Road Trip Reloaded: OCN All in One GPS Reviewed

[ftlum]

The Mio 168 is a very nice GPS unit. The antenna is built in, so there's no charging a GPS battery. Also, the sound is loud, which is a real plus for navigation. My unit has breezed me through to a couple of job interviews now, and even my wife thinks GPS has its merits!

What it's missing on the 168 is a stronger processor (though it's adequate for GPS'ing), a VGA display, and more memory. I've got so much on mine, I tend to run out of memory. It's too bad it's not more like the MDA IV. http://www.ppcw.net/?itemid=2229 Drool drool.

I'm using iGuidance 2; it's the best one I've tried and I like it over Destinator and PocketMap Navigator, amongst others. iGuidance produces the most intuitive routes I've seen-- it's either the route I'd have chosen or better. It also uses Navteq maps, which are better then TeleAtlas' in my area. TeleAtlas has steered me wrong many times (missing important freeway exits, for instance). IMHO, routing and map accuracy are the most important features needed in any GPS program; they're much more important than speaking the street name (though I really do like that). 3D mode is not that important either, but it's nice to have to see more roads ahead of you. Make sure your program displays the names of the streets in 3D mode too. iGuidance also could use permanent avoid-roads.

From what I've read, OnCourse Navigator needs a better turn list. I use that a lot with iGuidance. If the GPS ever goes awry while travelling, you'll be happy you reviewed the turn list earlier. I understand, though, that OnCourse Navigator seems to be better when travelling across states, so if you need your GPS to do this, it'd be a better choice over iGuidance. Just be prepared to wait forever to compile your map.

The other thing on my wish list would be a better POI database. You'd think that they could incorporate a phone book's addresses. I've only seen one company that does this (for an additional fee), but their display is bad-- the roads don't move as you travel; the car icon moves on a static map. This makes it difficult to navigate.


-- Frank

[ftlum]

The Mio 168 is a very nice GPS unit. The antenna is built in, so there's no charging a GPS battery. Also, the sound is loud, which is a real plus for navigation. My unit has breezed me through to a couple of job interviews now, and even my wife thinks GPS has its merits!

What it's missing on the 168 is a stronger processor (though it's adequate for GPS'ing), a VGA display, and more memory. I've got so much on mine, I tend to run out of memory. It's too bad it's not more like the MDA IV. http://www.ppcw.net/?itemid=2229 Drool drool.

I'm using iGuidance 2; it's the best one I've tried and I like it over Destinator and PocketMap Navigator, amongst others. iGuidance produces the most intuitive routes I've seen-- it's either the route I'd have chosen or better. It also uses Navteq maps, which are better then TeleAtlas' in my area. TeleAtlas has steered me wrong many times (missing important freeway exits, for instance). IMHO, routing and map accuracy are the most important features needed in any GPS program; they're much more important than speaking the street name (though I really do like that). 3D mode is not that important either, but it's nice to have to see more roads ahead of you. Make sure your program displays the names of the streets in 3D mode too. iGuidance also could use permanent avoid-roads.

From what I've read, OnCourse Navigator needs a better turn list. I use that a lot with iGuidance. If the GPS ever goes awry while travelling, you'll be happy you reviewed the turn list earlier. I understand, though, that OnCourse Navigator seems to be better when travelling across states, so if you need your GPS to do this, it'd be a better choice over iGuidance. Just be prepared to wait forever to compile your map.

The other thing on my wish list would be a better POI database. You'd think that they could incorporate a phone book's addresses. I've only seen one company that does this (for an additional fee), but their display is bad-- the roads don't move as you travel; the car icon moves on a static map. This makes it difficult to navigate.


-- Frank

[jwquinlan]

This thing would help make up for the lack of "connection" between my natural "male" GPS system and the Sun, Moon, and stars that my wife would say I use for trip planning, night or day. Which way was "up" again?

[davea0511]

Originally Posted by Doug Raeburn

As far as I can tell, that's the limit to "street names" in OCN. And this is major highways only, such as interstates... other highways weren't referenced by name.

So what do you think of the VGA maps?

Thanks a ton for the maps! That makes this a sure winner for me. I guess I have really good eyesight - small wording isn't a problem for me.

For those of you who don' t have a VGA PPC, seperate your thumb and index finger by 4 inches as if it was the diagnol of the HP VGA screen, then place your hand between your eyes and the monitor at the point where the PDA screen capture picture fits between your thumb and finger. Now visualize the PDA that far away from your face - that's the size everything will be with your PDA that far from your face.

[Phillip Dyson]

I think that I may have found the demo for OCN over on a PocketGpsWorld forum. Here.

I haven't had a chance to try it yet.

[Phillip Dyson]

Doug,
Were you reviewing Version 4, or 5?