GPS, Engadget's Holiday Gift Guide: GPS devices
By Darren Murph 
posted November 18th 2009 1:10PM
posted November 18th 2009 1:10PM
Welcome to the Engadget Holiday Gift Guide! The team here is well aware of the heartbreaking difficulties of the seasonal shopping experience, and we want to help you sort through the trash and come up with the treasures this year. Below is today's bevy of hand curated picks, and you can head back to the Gift Guide hub to see the rest of the product guides as they're added throughout the holiday season.
Magellan SE4 - Magellan's latest may not be flashy, but it'll get you from point A to point B T without too much fuss. All the basics are here: a 4.3-inch touchscreen, NAVTEQ maps of the 48 contiguous states, Hawaii and Puerto Rico, plenty of POIs, text-to-speech voice prompts and... well, that's about it. But hey, for $179.99, it's not like you could really ask for more.
$180 - Buy from Best Buy
Mio Moov S501 - Mio may not be a household name in the navigation industry, but the Moov S501 is a diamond in the rough. You'll get a spacious 4.7-inch touchscreen, maps of Canada and the United States, text-to-speech, local fuel price search, voice prompts, integrations with Google Maps (import locations via USB) and 2GB of internal memory. Whoever's lucky enough to receive this can also spring for their own TMC accessory in the future if they get the itch to add real-time traffic support, and the NaxPix feature can guide 'em to locations found on geo-tagged photos. Best of all? It's just a buck-fifty, giving you a few leftover dollars to splurge on that extra shiny wrapping paper.
$150 - Buy from RadioShack
Navigon MobileNavigator app - Okay, so this one requires that your pal own an iPhone 3G or iPhone 3GS, but considering that you're reading this right now, there's a better-than-average chance that he or she does. If it's convergence you're seeking, we'd recommend skipping over TomTom's historically tragic UI and going for Navigon's far more streamlined MobileNavigator app. You'll get NAVTEQ maps of North America (or Europe, if you spring for that version), lane / speed assist, support for multitouch zooming, iPod control, text-to-speech and a location sharing function. Who needs a standalone device these days, anyway?
$90 - Buy from App Store
TomTom XL 335S / XL 340S - If you've overheard that your bud prefers TomTom (for reasons unknown), the XL 335S / XL 340S is a solid mid-range choice. Boasting an industry-standard 4.3-inch touchscreen, this navigator also touts TomTom's IQ Routes, which taps into over 800 billion speed measurements on the map to plan the fastest route. Advanced Lane Guidance, a Help Me! menu and spoken street / place name are also included, with the only major difference between the two being the omission of Mexico maps in the XL 335S.
$240 - Shop for XL 335S
$160 and up - Shop for XL 340S
Magellan RoadMate 1700 - For whatever reason, those ho hum 4.3-inch navigators just look tiny within a late model wide-body Impala, so for situations as such, there's the RoadMate 1700. This one ups the ante with a 7-inch WVGA touchscreen and also throws in complete maps of the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico, built-in AAA TourBook listings, a microSD expansion slot and text-to-speech. And who knows, maybe you can hack Android onto this thing.
$237 - Shop for RoadMate 1700
Garmin Dakota 20 - Look, we all need to a) get out more and b) exercise more, so there's really no better way to encourage that kind of activity than by surprising someone with an outdoor-centric navigation device. Sporting a rugged exterior, a battery good for 20 hours, a microSD slot, barometric altimeter and support for wireless data transfer between compatible units, this one is guaranteed to get you to your destination come hell or high water. Or maybe just high water.
$345 - Shop for Dakota 20
Garmin nüvi 1690 - The connected GPS may be going the way of the Dodo, but with two free years of services, why not -- right? Garmin's stab at the niche market is well appointed, with niceties such as Google local search, white page listings, real-time traffic and flight status updates at your fingertips. Besides all that, you'll get a 4.3-inch touch panel, ecoRoute planning (for Ma Earth's sake, of course), North American maps, Bluetooth and a microSD slot. Go on, splurge -- you can rest soundly knowing that you're making someone the coolest cat on the freeway.
$448 - Shop for nüvi 1690
Archos 5 Internet Tablet - Who says a GPS device has be just a GPS device? Archos makes some of the best media players in the universe, and its Archos 5 Internet Media Tablet just so happens to sport a built-in GPS chip. That means that one single gift can provide hours of aural / visual excitement, routing for those who've lost their way and a 160GB internal hard drive for capturing your favorite shows. 'Course, you'll probably have a tough time actually wrapping this and sending it off, but just remember -- it's always better to give than receive. Or so says the beneficiary.
$390 - Shop for Archos 5
$600 - Shop for Oregon 550t
Look, we all know "that guy / gal." The one that never seems to end up at a meeting place on time, who incidentally is the same one that always gets tied up at the local fuel station asking for "directions." We've always heard that true friends don't let friends drive sans a robotic navigator, and if your BFF is still traversing the highways without any sort of GPS device on board, it's time for that situation to be remedied. There's a whole slew of options out there, so we'll be breaking 'em down as best we can based on how much dough you're willing to spend. Whatever you decide, just make sure you get one with the maps of your own country; after all, you wouldn't want that special someone to end up like this guy, right? Read on!
Stocking stuffer
$180 - Buy from Best Buy
$150 - Buy from RadioShack
$90 - Buy from App Store
Oh, you shouldn't have
$240 - Shop for XL 335S
$160 and up - Shop for XL 340S
$237 - Shop for RoadMate 1700
$345 - Shop for Dakota 20
We can't afford the rent now, can we?
$448 - Shop for nüvi 1690
$390 - Shop for Archos 5
Garmin Oregon 550t - The aforementioned Dakota 20 may be a good start for the budding adventurer, but the true argonaut in the family -- you know, the one that'll have to receive this via carrier pigeon atop Volcán Concepción in the middle of Lago de Nicaragua -- only the best will do. The 550t sports a tough chassis, 3.2 megapixel camera (with automatic geo-tagging), a 3-inch, sunlight-readable touchscreen, 3-axis compass and preloaded topography maps for the entire US. Feel free to include a note that demands he / she carry you along on their next expedition -- we've a hunch it'll work quite well.
$600 - Shop for Oregon 550t
If you are going to include the iphone as a navigation device you should also include the Droid.
But isn't that built into Droid? I think the point is, you could buy them the app on the iPhone if they have one, but you'd have to buy someone a Droid which you probably aren't going to do.
On a side note, I only wish I could consider those prices "stocking stuffers".
I agree, leaving out the Droid(or even the G1, which can be hacked to have the google navigation) is a bit ridiculous, seeing as how that's the single best GPS navigator around.
Stocking stuffers, really?
Can't very well include the Droid, unless you like the idea of paying for someone's phone contract month after month.
But hey, if you wanna give the gift that keeps on giving...
You could buy the phone for them and they could pay the bill (you would have to take them in to buy it so they sign the contract), you could buy the phone out of contract, or if the person was in your family and you are paying their phone bill anyway you could just keep paying the phone bill....
The droid should be included in this list. I would take the droid over any of these because of all the other things it is. It can record DVD quality movies, it can take good 5MP pictures (at least for the next 20+ days...), it can search the internet, it can now make voice over IP calls using skype and fring, etc.
Considering there might be some parents reading this (possibly after their kid sent them the link), it makes a lot of sense to include the Droid. Its an awesome GPS device, and some people out there might be on a family plan at upgrade time, or ready to start one, so it makes perfect sense to mention it. I've actually really surprised it isn't on here...
-Taylor
@Mark: Well considering all the google based navigators require you to be connected at all times to download map data, and how reliable the connections are I would not make a G1 or Droid my primary navigation device.
The hole point of the GPS was and still is: It's free and you can use it anywhere in the world.
By requiring a data connection / plan you're seriously narrowing the locations where you can use the device.
@luitjens Why are you recording DVD quality movies with a phone? Trying to make bad amateur porn?
Another issue is that the Archos 5: 16GB can be had for $300 (while the 32GB version is 390). I see no reason to put the more expensive model up. Can you please change the stated price and/or define the memory differences, this will let more people see if the Archos is a viable option for their needs/wallet .
Dont forget the Pre
It has had turn by turn directions from day 1 via the FREE Sprint Navigation app. Works awesome I use it all the time!
@Even
As to the "stocking stuffer" label, I think that it might have something to do with engadget pulling in a 20 million dollar profit each year. :D
yeah... but who wants a droid anyways...
@(Unverified) Ok, angry Droid/ Android users relax. Engadget isn't listing the iPhone as a navigation device in itself, but rather the Navigon app for the iPhone. The standard Google "Maps" application would be reviewed if this were in fact the case; however, seeing as though Android already has the new Google "Maps" program with turn-by-turn navigation, this wouldn't make much sense. Soooo, relax my friends, you are not being left out by Engadget in favor of the iPhone, but rather by Navigon for not having the application available for Android.
after Google announcement, I wouldn't anything but a Nokia w/ Ovi turn-by-turn, or Droid with turn-by-turn.
buying a separate device now is just wasted space and money.
For $200 + $100+/month for the privilege of using a Droid to get those maps, I think I'll pass and keep using my $110 TomTom and $35/mo SERO plan if you don't mind.
@dude above me
Well, lots of people already pay that much for a phone... so they might as well get the best one on the market.
-Taylor
True!
Better go with the Nokia 5800 Navigation. $250 for lifetime turn-by-turn navigation with voice text-to-speech. It works without a data package...even without a SIM card!
Also, you get a phone, mp3 player, internet browser, camera, video player, etc. 1 gadget is all you need
Yes!! I have that (I didn't get it for $250 *wink*)! It's really comparable to my old Magellan Roadmate, and while it's expensive to get the phone, you don't have to pay a contract when you get the phone and app.
o.0 Whole post with no read link..
It'd be awsome if you done this for the feeds..
I love the Droid turn-by-turn, although I know why it was left off... but really, the iPhone app probably should have been as well. You're probably not going to buy a Droid for somebody, but at the same time, you're probably not going to buy an iPhone, an AT&T contract, and the $90 app for someone either.
I'd have included it just for posterity's sake... because it's just as good, if not better, than most of the standalone GPS devices available. Although it also has some peculiarities too.
Hey now, don't get hostile; they can't include the Droid. These devices are lifetime, not data-dependent.
@luitjens -- crap, another comment fail.
Well, they *can* include whatever they want, its their list...
All GPSs are dependent on GPS signals.
With Verizon, 3G is pretty consistent... getting up there with GPS as something you'll probably receive wherever you roam in the states.
iPhone's GPS is a good deal for some, but so is the Droid's GPS.
Duly noted. But guys, read Strangelove's comment. He puts it in better perspective.
they can so include the Droid. They included the iPhone, and the Droid is 100% better than that POS.
Not bad at all... (i am less sure about the ebook section). I have definitely come to depend on my GPS much more than I thought I would, though I try not to over-use it so I can still find my way without it. :)
GPS is absolutely a time saver when you need to find a place for the first time. I never thought I would find it so amazingly useful.
One of the places I tend to read daily (as I do with engadget to get some fun reading) to get some good deals is
http://www.uberi.com
Maybe someone will find it useful too. While you are there, I would suggest checking out the "Amazon Filler Item" among other things there when you get a chance as well as the "discount table" It's quite amusing.
How could you not include the Garmin 255W or 255WT?
I was pretty shocked myself by the lack of Garmin devices (other than the handheld ones), I tend to like them much better than Magellan.
I agree. I have a Garmin Nuvi 360 that I bought last year for $149 from TigerDirect. It has fantastic reception, bluetooth, touch screen, and announces street names. I also like the smaller screen (I have a small car/small windshield).
It seems a lot of those don't even have Bluetooth, and cost more that mine did. Ouch.
"Archos makes some of the best media players in the universe"
Thanks man I needed a laugh.
Garmin gps is the best imo....picks up a signal quick....you can get a cheap one if you're willing to pick up a refurb....and it has a simple interface that even my parents and sisters can use. Best of all, if you're willing to do research....you can pick up the newest maps without paying for them...or you could pay $120 for a lifetime subscription for your device which isn't bad.
One note, refurbished TomTom != supported by their 30 day map upgrade policy and most likely will have out-of-date maps not supported the newest user updates. Also check how much, how often and are there ANY updates period for the units maps.
Which of these work in other countries, such as Indonesia, Singapore, India? I was hoping to have someone coming get one for me. Are maps for other countries available by that same GPS manufacturer?
Garmins will work in other countries, you just have to buy the maps for them.
I bought the TomTom iphone app back in August for a trip to LA because I was used to their interface. I'm wishing I had chosen Navigon as they're updating their app much more often. :-(
THIS IS MADNESS!!!
@(Unverified)
THIS.
IS.
SPARTAAAAAA.
I am really surprised that the Magellan 4700 was not included in this list. It is a steal considering all the features it comes with!
why no Palm Pre
build in GPS navigation out of box, and free!
who uses standalone gps these days anyway? smartphones come with googlemaps-based gps program (which beats any other map data or POI db) and now you can have turn by turn, spoken street names, voice search functions with external app or internal software (for droid).
Just bought a Garmin 1390 today for my ma in law.
GPSs save time and money if you travel to strange towns a lot. You get lost less and waste less time and gas. You can find what you need, which often is tremendously efficient.
It's safer, smarter, and better than a map.
I like my nuvi 1690. It's nice when you want a few extra options when you do a location search. I also have the Oregon 550T. Both are exceptional if you can afford the rent.
Consider that if you own a smartphone, you are already paying quite a bit of money which includes the basic capability for GPS navigation.
I mean, 30 bucks per month for data usage, part of that 50 per month voice plan which actually goes towards paying for the phone subsidy, and then the initial 200 bucks for the smartphone. Over two years, that phone costs 30x24 + 200 +10x24 ~= $1200.
If you have a smartphone and dataplan, then yeah... a standalone GPS is kind of a waste as you have some good options for GPS already.
However, most people do NOT have smartphones. Buying a 1200 dollar phone for GPS is not a great cost-saver either. Therefore these people are better off going to a Black Friday sale and getting a basic TomTom 330 with text to speech (or equivalent) for 100 bucks.
Don't the Garmin connected devices use that Microsoft service thats about to disappear? Are you sure you want to recommend those? Personally I can't imagine recommending any connected GPS device. They should all just use your cell phone via Bluetooth to get any data they need. Who wants to pay extra monthly charges for crappy traffic data?
Hurm- get to blackfriday's website and put "gps" in the search field and you'll find these and better GPS' for lower coinage.
I tried phone-based GPS that relied on a live internet connection to provide maps and routing. I won't go back. When you need it most, lost, in an area with spotty cell / data coverage, your gps goes black. I would love one with maps and routes stored permanently but with internet based updating of maps / poi's / route logic (served as periodic updates while you sleep). And internet for real time traffic. Too many times while on a gps-blackberry, my data link would fail and leave me hanging in an unknown place. I would then have to focus on driving to an area with better data coverage so I could get my directions, then jot them down, then return on my journey through the dead zone.
one word? GARMIN. units with lane change feature are the best but pricey. one for every budget. buying online? use caution. my first unit a STREETPILOT III, bought 20 years ago, is, by some, being list priced at over $600. memory cards 128 megs about $90. 1 card would cover New England. i'd like to sell mine back to the theives. Newer units take SD cards. 8 G would cover the entire US in good detail. 16 G? WOW. Window Cups are worthless. They also leave evidence there is 1 in your vehicle. #1 stolen item in vehicle thefts. There is one for every budget and would make a really nice gift. Lane change feature is very helpful. As the tech goes up, so the price. Full dash accessory in a new car? $2000-3000 not worth it. Droid? Cell Phone units? I suppose OK, but driving at 60 in traffic looking at 2" screen? Insane...then the monthly fee and taxes? Droid, coming soon to the State you live in? A cell phone law. My Wifes only accident? Towne Car with the trunk driven up to the back window, rearended by a kid dialing his GF. Our toddler aboard. He then calls Daddy to help make things right. I ask to see his phone, put it in a vise and flattened it. The old man was pissed. I told him that should cover our $500 deductable.
Also you can try this gps tracking software too, you can find it here:
http://www.eastmobiles.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=105:free-mobile-tracking-&catid=35:gps&Itemid=59