Have you ever been in a situation where you were on your way somewhere and found yourself lost in a desolate location? That could be really daunting, and quite a hopeless situation, especially for people who have no sense in direction whatsoever.
It's a good thing that cell phones are quite familiar fixtures in many people's gadget collection that you can simply call someone and ask for directions. But what if you don't know where you are at that very moment?
Wouldn't it be a great thing if you find another amazing use for your car DVD player and a cell phone - like getting you get to where you're going using car GPS capabilities? A great number of cell phones and car DVD players now have car GPS functionality.
These accessories can pinpoint your exact location and help you get to the location you want to go as accurately and safely as possible. But which device would be right for you? Let's take a look.
What GPS Devices Are Out There
The following are some of the most common and easily available GPS, or Global Positioning System. Devices that you can utilize.
* Car DVD Players with GPS Capabilities
The majority of mid - high priced car DVD players available today offer some form of GPS navigation. Aside from using satellite technology to pinpoint your location, these devices have its core functionality built-in around playing those rare CD's and DVD's that took you months or even years to collect.
The device is fed directly to your auto battery eliminating the need to recharge it before you utilize it and is hooked up directly to your car's sound system for superior audio quality. What makes car DVD players with GPS and Picture in Picture functionality even sweeter is that they can perform two functions at once allowing you to multitask no matter where you are.
* Handheld car GPS
This portable unit can be snapped on or off from a mounting unit on your dashboard and would require no intricate installation. And to make the larger models of portable GPS unit competition in the car DVD market makers have installed Bluetooth receivers and FM transmitters so that drivers can use their handheld GPS devices as handsfree calling kits just like they do with car DVD players. But the biggest feature is its price which is between 30% and 50% less than car DVD systems.
* GPS-Capable Cell Phones
Cell phones didn't really enter the picture until 2005 when the US FCC insisted all cell phones and smart phones were equipped with an integrated GPS navigational system. This function is good for two additional purposes aside from having spoken conversations and sending SMS on your mobile phone. First is that the smart phone can be used to get driving directions to get you to where you are going, and the second one is to guide the ambulance, fire service, police and other emergency response units to get to your exact location should you be caught up in a vehicular accident.
Which GPS Devices Are Right for You?
New and upcoming GPS devices are crammed with a wide variety of features that go beyond the main function of the device of giving positional information that it would seem very tricky to choose which device would be right for you. What follows is a comparison that can provide some insight to help you in this situation.
* Cell Phones, Automotive DVD Players, Portable GPS Units, Which to Choose
People who choose car DVD players with GPS capabilities usually do so for three reasons: its GPS functionality; connectivity to cell phones allowing hands-free use; and its core function of playing CDs, DVDs and a number of other multimedia files. The LCD screen varies in sizes, but a large number of units come with a 7-inch, 800x400 pixel resolution that provides ample viewing quality for normal use.
If you compare this to a stand-alone GPS navigator with a similar 7-inch screen, you will find out that the functionality people look for in car DVD systems is also available with these units - with a slight difference.
GPS navigators can't play CDs or DVDs directly, but they do reproduce converted music and other multimedia loaded into its memory. The sound output may not be as great as DVD players as GPS devices make use of its FM transmitter or Bluetooth function to hook up to the car's sound system. The portable GPS is just that, portable while the car DVD is anything but. And of course - the big difference in price.
While comparing car DVD to a smart phone is doesn't need to be done there is a lot of merit in comparing portable GPS units to cell phones.
While smart phones may fit easier into pockets or handbags portable car GPS units have a larger screen which makes them more convenient while navigating to destinations on the road.
And again portable GPS units often are much cheaper than smart phones.
Selecting the right form of GPS all boils down to your preference as to what you enjoy most and how you live your life. If you value great looking multimedia and fantastic sounding music then you are probably better to get a car DVD player. If its portability and price you want, then select portable GPS navigators or even cell phones. The choice is yours.
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