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  1. #1
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    Default 10 things not to buy in 2014

    10 things not to buy in 2014
    Dying technologies aren’t the only unnecessary drain on our wallets

    3. GPS devices
    Up until a few years ago, personal navigation systems were considered a must-have for most drivers since they drastically reduced the chances of getting lost. But the tides have turned and demand for these gadgets is plummeting: 7.5 million personal navigation devices sold in 2012 in North America, down from a peak of 18 million in 2009, according to the latest data from Berg Insight, a Swedish research company.

    The need for this service still exists, but consumers can get it for a lot cheaper. Rather than paying $70 to $300 for a new GPS device, drivers can use map apps to get around. They’re available on most smartphones or free to download.

    Separately, many new cars come with built-in navigation systems: 49% of 2013 model-year vehicles have a standard navigation system (in at least one of their styles), up from 33% of 2010 models, according to Edmunds.com.

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  3. #2
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    For those like me living and working in Mexico a GPS is a must have device, the roads and highways are poorly marked.
    Build-in navigation systems can be a difficult and challenging to update maps and cost more.

  4. #3
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    dasilvarsa's Avatar
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    Despite what the writer in post#1 says stand alone GPS Navigators (PND's) remain a highly lucrative and competitive market.
    PND's will be available for many years to come.

    But if you get lost the Cell Phone can get you out of a bind.

    Read the whole Article for a good laugh.
    Last edited by dasilvarsa; 1st January 2014 at 04:57 PM.
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    Agree with Dasil. Just like the new PSPs or Nintendos. Of course you can always play games on a smartphone but a standalone device will always offer more. For me a smarthone with GPS is good enough in the city to find a street, adress, restaurant etc. when I am walking but I can't imagine using a smartphone for longer trips on which I count on it.

    BTW there are different application of GPS. Not only in car/auto where the competivnes is very high. But also GPS have application in marine, aviation, surveing where it is a must have! That is why announcing - GPS devices a dying technology is provocative. Not to mention the sport watches (fitness) where my personal opinion is that there the GPS have its biggest usage. Unfortunately the prices of the sport watches are still quite high in EU.
    Last edited by ddabcd277; 1st January 2014 at 09:23 PM.

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    And He probably got paid money for writing these articles !??!
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    Albert Einstein.

  7. #6
    Navigation software expert 10 things not to buy in 2014
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    Built-in navigation systems is in most case real ( s**t ), for small country no coverage and map update 1 time in year cost 200€ - 500 € every year
    If you buy PND you pay 1 time 300€ and you can update your maps 4x in one year.
    So if you calculate you will see that PND is still cheaper.

    Free GPS on smartphone is not free becouse you pay for downloaded data and also if you buy app for smartphone this is only for play or for walk and not for real navigation.

    If you use Navigation every day the number one choice is still PND.

    So here is example:

    Built-in navigation systems = you pay it when you buy car and also every year for new map 200-500€.

    Smartphone = about 500$ and up and then you must also buy app and map's or pay for downloaded data and app is locked to your phone.
    So if you buy new phone you must pay again for app.

    PND = One time cost 300$ and you can update maps lifetime.

    So let me know when you calculate what device is cheaper

    p.s.
    1 thing not to buy in 2014 is Built-in navigation system
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  8. #7
    Navigation software expert 10 things not to buy in 2014
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    I think it is absolutely normally. More arguments for which idea is on page 7 of the article:

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    Really GPS PND is not cheap nowadays. All in world is evolving in a spiral. GPS PND is returned to professional or advanced user range.

    Only small criticism:
    1) Nobody remember what market was overheated a some time ago. All who wanted to have already have one or more GPS PND. I do not see reason to upgrade it because I do not see any really enhancements in technology. Only very small wrist device is exception from this rule.
    2) Build-in car navigation systems is new progressive technology but they inherit destiny of car audio device. The most of car audio device read a how many music formats that I do not may keep in mind all of its. But can one of it boast of quality sounds? Any car manufacturer give user a choice?
    (In Russia this situation is hypertrophied especially. If you want 17 wheel and headlight washer you obliged to buy build-in car navigation systems without any choice of model. If you want embed new addition equipments in your car dealer immediately bluster to void the warranty. People become the hostages of sellers.)
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  9. #8
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    A PND will always win out for me because the Tracks are recorded and I can download them to my computer, the phone and the Tom Tom nope no download only good for around the city "they do work outside of city but map quality drops off " I go up some hard to see tracks when I'm out Gold Hunting and like to D/L my tracks into OZiexplorer and view them on different types of maps. ie Topo, Geological, Tenegraph and the odd older Cadastral maps.

    So PND's will be around a long time.

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  10. #9
    Garmin/GPS Systems GMod. 10 things not to buy in 2014
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    I believe the key here is what's meant by the term 'PND'. To me it's Personal Navigation Device and interchangeable with Personal Navigation Assistant. If it's taken as Portable Navigation Device i think of a broader market including all handheld/wrist worn sports, hiking, marine and aviation, i.e 'non-fixed' units.

    To me a Personal Navigation Device is a nuvi type automotive device, using current Garmin range as an example, anything from basic 42 thru to a 'bell n whistles' 3797 with eye candy bling depending on depth of your pocket. It's going to get you from A to B on-road, but isn't waterproof or capable of effective use on a bike, off-road, on water or in air. A smartphone with a nav app will do the same basic job. Ovi maps for instance don't incur data charges while you use them for navigating and the app's built-in with maps free to dl.

    Why would the average 'mug' user want to buy a PND of my definition if he has an in-dash car GPS unit and a decent smartphone?

    Even aera 500 series must be getting a bit of a nudge from the great aviation apps now available for iPads whose screen size matches the size of some glass-cockpit screens [but can't match the GC level of integration of other nav aids in a light plane of course]. For screen readability alone iPad poops all over an aera 5x0 4.3" screen.

    The outdoor and marine portable units have to be weatherproof of course so the phones and tablets don't really get a look in there, yet anyway.

    To me, sad as it is to say, dedicated automotive Personal Navigation Devices will wither away for everyday use. The manufacturers know this and are only milking the final dying gasps of the market. Our nuvis won't be worth anything but curiosity value soon.

    I agree most in-dash OEM GPS units are crap and after-market are far better. I also believe that the oem units will improve simply because ppl will start to expect to see the features available on their phone nav app or what's on their son's Kenwood which he's shoehorned into his Mama's hand-me-down Magna/Lada/Pinto. Where this market is headed is anyone's guess really. Satellite radio is exclusively North American as far as i'm aware, i'm surprised that hasn't expanded to elsewhere. A safe bet will be that both the present pnd/pna and car infotainment units will be an absolute joke within 10 years. Maybe in 2024 it will be a wafer thin screen which charges by induction while in car or on a pad, bluetooths to the car speakers and incorporates gps, phone, internet and audio functions. For out-of-car use folds to mobile cell phone size ... who knows, because the technology's here and things are only limited by cost and imagination now. That's what i think will happen, the PND/PNA and Infotainment units and markets will simply merge. Umm.... a folding big-screen computer-tablet with phone and gps ..... cover all bases. I'm off to the US patent Office ..... so long suckers!
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  11. #10
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    for me, like many have mentioned, it's the finer features of a PND that make it what it is. If i want to get around, it could be as simple as the old dotted line on a blank screen gps. then there are the phone apps which are okay but still lacking features, next would be the car systems which are lacking in many features and also have very short battery life like phones. The handhelds are still the most feature rich devices, i feel crippled when i'm playing with a gps in a car, both OEM built in or aftermarket. Until they fill this gap, which i doubt they will, there will be a market for standalone, handheld PND's.

 

 

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