Why buy a GPS app if you already have a GPS unit?

[gnortenjones]

I bought a Garmin Nuvi 260W about a year ago. I really liked it, except the battery, which has pretty much died, and won't hold a charge for more than 20 minutes before showing "low battery" warnings.

So every time I need to use it I need to plug it in, and attach the window mount because in my area even having an empty window mount is an invitation to thieves. This is a pain in the butt if your just making quick trips, or driving when you need the directions.

I got the Navigon app yesterday simply to have an all-in-one device, which will most likely be used more than the cumbersome Garmin.

I'm going to sell the garmin on craiglist, and likely get most of the money I paid for Navigon.

 

[GoCubsGo]

The only question is the poll. I think many are in the same boat as you. Me, I'm not buying because mine is part of the car. I have a portable one for when I get into rentals and such so I'm good. Had I not had that portable I'd be buying the Tom Tom app.

 

[uberamd]

I already own a physical unit. It works perfectly (a Navigon), and was under $100. It doesn't hinder my ability to make a call, see a text, etc while in the car, and I never need to worry about forgetting it by accident, because it is always in my car.

The whole "one device to do it all" argument is a bit silly to me. A physical unit sits in your car, and frees up your iPhone to do any other task you need it to during a long trip. Who on earth carries around their car GPS? If you don't, then I don't see how it hinders anything.

 

[Jeremy1026]

I already own a physical unit. It works perfectly (a Navigon), and was under $100. It doesn't hinder my ability to make a call, see a text, etc while in the car, and I never need to worry about forgetting it by accident, because it is always in my car.

The whole "one device to do it all" argument is a bit silly to me. A physical unit sits in your car, and frees up your iPhone to do any other task you need it to during a long trip. Who on earth carries around their car GPS? If you don't, then I don't see how it hinders anything.

For those of us that can't leave the device hooked up at all times (due to security concerns) the 'one device' argument is perfectly valid. Only having to hook up and take down one device each time you do any driving is very helpful and saves a bunch of time.

 

[stockcerts]

I have an older Garmin Nuvi. I was thinking that I should purchase a map update, but considering the price I wasn't sure it was justified.

So, I purchased Navigon, just before TomTom was released, for its newer maps & to try it out. So far, locally, I've really been impressed. Tomorrow I'll be taking a trip using both, but will primarily rely on Navigon.

In my car, I can mount the iPhone close to me so I can easily see & hear it. I don't think I'd be able to see the map very well with a TomTom windshield mount (too far away & poor eyesight).

The only thing I'll miss when I give up the Garmin is the estimated time of arrival at destination updates.

This was one of the reasons I gave up my Garmin for Navigon. I wasn't about to pay $80 a year for map updates. I probably would have been OK with $25 or so, but $80 seems too high. I've been very happy with my Navigon purchase.

 

[uberamd]

For those of us that can't leave the device hooked up at all times (due to security concerns) the 'one device' argument is perfectly valid. Only having to hook up and take down one device each time you do any driving is very helpful and saves a bunch of time.

How on earth is hooking up your iPhone to your window any different than getting your GPS out of your glove box or center console and attaching it to your window? Either way you are hooking a single device to your window, one is just in your pocket while the other is in your glove box.

 

[Jeremy1026]

How on earth is hooking up your iPhone to your window any different than getting your GPS out of your glove box or center console and attaching it to your window? Either way you are hooking a single device to your window, one is just in your pocket while the other is in your glove box.

Because I use my phone for music as well. So I'd have to unlock my glovebox, take out my GPS unit, hook it up, hook up my phone, drive, unhook my phone, unhook my GPS unit, and lock my glovebox. (8 Steps)

Where as with the single device all I have to do is, hook up my phone, drive, unhook up my phone. (3 Steps)

 

[alphaod]

I just like having a backup; my GPS unit has messed up before once or twice.

I have a integrated GPS in my car, but I still keep a portable unit in the glove compartment. Now I have the iPhone app to help me when I don't have access to either.

 

[uberamd]

Because I use my phone for music as well. So I'd have to unlock my glovebox, take out my GPS unit, hook it up, hook up my phone, drive, unhook my phone, unhook my GPS unit, and lock my glovebox. (8 Steps)

Where as with the single device all I have to do is, hook up my phone, drive, unhook up my phone. (3 Steps)

First of all, you make it seem worse than it is. You forgot the 2 steps of taking your phone out of your pocket, and putting it back in your pocket (if you are going to have those glove box steps).

And, when someone calls you, crap. Suddenly your GPS is gone and you are stuck driving on your own. Fun times. I guess you can justify it, but to me it still makes no sense. It takes me all of 20 seconds to get my GPS out and suction it to my window. Oh well, glad it works out for you.

 

[Jeremy1026]

First of all, you make it seem worse than it is. You forgot the 2 steps of taking your phone out of your pocket, and putting it back in your pocket (if you are going to have those glove box steps).

And, when someone calls you, crap. Suddenly your GPS is gone and you are stuck driving on your own. Fun times. I guess you can justify it, but to me it still makes no sense. It takes me all of 20 seconds to get my GPS out and suction it to my window. Oh well, glad it works out for you.

Want to get picky about the steps?

Step 1: Take physical key out of my keyfob
Step 2: Unlock glove compartment
Step 3: Return physical key to my keyfob
Step 4: Take GPS unit out
Step 5: Hook up GPS unit
Step 6 Take phone out
Step 7: Hook up phone
Step 8: Drive
Step 9: Take GPS unit down and return to glove compartment
Step 10: Take physical key out of my keyfob
Step 11: Lock glove compartment
Step 12: Return physical key to my keyfob
Step 13: Take down my iPhone
Step 14: Return phone to pocket

Vesus

Step 1: Take phone out
Step 2: Hook up phone
Step 3: Drive
Step 4: Take phone down
Step 5: Return to pocket


Uuuu, 14 to 5, that made it sound even better. Point is, you (third person infinity) bought an iPhone so you didn't have to carry a camera, an MP3 player, and a phone. Same principle here.

 

[uberamd]

Want to get picky about the steps?

Step 1: Take physical key out of my keyfob
Step 2: Unlock glove compartment
Step 3: Return physical key to my keyfob
Step 4: Take GPS unit out
Step 5: Hook up GPS unit
Step 6 Take phone out
Step 7: Hook up phone
Step 8: Drive
Step 9: Take GPS unit down and return to glove compartment
Step 10: Take physical key out of my keyfob
Step 11: Lock glove compartment
Step 12: Return physical key to my keyfob
Step 13: Take down my iPhone
Step 14: Return phone to pocket

Vesus

Step 1: Take phone out
Step 2: Hook up phone
Step 3: Drive
Step 4: Take phone down
Step 5: Return to pocket


Uuuu, 14 to 5, that made it sound even better. Point is, you (third person infinity) bought an iPhone so you didn't have to carry a camera, an MP3 player, and a phone. Same principle here.

Personally, I didn't buy an iPhone to replace my camera, and I have 0 MP3's on mine. I like it as a phone, for text messaging, the apps, and the amazing web browser.

But please, indulge me on this: if someone calls you in the middle of navigating, what do you do? If you are going on vacation and having a friend drive you to the airport using your car, and having a friend drive your car home, what do you do? Leave your phone with him?

 

[Jeremy1026]

Personally, I didn't buy an iPhone to replace my camera, and I have 0 MP3's on mine. I like it as a phone, for text messaging, the apps, and the amazing web browser.

But please, indulge me on this: if someone calls you in the middle of navigating, what do you do?

Since I don't talk on the phone when driving, I ignore the call. Just like I would if I had a stand alone unit.

 

[uberamd]

Since I don't talk on the phone when driving, I ignore the call. Just like I would if I had a stand alone unit.

I saw that response coming.

 

[Jeremy1026]

I saw that response coming.

Well, I do drive a convertible. Which means a bunch of wind noise since I have my top down all the time unless its raining. Kind of hard to hear people sitting next to you, let alone on the phone. It does help that its illegal to talk on a phone (without a handsfree unit) where I live though.

 

[Gav2k]

Ask any police officer what most crims will break into ur car for and you'll find it's your sat nav. Hell I should know I've had two go. The cradle for a sat nav stands out like a sore thumb. Don't think removing the cradle solves the issue they look for the suction cup mark on the window. Now I don't know about u guys but sat nav units arnt pocket friendly.

I bought navigon purly because of this reason my iPhone holder looks like a phone holder no issues with that.

Tbh I don't use a sat nav to get places I know London better than most taxi drivers and if I go somewhere I don't know I've only got to do the trip once and I remember it. The thing I use my gps for is speed.

Over here in the uk we have crappy speed cameras that check your speed over a set distance. So if it's 50 mph u have to stick to it but do u? Lol nope uk law states your allowed 50mph plus 10% and 1mph so 55mph so I use gps to legally speed.

A police officer will not pull you till you exceed the 10% plus 1mph rule.

 

[dmk1974]

Still liking the Navigon app a lot from my testing on the drive to work and running out at lunch.

I think I may need to get some sort of vent mount or something for this if I totally get rid of my bulky old TomTom GO 530. Is there something good/cheap that is recommended? My car is a 2008 Honda Accord.

 

[iluvgr8tdeals]

When shall that be?

I just like having a backup; my GPS unit has messed up before once or twice.

I have a integrated GPS in my car, but I still keep a portable unit in the glove compartment. Now I have the iPhone app to help me when I don't have access to either.

1. You have a stand-alone GPS unit.
2. You have an integrated GPS car unit.
3. You have the iPhone GPS app to assist you when you have access to neither!

3 GPS enabled units? Isn't that a tad too many units?

When shall that be? Tell me! Can the first two fail? If they can, then the iPhone app can also fail!

 

[nrmillions]

I have a Garmin Nuvi that I keep in my car and I also have an iPhone but havent bought a navigation app yet. Does anyone know if you use an app such as the TomTom app and you enter an area without cellular signal will the app still continue to work or does the gps chip need a cellular signal to function? If the app needs cellular signal then there is no comparison and I wouldnt even consider using an app as a replacement for my nuvi.

 

[ddrueckhammer]

I have a Garmin Nuvi that I keep in my car and I also have an iPhone but havent bought a navigation app yet. Does anyone know if you use an app such as the TomTom app and you enter an area without cellular signal will the app still continue to work or does the gps chip need a cellular signal to function? If the app needs cellular signal then there is no comparison and I wouldnt even consider using an app as a replacement for my nuvi.

It will continue to work.

 

[QCassidy352]

I'm going to stick with my dedicated Garmin because:
1) I already have it
2) It works well, and an iphone app might or might not
3) I'm not the only one who drives my car
4) I want to be able to use my iphone for other things in the car (I don't mean irresponsibly - either a streaming music app while driving or other functions while a passenger).

Ask any police officer what most crims will break into ur car for and you'll find it's your sat nav. Hell I should know I've had two go. The cradle for a sat nav stands out like a sore thumb. Don't think removing the cradle solves the issue they look for the suction cup mark on the window. Now I don't know about u guys but sat nav units arnt pocket friendly.

totally agree, which is why I got a little beanbag "mount" for my garmin. it just sits on the dash and can be tucked away, leaving no trace, when not driving.