Ditching Garmin for android or iphone as GPS

[mikesova]

Originally Posted by FakeName

phone, hell.

I want my iPad mini as the dashboard with not only GPS, but all engine functions as well EFI, Temps, RPM, fuel use, temps.

OK, back to the subject.

No gps.

[worwig]

Originally Posted by rickypanecatyl

Excellent point on anything you buy and intend to keep for a while. If it does what I want well I'd happily pay $50 before buying 5 programs for a buck each or free that only sort of did what I wanted!

Problem is that there is no way to give it a trial run to see if it is any better then the free OSMand that is it coded from.

[victor441]

Originally Posted by mikesova

No gps.

not correct, the cellular models of the Ipad mini do have GPS built in and it can be added to the wifi model via a plugin unit or bluetooth...many pilots use Ipads (including the mini) for navigation

[Emmbeedee]

Originally Posted by victor441

not correct, the cellular models of the Ipad mini do have GPS built in and it can be added to the wifi model via a plugin unit or bluetooth...many pilots use Ipads (including the mini) for navigation

And the WiFi models can use the Garmin GLO.

[rickypanecatyl]

Originally Posted by worwig

Problem is that there is no way to give it a trial run to see if it is any better then the free OSMand that is it coded from.

You're right there... at the same time I hate having to sort thru 20 half ass products and for the sake of simplicity would much rather have 1 reliable, great product. The best solution I can see are free limited time usages with full capabilities. Way back when Adobe InDesign was only $450 someone suggested it to me as the best product for doing what I needed done. I thought there is no way that I would ever pay $450 for software but I did get the free 30 day trial, thought I could finish my project in that time which I did, but at the end of 30 days found it was worth $450.

Fakename I agree... when the KTM690 enduro first came out I TRIED riding it across North and Central America but the fuel injection went out about a dozen times and I was towed/pushed etc to 9 different dealers. Most didn't have the software to work on the 690's injection system or even read the codes. They said it cost thousands of dollars and they hadn't needed it yet. Why couldn't we be able to monitor that kind of stuff on our own bikes thru a smart phone?

[bluesman]

Originally Posted by foxtrapper

I haven't done it because I haven't found an app that works as well as my GPS does. Google maps is ok, as long as you don't get out of cell phone range for very long. Get off the limits of the map Google has downloaded, and the program crashes. Haven't found any others that I liked all that much on the app market.

For offroad adventuring, I've found things like a Garmin 60 or Delome PN to far exceed the abilities of the smartphone apps, mostly because of their maps.

For road: Sygic navigator, iGo, TomTom, Garmin navigation + another appr. 50 applications. Yes, not free but not expensive at all
For offroad: almost endless choice, same maps but of course offroad GPS is kinda really tough piece of hardware unlike Galaxy etc.
For Russia and Ukraine etc. dedicated GPS maps are useless for example. You have to use local ex-military maps and there are things like OZI explorer maps for that..free app is Androzic etc. etc.

I wonder why people always try Google maps first...I only use this on my phone for walking or when everything else fails for some reason. If you treat phone as actually GPS that can use almost any software whole picture changes.

[bluesman]

Originally Posted by Rob.G

One point I haven't seen mentioned (or I missed it) is that the screen resolution on smartphones is so high that they're impossible to read while moving. Plus their displays aren't nearly as readable in sunlight as a real GPS.

I have a Zumo 665, which is the biggest POS I've ever owned for a GPS, but I still use it because it's better suited to navigation than my phone. I hate the low-res maps and how slow the thing responds, but it's tough, waterproof, and works with gloves. I do still use my phone when stopped to doublecheck locations and routes, since it does have a nice high-res display, and I've downloaded tons of maps to it so I don't have to be in a coverage area.

Rob

Not the case for Samsung Amoled display. Big screen that not at all different than same GPS software screen.
Can't comment on iPhones thou. Yes, I do not like iPhone :)
Interface of Garmin on Android is same with interface of Garmin on Garmin.
Saying that - direct sunlight on Garmin 350 is no problem unlike Galaxy.

[Guerillah]

I agree with the display brightness and water proofing being the two biggest factors. The newish Sony Xperia P (android based) with its super bright screen (brightest of all smart phones) should take care of the brightness factor. Now we just need a way to waterproof them without causing them to overheat at full brightness. The dualsportmaps app for android is beyond awesome.

[ADWrider]

Seems a dedicated GPS unit is preferred here, but can anyone suggest good Iphone apps for GPS functionality when out of cell tower range?

[rdougan]

Originally Posted by FakeName

phone, hell.

I want my iPad mini as the dashboard with not only GPS, but all engine functions as well EFI, Temps, RPM, fuel use, temps.

OK, back to the subject.

This is my dream. Why it does not exist yet, I do not know. I know it isn't water proof, but there are ways around that. But the size of the device is perfect for this kind of thing.

[StuInFH]

Originally Posted by worwig

Problem is that there is no way to give it a trial run to see if it is any better then the free OSMand that is it coded from.

That is a good suggestion, a free trial run. I think you should post that request to the DSM support thread. But I would bet you the $20 that if you were to spend some time watching the intro and other vids on youtube and reading the thread a bit for feedback and exploring/using the free website, you would not need a trial run to know whether you wanted to invest the $20 or not.

As far as being any better than "the free OSMand that is is coded from," wouldn't it have to be, by the simple fact that it is so much more than just that? My favorite feature is being able to press a few buttons and change map views to any one of over a dozen different map views. I typically use the Osmand, GMaps Sat, MS Earth, G Maps Terrain, and the USGS Topo the most. And I'm looking forward to getting my local OHV parks on Overlays. Please note that only the "Vector OSM maps" don't require one to cache the tiles (download from website) before heading into the field. And the more content others share, such as geo-referenced rasters (MVUMs etc.) and tracks/routes/Waypoints/POIs, etc. the more we will all benefit, for no extra charge.

BTW, I would easily support an annual fee, DSM is that good. And again, I am referring to DS use (primarily offroad) only.

[foxtrapper]

I wonder why people always try Google maps first...

Because it's built into so many android phones, and its free, and people are used to it on their computers. That would be my guess.

Don't disagree that there are other apps for navigation, I've tried some of them. Found them to be of as limited worth as Google Maps. I have not tried the Tomtom app, but since the app costs almost as much as a new Tomtom on sale, not going to be trying it.

Maybe I'll feel differently with the Harley out of long pavement trips, but when I'm crashing around on dirt roads or trails and the like, I can barely see anything anyhow, let alone a little GPS screen. And, I rather like having a waterproof(ish) unit with mechanical buttons, not a touch screen that ignores my gloves or cold fingers.

[mikesova]

Originally Posted by victor441

not correct, the cellular models of the Ipad mini do have GPS built in and it can be added to the wifi model via a plugin unit or bluetooth...many pilots use Ipads (including the mini) for navigation

I didn't realize you could get the 3G one without a contract.

[mikesova]

What android app can I buy/download that is equal to having a a standalone gps, where I don't have to cache the maps I want, but it just comes with say, all the maps of the U.S.?

[worwig]

Originally Posted by mikesova

What android app can I buy/download that is equal to having a a standalone gps, where I don't have to cache the maps I want, but it just comes with say, all the maps of the U.S.?

I like CoPilot.
I use that and OSMand.