Just used Garmin Express - wow!

[bigi]

I've been using Garmin GPS units for years now. Just today I used their Garmin Express to update my GPS.

All I can say is - excellent job Garmin!

The interface is very clean and the whole process worked like a charm.

I could get the extras via this app too - voices, cars and location files.

All it took was 15 minutes for 2GB map and other crud.

 

[Markbnj]

My last Garmin was a piece of junk. But they're still pretty much the only decent game in town, so I will probably get another.

 

[DrPizza]

We've been using a 99 cent app on our, or rather, on my wife's iphone for the past few years. So far, except for one section of a highway that was being actively worked on & we were detoured 75 feet over to the left on a temporary road, ("turn right and get back on I-86. Turn right and get back on I-86"), it has been flawless.

On our main vehicle, we've averaged a little over 30k miles each year, so it's not like the app gets very little use. Thus, I cannot figure out why people still have separate units, unless they don't have smart phones. (And, I think the App might be supported by Garmin)

 

[gamefreakgcb]

We've been using a 99 cent app on our, or rather, on my wife's iphone for the past few years. So far, except for one section of a highway that was being actively worked on & we were detoured 75 feet over to the left on a temporary road, ("turn right and get back on I-86. Turn right and get back on I-86"), it has been flawless.

On our main vehicle, we've averaged a little over 30k miles each year, so it's not like the app gets very little use. Thus, I cannot figure out why people still have separate units, unless they don't have smart phones. (And, I think the App might be supported by Garmin)

What app?

 

[Fritzo]

I still use my Nuvi 350 on trips instead of my phone The voice directions are so much clearer, and it doesn't use up your phone battery (sometimes the charger can't keep up with the load when you're using the GPS).

 

[Capt Caveman]

Bought a Garmin Forerunner 620 and returning it. Only good thing is it's ability to pick a GPS signal is super fast. Outside of that, the rest of it is pretty much a joke for $450.

 

[Ichinisan]

We've been using a 99 cent app on our, or rather, on my wife's iphone for the past few years. So far, except for one section of a highway that was being actively worked on & we were detoured 75 feet over to the left on a temporary road, ("turn right and get back on I-86. Turn right and get back on I-86"), it has been flawless.

On our main vehicle, we've averaged a little over 30k miles each year, so it's not like the app gets very little use. Thus, I cannot figure out why people still have separate units, unless they don't have smart phones. (And, I think the App might be supported by Garmin)

Despite the FUD people have spread, iPhones (and iPads with mobile data) that have an A5 or newer processor and iOS 6/7 have pretty good navigation compared to everything else. That includes iPhone 4S and newer (basically any iPhone with Siri). The UI is clean and the screen even wakes up to show you the next turn when your device is locked. The voice prompts give you the right amount of detail at the right time. I use Siri to set it up ("Take me to [x]." or "Navigate to [x]." or "Take me home."). For older iPhones, the Mapquest app works well enough and has turn-by-turn voice prompts.

Yeah, Apple's navigation does get some things wrong. So does *every* other mapping / navigation service I've ever used. It's powered by Tomtom data, so I think it wouldn't be any less accurate than Tomtom. I've actually observed the cloud services adapting to crowd sourced data too. :thumbsup:

 

[sdifox]

Despite the FUD people have spread, iPhones (and iPads with mobile data) that have an A5 or newer processor and iOS 6/7 have pretty good navigation compared to everything else. That includes iPhone 4S and newer (basically any iPhone with Siri). The UI is clean and the screen even wakes up to show you the next turn when your device is locked. The voice prompts give you the right amount of detail at the right time. I use Siri to set it up ("Take me to [x]." or "Navigate to [x]." or "Take me home."). For older iPhones, the Mapquest app works well enough and has turn-by-turn voice prompts.

Yeah, Apple's navigation does get some things wrong. So does *every* other mapping / navigation service I've ever used. It's powered by Tomtom data, so I think it wouldn't be any less accurate than Tomtom. I've actually observed the cloud services adapting to crowd sourced data too. :thumbsup:

Issue with Apple navigation was never the app, it was the data. And in GIS, data is everything.

 

[gamefreakgcb]

Been using Google Maps for my GPS needs. Whether its around town or across the country, it hasn't failed me yet. I only borrow my dad's GPS if I know I'm going to place where I won't get coverage. Its probably a good idea to keep a dedicated GPS or a GPS app that can work offline incase you need to use one in the boonies or something.

 

[Ichinisan]

Issue with Apple navigation was never the app, it was the data. And in GIS, data is everything.

The data errors were exagerrated. I've used the comparable Google services extensively as long as they've existed. I have had FAR more bad data experiences with Google data than any of the alternatives...and far more frequently. I don't see how so many people have selective memory when it comes to this.

 

[sdifox]

The data errors were exagerrated. I've used the comparable Google services extensively as long as they've existed. I have had FAR more bad data experiences with Google data than any of the alternatives...and far more frequently. I don't see how so many people have selective memory when it comes to this.

Because Apple cultivated the selective memory duh.

 

[WackyDan]

We've been using a 99 cent app on our, or rather, on my wife's iphone for the past few years. So far, except for one section of a highway that was being actively worked on & we were detoured 75 feet over to the left on a temporary road, ("turn right and get back on I-86. Turn right and get back on I-86"), it has been flawless.

On our main vehicle, we've averaged a little over 30k miles each year, so it's not like the app gets very little use. Thus, I cannot figure out why people still have separate units, unless they don't have smart phones. (And, I think the App might be supported by Garmin)

Because I like to talk on the phone when I need to when driving. Taking a call when in GPS mode is not fun on my smart phone. I also use the GPS on my bike and am often out in the middle of the boonies where things like google maps and nav don't work well unless you remembered to store the map data ahead of time... So for me the dedicated GPS is still the best option.

 

[Fox5]

I've used google nav since I got an android phone, and it works awesomely, and always has been better than the dedicated gps units I've tried. And I can pipe it through my radio with bluetooth, and it automatically lowers the volume on the gps when a call comes in.

That said, Google keeps removing features from Google Nav. But who else gives you free map updates and free traffic reports?

 

[sdifox]

I've used google nav since I got an android phone, and it works awesomely, and always has been better than the dedicated gps units I've tried. And I can pipe it through my radio with bluetooth, and it automatically lowers the volume on the gps when a call comes in.

That said, Google keeps removing features from Google Nav. But who else gives you free map updates and free traffic reports?

That's great if you are in the coverage area with unlimited data. Once you are out of it, I would rather depend on a physical gps unit. Granted day to day, phone gps is probably good enough. I carry around an old Nuvi 760 in the glove compartment just in case.

 

[BoomerD]

I picked up a Garmin unit at Costco last year. (didn't have a smart phone) Damned thing works very well for me.

My Expedition has a built-in navigation system and it worked pretty well when we were in California...where we knew our way around...but as soon as we moved to a different state...the fucking thing stopped working. :| About $500 to replace the head unit, (won't read the CD's) so a $100 GPS unit was the better option.

Now, I have smart phones...but a very small data plan, so the GPS is still the better option for me.

 

[sdifox]

I picked up a Garmin unit at Costco last year. (didn't have a smart phone) Damned thing works very well for me.

My Expedition has a built-in navigation system and it worked pretty well when we were in California...where we knew our way around...but as soon as we moved to a different state...the fucking thing stopped working. :| About $500 to replace the head unit, (won't read the CD's) so a $100 GPS unit was the better option.

Now, I have smart phones...but a very small data plan, so the GPS is still the better option for me.

That doesn't make sense. Navteq map should cover USA and CANADA. unless your head unit died. You should be able to change your home locale.


this one shows different discs. Maybe you just need to load the right one?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/03-06-OEM-F...dio-CD-with-12-OEM-NAVTEQ-Discs-/310833083108


map update.

http://www.navigation.com/is-bin/IN...ll&JumpTo=OfferList&PersistNavigationMenu=YES


as to the drive not reading disc, have you tried cleaning the read head?