06 Apr Navigate Your World
Whether you’re navigating on city streets or through the woods, you donít have to go it alone. A GPS unit can help you find your way—and more. Today’s devices will keep you connected to the internet, take photos, and even serve as a personal trainer.
Magellan Triton 2000
Find your way in the great outdoors with this handheld GPS unit. Designed for hikers or boaters, the Triton 2000 is waterproof and includes a 3-axis compass for navigating the old-fashioned way, plus a barometer to help you gauge the weather. It includes a 2-megapixel camera so you can capture snapshots along the way, and a voice recorder so you can record audio notes along your journey.
Price: $399.99
TomTom
GO 930
Speak and you shall be heard—at least by this GPS unit, anyway. The GO 930 includes speech recognition, so you can speak the address you’d like to find, rather than having to type it in—a real benefit when driving. It also includes TomTom’s IQ Routes technology, which calculates your travel-time based on the average road speeds, not posted speed limits.
Price: $349.95
Garmin Forerunner 405
This GPS-enabled wristwatch doubles as a personal trainer for runners. It monitors your workout time, distance, pace, and calories burned and even provides you with a virtual workout partner. For an extra $50 you can get a version with a heart-rate monitor, too. The Forerunner wirelessly syncs that information with your computer so you can analyze your workouts.
Price: $299.99
AAA Mobile
You may not have to purchase a separate device to get the features of a GPS unit. AAA Mobile, now available in version 4.0, can turn your cell phone into your personal navigator. This software delivers turn-by-turn directions, traffic alerts, local gas prices, and movie reviews and show times, to compatible cell phones. It will even transmit your location to AAA if you find yourself in need of roadside
assistance.
Price: $9.99 per month
(billed by your carrier)
Navigon 2000S
A GPS unit doesn’t have to be a budget-buster. Take the Navigon 2000S: This $200 in-car unit delivers turn-by-turn directions on its adequate (though not exceptionally roomy) 3.5-inch touch screen. You also get a few extras, such as Navigon’s Reality View Pro feature, which shows the road—and road signs–as they actually look, in 3D.
Price: $99
