I was wracking my memory trying to recall where else the motorola defy has been mentioned recently; finally, I found it:-
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...-gps-use-79477
An interesting piece of hardware that is going for pennies as a second hand buy and the ruggedness of the product should mean that they are a good second-owner bet.
From my brief research of the defy it seems to have a minimum of 3 versions brought to the market, including the defy+ and the mini defy (the latter has a slower processor I think).

I haven't looked at Oruxmaps yet (I have been "playing around a bit", i.e. no serious research, with viewranger), but Orux is getting a number of appreciative comments in here.

Thanks Jan van B!
That is a very useful summary of your real world experience.
3 of your listed softwares are new to me, as above, and I guess it will take a bit of time to look at all of them in detail.
For OKmap, I see that there is a very comprehensive manual (some 230 pages!) with the software which could well act as a reference for anyone who has an interest in maps and digital mapping (such as me!).
http://www.okmap.org/download/okmap_en.pdf
It has one or two quaint English language expressions, being a translation from the original Italian I guess; nevertheless it is a great summary of the subject.
From a quick glimpse at this manual I would say that the software does everything that Basecamp/Mapsource do for the end-user; that's my first impression anyway.

Evidently, OKmap is produced at present for use on desktop operating systems and for the Apple products; maybe a version for Android will follow in due course (that will be why you use Oruxmaps for editing data on Android operating systems).

Update:
I have now skim read the 230 page manual for OKmap (it can be downloaded as a pdf file) and it is a very comprehensive explanation of the functions of the software.
Also, it provides a glossary of terminology and explanations of the terminology; so much so, that the first 100 pages or so could be more or less ignored for anyone who just wants to get on and use the software without being too bothered about, for instance, which datum is in use for their mapping.

Growing market for rugged phones
 

It being 2015 and the hardware hasn't been discussed in much detail for a while I did a quick search on ebay (for IP67) and it brings up more than 700 smart phones that have this as part of their specification.
Apart from the more well known brands there are plenty in there that I have never heard of previously!
The battery power of these ranges up to 4000-5000 mAH which should give good battery life, especially when used only for navigation.

Here is an up to date review of how the market for rugged mobile phones moved along during 2014 and it contains a clear explanation of the IP classification system as well.
10 Best Waterproof Android Phones | Digital Trends

Good stuff.

Yeah I'm using a Defy with I bought for £17 complete with a 4500mah battery.

I'm not sure about polling frequency. I assume that there is a harware limitation otherwise the makers of Orux, Locus etc.. would probably include an option to change the frequency.

I think it would be more of problem in built up areas and at speed, than out in the wilderness.

Does this model of phone need a SIM card to be fitted so that it can act as a GPS only, in the way that you describe (flight mode only)?

Also; I guess you are powering the phone via the usual USB port on the phone. Do you have any tips for connecting the cable? e.g. to maintain the IP 6/7 water resistance.

Ok so that with a Motorola Defy. It's an old phone and does need a sim card in it to use it, but the sim doesn't have to be active. I used an old giffgaff sim card.

The phone had an extended battery and cover so battery life wasn't usually an issue, but I used a USB cable to charge it, no problems. Obviously when the charging flap is open it's not water tight, that bothered me in a downpour, it's more of a problem if you were throw it in a river though.

If I was buying now (in 2015) I'd get something more modern and fit wireless charging, as I do on my Galaxy S3. In fact I'd probably get a Galaxy S4 Active, or Sony Xperia as the Defy really is long in the tooth now. (not as long in the tooth as my old Garmin Quest though)

Hmmmmm, that's a slightly different slant on things.

The £17 defy with a 4000 mAh battery still looks like a great working system on the basis of excellent value for money.
And it certainly does the job, yes?? i.e. a high-end smart phone is not essential for the mundune task of operating only as a GPS.
With that big battery I guess you could just charge it intermittently and there would be no need to do that during periods of rain while riding. :innocent:

The Active Samsung, as one instance, has a battery of about 2600 mAh so it's not going to have the same duration in use without on-the-bike charging.

I think the apps and type of maps you will run on it will be important.

For example the new sygic which is all 3D and whatnot is pretty slow to interact with. Orux is nice and quick with interaction so is TwoNav, with them it's about the type of maps/tiles you input into them.

Also there are some defy/defy+ users complaining about the GPS. I think there is some sample variation out there so do what you can to get a good one.

Ah, yes, of course.
Built in obsolescence of the hardware alongside ever-developing software/bloatware.

It's a very good, clear, point and the main reason that I try not to accept updates of software on offer from Microsoft and the like.

2015 review
 

Spring 2015 for the northern hemisphere and here is a recently published review, across 4 pages, of the technology.
This tries to address the subject matter of this very thread; a review of a few dedicated units, inevitably from Tom Tom or Garmin, along with some reviews of satnav apps.
Best sat nav 2015: the best GPS navigation devices and apps in the UK: Sat nav - apps for your smartphone | News | TechRadar

There is even a nod in the direction of a motorcycle gps unit (the Tom Tom Rider as it happens, which at this time of posting is quite dated in that it does not refer to the current model).

Ruggedness is almost fashionable
 

Another 3 months of progress and it seems to me that the Chinese are manufacturing with this market in mind.
IP67 phones are now on offer at not a lot more than £100 in the UK.
DOOGEE Titans2 DG700- Waterproof, 8MP, Android 4.4 Phone

For a few more £ the specifications go on, and on.
AGM STONE 5S review:the first 4G rugged phone with Quad Core Tri-proof 5.0 Inch Screen 4050mAh battery | Vifocal

A bigger screen, more memory, more processor, massive battery capacity, more everything from yet another pair of phones that I had not heard of before today.
:thumbup1:

Well a few tough pistes in Morocco and and some sandstorms and we had the following:

Garmin Quest - Failed on the final day (hardware/software error)
Garmin 62 - Failed (multiple battery problems needed a complete reset)
Motorola Defy (Failed due to prior firmware issue, needs updating)

Samsung Galaxy S3 was fine, but I'd previously got mine wet in 2013 and damaged the charging circuit which meant I couldn't use continuously on the bike.

As an update on my previous post. All devices are now fully working again after a wipe and reset.

I much prefered the Orux Maps app to the dedicated garmin, but I imagine newer garmins have much better software than the old Quest or the 62.

I'm trying a few things on my current road trip through the States. I've got an S2 with a clapped out battery in an ultimate add-ons case mounted to a WRR. I'm riding everything but single trail. But plenty of corrugated and rock strewn gravel trail.
I'm trying backcountry navigator with .map files, "here"maps and osm+. On the underpowered S2 osm+ is the clear winner. It's nut that simple to get the offline maps to show. Still don't know how I did that. But you can configure it as much a you want.

Problems for me are the case and the processing and electric power. Although with the clapped or battery it's tough to say, but I think it needs 2 amp. The power, also ultimate add-ons, didn't make a good connection so our runs out of juice. The S2 isn't powerful enough to run backcountry navigator with the pre loaded maps. Which sucks because the other apps don't import GPX files. [Edit: OSM does. Just select the GPX file in a file browser and open it in OSM] Then the case. It's not waterproof as I found out today.
So a few things to improve on. But overall I love the large screen, great detail, free maps and great graphics.

Try orux maps. My Defy can run that and it can import GPX and even use garmin map files.