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Step 1 - Smartphone
GPS
Price Range: Up
To £250 (above cost of phone)
The term "Smartphone" refers
to a mobile device that combines the functions
of a cellular phone with a handheld computer
Smartphones are primarily used for voice
and email communications but these devices
have now evolved into multi-functional
personal digital assistants capable of
running Satellite Navigation software.
Key Benefits:
1. Navigation
whenever and wherever you need it
2. Ideal for
pedestrian and driving use
The key features
to look out for in Smartphone devices
are their compatibility with specific
navigation software, size of display screen,
key features to look out for in PDA handheld
computers are their build quality, the
choice of navigation software that they
can run, how the GPS receiver is attached,
ease
of use in a car and battery life.
Build
Quality
The build quality of most Smartphones
is very good as leading manufacturers
have ensured that their units remain durable
for sustained day to day use. Certain
models may feature moving parts such as
sliding, pivoted or hinged keyboards and
screens which are more subject to damage
than a one piece Smartphone.
Navigation
Software Compatability
Smartphones are supplied with different
operating systems ( mainly Windows Mobile
and Symbian) and it is important that
your ensure that your chosen navigation
software is compatible. It is therefore
worth noting that Tom Tom have now produced
some software called Navigator 6 that
can work across a variety of operating
systems and devices.
Smartphones
have more memory capacity than most standalone
dedicated navigation units. They also
have built-in mobile phone and wireless
networking capabilities which mean that
they can download information without
physically being connected to other devices.
In the UK Smartphones can display fully
licensed Ordance Survey Maps and give
users their live positioning when connected
to a
GPS receiver.
For further
information on the features of navigation
software then please Click
Here.
Maps Provided
This is determined by the edition of software
that you buy or have pre-loaded on your
Smartphone by the manufacturer or by your
phone service provider. Basic units come
with just the UK maps, more advanced units
can include Europe. Map upgrades for across
the world can be purchased seperately.
Size And
Quality Of Display Screen
The
bigger the screen, then the easier it
is to read the displayed maps and screen
information. However, screen size is a
matter of personal choice and is often
determined by the user's view on how small
a device they may wish to carry.
GPS Receiver
Attatchment
Smartphones feature bluetooth connectivity
which means that can be conneced directly
without wires to a small bluetooth GPS
Receiver for live positioning data. These
independent receivers are powered by their
own rechargeable batteries.
Setting up
the link to an independent GPS Receiver
has in the past proved to have been problematical
because of unit compatibility issues and
the need to go into the internal settings
on the Smartphone to pair up both devices.
There are however some Smartphones emerging
with their own built-in receivers that
are making life a lot easier for users.
Battery
Life
Satellite navigation on a Smartphone normally
requires a bluetooth connection to a GPS
Receiver. Unfortunately using this type
of wireless connection increases the drain
on the battery by almost double. The battery
life of Smartphones will vary upon type
and intensity of usage (phone calls, video
usage, wireless networking, gaming etc).
It is therefore important that you ensure
that your Smartphone has a decent level
of battery charge remaining before you
use the Satellite Navigation Software
otherwise you risk the chance of the battery
running out before you complete a journey.
Positives:
Everything
you can possibly need for a mobile life
in one device.
Negatives:
Setting up
the bluetooth connnections to the GPS
Receiver can be problematical and GPS
can make heavy demands on battery life.
Our Verdict:
This would
be an ideal device for mobile travellers
once manufacturers have overcome battery
life issues and found a way of adding
a built-in GPS Receivers into the Smartphone
without increasing its size.
You can also
check the latest product reviews using
the links on our product
review page in order to shortlist
your preferred Smartphone GPS unit.
Now check our
Specification Guide
against your intended Sat Nav usage:
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