Cell phone and tablets for navigation

[Venture]

So I just got back from a long weekend up in Killington, VT. More on that later.

On the ride up and back, I was riding shotgun and was the navigator. Since I happen to have one of those fancy-schmancy iPad doohickies with 3G service I decided to bring it along and use the maps feature to navigate. It actually worked really well, I was quite impressed.

So tonight I'm sitting around thinking how a tablet really needs the 3G service to be beneficial on the road, and I thought even further and finally came to the revelation that somebody has got to be making a "tablet dock" for a smartphone. It's the best of both worlds, you have your smartphone with 3G, and then you plug it into a "tablet dock" when you want a bigger display. I knew Motorola makes a laptop dock for the Droid Bionic, but I had never seen a tablet dock of any kind.

Some Googling later, I came up with this:

http://event.asus.com/mobile/padfone/

The Asus Padfone. They are doing just this, but I believe it is specific to their upcoming phone. I'm calling it now, this is the future and the separate tablet as we know it is dead. Carry on.

 

[HoebSTer]

Re: Best Tablet Idea Yet

Anyone want to buy an Ipad 8GB? I don't like mine that much at all. Give me a laptop please!!!

 

[tomatocity]

Re: Best Tablet Idea Yet

Anyone want to buy an Ipad 8GB? I don't like mine that much at all. Give me a laptop please!!!

HP Pavilion dm 1-3020us is the smallest Pavilion and works pretty good. I have 3GB memory though would prefer the full 8GB for video, media, photos, maps, etc.

May I ask if you have an iPhone?

 

[Checkswrecks]

Re: Best Tablet Idea Yet

I'm just not ready to use the RAM mount that is made:
http://onlinegpsworld.com/ram-mounting-systems-ram-b-149z-ap8u-ram-mount-u-bolt-rail-mount-for-apple-ipad-for-motorcycle-boat-rail-mount/


For my expensive ipad in the real world of vibration, rain, etc!

That said, my son has for a couple of years run his Droid phone/map/music in a clear Pelican and it works great.

In the off the shelf world, here is a link for a RAM mounted Otterbox that is a little slicker to do the same thing for $45.95: http://www.mountguys.com/product_p/ram-b-149z-pd3-otter-iphone.htm

 

[JHKolb]

Re: Best Tablet Idea Yet

My Droid Global works as a WiFi HotSpot (it is an extra monthly charge so I have not really used it yet), But this way I can dock my phone in its car cradle, turn on the hotspot, and connect up to 5 wifi enabled devices in the car. This way I could have a Table connected along with my kids Nook and PSP and keep everyone happy.

 

[colorider]

Re: Best Tablet Idea Yet

I've kinda ran the range on this laptop/net book/tablet deal. I'm now pretty content with my ASUS Transformer Prime. The 3g version is not yet available, but I think I can tether to my smartphone if the need ever struck. ASUS offers a slick keyboard, but so far, I have not felt the need for it.

 

[JHKolb]

Re: Best Tablet Idea Yet

I've kinda ran the range on this laptop/net book/tablet deal. I'm now pretty content with my ASUS Transformer Prime. The 3g version is not yet available, but I think I can tether to my smartphone if the need ever struck. ASUS offers a slick keyboard, but so far, I have not felt the need for it.

I was playing with one of the new Prime's with ICS on it at BestBuy the other day. It is a very cool gadget, and I would love to have one, but I can't seem to figure out what I would use it for? I don't need to spend all that coin to play Angry Birds or even to check email as I have that on my phone.

Of you who have and use a newer Tablet, what do you do with it? Is it for entertainment only? Purely a consumption device rather than a creation device? I would love to be able to ditch my Laptop in favor of a light weight, portable Tablet but am having a difficult time justifying it with current hardware choices. Maybe when the new Win8 Tab's come out in late '12 that will make the choice much more clear?

 

[Mellow]

Re: Best Tablet Idea Yet

I'm thinking about getting rid of my Asus Transformer w/keyboard.

I think the Pantech Element is more like it for what I'd like. Waterproof and a phone as well meaning you're as connected as you need/want to be most of the time.

 

[dcstrom]

Re: Best Tablet Idea Yet

What about the Galaxy Note? Large (for a phone), small (for a tablet), but able to do most of the duties of both.

As someone who doesn't make a lot of phone calls, but does a lot of reading on the phone, this one is kinda appealing. I'd like a tablet, but don't want to carry (or purchase) two devices (or three, if you include a laptop, which I can't get away from (yet)).

http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/28/samsung-galaxy-note-review/

 

[HoebSTer]

Re: Best Tablet Idea Yet

HP Pavilion dm 1-3020us is the smallest Pavilion and works pretty good. I have 3GB memory though would prefer the full 8GB for video, media, photos, maps, etc.

May I ask if you have an iPhone?

Tomato, I do not have an Iphone. I have given it some thought though, as my CrackBerry STorm is over 2 yrs old. I hate spending the money on something like this, when I still have on my Farkle list of PCV, AT and Header, oh and a KLIM Jacket to purchase. See my dilemma? Did I mention a Laptop too, so I can begin to learn how to use the GoPro HD I have sitting in the garage collecting dust because my home PC is over 5 years old? I got the Tenere though!!! HA!
Um, me getting rid of the IPAD would have to pass the wife's approval since she got it for me last year for my first Fathers Day!!!

 

[JHKolb]

Re: Best Tablet Idea Yet

What about the Galaxy Note? Large (for a phone), small (for a tablet), but able to do most of the duties of both.

As someone who doesn't make a lot of phone calls, but does a lot of reading on the phone, this one is kinda appealing. I'd like a tablet, but don't want to carry (or purchase) two devices (or three, if you include a laptop, which I can't get away from (yet)).

http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/28/samsung-galaxy-note-review/

That could be an interesting option to replace; Smart Phone, Tablet, & a stand-alone GPS, IF there were a way to securely mount it to the bike and still be able to use the touch screen. If it were rugged'ized (is that a real word?) like the Verizon Commando android phone that would be pretty cool!

 

[dcstrom]

Re: Best Tablet Idea Yet

Just announced (in the last 17 minutes, according to Google) the Galaxy Note will be available via AT&T on Feb. 15, for $300 with a 2 year contract. So, $100 more than an iPhone, but if it means you don't have to spend money on a tablet AS WELL (and don't mind the smaller screen), then money well spent.

http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Mobile-and-Wireless/Samsung-Galaxy-Note-on-Sale-at-ATandT-Feb-19-Preorders-Feb-5-389381/

 

[spasm]

Re: Best Tablet Idea Yet

im waiting for the galaxy s3 in a few months ::008::

 

[lastparrot]

I was wondering if anyone uses Android phones for their navigation device? I am looking for an app (paid is ok if it works) that allows me to download maps, pre plan the route and save it (having multiples would be great) and does navigation. If it has a pc app or online mode that lets me plan the route/customize the path and transfer to the phone that would be great.

 

[Don in Lodi]

Re: Android Navigation Apps

Sounds a lot like what the high end InReach device can do.

 

[bikerdoc]

Re: Android Navigation Apps

I've been using GPS navigation on smartphone device's (WinMo)
R66, Garmin, TomTom, Mapking amongst others. This year I've been using my Samsung running Andriod and have experimented with the following navigation app's
OSMand+ off-line maps and routable
Sygic off-line maps and routable
Navigon off-line maps and routable
City2go off-line maps but non - routable

The first 3 are my preference's with each having something over the others. One feature on Sygic is the ability to link photos to the map, find the photo and can't recall where the photo was taken... Sygic will use the geotag data to show where the photo was taken, even routing from current location if selected etc. The photo has to have been linked with Sygic previously by using Sygic to take the photo .
I used both Sygic and OSMand+ extensively in Thailand for 2 months (January and February). Found the OSMand maps to offer more extensive off road track's for northern Thailand.

 

[Bryce]

Re: Android Navigation Apps

I've been using Co-Pilot and OSMand+ on my Galaxy S4 Active.
I prefer Co-Pilot for paved trips. Routing is good, traffic notification is great. I wish I could adjust the size of the text because it's hard to read the times/miles and stuff like that on the display.
OSMand+ will let me load routes and tracks in a standard GPX format that I can download or make on my computer... because of this, it's my preferred app for off-pavement.

Both are relatively cheap to buy (under $10 I think).

What I don't like is that even though I have the S4Active which is water proof and dust proof, once I open the phone to plug a charger into it, it is no longer dust/water proof.

If I know I'm going to be getting wet, I'll take my old Garmin 60CSx, otherwise, I carry a quart size zip-lock back to throw over the phone.

 

[PowersUSA]

Re: Android Navigation Apps

Give Nokia Here maps a look. It has downloadable offline maps and can route offline as well.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.here.app.maps.

For following and recording GPX tracks I use Locus Pro
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=menion.android.locus.pro

 

[lastparrot]

Re: Android Navigation Apps

I like the nokia here maps, however you can't seem to actually build a route on the phone model. I really wish I could plan the route online and then open it in the phone, either way there always seems to be one thing missing from the apps.

 

[valimtino]

Re: Android Navigation Apps

What I don't like is that even though I have the S4Active which is water proof and dust proof, once I open the phone to plug a charger into it, it is no longer dust/water proof.

If I know I'm going to be getting wet, I'll take my old Garmin 60CSx, otherwise, I carry a quart size zip-lock back to throw over the phone.

Interesting. I had the same thought too.

I'm seriously considering this casing:

http://holdersandmounts.co.uk/german-made-waterproof-samsung-galaxy-note-3-bike-handlebar-mount.html

Ordered it a few days back. Been peeping into my mailbox more often than usual eversince