that.

Well, $14 for any Android device sounds like a good price.

CoPilot is a nice choice for an Android GPS app. I've been using it on my tablet and smartphone for quite a while now rather than my Nuvi's. (That's why I haven't been here for quite a while). I find the Android apps much easier to navigate than my 765T or 295W.

http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=198748...

$14 sounds like a brother-in-law price.

It was, as I said, on sale for 2 days at $14. Now $20. Still not bad for an Android device with Google market ("play store") access. Still happy with mine, have been using it more than my tablet lately (although the tablet is lots better for most things, this is just very handy to carry around in my pocket and does a lot of basic things well enough).

Too bad that it's locked to Virgin Mobil and doesn't have a replaceable SIM card.

It was, as I said, on sale for 2 days at $14. Now $20. Still not bad for an Android device with Google market ("play store") access. Still happy with mine, have been using it more than my tablet lately (although the tablet is lots better for most things, this is just very handy to carry around in my pocket and does a lot of basic things well enough).

Too bad that it's locked to Virgin Mobil and doesn't have a replaceable SIM card.

You can also export tracks from the GPS. These give a time stamped record of where you have been. I have a program, Lightroom by Adobe, that uses the track information and attaches it to photos. This is very useful for vacations so you know exactly where you were when a picture was taken. In Lightroom Maps you can also set up areas, for example within a mile of home to exclude all data.

On my iPhone I use a program GPS Tracks for this.

Sounds like good news. Just hope it works as well when teamed with Google.

From Facebook.

As most of you know, we've been working on an update for GrooVe IP to move away from Google Voice. Our goal has been to try and keep the service as close to free as possible. So I'm happy to say, due to some new agreements we've made, we believe we'll be able to offer 100% free incoming and outgoing calls to the US and Canada. We'll also support creating a new US phone number or porting over an existing number. Porting will not have any charge from us. Ultimately, things should work similar to how they do with the existing app. Unfortunately, SMS will not be completed in the first release. But will be added shortly after. Also, it looks like we won't be doing a public beta like we previously thought we would. Both GrooVe IP and GrooVe IP Lite will be updated before the May 15 deadline to move to the new service. If you have any questions I haven't addressed please feel free to ask and I'll do my best to answer. Don't have release date information yet, still integrating and testing.

I am glad that there will be an alternative to Google Voice when that stop it. I have never heard of GrooVe IP before. Can I just download the app. Will it allow voice commands? Thank you.

Here is how you set up Google Voice and Groove IP http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=how+to+set+up+groove+ip+... .This is the Groove IP App on the market https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.snrblabs.g... .This will change once they get the new provider. But for now you can use the Google Voice and Groove IP combination .Pretty simple to set up.