Travel Technology - PND vs. iOS turn-by-turn apps. and car mounts

I purchased a used Garmin 775 last year for a trip to Sicily. Updated the maps a couple of times with the free up to date policy.

Now, I'm looking at another upcoming trip and looked at the map update options. It would be like $120 to buy lifetime maps for Europe and North America.

But I'm wondering if the money wouldn't be better spent for an iOS solution (even if it would be more money with the mounting). Wondering if there have been any new developments in turn-by-turn solutions (software and some kind of mounting setup).

It looks like all the turn-by-turn apps. include map updates and some things like Google Local Search which my Garmin doesn't have.

So I'm trying to weigh the pros and cons of buying new maps or going with an iOS approach, though I have not yet tried the latter:

Pros for Garmin:

1. Dedicated unit with larger screen than iPhone 4, already have a mounting solution (bean bag).
2. Some level of customization, with the ability to send destinations from Google Maps to the unit as Favorites (through the browser plugin).
3. Well-supported both by company and by community.

Cons for Garmin:

1. Sluggish, poor UI.
2. The software for updating maps, customizing maps (Base Camp), at least on the Mac, also has poor UI and the process is cumbersome. For instance, you can send a bunch of destinations to the Garmin to save as Favorites, using either Base Camp or sending locations from found Google Map searches. Then you have to boot up the Garmin, set the location for that destination (which is usually on another continent for me) and then scroll around to see if the Favorites were sent accurately. All of this is time-consuming too.


Pros for iOS:

1. Apps. come with free map updates? This seems to vary depending on the app. Navigon has in-app purchases for newer maps while TomTom doesn't really say one way or another. Some other apps like Garmin and CoPilot Live HD Premium are fairly new.
2. Apps should use a multitouch UI with more processing power available than on a dedicated PND.
3. Potentially smoother and better UI, with potential features from connectivity when available.

Cons for iOS:

1. No universally good mounting options. Looks like there haven't been any new GPS car kits which have come out since the TomTom, Magellan and one or two others.

2. Power consumption/charging and multitasking sound less than ideal. One reason I got the 775 was the ability to play MP3s and go between playback and turn directions smoothly. Not sure this is as reliable on iOS with the limited multitasking?

3. Any ability to send navigation info from computer to the GPS app? Doesn't sound like there's anything like Base Camp to pre-search POIs or send destinations from researching/planning trip to pre-populate things like Favorites or routes.

From searching, looks like some people were able to copy in some POI-related files into the TomTom app using a free utility and app combo called DiskAid and FileAid app.


4. No community or crowd source content? I haven't done it with Garmin but my understanding is that there are custom POIs of things like speed cameras available for Garmin. Haven't heard of similar things for iOS turn-by-turn apps.

I use my iPhone as a GPS an have since day one. I have tried a few pay options but constantly use mapquest. Free app and turn by turn. Has yet to fail me. second favorite is MotionX GPS Drive. Monthly subscriptions or yearly, etc. nice if youre going on a trip and just need it once or twice.

No issues with music playback and GPS app. Only issue is if you have it mounted on dash, screen is rather small to just push a button. A small hassle.

As far as battery issues, I just keep mine plugged in like an actual GPS device.

One thing to keep in mind for the iOS/Android solution: if you use one of the "free" online map services, you'll have to pay for the over-the-air data. That's not so bad if you're using a local/prepaid SIM, but if you plan to roam using a US domestic service (ATT/VZ/TMo), you can run up some pretty outrageous data bills.

There are "offline" solutions, but I think you've got to periodically update the data at some kind of cost.

TANSTAAFL

Yeah I have in mind the offline apps like Navigon or TomTom Garmin and CoPilot also have them too.

I will try to have connectivity when I can but it would be through a Mifi and if the prepaid data rates in that country are reasonable.

So these apps. will use things like Google Local Search when there is connectivity.

I think that might actually be more useful than the way you have to deal with POIs on dedicated GPS devices.

But on the latter, you can do those searches before your trip and configure your PND to have those POIs in, if you're willing to deal with the less-than-reliable way to customize your PND (I've only used Garmin, not sure if other brands are better).

If you updated the maps several times last year I really don't see the need to update it again. While there may be a few changes, it's certainly not enough to worry about. Some of those roads have been there for hundreds of years, if not thousands, so last years map will probably serve you just fine.

Are there any iOS apps that have cheap/free downloadable GPS maps ?

For the USA - anyone try the AT+T GPS app ? or ?????
Europe
Asia

as the may not be the same app for each area?

I would be using an iPhone or a 3G iPad OFFLINE but can download maps before I leave home

Thanks

SR

PS.....I agree you do not need yearly upgrades, especially the last few years where not many new roads have been built

I thought Google Navigation supported offline maps.