Time this thread was locked imho

whilst the debate between phones/gps is of use to travellers the thread turned into a one man campaign after page 1.

I use both a phone and garmin gps and without fail the garmin is quicker and more accurate. Loading osm is a 2 stage process for the gps over a 1 stage on the phone, big deal when the gps show more info off the blackstuff.

I still can't find an app that provides the same level of detail in the maps or the same off road navigation ability. Sure there are some android apps which look good but none seem to have accurate maps of North Africa which renders them useless for me.

In the time I've had my gps, my phone has needed hundreds of sw updates and app udates, the garmin probably half a dozen at most

"recalculating recalculating" er - operator error or out of date maps, not the hardware.

Bertrand's well balanced post says it all, much more helpful than the one he responded to or the subsequent replies

What was that about workmen blaming their tools?

Remember ,, most of your navigation requirement ,, be it on the bike,, walking ,, cycling,,, cars ,, boats or small plane,, are free. For more details ,, a nominal USD 1 to USD 100 ,, you can travel through most of this small planet,, without getting lost ,, using these tools.

First url mentiones 1,500 camp sites POI, in the world. Free.

Idea is simple,, yes for free,, and yes with out low qualty hardware and software. With out the terrible after service hassle.

Only two years ago , I was travelling with a big 35mm camera ,, a note book ,, two smart phones and two garmins. Only thing that failed me were the garmins.

For the next trip ,, I will be carrying just two smart phones,, one beaten one for the handle bar,,, a good one as a back up, with my passport and credit cards,, inside my money belt.

New apps are keep coming like the Niagara,,

http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...hone-app-78384

https://play.google.com/store/apps/d...mytracks&hl=en

https://play.google.com/store/apps/d....android&hl=en

Locus Map, Android GPS offline maps for hiking, geocaching

CyclingAbout.com – The Best Apps for GPS Navigation on a Smartphone

https://play.google.com/store/apps/d...avigator&hl=en

https://play.google.com/store/apps/d...apswithme.maps

https://play.google.com/store/apps/d...com.sygic.aura

https://play.google.com/store/apps/d...?id=net.osmand

https://play.google.com/store/apps/d....maverick.lite

https://play.google.com/store/apps/d...ctor.navigator

https://play.google.com/store/apps/d...hme.maps&hl=en

iPhone - Smartphone - TomTom

How to use Google Maps offline mode on iOS, Android - CNET

Attached Images

 

Than you haven't been paying attention and are blaming the tools before you know how to use them.

Don't advocate closure if you don't even do that because this thread has all that info.

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Tacos Tyring Travels.com

Double post, sorry, b***d* advertising scripts slowing things to the point I can out type it!


Andy

I hope not. Lot's of useful info mixed in with the brand image/purchase guilt stuff.


I for one won't be buying anything else from TomTom (which replaced my Garmins after I also fell out with their less than useful attributes). I have to have the phone as a phone, so making it work as the navigation, music player, camera, thing for driving tent pegs into the ground is IMHO the way to go. Just getting going myself, hence Joe's info is great for me.


Andy

A good GPS unit definitely has its advantages over using a phone (I'd say that the bargain variety like my Garmin 60csx had more disadvantages tho). Riding fast in the dirt following a mapped track for instance is much better with a good GPS.

What I find objectionable is the impression that I've gotten from some folks in the past that unless you have XY and Z bit of expensive kit, you will surely be in great peril. This seems contrary to the DIY spirit of moto adventuring, and has little basis in reality. Reality is that I've been riding around in Africa for a year using an Iphone 4 in a $20 case running a 2 generations old operating system, and a free app with no problems whatsoever.

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bugsonmyboard.org
two wheeled wave hunting dispatches

So that's become a crux point of the debate. What's the advantage?

I used to think so as well but can't really backup that view anymore.

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Tacos Tyring Travels.com

This is going to be a another can of worms I will be opening ,, I know I know.
When Apple shares were 15 bucks each ,, 1998 or so ,, I said to buy APPL, on Nasdaq,,, well the rest is history. I was such a gungho Apple user ,, my whoe Manhattan flat was decked with Big Macs,, Mac Notes ,, Ipods ,,
Yes design was superior ,, OS was safer than the MSFT ,, graphics were more awesome. Price was 40% higher.

Now days ,, dumped all Apple shares and products ,, not long ago.

Tmottten mentioned being subjugated by the Itune and how Apple uses this and other tools to squeeze revenues, from you , is much a model that we have seen from garmin. I refuse to go along with it ,, first of all.
Meanwhile ,, Apple is becoming another garmin like ,, entrapped in it's own shell of smallness,, organization wise. Where else Android platform is being shared by the masses hence more solutions and contributions.
The nail in the coffin,, was until recenty, in Korea ,, Apple after service,, will not repair the units brought in ,, rather they made you buy a refurbished unit at 70% of the new cost ,, while taking your unit back. We sued the Korean Apple and they stopped this cheeky practice.

Iphone 6 has sold 10 million units in three days of launching ,, but they will not sell much from there,, for it is now a copy of the Galaxy Note 3,,
Already frought, with problems below,, how many Iphone afficianados are there in this world vs Android and Window users and manufacturers. Same old argument Mac vs Windows ,, more units ,, bigger market share ,, more APPS ,, more FREE stuffs ,, more accurate SOFTWARES ,, on and on.

http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/0...ype=blogs&_r=0

http://venturebeat.com/2014/09/23/wa...before-buying/

Bend test: Galaxy Note 3 vs. iPhone 6 Plus | Android and Me

http://money.cnn.com/2014/09/24/tech...one-bluetooth/

http://venturebeat.com/2014/09/24/ip...dware-testers/

http://www.latinopost.com/articles/8...s-detailed.htm

One BILLION smart phones sold in 2013... Look at Iphone numbers vs Androids,,, and you will see a history being made here.

Worldwide Smartphone Sales to End Users by Vendor in 2013 (Thousands of Units)
Company
2013
Units
2013 Market Share (%)
2012
Units
2012 Market Share (%)
Samsung
299,794.9
31.0
205,767.1
30.3
Apple
150,785.9
15.6
130,133.2
19.1
Huawei
46,609.4
4.8
27,168.7
4.0
LG Electronics
46,431.8
4.8
25,814.1
3.8
Lenovo
43,904.5
4.5
21,698.5
3.2
Others
380,249.3
39.3
269,526.6
39.6
Total
967,775.8
100.0
680,108.2
100.0
Source: Gartner (February 2014)

Almost 85 % of the phones being used are Android ,,
Do you want to look cool or ,, be practical?