Gadgetell | Tech News, Reviews, and Interesting Things

The helpful folks at TeleNav shot me out their new Shotgun and here are my first impressions.  If you are planning on buying a GPS device this holiday season, this is one to watch carefully.  I’ve had the device in my hands now for about 30 minutes and already am very excited about it for 3 main reasons.

Excitement reason #1: POIs

TeleNav says it has 11 million POIs.  The local Ikea, for some reason, shows up on no GPS devices that I have tested except my TeleNav phone GPS.  No surprise that the Shotgun finds it easily as well.  So far, the TeleNav’s connected search has always been able to find every location I’ve searched for.  I cannot say the same for Garmin, Navigon and Dash.  Keep reading about what other points make the Shotgun a damn good GPS.

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TeleNav, the on-phone GPS provider that I rely on, announced this morning they are in the connected GPS game.  This news comes on the heels of Dash GPS announcing they were done making their stand along connected GPS device.  Let’s get to it: how good is this GPS device?

From the looks of it, pretty good.  A connected GPS device is the way to go.  Static data trapped in a box isn’t helpful.  What is helpful is a device that reaches out to get new info, expand its searches.  And that is what the TeleNav Shotgun is.

Check the connected features of this GPS device.

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TeleNav has confirmed they will be on the iPhone 3G using the GPS radio for turn by turn navigation in 3D.  This comes as interesting news for a couple of reasons.  One is Job’s statement that the GPS radio was not strong enough for turn by turn directions and two that Tom-Tom was the front runner in navigation partners.

“According to Apple, the iPhone’s G.P.S. antenna is much too small to emulate the turn-by-turn navigation of a G.P.S. unit for a vehicle, for example.“ -David Pogue

Um, OK, so it is strong enough for TeleNav?  Anyone else confused?  More as it develops.

Also, I have a suspicion Gizmodo got the new slightly wrong: I believe the app will be available through the App store but you’ll still be charged a monthly access fee from TeleNav.  This has been their business model and I don’t see them going for a one time application fee.  You?

Company site [TeleNav]

• Who’s On Crack in tech: 11.21.08 edition
• iPhone is number 1 in mobile ads
• Apple launches new iPhone Your Life site

Todays fight card: Garmin, the “old man” of the GPS world.  Garmins reknown for having tons (literally) of products in aviation, marine and just about everywhere else imaginable.  TeleNav focuses on just cell phone navigation and focuses their efforts there.  Which will win out on our testing?

Garmin XT $99 (for cellphones with internal GPS) or $199 (for cell phones without). 
Pros: Great maps, a more logical layout of maps made understanding the road ahead a little easier than TeleNav.
Cons: No spoken streets just a “make left ahead”; leaves me guessing which street I need to turn on.  Menus were difficult to navigate.  Maps are dated.  Traffic not updated regularly for me.
Overall:

TeleNav $9.99 per month (may require $100 GPS receiver if your phone lacks one)
Pros: Voice directions, great menus, traffic checked every 15 min., maps always fresh
Cons: you must be in cell phone coverage at the start of trip or at any point you go off course.  $9.99/month can make it the costlier choice.
Overall:

It seems like such a simple task, designing a GPS system.  I thought I would be ace at it.  Simply say, “turn right” every once in a while and whammo, I am GPS provider.  Not so much.  How often do you need to tell someone they are on the right road?  Do they need to know they should merge onto the highway?  How do you verbally describe a roundabout and where they should get off?  There is a lot to it and as you’ll see, both units have their issues.

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Nuance, a company working to get into the voicemail to text service industry has confirmed they are working with TeleNav to make GPS even better.  With Nuances technology, users will be able to say, “airport” and TeleNav’s navigator will guide you there.

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