Satnav is dead, long live satnav .... maybe

Darren

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has confirmed that the standalone satellite navigation system has been removed from its ‘basket of goods’, the system used to measure the UK inflation rate.

Simply put, sales of standalone satnav devices, or Personal Navigation Devices (PNDs) as we may know them, have fallen dramatically in recent years and sales are now so low that they no longer provide a useful measure.

Many more people now rely on smartphone navigation apps or have a built-in satnav in their car and new satnavs sell in far fewer numbers than they did at the peak.

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Darren Griffin

MaFt · Posted: Thu Apr 16, 2015 9:23 pm Post subject:

If I'm honest, it's a long time since I've used a dedicated unit... I used to use phone for short journeys but a dedicated unit for long trips.

Nowadays I either use Navigon on Android with the Garmin HUD (for long journeys) or Google Navigation with the directions sent through to my Pebble watch (for shorter journeys). Although I did Bradford to Mablethorpe last weekend solely using Google Nav and CamerAlert.

For me, it's difficult to find a reason to carry an extra device around for navigation when the quality of even the free apps is that good now.

MaFt

Darren · Posted: Thu Apr 16, 2015 9:32 pm Post subject:

I haven't used a PND in a few years now.
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Darren Griffin

sussamb · Posted: Thu Apr 16, 2015 10:09 pm Post subject:

I'm the opposite, I don't find a phone app compares with my PND so can't see myself switching.
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Where there's a will ... there's a way.

Kremmen · Posted: Fri Apr 17, 2015 5:29 am Post subject:

Same here. The car unit is fine for directions but it can't take cameras. I did try CamerAlert for a short time but it kept locking up.

Garmin PND also has the digital traffic so it's no contest for me.
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matthewj · Frequent Visitor Joined: Apr 03, 2006 Posts: 751

My 740 PND is awaiting me doing something about selling it. The iPhone app works just fine.

The key question that I will ask, but I'm sure is already pondered on PocketGPSWorld, is what will happen to this site? It is a great resource for discussion, but with what will inevitably be a reduction in subscriptions to a database that you can't use on mobile easily (the app is fine, but it is hassle), what will happen to the site's finances?

GPS will be here forever, but will gadgets that need discussing.

Philsull · Occasional Visitor Joined: Jun 23, 2009 Posts: 1

Tomtom was forever (until very recently) asking prices higher than a brand new piece of hardware to bring my One up to date, use Route 66 on the phone now.

Phil

IanS100 · Posted: Mon Apr 20, 2015 6:44 am Post subject:

sussamb · Posted: Mon Apr 20, 2015 6:57 am Post subject:

Garmin's warn you whether on a route or not ... Wink

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Where there's a will ... there's a way.

Anita · Posted: Mon Apr 20, 2015 9:36 am Post subject:

I thought TomTom PNDs warned you without a route planned unless you'd set the cameras to "Warn only if on route". Confused

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Anita
TomTom VIA 135 - App 12.075
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DennisN · Posted: Mon Apr 20, 2015 11:51 am Post subject:

I agree Anita (although the theory is that means directional, yet I get warned both ways for some).

Anyway, as a side issue relating to dying PNDs... I wonder if that's why my HD Traffic seems to be improving connection-wise? The fewer PNDs with built in SIMs for traffic, the less strain on the system, so the better the service for all us dinosaurs still using it? I mean, it can't be TomTom responding to my concerns!
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Dennis

If it tastes good - it's fattening.

Two of them are obesiting!!

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