Imagine a fantastical world in which one gadget handled everything for you - your phone calls, your e-mails, your GPS, your entertainment.

Okay, so maybe that's not exactly such a stretch these days, considering that gadgets like the iPhone and other smart phones are basically changing the very infrastructure of our business and personal lives.

But when one gadget handles everything, is it really such a bargain, or are there places where we should simply expect two different products to handle more than one job? If you ask me, there's a lot of solid arguments to be made to keep your GPS separate from your iPhone.

Why bring it up? Because with Applications like the TomTom App for the iPhone are turning our iPhones into our own personal navigators, and we're not so sure that this is the greatest evolution in the history of technology. If you're intrigued by our position, read on:

Argument #1: GPS navigation is expensive in iPhones anyway.

A decent GPS device will set you back at least a hundred dollars these days, but many iPhone Applications that use the same type of technology are similar in price - perhaps a little cheaper. If you look at the difference, there's not a big disparity in the price between dedicated GPS devices and iPhones that have GPS applications installed on them. Though it looks flashy to have your iPhone handle your GPS for you, you don't exactly become James Bond simply because your iPhone handles more than one task.

If you're going to buy a GPS for a hundred dollars or more, then you  might as well buy a GPS for a hundred dollars or more. Let your iPhone handle everything else - after all, that's what it does - but leave the navigating to a GPS device that you don't mind sticking on your windshield.

Argument #2: Making your iPhone act as a GPS can be inconvenient.

If you pay, say, $30 more for a GPS device rather than an iPhone App, why is that so extravagant? After all, you can leave your GPS in your car (provided it's in a secure place) and take your iPhone with you. If you're navigating and you need to talk on the phone (hands-free, of course), then you can still do that. But if someone calls you while you're navigating, suddenly it's not so convenient to have your all-in-one gadget, is it?

There's a reason your iPhone doesn't unfold and become your car - not counting the fact that we, uh, don't have the technology for it. That reason is simple: your car is for driving and your iPhone is for communicating and its other features. Until they event the car/phone that allows you to fold up your car and put it in your pocket, there's a good reason to keep some of your technology separated.

Argument #3: It's easier to sell a used GPS.

Once you have a GPS App, you'll always have it, but that can be a disadvantage. If you want to keep your options flexible, you can always sell a used GPS device because it's just that - a used GPS device. You could, of course, sell your iPhone along with its navigation App, but that might require selling more than you wanted to. De-centralizing authority from your iPhone can be a good idea if you ever want to get rid of the GPS device or sell it for some much-needed rent money.

What you decide is, of course, up to you, but we recommend that you take your car-driving very seriously and spare no expense when it comes to common sense driving and safety.
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Despite our proximity to the International Date Line, Australia can be considered part of the Western World - and the Western World definitely knows its GPS systems.  So there's no reason that here in Australia we can't find great products from brands like Navman with the same features they enjoy in Europe and in the states.

A great place to start is the Navman online Australian store, which features GPS systems that should be pre-loaded with Australia and New Zealand maps, including some of the features you expect from a strong GPS.  For the neophyte Australian or the tourist, there are also city guides that you can acquire, allowing you to act like your own navigator and sink your teeth into our great country.

Finding the Right Product

Once you've checked out Navman's Australian store, check out a nice product comparison to start weighing the features, prices, and models that are available.  Really pay attention to what you see. Start asking yourself questions that really pertain to the type of GPS you want.  Are you an adventurer who needs a mobile GPS to stay on top of the hike, or are you a commuter and city slicker who just needs to find directions to the nearest restaurant, or to the meeting in Sydney?

Once you've been pointed in the right direction - then you're ready to start asking these questions.  But there's one variable that we shouldn't ignore:  price.

Finding a Great Price

A great price is important, whether you're paying in Australian or American currency.  Once again, it starts on your end of the Internet connection: what kind of price are you willing to pay for a GPS?  $150 is a good starting amount, an $300 will get you a decent high end model. Would you be willing to be flexible in order to secure a product feature that you wanted off the bat?

Do some shopping comparisons before you jump in the deep end. Have a browse at your local electronics store, and when you're ready, have a look a the range of Navman GPS available on eBay. A bit of financial advice: it's always helpful to start saving for your Navman GPS system in advance.  You don't have to write a check all at once; instead, you can put a third of your anticipated aside each month for three months - this lessens the impact the purchase has on your wallet and essentially helps you create your own payment plan.

Navman GPS systems offer some great products, but it's up to you to find the right one - with the right Australian maps!  Keep exploring, prodding around, and researching until you find a GPS device that suits your needs.

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When I say "GPS device," what do you think of?  There's a good chance you imagine a small box with a suction cup, practically bolted to the inside of your car's windshield.

That's a fine answer, but there's a demographic of people to whom this type of GPS simply isn't enough - they need something they can hold in their hands while they're hiking, biking, or generally exploring.  In short, what they're after are handheld GPS systems.

So what kinds of handheld GPS devices are there, and where can you buy them?  You're about to find out some answers to those questions, as well as some suggestions along the way.

Breeds of Handheld GPS Systems

The handheld GPS comes in a variety of forms, as you'll see here.  There are GPS watches, standard handhelds that resemble walkie-talkie lookalikes, and even GPS/digital compass combination's.  In other words, there's a type of GPS system to cater just about every outdoorsman's needs.  If you're a bicyclist or a runner, a GPS watch is actually hands-free and allows you more freedom; if you're a hiker, a larger handheld device can easily fit in your backpack.

Still interested?  Then let's take a look at a couple of specific products that you can actually purchase on the market today.

The Garmin eTrex H

Starting at around $100, this is an inexpensive way to put a GPS in your hands, and includes a case so that you don't have to worry about constantly holding your GPS with you while you're on a hike.  It's not the most advanced of the handheld GPS systems you'll find, but it gets the job done and is great if you only have a limited budget to work off of.

The MotionX  iPhone App

If you own an iPhone, then you already own a potential GPS device: the Motion X iPhone App costs just a fraction of a traditional GPS device  and you won't even have to add another gadget to your utility belt.  Simply download the App to your iPhone and put it back in your pocket - voila!  You've got a hand-held GPS system.

Are there other handheld GPS systems out there?  Of course.  Do some of your own research to come up with a product that might be more your style; you won't be disappointed to see all of the options available out there.

Video : Choosing The Right GPS

Video Courtesy Of Walking World.com

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Here in Australia, finding the right GPS system often means navigating web sites from the U.S. or U.K. that don't always have as much relevance; just when you thought you've struck a great deal for a GPS system, overseas delivery charges are a bigger obstacle than the Great Barrier Reef.  If you want to find good deals on Garmin GPS systems here, then you'll have to come to the right source.  That's us.

First Things First

Accessing a site like Garmin Australia is a great place to start - there you'll find a range of GPS products that fit plenty of different Australia lifestyles, whether you're a commuter in Sydney in need of a car GPS or an adventurer in the outback who needs something a little more flexible.  Fisherman, hikers, bicyclers, and runners alike will also find Garmin GPS systems available in Australia that fit every possible need; without having to locate the U.S. on a map to do it!

So that's where to start: decide on the kind of GPS system you want at Garmin's Australia hub and you'll soon find yourself introduced to a world of options and features.  It's important that you know exactly what you're looking for upfront rather than improvising or selecting a certain product because you like how it looks on the web page.

What Makes a GPS Australian?

It's the maps, stupid!  So many Garmin products - and any GPS products for that matter - come with pre-loaded North American maps that you'll have to do some navigating just to find the proper Australian maps.  Those of us under the Southern Cross rather than the Northern Star can't exactly do a whole lot with a map of Oregon, but a map of New South Wales and Australia at large will suit our needs.

Check out the nüvi® 1250, which comes with an Australia/New Zealand version without a major hamper on the price - in fact, check any Garmin product you find on the Internet for the Australia or Australia/New Zealand preloaded maps.

Garmin GPS systems are among the best in the world, not just in western Europe or North America, so there's no reason why were here in Australia can't enjoy these excellent products as well.  Remember: it's important to do your own research and know you're buying an Australian pre-loaded map before you click "order," so stay on your toes, even on the top sites like Garmin.com.

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Anyone and everyone these days is on the hunt for a GPS, but not everyone has the budget to plant one in their car.  Why?  Most GPS systems cost more than $100, and some cost several hundred dollars - in other words, cheap GPS systems are quite hard to come by.  But if you put in a little research, take a little time, and really look for the best buys across the world and in Australia, you're on the right track.  Oh, and it will help to keep reading this article.

Finding Cheap GPS Systems

To find cheap GPS systems starts simply enough: you'll want to enter in a search in your favorite search engine like Google or Yahoo!, and it wouldn't hurt to open up a tab on eBay, where you can find used GPS systems at a discount price.  Better yet, we've designed this site to check out the cheapest GPS deals on eBay for you, so just have a browse around. Once you've conducted a few searches, you shouldn't have to look very far to find cheap GPS systems that come at a far reduced price from what you expected.

Everything's going great, right?  You simply place an order for one and...

Well, maybe everything's not so simple.  You have to be sure that you're actually getting a deal here, and not simply "getting what you pay for" by going with the cheapest GPS system you can find.  Sure, this GPS system costs only about $68, but is it really up to snuff?

Research

Finding the answers is where your research begins and ends - you want to know as much about the deal you're getting before you get it; otherwise you're just playing the lottery and crossing your fingers in the hope that what you bought will end up being a solid GPS system.

A few tips:  try to find used GPS systems from brands you recognize, like Garmin or TomTom, and have a play with different models at your Electronics store.  Check out their 'Entry-Level' offerings, compare prices, and see which one you really like before going bargain hunting for the best price.

It's also a good idea to actually enter the fray with a set price limit for yourself - for example, if you're determined to find cheap GPS systems for no more than $150, then you've defined your goal.  It may be a little difficult, but at least you know what to search for.  That will help you along the way as you look to find the best deal out there. Stay patient and persistent and you might just amaze yours

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Some of us, impressed that simple little devices in our cars and phones can pinpoint our exact location on the globe, believe that we're already living in the future.  GPS devices are undoubtedly space age technology, after all.  But barring a meteor crushing the Earth any time soon, we know that the future can only mean better things for this technology, which keeps advancing and advancing.  The only question remaining is, where is it advancing to?

First, think "display."  As GPSObsessed.com notes, a company in New Jersey is working on expanding the technology of GPS displays, allowing GPS directions to be projected onto the windshield of your car.  If that doesn't sound like the space age, nothing will.  The idea is that having something project on your field of vision - without blocking your view of the road - will give you plenty of heads up about your next turn without having to look down at the GPS screen.  It might just make us more safe as drivers.

Of course, such benefits from the world of GPS don't necessarily mean that everything is hunky-dory.  Many great tools have both a positive upside and a negative downside - just as the discovery of fire allows you to both cook food and burn your thumb.  With many people, the main concern about the future of GPS is simple: privacy.

GPS devices make it possible to track people without their knowing.  Granted, this technology has been around already, but not necessarily with this degree of popularity.  Will the government be able to track people without them knowing it, even if they never committed a crime?  These can be troubling questions, especially if you're a GPS enthusiast who knows how scarily accurate the Global Positioning System really can be.

The rate at which technology improves seems to be accelerating all the time.  Just a decade or so ago, a cell phone was considered a pretty advanced piece of technology.  Now you'd be considered a cave man without one.

If you want to know where we're headed, take a quick look at history.  What have many of the navigation technologies of the past led to?  They have led to new discoveries, but they have also led to advanced weaponry.  We can only assume that the future of GPS is headed down the same path.  It might mean a higher quality of life for citizens, but that doesn't mean there won't be downsides.

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Ten years ago, a typical car GPS navigation system would have looked like a miracle to drivers.  Even though the GPS (global positioning system) has been around for a while in the form of satellites, our ability to mass market this system and turn it into small, relatively inexpensive gadgets that we can use to navigate our cars across gigantic maps of the world is an amazing breakthrough.  It's happened so fast, many of us can't figure it out.  So how exactly does a car GPS navigation system work?

Global Positioning

A typical car GPS navigation system works through the satellites already in orbit - a signal between the GPS device and the satellite provides the precise latitude and longitude, or coordinates, of the GPS device on the earth.  With pre-loaded maps built to aid the GPS, a computer can successfully tell you exactly how and where you should turn to get to where you're going.  The accuracy of these maps is crucial to the process - as odd as it sounds, it's relatively easy to find out where you are by using satellites.

The Benefits to GPS Navigation

Needless to say, the consequences of GPS navigation are many.  You can successfully get into your car, enter in a destination, and even if you've never been there before, have a reasonable expectation of finding it through the guidance of your GPS.  Some GPS devices also allow you to check weather and traffic updates, which means that you have a constant stream of the information that used to only come out occasionally on the radio.  You become the captain of your ship, with the GPS device as your first mate.

What to Look for in a Solid GPS Product

So if every GPS tells you where you are, aren't they all the same?  Well, yes, if all you're looking for is the basic navigation service.  But many GPS devices come with a multitude of other features, including the aforementioned traffic and weather options.  But you can also check out plenty of other features associated with GPS devices in order to find what you're specifically looking for.

And, even with technology as amazing as GPS devices, price is always an issue.  You want the biggest bang for your buck and a deal on your car GPS navigation system so that you can have the technology without breaking the bank.  Many GPS devices cost several hundred dollars, so do a lot of research into prices, brands, and features to find the best fit for you.  (One note:  most GPS devices have this, but make sure you get one with audible directions for your car.  You don't want to get in an accident!)

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If you've heard of GPS devices but don't know how to make sense of all of the brands you've heard about, you've come to the right article.  It can be difficult to differentiate between names like Magellan, TomTom, and Garmin, but it won't take you long to learn about them and start making some decisions about the type of GPS you'd like to have in your car.  We're all aware of shoe brands like Reebok and Nike, so the GPS world has a little catching up to do.  Here are some of the most popular GPS brands available.

Garmin. Billed by Consumer Reports as "by far the biggest selling brand" in the GPS world, Garmin controls about half of the GPS market today.  Pretty hefty!  That's why you'll see Garmin devices constantly as you search for GPS products you can buy - if you want it, there's a good chance that Garmin makes it.  You'll often see Garmin compared with other large brands like TomTom.  Speaking of TomTom...

TomTom. TomTom creates GPS devices that are easy-to-use, even for the technological "novices" out there.  If you want to get started with a simple GPS device in your car, you probably won't go wrong when you order a TomTom.  A quick perusal of their products list will show you the variety of devices they offer, so don't think that all TomTom products are for the GPS beginners.

Magellan. The appropriately-named Magellan series of GPS devices takes its name from the famous explorer and navigator who initiated the first trip around the world.  Based out of California, Magellan supplies navigation systems to Hertz rental cars, which means you might have used a Magellan product without noticing it! The next time you use a Hertz, keep tabs on how you enjoy your Magellan.

Nextar. This is a more recent addition to the GPS market, and Nextar is making its mark by trying to make GPS devices more affordable.  Consumer Reports' quick review of Nextar products says that you might want to stick with the bigger-name brands like Garmin, but the Nextar series might be one to keep an eye on in the future.

While these GPS devices aren't necessarily household names, you should now have a better idea of the different brands available out there, and what they're known for.  The next time you look up different GPS devices to buy, remember these names.



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If I ask you what your GPS is for, your answer might be "Simple - directions."  Well, that's certainly a great way to use a satellite-powered navigation system located right there in or on your car's dashboard, but that's not telling the whole story.  If you've been perusing articles like eHow's How to Use a GPS Car Navigation System, you're on the right track.  But if you want to explore their uses a little bit more, this is the article for you.

1.  Avoiding traffic.

Not all GPS systems have live traffic information, but you can certainly acquire them from companies like Garmin and TomTom.  You usually will have to pay a fee for the avoiding traffic features - usually a monthly subscription fee - but for many people (and especially commuters), this can be one of the best uses for a GPS possible.  Having live traffic updates connected to your car's navigation system means that you essentially have your own "eye in the sky" that will let you know if you need to take the side roads to work.  Anyone who can't stand sitting in traffic will want to have live traffic information feeding through their car's GPS.

2.  Finding detours.

As mentioned above, you can avoid traffic by having live traffic updates.  You'll find that GPS navigators can help you find detours in case you run into construction, heavy traffic, or other obstacles that are getting in your way.  This is especially great for places you've never been to or are just visiting, as finding detours would usually require pulling over and asking for directions.

3.  Customizing your route for optimal speed - and less tolls.

A GPS device can help you decide on which roads to take, helping you avoid traffic, find detours, and also avoid toll ways.  If you simply want to get to point A to point B quickly but without driving excessively fast, you'll want a GPS device that can help you optimize your route.

If you're interested in learning more about the features of GPS devices, check out Consumer Reports' guide to GPS features.  Remember that you'll want to check out the individual features and upgrades available with each GPS device you're considering.  If you want live traffic updates, for example, make sure you find a GPS device that can supply them.  If not, don’t pay for something you don’t want!

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Most of us are familiar with automobile GPS devices.  For example, if I ask you to think about GPS, what do you imagine?  There's a good chance you imagine seeing a navigation screen locked into the dashboard of a car, or even a GPS system inside your phone.  But what if you're using a motorcycle?  There are GPS devices available to you, as well, and you can find them readily available from top brands like TomTom.

How does it work exactly?

First, it helps to understand how GPS works in the first place.  GPS functions by utilizing pre-existing satellite networks in order to discover the position of a GPS device on the ground.  Today's GPS devices take advantage of this and allow you to not only understand where you are, but show you where you are through the use of pre-downloaded maps.  The result is a full-on navigation system that allows you to see where you are in the world, as well as where you're headed.

GPS systems can come with expanded features, such as voice instructions or live traffic updates.  You might miss out on some of these features because of the nature of motorcycles.  For example, automobile GPS devices can have a voice tell them where to turn so that they don't take their eyes off the road.  If you own a motorcycle and plan on going on a road trip in the future, you can at least enhance your ability to navigate.

You can check out the Motorcycle GPS devices from big brands like Garmin and TomTom to get an idea of how much a motorcycle GPS will set you back.  Expect to shell out a good $600-800 to buy yourself a quality GPS new from the company that sells them.

These GPS devices can then be placed on the steering of your motorcycle, near your speedometer, in order to provide an easy view of where you're headed.  To get a better idea of what this might look like, check out a picture provided by TomTom.  Keep in mind that that is a promotional picture.  If you have a friend using a motorcycle GPS, ask them if you can take it out for a little spin or at least check it out before you buy your own.

Once you have GPS installed on your motorcycle, you can then use it to plan routes, find detours, gain your bearings, and bring you back home - hopefully safe and sound!

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