Have you ever been in a scenario 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, particularly 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. However what if you don't know where you are at right then? Wouldn't it be a great thing if you find another great use for your DVD player and cell phone †like helping you get to where you're going using GPS capabilities? Many of the car DVD players and cell phones made after 2005 now provide that functionality. These electronic devices can pinpoint your exact location and help you get to the destination you want to go as accurately and safely as is humanly able. But which device would be right for you? Let's figure it out. What's Available The following are some of the most common and easily available GPS, or Global Positioning System, devices that you can access. * Car DVD Players with GPS Capabilities Most of the modern aftermarket car DVD players and pre installed Automotive DVD players installed today have some form of Global Positioning Satellite System onboard. Aside from using satellite technology to pinpoint your location, these devices has its core functionality built-in around playing those rare CD's and DVD's that took an age to collect. The device is fed directly to your automobile battery eliminating the need to recharge it before you use it and is hooked up directly to your car's speakers for superior audio quality. And if the car offers Picture In Picture functionality then you will be able to get a route fore where you're going while you are reversing out of your driveway. * Handheld GPS Navigators These portable gadgets can be snapped on or off from a mounting kit on your dashboard and would require no intricate installation. It has Bluetooth or FM transmitter features allowing it to access you car's audio system. However the biggest feature is its price which is between 30% and 50% less expensive than car DVD systems. * GPS-Capable Cell Phones In 2005, a law called E911 by the US Federal Communications Commission took effect, mandating all cell phones and smartphones to be equipped with a built-in GPS navigation system. This functionality is good for two additional purposes aside from having spoken conversations and sending SMS on your mobile phone. First is that the mobile phone can be used to get driving directions to get you to your intended location , and the second one is to guide services like the fire service, ambulance and police service to get to your exact location should you be the victim of a vehicular accident. What GPS Device Is Best For Which Circumstances? New and upcoming GPS devices are stuffed with a wide variety of features that go beyond the reason for the devices' creation of giving positional information that it would seem very difficult to choose which device would be right for you. The comparison that follows can provide some insight to help you in this situation. * Devices Compared †The Car DVD Versus The Portable GPS Navigator Versus The Cell Phone 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 communication; and its core function of playing CDs, DVDs and a number of other multimedia files. The LCD screen varies in sizes but a wide number of units come with a 7-inch, 800x400 pixel resolution that provide ample viewing quality for normal use. The portable GPS unit with a seven inch screen and a car DVD player with a seven inch screen may not seem that different at all. GPS navigators can't play CDs or DVDs directly, but they do play converted music and other multimedia loaded into its memory. The audio quality may not be as great as DVD players as GPS navigational devices make use of its FM transmitter or Bluetooth function to hook up to the car's sound system. The big difference between a car DVD and a portable GPS is its size; you can take a portable GPS with you when you leave the car and you can't do that for a car DVD. And one thing that doesn't need to be talked about †the big price difference. While comparing a car DVD to a smartphone is a pointless exercise there is a lot of merit in comparing handheld GPS devices to cell phones. Portable GPS units have a bigger screen, which make them much handier for using in the car and watching movies, while GPS capable cell phones fit in the pocket easier And again portable GPS units usually are much cheaper than smart phones. Deciding which GPS device format is right for you all boils down to your preference as to which functionality would be in your priority list. If you are after audio quality and multimedia functionality then car DVD players will suit you well. If its portability and price you want, then choose portable GPS navigators or even cell phones. The choice is yours.
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