GPS Devices: Are They Still Required?
17
Apr 2009
Travelers certainly have what it takes to make their way around the world with a smile and a relaxed brow. This is because there are smart phones present that provide lots of interesting features: Camera, Video calling, Internet browsing for example.
However, a traveler always requires accurate travelling directions and this is possible with smart phones which are featuring mobile applications that are created simply for serving as navigational tools around the world. Hence, it does make sense to have a smart phone for every traveler.
However, does this mean the era of satellite navigational tools are over? Do people no longer require SAT NAVs? Does a Garmin or a Tom-Tom cease to feature as an essential item to have? These questions fetch a simply reply: It still makes sense to have a standalone GPS unit. The five main reasons beefing up this reply are given below:
Battery life: The logic is quite simple. GPS-based apps in smart phones use A-GPS (Assisted GPS). In simple words, A-GPS means GPS assisted with cellular signals. Now at any time, any smart phone obviously does not have a single application running. Hitherto, it has multiple applications running at the same time. For example, wireless radio apps running along with a GPS app. This literally makes the smart phone have an extremely low battery life.
In contrast, a standalone GPS device is not a platform hosting multiple applications. Hence, the battery life is naturally higher. This is certainly a preferable feature for travelers who would always prefer a device which would stay “on” for a longer period of time.
Multitasking: Multitasking is certainly a preferable feature for most devices however it is a feature not welcome when GPS devices are concerned. After all, these devices are used for a simple reason – Seeking out directions for places. Hence, if a smart phone is chosen over a GPS device then the boon of multitasking certainly has the risk of becoming a bane. Consider a simple situation: What would happen when the user need to take a call but also wants to reach the next petrol pump that is couple of minutes away. He has two simple choices: First is to not take the call and keep the directional app switched on while the second choice is that of taking the phone call but having to switch off the directional app. Neither one is a welcome choice.
What is the solution to this problem? It is a simple one and lies in using a smart-phone for other tasks and a GPS device for seeking directions.
Screen size: A cumbersome handset is not a welcome selection irrespective the magnificent array of features it may contain. However, at the same time, a bigger screen enables the comprehension of a route with just a single glance. Most of the latest releases among smart phones are featuring bigger screen sizes however the increase in size is done while keeping in mind the device free from the adjective “cumbersome.”
GPS navigation units that are getting released these days come with screen sizes falling in the range: 4.3 – 5 inches. This large screen size is further complemented with the fact that a standalone GPS device comes packaged together with its very own dashboard or windshield mount. Hence, getting directional assistance through a quick glance is quite possible.
Servicing: The world that we live in is quite an unpredictable one because anything can happen anytime and anywhere. Hence, should a smart phone get lost or stolen then what happens to directional assistance? Null-and-void if put in standard technological jargon is what happens to the traveler. The question now arises that a GPS device can also break down or get stolen/lost. Yes, this is a possibility, however the probability of possibility becoming a reality is far less if compared to the probability of a smart phone breaking down or getting lost or stolen.
Compatibility: The word compatibility is a golden word and bears a lot of importance in the world of electronic products. Hence, a particular GPS-related application may or may not work on multiple smart phones. Furthermore, there is always the hassle of having to install the application and then calibrating it once again to receive accurate instructions regarding navigation.
A GPS device is free from such hassles and that too for a simple reason. This is because it can be simply given to one person by another. For example, if a wife has to attend a business meeting at a certain location that she is not aware of then what is the solution? Again, simplicity and basic logic would make any sensible husband give his GPS device to his wife – No installation or calibration required.
