Most of us are familiar with Global Positioning Systems or (GPS) and its significant contribution in the areas of mapping, tracking, and navigation. GPS is used in a variety of ways by different people to make common tasks much simpler. GPS devices that are either installed permanently in a car or through hand-held devices that can go from the car to the office, home, restaurant, or hotel have become quite popular for use as navigational guides among consumers in the past few years.
Today's GPS technology has a myriad of features for users. With GPS it is possible to create detailed maps with line-by line directions that even include the exits you may need to use and a visual of the city streets along your route. You can also create a report of traffic conditions ahead of you in case you may need to take a detour to your destination. Air temperature, wind direction and speed, bad weather alerts, and much more is possible with GPS technology.
Although having all of these GPS features available to aid driver's in getting from one destination to another is convenient and quite useful, it can also result in a driver being distracted from paying attention to their own driving as well as to the driving of the other driver's sharing the road with them. Insurance companies report that 'distracted' driver's are responsible for causing more accidents than even those accidents which are as a result of "impaired" driver's under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Some of the GPS systems that are installed in vehicles today are part of a subscription service that is purchased along with the GPS device. Many of these services offer voice-activated assistance with a simple push of a button to activate the system. Some of these GPS systems are installed directly into the vehicles onboard computer system and either turn on when a key is inserted in the ignition, or operate continuously through the car's battery. These in-car systems even have the capability to determine when a vehicle has experienced an impact such as an accident, and the operators who man these systems at a "receiving" center can alert authorities to disabled motorists. GPS is also valuable in assisting police to locate stolen vehicles. The best feature with these voice-activated GPS systems is that a driver can get directions and needed assistance without taking their eyes off the road which is very important to reducing accidents and saving lives.
Responsible driver's, who don't have voice-activated GPS technology, should enter the necessary coordinates for getting from one point to another prior to getting out on the road. If a traffic report to determine the flow of traffic ahead is needed, it is advisable that driver's pull their vehicles off the road to the safety of the shoulder to access such information. Driving is a responsibility that shouldn't be taken lightly. Your life and the lives of other's depend upon your careful attention driving on the roadways.
GPS And Driving
CD Players: Going the Way of the Dinosaurs?
Are dash-mounted CD players going the way of the dinosaurs? Will they be obsolete before we know it, just like what happened to the 8-tracks and quadraphonic sound?
A vice president from Siemens VDO seems to think so, and thinks that it would even be good riddance for us all. At the Ward's Auto Interiors Show in Detroit last week, Frank Homann, vice president of Siemens VDO's Interior Electronics Solutions group said that the never-ending advances in digital music devices, the take-them-everywhere cell phones and finicky customers who expect to customize their vehicles with portable devices, will push CD players out of most vehicles as early as 2012.
The demise of the dash-mounted CD, Homann said, will free up valuable space on the dash for all the other cool gizmos drivers can not do without these days, like the cell phone, personal digital assistant and music player.
Already many manufacturers are putting new sound technologies in their vehicles.
DaimlerChrysler's Chrysler Group for example, has offered its U Connect system to allow people with Bluetooth phones to connect to a speaker phone in the car for the past two years. Recently the automaker has introduced the My Gig system which will burn CDs to a 20 Gig hard drive in the dash. Now with something like that, who needs a CD player right?
Later this year Ford Motor Co. is also set to introduce its Sync system – an innovation that will connect a driver's phone to the vehicle, as well as allow an iPod or other music device to be controlled by the car's stereo. The system can also play music saved on a flash drive by connecting to a USB port in the car.
Chris Dragon however, director of marketing for audio company Harmon/Kardon, doesn't see carmakers opening their dashes to just any devices, "(Carmakers) make a lot of money on those technology packages that include CD players and other things," he said. "I don't see them opening up their electrical architecture to outside people any time soon."
Many of the changes in future interiors will start in the more nimble aftermarket arena, Dragon said. Harmon/Kardon sells a number of aftermarket devices that are popular with consumers, including the Guide and Play GPS 500 that can store music and movies, as well as GPS navigation.
Homann says automakers could save between $20 and $40 a vehicle if they eliminated CD players. They also could save money in other ways, such as consolidating some of the electronics behind the dashboard, he noted. But all of this will have to happen over a period of time.
Most new models in the market now come with an auxiliary input jack to allow owners to plug and play their music devices. Carmakers have also recognized the need to have more electrical sources in a vehicle so drivers can recharge their phones, iPods and laptops.
In 2006, Infiniti -- maker of quality Infiniti oxygen sensor– was first in the industry to offer a hard drive for storing music in its 2007 Infiniti G35.
Navigating Across America With The Garmin Street Pilot
The Garmin Street Pilot has set the standard for automotive GPS navigation. It seems that are more brands of automotive GPS on market than any other type of GPS receiver. Each day a new model is brought on to the market with more high tech features. The new models have voice, blue tooth and XM radio capability. Screens are larger, more vivid and much easier to read in direct sunlight conditions. Garmin has been the leader in GPS technology with an excellent record of durability and reliability. Garmin is the preferred GPS system used by the military.
The Garmin Street Pilot comes in several different models. These include: the c310, (which costs $239), the c330, (which costs $349.99), the c340, (which costs $428.56), the c530, (which costs $428.56), the c550, (which costs $535.70) and the c580, (which costs $642.84). The similarities among all of these models include features typical to most automotive GPS navigators. According to Garmin.com these include: touch screens, colorized graphics, automatic routing, voiced directions, address look-up, 2D and 3D maps and an SD card slot. What are the differences between these various Garmin Street Pilot models? There are not many, but the few that are could be of significant use to the potential automotive GPS customer. An example would be the Garmin Lock anti-theft feature. The more expensive c530, c550 and c580 models contain this feature. Another example are preloaded maps, which are offered on the c530, the c550, the c580, the c340 and the c330. Then there are the high-sensitive receivers, offered only on the c530, the c550 and the c580. Lastly, there is the ability to get on the Internet through MSN. This is only offered on the model c580.
Where is the best place to buy a Garmin Street Pilot? Garmin's site, offers a list of what stores offer their products. This list contains both brick-and-mortar stores along with online enterprises. If one doesn't mind buying a used Garmin Street Pilot, there is also the option of purchasing the product from an online auction site. Finally, one can try using Froogle.com. This site not only lists price comparisons of different products, but it also provides links to where one can buy them.
For most people the Garmin Street Pilot is the perfect solution for anyone wanting an automotive GPS navigator that is simpler, cheaper and more user-friendly than other automotive GPS navigators on the market. If one does decide to buy a Garmin , they can choose from six different models. Although there are not too many differences in these models, the few differences that do exist are related to the latest technology. When purchasing a Street Pilot, you have several options including: Garmin.com, auction sites and Froogle.com. It is really hard to beat the reliability, durability and features of a Garmin Street Pilot automotive GPS.
portable vehicle gps navigation
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The Automotive GPS: How to Choose One
In today's world, no high end automotive is without its GPS to helps us travel from destination A to destination B. We can buy optional GPS systems as part of a new car buy or select models that are installed later. However, whether to buy one straight off or select one later that may be of better quality is a tough choice. Here are some considerations to think about when considering buying the GPS option that comes with a new car or having another GPS system installed.
Almost all the newest GPS system have a few things in common: Full-color Street maps, easy touch-screen controls, traffic alerts and rerouting options. It is the other features, cost and your integration options that make the difference.
First off let's consider cost. Built-in GPS systems offered on new vehicles are often much more expensive. In-dash add-on navigational GPS systems are often only moderately expensive but need to be installed by professionals which can add to your expenses. Portable automotive GPS navigation systems are usually the most economical and easily ported from one vehicle to the next.
Secondly, consider integration with other automotive systems. Built-in GPS's LCD display are shared with other car systems like climate control, antenna, power attachments, the radio, and hands-free cell phone. In-dash add-on GPS systems usually replace a vehicle's radio/CD player, require an additional antenna and are not is only partially "integrated" into the car's systems. Portable GPS systems have the least integration but often do not require external antennae.
New-car built-in GPS systems offered larger LCD screens are usually larger which gives better visibility, but the drawback is that they are usually a step behind in new features and map updates. In-dash GPS also usually include large LCD displays, AM/FM sterol and sometimes CD/DVD players with LCDs that fold away when not in use. While the portable automotive GPS device is usually much smaller, it has the usually provides quickest available update as it can be easily removed and updated through your PC.
Your final consideration is the size of the screen and features. The largest LCD screens are found in the new-car built-in GPS systems which increase visibility to the driver. The drawback to these systems is they are usually slower in feature and map updates. The good news is that in-dash GPS usually provide comparable size LCD displays. They can also provide integrated AM/FM stereo and sometimes CD/DVD players with LCDs that fold away. However, for quickest and easiest updates, it is the portable automotive GPS device that a consumer wants. The drawback is that these devices generally have smaller displays.