Best GPS Device
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The best GPS navigation systems can guide you through unfamiliar areas, suggest an alternate route around rush hour traffic, and perform an increasing array of infotainment functions.
If you often travel to new places for work or pleasure, have trouble reading maps, or simply hate to ask for directions, you might consider a global positioning system (GPS) based navigator for your car. Once you put in a destination, the system will plot a route, give spoken turn-by-turn directions, and show your progress along the route. Most of the best gps devices let you choose your routing preferences, including the shortest distance, the fastest time, or even routes with no toll roads. Some portable units offer special routing options for walkers or bicyclists to avoid highways and not limit pedestrians due to one-way traffic. And some of the best gps devices even offer a choice for the most fuel-efficient route.
In today’s competitive market, GPS prices have come down to the point where even budget units include features previously available only on more expensive models, such as the ability to speak street names, issue speed warnings, and provide reality view, graphically representing major intersections. The best GPS Devices, higher-priced models can include such features as an FM receiver for traffic information, a wireless FM transmitter to integrate with the car’s audio system, and Bluetooth connectivity, which can be handy for hands-free phone operation. Services such as traffic, weather reports, and Internet searches are widely available, although they can require a subscription. Free traffic information is also increasingly common, though it is sometimes supported by small, onscreen advertising.
Best Handheld GPS Devices
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GPS navigation has many nonautomotive applications, including handheld units for outdoor enthusiasts. Hiking GPS devices can include a map, compass, and sometimes altimeter, while adding the ability to program routes, plot a trail, and share information. Many hiking units include what is called a base map, enabling them to show your location on a basic roadway map. But these devices don’t show the level of detail common on a dedicated portable car unit, and they typically don’t offer turn-by-turn navigational aid. What they can do is inspire trail adventures, including geocaching: GPS-based treasure hunting. And they can provide an extra safety margin when exploring off the beaten path, with the ability to follow your trail back to the car or share your specific coordinates in case of an emergency.
