GPS navigation has got to be one the best life-improving purchases you can possibly make. If you haven't taken the plunge and bought yourself (or someone else) a GPS yet, there's no better time. They're cheaper than ever, highly accurate, and most ship with an impressive set of features that used to cost a lot more. So which GPS devices would I actually buy today?

Money is no Object

1. Garmin nüvi 3590LMT . Garmin's top-of-the-line. This 5-inch screen navigator packs just about every feature available: lifetime traffic and map updates, Bluetooth, voice commands, 3D maps & landmarks, smartphone compatibility for online services (Android only), and a whole lot more. If you can afford it, the is Garmin's current best automotive GPS.

2. TomTom GO 2535TM World Traveler . TomTom's premium 5-inch navigator comes with HD Traffic (updates traffic conditions every 2 minutes), It comes pre-loaded with worldwide maps, 7 million POIs, voice recognition, Bluetooth, and access to TomTom's LIVE services (local fuel prices, local search powered by Google, and more).

Budget, but Still Good

1. Garmin nüvi 40 the nuvi 40 is a lot of GPS for the money. It sports the same excellent easy-to-use interface and map screen found on Garmin's more expensive units, a 4.3-inch color touchscreen display, lane assist with junction view (3D-like renderings of complex highway exits that show you which lane you should be driving in), text-to-speech speaks actual street names, 5 million points of interest (POI) pre-loaded, and the map even displays the speed limit for the current road. Essentially this GPS gives you everything that would have cost $800 2-years ago for $79. Sure, there's no Bluetooth, mp3 player, voice commands, traffic data, or free map updates, but if all you need to good, basic GPS navigation, you can't beat the nuvi 40.

2. TomTom START 45M . Like the Garmin nuvi 40, TomTom's Start 45 is an incredible value at $79, offering a 4.3-inch touch screen, advanced lane guidance, spoken street names, and complete maps of the US & Canada. Also like the Garmin nuvi 40, no real-time traffic data. But hey, at this price you can replace the GPS every year and it'll still be cheaper than buying the model with lifetime traffic updates included...

3. Magellan RoadMate 2230T-LM . It's the most expensive unit in out "budget but still good" category, priced about $20 more than the Garmin or TomTom, but that buys you lifetime map updates and traffic -- both of which cost a lost more than $20 more in Garmin's or TomTom's lineup. Magellan's RoadMate also includes traffic camera alerts, and some nifty features unique to Magellan.

Smartphone App

If you really don't think you need a dedicated GPS, but still want to have a GPS in a pinch, your iPhone or Android phone can be easily converted into a fully functioning GPS navigator by installing either of these recommended Apps:

1. Garmin StreetPilot for iOS or Android - Currently my favorite smartphone based app. Looks and operates just like a dedicated Garmin GPS, and even adds the ability to lookup business names via Google.

2. TomTom USA - pricey at $50, but basically gives you an entire $300 GPS on your phone.

Posted by Fletch at 11:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Verdict: Uniquely Designed For Parents

The Bottom Line:Amber Alert GPS is a reasonably priced, parent-friendly child tracking device with unique features specifically designed with parents in mind. Slightly larger than a matchbox car, the device can send location updates every 5 minutes, or alerts when your child arrives at school or leaves home, or whenever he/she is traveling in a vehicle. Amber Alert GPS can also send "Predator Alerts" whenever the device is near a registered sex offender's home address.

Unlike most GPS trackers, the Amber Alert GPS has a panic button that can be used to place a 2-way phone call to a parent. The device itself costs $199 (free if you sign up for a 3 year contract), and monthly service is $14.99 for basic location service, $24.99 for Premium service (adds breadcrumbing, voice calling, and predator alerts).

Continue reading "Amber Alert GPS Child Tracker Review" »

Posted by Fletch at 11:08 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Verdict: Instantly Locate Your Vehicle Any Time, Any Place

The Bottom Line: Live Trac EZ is a wireless GPS tracking device that installs in seconds into your vehicle's On Board Diagnostic Port, better known as the OBD-II port -- don't worry, if your vehicle was made after 1996, it has one. The GPS tracker gets power from your vehicle, so there's never any batteries to charge, or a risk that the battery will be dead when you need to locate your car.

Once it's plugged in, you can instantly locate your vehicle from a web browser or smartphone, even if the vehicle isn't running. I've been testing this device for several weeks now, and it works exceptionally well. Detailed reports are available, including historical "breadcrumb" reports that show where the vehicle has been, how fast it was driving, and the distance driven. You can also configure alerts based on speed, location, or when the ignition is turned on.

Live Trac EZ is an excellent vehicle tracker that works well, is reasonably priced, never runs out of batteries.

Priced at $169 for the device, Live Trac EZ requires a monthly service fee of $29.95 for 10 second location updates (or $39.95 per month for 5 second updates). Service is billed monthly, and can be canceled any time.

Continue reading "Live Trac EZ Vehicle GPS Tracking Review" »

Posted by Fletch at 1:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Want More GPSmagazine? Follow Us on Twitter / Like Us on Facebook

Posted by Fletch at 11:23 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

As if things couldn't get much worse for Apple's much maligned new maps, Consumer Reports has come out with an official assessment:

"Maps feels like a fresh, new product that has much maturing to do before it can rival paid ($20-$40) apps from leading navigation companies, such as Garmin, Navigon, and TomTom." It seems Apple's decision to stop using Google Maps hasn't gone as smoothly as they'd hoped.

You can read the full report at Consumer Reports. While you're waiting for Apple to improve Maps, we suggest using Garmin, TomTom, or Magellan's navigation Apps instead.

Posted by Fletch at 10:49 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

It doesn't happen every day that Apple drops the ball and hands a competitor a big juicy opportunity. But that's exactly what happened when Apple released decidedly lackluster maps in iOS 6 last week, and didn't include mass transit navigation information.

Garmin, in response, has updated their Garmin U.S.A. App as well as their NAVIGON USA App for iOS 6, complete with high quality up-to-date maps, as well as mass transit directions for navigating via bus, rail, or pedestrian mode.

Posted by Fletch at 3:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Well, that didn't take long. iOS 6 hasn't been out a full week yet, and Apple's fancy new 3D maps have been universally panned as "a mess".

Originally touted as one of the most compelling new features of iOS6, Apple is now asking users to be patient as they work through the kinks and improve the maps.

According to this Business Insider article: "now that Apple's Maps are getting panned by people, its primary map data partner TomTom is also getting trashed." Also not helping TomTom's case is a recent comment by the CEO of Waze who called TomTom "the weakest player in the maps industry."

For its part, TomTom claims Apple's crappy maps aren't TomTom's fault at all, and that it's how you use the mapping data that makes or breaks a mobile application. For example, TomTom says their own GPS devices and mobile smartphone Apps are highly rated by users.

You know, I'm not the kind of guy to say I told you so, but... Well, I told you so! I've been saying for years that Navteq mapping data (used in Garmin GPS devices) is better than TomTom's maps, but no one believed me. Well, what do you all have to say for yourselves now?

Posted by Fletch at 10:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

The next time you buy a KitKat, Aero, or Yorkie bar, you just may peal back the wrapper and discover an embedded GPS tracking device instead of a candy bar inside.

That's because Nestle is running an elaborate ad campaign that promises 6 lucky customers will get more than cavities from their purchase: Nestle will locate winners within 24 hours, tracking the customers using the GPS device embedded in the candy bar, and hand them a check for £10,000.

Posted by Fletch at 4:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Google recently revealed an ambitious program called Spanner. According to Google, Spanner is a new kind of database than can be spread across "thousands" of geographically disbursed data centers. The trick? Keeping all that data consistent. Enter GPS: Google has been equipping its servers with highly precise atomic clocks and GPS antennas in order to more accurately sync the data across Google's data centers.

Such complex time synchronization is big hairy problem, and Google's using GPS in an innovative way. Head over to Wired to read the full write-up.

Posted by Fletch at 4:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Less than 24 hours after iOS 6 was released to Apple fans around the world, reports are starting to roll in that Apple's new maps are fraught with errors, omissions, and incorrect business listings.

Apple decided to ditch Google as their map provider, and have instead started using their own maps. Sure, the new maps look gorgeous, and offer turn-by-turn navigation, but there's growing evidence that the new maps may not be ready for primetime. So just how bad is it? Let us know and post your comments.

Posted by Fletch at 11:47 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)