The notion of an iPod hold GPS cradle has dual big factors operative against it from a begin. For asingle, dedicated navigation units are readily accessible for as small as $100 (or reduction as well as, in general, get the pursuit done quite well. Secondly, more and some-more cellphones are apropos more and some-more capable as navigation devices and, again, have been relatively cheap Phone contracts in reserve. Upon the other palm, a lot of people have iPod touches, and most of them unequivocally similarto their iPod touches. So, in that applyoneself, there is the potentially big marketplace for something similarto Twin Electronics brandnew iPod hold GPS cradle. Will it essentially assistance carve out a new niche in a crowded navigation marketplace? Review upon to find out.Dual Electronics iPod hold GPS cradle review

Hardware

Dual’s GPS cradle Additionally known as a XGPS300) consists of dual main components: the tangible GPS / battery cradle, and the windshield mountain, that itself doesn’t enclose any electronics save for a pass-through for a charger and audio. Which gives you the combined coherence of also using it outward of your car — either as a GPS device, or simply as an lengthened battery for your iPod hold (the battery additiona lly naturally powers a GPS unit while in makeuseof, for up to ten hours). In both instances, you’ll also be means to take value of a cradle’s built-in orator, that expectedly doesn’t receptivetoadvice superb, though is at slightest shrill enough to be listened over a radio if you choo se to not use your iPod hold for music while driving.

That flexibility does come at a responsibility of alittle magnificence, however, as the setup isn’t just the many seamless in-car navigation option once we put all a pieces together (especially if you supplement in the audio as well as horse cables). On the alternative hand, the cradle is pretty compact upon its own, as well as could feasible be used with a universal beanbag dash mountain if you’re seeking to keep things the bit more discreet.

One alternative nice reward is that the cradle packs the built-in microphone, which will let you use your iPod hold as a speakerphone for Skype, and take value of alternative apps similarto Shazam that require the mic. It doesn’t, however, concede for voice entrance of destinations with Dual’s navigation app. Vocalization of which…

SoftwareDual’s NavAtlas app is a bit upon the simple side, though not really lacking in any significant applyoneself compared to a dedicated GPS device. We get full text-to-speech, turn-by-turn navigation, along maps of both a US as well as Canada, over two million points-of-interest as well as — this being an iPod hold app — a ability to play song whilst the app is using (although the interruptions can be the tad jarring). Perhaps a biggest downside to a app is which it’s the 2GB download (and essentially requires about 5GB of space for a install process). T hat’s hardly an considerate amount of space to give up, generally on the basic 8GB iPod touch, and it’s not the arrange of app you’ll be installing as well as uninstalling atyourconvenience you need it.

In use, NavAtlas attempted to send us down a one-way street and referredto a few imprudent U-turns, but always got us to the destination as well as, in general, performed utterly well. Somewhat curiously, Twin suggests switching off a WiFi upon your iPod hold to speed up the GPS vigilance acquisition time as well as, indeed, that did appear to urge things somewhat in the tests. A app also boasts the couple of alternative advantages over the standalone navigation device, togetherwith await for pinch-to-zoom, and full formation with a contacts upon your iPod touch.

Your program options don’t finish with Dual’s own app, however, as the cradle will additionally let iPod hold users take advantage of most of a GPS-related apps that have previously been limited to iPhone users — including other full-fledged navigation apps. Things don’t work both ways though, as a giveaway NavAtlas app will usually work with a cradle, and you can’t currently buy the chronicle that will work upon a iPhone.

Wrap-up

So, a device is a viable pick to other navigation devices (with a few advantages of its own), but there’s asingle poignant emanate you haven’t nonetheless discussed: the cost. Creatively dictated to run $179, a cradle is now offered for a hefty $199.95, which is a same price as the 8GB iPod hold, as well as some-more than many standalone navigation units. There’s simp ly no removing around the actuality which it’s the difficult sell and, if we had to suggest the navigation device, we’d indicate the standalone GPS Presumption you don’t already have a smartphone with a great navigation choice. During a $100 or less, it might well be a different story but, as it stands, this asingle is for iPod hold die-hards usually.