Thursday Gadgets: GPS Guide - Top 5 Features to Look For When Buying a GPS

GPS Guide - Top 5 Features to Look For When Buying a GPS

Author: Jen Richmond

Dashboard mounted portable navigation systems have been coming under fire lately with fierce competition from the smartphone "app". Major GPS manufacturers such as Garmin and TomTom are working to quell the onslaught coming from software by lowering prices and adding features to their hardware-based devices. Using their superior screen size and dedicated processing power to their advantage, here are the top 5 "must have" features to look for when buying a GPS.

Bluetooth – With virtually every state in the union enacting "handsfree" driving laws, Bluetooth is an essential feature of any portable GPS. It is usually a cinch to set up you GPS as a speakerphone for incoming and outgoing calls which frees your hands, keeps your eyes on the road, and brings you in to compliance with local laws.

Real-time Traffic – Once a gimmicky feature with finicky, unreliable service, real-time traffic is finally ready for the spotlight with reliable coverage in major cities and useful applications within portable GPS devices. Look for devices that have the feature built-in and do not require external antennas or additional subscriptions.

Speed Limit Indicator – Speed limit indication is a simple but effective way to lessen one's odds of being cited for speeding. This GPS feature is usually comprised of a visual speed limit indication on the screen along with an audible warning, although the latter can usually be toggled on or off.

Lifetime Maps – Having up-to-date maps is essential to accurate navigation. Estimates are that 10-15% of the U.S. road network changes every year, and the fact of the matter is you won't likely care until you're in an unfamiliar city undergoing lots of construction and using a GPS with old maps. All of the major manufacturers will sell you an a-la-carte map update, but pay the additional $50-100 up front (built in to the purchase price) and you'll be notified as often as once per quarter when an update is available.

Celebrity Voices – Garmin and TomTom allow real celebrity voices such as Mr. T, KITT from Knight Rider, or rapper Flavor Flav as a personalized alternative to the standard, boring GPS voice. NavTones is an independent outfit that offers these downloadable Garmin voices on their website and also supplies TomTom with many of the GPS voice downloads on their own site, so you know they're authentic.

If you want to learn more about which 5 other features to look for when buying a GPS, you can find more information all over the web. But at least now you'll be ahead of the game when you get to the store.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/gps-articles/gps-guide-top-5-features-to-look-for-when-buying-a-gps-4122354.html

About the Author

Jen Richmond is an avid (and average) technologist and nerd chick residing in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. When she's not tweeting her guts out to an audience of no one, you can drop her a line at j e n at jrichmond dot com.

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