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Just wondering if it is possible to get a navigation system for your smart phone I am looking for an android one. Especially one that talks. I know there are maps. But looking for one that will replace a NAvman or simillar. Am just about to buy a smart phone so am new to this.
On my iPhone, I have both Sygic and TomTom. TomTom is not available (yet) for Android, but Sygic is. I find them having an excellent product. It voices directions (choice of voices) and you get maps for NZ and AU at one price.
Mind you, for safe use of a smartphone navigator in a vehicle, you will need a good quality holder that is close enough to the windscreen to allow proper and continuous GPS reception. Also you would want a car charger close by, as the smart phones tend to use more power on navigation software.
How does that work around the laws about not using phones when in the car? As you'd have to touch the phone to use it as a GPS?
I'm not exactly sure - there's probably a grey area there. Having said that, it would then also count for navigation equipment, wouldn't it?
Anyway, if you set all relevant destinations on your way before you drive, there's no need to touch the phone. Also, if you need to, you can stop at a suitable place to adjust the navigation software or your phone.
While it is illegal to use a hand-held cellphone, the law says it is OK to use a phone whilst driving provided the phone is secured in a mounting fixed to the car, and the driver only operates it briefly and infrequently. That means it is OK to use smartphones for GPS or music functions, or hands-free phones.
Provided you set up the GPS function before you drive off, and have a bracket to mount it to the dashboard you would not be breaching the rule. For the specific wording, see: http://nzta.thomsonreuters.co.nz/REG-NZL-PUB-Y.2004-427.pdf
You don't need a smartphone to get in-car GPS navigation. I've just bought a 'Nokia 3710 Fold' which has pre-loaded road maps, plus a woman who talks to you. It uses the GPS 'A' system to speed up tracking (supplements the satellites with info from towers). One drawback is that you have to pay a subscription. Cheers
I have an IGO8 GPS 4.3"and never need to touch it once it is set to my destination, it immediately rests my route if a deviation by me is done deliberately, I've given up trying to outwit it so I just view it and enjoy the new scenes about me. It has been a boon for world travel, I have several SD cards to which ever country I am going to ...and it has never faulted me yet, our 19th world trip is coming up next month and it is the 2nd thing I pack after the passport ..not forgetting the missus. It has great photo and music storage and the ability to 'pin' our favorite sites so that we can use the info for a Laptop to find on Googlearth...what a great invention, next best thing after my Blackberry.
The Garmin-Asus Android mobile from Telecom features car navigation with AA Certified Maps. We expect to see more Android car navigation applications before the end of this year. You should note that different manufacturers may use different versions of the Android Operating System (like Windows versions) and having an Android doesn’t guarantee compatibility with all applications.