GPS navigation - I check who is needed in the era of smartphones with Google maps

Home ›GPS navigation - I check who is needed in the era of smartphones with Google22 maps.06.2019 16:25Praktycznie każdy smartfon może się sprawdzić jako nawigacjaOskar Ziomek

Ten years ago, a trip by car on vacation to a distant place was associated with slightly different preparations than today, at least in the context of the devices used for this occasion.While the most persistent ones continued to take only paper map with them and focused on road signs, they used GPS navigation more modern.

Let us remember, however, that in these considerations we go back to 2009.Smartphones, and especially the "top" ones, is still a fairly exotic product: the first Samsung in the Galaxy S series will appear on the market only a year later, and although in foreign stores you could already buy an iPhone 3GS, it was still not in Polandseen every day.

Years ago, the use of GPS navigation on the way on vacation was associated with buying a separate device, which today we most often refer to as "classic navigation".The patent was simple, and is known to this day, of course, an example of which may be the Navitel E500 Magnetic tested last year.

Ten years ago, many models on the market offered screens with a diagonal of 3.5-4.5 inches, but because the equipment was used only to indicate the route, the operation was quite simple and basically it has not changed much to this day.The concept also - the device usually goes to the glass holder, it is powered from the lighter socket, and we usually upload new maps by hand, connecting the whole to the computer to download updates.

Smartphones for everything

Today, the situation is of course different.Almost all we use smartphones, and the development of technology has meant that virtually all of them are suitable for more or less efficient display of maps and navigation.Added to this are a number of free options, including Google maps.

In addition to indicating the road, we have information about real -time traffic here, and recently information about speed cameras and the possibility of reporting threats.Added to this is the integration with Android Auto.And if such an option is not suited to someone, he can use paid applications, for example Sygic, or those offered by companies known for the production of classic navigation.An example here may be TomTom or the already mentioned Navitel.

Of course, navigation is also built into infotainment systems in cars, but I will skip it for the purposes of these considerations.I assume that if someone decides to pay an additional payment of thousands of zlotys to be able to display maps on a car built into a car or on a virtual cockpit, it does not do it to later consider using navigation in a smartphone attached to the glass.

Who is classic navigation for?

So the question arises, who really needs a separate device for planning the route today?The smartphone is always at hand, it can also be connected to the power supply so that the battery does not discharge and we will undoubtedly reach the destination with its help.However, it turns out that classic GPS navigation is still needed.So in what situations are such devices a better choice?

- Two situations come to my mind first - explains Łukasz Tetkowski, marketing manager CEE at Mitac Europe responsible for Mio navigation.- when I drive a larger vehicle, e.g..camper, it is necessary to stock up on specialized equipment.Another situation is a foreign trip.It is mainly about updating maps and speed cameras databases.Unfortunately, navigation built into cars rarely will have such an update.The phone navigation is about data transmission.

Indeed, although the transmission of mobile data is getting cheaper, a trip abroad and a desire to use the Internet in a smartphone without restrictions requires ensuring the right package, or at least an application with the possibility of downloading maps for memory.However, there are more arguments.

- At the time of the route on the application on the smartphone, all you need is a phone call from a friend or notification from another application to lose vigilance and skip an important maneuver - notes Marcin Szydłowski, marketing manager from Navitel.- Traditional GPS navigation is updated much more often than smartphone applications that users receive for free.

In addition, there is functionality.Examples of Google maps do not offer the option of using a full -screen lane assistant at the moment, and there are no notifications in Poland about exceeding the speed limit.It is different in "classic navigation".- The task of car navigation is also to supplement any vehicle with intelligent functions, such as a lane change assistant, events detecting, or access to artificial intelligence resources - adds Jakub Szałamacha, Marketing Manager at Garmin Polska.

I see two more arguments for buying separate navigation myself.I imagine that people who travel a lot in Europe, for example, can be interested in it, and at the same time do not need an efficient smartphone on a daily basis or because of their activities often risk losing or damage.Then separate navigation (which can wait safely, for example in a car compartment) may prove to be salvation.

The second argument is the screen: in "classic navigation" you can find matte displays that are more readable than smartphones when the sun falls on them perpendicular.

Good to have a choice

So there were some arguments that support the purchase of a separate navigation device.More convenient service, more information on the map, availability regardless of the Internet, adaptation to navigating larger vehicles with other requirements as to roads and a clearer screen in full sun.

It should be borne in mind that today's GPS navigation is much more extensive than equipment from 10 years ago and the difference between them and smartphones on some planes is already blurring, which example can be the way to upload map updates in top devices:

- It is worth noting that the current devices are even more integrated with the cloud of data, present current traffic data, inform about speed limits and road cameras, and above all they are designed so that the driver can focus on driving a car and not operating the device -Comment is comments on Kris Kobyliński, Senior Product Manager from the Łódź branch of TomTom.

- Looking at the sale of our devices, we can safely say that there are many supporters of such a solution, and interest is still growing - notes Julia Rachwalska from Yanosik.- On the other hand, the application users are also increasing.It really depends on the personal preferences of each driver.

When choosing navigation, it is not always worth suggesting the fashion or opinion of other users.It is wise to analyze your needs and think about which device will work best in a given situation.I am curious about your approach to the topic, thus encouraging to discuss in the comments.Despite all the above advantages of "classic navigation", I vote for smartphones and integration with systems in cars, for example thanks to Android Auto.

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