TomTom PDA Navigator 6 U.S./Canada Map DVD (Windows or Mac) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)There are two very negative customer reviews for the TomTom Navigator 6 software as of this writing, and for my first few hours' experience with the product I could understand why.The "quickstart guide" they bundle with the DVD is all the documentation you get, and there is little or no documentation specific to the dozens of devices they support with this release (in my case, a Nokia E61 Symbian Series 60 smartphone paired with the Holux GPSlim 240 bluetooth GPS receiver).

However, for those early adopters who are very comfortable with gadgetry and computing this is an unparalleled offering.First of all, there is no comparable software out there in terms of device support.Navigator 6 supports Palm OS, Windows Mobile, and Symbian UIQ & Series 60.Garmin's Mobile XT is the closest competitor and its Symbian support seems to be vaporware, just like their support for Mac OS X.

Speaking of Mac OS X, TomTom is the only GPS software vendor with a Mac client app for interacting with your device, something Garmin has been promising for more than a year and are only now beginning to deliver on for their personal fitness devices alone.TomTom Home was clearly not developed with the Mac in mind--a direct port of the Windows version as far as I can tell--but I give them credit for recognizing that the early adopters that are into GPS and mapping software are more likely than most to be using a Mac.Some of the bugs I found in the Mac app were very serious though: the backup tool for archiving your device memory is totally broken and fails very subtly to the user (i.e. I didn't know it had failed until I needed the backup and it was nowhere to be found).Also, for you Symbian users: be very careful that you choose the right version of the app for your device.I mistakenly chose Symbian UIQ instead of Symbian Series 60, which led to hours of removing installed files by hand to get the right version to eventually install correctly, something I could have avoided if the Mac software didn't have a bug that prevented it from cleanly removing the app from my Nokia E61 for me.

As for the navigator itself, it works like a champ.The map data seems to be far better than what was available on my previous GPS device (Garmin Quest 2), although it isn't without its quirks.For example, on a recent trip the voice navigation kept directing me to "keep left" on a stretch of highway that gently curves left, despite there being no offramp or other road affordance to deter me from keeping left.But it got me to an unfamiliar destination without getting lost, in an area of town where the Garmin often stumbled.The points of interest data seems extensive and up-to-date, getting me to a small barber shop that's been open for less than a year, and letting me call ahead to the current phone number to get on the waiting list.

After a couple of days of heavy use of the navigation app and map data, it has almost made up for the crucible that was getting it to properly install. Despite the initial pain, I'm very happy with the product.Again, I can only speak for the quality of the product on my Nokia E61 and Mac, and based on the blisteringly negative reviews from Windows Mobile users, your mileage may certainly vary.

Click Here to see more reviews about: TomTom PDA Navigator 6 U.S./Canada Map DVD (Windows or Mac)

Product Description:
With the TomTom Navigator 6 Software with Maps of the US and Canada (DVD) you never need to be lost again, wherever you are, whatever you are doing. TomTom's Navigator 6 software is designed for people who already own a PDA with GPS functionality, or a PDA with Bluetooth and a separate Bluetooth GPS receiver. This package provides all the Navigator 6 software with maps of the complete US and Canada on a DVD, which once installed on your PDA will let you know not only where you are going, but exactly how best to get there.
The TomTom Navigator 6 software is not only effortless to install, but easy to use with a touch-screen user menu that gives you an intuitive navigation experience, and an inherent portability that lets you take it with you anywhere, whether in your car, on your bike, or on foot. The TomTom Navigator 6 software has complete maps of the United States, including Hawaii, Alaska and Puerto Rico, as well as all the Canadian provinces. This software gives you the convenience of thousands of pre-installed Points of Interest from restaurants to gas stations, allowing you to search by proximity to your current location, along your route, near a specific city and more, as well as letting you plan your route to fit your requirements, be they quickest, shortest, avoiding toll roads, or many others.
Navigator 6 not only guides you from door to door, but can navigate directly to contacts from your PDA address book, complete with stopovers and itinerary planning for routing to multiple destinations while adding stopping points. The user-friendly interface features a tip system for when you are just getting started, an optional compass display, and the ability to show a route demonstration so you can better know what things are going to look like in advance.
TomTom's Navigator 6 system provides you with crystal clear 2D or 3D graphics, in a brilliant 65,000 colors and "Nightview" for optimized visibility. This navigation system includes realistic visual instructions that replicate road signs to make them easier to follow, and a pedestrian-centric map option that lets you view your position with a fixed position in 2D that can be zoomed in and out for better orientation when you are navigating on foot. Navigator 6 features friendly north-up navigation for easier orientation, automatic route recalculation if a user takes a wrong turn, and auto-scaling software so it will fit any PDA screen. Suitable for almost anybody, the user interface application comes with support for some 22 languages covering virtually all of Europe from Turkish to Flemish, Lithuanian to Catalan, while the spoken directions come in 37 different languages that include with the European languages such options as Chinese, Thai, Japanese and more.
Full of smart extras and additional options, the TomTom Navigator 6 system includes TomTom Home software to manage all the files on your device, get new updates on your PC or Mac in advance, and more, as well as supporting a wide range of TomTom Plus services and downloads. TomTom Plus lets you receive real-time, up-to-the-minute traffic information, with jam alerts and road condition warnings, as well as use instant messaging and more to keep in touch with a selected group of people, including tracking their location. TomTom Plus is an optional, cost-based service that can be accessed through Navigator 6 at any time.
Designed to be ultimately safe, Navigator 6 software provides for easy call handling for PDAs with calling functionality, with on-screen instructions that remain visible while making phone calls or receiving SMS messages, as well as the ability to dial a point of interest. The navigation system not only encourages you to get from A to B as safely as possible, but alerts you to when you are speeding, even if you are not in navigation mode. The TomTom Navigator 6 software is compatible with most popular brands and models of PDAs, including; Acer, Dell, Eten, Fujitsu Siemens, HP, Imate, O2, Orange, Palm Treo, Qtek, T-Mobile, and Nokia.
What's in the Box
Navigation 6 software on DVD with application and maps of the US and Canada, full user's manual, installation guide, quick-start guide, and product code card.

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MAGELLAN EXPLORIST 400 980771-04 Review

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(More customer reviews)I purchased a used Magellan Explorist 400.The battery had shorted and I could only use it with external power. I purchased a new battery and go the unit to work perfectly.The MapSend Top, Direct route, and Blue Nav XL-3 charts work great on the unit and are inexpensive on Amazon.com.The Magellan support site has very recent updates for the GPS Wass enabled satellites and for the unit firmware.If you want the most recent maps then you will pay a lot for the software but if you settle for the 1-3 year old maps the software available on amazon is great.The unit lacks a speaker, Headphone plug in, Blue-tooth, being that is a discontinued GPS line.... that is expected.In conclusion this is a perfect starter GPS because it can be expanded and the older software is still available.

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Product Description:
The Magellan eXplorist 400 makes it possible for the modern outdoorsman to enjoy life in the wild while, still benefitting from cutting-edge technology. Its pocket-sized and lightweight frame was built to perform on the most challenging and rigorous adventures. Always get a clear view of where you're going with the 2.3" LCD screen with multiple navigation tools. The small body holds real GPS power and cool features you can take it anywhere. The eXplorist 400 stores detailed maps you save through the USB port - and reads as many more as you need through the SD port. Save 5 track log files, 20 routes and 500 points of interest is something that fits in your shirt pocket. Rugged construction - rubber armored, impact resistant plasticWaterproof - sealed according to IPX-7 specifications Pocket sized - only 2.1 x 4.6 x 1.3 Weighs only 4.6 oz

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Delorme Street Atlas USA 2006 Handheld Review

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(More customer reviews)This is the third or fourth version of Street Atlas USA Handheld I've bought. On each of the prior occasions I gave up trying to use it with a variety of PDAs. One more time I thought since DeLorme boasted of the major revision they'd made.

Not really. It is still a stinkeroo.

It installs easily to a Palm device and earlier versions installed easily to Windows CE. And it works nicely with a non-DeLorme Blutetooth GPS.

But it is useless on a PDA. Maps are shown in 2D view only and they are simply thin lines across the screen. Street names even in the optional large font size are still unreadable unless you focus intensely. The highest zoom setting still covers too much area while the lowest zoom settings result in such crowded data that your route is lost.

The second weakest feature is trying to find a location. DeLorme forces you through a convoluted procedure. And finding an address seems to take forever.

The absolute worst feature is trying to create a route on the PDA. It is frustrating, time consuming and, in my experience, almost never works.

Finally, DeLorme's map information is incorrect and doesn't seem to be updated. The 2004 version didn't note that the street I live on is one-way and it constantly routed me going the wrong way. It sill does.

Actually using the product is a nightmare. The representation of your GPS location on the Palm TX's 320 x 480 screen is so tiny as to be invisible, virtually impossible to quickly see in a moving vehicle. Not a good situation. The display does not stay centered. One moment your GPS locator is squarely in the center of the screen. The next, it is at the top of the screen. Then the bottom or the sides. There is no uniformity.

The product allows you to set waypoints in order to customize your route. You literally have to do that on the computer rather than the PDA, because the PDA maps are simply too cumbersome to work with. You can do a reverse route on the PDA. Wouldn't you expect that if you simply reverse the route you created, that the waypoints you inserted would be considered? Logic says yes; DeLorme says no. Recalculating a route took almost 15 minutes on the Palm and resulted in a hodgepodge of side streets being included. Since I didn't follow the recommended (and very strange) reverse route, the program simply stopped posting the GPS location to the map. Apparently if you aren't following a pre-determined route, you are out of luck.

I'm finished with DeLorme. Never again.

Jerry

Click Here to see more reviews about: Delorme Street Atlas USA 2006 Handheld

Product Description:
Street Atlas USA 2006 Handheld gives you exactly the maps you need, conveniently accessible on your handheld computer or Smartphone. It's designed to create the maps and routes you want and synchronize them to your handheld device. You can also create routes on your device, with the fastest Delorme routing engine ever. It's been extensively updated, with 268,000 additional roads and thousands of new lodgings, restaurants, fuel stops, and retail stores, all located with GPS accuracy.Store your maps on removable-media devices & hot-synch to Palm OS external media cardsBeam maps to family and friends Bring topographic maps with you using Topo USA 5.0 softwareImport aerial photos, satellite images and USGS 7.5 minute topo map files from Topo USA 5.0 Aerial Data Packets Get voice prompts when tracking with GPS (requires Pocket PC and Palm OS 5.2 or later)

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Compactflash Adapter Allows GPS360 Review

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(More customer reviews)Great product to utilize your Microsoft GPS unit into a compact flash slot or your PC slot on a laptop.
Comes with extension cord to attach to a window if the unit isn't in direct view of the sky.
Product works perfectly, would recommend to anyone trying to use this with a Pocket PC

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Product Description:
Go from in-car to the outdoors.... Use the Pharos CF/PCMCIA Adapter to turn your GPS-360 into a portable, handheld GPS Receiver.This product is made to work with the Microsoft Streets & Trips 2005 GPS Locator and any Notebook or Pocket PC with a CF or PCMCIA Slot!- Compatible with Microsoft Streets & Trips 2005 with GPS Locator- Use with any Notebook or Pocket PCs with a CF or PCMCIA Slot- Improves Portability of the convertable GPS-360 receiver for outdoor use- Includes: CompactFlash Adapter, CF to PCMCIA Adapter, and Extension Cable

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DeLorme Earthmate BT-20 with Street Atlas USA Plus Review

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(More customer reviews)I have used DeLorme maps and a GPS device for years and have been well satisfied with their quality.So, it was with some anticipation that I purchased the Earthmate BT-20 with the Street Atlas USA Plus 2007.The map software worked quite well as usual.However, the Earthmate BT-20 was not compatible with my Treo 650 with Palm OS or my desk top PC.A lengthy discussion with a DeLorme Tech did not resolve the issue.Also, a review of the GPS forum showed that others were having similar problems.
The Earthmate BT-20 may work on other devices.But, I would do a lot more research before purchase.

Click Here to see more reviews about: DeLorme Earthmate BT-20 with Street Atlas USA Plus

Product Description:
The Delorme Earthmate GPS BT-20 is the ultimate GPS bundle for off-road & on-road action. It's got everything you need for better city and rural travel. The up-to-date mapping programs help you plot out your route, marking off hotels, restaurants and points of interest. The 3D flyovers help you orient yourself in all sorts of terrain, making it easy to wherever you're going.

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Navman e-Series GPS Navigator for Laptop Computers Review

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(More customer reviews)THE PRETTY GOOD:
Rand McNally makes pretty maps, though
- You need to download an updated version to run on XP
- Level 1 display (whole continental US) only aligns its layers in 800x600 screen mode (but zoomed-in levels 2+ adapt to any screen size).
You can alter the map display to myriad available schemes, or make your own. Special display mode for night viewing, automatically engaged after dusk, for example. Very pretty.
THE USEFUL BUT TROUBLESOME:
At its heart, the issue is the integration of the NavMan GPS with Rand McNally's StreetFinder!
NavMan hooks up trivially easily, and starts looking for satellites (once you have the Windows-XP update downloaded from Rand McNally's site; otherwise the software hangs). Unfortunately, the antenna had a wretched time finding the satellite signals. I could get my position at home on my desk, or out in a field with the antenna laying in open grass, but it couldn't find satellites in my car, on the dash, mounted inside the windshield, or even on top of the car.I could get a fix holding it out the driver's window, but this isn't a recommended practice!
After two weeks of frustration, I discovered the secret - embedded in my windshield is a slight shading film that is also my car radio antenna, which blocks other signals from penetrating.However, there's a 3 x 12" clear rectangle in each upper corner of the windshield, through which the GPS antenna does receive!You'll have to find *your* spot.
Other troubles include
- The map and the GPS track don't stay aligned when you go through several zoom and scroll clicks
- The GPS can navigate to a point or a route (e.g. distance to the next turn), but it looses the route from time to time, and sometimes can't resume tracking it from mid-route.
- You have no control over the routing, like in other software, to avoid toll roads, take or avoid highways, or do multiple waypoint routing.
- The maps seem to be vintage 1999-2000 or so (3-4 years old now), and missing new streets and addresses.There is no apparent way to download updates to the map database.
- Its address "geocoder", which turns an address into a point on the globe (Lat/Long), is quite picky with your way of writing the address, and may not be able to "find" it.Some times, editing the address can produce a match;
- It has a built-in address book to use in your drives, but no apparent way to import or export an existing address book (e.g. Outlook) into the software, or keep changes coordinated with your existing address book, except through lots of typing, cutting, & pasting.
- Every single time you turn on the GPS you have to Agree to follow the rules of the road while using it, which is (a) annoying (b) just legal protection for Rand McNally and (c) seems to push against its only significant use, which is to track what you're doing while driving.(The laptop isn't usually useful to track your progress while, for example, hiking.
- The TTFF (time to first fix, receiving enough GPS satellites) of "48 secs." is an average -- a first fix may take 2-6 minutes, and a reconnection may take seconds.
THE WRETCHED AND DISMAL:
RM's Directions work,
BUT YOU NEED AN INTERNET CONNECTION TO COMPUTE THEM!
(i.e., the software loaded off 4 CDs only includes data to display; the route computations are on networked servers. On the road, you need to compute all your routes at home or in the hotel, and God help you if you are in a strange place in the car and need to find the route out. You're on your own. This seems made for those who have a roaming (wireless) Internet connection, live in the car.)
All in all, some nice concepts here, and they'll really be terrific when they're debugged, and StreetFinder & NavMan are working flawlessly together!

Click Here to see more reviews about: Navman e-Series GPS Navigator for Laptop Computers

Product Description:
The NAVMAN GPS e Series for notebook computers is an easy-to-use solution that turns a notebook computer with a USB port into a complete navigational system. You get everything you need for real-time mobile GPS direction and mapping capabilities. Just load the Rand McNally StreetFinder Deluxe Travel Navigation Software onto your PC. Plug the GPS receiver into your notebook's USB port and you're ready to plan trips, locate destinations and find points of interest such as hotels and restaurants. Your navigational solution operates using your notebook's power source and provides precise information on your location and how to get to your destination.The heart of your NAVMAN GPS solution is the powerful antenna, which connects you to up to 12 satellites - pinpointing your position anywhere in the world.And the Rand McNally StreetFinder Deluxe Travel Navigation Software includes detailed street maps for the contiguous United States and Hawaii; plus the location of over a million points of interest and businesses.The NAVMAN GPS e Series includes the GPS receiver, Rand McNally StreetFinder Deluxe Travel Navigation Software, USB connector and windshield-mounting bracket.

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Garmin GPSMAP 60CSx Waterproof Handheld GPS Unit Review

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(More customer reviews)Do not purchase from this "storefront" (sedative3145), the seller untruthfully claims to have this item (Garmin GPSMAP 60CSx Waterproof Handheld GPS Unit (GPSUnit w/Topo US 2008)) in stock. I received no communication at all from sedative3145, Amazon had to cancel my order. In order to get the equipment in time, I had to reorder it thru Amazon, costing me an additional $47.

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Product Description:
The GPSMAP 60CSx is an upgrade of the Garmin GPSMAP 60CS, one of Garmin's most popular GPS models used for outdoor and marine applications. Equipped with a removable microSD card, you can easily swap out your detailed mapping data. Located inside the waterproof battery compartment, you can access the microSD card slot to load map data and transfer your routes and waypoints via the 60CSx's USB connection. Considered the de-facto standard handheld GPS among serious outdoor enthusiasts, each 60CSx is shipped with a blank 64 MB microSD card. You can also purchase new microSD cards that are pre-loaded with Garmin MapSource Topo and inland lake maps, Garmin BlueChart marine cartography, and Garmin City Navigator street maps. Features An improved, highly sensitive GPS receiver that can acquire satellites faster than ever and can help you track your location in challenging conditions, such as thick forests or tall buildings. Barometric altimeter for exceptionally accurate elevation data. Electronic compass that can display a precise heading even when you are motionless. IPX7 waterproof, rugged case can withstand an accidental dunk in the water and still perform. Large, color TFT display makes viewing the screen easy, day or night. Built-in Americas autoroute basemap, including highways, exits and tide data, gives you automatic, turn-by-turn directions. Specifications 160 x 240 color active matrix TFT display Waypoints: 1000 Routes: 50 Built-in celestial tables Geocaching mode Area calculation Outdoor GPS games Dual integrated built-in speakers Interfaces: USB and Serial Battery life: approximately 18 hours (typical) Includes 64 MB MicroSD card Belt clip USB cable MapSource Trip and Waypoint Manager CD Lanyard Owner's Manual Quick Start Guide Warranty Brochure Dimensions: 6.1"H x 1.3"D x 2.4"W Display dimensions: 2.2"H x 1.5"W Weight: 7.5 oz with batteries Warranty: one year parts and labor Model Number: 010-00422-00

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