A Poor Man's Navigation System

I’ve never been a fan of navigation systems because of their price and the infrequency with which I need directions to someplace new. When I do need to go somewhere I’m not familiar with, I print out a map beforehand. Or, even worse, when I’m out on the road and think of a place I’d like to go off the top of my head, the navigation system often can’t find the exact location because I don’t have the full address.

After the iPhone came out and everyone talked about how great Google Maps was on it, I checked out the feature on my own smart phone, the Samsung Blackjack. I downloaded both Google Maps and Microsoft’s Live Search map program, and they’re really intuitive. Check out the video above to see how much faster it is to find a location. Of course, the big problem is the phones don’t have GPS tracking in them…yet.

Comments

One thing that wasn't mentioned was that with Google Maps (not sure if MS Live Search has something similar) it makes you 'OK' through a Disclaimer Screen saying, "Do not operate while driving". Who are these people kidding? Even car's NAV systems have similar disclaimers. Just a big CYA because EVERYONE knows they use it while driving - that's the only way they're worth the money.

Almost all verizon phones have vznav which is just like a car navigation turn by turn directions and rerouts you if you pass

Baller,
Don't you have to pay for that service though?
WE've also been told that BlackBerry has an optional GPS in it. iPhones and Blackjacks do not.

Dumb article, misleading title... how can a static map be compared to a satnav system in a meaningful way?

A more appropriate article would be entitled 'A small but expensive way to view a map". In teh article using a Raspberry would be compared to using a road atlas.

And... who wants to look at a Raspberry/phone screen while driving? I think it's illegal in my state.

TomTom Go 310 at $199 (refurb'd) from buy.com is a true poor-mans' sat nav. It happens to blow my friend;'s 2006 BMW X5 in-car system out the water for ease of use, if not gadgetry.

b.

Beep,
The point is a lot of people ALREADY own a phone like this. So it's not "expensive" it's using the most of what you already have.

Also my screen is pretty darn big for a phone, the iPhone's is probably bigger than the little TomTom as well. And the portable GPS devices are the new hot item to be stolen out of cars. So there are pros and cons to everything.

I've actually used this on the way to business lunches and pulled up the restaurant name and phone number, which you can call with a click. It's pretty useful as an all in one tool. Add GPS and it would be perfect, like others have.

If you have a PDA type phone you can also find on ebay a GPS SiRFIII device that is bluetooth enabled. Then, just slap the software on the PDA type phone. Cost of GPS bluetooth enabled receiver about $60 to $70 in some cases less. Then just find the software (hack) somewhere. Or buy it.

I'm with Hector on this. I paid $300 for a Pharos PDA that an internal SiRFstarIII GPS chip. It's a good PDA with WI-FI and Bluetooth; it runs Windows mobile and it does everything I need. I have TomTom software for it which works very well. The 99% of the time that I'm not using it as a GPS unit it stays in my pocket or hand, not on my dash attracting thieves. There are a lot of similar devices with internal GPS receivers on the market.

A poor man's nav system is called, Rand MacNally. NY cabbies live by the Hagstroms (in the 12"x9" book naturally)

I also have a great one for PA, but the name escapes me.

I have a Blackjack from Cingular (AT&T) and I can add a navigation package called TeleNav GPS.

--From AT&T's website:

TeleNav GPS Navigator offers you or your mobile employees the convenience of real-time navigation on select AT&T mobile phones. You'll hear precise audible directions as your AT&T mobile phone displays moving maps, in real-time. Access a national 411 directory with over 10 million business listings and points of interest across the country. PLEASE NOTE: *separate purchase of the GlobalSat BT-359 Bluetooth® GPS Receiver is required for some devices.