* * * * *
                                        
                     This actually doesn't sound half bad …
                                        
> It's no secret that we've been openly critical of the prices charged by
> automakers for built-in GPS navigation systems. Frankly, paying $2,000 or
> more for an in-dash system when you can buy stand-alone navigation units
> for as little as $100 is ridiculous. Even the newer, larger seven-inch
> screen units are now down to as little as $250, and even though they aren't
> tied in to a vehicles' wheel sensors, they tend to be plenty accurate. Now,
> however, there is a new option that is even cheaper – as in (sort of) free.
> 
> It's only "sort of" free because the Google maps turn-by-turn navigation
> app is built into the new Motorola Droid [1] smartphone (see sister-site
> Engadget's full review of the Droid here [2]) that recently became
> available from Verizon Wireless. In this case, you have to sign up for two
> years of mobile phone service, which includes a data plan. I've been a
> Verizon customer for a decade and just happened to be up for a biennial
> discounted phone upgrade. When the Droid appeared a few weeks ago, the plan
> to wait until the new year for a Palm Pre was discarded. We've now had the
> chance to play with the Droid and its new navigation software, so follow
> the jump [3] to find out if it lives up to expectations.
> 

Via Instapundit [4], “Review: Google Maps turn-by-turn navigation on Android
2.0 — Autoblog [5]”

For Corsair [6], who loves his gadgets, and because he hates AT&T [7].

Personally, I wouldn't mind this. I think the combination of Google Maps [8]
and a GPS (Global Positioning System) is wonderful, although I wouldn't use
the turn-by-turn navigation (map view is fine by me, with spot checks with
the street view to avoid potentially bad areas). I would also like a larger
screen, but hey, you can't have everything.

[1] http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/30/motorola-droid-review/
[2] http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/30/motorola-droid
[3] http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/01/review-google-maps-turn-by-turn-
[4] http://pajamasmedia.com/instapundit/89349/
[5] http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/01/review-google-maps-
[6] http://www.thecorsairjournal.com/
[7] http://www.thecorsairjournal.com/2009/11/19/oh-yeah-well-we-have-the-
[8] http://maps.google.com/

Email Sean Conner at sean@conman.org

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