[pauleknight]

I was thinking that since the screen size of the new iPhone 5 is almost the same size as the Garmin 660 and you can get GArmin mapping SW on the iPhone 5.

Why not scrap the Garmin for the iPhone 5?

The newest Google Maps is fantastic but it does require cell phone coverage to get maps and update.

Anyone trying this?

I have a long short trip coming up next week and a long trip from FL to Washington State during the summer planned and having a single device that does MP3, phone, GPS, Camera etc would certanly lighten the load.

Any thoughts?

 

[jzeiler]

I have used my Droid's built in GPS a few times like at CCR in Bosie, The stupid 660 couldn't find the arena for the cutting horse competition dinner but the Droid did so I used in instead. Yeah you have to be in cell tower range for it all to work. Not good out in west Texas in the boonies!Don't think I would abandon the Garmin as I use the SW to plan my trips on the computer - I would hate to try it on the Droid. Point to point is good though.

 

[JimE]

Paul,

Here is a post I made on another forum a while back in response to the "should I use my smart phone" question, which comes up anew with each new generation of devices. This is a bit dated, but the concepts are still valid. I don't know how the newer phones are with regard to the power drain, charging rate, and thermal load...but at least you know a couple of things to watch for:

I used the TomTom app on an iPhone with pretty good success for a couple of long trips. Now I have a 660 (BMW Nav IV) and it's a huge step up for me. Depending on your requirements, a smart phone app may be fine for you. My experience:

No phone-based app that I know of will let you do custom routes. The TomTom app would let you put in a waypoint (maybe more...can't remember) but it was pretty cumbersome and hard to do for a custom route of any complexity. I would just remember a couple of key turns then let the app re-calculate with the new road. Not very elegant, but it did work.

Power and weather. You said you'll have power...that's good. My experience was that the power drain of the phone (iPhone 3S) when running the app with the display on was actually higher than the charging rate. So I would lose battery after a few hours even while plugged in. I had to turn off the display on long stretches to conserve battery and keep the heat down. Heat being the other thing I would fight...my phone would overheat with the app running full time if it was in the tank bag. I had to keep it out in the open air on a Ram mount. And then I had to deal with weather.

If your phone will handle the power and thermal load, if you have a solution for weatherproofing (that does not exacerbate the heat issue), and if custom routes are not important, you might be OK. Don't forget the difficulties of seeing the smaller display and operating your phone with gloves on while riding (very difficult for me, even when on the mount and with a little hole in my finger so the touch screen would work...too much bouncing around and too small buttons).

Re: the network connection....the TomTom app had its own maps and didn't need an internet connection. But they took up a lot of space on the device, and the updates were a pita because you needed 2X the space while the update was happening. I like GPS Drive on my iPhone now...use that in the car...and it only needs the connection when it's doing the initial routing. So if you don't stray too far from your original route it will be fine.

So to summarize, the potential issues, depending on the hardware, software, and your requirements and priorities:
- readability, operability
- weather (heat and rain)
- thermal load
- power use and discharge rate
- internet connection
- custom routing

Thanks,
Jim

 

[tvguy]

A friend of mine tried that and it didn't work out very well... First the iPhone wont take the heat and will say "Over Heated" in the display window and stop working until yoou cool the phone down... and the phone can not be updated as often as the Garmin and its not weather proof.

 

[Wolfgang]

Here is what I have used for several years now. With the current release it has gotten very good.

http://www.skobbler.com/apps/navigation

The app is very cheap and if you buy the "forever maps" (about $10.00 for the whole world) you do not have to use your data plan . One limitation is that you have to be on line to find destinations that are not in your IPhone.

The spoken directions via bluetooth are very good and I use it in conjunction with my Sena system. The maps are from the open maps.org project and are very up to date .

For something that is almost free if you already have an I Phone it is great. I have travelled all over Europe with it, and a automotive Tom Tom as a back-up and never got lost...

 

[RonKMiller]

Here's an amazing app that covers the US, Canada and Mexico, doesn't require any power, won't over heat, lightweight, easy to see in bright sunlight, waterproof, fool proof and fits in your pocket or just about anywhere you can imagine. In a pinch you can use it to start a fire.

Best of all, it only costs $4.95 or less.

 

[hallzee]

Here's an amazing app that covers the US, Canada and Mexico, doesn't require any power, won't over heat, lightweight, easy to see in bright sunlight, waterproof, fool proof and fits in your pocket or just about anywhere you can imagine. In a pinch you can use it to start a fire.

Best of all, it only costs $4.95 or less.

Yeah, but the processor & RAM on that model is very very slow....

 

[petevandyke]

Here's an amazing app that covers the US, Canada and Mexico, doesn't require any power, won't over heat, lightweight, easy to see in bright sunlight, waterproof, fool proof and fits in your pocket or just about anywhere you can imagine. In a pinch you can use it to start a fire.

Best of all, it only costs $4.95 or less.

I want to see how you're mounting that on your dash

 

[johnbaker15]

Here's an amazing app that covers the US, Canada and Mexico, doesn't require any power, won't over heat, lightweight, easy to see in bright sunlight, waterproof, fool proof and fits in your pocket or just about anywhere you can imagine. In a pinch you can use it to start a fire.

Best of all, it only costs $4.95 or less.

Not at all sure about the fool proof part..I had the wife use one of these with limited success.
Then again I did ask her to use it. :think:

 

[mtrevelino]

Here's an amazing app.....Best of all, it only costs $4.95 or less.

Can you adjust the font size for easier reading? lol

 

[nocanpickem]

Used a IPhone for several years now.

Pros:
It is essentially free with free updates.
Can see it well enough and can hear turn by turn instructions through the helmet.
Have not had it overhead on the bike but did in the car. Mount it high somewhere in the air stream

Cons:
It isn't waterproof so it must be protected in heavy rains
A bigger screen would be nice
It doesn't download routes. (I put route changes on paper and use the tankbag)

 

[bikerj]

Here's an amazing app that covers the US, Canada and Mexico, doesn't require any power, won't over heat, lightweight, easy to see in bright sunlight, waterproof, fool proof and fits in your pocket or just about anywhere you can imagine. In a pinch you can use it to start a fire.

Best of all, it only costs $4.95 or less.

that must be one big map or really tiny print... or maybe both. :wow:
I'm guessing it ain't gonna have the secondary roads so much that a lot of riders here prefer.

Perhaps if it's big enough, it can double as a sunshade for the cockpit of your bike- or at least the seat.