Countdown to Black Friday: Best GPS deals

Black Friday is the busiest day of the holiday shopping season and with the state of the economy, a number of stores are offering great discounts and deals on a number of popular items. In fact, some are so anxious, they are offering door-buster-grade deals well in advance of the official sales holiday.
From the deals we’ve discovered, portable navigation systems (PNDs) have come down considerably in price and many of our top-rated models are now more affordable than ever. Some are basic models that will get you easily from point A to point B, but increasingly affordable mid-level models offer added features such as a wide screen, spoken street names, and traffic capability.

Whether buying a gift or for personal use, consult our GPS buying advice to learn about key features, then check the Ratings, which will soon be updated with three new models—the Garmin 1690, Magellan RoadMate 1700, and TomTom XXL 530. There is a convenient product selector to help sort and filter the GPS Ratings based on the features that matter most to you. (Ratings and selectors are available to online subscribers.)

The best GPS deals

We have scoured the brand-name retailers who have historically offered good GPS deals and pulled together a list of standout deals. Last year we saw new, smaller brands challenge the market giants with low-cost (and often low-rated) units. Still sore from the 2008 bruising, Garmin, Magellan, and TomTom have come out this season with aggressive pricing on good devices, effectively reclaiming the space in sales flyers and door-buster status.

Below is a list of GPS deals available for Black Friday, November 27th. Better pricing may be available at other retailers, particularly Web-based stores. Availability and pricing may change at any time, so it’s a good idea to confirm all the details with the individual retailers. As of today, a number of companies including Amazon.com, Buy.com, and Circuit City have not yet announced their Black Friday sales, but we’ll bring you more GPS deals next week.

Remember, ordering online may save you from the harried competition and waking up at the crack of dawn. You can compare prices from with our GPS model pages by using the Price & Shop function, tapping in approved stores, each listed with a user rating.

Definitely check the ratings before buying. In the list below, there are two and even three product generations represented from the manufacturers. In many cases, buying a newer unit will be the right move, as it will have more advanced features and fresher maps. (Older units may well have been sitting on a warehouse shelf for a long time.)

Happy shopping!

Garmin Nuvi 205W
$99.99 Best Buy

Garmin Nuvi 205
$89.99 Sears

Garmin Nuvi 255WT
$129.99 Best Buy

Garmin Nuvi 255W
$119.99 Staples

Magellan RoadMate 1220
$89.99 Sears

Magellan Roadmate 1440
$119.99 Sears
$119.99 Kmart

TomTom One 130
$77.99 Office Depot
$79.99 Kmart
$79.99 Sears

TomTom Go 630
$169.99 Office Depot
$169.99 Sears

TomTom GO 730
$174.99 Best Buy

TomTom XL 340S
$97.00 Target

TomTom XL325-SE
$89.00 Walmart

For more information on portable automotive GPS navigation systems, see our Ratings, first looks, and buying advice and watch our video guide. Discuss GPS devices in the forums.

—Liza Barth

Audi, MIT develops dashboard robot AIDA as a mobile assistant

Lots of people talk to their cars—even if few admit it. So far those conversations are pretty one-sided, with the exception being a voice-recognition navigation system. That may one day change. Exploring the potential for future man-machine interaction, Audi has teamed with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology to develop an interactive robot that not only talks back, but can also learn your driving habits, help you navigate, and even warn you of danger approaching.
 
Nicknamed AIDA, for Affective Intelligent Driving Agent, this robot  sprouts up from the top of the dashboard, smiles, frowns, and tilts its “head” to convey emotion. It is like having your own in-car Wall-E. So if the MMI isn’t enough of a distraction, here comes AIDA.
 
Researchers at MIT say that within a week of driving AIDA will learn where you live, where you work, and the route you take in between. If that route is congested, it will suggest alternate routes. If the car is low on gas, it will suggest you travel through the cheapest gas station along the route. Within a month, it will learn where you like to shop, and can route you by the grocery store.
 
AIDA can be more than a frivolous companion, though. Using forward radar, electronic stability control and other sensors, AIDA can warn of possible collisions and advise you on how to avoid them. The system’s virtual eyes merge into a cyclops – a single circle of dots surrounding a red warning triangle. And by choosing the shortest routes and avoiding traffic, it can save gas.
 
Having your car look after you, however, strikes some as “nannying.” Further, depending on how well AIDA can keep secrets, there may be a way for others to know where you’ve driven, including a spouse or car thief.
 
Should mobile assistant technology advance, those old jokes about the car knowing its own way on familiar routes may become all too true. However, AIDA is unlikely to appear on production cars any time soon.
 
Would you want AIDA for a copilot? Share your thoughts in the comments.
 
—Eric Evarts

Video: New handheld hiking GPS ratings

We have updated our handheld hiking GPS ratings with the addition of the Delorme Earthmate PN-30 and Garmin Dakota 10 devices. We had previewed the Delorme last year, when we were developing our ratings and buying advice, but the device reached the market after our project had been completed. The Garmin Dakota is a new device, just recently introduced.
 
The Delorme Earthmate PN-30 is the middle unit in the Earthmate line, providing the basic guidance needed for hiking and geocaching, with the ability to add maps. It includes 1:100k topography maps, and the unit can be updated with aerial imagery, akin to Google’s “satellite” map view. Although a newer unit, it has a dated feel compared to some Garmin units, with a smaller screen and display text for menus. There is a camouflaged version offered, though we would caution against that, as it would make the device harder to find should it be dropped or left behind by accident.
 
The Dakota 10 is the base model of a new line that is essentially a ¾-scale version of the touchscreen Oregon series. The Dakota 10 is easy to use, with an appealing display and intuitive menu structure. It can also be expanded with further maps.
 
Both units do not have a barometric altimeter or electronic compass, as found on higher-end models.
 
With the addition of these new units, we now have nine popular handheld devices in our ratings table, each with a product page, specifications, user reviews, and a Price & Shop feature.
 
Handheld hiking devices can lead you on adventures, exploring the wilderness with confidence or pursuing geocaches on an electronic treasure hunt. And they can make great gifts.

When reading through the ratings and buying advice, consider how the hiking device would be used and resist the temptation to overspend for features that may not be worthwhile. In our testing, we found some inexpensive units can work quite well, admittedly sacrificing screen size and some ease of use. On the other hand, such affordable models can often be lighter and more packable.

For more information on portable automotive GPS navigation systems, see our Ratings, first looks, and buying advice and watch our video guide. Discuss GPS devices in the forums.

—Jeff Bartlett

Video: New GPS navigation buying guide

As we have often said, the portable navigation device (PND) market is fast moving, with innovations and new products appearing every few months. In particular, we have seen a dramatic increase in the quantity and quality of cell-phone based navigation solutions just since summer. (See our iPhone navigation app reviews.) While we have been busy testing the significant devices and software as they become available, it was time to update our GPS buying guide video to reflect these new products and trends, as well.
 
In this video, we highlight key considerations for GPS buyers and share our related buying advice. Seeing features demonstrated and explained in the video may help in making the right choice for you. Also shown is our GPS product selector tool, which allows online subscribers to quickly sort and filter our vast ratings to show the models that best suit your needs and budget. There are almost 300 GPS navigators in the tool currently. If you find products of interest, you can move on to the product pages for detailed information, or use the pricing tool to compare prices through approved, safe vendors in an ad-free environment.
 
When it comes to shopping for a navigator, the right place to go is the Consumer Reports GPS buying guide.

For more information on portable automotive GPS navigation systems, see our Ratings, first looks, and buying advice and watch our video guide. Discuss GPS devices in the forums.

  —Jeff Bartlett

Test Drive: Live traffic data on Navigon Mobile Navigator iPhone app

Navigon was the first major GPS maker to offer a downloadable iPhone navigation app, porting over its graphic interface and features to the popular cell phone. Today, the Navigon Mobile Navigator stands as the top-grossing application in the Apple iTunes store, though until this week it has lacked one key feature: traffic information. (See our Navigon Mobile Navigator review.)
 
Navigon has pioneered many features on portable navigation devices (PNDs), such as reality view and free, real-time traffic data. Now no longer offering devices in the United States, Navigon is focused on applications, Navigon continues to innovate by offering Traffic Live as a premium iPhone app with a one-time fee. Navigon Mobile Navigator is now a $90 application. Traffic Live adds another $25, though no monthly or annual fee is required. The costs do add up, but the total price is still significantly less than purchasing a comparable PND. This add-on is purchased through the Mobile Navigator application, rather than from the iTunes store.
 
As with past Navigon PNDs, the Traffic Live information is aggregated from road sensors and traffic cameras, and supplied by Clear Channel’s Total Traffic Network. Navigon claims to supplement this traffic information with real-time speed data from commercial fleets, as well as regular GPS users. The most exciting development is adding crowdsourced data from Navigon application users who choose to share their current speed and location.
 
The traffic information is neatly integrated into the iPhone application, which has a similar look and feel to the traffic menus on the discontinued Navigon PNDs. Traffic Live provides information such as the start and end point of an incident, the average speed of traffic, a description of the traffic type (construction, accident, road closed, etc.), an expected time delay, the distance to incident, and length of the traffic incident. Users can decide if they want traffic information to be automatically included when calculating a route or upon request. 
 
Traffic incidents can be viewed in a list and can be sorted a number of ways.  For example, surrounding traffic can be displayed or only incidents on the current route. Incidents can be further filtered by distance to event, road, or expected delay time. When selecting a traffic incident from the list, it is displayed on the route with an overhead view, along with related information, such as traffic speed.
 
In our initial tests, we found a Garmin Nuvi 1690 found more traffic incidents, though it is hard to say which system is better. Remember, more alerts isn’t the goal. Timely, accurate reports are more valuable. Due to the variables in testing, we do not rate traffic services on accuracy. However, we expect the crowdsourcing aspect to significantly aid Live Traffic as more users download the add-on application.
 
We can say, the traffic integration is well done, though there remains room for improvement regarding color coding, especially on the main map screen. (Many competitors overlay traffic conditions in different colors on the main map screen so a user can see upcoming incidents at a glance.)
 
Bottom line
The Mobile Navigator remains one of the best navigation apps available for the iPhone, serving as a viable alternative to a traditional PND. For $25, Traffic Live is a natural choice for users looking to add traffic information. However, our long-standing advice remains that any traffic information can be inaccurate or outdated, as is the case with other competing products, whether apps or PNDs. Navigon’s edge is in tapping users to be mobile traffic sensors, and given the popularity of the iPhone and this software, the company has a better chance than most of making good on the promised benefits of crowdsourcing traffic info.

See our full reviews of AT&T Navigator, iGo My Way, Navigon Mobile Navigator, Sygic Mobile Maps, TomTom iPhone application, and X Road G-Map for iPhone. And our Motorola Droid navigation review.

For more information on portable automotive GPS navigation systems, see our Ratings, first looks, and buying advice and watch our video guide. Discuss GPS devices in the forums.

  —Jeff Bartlett and Frank Spinelli

TomTom to update, improve iPhone navigation app

TomTom has just announced improvements to their iPhone navigation app, some of which address shortcomings we have criticized in the past. (See our TomTom app review.) The upgrade adds three key features routinely found on TomTom stand-alone navigation devices, including:

• Text to speech, which announces proper street names and locations rather than simply saying “turn right” or other generic instruction.
• Lane guidance/reality view, providing a realistic view of complicated interchanges and indicating the best lane choice as the driver approaches an exit or intersection. Works in vertical and horizontal modes.
• Help menu, which provides emergency phone numbers and directions to the nearest hospital, police, or other emergency help.

Music fans will be glad to hear the upgrade also now enables control of the iPod from within the application. Previously, users could not adjust volume, change selection, or make other adjustments to music while navigation was in use.  

Customizable audio warnings are also included to warn when the driver exceeds the speed limit or approaches safety cameras. A safety camera map and free database update are also included.

TomTom says the upgrade has been submitted to Apple for review, and once approved will be made available free to users who have already purchased the app. Once available, we will evaluate this new app version, along with the TomTom iPhone mount.

See our full reviews of AT&T Navigator, iGo My Way, Navigon Mobile Navigator, Sygic Mobile Maps, TomTom iPhone application, and X Road G-Map.

For more information on portable automotive GPS navigation systems, see our Ratings, first looks, and buying advice and watch our video guide. Discuss GPS devices in the forums.

—Jim Travers  

Review: Motorola Droid with free Google Maps Navigation

Navigation options continue to expand, with cell phones and smart phones providing alternatives to traditional portable navigation devices (PNDs). The latest such option is Google Maps Navigation, included in beta form on Android 2.0 devices. While Google Maps has long been available on the iPhone, this latest version offers true Google turn-by-turn directions for the first time on a mobile device. (Read our Android 2.0 navigation preview.)
 
The free Google Maps Navigation launches on the Motorola Droid phone with Verizon service. The Google service will expand to other phones and smart-phone platforms running other operating systems.
 
We tested the Google navigator on the Droid, a slider-style phone with a full QWERTY keyboard. The Droid has a 3.7-inch screen, giving it an advantage over the 3.5-inch iPhone screen. It also has the ability to run multiple applications at once, unlike the Apple phone. Perhaps the greater advantage is that it is on the Verizon network, rather than AT&T, which as been higher rated in our national cell phone surveys. (See our iPhone navigation app reviews.)
 
Verizon has the exclusive on the Motorola Droid, which is priced at $199, after a $100 rebate. Nationwide cell-phone voice plans begin at $40 a month, with e-mail/Web data plan adding at least $30.
 
Like other cell-phone navigators, Google Maps Navigation is server based—meaning it downloads maps and points of interest data as needed, rather than storing a large database on the device. Consequently, a data plan is required to use it. In addition, a cell signal is needed—limiting its usefulness in some remote places. In areas without a 3G network, downloading maps and recalculating routes can be slowed. An upside of this approach is that there is no need for map upgrades.
 
Test findings
As a navigator, Google Maps Navigation has common features, including spoken street names, and provides adequate routing. However, it does not include some features found on mid-priced PNDs and even some iPhone applications, such as reality view and lane assistance.
 
On the other hand, the free, bundled Android application has some of the more enticing features found in the online version of Google Maps. For example, a user can layer additional information on the main map screen, such as real-time traffic patterns, selected POIs, and satellite imagery of the actual landscape. “Street view” provides a photographic street-level representation, with the ability to zoom and pan the area. This could potentially be helpful when identifying a destination. All navigators indicate “you have arrived,” though this can theoretically literally show your destination.
 
These innovative features are novel, but the practical use when driving is limited. The satellite layer makes it more challenging to interpret the map at a glance, and street view can be confusing, as we found it often wasn’t accurate.
 
Following the connected trend among navigation devices, Google Maps Navigation taps users to supply traffic information, to provide user reviews for POIs, and to share their current location with Google Latitude.
 
Basic route guidance is adequate, providing turn-by-turn directions. Address entry is mixed. Some users found the onscreen menus to be less intuitive than those found on a traditional PND, and the touch-screen operation is less intuitive. The slide-out keyboard provides an alternative method to entering data, but its keys are small and closely placed. We found using it to be more difficult than with other competing devices. However, the Droid does have plain-speech voice recognition, allowing for verbal data entries in a more natural way than premium PNDs with voice recognition. We found this worked well.
 
The application sometimes feels more like using Google.com via a handheld, than an integrated solution. For example, a query from the main menu leads to Google.com, which can be confusing. To get results like on traditional PND, a user must be on the map screen (or navigation) then perform a search.  This will drop pins on the map and a user can select a pin to navigate too. The user can view the results in a list, as well, by tapping an icon.
 
When receiving a call, the screen changes and the map is no longer visible. This effectively negates the Android’s multitasking capabilities, whose chief in-car benefit would be to use the phone and navigation simultaneously.
 
Bottom line
The power and potential of Google Maps Navigation has captured the attention of the GPS industry and tech enthusiasts, but this service has a way to go to be compared among the best solutions for GPS navigation. That being said, if you decide to buy a phone with Google Maps Navigation preinstalled, it is adequate and would eliminate the need to pay for GPS and traffic services. But don’t let this software be the leading reason to purchase an Android 2.0 phone.

As we have seen with iPhone applications, software can advance rapidly. Clearly, Google Maps Navigation has promise. Consequently, competitors will likely redouble their development efforts, ensuring consumers have better navigation choices down the road. For now, we favor the better iPhone applications such as Navigon, Tomtom, and MotionX offerings for the combination of software and hardware.

For frequent use, a dedicated portable navigator remains the best choice.

 —Jeff Bartlett and Frank Spinelli

Also read:
Droid vs. iPhone: A 10-round bout
Our first impressions of the Motorola Droid
Garmin Nuvifone G60 navigation review

See our reviews of AT&T Navigator, iGo My Way, Gokivo, Navigon Mobile Navigator, Sygic Mobile Maps, TomTom iPhone application, and X Road G-Map for iPhone.

Images courtesy Motorola and Google.

Free Google navigation for Android 2.0 phones

The mobile navigation offerings continue to evolve and expand, with Google announcing that it will offer Google Maps Navigation in beta form for Android 2.0 devices when they hit the market next week. Previously Google Maps on cell phones, including the Apple iPhone, had limited-functionality indicating just current location on a map. Starting next week, Google will be able to provide turn-by-turn guidance, along with several other features that will add unique appeal.
 
The Droid has a 3.7-inch screen, giving it an advantage over the 3.5-inch iPhone screen. It also has the ability to run multiple applications as once, unlike the popular Apple phone. Perhaps the greater advantage is that it is on the Verizon network, rather than AT&T, which as been higher rated in our national cell phone surveys. (See our iPhone navigation app reviews.)
 
Verizon has the exclusive on the Motorola Droid, and it will be the first phone using Google Maps Navigation when it goes on sale November 6th for $199, after a $100 rebate. Nationwide cell-phone voice plans begin at $40 a month, with e-mail/Web data plan adding at least $30.
 
Google claims its app does seven things you may not be able to do with your current device:

Search in plain English, rather than stick with specific points of interest categories and specific addresses. Google allows these, as well as approximate addresses and business name, and it can resolve misspellings.
 
Voice recognition allows the user to speak the address, or query a specific search such as ask for the museum with a certain exhibit. Android is able to perform the search online, as you would with Google at your desktop, and integrate the findings into the navigation app.
 
Live traffic data is displayed with green, yellow, and red overlaps on the route. Android can provide alternative routes.
 
Points of interest can be found along the route, though this function is common among current portable navigation devices (PNDs).
 
Satellite view as popularized online is available to provide the context for routing, though this may not be the preferred mode when driving.
 
Street view gives a photo-based take on reality, overlaid with the colored route guidance. When you arrive at your destination, the address may be shown with a photograph, when available.
 
Car dock mode reacts when the phone is put in a mount to provide easy access to voice command and navigation.

Whether these nifty features hold up against the ease of use and travel information provided by other applications and dedicated portable navigation devices remains to be seen. Both our telephone and GPS experts will evaluate the Droid and this software for a full report in the coming days.

The Droid will also face competition from the Garmin Nuvifone G60.

  —Jeff Bartlett

See our reviews of AT&T Navigator, iGo My Way, Gokivo, Navigon Mobile Navigator, Sygic Mobile Maps, TomTom iPhone application, and X Road G-Map for iPhone.

For more information on portable automotive GPS navigation systems, see our Ratings, first looks, and buying advice and watch our video guide. Discuss GPS devices in the forums.

Images courtesy Motorola and Google.

Garmin Nuvifone 2.0 – The road it should travel

The long-awaited Garmin Nuvifone has arrived, and it may be too late. When Garmin puffed out its chest a year ago that it was boldly entering the smart-phone arena with a touchscreen device that promised to navigate as well as a PND, it seemed quite exciting. After all, most cell phones offered just server-based navigation solutions for a fee that were wrought with compromises and the mighty iPhone did not have turn-by-turn navigation.. Oh, how the world has changed in the months since. (See our full Garmin Nuvifone G60 review.)
 
As we have chronicled over the summer, Navigon withdrew from the portable navigation device (PND) market in the United States to focus its efforts on software, and it delivered one of the first nav apps for the iPhone. TomTom diversified its portfolio with an increased emphasis on connected PNDs and the most ambitious iPhone nav solution to date, complete with a receiver- and speaker-fitted cradle. And Garmin? Oh, they are just bringing to market what would have been big stuff last year.
 
In fairness, Garmin continues to evolve its PNDs, but the Nuvifone is underwhelming and mistimed. We have completed our testing, and while the Nuvifone G60 provides excellent basic guidance, it is expensive and short on features. On the business side, the most unfortunate element is that it will be sold alongside the iPhone; both devices are sold exclusively through AT&T. Adding further insult, AT&T ranks low in most cities in our latest cell-service ratings.
 
At an AT&T store, a customer can choose from the $300 Nuvifone G60 (factoring a $100 rebate) with 4GB of memory or an iPhone 3GS with 16 GB for $200. For that price, the Nuvifone includes a mount and nav software. Both devices need a car charger. But the iPhone has the app store, with several good applications to choose from, with prices ranging from $5 to $100. And we have seen these apps improve rapidly, providing free upgrades to customers. Plus, there are a few thousand other cool apps readily available, as well.
 
The Nuvifone of tomorrow
What I’d like to see is Garmin rapidly move the Nuviphone into a unique niche, tapping its broad GPS-device experience and appeal to its core, active-lifestyle customer base.
 
My recipe for surviving in this obscenely competitive market:

• The Nuvifone needs to not mimic the basic Nuvi 265, but the Nuvi 885T. Aim high. Throw in all the software features like reality view, then go further with voice recognition.
• Having add-on maps for other countries is nice, but the core Garmin audience is in the United States. Port over maps for hiking with topography and blue water maps, as illustrated above.
• Offer a ruggedized version that is water and scratch resistant.
• Embrace geographic-based social networking with Ciao!, as on some other recent Garmin devices.
• Push geocaching to the next level, tying together the “guided tour” concept explored on other devices, with geo-tagging. Geocache instructions could include tagged images as clues, and the electronic treasure hunts can be larger in scale.
  
• Tie into sports, allowing data to be gathered, transferred, and shared with running, bicycle, and motorcycle-focused devices.
• Develop an add-on application for measuring automotive performance, such as acceleration and braking. Bonus points for an OBDII code reader, especially a wireless system that uses a Bluetooth transmitter.
• Sell the Nuvifone with other carriers with better service and thereby eliminate the side-by-side comparison with the iPhone in stores.

Where the iPhone benefits from the creative third-party software developers, Garmin can leverage its internal strengths. There is no larger consumer-focused GPS company in the United States. Garmin is the Microsoft of GPS, and the Nuvifone is its Zune (MP3 player). In this sector, Gamin runs the risk of being outdone by Apple in like fashion.

Well, that's my take. What do you think Gamin could do to compete?

  —Jeff Bartlett

See our reviews of AT&T Navigator, iGo My Way, Gokivo, Navigon Mobile Navigator, Sygic Mobile Maps, TomTom iPhone application, and X Road G-Map for iPhone.

For more information on portable automotive GPS navigation systems, see our Ratings, first looks, and buying advice and watch our video guide. Discuss GPS devices in the forums.

Test Drive: Garmin Nuvifone G60

The Consumer Reports GPS team has completed its test of the Garmin Nuvifone G60, and the results are mixed. The Nuvifone is the best phone-based navigator we have evaluated, though it falls short  of its potential and lacks the value and luster of the iPhone. (Read our Garmin Nuvifone G60 review.)
 
Consider the Nuvifone to be like a Nuvi 265 portable navigation device (PND) enhanced with basic telephony features and a three-megapixel camera. It has an easy-to-use interface that is immediately recognizable to anyone familiar with Garmin devices. Address entry is simple, directions are clear with spoken street names, and points of interest readily found. However, it lacks some features readily available on mid-priced Garmin devices, such as multi-destination routing, lane guidance, and reality view. With a $400 price tag, it should have these enhancements and more. (There is currently a $100 rebate available.)
 
Credit can be given for including a compact, well-engineered mount—something other phones do not bundle. However, at this price, a car charger should be also included. Despite getting three-hours of navigation from the Nuvifone, the battery life will diminish with cell-phone use and Bluetooth audio streaming, making the charger essential for road tripping. The Nuvifone also includes a pedestrian mode, something we have found helpful for negotiating unfamiliar metropolitan areas.
 
The Nuvifone does handle multitasking phone calls and navigation better than other tested mobile devices. iPhone applications typically require the user to choose one function or the other. But in the end, the Nuvifone is short on features and sizzle, yet with a price premium over established, slicker smart phones. It may have special appeal to Garmin loyalists, though likely will be a tough sell for others.  

The Consumer Reports Electronics franchise is running the Nuvifone through their telephone tests and will have results soon.

Read the full Garmin Nuvifone G60 navigation review. 

See our reviews of AT&T Navigator, iGo My Way, Gokivo, Navigon Mobile Navigator, Sygic Mobile Maps, TomTom iPhone application, and X Road G-Map for iPhone.

For more information on portable automotive GPS navigation systems, see our Ratings, first looks, and buying advice and watch our video guide. Discuss GPS devices in the forums.

 —Jeff Bartlett and Frank Spinelli