Monday, December 7th, 2009

Your GPS Unit’s Not Complete Without the Right Software


When users post reviews on the diverse GPS devices from the well-known manufacturers, they seem to focus just on the the device itself; the overall look, how well it performs, and the user interface. What these reviews routinely ignore, unfortunately, is the GPS Software which is required in order for it to interact with the Windows or Mac systems effectively. This software is needed for operations like synchronizing and accessing the most recent maps and POI’s to a GPS device. As with any other software, GPS software that appears unnecessarily complex should be kept away from. Understanding the peculiarities of GPS software might not be the deciding factor that moves you to purchase one particular brand, but appreciating the capabilities of the supporting software is required after you already put money down on one GPS device. The types of GPS software will usually be practically identical for different models within a particular brand. A nice model to look into is the Garmin Nuvi 465t Truck GPS Navigator.

Garmin Nuvi Software

Garmin Nuvi offers a wide selection of specific GPS software that you can purchase from the company’s main website. Software updates are able to be downloaded manually or with help from another bit of software called WebUpdater. When you want to make WebUpdater run, all that is needed is to plug the device in and follow the easy wizard steps. There are also quite a few mapping programs made to support both Windows and Mac systems. There is also a particular section only for Mac users so they can make the most out of their Garmin Nuvi GPS devices.

TomTom HOME

The TomTom HOME is designed to search your GPS unit for installed software and run upgrades as required. Beyond some basic functions like transferring maps, TomTom HOME also enables software owners to download files that are used in the device, then personalize and put them back in the unit to form unique screen graphics, giving your TomTom a more personal look. Adding to that, TomTom has managed to make software for mobile phones, the majority of which has been discontinued. Fortunately there is still an application which runs on an iPhone 3G.

Magellan Software

Magellan might have the permanent image of producing inexpensive products, but you can now find plenty of software intended to be downloaded for free, including two different versions; VantagePoint and MapGuard. VantagePoint is a great application that can bring all the GPS bells and whistles to a home computer. Each of the maps, roads, itineraries, and landmarks are displayed and your maps can be viewed using both the 2D and 3D effects.

MapGuard is their alternate program and includes MapSend Manager in addition to Mapsend Lite. The MapSend Lite is a state of the art application which lets you see any map on a PC, helping you to select waypoints and build courses. MapGuard also support Geocaching, and the consumer can even convert data into several different formats. A great unit to consider is the Garmin Nuvi 465t Truck GPS Navigator.

Judging Each Application

To repeat, GPS software isn’t supposed to be the single basis in picking your next GPS device. GPS software is  only available to enhance each manufacturer’s GPS systems and achieve that product’s maximum usability. Out of the ones reviewed here, TomTom HOME easily outdistances the others because of the opportunity to individualize the user interface. A few brands of software can even be sampled even if you don’t have a corresponding GPS device.






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