Dominic: Portable GPS navigation for your car is a great way to not only get directions
to where your going, but to enhance your journey in many ways you might not have thought of.
And we're going to take a look at some of those ways in this video.
But first, let me go over some common features found in most portable navigators.
The primary function of these travel tools is point-to-point navigation, so they all
come preloaded with detailed maps and a database of points of Interest.
Point of Interest is anywhere you might want to stop along a journey, such as a restaurant,
hotel, gas station, or even an ATM.
Navigators sort these points of interest by category, and they include address and phone
number information for each one, where available.
Once a portable navigator determines where you are and where you want to go, it'll establish
a route and give you visual and spoken directions.
All you have to do is follow along.
Text-to-speech voice promps help a great deal by saying actual street names at each upcoming
maneuver, so you'll be sure you're on the right path.
You'll hear something like, 'Turn right on Main Street' instead of 'Take the next right.'
GPS: Turn right on Seminole Trail.
Dominic: Which can come in very handy if you're in an unfamiliar area.
When you get beyond these basic features, you'll find a lot of handy extras that differentiate
the various models.
Built-in Bluetooth is one important feature that some navigators offer.
Bluetooth lets you use your compatible cellphone hands-free through the navigator's touchscreen.
In many cases, you can access your phonebook right through the navigator, instead of fumbling
around for your cellphone.
The best thing about having Bluetooth is that you can call ahead to make reservations or
find out how long the wait is at a restaurant.
Traffic updates come in handy when you're driving in the city, and they're now offered
in most metropolitan areas, but you will need a special receiver, typically, to get updates.
Other handy features found in some navigators include 3D building graphics and junction
view.
These features give you an improved view of your surroundings instead of the typical flat,
two-dimensional graphics.
These views usually only work in urban areas, where you'll find distinctive buildings and
complicated intersections.
Lane guidance helps you stay on track by showing you which lane you should be in for upcoming
turns.
Now let me tell you about a feature that is currently available only on a handful of navigators.
It's called Connected GPS, and it allows your navigator to work as a portable search engine.
So you can find any type of destination you want to from the road.
Here we have a Garmin nuvi 1690 and the TomTom XL 340 S LIVE, both of which feature connected
capabilities.
With your subscription to their respective services, you can access local search powered
by Google, which lets you plug in any search term you want to get instant results, making
it much easier to find what you're looking for rather than scrolling through endless
menu screens to find that one special spot.
This feature requires a monthly subscription.
Both companies offer a free trial period, so you can check it out before subscribing.
Connected services do more than give you search capabilities.
They can also provide live traffic reports in your area, weather forecasts and local
gas prices.
You can also look up movie times and the best listings in your local area to find out what's
going on in town tonight.
As you can see, Connected GPS can make your travels easier and more fun than the basic
portable navigator can.
And with the extra features we mentioned earlier, like Bluetooth and improved graphics, you'll
find that even the most routine commute can take on a whole new life as you discover new
ways to explore your surroundings.
So be sure to check out portable navigators that go beyond the run-of-the-mill feature
set.
To find out more about what a portable navigator can do for you, visit crutchfield.com/portnav
or give us a call for personalized service.