Tablet for GPS navigation

[Brian Stirling]

I've had GPS since 1993 (Garmin GPS 50 ->12XL -> 60CSx) and have used all manor of GPS devices for travel in my car and motor home including a dedicated Garmin in-car unit as well as a laptop/netbook with GPS puck and Delorme Street Atlas and, or course, the nav function on iPhone and Android phones, but I'm thinking the new Sammy 7.7 would be just about the perfect device for this.

However, since I don't want to shell out for another cell phone plan I think I'd be inclined to go with a wifi only tab and that would limit the nav capabilities since I'd not have easy access to the internet. So, are there any decent nav apps for Android that do NOT require an internet connect, something that could download the map data to the tab so no connection would be necessary?


Brian

 

[Imp]

Google for "on-device" or "offline" GPS maps.

I wanted to use my Playbook for the same thing, but it doesn't have any apps for that. So I decided to just get the second cheapest Garmin from the 2012 line - nuvi 40 - and call it a day. It has lane assist, weighs nothing, junction view, dedicated GPS, cheap to replace, speaker, etc. Otherwise, get an Oregon 450 with a badass GPS antenna and off-road capabilities - it'll cost roughly the same as an entire tablet though.

 

[Brian Stirling]

Google for "on-device" or "offline" GPS maps.

I wanted to use my Playbook for the same thing, but it doesn't have any apps for that. So I decided to just get the second cheapest Garmin from the 2012 line - nuvi 40 - and call it a day. It has lane assist, weighs nothing, junction view, dedicated GPS, cheap to replace, speaker, etc. Otherwise, get an Oregon 450 with a badass GPS antenna and off-road capabilities - it'll cost roughly the same as an entire tablet though.

I have a Garmin 60CSx as well as a dedicated Gamin in-car GPS unit but the idea with the tab is that if you already have one the larger higher resolution screen would be a nice plus for navigation, but you either need an internet connection or an installed map file. So, if there are no decent navigation apps that permit you to download the data so you don't need a connection then I can't see it being very useful.


Brian

 

[ponyo]

I have a Garmin 60CSx as well as a dedicated Gamin in-car GPS unit but the idea with the tab is that if you already have one the larger higher resolution screen would be a nice plus for navigation, but you either need an internet connection or an installed map file. So, if there are no decent navigation apps that permit you to download the data so you don't need a connection then I can't see it being very useful.


Brian

I use 7" Galaxy Tab as car computer/GPS and it's awesome. The large screen makes for a perfect GPS. It does get little hard to see in bright sunlight attached to the windshield but max brightness helps. For short trips, I tether to my phone and use Google Nav. For longer trips, I use my phone SIM card directly in my tablet. My Tab has full phone functionality so I can place and receive calls while using Google Nav.

 

[Brian Stirling]

I use 7" Galaxy Tab as car computer/GPS and it's awesome. The large screen makes for a perfect GPS. It does get little hard to see in bright sunlight attached to the windshield but max brightness helps. For short trips, I tether to my phone and use Google Nav. For longer trips, I use my phone SIM card directly in my tablet. My Tab has full phone functionality so I can place and receive calls while using Google Nav.

Well that's an interesting option I hadn't considered ... using the sim card from my phone. That being the case it may make selecting the version of the tab that has the cellular hardware instead of a wifi only version.

The upside to downloading the map data and not relying on cellular for maping info is that the system isn't dependent on it and in many places in the rural south west where I play there is little or no cellular service.

Prior to the common availability of GPS/aGPS in cell phones I mostly used my laptop with GPS puck and Delorme Street Atlas to nav and that worked well and also provided a tracking log that allows you to replay your trip on the computer. Back in 2004/2005 I spent almost a year travelling around the south west in my motor home and motor cycle and I used this laptop/GPS/Street Atlas setup for the whole trip. So, years later, I can replay the trip from the log files I got from Street Atlas. It's interesting when you can see even the places you stopped for gas or food...


Brian

 

[ImDonly1]

Don't know about tablet, but on an android phone you can try copilot live or navigon. Navigon was purchased by garmin and is having a new version come out soon. There are others, but those two came to me first.

Not sure if I set it up wrong, but copilot doesn't say street names, which is a drawback. I think you can download a voice that does street names. Not sure about Navigon. Most of the navigation apps have a trial version too.

 

[Brian Stirling]

Don't know about tablet, but on an android phone you can try copilot live or navigon. Navigon was purchased by garmin and is having a new version come out soon. There are others, but those two came to me first.

Not sure if I set it up wrong, but copilot doesn't say street names, which is a drawback. I think you can download a voice that does street names. Not sure about Navigon. Most of the navigation apps have a trial version too.

Thanks for the heads up on Navigon...

I see that a full install requires about 2GB for the mapping data and that's no surprise, but I do wonder about a product designed for a phone being able to take full advantage of a tablets bigger screen and higher resolution. That is, if the display on a tab with 1280x800 resolution is exactly the same as that of a phone with 800x480 resolution then I don't think it would suit me. But i guess that problem might exist for the other mapping/navigation tools that were/are optimized for phones.

It would be nice to know for sure if the larger higher resolution screens that tablets offer would be fully used..


Brian

 

[luv2liv]

i asked a similar question too in this thread: http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2160812&highlight=

my touchpad can pair with a bluetooth gps to get location but now im looking for a good app working like a Garmin

 

[ImDonly1]

Thanks for the heads up on Navigon...

I see that a full install requires about 2GB for the mapping data and that's no surprise, but I do wonder about a product designed for a phone being able to take full advantage of a tablets bigger screen and higher resolution. That is, if the display on a tab with 1280x800 resolution is exactly the same as that of a phone with 800x480 resolution then I don't think it would suit me. But i guess that problem might exist for the other mapping/navigation tools that were/are optimized for phones.

It would be nice to know for sure if the larger higher resolution screens that tablets offer would be fully used..


Brian

About the 2GB thing, copilot lets you download maps for states that you want. So you don't have to download the full 2gb usa map. Not sure about navigon.

Here is a video of a guy using copilot live http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_p7SAX9RqY (copilot is after 6 mins, the beginning part is google maps).
Seems to be taking up the whole screen. I also read that samsung offers navigon preinstalled on tabs sold in australia, so it must be supported? Try, the trial versions. I think they are limited to a week or so.