Cellular Mashup

GPS (Global Positioning System) is really going main stream . Previously limited to military and governmental use, GPS chips can now be found in an endless array of devices ranging from dedicated GPS-talking-tablet type gadgets, to your laptop and If big brother has his way: Your arm.

While GPS chip’s usually output Latitude and Longitude coordinates, this in it’s RAW format proves to be of very little help to us average Joe’s . Instead the true power of GPS lies in extrapolating the data and producing useful , usually visual, information from the above data.
One of the most compelling and widely used Application of GPS data is mapping software, where your location is super imposed on a map . This allows you to see where you are relative to your location, search for objects of interest and even get real time (sometimes spoken) driving directions.

While commercial mapping software for cell phones does exist and does a great job at all the above, believe it or not you can get free GPS mapping software on your cell phone that is nowadays as reliable and robust as any other paid for commercial solution.

Since the best things in life are free, staying true to Sinatra’s mantra, we list the top 3 free GPS mapping solutions below, additions to the list are more than welcome:

Free GPS compatible Maps Software List:

1. Google Maps Mobile
   Advantages: Global , Up-to-date, Huge index of points of interests , Cross platform compatible, Multiple views of area (Terrain, Map or Hybrid)
   Disadvantages: Data is not locally saved, Data intensive internet connection always required, No speech guided directions.
2. Smart-2-Go
   Advantages: Maps saved locally, Internet connection not needed, Speech guided directions.
   Disadvantage: Not as comprehensive as Google maps, Maps can be rather large to download initially.
3. Map Quest Mobile
   Advantages: Same as Smart-2-Go + Cross platform compatibility
   Disadvantages: Not as comprehensive as other methods.
4. Leaf
   Advantages: Free, Smart Search, 2D-3D Views
   Disadvantages: Windows Mobile Only

More to be added as discovered …

Tags: free, GPS, maps

This entry was posted on Friday, May 16th, 2008 at 12:55 pm and is filed under Cell Phone Software, How-To's and Tutorials. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.