frankenbike

In a month or two, my phone is supposed to have the internal GPS enabled. So I was thinking about GPS software.

I've noticed the price of a compact, standalone GPS receiver such as TomTom, with bluetooth to get traffic and weather from your phone, is as inexpensive as $150 (street price).

That's with the receiver, with the screen, with the gps and everything.

Yet the software alone for TomTom6, etc, is still around $100-130. OCN6 is more affordable, but it doesn't have the traffic hookup, and that's essential to me (I'm in LA).

Especially since you still have to have a subscription for the traffic and weather, it seems to be priced as if the market has stood still for the last 3 years.

I'm not sure what I'll do. But it's making me think twice about it.

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Frankenbike

musicetime101

I think you can get one , sometimes the GPS on sale with a good price.

frankenbike

Originally Posted by musicetime101

I think you can get one , sometimes the GPS on sale with a good price.

Sorry, I was unclear. I don't really want the standalone. I wanted the software. But somehow, that seems like it's economically foolish considering that a standalone pocket GPS is such a vastly better deal.

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Frankenbike

JakeRich

frankenbike, it all depends on your circumstances. I carry a pda, so for me it makes economic sense to have a BT GPS receiver and software. That way my multi-purpose device can navigate me in my car, then be removed and used as a PDA. On the other hand, if I want just navigation, then the AIO units make sense--including hard mounting in the car. And the AIOs are cheaper than the in-car systems. But if I'm buying a new car, and the in-car is in the overall package I want, then that is the way to go.

So, different strokes for different folks...

sguart

what u need is the garmin mobile xt software... it's only $89... it has traffic/weather lookup if u have internet connection...

the software is similiar to garmin's nuvi unit but with more options... there's a comparison article listed in one of the discussion thread on gpspassion forum...

Jake, do u plan to do a review of the standalone garmin mobile xt software on sd in the future?

JakeRich

Originally Posted by sguart

CLIP... Jake, do u plan to do a review of the standalone garmin mobile xt software on sd in the future?

It's up to them. If they send it, I'll review it. Garmin hasn't done much with Aximsite in the past, but I'll see about contacting them to see if they want it done.

oldx5advanced

If your phone has unlimited data, download Google Maps. It has GPS support, and I think it might do traffic (I know the desktop version does). No, there's no text-to-speech or anything else that's fancy, but you'll be able to decide if your phone is acceptable for GPS use without first buying expensive software.

frankenbike

I've been using google maps. It doesn't move the map as you drive, nor does it reroute automatically.

The traffic map doesn't tell you what the problem is, and if you're going a long distance you can't estimate whether it'll be cleared up by the time you get there.

No voice navigation, a must if you're actually the one driving and don't have a passenger to act as navigator.

If you lose your phone signal, Google maps crashes when it goes to update the map.

The Garmin Mobile XT software sounds interesting and seems to be in the right price range. Plus, it appears they're offering their online services for free. Do I have that right?

I'd really like to know if they have integrated weather radar with the traffic maps. That's kind of a big deal to me when I'm traveling sometimes.

I also couldn't find out whether Mobile XT supports touch screens.

That seems like the winner. I'd like to know if the cards are large enough to put other data on them, since you can only have one card at a time.

I had OCN5 on my Axim. I'd go with OCN6 if it had integrated online traffic, though I'd still like the ability to overlay weather radar. But traffic is an absolute must.

All this is contingent on Sprint getting their act together and activating the GPS system on the Mogul.

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Frankenbike

PPCApache

Originally Posted by frankenbike

The Garmin Mobile XT software sounds interesting and seems to be in the right price range. Plus, it appears they're offering their online services for free. Do I have that right? I'd really like to know if they have integrated weather radar with the traffic maps. That's kind of a big deal to me when I'm traveling sometimes. I also couldn't find out whether Mobile XT supports touch screens.

Hey frankenbike

I have Garmin Mobile XT installed on my Axim X51v, using Garmin City Navigator v3 Maps for New Zealand all on a 1GB card which is my main card for 3rd party software as well, I use a CF GobalSat GPS receiver, I do have to use GPSgate to get Mobile XT to use the CF GPS receiver which is easy to use as it has a great wizard to set up. If you are going to use a BT receiver you may not need GPSgate.

cheers

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frankenbike

Actually, all of this is dependent on Sprint updating my ROM to activate the internal GPS (real GPS + aGPS supposedly). Rumor has that's gonna happen Real Soon Now.

Does the Garmin Mobile XT software allow you to use a big card, like say 4 or 8 gb, and put it on there so you can fill it arbitrarily with both the GPS software and and music or whatever? Or do you have to use the card they supply (as some software requires)?

Are you using your X51 hooked up to your phone via BT to get the traffic or weather info from Garmin?

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Frankenbike

PPCApache

Originally Posted by frankenbike

Does the Garmin Mobile XT software allow you to use a big card, like say 4 or 8 gb, and put it on there so you can fill it arbitrarily with both the GPS software and and music or whatever? Or do you have to use the card they supply (as some software requires)?

Not sure on this as I have it installed on my 1GB SD card, which has a lot of other software on it...

Originally Posted by frankenbike

Are you using your X51 hooked up to your phone via BT to get the traffic or weather info from Garmin?

Sorry no as I am unable to use that service her in NZ.. Only for USA.

Cheers

Jace

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frankenbike

Thanks. I take it that you had the choice to install it on your card, it wasn't one supplied by Garmin?

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Frankenbike