Treo Smartphone GPS | Traveling with a Treo GPS In My Pocket
Without a doubt one of the single best experiences that I’ve had with my Treo over the past two weeks while travelling with my car rental across LA and SF has been testing various GPS solutions for my Treo 650 – in hindsight I wonder how I managed to get around foreign cities without one for so long.
This is the first time that I’ve ever tested a Treo GPS solution and I decided to select three different Bluetooth ones and compare them agains the bestselling : TomTom Navigator Bundle, Emtac + GPS (no longer available) and Palm’s GPS Navigator.
I have to admit that I probably waited a little longer than I should have to test these and I think that it’s simply because the whole GPS thing seemed much too complicated, a hassle to install and use and possibly nothing more than an expensive gimmick for my Treo. I was completely wrong and these GPS solutions saved me from getting utterly lost on numerous occasions but evidently I needed to take the time to get my head around the issue to finally realize this.
For starters, I had made some flawed assumptions about GPS solutions for the Treo. I had always assumed that the hardware and software components of the GPS had to be made by the same manufacturer to work well so that, for example, the TomTom Navigator software would only work with the TomTom GPS receiver. In fact the GPS software and hardware are fully interchangable and in much the same way that you can use any Bluetooth headset with the Bluetooth software on your Treo you can also use any GPS receiver once you have at least one GPS navigation software installed.
Two of the three GPS hardware units that I selected included the TomTom Navigator software and I quickly concluded that it was one of the best applications around – it took me a little longer to figure out all the settings and many options that come with it. Before leaving, back at home in London I installed the TomTom Navigator application for my Treo as well as all the California maps on one of my spare 1GB SD cards (it used about 250MB of space). Next I also paired the three Bluetooth GPS units with my Treo so that they would be ready to go when I arrived in LA.
My first opportunity to ‘test & drive’ came for the one hour journey from Marina Del Rey to Huntington Beach two weeks ago for the DEMOfall conference. This being my first time in LA and LA not being exactly the easiest city to navigate, I couldn’t have asked for a better test environment as I was truly a tourist there.
To get started with this short trip, I accessed TomTom Navigator’s “Main Menu” (using the Treo Menu key) then clicked Add Favourite, then from the “Navigate to…” menu I clicked Address which is a three step process of City + Street + Number then Save. I prefer adding destinations as Favourites because it is an easier and faster way to ‘navigate to…’ later but you can alternatively just add the destination manually every time you’re going somewhere.
With my destination to the Huntington Beach hotel where I was staying now added to the favourites I moved to the hardware side of things in my rental car. Aside from my Treo I had a windshield suction cup vehicle mount (which in this case was included with Palm’s GPS unit), a lighter plug charger to power the GPS unit and finally the GPS unit itself (for this first journey I chose TomTom’s pictured below).
I turned TomTom’s GPS unit on and waited for the green light to flash intermittently (which indicates that the unit has picked up a satellite signal – a process that can take between 1 and 3 minutes). Next I launched the TomTom Navigator software on my Treo, clicked the Menu and then Navigate To… selecting the Favourite that I had previously set for the hotel. TomTom’s software then quickly calculates the best route, provides you with a map (below left) with an estimated trip duration and distance, then after clicking ‘Done’ I was ready to go.
You then get a bird’s eye view of your route with various route and status indicators just under this (above center and right). The arrow indicates the direction of your next turn and the figure to its right the distance left to travel before that turn is required and at the bottom the name of the street to turn at. Next to this is the distance left to travel and the estimated time to arrival at your destination. Finally, completely to the right is the satellite reception status and the current time.
On top of the visual directions, the TomTom Navigator software also provides turn-by-turn audio prompts via the built-in speaker on our Treo – in my case I got a lovely female British voice telling me things like “Right turn ahead in 500 meters” and naturally the best one is hearing “You have arrived at your destination”.
There are dozens of options, settings and preferences that you can play around with within the Navigator software. For example, you can choose daytime and nighttime colours, turn off the sound or even the maps. There were at least two that proved particularly useful on my various trips and which further demonstrated how Navigator was a really great application.
The first is “Advanced Planning” (below) which allows you to plan a journey from point A to point B by simply selecting a “Depart from:“ and “Pick a destination:“ address which like before will provide you a quick map with estimated trip duration and distance (which I’ve used repeatedly). You can even click on “Route” and view your trip as an animated demo (below right) which is one of five options.
The second is the option to easily navigate to built-in “Points of Interest” such as the nearest petrol station (this saved me yesterday as I nearly ran out) or museum (which added some culture to my trip), restaurant, hotel/motel and parking garage.
Another example of how TomTom’s Navigator saved the day (or the morning in this case) was when I overslept the day that I was due to fly out to San Francisco. I only managed to make my flight because I managed to cut at least 20 minutes in my trip planning thanks to the fact that I didn’t have to figure out how to get to Hertz’ car rental returns at the airport. I managed to get there in record time as the car was ‘remote controlled’ by the voice prompts telling me exactly where I had to go and all I had to do was press the accelerator…
Finally, as for selecting the best GPS unit of the three that I tested I can’t immediately say that one is better than the other. TomTom’s unit ($299) benefits from the nicest design and includes the excellent Navigator software, Emtac’s proved to be the fastest at picking up satellites but lacks the Navigator software and finally Palm’s ($239) is the cheapest and the one that includes both the Navigator software and the most accessories (dual Treo & GPS unit charger + USB charger + vehicle mount). Having said all this, I will personally settle for the TomTom GPS bundle because it is the slickest and most pocketable of all units.
One thing is absolutely for sure though – I am never again travelling without a Treo GPS unit in my pocket. I cannot more highly recommend that you take your Treo and car for a spin with one.
UPDATE: A lot of people have been disappointed to find out that the TomTom Navigator 5 Bundle has completely sold out and will not become available for another 3 weeks. However, someone else pointed me to the fact that the Bluetooth TomTom Navigator 5 + GPS ($279) is a similar unit which also benefits from the more advanced SiRF star III chipset (instead of the star II found on the others) and therefore provides more accurate and faster satellite readings.
Treonauts never get lost… 
TrackBack
TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.typepad.com/services/trackback/6a00d8341c71a953ef00d83459469669e2
Listed below are links to weblogs that reference Treo Smartphone GPS | Traveling with a Treo GPS In My Pocket:
» Treo 650 GPS solution comparison from Treo Today
Andrew at Treonauts has an excellent, in depth review of 3 GPS solutions for the Palm Treo 650 smartphone.
He covers the TomTom Navigator 5 Bundle, Emtac + GPS and also Palm’s GPS Navigator. Follow along as he tests the above devices in real-lif... [Read More]
Tracked on Oct 3, 2005 11:59:46 PM
» Have Treo 650, Will Travel... from ::: bisonium.com :::
I have had my Treo now since February. The first few weeks was Treo fever, but I haven't been playing around with the Treo too much lately other than getting a few cool apps like PSSH (an SSH client for the Palm). Somehow you just take ... [Read More]
Tracked on Oct 4, 2005 12:34:32 AM
» A new lease: increased acceptance of auto leasing gives dealers a welcome boost. (Auto Industry) : An article from: Indiana Business Magazine from Car Rental
[Read More]
Tracked on Nov 8, 2005 8:37:05 AM
Comments
Two questions about TomTom 5 on Treo 650:
1. How on earth do you plan a trip that crosses over map sets! I can't even FIND the destination sometimes since it's across the border (BTW I live near St. Louis MO!)
2. I gather it's not possible to search for POIs by name? I can't find hardly anything...eg. No Best Buys! What gives?
My Garmin Quest had neither of these problems.
Jim
Which GPS receiver is most accurate with the TomTom software for the Treo 650?
The TT Navigator 5 bundle says it uses the BlueTooth MKII GPS Receiver. No phone charging or speakersphone included. Total, $299.
The Seidio TT5+ G2500M GPS car kit says it has a SGR-200 wired receiver (not BlueTooth) based on an improved version of the SIRF Star II Chipset, speakerphone included. Total, $359.
The Palm TT Package does not say what receiver or chipset exactly, just that it is small and BlueTooth, mount included and an adapter cable to charge Treo and GPS, no speakerphone. Total, $239.
I just want the most accurate GPS receiver for my soon-to-be-purchased Treo 650, and have a speakersphone and charger for it.
I'm leaning towards the Seidio package, unless it's a lot less accurate than the software/GPS package direct from TomTom.
Oh sure, I won't hold out forever to get the most accurate, full-featured, least-expensive package, but I hear the biggest gripe of the TT packages tested is the accuracy issue (also mentioned in WIRED Test issue 12/05).
On the issue of whether the palm gps unit has an internal battery or not, this page on the palm site has the answer... "A built in rechargeable battery eliminates the need for a power cable, allowing a greater range of in-car placement. " reference http://www.palm.com/us/support/accessories/gps_navigator.html
Mr Zippy:
I have been enjoying the Seidio G4850M ($219.95) for about 3 weeks now with my Treo 650 and TomTom Navigator 5 software. It is a really terrific unit. The speaker is clear and loud, and the included external mic, which I have mounted on the visor, works so well that no one knows I am on an external mic/speaker system unless I tell them. I drive a Sebring convertible which although quiet for a ragtop, still has more ambient noise than a sedan would. THIS UNIT IS A BIG IMPROVEMENT OVER THE 4500 SERIES. The integrated GPS receiver has the more-advanced SIRF III chipset, and the speaker/mic setup is much superior in the 4850. The Seidio has a "DC out" for external charging of a Bluetooth receiver or other device requiring power. The unit can also be hardwired directly to the car but I haven't seen this an a necessity. Since the Treo is continuously charging while in the cradle, it is ready at full battery capacity when I arrive at whatever destination.
Software accuracy has been 100% so far. The traffic feature of the software requires continuous connection to the internet but is really excellent especially here in the Seattle area. You get a loud chime when the traffic check detects a problem and you can plot an alternate route. Since I have unlimited data minutes with Sprint this is a wonderful feature that doesn't cost extra, at least for now. There are rumors that TomTom will be charging extra for the traffic and other TomTom PLUS features soon.
The Seidio does NOT come with software. I originally purchased the TomTom 5 bundle which included their Bluetooth Mk II GPS receiver that will not pair with the Treo 650. CAVEAT EMPTOR! Buyer Beware! Buy the software separately WITHOUT the TomTom receiver. (See my earlier post regarding this problem). Th Navigator 5 software which I purchased at the Treonauts Store on line was version 5.00. DEFINITELY UPGRADE TO 5.12, available from the TomTom support website as an on-line download.
The TomTom software was difficult to set up at first -documentation is sparse, and to install maps I used a SanDisk card reader and downloaded the maps directly to the expansion card from the CD-ROM via USB connection. Otherwise it will take a LONG TIME to download and sync the maps as they are very large files. Having said all of this I really love the TomTom software. The Seidio/TomTom combination is not the cheapest GPS solution out there, but anyone who has invested in the Treo 650 in the first place has already spent quite a bit of money, so why do GPS "on the cheap"? I can't imagine anything more flexible and the quality is high.
I still would like to have a Bluetooth receiver to use with my Treo 650/TomTom combination, so I can use it on foot, in my 2nd car, and in rentals, borrowed vehicles, etc. without having to take the Seidio cradle out of my Sebring. I definitely want the SIRF III chipset in whatever I get.
I just picked up tomtom Navigator for my Treo 650 and it is flat out amazing. Having used standalone GPS units I have to say this feels just as robust. The install was a bit dodgy, and I wish the on/off button on the GPS device itself was designed better. That said, it's brilliant. The maps are easy to follow and the voice-commands are loud and clear (might even be fun having John Cleese telling me where to go). I love the ability to navigate to addresses in my contact list and, since the tomtom bluetooth GPS device is powered by a lithium-ion battery, you can use it on foot too (nice for sightseeing in an unfamiliar city).
A few other purchases to consider: I picked up an AC power adapter to charge the GPS unit before hitting the road, but you could always use the cigarette-lighter adapter which is included. I also bought a vehicle mount to bring the Treo closer to eye level.
Treo users now have the ultimate convergence tool on the planet (phone, email, web, organizer, camera, music player, GPS... And don't forget camcorder, portable video player, audiobook player, gaming device, etc.). I still want GSM (for globe trotting) and EV-DO. Aside from those two gripes what the hell else do we need? More SD cards, maybe.
I am unable to install the TomTom Navigator 5 software. I keep getting an error that says "Setup: internal problem(2). Cannot run Conduit. Please Restart Setup." I have uninstalled and reinstalled the Palm Desktop Software and I've tried the updated Navigator 5.12 and 5.201 and get the same error. Anyone have any idea what is wrong?
Just used my Palm GPS on one of my motorcycles today, via my Autocom intercom system. Perfect. Nice that the mouse and phone are battery powered. I have an accessory plug but for short trips it's nice not to have to bother. Loud and clear directions. Just couldn't work the buttons through my tank bag clear map window after receiving a call. Had to take off my glove and reach in, while on the freeway, to go back to the mapping. Will have to look into a handle bar gimball mount for each bike. -ken S
I bought a Tomtom Navigator 5 Bundle with Bluetooth Mk II GPS receiver. I have had mixed results with the receiver finding a fix. On most instances, it takes about 15 minutes or so for the receiver to get a fix. Has anyone else experienced similar problem? If so, is there a fix (pun intended) for this?
- AJ
Re MapTech - from their web site:
Important news:
Outdoor Navigator is no longer available for sale. One of the development partners decided to stop selling the software. We sincerely apologize for this news.
I am confused. Some on here are saying that the TREO 650 will not work with TomTom Navigator 5 and its included bluetooth GPSr?
Does anyone know if the Navigator 5 software allows route correction "on the go?" For instance, if I turn off the designated route to avoid traffic, will the device improvise to get me to my destination? TIA
TomTom 5 will reroute after 1-2 seconds, as soon as it is obvious to the software, your aren't on it's path anmore.
Also you can manually "remove" parts of a calculated route to avoid i.e. "no go" neighborhoods or know traffic jam areas.
When in an phone conversation (i use a wired seidio gps with holder and a bluetooth headset) you can immediately switch back to tomtom nav while continuing your phone call!
I bought a TomTom Navigator for my Treo 650 recently, and I too had problems with matching my Bluetooth Mk II GPS Receiver with the Treo. After scouring the FAQ's and another Treo website, I finally discovered that the code to enter into your Treo is, "0000". Four zeros. That's it. Bluetooth problem solved!
About the TomTom Navigator...I love it! I have been using it everywhere I go to see how accurate it is. Sometimes, new roads aren't present in the software, and it goes crazy trying to re-route me back to where it thinks I should be...as I fly through empty fields off-road (not really!). TomTom has a place on it's website where one can bring this lack of street/road information to their attention so that on the next update they can make sure the roads in question are there.
Great product! Great smartphone!
I just got the Palm GPS package (it's on sale right now for $199 at palm.com with free shipping for the holidays I guess, good deal anyway). The package is nice because it includes a car power adapter for the treo and the GPS fob, plus a mount and everything.
It works great, but for you Linux folks out there, you should know that you really have to use the official Windows (or Mac) HotSync to install the TomTom application and the TomTom maps. You can not use pilot-xfer to do so since the software and maps are in an intermediate format until the actual sync occurs via a TomTom conduit and the maps are copied to an external card (something pilot-xfer can't do).
Once the maps are installed on the card, you can pull them off and just copy them on or off with a card reader in Linux as you need them, but that first install must be done in windows.
I haven't played yet with using a BT headset at the same time or taking calls so I'm curious to see how that will work out, but I haven't had problems with the device turning off (as someone else did) and it is a great device - works as advertised which is a high complement.
I've just purchased the TomTom Nav 5 with the MKS gps. I've upgrade to v5.201 and everything works great - EXCEPT - it won't return to navigator after recieving a call. I'd greatly appreciate any tips on how to resolve this issue.
I am a Treo 600 user (love it) and will be upgrading to the 650 shortly. I often travel on long driving trips from the Toronto area to all kinds of places in the US and Canada as I work with Newspapers.
If I buy a pre-loaded unit like the Garmin i5 or the Nuvi 350 they come with the ability to drive coast to coast – door to door without loading any maps etc.
With a PDA based GPS system everyone seems to NOT be talking about the possibility that one would have to spend a bunch of time loading maps into memory or changing SD cards as you drive from one county/city/state/province to another.
This would really be a pain to have to do this all the time when on long trips. One fellow mentioned problems crosing the state border in MO.
Is this, in fact the case or is there a complete coast to coast system available for Palm devices?
Would all of North America or at least the entire east coast from Ontario to Florida fit onto a 1 Gig or even a 2 Gig SD card?
I have a Treo 650 and have been given Tom Tom 500, which is great but I can't use the handsfree option as I can't get the Bluetooth communication working. I have a security error message on the Treo which doesn't allow Tom Tom to connect to the phone. I have seen some messages on this, but has anyone come across a fix yet?
Mark - all of the US + Canada maps take up some 1.4GB of space and so will easily fit on a 2GB SD card.
Cheers, A.
Louise - Thanks for the info on the file sizes...sounds managable. Does this include all the POI/phone book stuff too?
Is it seemless as you drive on a long trip and it needs to go from one map to another?
It's just launch, plot the trip and go right?
Thanks - Mark
Thanks for the great reveiw Andrew. Any reason you didn't take a closer look at the Seidio G2350S? I really like the idea of dropping my Treo into its cradle and hitting the road.
Along those lines, have any Cingular customers using the Seidio G2350S been able to get Bluetooth headsets to work (website says Cingular phones won't work with bluetooth).
Cheers, S
Andrew - Re the treo 700w and 700p as it relates to GPS...what kits will work with which model or will it be a whole new system for the w and/or the p?
Also just got HARDWARE Tom Tom 500 and cant hook up Treo 650 via blue tooth for hands free talking...
Upgraded to latest Tom Tom version... do I need a newer Treo version?
This thread may help some of you,
http://www.mtekk.com.au/forums/viewtopic.php?t=8386&start=0&postdays=0&postorder=asc&highlight=
but I have been at this all evening and cant get it to work for me.
In the UK here Treo 650 Orange...
I have not seen an answer yet to the issues with traveling between map regionss??? I will be traveling between the New England and Midwest map. Do I have to switch maps?
Hi,
I can't seem to get the Tomtom to work on my 650. In fact, tomTom seems to hang my phone. and, although i have a brandy-new 256mb sd card, the maps don't want to load.
any kind souls out there that would like to lend a hand to an idiot, i'd be greatful in hearing of any tricks or tips
pescobar@sapers-wallack.com
thanks
Paul
One question:
Will the bluetooth GPS unit also work with laptop based GPS software, assuming the laptop is bluetooth equipped? I would like the option of either one.
Craig
Specials
Bestselling
