GPS Navigation: What You Should Be Looking At

1. Countries offered. Most GPS navigators only have maps for Europe, Canada, or the US, all three, or even other places. Make sure that the GPS you are looking for offers the country in which you live. Also, think ahead; If you are a world traveler, seriously think about buying a GPS that comes with multiple locations.

2. Viewer interface. What information is displayed on the main screen? What information is read aloud? Are you a person who likes fewer words and more maps, or vice versa? Choose a user interface that suits your personality. In general, you can expect most interfaces to come with: zoom in and out options, menu, arrival time, street name, and brief directional details. A more complex interface is longitude, latitude, maximum speed in the area, and the speed of the car.

3. Screen size. All GPS come in widescreen, but the size especially helps those who need it. A 4.3-inch screen is standard; Tom Tom comes in a 5-inch widescreen which is useful for those who need extra screen size.

4. Portability. You want a GPS system that can move with you, that is, from the car, to the street, to your bike, etc. This is especially important for those who are passionate about hiking, cycling or traveling.

5. Snap lock. It can be easy to forget to hide your GPS when getting out of the car; hence the repetitive carjackings. Remember to hide your GPS and any GPS bases you may have; Another great feature is the lock plugin. On the other hand, if it’s stolen, it doesn’t help you much.

6. Battery life. Depending on your daily commute or if you own a car charger, this could be very essential. Most GPS navigations say they last four to five hours.

7. Traffic updates. For many GPS systems this does not come standard and you may have to pay a monthly fee. Look for GPS systems that come with a lifetime traffic update feature, especially if you reside in a traffic-prone area; for those who don’t, it might be more cost effective to opt out of this option.

8. FM voice transmitter. This means that a voice will help you give instructions through your FM radio. This is ideal for those who like to listen to loud music and/or don’t want to look at the screen.

9. POI function. This feature allows you to find gas stations, restaurants, shopping malls, etc. Something worth investing in for the frequent road trip driver.

10. Text to speech. This feature allows you to hear the exact name of the street you are turning onto, instead of the usual “turn left in ___ feet.” Recently, TomTom products even allow you to change the voice of popular movie characters like Yoda and Darth Vader from Star Wars.

11. Security elements. Some GPS systems offer customers the ability to quickly contact local emergency providers. This is ideal for those who like to walk, bike, etc. in dangerous and remote terrain. Also, some GPS offer night vision which makes the GPS easier to see in the dark.

14. Hot solution. Garmin called this word a “long-term ephemeris prediction” which basically locates the satellite faster. For those impatient or those who speed too hard for the GPS to update, you may want a GPS that comes with this feature. That being said, you will have to pay more.

15. Advanced lane guidance. This feature gives you the opportunity to view photorealistic images of complex multi-lane exits, so you can see exactly what you need to do. This is great for the anxious driver who worries if he will have enough time to cross before the exit approaches.

16. Additional travel items. These are the elements that make the GPS experience more entertaining: posting and viewing photos, calculating different types of currency, viewing different time zones, and/or finding the cheapest gas station nearby.

17. Changes in the personal map. We all hear the horror stories of getting lost in pretty scary areas. “Fool me once, shame me, fool me twice, shame me” is definitely the saying of this feature. After getting lost once, you can modify the map.

18Bluetooth. A great investment for those who talk, especially with all the phone laws that come into play.