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Magellan GPS takes Android for an RV adventure
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Comments (25)
5 earlier comments in the full thread.
I've had mixed experiences with my fancy little talking Garmin. I get regular map updates, but there are still a lot of errors. It makes me wonder what their map sources are, because they're getting old stuff wrong. It's very stubborn when it decides I need to follow a particular route, and I know it's the wrong route, and it keeps trying to make me backtrack and do what it wants. The towing business for my local auto repair shop has boomed because of these little fiends-- they steer truckers into unpaved skinny mountain roads.
It's useful in cities for finding the correct lanes and exits well in advance, and steering through mazy freeways.
It's useful in cities for finding the correct lanes and exits well in advance, and steering through mazy freeways.
Good points tuxchick.....I suppose my experiences are now somewhat biased, because for the past almost 30 years, I have lived in a small country town....probably about 1500 people in total and almost all of my travelling is on open country highways. A fortnightly trip to a large country town of perhaps 5,000, but I know that town well. I also go to the "Big Smoke" of Brisbane perhaps once a month and while I have no problems, I can't say that I enjoy it overmuch......sigh of relief as I hit the roads that lead to home. So, 95% of my motoring is local or highway and I already KNOW those roads and my destinations.......A satnav in my car would be overkill in a big way.......So given my motoring conditions, I offer my kind of sort of apology to Jdixon because all my comments are slanted with that sort of road usage in mind.
But, tuxchick, you make an excellent point with the implication that a car satnav is really only as good as the data that it has been fed......The same can be said, certainly, for a map. And finally, both depend seriously on the ability of the operator to use either resource correctly. It was ever thus I think.
Txt, you also make very sensible points. In the city, I certainly do NOT pull over in city traffic to play map reading. I make damn sure I know exactly where I am going before setting out......and of course, Brisbane is familiar to me - I grew up there - but even so, some areas are now changing dramatically as freeways and underground tunnel bypasses are constructed. On Tuesday morning I have to make a 150km trip down to Strathpine near Brisbane.....It was only through Google maps that I realised that I was totally wrong about the location of the refrigeration firm I must go to......so street view was taken and a phone call made to the company to check my accuracy and it was "all systems go". On this occasion, I won't even consider having a map in sight.......I know the roads, I know the route, I know the location and who needs the satnav ?
I often think that the people who really DO depend on satnavs here are overseas tourists with hirecars, or couriers on door to door work......Now they wholly depend on those devices and you can think of other workers with similar needs, like emergency doctors etc. But for a person whose life isn't based on travelling into unfamilar surroundings, I think satnavs are overkill and "keeping up with the Joneses". Simplistic I know, but it is a viewpoint.
But, tuxchick, you make an excellent point with the implication that a car satnav is really only as good as the data that it has been fed......The same can be said, certainly, for a map. And finally, both depend seriously on the ability of the operator to use either resource correctly. It was ever thus I think.
Txt, you also make very sensible points. In the city, I certainly do NOT pull over in city traffic to play map reading. I make damn sure I know exactly where I am going before setting out......and of course, Brisbane is familiar to me - I grew up there - but even so, some areas are now changing dramatically as freeways and underground tunnel bypasses are constructed. On Tuesday morning I have to make a 150km trip down to Strathpine near Brisbane.....It was only through Google maps that I realised that I was totally wrong about the location of the refrigeration firm I must go to......so street view was taken and a phone call made to the company to check my accuracy and it was "all systems go". On this occasion, I won't even consider having a map in sight.......I know the roads, I know the route, I know the location and who needs the satnav ?
I often think that the people who really DO depend on satnavs here are overseas tourists with hirecars, or couriers on door to door work......Now they wholly depend on those devices and you can think of other workers with similar needs, like emergency doctors etc. But for a person whose life isn't based on travelling into unfamilar surroundings, I think satnavs are overkill and "keeping up with the Joneses". Simplistic I know, but it is a viewpoint.
I use the TeleNav GPS software in my Android phone. Mostly it's very good and it talks so I don't have to take my eye off the road. The last time it really messed up on me was when it tried to send me down the wrong way (against traffic) on a one way interstate highway service road in 2012. I later learned that in that part of Texas the service roads really had been two way until shortly before that. For the two years since then it's worked well for me. So, I agree with tuxchick and Ridcully that old data is a problem. With satnav it can be months old; with printed maps it is often years old.
I like having a printed road atlas for planning wrong trips. For everything else I prefer the newfangled toy in my phone.
I like having a printed road atlas for planning wrong trips. For everything else I prefer the newfangled toy in my phone.
Besides, reading a map gives you a much better idea of "the lay of the land".
Exactly so, BernardSwiss.....maps are invaluable when you do long distance trips.....such as from Brisbane to Cairns (1200 miles) or Brisbane to Melboure (over 1500 miles). You can plan overnight stops and see what is on the way......Usually, recent maps are no problem because I belong to a Queensland motorists association and with my very long membership I now get the latest maps, road conditions and accommodation details for free.
Oh you odd people and your love of old technologies. Surely a 5" screen is every bit as good as a square-yard paper map.
I'll think about it Tuxchick.....however which cheek did you put your tongue in ? Hmmmmmmmm ???
:D
I've been a motorcycle courier for a few years in South France, in a time where GPS was not invented yet. I had to rely on maps, sense of orientation, memory. I still do, to this day.
Kikinovac, you have triggered a thought in my mind which has sort of been bubbling away for a number of years. I'm probably going to get "killed" for saying this, but nevertheless.......
I think that those of us who "trained in the old ways" can often be far better off, than those who have not had this exposure.
It's difficult to put into words, but I'll have a go....My world has always been maps and charts. I follow and use them without a second thought. I ensure I have the latest versions where that is possible or necessary. If I have to use a satnav, I can do it, but I am happy without it. Now for calculations. I was trained by a sadistic school teacher, way, way back. BUT, he instilled in me a mechanical-rote ability to add, subtract, multiply and divide numbers that I still use.......Naturally, I most definitely still use a calculator, but I bless my "trained in the old ways" methods that allow me to use the best of both worlds in the applications of arithmetic. I can manually skim up a column of figures that would leave a modern youngster lost ........My feelings are that kids today are so dependent on computer aid that they are unable to give you the correct change at a supermarket checkout unless the cash register shows them the amount to be returned to the customer.
It's similar with spelling. I had spelling literally "bashed into me" by the same teacher. I hated him - but today I revere what he achieved; an almost dictionary quality knowledge of how English (British spelling of course - no American corruption) is applied.....so much so that during my very recent submission of a paper to an Australian journal, I was able to point out that referees indicating I had spelling errors were in fact being blindly obedient to the use of spelling checkers based on the American spelling dictionary not the British, and the British spelling was required by the journal. You'll forgive me, I hope, that I felt slightly vindictive in this case because it was an interesting and very satisfying response to give to the referees.
We "old bods" have the best of both worlds. I can use a calculator, spelling checker, satnav, GPS unit....even a computer...LOL.....but I can go back, if necessary to living without those aids (though I'd hate it, even though I could do it.) This sort of inbuilt flexibility in us oldies seems to have been a casualty of the modern generations......Now, am I barking up a gum-tree ? Or does anyone else feel the same way ? Just curious......and I absolutely WILL duck if you start throwing old boots at this antique moggie.
I think that those of us who "trained in the old ways" can often be far better off, than those who have not had this exposure.
It's difficult to put into words, but I'll have a go....My world has always been maps and charts. I follow and use them without a second thought. I ensure I have the latest versions where that is possible or necessary. If I have to use a satnav, I can do it, but I am happy without it. Now for calculations. I was trained by a sadistic school teacher, way, way back. BUT, he instilled in me a mechanical-rote ability to add, subtract, multiply and divide numbers that I still use.......Naturally, I most definitely still use a calculator, but I bless my "trained in the old ways" methods that allow me to use the best of both worlds in the applications of arithmetic. I can manually skim up a column of figures that would leave a modern youngster lost ........My feelings are that kids today are so dependent on computer aid that they are unable to give you the correct change at a supermarket checkout unless the cash register shows them the amount to be returned to the customer.
It's similar with spelling. I had spelling literally "bashed into me" by the same teacher. I hated him - but today I revere what he achieved; an almost dictionary quality knowledge of how English (British spelling of course - no American corruption) is applied.....so much so that during my very recent submission of a paper to an Australian journal, I was able to point out that referees indicating I had spelling errors were in fact being blindly obedient to the use of spelling checkers based on the American spelling dictionary not the British, and the British spelling was required by the journal. You'll forgive me, I hope, that I felt slightly vindictive in this case because it was an interesting and very satisfying response to give to the referees.
We "old bods" have the best of both worlds. I can use a calculator, spelling checker, satnav, GPS unit....even a computer...LOL.....but I can go back, if necessary to living without those aids (though I'd hate it, even though I could do it.) This sort of inbuilt flexibility in us oldies seems to have been a casualty of the modern generations......Now, am I barking up a gum-tree ? Or does anyone else feel the same way ? Just curious......and I absolutely WILL duck if you start throwing old boots at this antique moggie.
Ridcully, the marketing hook for most gadgets is zero-knowledge. You don't need to know anything, just do what $gadget says. Which, of course, is rubbish. I don't get why anyone would be proud of cultivating zero-knowledge anyway. You need some knowledge to use a calculator; it's not magic.Your comment about making change? You can always identify the new hires at the local McDonald's (which has to be in the top ten for worst McDonald's in the US) because they don't know what combination of coins and bills to use make the change the register tells them.
Don't even get me started on spelling, because I could rant all day about the supposedly bestest nation on earth populated by ninnies who barely have a third-grade command of their native language.
Knowledge, skills and experience are good things. <-- the audience gasps in horror and flees to Twitter and Facebook to share their dismay
Don't even get me started on spelling, because I could rant all day about the supposedly bestest nation on earth populated by ninnies who barely have a third-grade command of their native language.
Knowledge, skills and experience are good things. <-- the audience gasps in horror and flees to Twitter and Facebook to share their dismay
I'm willing to cut our youth (our adults too, come to that) some slack on the spelling issue; English-language spelling is infamously inconsistent -- to the point it is believed to actually delay childrens' developing good reading skills by two or three years.
It's a bad sign when "spelling bees" are considered a legitimate competitive activity.
It's a bad sign when "spelling bees" are considered a legitimate competitive activity.
Speaking as someone who has spent too much time behind a cash register, and who is perfectly capable of (and accustomed to) calculating correct change in my head, I think it's pertinent to point out what happened when the store where I was working swapped out its old, hand-cranked till for a modern, programmable cash register that automatically calculated taxes, totals, and correct change.
Within months (within weeks?) I discovered that I was not only finding it much harder to do it in my head, but I could be positively discombobulated by having a customer make some minor, simple change (amount of purchase or amount tendered) in their transaction, after I'd already "rung it in" to the register. (And my colleagues noticed the same effect.)
And the weird twist is, that when I wasn't behind that "smart" cash-register, I could still work these matters out in my own head with little trouble.
Within months (within weeks?) I discovered that I was not only finding it much harder to do it in my head, but I could be positively discombobulated by having a customer make some minor, simple change (amount of purchase or amount tendered) in their transaction, after I'd already "rung it in" to the register. (And my colleagues noticed the same effect.)
And the weird twist is, that when I wasn't behind that "smart" cash-register, I could still work these matters out in my own head with little trouble.
@Bernard Swiss: spelling doesn't depend on the language itself, only on those who learn it.
BernardSwiss.....I seem to recall we had spelling bee competitions "way back" here in Australia. I remember them quite well as a child and the winners were celbrated. Admittedly our only way of disseminating the news was via print media and radio, but it happened. Also, spelling was considered a legitimate question to ask in the quiz shows hosted out here on radio by Jack Davey and Bob Dyer, the two main comperes for Pick-a-Box etc. Cor blimey, I'm going back in time......We used to love listening to those quiz shows and the audiences just about had to book seats to get in. All the rest of us listeners used to show off how good we were by spelling the word correctly at home........sigh........memories. :-)
My Dearest Mr./Dr./Professor/round about know it all/ Ridiculous:
You consistently underestimate the power of new, consumer technology and the benefits they bestow upon the huddled masses.
I get lost nearly equally whether my reliance is upon either maps or GPS or neither. In the past, when unexpectedly diverted from roads by maximally congested traffic, forced detours or just wrong turns. I learn have learned new routes I later employed. Indeed in Native American terms, I am not lost the camp is lost. Now that is an incisive view of the problem.
Now take the benefits of a working spell checker that alone allowed me to boost my standing from the Second Worst* Speller of the English Language to sub par to poor. Think of that, now I stand just below average ... my ranking has jumped by millions even as many others' standings has risen, just using this one still slightly defective tool. So too can satnav and GPSs make one life easier while throwing in a sinker every once in a while. Remember nothing is truly free, have you forgotten your Thermodynamics Laws?
As always,
YBT
* I figured that at least one person on this planet had to be worse than i, hence I allowed myself the small consolation of being the penultimate on that scale. Am I forgiven?
You consistently underestimate the power of new, consumer technology and the benefits they bestow upon the huddled masses.
I get lost nearly equally whether my reliance is upon either maps or GPS or neither. In the past, when unexpectedly diverted from roads by maximally congested traffic, forced detours or just wrong turns. I learn have learned new routes I later employed. Indeed in Native American terms, I am not lost the camp is lost. Now that is an incisive view of the problem.
Now take the benefits of a working spell checker that alone allowed me to boost my standing from the Second Worst* Speller of the English Language to sub par to poor. Think of that, now I stand just below average ... my ranking has jumped by millions even as many others' standings has risen, just using this one still slightly defective tool. So too can satnav and GPSs make one life easier while throwing in a sinker every once in a while. Remember nothing is truly free, have you forgotten your Thermodynamics Laws?
As always,
YBT
* I figured that at least one person on this planet had to be worse than i, hence I allowed myself the small consolation of being the penultimate on that scale. Am I forgiven?
Spell checkers for English annoy me because they almost always will cite either British or American spelling variations as misspellings, and they ought not do that. Both variations are correct, generally. There may be a few specific circumstances where one variation is preferred, so I can understand that a way to select one might be desirable, but as a general rule, I think that they ought to recognize both variations as correct.
Of course, my perspective is that of someone who has read quite a bit by English speaking authors from around the world, and has been known to spell words with either variation from time to time. That may influence my opinion about the matter. One other thing I have noted, however, is that some of the variations take place within the U.K. itself (as well between other areas that are both considered to be using the same variation).
Of course, my perspective is that of someone who has read quite a bit by English speaking authors from around the world, and has been known to spell words with either variation from time to time. That may influence my opinion about the matter. One other thing I have noted, however, is that some of the variations take place within the U.K. itself (as well between other areas that are both considered to be using the same variation).
> ...they almost always will cite either British or American spelling variations as misspellings, and they ought not do that.
Oh, I agree completely, for pretty much the same reasons.
Oh, I agree completely, for pretty much the same reasons.
And the Internet has us all connected, and English speakers don't "correct" someone's acceptable, alternate spelling. So, neither should spell-check.
Oh, & don't 4get txting! LOL
Oh, & don't 4get txting! LOL
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My experiences are more in line with jd than yours. Stopping to check maps? Then why was I doing 85 in a 55 mph zone? Plus those two others in sports cars I was pacing until I tired of it and worried a bit too much about getting caught. Really when you really need it neither GPS nor are maps the answer, e.g. telling one to make a U turn on a limited access road or being trapped on a surface road with construction or other constraints that make it impossible to pull over, respectively.
I have used both, but where you really need guidance I seem predisposed for making the wrong choice, then looking at the sun's angle to try to get back to where I should have been. I have been lost so much on so many travels I will use any tool to lessen the probability of or if the likely happens and means to recover my selected route.
Major map failure: when for the first time I was testing my car against my first encounter with major mountain passes I had only maps and I was somewhat dubious of my car's abilities to handle high altitude and heavy grades. I ended up traversing most I could find using maps as my guide. However, one in particular threw me. On the map it was shown as interstate level road, but it steadily degraded. to the point it was barely paved. Moreover, the surface was radically undulating where I could do no more than second gear with down shifting to first. Soon I was convinced I had made a major error and I just halted my vehicle, which was safe since there was no traffic that I could discern.
So when I was pouring over the map trying to deduce where I committed my error a pick up approached from the other direction. The driver seeing me perplexed assured me I was on the correct route. Had he not I think I would have back tracked. It was still a long drive before I even reached a reasonably paved road and more distance until it became a divided highway and finally reached Interstate standard road specifications.
Well here in the U.S., to retain copy right special features are inserted to make their renditions unique in some aspect. For example, if an oil company showing their gas stations. So just perhaps this fictional interstate showing it covering an entire mountain pass was their copy right holding fiction.
[/serious]
As always,
YBT