Thinking about my first GPS
May 16, 2008 | 3:45 pm
#31
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: SMF
Programs: MR Platinum
Posts: 412
My TomTom One allows me to enter coordinates as a destination in addition to using an address.
I am not completely satisfied with it however. The on board dynamic memory (32MB) is pretty limited as is the on board flash memory (1GB). This means the POI list is somewhat short, and when I search for POIs I get a short list. I only get 2 or 3 pages of results when doing a search (i.e. for restaurants) where I would expect hundreds of matches. As a result, I have had to type in fairly specific POI searches (i.e. IHOP).
I am not completely satisfied with it however. The on board dynamic memory (32MB) is pretty limited as is the on board flash memory (1GB). This means the POI list is somewhat short, and when I search for POIs I get a short list. I only get 2 or 3 pages of results when doing a search (i.e. for restaurants) where I would expect hundreds of matches. As a result, I have had to type in fairly specific POI searches (i.e. IHOP).
Last edited by AnalogMan; May 19, 2008 at 12:47 am Reason: New information available
May 16, 2008 | 4:02 pm
#32
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Arizona
Programs: *wood Gold, Marriott Gold, DL Silver, Hilton Silver, F9 Ascent
Posts: 2,419
There are around 20 million businesses in the US; it's not possible to load them all on a GPS device.
If you find stores are missing, load them through TomTom home, or head to sites like http://www.poi-factory.com/ and manually load all the chains you need.
If you find stores are missing, load them through TomTom home, or head to sites like http://www.poi-factory.com/ and manually load all the chains you need.
from CU service centers to Jared Jewelers is http://www.tomtomforums.comI have a TT ONE XL and very much like it mainly because of the multi-point trip planning capability. The Garmins that I played with in the store and on the road just didn't have the trip planning I features I was used to from our car-based GPS.
May 16, 2008 | 4:15 pm
#33
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Lower Merion Township, PA, (an inner-ring suburb to the Socialist Workers City/State of Philadelphia, PA)
Posts: 597
Another good source for TomTom POI files from Denny's to strip clubs from CU service centers to Jared Jewelers is http://www.tomtomforums.com
from CU service centers to Jared Jewelers is http://www.tomtomforums.comUnlike POI factory, there is no charge to download the red light cameras and speed limit lists. Haven't checked them, but they list a lot for Europe.
May 17, 2008 | 8:48 am
#34
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Naples, Florida
Posts: 7,419
My feeling is, there is no perfect GPS:
-Our house is exactly where it is. However, when I drive home Garmin says LEFT and then RIGHT. When I would go, I would end at the Gulf of Mexico (it's a very short street/cul-de-sac). The correct way would be GO LEFT and then strait ...
-Yesterday I loaded USA MAP 2009 over the Internet. It took a long time but went well ... until I was told you still need 37MB and I had only 6.6 free (even after I deleted all POI).
I feel Garmin has a little problem .. their 2009 map-update was on hold:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Site Upgrades in Progress
The Map Update page is temporarily unavailable. Please check back soon to update your maps. We apologize for the inconvenience. If you have already registered your Garmin GPS, you may sign in to myGarmin to determine your Map Update eligibility status.
Thank you.
Site Upgrades in Progress
The Map Update page is temporarily unavailable. Please check back soon to update your maps. We apologize for the inconvenience. If you have already registered your Garmin GPS, you may sign in to myGarmin to determine your Map Update eligibility status.
Thank you.
BTW, what is geocaching?
May 17, 2008 | 1:16 pm
#35
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2000
Programs: BA, AA, DL, KLM, UA
Posts: 37,489
I've been reviewing a TomTom Go930 for the past weeks; and it is pretty close to what I'd call perfect. The mapshare feature is great, and allows you to make your own map corrections (and submit them to tomtom).
If you find map errors on Garmin or Magellan systems, go to the Navteq mapreporter site and report them: http://mapreporter.navteq.com/
They supply these maps, and any corrections need to be made at the source.
If you find map errors on Garmin or Magellan systems, go to the Navteq mapreporter site and report them: http://mapreporter.navteq.com/
They supply these maps, and any corrections need to be made at the source.
Jul 9, 2008 | 10:47 am
#38
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Madison NJ; Watopia
Posts: 3,161
Is the new iPhone a viable GPS unit? I had read that it now has true GPS capability as opposed to the pesudo-GPS that uses WiFi addresses in iPhone 1.0. I also read that TomTom is coming out with a 3d party app for iPhone 2.0. This all seemed great until I read David Pogue's review in today's NY Times, which said:
Unfortunately, theres not much you can do with the G.P.S. According to Apple, the iPhones G.P.S. antenna is much too small to emulate the turn-by-turn navigation of a G.P.S. unit for a vehicle, for example.
Instead, all it can do at this point is track your position as you drive along, representing you as a blue dot sliding along the roads of the map. Even then, the metal of a car or the buildings of Manhattan are often enough to block the iPhones view of the sky, leaving it just as confused as you are.
Unfortunately, theres not much you can do with the G.P.S. According to Apple, the iPhones G.P.S. antenna is much too small to emulate the turn-by-turn navigation of a G.P.S. unit for a vehicle, for example.
Instead, all it can do at this point is track your position as you drive along, representing you as a blue dot sliding along the roads of the map. Even then, the metal of a car or the buildings of Manhattan are often enough to block the iPhones view of the sky, leaving it just as confused as you are.
Jul 9, 2008 | 10:59 am
#39
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2000
Programs: BA, AA, DL, KLM, UA
Posts: 37,489
Ignore Pogue. The iPhone has the same kind of GPS antenna as any other smartphone, and they are all perfect at picking up a signal. GPS all depends on the software you use. A Blackberry with GPS is useless without a decent GPS package. Same goes for the iPod. It won't be much use with Google maps.
Jul 9, 2008 | 5:04 pm
#40
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Menlo Park, CA, USA
Programs: UA 1MM 0P, AA, DL, *wood, Lifetime FPC Plat., IHG, HHD
Posts: 7,176
There currently aren't any gps applications that will do turn by turn for the iphone. That doesn't mean they won't allow or build it, but the goompas doesn't currently have any of that. TomTom announced something, but then pulled it back. I am sure someone will do something, but still not decided.
Jul 9, 2008 | 8:48 pm
#41
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Living in SIN™, trying to make it through a year in BLR
Programs: SQ Pew Pew SSSS, Marriott/Accor Plat, IC Dia Amb, GHA Tit, Avis/Hertz PC
Posts: 6,770
I've had a Garmin nuvi 350 for a year now and I'm quite happy with it, but need to move up to one with both US and Europe maps. Was thinking of the nuvi 370 since its the same size...are there others that are better?
Jul 11, 2008 | 12:10 am
#42
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: DXB
Programs: TG Gold, NW Gold and various other bits of plastic...
Posts: 568
There currently aren't any gps applications that will do turn by turn for the iphone. That doesn't mean they won't allow or build it, but the goompas doesn't currently have any of that. TomTom announced something, but then pulled it back. I am sure someone will do something, but still not decided.
I'm sure applications will come out for jailbroken iPhones but not sure about 'official' ones. Maybe Apple are planning something and don't want competition?
