A portable GPS system can help you a lot for much less. Portable units definitely cost hundreds of dollars less than permanent car mounted units. Even so, they can give you just as much convenience.
Portable GPS Systems - Easy Navigation in the Palm of Your Hands
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Kaye_Fretz]Kaye Fretz
The best part is that a portable device doesn't need to stay stuck in your car. You can bring it out even for a walk. There are many different units though and choosing one can be tough. Here are some features you may want to consider when you make your choice.
Navigation Assistance
Navigation - A GPS system exists primarily for navigation. The first feature you should always consider should therefore be its ability to help you find your way. The most basic feature is a unit that will let you enter your destinations. The unit will then display maps and arrows that will point your path and the turns that you make.
Keep in mind though that different units contain different internal maps. You should check what your unit contains and how much it would cost you to update or include maps of other continents or countries. Newer units also have other features such as functions to help you find the shortest path or places according to your predetermined preferences.
Size
A major consideration when selecting a GPS should be its portability. You would want your GPS system to be small enough to fit in a pocket or a small pouch. A small and lightweight unit will allow you to bring it almost anywhere without inconvenience. It can easily be brought around even when you are out for a hike or a bike ride.
Of course, the smallest is not always the best. This is especially true if you have eyesight problems or if you have trouble operating small buttons. You need to make sure that your GPS is small enough to carry but big enough to make it easy to operate.
Battery Options
Every reliable portable unit should have an internal battery. These batteries can easily be plugged and charged at home or in your car. Do consider though that various units have different battery durations. If you are fond of walking long distances then you should make sure that you have a unit that has batteries that will last for your entire journey.
Other Features
There are several options. If you are every bit a techie, you may be interested in a couple of new features. Some portable units now carry Bluetooth capabilities, music players, photo viewers, movie players and more.
A portable GPS can be everything you can ever hope for. With the many available options, you simply have to check what fits your budget and your tastes.
What are [http://www.gps-systems-guide.com/gps-navigation.html]GPS navigation systems and do you need them? Check out more about the benefits of affordable [http://www.gps-systems-guide.com/]portable GPS systems.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kaye_Fretz http://EzineArticles.com/?Portable-GPS-Systems---Easy-Navigation-in-the-Palm-of-Your-Hands&id=1581887
Saturday, October 25, 2008
GPS Navigation Portable Features - Which Do You Need?
GPS portable navigation systems have become extremely popular in recent years. As with any electronic device, when making a purchasing decision about which brand or model to buy, one needs to understand the feature sets being offered and decide which features he or she needs and which they want to pay for.
GPS Navigation Portable Features - Which Do You Need?
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Walt_Ballenberger]Walt Ballenberger
GPS portable navigation systems have become extremely popular in recent years. As with any electronic device, when making a purchasing decision about which brand or model to buy, one needs to understand the feature sets being offered and decide which features he or she needs and which they want to pay for.
Here is a list of many commonly available features on different brands of GPS navigation portable systems:
Widescreen- 4.3 inch or larger screen measured diagonally (vs. a standard 3.5 inch screen)
Includes Europe Maps- Comes loaded with both North American as well as maps of Europe.
Speaks street names- Announces names of streets and exits, for example, "Turn right on Main St." instead of "Turn right in 500 ft".
Speech Recognition- Operates the gps device with spoken commands rather than having to enter the information by touching the screen.
Lane assist- Realistically displays road signs and junctions along your route and shows arrows that indicate the proper lane for navigation.
FM Traffic Compatible- Add-on an optional FM receiver and subscription to avoid traffic congestion.
FM Traffic Included- Avoid traffic congestion with and included FM traffic receiver
MSN Direct Compatible- You can add an optional receiver and subscription to MSN Direct to get traffic, weather, gas prices, stock quotes, news, and more.
MSN Direct Included- Receive MSN Direct content including traffic, weather, gas prices, stock quotes, news, and more with the included receiver.
Bluetooth®- Connect to your phone to make and receive hands-free calls
MP3 Player- Built in MP3 Player
Emergency Locator- An emergency locator that shows your coordinates, nearest address, and closest hospitals, police and fuel stations
Slideshow Viewer-
Multi-mode Function- Provides driving, walking, bicycling and boating modes such that the device can be used for any of these modes of travel.
Multiple point routing- Sorts multiple destinations to determine an efficient route for deliveries and sales calls.
If you are a more or less "normal" driver who would only use your GPS portable navigation system occasionally, either from home or while on travel, you certainly don't need all the bells and whistles mentioned above. A couple of things should be noted for this type of driver, however. One should certainly consider purchasing a unit with the "speaks street names" feature. You have much more certainty when you know you are turning onto the correct street than if you are not sure of that, and in addition you don't have to be continually looking at the odometer. Another consideration this author would suggest is to purchase a unit with at least a 4.3 inch screen rather than the current standard 3.5 inch screen. You can see the screen much more easily, and more importantly, the buttons for making address entries, for example, are larger. I found that the smaller buttons on the 3.5 inch screen were too small. I would think I was pressing one button only to find that the wrong letter showed up on the screen. For example, I wanted to push the letter "u", and "v" , which was next to "u", came up on the screen. So this obviously had to be corrected. I would definitely suggest that these two features are worth the extra money. The speech recognition feature would be nice to have, but this almost immediately puts you into the very high end systems with prices in the $600 and up range. Entering addresses or other destinations by touch screen is really pretty easy and quick once one gets the hang of it.
If you drive long distances often, or if you are a professional delivery person who needs to choose the most efficient routes to make your deliveries, obviously the more advanced features on the list might be useful for you. Certainly if you might be using your gps navigation portable system in Europe, you would want to consider purchasing a unit that has Europe maps loaded as well.
As for updating maps, this is normally necessary every 3-4 years or so. The major brands usually release official updates approximately once a year, and there is a cost to obtain these new maps. Of course new neighborhoods and new roads are included, and new points of interest, like gas stations or restaurants are also updated. These don't change that much from year to year, so one can afford to wait a while before purchasing updated maps for your gps portable navigation system.
Walt Ballenberger is webmaster for http://www.gpsnavigationportable.info/, a blog review site for portable GPS systems. If you are looking for info about portable GPS systems, check out http://www.gpsnavigationportable.info/
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Walt_Ballenberger http://EzineArticles.com/?GPS-Navigation-Portable-Features---Which-Do-You-Need?&id=1531649
GPS Navigation Portable Features - Which Do You Need?
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Walt_Ballenberger]Walt Ballenberger
GPS portable navigation systems have become extremely popular in recent years. As with any electronic device, when making a purchasing decision about which brand or model to buy, one needs to understand the feature sets being offered and decide which features he or she needs and which they want to pay for.
Here is a list of many commonly available features on different brands of GPS navigation portable systems:
Widescreen- 4.3 inch or larger screen measured diagonally (vs. a standard 3.5 inch screen)
Includes Europe Maps- Comes loaded with both North American as well as maps of Europe.
Speaks street names- Announces names of streets and exits, for example, "Turn right on Main St." instead of "Turn right in 500 ft".
Speech Recognition- Operates the gps device with spoken commands rather than having to enter the information by touching the screen.
Lane assist- Realistically displays road signs and junctions along your route and shows arrows that indicate the proper lane for navigation.
FM Traffic Compatible- Add-on an optional FM receiver and subscription to avoid traffic congestion.
FM Traffic Included- Avoid traffic congestion with and included FM traffic receiver
MSN Direct Compatible- You can add an optional receiver and subscription to MSN Direct to get traffic, weather, gas prices, stock quotes, news, and more.
MSN Direct Included- Receive MSN Direct content including traffic, weather, gas prices, stock quotes, news, and more with the included receiver.
Bluetooth®- Connect to your phone to make and receive hands-free calls
MP3 Player- Built in MP3 Player
Emergency Locator- An emergency locator that shows your coordinates, nearest address, and closest hospitals, police and fuel stations
Slideshow Viewer-
Multi-mode Function- Provides driving, walking, bicycling and boating modes such that the device can be used for any of these modes of travel.
Multiple point routing- Sorts multiple destinations to determine an efficient route for deliveries and sales calls.
If you are a more or less "normal" driver who would only use your GPS portable navigation system occasionally, either from home or while on travel, you certainly don't need all the bells and whistles mentioned above. A couple of things should be noted for this type of driver, however. One should certainly consider purchasing a unit with the "speaks street names" feature. You have much more certainty when you know you are turning onto the correct street than if you are not sure of that, and in addition you don't have to be continually looking at the odometer. Another consideration this author would suggest is to purchase a unit with at least a 4.3 inch screen rather than the current standard 3.5 inch screen. You can see the screen much more easily, and more importantly, the buttons for making address entries, for example, are larger. I found that the smaller buttons on the 3.5 inch screen were too small. I would think I was pressing one button only to find that the wrong letter showed up on the screen. For example, I wanted to push the letter "u", and "v" , which was next to "u", came up on the screen. So this obviously had to be corrected. I would definitely suggest that these two features are worth the extra money. The speech recognition feature would be nice to have, but this almost immediately puts you into the very high end systems with prices in the $600 and up range. Entering addresses or other destinations by touch screen is really pretty easy and quick once one gets the hang of it.
If you drive long distances often, or if you are a professional delivery person who needs to choose the most efficient routes to make your deliveries, obviously the more advanced features on the list might be useful for you. Certainly if you might be using your gps navigation portable system in Europe, you would want to consider purchasing a unit that has Europe maps loaded as well.
As for updating maps, this is normally necessary every 3-4 years or so. The major brands usually release official updates approximately once a year, and there is a cost to obtain these new maps. Of course new neighborhoods and new roads are included, and new points of interest, like gas stations or restaurants are also updated. These don't change that much from year to year, so one can afford to wait a while before purchasing updated maps for your gps portable navigation system.
Walt Ballenberger is webmaster for http://www.gpsnavigationportable.info/, a blog review site for portable GPS systems. If you are looking for info about portable GPS systems, check out http://www.gpsnavigationportable.info/
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Walt_Ballenberger http://EzineArticles.com/?GPS-Navigation-Portable-Features---Which-Do-You-Need?&id=1531649
Sunday, October 12, 2008
GPS Navigation - A Must for Car Owners
GPS Navigation System is designed with a series of 28 satellites that are orbiting. Originally it was developed by the defense, but now popularly used by citizens too. If your car has a GPS unit, it receives signals from the satellite that help it to find where you are located.
GPS Navigation - A Must for Car Owners
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Judith_Scott]Judith Scott
The maps, that you generally see with the red dot, at site seeing areas, and shopping malls, showing you-"You Are Standing Here". That's exactly what a GPS navigation system is, except that it goes with you wherever you are moving in the world. It's not just functional on a building or event area. Moreover, it helps you to find and know where you would like to go. You just have to enter the destination you are looking for and it shows you the directions to reach there. Latest models will audibly guide you, and tell you nearby places of interest, gas stations and restaurants and also will get you back on right path when you are going the wrong way.
GPS Navigation System is designed with a series of 28 satellites that are orbiting. Originally it was developed by the defense, but now popularly used by citizens too. If your car has a GPS unit, it receives signals from the satellite that help it to find where you are located. General GPS units are precise only within few yards or meters, but the military and government GPS units are far more accurate. Your GPS unit will instruct you for another location if mapping software is installed, which most people do.
GPS Navigation System units are introduced as standard or add on equipment on new vehicles and cars. They are also found in many cars for rental, usually an extra charge is taken for this. GPS mapping software is the most popular in consumer usage today. If your basic aim in buying a GPS unit is to get you from one place to another through a reliable system of navigation, then this kind of unit is for you. Your dealer can fix it in your car or you can buy one that can be attached to your dashboard. Some attractive features you may choose are voice directions, maps with all the details for your area and any place you know you will be traveling, rerouting in case you get lost or detours.
The GPS is most commonly used by car owners, but it's not the only kind available. Think of how to use GPS. May be, you do not want GPS unit inside your vehicle. GPS units that can be handheld are right for sportsmen, bikers and hikers.
More Information visit [http://www.tomtom.com/]GPS Navigation Systems and [http://www.tomtom.com/]GPS Navigation.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Judith_Scott http://EzineArticles.com/?GPS-Navigation---A-Must-for-Car-Owners&id=1494336
GPS Navigation - A Must for Car Owners
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Judith_Scott]Judith Scott
The maps, that you generally see with the red dot, at site seeing areas, and shopping malls, showing you-"You Are Standing Here". That's exactly what a GPS navigation system is, except that it goes with you wherever you are moving in the world. It's not just functional on a building or event area. Moreover, it helps you to find and know where you would like to go. You just have to enter the destination you are looking for and it shows you the directions to reach there. Latest models will audibly guide you, and tell you nearby places of interest, gas stations and restaurants and also will get you back on right path when you are going the wrong way.
GPS Navigation System is designed with a series of 28 satellites that are orbiting. Originally it was developed by the defense, but now popularly used by citizens too. If your car has a GPS unit, it receives signals from the satellite that help it to find where you are located. General GPS units are precise only within few yards or meters, but the military and government GPS units are far more accurate. Your GPS unit will instruct you for another location if mapping software is installed, which most people do.
GPS Navigation System units are introduced as standard or add on equipment on new vehicles and cars. They are also found in many cars for rental, usually an extra charge is taken for this. GPS mapping software is the most popular in consumer usage today. If your basic aim in buying a GPS unit is to get you from one place to another through a reliable system of navigation, then this kind of unit is for you. Your dealer can fix it in your car or you can buy one that can be attached to your dashboard. Some attractive features you may choose are voice directions, maps with all the details for your area and any place you know you will be traveling, rerouting in case you get lost or detours.
The GPS is most commonly used by car owners, but it's not the only kind available. Think of how to use GPS. May be, you do not want GPS unit inside your vehicle. GPS units that can be handheld are right for sportsmen, bikers and hikers.
More Information visit [http://www.tomtom.com/]GPS Navigation Systems and [http://www.tomtom.com/]GPS Navigation.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Judith_Scott http://EzineArticles.com/?GPS-Navigation---A-Must-for-Car-Owners&id=1494336
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