Using a smartphone GPS

While dedicated GPS devices work reliably for getting directions to grandma's house, they often sell for a couple hundred dollars. Fortunately, there are many smartphones out there that also have built-in GPS functionality. You may already have one of these phones or you may be looking to upgrade, but often the price of one of these phones is comparable to stand-alone GPS units, especially those with media playback capabilities.

Using a smartphone as a GPS device has been made practical by the fact that the screens are no longer tiny. Modern smartphone screens are often as large as screens of GPS devices and are sometimes clearer. Add to that the fact that smartphones can get apps that use GPS (

location-based services like Foursquare

) and the smartphone GPS becomes a source of endless entertainment and gossip. Also, with the added

cellular networks and wi-fi connectivity

, smartphones can easily use

AGPS or Assisted GPS

. This allows you to triangulate your position even without a clear view of the sky.

Another reason that modern smartphones are a more legitimate replacement to dedicated GPS units is the fact that their processors are getting faster. This makes them more capable of running the intensive map-based programs that use GPS. In fact, makers of hardware GPS units are now coming out with software apps for many smartphones. Have a look on the

iTunes store or Android marketplace

for some examples.

The more recent versions of the Android OS even come with a built-in navigation software called accessed by going to Navigate. This offers more features (including turn-by-turn directions) than the iPhone's Maps application. iPhone users will want to get a dedicated application for turn-by-turn directions. We chose to use the TomTom U.S. and Canada application which, while $59.99, is still a deal compared to many high-end GPS devices.

These navigation apps can be quite large so we recommend downloading through the computer to save your data plan. Also, these apps, while running, can take a large deal of power due to their constant need for a connection so we recommend powering them up in the car and keeping them plugged in, if possible. The TomTom Car Kit for iPhone comes with a mini-USB port and an audio out jack for clearer audio. Another option is the Griffin WindowSeat Hands Free, which can hold iPhones (even in carrying cases) or Android phones. This setup also leaves room to attach power, possibly using the Griffin PowerDuo Micro to connect to the cigarette lighter.