Miss Direction

The Garmin Nuvi 200 is a good choice.

(Credit: Corinne Schulze/CBS Interactive)

Q: If you had to pick a walking-tour-guide GPS for a first-timer walking in New York City, but wanted to use a basic GPS auto navigation system, what would you buy? Are crossover systems any good? We are visiting NYC for Valentines Day weekend and don't want to get lost! --Bill via e-mail

A: Bill, I've found that crossover GPS units aren't exactly what they advertise. These portable navigation devices, such as the Magellan CrossoverGPS and Garmin Nuvi 500, try to be all-in-one GPS solutions for drivers, boaters, and outdoor enthusiasts. However, it's been my experience that while they're decent navigators for the car, when it comes to other modes of transportation, you're better going with a dedicated GPS for that specific activity.

That said, all hope is not lost for you. Since you're looking for something to navigate the streets of New York City and not the back country, you can probably get away with a basic in-car GPS. I'd recommend something small and basic like the TomTom One 130S or the Garmin Nuvi 200, since it will be easy to walk around with and then slip into a pocket or bag. With the Nuvi 200, you can also purchase the Garmin Travel Guide SD card that comes loaded with recommendations and ratings for hotels, restaurants, tourist attractions, and more, all provided by Fodor's travel guides. The accessory costs $70, but includes data for all of North America.

Another suggestion I have is that if you have a cell phone or smartphone with integrated GPS, you can add a location-based service like TeleNav to get real-time tracking, turn-by-turn directions, and local search. There are a couple of advantages with this option. First, you wouldn't have to carry another device and a cell phone is ultra-portable. You can purchase the location-based services on a per-day basis (or per-month if you wish), so this option could also save you some money.

Hope this helps, Bill, and have a wonderful Valentine's Day in NYC!

A: Hi Dylan! First off, I'm not sure if you're talking about bicycles or motorcycles, but I'll cover both types just in case. If you're talking bicycles, finding a GPS to meet your needs is going to be a bit difficult. I've been doing a little research online, and a lot of the models available for bikes, such as the Garmin Edge 705, are more for training and logging your rides or workouts. Plus, they have a more outdoor/off-road focus rather than city navigation, so I'm not sure they're your best option.

Garmin Zumo 550

That said, there are a number of in-car GPS that have bicycle routing modes and can provide some of the functionality you're looking for in a portable navigation device. In terms of being hooked up to a network, the Dash Express delivers the most functionality in that sense, since it offers Internet connectivity via Wi-Fi or cellular network and allows for over-the-air map updates, real-time traffic updates, and more. However, it's not very bike-friendly; it's large and clunky and I'm pretty sure there's no bicycle mode.

TomTom offers something called MapShare, where users can make adjustments to maps (such as noting blocked roads, updating POI, adding new streets, and so on). You can make the changes right on the device, save them, and then upload and share them with other users via the TomTom Home desktop companion. Navigon also has something called FreshMaps. From those two companies, I'd recommend something small like the TomTom One series or the Navigon 2000S, and be aware you'll need to get a bicycle mount.

Now, if you're talking about motorcycles, TomTom and Garmin offer their own lines of GPS specifically for motorbikes: the Garmin Zumo and the TomTom Rider series. They both offer traffic updates (subscription required), quickest route options, bike-mounting kits, waterproof casing, and integrated Bluetooth, if you want to make hands-free calls.

Any other bikers (motor or pedal) out there who have suggestions for Dylan?

Q: What's the difference between portable navigation devices (PNDs) and smartphones with built-in GPS? Why do we have to pay for GPS service on smartphones, even they have built-in GPS antennas, whereas for in-car GPS, we don't need to pay a monthly subscription? Is there a smartphone which will also function as a PND that will avoid paying monthly subscription to mobile companies? --Wize Chap via e-mail

A: Wize Chap, I completely understand your confusion. On the surface, PNDs and GPS-enabled smartphones seem to offer the same services and navigation tools--maps, points of interest, turn-by-turn directions--so why in the world would you pay an extra subscription fee just to get GPS capabilities on a mobile phone when you can get it all for one price on a PND? Well, there are several reasons.

(Credit: AT&T)

With GPS-enabled smartphones and cell phones, you're not paying for the use of the GPS antenna. You're paying for the connectivity and dynamic content provided by location-based service (LBS) providers like TeleNav and Network in Motion. This content includes real-time traffic, local business listings, and current gas prices, and the information provided on your smartphone will always be current since you have that constant connectivity. On the other hand, with an in-car GPS, you get whatever is preloaded on the device at the time of purchase. The map data and points-of-interest database may be current at the time of purchase, but eventually, they will become outdated and you will have to pay for any map updates. Also, if you want any real-time traffic information on a PND, there usually is a monthly or yearly subscription fee.

To get more clarification, I talked to MaryBeth Lowell, communications manager for TeleNav, who explained it this way, "With a PND, you pay for the device and what resides on the device when you buy it. If you want any upgrades, you have to pay for it, otherwise you have a device with a shelf life since you won't get map or business-listing upgrades--not to mention content like traffic. With phone-based nav, you get the benefit of the wireless connection, because it's inherent in the phone. But just like a connected PND, you need to pay a subscription to get the real-time content." Lowell also added that the reason for subscription fees is to pay the partners who provide and update the real-time data, noting that carriers are also part of the revenue chain.

Hope that helps, Wize Chap!

Of all the new capabilities being introduced on portable navigation devices (PNDs) and GPS-enabled cell phones, real-time traffic is probably one of the most-wanted and hottest features today. It makes sense. After all, traffic plays a huge role during your travels, whether you're just making your everyday commute to work or heading off on a holiday.

All that said, just how useful are the traffic capabilities on GPS devices? Are there limitations? Where does the data come from? To help you (and me) better understand the technology and types of services, I talked with Nick Kiernan, Vice President of Business Development for TrafficCast, a traffic service provider. Check out our conversation below to learn more about the company, traffic data in PNDs and cell phones, and the future of GPS.

... Read more

Magellan Maestro 3100

(Credit: Corinne Schulze/CNET Networks)

Q: 1. Is there any in-car GPS that allows me to review the route from start to finish without driving, once I input destination address in the device? If yes, which portable navigation device (PND) lets me review the route before actually driving? - Wize Chap via e-mail

A: Dear Wize Chap, turns out you have a lot of choices. Most in-car GPS offers route simulation or fly-over simulation (the name varies by manufacturer) that provides a running demo of your route from a bird's-eye view. It's useful in that it gives you an overall idea of what you'll be encountering along your drive before even hitting the road. That said, the tricky part can be finding the feature on the device, since it's often buried in the submenus and you may also need to turn the capability on in the settings menu.

On most systems, once you enter your start and end points, the PND will present you the map screen and start navigation. From there, you can typically find various review options, including a list of text-based turn-by-turn directions, whether you want to find an alternate route, add a waypoint, and so forth. It's usually in this submenu that you'll find the route simulation. I'm not sure what your budget is, Wize Chap, but if you're looking for high-end, the Garmin Nuvi 880 is a good choice, or the Magellan Maestro 3000 series or the TomTom One series for more low- to mid-range models.

This week, not one but two reader questions. Woo--getting crazy up in here. I kid, but hopefully, you're finding these posts helpful, and if you've got a question about your own, feel free to hit me up at bonnie.cha@cnet.com. That said, on with the show.

Q: Starting to look at GPS navigation devices, and don't know much about them. One of the vehicles that I may be using it in, does not have cigarette lighter. Since I have seen handlebar mounts for bicycles, I am wondering if these units are like cell phones and MP3 players in that they are rechargeable, since I always see them plugged in as dash-mounted units, I assumed that they needed to be plugged in to work. --ndhelp001 via CNET forums

A: Most of today's portable navigation devices (PNDs) come with rechargeable lithium ion batteries, so like today's cell phones and MP3 players, once fully charged, they can operate untethered for a number of hours.

The capacity of the battery varies by GPS model, but typically, you can get anywhere from 2 to 5 hours of use on a single charge, so provided that you're not going on any long road trips, it's possible to use one of these PNDs in your car that does not have a cigarette lighter. That said, I'd really try to keep that to a minimum. There are a number of other factors that can affect battery life, such as screen brightness and other radios (e.g., Bluetooth), and in testing these systems, I've found when not plugged in, the battery drains pretty fast so I wouldn't want you to driving in unknown territory and have the GPS die on you.

Something else to note: a number of GPS manufacturers only include a car charger in the box, so make sure to check the list of packaged accessories to see if you need to buy an extra AC adapter or not.

Magellan Triton 2000

(Credit: Magellan)

Q: Why don't you review GPS that are not for car use? Say review them for hiking ... or maybe geocaching. There are a number of new models out that can be carried on a person. All I ever see is GPS for cars. Just wondering. --Wolf via e-mail

A: Hey Wolf. Good question. Handheld GPS, whether it be for hiking, running, or geocaching, is definitely something I would love to review more of but unfortunately, it's just been hard to find the time. When I'm not reviewing in-car GPS, I'm tinkering with all the latest smartphones, so that keeps me busy most of the time. That said, I'm looking to expand to the other types of GPS and in fact, I just got in the Magellan Triton 2000 so be on the look out for that review as well as others. Also, if there are any products in particular that you want to see reviewed, let me know!

The TomTom GO 930 maps North America and Europe.

(Credit: Corinne Schulze/CNET Networks)

Q: I will be going to Italy next month, and I am being told that the Budget Rental Car does not have a GPS option. I am very nervous about not having help on the Italian roads. Can you recommend the right mapping system for Italy? Does the Magellan Maestro 4040 work in Italy? Any help would be appreciated. I only have a very limited budget to purchase a device, and don't need anything fancy. --Michael, via e-mail

A: Hi Michael. Driving in a completely new territory, especially in a foreign country, can definitely be nerve-wracking so I think it's a great idea to have GPS as reinforcement. You have two options: 1) you can buy a unit with maps of Europe already preloaded on the device; or 2) you can get a standard, domestic model and purchase regional maps to load onto your portable navigation device.

The model you mentioned, the Magellan Maestro 4040, ships only with maps of North America, and unfortunately, the company doesn't provide the option to add European maps. I'd suggest taking a look at the Garmin Nuvi 200 series. Not only can you add European maps ($149.95 additional), you can also get other travel tools, like a language guide. However, as you can see, the maps cost quite a bit, so it can add up. It's worth looking into the models that come with all the maps (North America and Europe) installed on the device, so you don't have to deal with transferring maps to the GPS. The Garmin Nuvi 270 and TomTom GO 930 may fit the bill. Hope that helps, and safe travels!

With all the iPhone hysteria, I missed last week's Q&A--shame on me. Fortunately, the dust has mostly settled, so I'm getting back on track. And believe it or not, this week's question isn't about the iPhone 3G and its GPS capabilities--mostly because I haven't had the opportunity to try it out yet--but I could also use the iBreak. So let's get on with it, shall we?

Q: I need a unit that I can plug 10 to 15 addresses into and it will map out a route hitting all the addresses in the most efficient and orderly manner. Am I dreaming? --Annette via e-mail

A: 'Tis no dream, Annette. There are quite a number of portable navigation systems that support multidestination routing, even up to 15 stops. All the major manufacturers, including Magellan, TomTom, and Garmin, offer models with this functionality. Typically, there are two methods for creating these multistop itineraries. First, you can plan a trip from point A to point B like you normally would and then go back and add "Via Points" to that route. Alternatively, some models offer a Trip Planner (or Itinerary Planning--the name of the tool differs from brand to brand) where you can input all your stops at once and save and name your trip for use later.

As for routing, Magellan and Garmin offer route optimization, which should give you the most efficient course, but I'd double-check the directions before taking off. I've read that some systems are smarter than others. Unfortunately, TomTom does not have this feature at all. Keeping that in mind, Annette, here are several product recommendations. I'm not sure what your budget is for buying a new GPS, but I've tried to give you a good range here.

Garmin Nuvi 760
Magellan Maestro 4250
TomTom GO 720
Mio C520

I'd also invite the readers to pass along any suggestions. After all, you guys use these devices day in and day out, and I want this to be an open forum. Also, keep those questions coming!

Hi everyone. Starting this week, I will be answering reader questions about all things GPS right here on Miss Direction and Crave. If you need product recommendations, have questions about the technology, or ever wondered if a GPS can actually tell you to drive into water, this is the place to be. I'll be posting these Ask the Editor blogs every other week so don't be shy, send in those questions, and I'll do my best to answer them all. So without further ado, on with the show.

Q: Can you help me? I am looking for a GPS that also has hands-free functionality. I live in California and as of July 2008, you cannot use a cell phone that is not hands free. Is there a GPS that has voice function? --Allen, via e-mail

TomTom GO 930

(Credit: Corinne Schulze/CNET Networks)

A: Hi Allen. You're in luck. There are quite a few portable navigation devices (PNDs) with integrated Bluetooth, which allows you to wirelessly connect a Bluetooth-enabled cell phone or smartphone to the GPS and use it as a hands-free speaker system. Some Bluetooth-equipped PNDs include the TomTom GO 930, Garmin Nuvi 660, and the Mio C520. Having reviewed a number of these devices, I'd have to say that Garmin and TomTom offer the easiest setup and best user interface for this, but you can also find more options in our roundup here.

Once you pair the PND with your phone, you'll be able to make and receive calls, and if a point of interest lists a phone number, most GPSes will allow you to dial directly to that business with just a tap of the screen. Some devices, such as the GO 930, are even more advanced and will automatically synchronize your phone's address book and call history to the GPS itself.

And thanks for pointing out the hands-free law, Allen. This goes into effect in California on July 1 and joins a number of other states and districts with similar laws, including New York, New Jersey, and Washington, D.C. And while we think it'd just be safer to not be on the phone at all while you're driving, we know this is wishful thinking, so the use of a hands-free system like a Bluetooth-enabled PND can be a good alternative, especially if you need help in the navigation department.