Navigation on Smartphones – Are we there yet?
Navigation/GPS systems were born as an answer to the most annoying road trip question you’ll get from your passengers – “Are we there yet?” It has been interesting to watch the technology mature over the past few years. With the integration of GPS chips into phones (for Emergency Location), hardware/software makers found a new way to get the convenience of GPS and Navigation into just about everyone’s hands! I must admit that I’m excited with the way smartphone navigation is maturing, and integrating with data in new and fantastic ways (in particular, check out my previous post about Navigon). It may also be well worth your time to check out what Google is doing with its smartphone navigation app (for Android). Here’s a link to the TechCrunch article with pictures.
I have read numerous articles on the Internet claiming that these new smartphone navigation apps mark the end of the standalone GPS/Navigation unit (by manufacturers such as Tom-Tom or Garmin). I ask myself the usual question about GPS for smartphone: Are we there yet? After having spent the past weekend on the road, with extensive use of my smartphone navigation application, the answer appears to be “No.”
Yes, I’m going against the grain here, but let me re-iterate why we’re not there yet:
- Many Smartphones use a-GPS (assisted GPS): One major drawback to many a-GPS systems is that they lack standalone GPS capability. This means that if you lose your cellular signal (or have a poor quality signal), your phone cannot calculate your position based on the GPS signal alone. In other words, your smart phone suddenly has no clue where you are!
- Many Smartphone Navigation Apps Don’t Store Local Copies of Maps: As is the case with the application I was using this weekend, if my smart phone was unable to make a data connection, I was unable to view a map of the road I was travelling. This may not be as big of a deal to some, but I cross-check the roadsigns I’m seeing with the visual representation on my Navigation screen as a way to know when I’m getting close to turns, etc. I find this particularly useful when I’m in unfamiliar territory on poorly marked roads.
- Many Smartphone Navigation Apps Require Data Connection Plans: This is mostly as a result of the first two items, but is something worth mentioning. If you bought your smart phone simply for its calendar/task/contact management and hadn’t planned to spend the $30/month for data services, this can be a tough pill to swallow! Plus, when you think about it, you can get a GREAT standalone navigation device for less than it costs you for a year of data services for your phone. Also, while it varies by manufacturer, map updates for standalone devices are generally around the $100 mark. This allows you to keep your device up-to-date without having to purchase a completely new device.
I took the time to look at the coverage maps for Verizon, AT&T, and Sprint. It appears that this may not be as large of an issue for the Verizon folks, but anyone with AT&T or Sprint should have quite a bit of concern for the drawbacks listed above. Here are the maps of the data services coverage for the three carriers (zoomed to my area – you may want to examine this for your own area):
The point is this: If you like to travel and take road trips, a smartphone navigation application should really be considered a supplement to a standalone device. If you don’t read maps well, or have a tendency to get lost easily, you should definitely consider purchasing some type of a standalone GPS device just in case you find yourself in a poor signal area. Personally, I have a Tom-Tom and love it.
If you would like to get your own Standalone GPS/Navigation device (or feel like updating your current one), Consumer Reports recommends the following:
- Garmin Nuvi 785T (Amazon) – This is a full-featured device supporting realtime traffic, reality-view, and bluetooth integration.
- Tom-Tom GO 740 Live (Amazon) – This is a full-featured device supporting realtime traffic, Google Search, and bluetooth integration.
- Garmin Nuvi 265WT (Amazon) – A budget-minded model that features much of the functionality in the 785T.
- Tom-Tom ONE 140 S (Amazon) – A budget-friendly model that gives you spoken directions and reality-view.
As always, feel free to Contact Me if you have questions about whether a standalone GPS unit is right for you. One thing for sure, I would definitely recommend this as a great holiday gift (particularly for new drivers or folks heading off to college).
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