Are you considering buying a GPS? If you are it’s easy to get overwhelmed by all the options and features. Choosing an auto GPS can be difficult if you don’t know what you’re looking for. If you do some research beforehand on the various features you will be more well equipped to make the right decision.
For many people, the screen size is a crucial issue, for a number of reasons. If your vision is impaired a larger screen can make it easier for you to see what you need to see. The more screen you have, the more data you can convey to the driver. A larger screen also means you are less likely to make a mistake while navigating the menus.
Another popular feature for many GPS units is spoken street names. While most units give spoken directions on upcoming turns, not all of them have spoken street names. If you are in unfamiliar surroundings spoken street names can make navigation simpler. This allows you to look for specific street signs to verify that you are on the right track.
Your auto GPS will come with a set of default maps which will be pertinent to your region. However, many GPS units have an optional map update feature. The world is changing everyday, and roads come and go. New highways and bypasses are being built all the time, so being able to download an updated map will keep you up to date. If you are not able to update your maps you may end up driving in circles trying to find a road that isn’t there.
Routing options are a point of contention among many auto GPS owners. The two most popular methods for routing are to use the shortest distance or the fastest route. Depending on the wants or needs of the driver, either option is useful. While fastest route can speed your trip up, the shortest route may shave several miles off your trip, saving you wear on your vehicle and gas money.
Another options that is gaining popularity is the live traffic updates. While this option normally requires you to have a traffic receiver and pay a monthly subscription, if you have much of a daily commute it could more than pay for itself. The GPS uses the information from these updates to automatically route you around slower traffic or accidents. This allows you to reach your destination quicker, and over time that’s just what you’ll save… Time.
One feature that is not as widely known is the POI (points of interest) option. The POI information can give you the location of hotels or restaurants along your route, giving you the opportunity to plan your stops more efficiently. The points of interest are not limited to just hotels or restaurants, though. You can download POI data for school zones, famous landmarks, or known traffic camera locations.
If you arm yourself with this knowledge, it will make the decision process easier. Knowing which features you want and which ones you don’t will save you time and hassle when weighing your options. When you determine the features that are important to you, you will be able to make the right decision about which auto GPS to purchase.
Kim Logan keeps a auto GPS review blog in which she writes articles about how to choose and buy the best auto GPS. She also reviews the best auto GPS navigation units and recommends them according to function and price ranges.