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[Digitalbanana]

Or just side load Sygic on an Android tablet or phone for free, great maps.

[MaiChai]

The sygic maps will work for a week before being deactivated. they are also not as good as the esri maps.

You can get a sygic andriod app that has been cracked to not expire maps but its a little hard to find and download now that the FBI is closing down all the file sharing sites

[ludditeman]

MaiChai, on 2012-02-20 00:49:12, said:

The sygic maps will work for a week before being deactivated. they are also not as good as the esri maps.

You can get a sygic andriod app that has been cracked to not expire maps but its a little hard to find and download now that the FBI is closing down all the file sharing sites

Took me about 10 seconds to find.

[Gary A]

Every-time I mention this, I ruffle some feathers. I simply can't imagine having to use my phone for a GPS. The screen is too small and none of the maps are nearly  as good as the ESRI Thailand map. Even the Garmin SEA map is much better than anything available for your phone. And yes, I understand that the phone is handy and easily carried in your pocket. I have used my phone GPS when walking and it is useful. When driving, a dedicated GPS is by far the best.

Maybe I am spoiled because I have four Garmin units and they are all very accurate and easy to use. I also have a Nokia phone with Nokia maps and an android phone with Google, Sygic and even Orux maps. None of the phone maps even come close to being as good as any of the Garmin units. For a time, I also had Garmin maps on my Nokia and although they worked, they are not so easy to use.

These smart phones are amazing devices but as of yet, there are no GPS mapping systems suitable for driving. Do yourself a big favor and buy a dedicated GPS unit that can use the Thailand ESRI map. As a side note, the latest Garmin V7.5 map has improvements but it still has outdated POI's and they lack the detail of the ESRI map. That said, the routing set to the fastest is better on the Garmin map then the ESRI map.

[ludditeman]

Gary A, on 2012-02-28 09:39:06, said:

Every-time I mention this, I ruffle some feathers. I simply can't imagine having to use my phone for a GPS. The screen is too small and none of the maps are nearly  as good as the ESRI Thailand map. Even the Garmin SEA map is much better than anything available for your phone. And yes, I understand that the phone is handy and easily carried in your pocket. I have used my phone GPS when walking and it is useful. When driving, a dedicated GPS is by far the best.

Maybe I am spoiled because I have four Garmin units and they are all very accurate and easy to use. I also have a Nokia phone with Nokia maps and an android phone with Google, Sygic and even Orux maps. None of the phone maps even come close to being as good as any of the Garmin units. For a time, I also had Garmin maps on my Nokia and although they worked, they are not so easy to use.

These smart phones are amazing devices but as of yet, there are no GPS mapping systems suitable for driving. Do yourself a big favor and buy a dedicated GPS unit that can use the Thailand ESRI map. As a side note, the latest Garmin V7.5 map has improvements but it still has outdated POI's and they lack the detail of the ESRI map. That said, the routing set to the fastest is better on the Garmin map then the ESRI map.

My Galaxy Tab phone has a 7" screen, hardly too small for a GPS unit.
I have Syngic and iGO Myway which both work well.
SpeedNavi comes free in the box with the Galaxy Tab.
Garmin Streetpilot is available for Android SE Asia.

Orux maps is not a car navigation system, but there are many map systems you can use in it, I like Google Terrain.

Edited by ludditeman, 2012-02-29 18:39:48.

[ludditeman]

SpeedNavi uses the ESRI maps.

Edited by ludditeman, 2012-02-29 19:38:02.

[Digitalbanana]

Gary A, on 2012-02-28 09:39:06, said:

I simply can't imagine having to use my phone for a GPS. The screen is too small and none of the maps are nearly  as good as the ESRI Thailand map

You're going to need a bigger phone with some better mapping software then.

Gary A, on 2012-02-28 09:39:06, said:

Maybe I am spoiled because I have four Garmin units and they are all very accurate and easy to use.

Nah, just behind the times I'd say. Just had a look on the Garmin web site (I don't go there much these days, unlike a decade ago) and all they have is a Montana for 700USD that any Android phone with tons more configurability can match for less.

Gary A, on 2012-02-28 09:39:06, said:

.. even Orux maps. None of the phone maps even come close to being as good as any of the Garmin units.

Orux or Locus from Android only has the Montana or Oregon to compare on the Garmin web site than can use any image based maps. The Android products are free to boot and can be configured to any map on the planet, from the Royal Thai Survey Dept to a paper plan scanned in with a camera phone.

Gary A, on 2012-02-28 09:39:06, said:

These smart phones are amazing devices but as of yet, there are no GPS mapping systems suitable for driving. Do yourself a big favor and buy..

Check the Android market for GPS mapping systems suitable for driving, you'll be amazed. There's even a Car Home dock.

Coming from someone who only recently posted that he would hate his new Android touch phone before it arrived, a bit rich offering advice methinks! No feathers ruffled here btw, just trying to teach an old dog new tricks ;-)

[moris]

@ludditeman: do you use the Galaxy for navigation or just sporadically to find your way around? I have iPhone/iPad and whenever I travel, I take Garmin with me. Even if I love the apps and functionality of Apple, I find Garmin much more effective and reliable for navigation.  This may change, but ....I've been saying this for the last few years and I still use independent GPS unit (instead of PDAs).
Edit: font change

Edited by moris, 2012-03-01 14:59:59.

[Gary A]

Digitalbanana, on 2012-03-01 11:06:52, said:

Orux or Locus from Android only has the Montana or Oregon to compare on the Garmin web site than can use any image based maps. The Android products are free to boot and can be configured to any map on the planet, from the Royal Thai Survey Dept to a paper plan scanned in with a camera phone.


Check the Android market for GPS mapping systems suitable for driving, you'll be amazed. There's even a Car Home dock.

Coming from someone who only recently posted that he would hate his new Android touch phone before it arrived, a bit rich offering advice methinks! No feathers ruffled here btw, just trying to teach an old dog new tricks ;-)

This old dog was forced into 2012. I went reluctantly. I still don't much care for touch screen phones because choosing one that can fit in your pocket means the the keys are still too small for me to comfortably use. My fat fingers often hit the wrong key when using text functions. The manual keys that actually click when pressed work better for me.

The android operating system is pretty slick and that was a pleasant surprise for me. Image based maps? No thanks, I'm definitely not into map building and as long as my GPS tells me what direction to go, that suits me just fine. No way would I go on a trip with just my GPS enabled phone. In fact, when I am driving I shut off my phone. I don't want the distraction from getting a phone call.

I don't have a tablet, but I would guess that the touch screen keys are easier to manipulate because they are much bigger and the screen is bigger than necessary for viewing a map. That's nice but a tablet won't fit in my pants pocket.

I used to say that if you want a decent camera, buy a camera. I don't say that anymore because the phone cameras are simply amazing as far as quality pictures. Will there come a time when the phone GPS gets as good as a phone's camera? That is entirely possible but that time has not come yet.

[Digitalbanana]

There's an interesting article/video on CNBC's Friday web site edition of Mad Money explaining why Garmin's stock price has risen strongly as of late, despite it's car navigation products decline in market size and iPhone popularity. Garmin have quite a few other useful inventions for niche areas that are winning products.

[Gary A]

I'm no Garmin tout. In fact my first Garmin was a Street Pilot 2610. At that time, it was a VERY expensive unit. I loved that GPS. Garmin in their wisdom changed the map format and the new maps were not compatible with my 2610. I emailed them asking when I could expect a software update. I was informed that they had no plans to offer any 2610 update and I was advised to buy a new unit. I replied that I would not be buying any new Garmin.

I looked at every other brand available and none offered a decent Thailand map. If I remember correctly, ESRI had the best map and it cost a bundle. I don't remember for sure but it was either 13,000 or 17,000 baht. It would only work on Garmin units. ESRI dropped the price to 7,000 baht and I bought a new Garmin and the ERSI map. I thought that Garmin was very sneaky by changing the map format.

As a side note, a friend of mine is still using the old 2610 with the very outdated map. It suits him and he is happy with it.

[Skorz]

Google maps for smartphone (I use HTC Desire). Works well in Bangkok BUT you need mobile phone signal.

[Gary A]

Skorz, on 2012-04-07 15:24:56, said:

Google maps for smartphone (I use HTC Desire). Works well in Bangkok BUT you need mobile phone signal.

I have Android 2.3.4 and Google gives me the message that navigation is not available in my area. It will show me where I am at and give directions but no navigation. I also find the map is quite cumbersome to use. Nothing simple about it.