Software Idea

[+DangerJudy]

I use City Navigator and love it. But the maps are about 2 years old, IIRC, by the time each version comes out.

 

Why not, instead, have a map 'service' that you subscribe to, and which downloads updates to your GPS unit. If you needed a certain place, say, Vermont, in your GPS, you connect to your PC, it connects to the service, and you get the map you need. Up to date and current.

 

Or - have your GPS recieve the maps via wireless, just as it recieves signals from the satellites.

 

Just a thought or two...

[+wesleykey]

Email me when you get your service up and running.....

[+DangerJudy]

Email me when you get your service up and running.....

 

lol. I think Garmin should do it.

[Parsa]

Look at my new thread on The Ideal Handheld GPS Receiver, and you'll see I mention something like this. Feel free to expand on the idea. It's a good one.

 

Parsa

[FiveNines]

Why not, instead, have a map 'service' that you subscribe to, and which downloads updates to your GPS unit. If you needed a certain place, say, Vermont, in your GPS, you connect to your PC, it connects to the service, and you get the map you need. Up to date and current.

Given that you would have to connect the GPS receiver to a data-delivery service, you would have

to attach the GPS receiver to a cell-phone or something similar. So what you want already exists.

It's called VZ Navigator in the Verizon Wireless world.

 

http://www.verizonwireless.com/b2c/splash/turnbyturn.jsp

 

There's also a Sprint version.

 

http://www.nextel.com/en/solutions/gps/navigate.shtml

 

And others.

[+DangerJudy]

Why not, instead, have a map 'service' that you subscribe to, and which downloads updates to your GPS unit. If you needed a certain place, say, Vermont, in your GPS, you connect to your PC, it connects to the service, and you get the map you need. Up to date and current.

Given that you would have to connect the GPS receiver to a data-delivery service, you would have

to attach the GPS receiver to a cell-phone or something similar. So what you want already exists.

It's called VZ Navigator in the Verizon Wireless world.

 

http://www.verizonwireless.com/b2c/splash/turnbyturn.jsp

 

There's also a Sprint version.

 

http://www.nextel.com/en/solutions/gps/navigate.shtml

 

And others.

 

hmmm. Are the maps on the Verizon or Sprint versions as detailed as City Navigator? And can you save maps to your phone so you don't have to be in cell phone range to use them?

[FiveNines]

hmmm. Are the maps on the Verizon or Sprint versions as detailed as City Navigator? And can you save maps to your phone so you don't have to be in cell phone range to use them?

I've never actually used either service, so I may be wrong, but I believe the answer to both your questions is "yes."

Call up (or visit) a local Verizon or Sprint store and find out for sure.

I looked into the Verizon service a while back, but I never ended up subscribing ($5 per month) and just used my Nuvi instead.