GPS Systems and Reviews

Get Mobile with Bluetooth GPS Units

How much do you love being mobile? I lot I bet! Most people have grown completely accustomed to their lives hands-free. That’s not to say that we can’t appreciate the corded phone (sounds weird, doesn’t it?) but with so many options available that allow the convenience of not having to untangle a cord every few minutes, most people say “Yay!” to that option, and “Nay!” to the old days. Catching up to the world of free hands is the global position system (GPS) that can help you keep track of where you are going anywhere in the country. Now there are tons of Bluetooth GPS units on the market that are wireless and offer great features for customers. In this article, we will look at some of these units to see which ones might be a great match for you.

You may not remember or be aware of this, but there was a time that GPS units were installed in cars with wires attached. Because everything is portable and wireless now, it is hard to imagine this is possible. But since those days, of course, companies have found ways to not only create great Bluetooth GPS units that are attractive and compact, but also give you all of the features of a cell phone and entertainment center in one. Here are a few of the more popular models on the market:

TomTom

This company definitely offers some of the more popular Bluetooth GPS units on the market. This is because the company is known for being extremely accurate and reliable under all circumstances. Most of their receivers have similar features – of course, some more advanced than others. Overall, you can count on them offering street-level maps for the entire United States; some even offer maps of Europe. Also, you can get pictures of lifelike 3D maps that show your position on the road and give you icons that represent points of interest in a clear display for those who have vision difficulties. Also, most of their systems have menus that allow you to customize your experience and they also have low-glare night display options.

The TomTom Navigator software adds special features to their Bluetooth GPS units. So in addition to being able to pinpoint your location on one of their maps, you can get door-to-door navigation by simply plugging in addresses you want to travel between. In addition, the software provides a roadblock feature that quickly reroutes your travel to help you avoid any unexpected traffic issues. But probably one of the most impressive features of this software is the Point of Interest database that gives you access to literally millions of locations in the country. But using this database, you can simply scroll through the directory to map out navigation directions. This way, you don’t always have to feel responsible for finding the address to a location before traveling to it – the system will do the work for you.

Magellan

While this company is not as well known and popular as TomTom, it does offer a pretty popular device that is getting good reviews from the experts. The Magellan Crossover is one of the better portable Bluetooth GPS units on the market as it is pocket-sized, offers the ability to listen to MP3s, allows you to view photos, and of course, has great mapping capabilities. While some receivers are only meant to sit on your dashboard, this device is great to take on a hiking trip with you, as it has a battery life that is longer than others on the market (up to 8 hours). But most importantly, it is a great trip planner, helping you determine where you are on a map, and letting you easily navigate your way from Point A to Point B. Most people use these devices if they are interested in boating and fishing, or just taking advantage of the outdoors with the outdoors taking advantage of them. So if you are an outdoorsman, but get lost easily, then the Magellan Crossover might be the device for you.

Garmin

Garmin is probably known as one of the most popular companies on the market for selling Bluetooth GPS units and other systems meant for navigation, mapping, and tracking. They are known primarily for being highly reliable and accurate in the toughest of conditions. And they offer over 30 portable devices as well as tons of others that make it easy for a person in any price range to choose one that will work well for them.

Two Bluetooth GPS units offer by Garmin that hold reviewers’ attention pretty well are the StreetPilot c340 and StreetPilot 7500. Both are portable devices, but one is handheld and one is not. The c340 version is great for those who like to get outdoors but don’t want to carry a bulky, uncomfortable (and potentially unsafe) device around with them. It has great features for any outdoorsman, including a 3D view of the area you’re in, an easy to use touch screen to assist with navigation features, and a battery life that lasts for up to 8 hours. In addition, you can view pictures on this receiver, giving you a great way to have fun while outdoors. 

The 7500 on the other hand was created more so for the person who doesn’t plan to step out of the car except to enter another building. This device sits on the dashboard and has a large 7” screen, which is great for viewing at night, and for those with vision challenges. Like its smaller counterpart, it offers 3D maps and navigational options; and it also has an MP3 player to keep you company on your way to your location.

If you are interested in learning more about Bluetooth GPS units, you might want to consider visiting an electronic store in your area. Because while the Internet can provide great information to get you started, it is important that you view the systems in person to see which one suits your personal tastes. Once you find one you like, you can always get back on line to sift through Bluetooth GPS units until you locate the one you want to buy at a great Internet price. By taking this route, you can get the price you want with the guarantee that you will have device you want.

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How to Choose the Best Gps Systems

So you’ve been trying to find a new way to navigate through the world and you heard about these devices that can create accurate maps and even give you navigational instructions to and from locations right from your car. These systems definitely do exist and are called GPS (global positioning) systems. But of course, before you go out and snatch the first one that you see, you need to learn about these clever little devices to determine which one would be best for you. So in this article, we will do the work for you to help you choose the best GPS systems on the market. 

Learning About GPS Systems

If you’re still unfamiliar with these systems, let’s take a look back at the movie Enemy of the State. If you remember, there was a scene in the movie where the character played by Will Smith was being tracked by a device his enemies had placed in a bag that he grabbed. By keeping this device with him unknowingly, he allowed the chasers to keep track of his every move on a screen they were watching from another location. At the time, the device seemed very high tech and new age, but now many people take advantage of them in their own homes and cars.

Modern day systems are capable of working in a very similar way as the device in the movie. You can plant a tracking device in your vehicle that allows you to know every move your car makes if your child drives it – or if it is stolen – by watching its activity from a screen in your house, or even on the Internet from anywhere in the world. In addition, these systems can give you driving instructions via a satellite map to a new restaurant in your area, or give you voice-navigation instructions to a restaurant in a new city. However, you have to decide which are among the best GPS systems, not just from reputation on the market, but also according to what will work best for your family. So let’s help you decide what you want. 

Decide What You’re Looking For

Some of the decision-making process falls in the laps of the companies selling you their product. But I believe firmly that one way to help you determine which are the best GPS systems on the market is to decide which ones are best for you – and you make this decision by choosing the features you most need.

There are four main categories of systems out there to choose from, however most companies combine at least two or more features into one device for versatility. To clearly learn about the differences though, we’ll view them separately.

Mapping – There are tons of mapping devices that fall under the category of best GPS systems. This is because more people are usually interested in mapping features, which means companies work harder to make sure this feature is especially accurate and reliable. However, do understand that there is a difference between a device with mapping features and a mapping system. The mapping system is different because it is used to collect data for field work such as farming, timbering, and wetlands/marsh work. Instead, you may want to pursue a system with a mapping feature for directions only, because you could find you’ve bought a device with a lot of “stuff” you just don’t need.  

Surveying – Surveying devices can be similar to those for mapping in that they can be pretty complex beasts for the everyday person simply trying to accomplish a few minor tasks. Models that focus primarily on this feature are also used more so for professional surveyors in the field who are looking to collect data on property and land. While you can find these devices among the others available, for everyday navigational purposes, these would probably be too advanced for your needs.  

Tracking – These systems can come in the more professional version, but many everyday people are finding them to come in handy when they want to keep track of their children, and keep criminals away. These models can come in a variety of forms ranging from a small device put in a car to track its whereabouts at all times, to a cell phone or watch you can give to your child that can be viewed from a remote location. 

Navigating – Many people would say the best GPS systems come as standard navigating devices because they are used to help them navigate through unfamiliar territories with simple and convenient voice turn-by-turn instructions. Of course, as mentioned with the above options, you are likely to have more than one feature in one, but the main idea is to make sure you are getting the features you want – and not a lot of unusable features – for your money.

Now What Do I Choose?

Now that you’ve learned about the differences between the systems, let’s look at a few brands with great reputations for being simple to use with a lot of great features:

Garmin – If price is an issue to you, you may want to turn away from this often expensive, yet always reliable company with a reputation for selling the best GPS systems in the world. Most of their products range from $350 – $750, but you’ll always get plenty for your money, including wide screens, long battery life (if portable), extensive mapping and directory options, accurate navigation, and even MP3 and Bluetooth features.

Magellan – Another company known for selling some of the best GPS systems on the market, Magellan offers a wide variety of products for mapping directions and accurate navigational instruction.

TomTom – This company ranks fairly high as well for its features and offers standard options as well as a Map Sharing tool that gives very accurate and up-to-date information on roads around the country.

Learning which companies offer the best GPS systems in the industry takes time and effort on your part. Of course, this means you’ll need to continue your research beyond the Internet and visit stores with representatives who can show you in person what each one offers. But after doing your research, and determining what you want in a system, you’ll be sure to find one of the best GPS systems on the market that best suits your needs.

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