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GPS for the Windows Mobile 5?

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the never-unfold-a-map-again dept.

billapepper asks: "I recently purchased a Sprint PPC-6700 and was looking to add GPS navigation functionality, however there are quite a few to choose from. I've read about TomTom, Co-Pilot Live, and Garmin Que, but haven't been able to tell which one is worth the $200+ price tag. I was wondering what the Slashdot community felt was the best based on support, functionality, accuracy, map sizes, and ease of use. As a side note, I already purchased Microsoft Pocket Streets 2006 (which came with a GPS receiver), so the ideal option would be a way to hack Pocket Streets to add routing capabilities and, if possible, voice guidance."

5 of 48 comments (clear)

  1. TomTom by jcostantino · · Score: 2, Interesting
    TomTom has great navigation instructions and the routing is great. But the database is terrible! I bought the most recent Fort Lauderdale database and entire subdivisions STILL don't show up! On top of that, the POI database is limited and sometimes inaccurate.


    I've noticed that it's not very helpful getting you to where you have to go unless you already know how to get there! We drove to Orlando, couldn't find the subdivision (existed for 5 years) because it wasn't on the map. On top of that, the only thing that almost none of the Disney hotels showed up on the map.

    --
    Reviews with a twist! http://www.sardonicbastard.com
  2. IPAQ 6515 by MBraynard · · Score: 2, Interesting
    Hi,

    If you can, I'd suggest returning your current device and buying an Ipaq 6515. It has the GPS unit built right in - no attachments. It comes with TomTom and one free map of a city. You can purchase some of the other maps online. It has worked great for me for the east coast. A little flaky at times, but overall very reliable.

    I'd add that the device is not perfect, but it does work exceptionally well. A WM5 version came out recently and while it has a little less memory, you can send it away for a memory upgrade. Cingular is packaging it's 6515 for only 500 with a 2 yr contract, but I believe their version is running WM2003.

  3. Links & Slashgeo.org for GPS news and discussi by Lord+Satri · · Score: 2, Interesting

    I invite you to slashgeo.org. Quite smaller than slashdot (and only 6 months old), but it reach thousands of geospatial professionals and has over 8000 daily hits right now. It has an active GPS section that will undoubtly interest you and of course, the usual Ask Slash section.

    "As a side note, I already purchased Microsoft Pocket Streets 2006"

    Stories in other sections, such as web mapping, might also interest you since it includes stories such as Open Source Alternatives to Consumer Map Programs. A part of the story: "Open source tends to be lacking in consumer map programs ala Microsoft Streets and Trips and Delorme's Street Atlas. There are several efforts to repair that situation. GMap, Roadster, and RoadNav are three examples. [...]"

    --
    Animoog.org
  4. Mapopolis by AdminGamer · · Score: 2, Interesting

    TomTom has a pretty good UI, and I think that's what sells it more than anything.

    Mapopolis http://www.mapopolis.com/ runs on Windows Mobile and Palm, and the updates to the actual software are free.

    You get a year's worth of free updates to the maps, which are based on NAVTEQ maps (ie, Google Maps, etc).

    While it's closed-source, they do have an open beta program they run which lets you try out the latest features and get suggestions put in. It's definitely more of a power-user's app, but with a free demo, you can't beat it. :)

    (One important note about TomTom. You CAN NOT move it from one PDA to another. It hardware-locks to your pocket device. Mapopolis can fit itself and most of the United States on a single mini-SD, which is real nice for the iPAQ RW6515 that Cingular has with integrated GPS.)

  5. TomTom, GPS and WM5 by redjupiter · · Score: 2, Interesting

    I recently purchased (first use of GPS for me) TOMTOM Navigator 5 with bluetooth, running on O2 ZDA Exec (I-mate Jasjar or HTC universal) over here in London. The software is pretty good and the instructions are very clear. Route calculations are very fast, fix acquisitions nor more than few seconds at most. Full post code search. Takes tiem to get used ot the instructions, for example, (not usre if it is a bug) ona roundabout in London it told me to take the fifth exit when there is none. Later as I was driving around the roundabout I noticed a road entering the roundabout. To TomTom it was an exit, according to the road rules it isn't since it is incoming only (the board at the roundabout says so too). Another mistake it made, it told me to turn left into a one way road, I did not and took the most logical route (after a lot of swearing from black cab drivers) and it recalculated my new route within a second. I have tested it on routes between London, Oxford and Swindon. Next week it is the country side. Some people here says bluetooth sucks on WM5. I am not sure how they found out that. I have been using my XDA for about six months, and I use bluetooth almost 20 hours a day non-stop. It is used for synchronization, business card and file exchange, and finally and most importantly, I use it with my bluetooth car kit. It never dropped a beat. It works fine with TomTom bluetooth GPS (I almost don't think about it as I take forgranted it is there, My bluetooth is on 24 hours). Other applications had no problem finding the bluetooth GPS receiver and communicating with it. Overall, I would have liked to see a better TomTom database and some utilities to make the most of the GPS when it is not used for navigation. Hope this helps.