Making Best Use Of Design Improvement In GPS Units | The Communication Blog

Saturday, November 12, 2011

Making Best Use Of Design Improvement In GPS Units

By Yusef Naser


Automotive GPS devices have evolved over the past few years and it isn't just the internals and technologies that power them. Although improved navigational technologies are usually the best reason to make the upgrade, some design improvements can make a device better too. TomTom is one of the popular GPS brands that are aware of this and they want to stay competitive by offering models like the TomTom VIA 1535T 5-inch GPS navigators just like some other big GPS manufacturers are doing.

If you remember in the earlier years, GPS devices were only 3.5 inches and now people are finally settling down with 4.3-inch widescreen devices. 5-inch screens seem like a serious upgrade that requires you to fork out a lot of money but fortunately, there are a couple of inexpensive TomTom GPS navigators like the TomTom VIA 1505 that still provide the same common benefits as a typical 5-inch GPS device.

Advantages of 5-inch GPS Devices

Although overall screen resolution is not affected by increasing the display size from 4.3 to 5 inches, the pixels appear bigger. That can be a significant benefit in a car's GPS unit. These units are intended to be mounted on the dashboard or windshield of your car, and depending on your car's interior design, the display might not be easily readable. The zoom feature can help, but you need to tap the unit's zoom controls to activate it. A 5-inch display will stay readable on more zoom levels and the unit's menus will also be easier to read because the overall size of the text is larger. TomTom VIA 5-inch models have slim profiles, and they are lightweight despite the larger screen size.

A Quick Buying Guide for 5-Inch GPS Units

At a price of about $150, the TomTom GPS Navigators is the most affordable of the TomTom VIA series of GPS devices. It's a good buy if you're just looking for basic GPS functionality. Compared to the TomTom GO series of GPS units, the 1505 is basic, but it still has plenty of useful features. In addition to navigation technologies such as IQ Routes, Eco Routes and Advanced Lane Guidance, the 1505 will give you maps with plenty of points of interest and other helpful details.

But if you are upgrading from a smaller 4.3-inch device, you are better off going for something a bit more midrange like the TomTom VIA 1535T. This way you are not getting just a screen upgrade but also a functionality upgrade where you can take advantage of Bluetooth and voice recognition features. These features used to be on high-end devices and now ordinary consumers can have a chance at better convenience.

A TomTom GPS model with the TM suffix is even better because it will come with lifetime traffic and map updates. It will give you the best value and you won't have any subscription fees. It's important to be able to update your maps periodically so you're aware of new routes, and real-time updates are essential for knowing the best route to take at a particular time. With a price below $200, a GPS like the TomTom VIA 1535TM would be an excellent purchase.




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