CONSUMER REPORTS: GPS on Your Smartphone
Sales of portable GPS units have fallen, but plenty of people are downloading
navigation apps to get where they’re going. Consumer Reports tested some of the latest
GPS apps for your smart phone. It says nvigation apps are getting better than ever.
Some sport features like reality view to show major intersections, or celebrity voices that
you can download for some laughs.
If you own an Android phone, you’re in luck. It comes with free Google navigation built
right in. And it has turn-by-turn directions, just like you’d find on a regular GPS.
But if you’re an iPhone user, you need to download an app to get GPS-style navigation.
There are plenty of free options available, but Consumer Reports found you tend to get
what you pay for.
Instead, Consumer Reports says you can’t go wrong buying an app from one of the
GPS giants: Garmin, Navigon, Tomtom and Magellan. And testers aren't surprised that
the companies whose GPS navigators do best in Consumer Reports' testing also make
some of the top apps for the iPhone.
But expect to pay up to $60 for a quality, name-brand app. And know that the download
can eat up a chunk of your iPhone’s memory.
And no matter which phone you have, be aware that most have smaller screens than
portable GPS units. And you’ll have to factor in the cost of a mount and a charger to
make the most of your smart phone navigator.
Consumer Reports says the price of apps fluctuates, but you can save by shopping for
sales, or by limiting your download to a specific region—say, maps of the East Coast.
And a word about safety. No matter how you choose to navigate, pull over and come to
a full stop whenever you program your device.
Complete Ratings and recommendations on all kinds of products, including appliances,
cars & trucks, and electronic gear, are available on Consumer Reports’ website.
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