How to get from here to there? In the last 10 years, GPS devices have revolutionized getting around. And the capability has moved to cell phones.
Now iPhone users can get navigation apps for their phones. They include the $100 TomTom app, the $10 per month AT&T Navigator, and GMap regional maps by XRoad, starting at $35. Consumer Reports found those apps convenient and easy to use. But none of the ones tested worked as well as a good portable GPS.
The accuracy is not as precise, the sound not as crisp, and the volume not as high. And some of the apps don't name the street where you need to turn. That's a very helpful feature that's common with portable GPS devices. Plus on the iPhone, your directions are interrupted if you make or take a call.
Consumer Reports says there's another disadvantage to the iPhone navigation apps. They don't come with a charger or a mount, so you'll have to pay extra for those—around $50.
If you need more than occasional directions, Consumer Reports recommends getting a portable GPS. The Garmin Nuvi 265T is a Consumer Reports Best Buy at $200. It comes with free traffic reports as well as Bluetooth connectivity.
