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Imagine yourself in the middle of a camping date, and wanting to go off of the trail to look for food or fuel. If you’re taking your cue from a map generated online, then you may have to meticulously need those specific directions at all times. Good old maps may not be any better, as they contain tips about the restaurants, hotels or gas stations in the area. But the case is way different with regards to GPS systems. Imagine having a portable tour guide in your car! If you want to get to that nearby restaurant or hotel as soon as possible, just pick the category you want from your GPS screen, and out pops a bunch of restaurants or hotels that can have you on a good run all over town. Upon finishing your choice, the GPS system will make the needed adjustments in your directions.

Are you in need of a GPS device? If so, then go over what kind of tasks you think you would use your GPS most of the time. Sure, you might enthusiastically say you plan to use it anywhere. But before you impulsively go see all the GPS systems on sale, go over these first: Recreational GPS: Recreational GPS were meant for the great outdoors, and some of these handy gizoms were built to absorb the occasional spill or accidental dunking into water. Handheld GPS units come in a variety of mobile designs, feeling at home right on your wrist, pocket, backpack, or dashboard. Automotive GPS: Car GPS devices specially built for navigation on the road will include built-in maps or allow you to download mapping data. Some devices are able to give voice directions, enabling you to keep your eyes on the road. Seemingly standard too, are touch screens and mounting options, in case your state prohibits the hanging of devices on windshields for safety’s sake. Marine GPS: Marine gps devices are designed for use at sea, with a waterproof design. Usually used to predict tides or remembering good fishing spots, these come pre-loaded with onshore and offshore maps, chart-plotting functions, and a screen that can be relied upon even under direct sunlight. Cell Phone GPS: And how can we forget the latest in the wave of GPS devices, GPS-enabled cell phones? Some of these phones have turn-by-turn navigation features, and can be irresistible at times because of the smart design.

GPS systems may vary according to intended use, but they more or less carry the same features and options. If you’re on the lookout for your next GPS, then consider the following set of perks. First of all, note that a GPS’ ’speech’ feature is different from a real ‘text-to-speech’ feature. Specifically, a lower priced GPS systems may possibly brag about the device’s ’speech’, which may turn out to mean that your GPS unit simply can intone ‘Turn Left’ or ‘Turn Right’. Unless that is what you prefer, some GPS systems can actually speak in whole sentences such as ‘Turn right on James Street’. Choosing the right one could mean saving yourself plenty of headaches at having missed the correct street just because they happened to be close together. Next is the issue of preloaded maps. In the case of lower price GPS models, it will mean that the maps are limited to just the lower 48 states. But then again, that may be all that you actually need. Check also if you might be able to save just by choosing update-capable maps, since roads are perpetually changing. However, in the event that you need to travel outside your collection of maps, then contact your seller or log on to the manufacturer to ask where you can get maps for Canada and Europe. And lastly, you definitely cannot fail to pass up getting a built in battery for your GPS unit, and to do something aside from being comfy with a cigarette light adapter. One advantage to getting a build-in one is that you may not always want to, for example, change the settings of your GPS system while sitting in your car. Maybe you’d like to check it out from the comfort of your home or your hotel room! In my own case, my portable Garmin GPS unit really is one versatile tool when I go walking the streets of Chicago. And now, a final friendly word from our sponsors. Keep in mind that paying slight more will lead to getting exactly what you’re paying for. Never shun the fine print. In general, what appears on the price tags of most GPS Systems are now more sensible compared to the past few years, and they are surely bound to get cheaper. Check for features, updatable maps, and you could be using your GPS System for years to come.

Mark Green tries to divide time between two hobbies: gadget reviews and communication studies. Handheld GPS are a wave of technology that is definitely here to stay, and which keep getting more and more sophisticated and more widespread. Get to know more about your favorite GPS systems.