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The problem with designing a dock for the iPad is that by the time it comes out, the iPad 2 arrives and doesn't fit.
They could have a middle section that is removable and could be designed to fit anything. Just look at how many iPod docks are available. Some now fit iPod or iPad, too.
The market-research firm's 2011 U.S. Navigation Usage and Satisfaction Study said the Garmin system installed in the Dodge Charger won the most favorable rating from consumers, followed closely by the Hyundai Mobis system in the Hyundai Genesis Coupe."
J.D. Power Survey Cites "Continued Owner Frustration" With Many Nav Systems (Inside Line)
My Magellan has a better color pallette and a better search feature.
I'm happy with both, though.
Cheaper models can still use cell-site location, which is less accurate, but also uses less battery than the GPS antennae.
Auto makers will never do this, but what I'd like to see is a generic iPad-sized console in the middle of the dash that simply worked as a big screen for smart phones.
I'd even keep the HVAC controls on separate knobs, but integrate the music and entertainment functions.
That Bulli concept was cool, but VW isn't even sure how big they should make it. Let's see what they end up producing.
Not ready for prime time, needs a lot of work before it would replace my all-in-one PND.
I will have to check that feature out when and if I opt for a smartphone. The Magellan is seamless from one side of the USA to the other. I don't see how car companies can keep selling built-in NAV units for big bucks, when you get so much more for so much less in a pocket device.
Of course the maps are 3 years old so it's showing me businesses that are long gone and ignoring ones that are there but at $200 for the update CD I think I'll pass.
"GPS ON - Turn by Turn gives you premium quality Voice-Guided driving directions on your Windows Phone. Just simply tap a point on a map or search address/POI, then click on the pushpin and press the GO button."
GPS Tuner
http://www.google.com/mobile/navigation/index.html#utm_campaign=en&utm_source=gh- 0smm&utm_medium=ha&utm_term=navigation&dc=gh0smm
Wonder how the service is over in Anza-Borrego?
The new ASUS Eee Transformer Prime due out any day has a builtin GPS which is stand alone. So I will check it out when it arrives at Best Buy. A smartphone with Wifi hotspot to keep the latest POI and maps might work when we go out to the desert. We may go this week as they have gotten rain and the flowers should be coming out.
ASUS Transformer Prime Tablet with detachable keyboard:
My phone quality varies a lot. I pay $3 a month to Skype so I can call landlines from my desktop and sometimes it's good, sometimes not so good. Or I'll use Google Voice and often that's worse.
At least there's a cell tower near me now, so I can use my prepaid phone if I have to. Always takes me a few minutes to find it, and then I have to wonder if it's got any juice left.
Can you hear me now?
USB slot, micro USB slot (yes, both), and a 2nd battery in the keyboard.
I want one! :shades:
So I am ready to give Android a go when this latest tablet gets discounted a bit.
I don't think tablets will take over, but we'll see a lot of households switch to one powerhouse desktop PC and then one tablet, rather than a laptop now.
Speaking of MS, what does Win7 do better than WinXP? I have two with Win7 one is the pro version and 3 computers with XP and am really trying to like 7 and cannot find any good reason why.
Eventually, they can become vulnerable to hackers.
XP was a good OS, but 7 works. I use sleep mode a lot and that never worked for me with XP. And the built-in backup actually works. The home network setup is easy. I like pinning stuff to the taskbar (it lives vertically on one edge of one monitor). Use in private browsing when I do my banking. And I like IE9 a lot.
Had to go back and grab MSFT MovieMaker but it runs on 7 at least.
But if I had older legacy hardware, I might not be so eager to upgrade either.
1. A new back panel design. Asus says the TF700T's back panel will "enhance" its Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and GPS performance compared to the original Transformer Prime model. Some users have complained about issues in those areas, presumably due to the all-aluminum casing used on the original Prime tablet.
http://blogs.computerworld.com/19544/asus_transformer_prime_tf700t
The GPS feature was the major reason to pick the Transformer Prime. Now I will have to wait for the 2nd generation and see if it works well. No trips planned so no big rush.
I played with one of these over the weekend, and the 4.65" screen is HUGE and simply brilliant. No other way to describe it.
Makes iPhone looks small. We compared side-by-side, his kid has a 4S.
Didn't have Siri, but the GPS feature looked quite good.
First time I've played with both, and I'd pick the Nexus by a wide margin. The novelty of Siri would wear off fast. That big screen you would enjoy for years.
:shades:
:shades:
Summers are WONDERFUL!
Winter, eh, not so much...
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
I am wondering how good smartphones are as a GPS. I am getting mixed reviews. They do not seem to be as good as a standalone GPS. They do offer up to date POI information. And best gas prices with a Gas Buddy App. That is not worth $80 a month to me. I am not ready to give up my free Cell service on the Sprint Pioneer phone.
I had seen a good price on NewEgg for TOMTOM 1405TM with both. I currently have two TomTom XL 330 series.
I'd like something under $100 so anyone with a good working T&M suggestion, I'd like to hear it. I notice reading reviews of the 1405TM that it changed routes while enroute for people, probably because of traffic and Time-of-day choices. They also mentioned the map update didn't work right and required calling TomTom customer service. I've found them very good like my Cincinnati Bell landline service. But I really don't want to have that hassle every 3 mon or so for an update.
Can traffic modification after route is planned be turned off?
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
I mounted mine down low near the console to keep it out of bright sun, and I plug it into the car's audio system through the iPod jack. I don't think I've ever had it drop out on me.
One thing I often do with it is, even if I already know my route, I put it on mute and watch the screen to warn me how many miles to my turn-off---this is handy because I'm often dueling with big rigs on SF highways and they tend to line up tight on the right to exit from one major artery to another. So if you want too long, you aren't getting off on that exit without taking your life into your hands.
it also shows traffic tie-ups with a red line (if you select this feature) and you can also grap it and talk to it and ask for a gas station or a Starbuck's, BUT...BUT...you have to cancel previous navigation--it can't do two things at once.
Can any NAV system do two things at once? I don't know :confuse:
On Garmin models you basically go to Avoidances and disable Traffic as an avoidance. It will still warn you, but it will not re-route you.
I believe there are 3 different systems that get traffic:
1. As Gary mentioned, an FM station receiver that goes on the power cord, this is the most common, and no monthly fees make it popular.
2. XM traffic. This is delivered via the XM radio service, so you have to subscribe and pay a monthly fee, usually bundled with satellite radio. For whatever reason $17 a month rings a bell, but don't quote me on that.
3. MSN-based. They had a $50 annual fee last time I checked, but the fee also includes gas price information.
Keep in mind that these tend to work in urban areas where such services already exist, and the information itself is a bit delayed, you may find out about a jam 20 minutes or so after it started. I've found that live radio broadcasts are more up-to-date vs the FM traffic.
I know I can look at traffic cameras and see color-coded traffic speeds from Dayton to Columbus online. I assume it's that same source giving that data to the online info that gets to the GPS units.
>live radio
I understand what you mean there. My thinking is sometimes in strange areas I have no idea what station might give traffic, if any do. And the traffic slowdown info might help avoid long duration accidents in the middle of KY, e.g., on I-65 between Louisville and Nashville. Furthermore, in some areas they give lists of accidents and I would have no idea where Ganglion Rd on I-70 might be.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Somehow, once in the UP, she managed to change the language to Spanish and mute it at the same time. Wound up driving two hours out of her way. And got a speeding ticket to top it off. No map, no phone. :shades:
That's why I was curious about the GPSs that plan based on traffic. Some seem to do maps based on patterns of daily traffic but not necessarily on that day.
Others seem to do realtime planning of routes.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
I'm surprised she didn't end up in Tijuana!
C250 Navi had a small screen, I'll guess 6" but feel free to correct me if I'm wrong. Despite the smallish size, it was very sharp, definitely HD. Reminds me of the E class, only the C's screen is definitely smaller. Fonts for the roads are too small, also.
The interface has gotten a lot better over the years, but our test drive was too short to figure out much besides zooming in and out and panning around a bit.
BMW's system was wider and had a split screen on the new 328i, so that you could still see a narrow map if you want to fiddle with the radio. Not as sharp, and still very small fonts, in fact I'd need reading glasses to read street names, but then I'd have trouble seeing the road ahead at high speeds. Doh.
Drove off in the van, which has the 7" Magellan custom mounted, and the screen is bigger than either and a little easier to read to boot.
With Cadillac and Lexus offering 12.3" built-ins, these smallish built in screens seem very dated already.