Pearlized driving

May 16 2007

During my 36 hours in Zürich, I spent a fair bit of time talking with coworkers about our various smartphone devices.  And now I'm convinced I'm missing out on another benefit of the Blackberry Pearl -- GPS navigation.  It's not built-in, like on the 8800, but an external GPS adapter can be had for between US$50 and $100, cheaper than a stand-alone navigation unit.  I didn't even know about this when the Pearl first arrived -- the Telenav application didn't appear until I added the 1GB microSD card.

David Via, a former Ferris analyst who joined Lotus last year, swears by his Pearl's Telenav application.  He said he's been able to use both the GPS and a headseat via bluetooth simultaneously, without either missing a beat.  Telenav isn't distracted by a mere telephone call, either.  So, I need to order a GPS bluetooth "puck" this week -- though as many point out, my sometime-nickname of "human map" calls into question why I want a GPS navigation device altogether.  I guess it's just the boys-and-their-toys factor...

David was surprised to learn that my recent adoption of the Pearl wasn't a switch from some other smartphone, but rather my first smart mobile device ever.  We also talked about ways to keep work/life balance in check, even while using some of the Pearl's fun features.  He said he leaves his Pearl in his home office most weekends (not an option for me), turns off data roaming, or has even considered putting the SIM card in a dumphone on weekends.  I'm still adjusting to the fact that a lot of my travel is international, where the data roaming rates have been killers, and prioritizing 12 CHF for an hour of wifi vs. turning on data on the Berry.

That international point comes into play for the GPS navigation as well.  For devices like the TomTom, international maps are readily available as separate memory cards.  Does anyone know what might work on the Pearl?  The Telenav app doesn't seem to even include Canada, much less Germany or Indonesia or whatever.

Ed Brill | UA 941, FRA-ORD, Seat 1J Category:  Blackberry Pearl  Add/View Comments [17]

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  1. 1  Mika Heinonen http://siipi.com/mika | 5/16/2007 4:55:30 PM

    I'm planning to buy a Nokia 9500, not only because it has a GPS device with an integrated road map built-in.

  1. 2  Lincoln Stoll http://www.lstoll.net | 5/16/2007 6:01:02 PM

    The latest version of Google Maps supports GPS, and seems to have pretty decent coverage. BlackBerry Maps also seems to have decent coverage.. Biggest problem is all of the options I've seen for the BlackBerry download the Maps over the air rather than storing them locally - and with data roaming rates being so expensive, it may rule out using the GPS while travelling internationally. There is a slightly out of date (doesn't reflect the recent Google Maps Update) review here: { Link } that may be worth having a quick browse through.

  1. 3  Brian Benz http://www.softwaresoapbox.com | 5/16/2007 7:43:25 PM

    I could really use this these days as I make my way around Australia........

    Also, a while ago, Kevin Kelly outlined a cheap alternative using a laptop and the same GPS unit, if interested....I'm actually going to try it this weekend.

    { Link }

  1. 4  David  | 5/16/2007 9:24:36 PM

    I believe that outside of the continental US & Hawaii, the only country where Telenav has GPS driving direction capabilities is in Europe. And they only support a few devices in Europe (Blackberry 8100, 8700 and 7130). A TomTom type navigation set up that uses SD card maps might be more suitable for global use.

    I think it's interesting how the high priced handheld devices today still don't ship with a built in GPS. 4 years ago the standard flip phone that I got for free by signing up for a new Nextel plan came with a built in GPS and Telenav worked great with it. But drop $500 today for a state of the art gadget and you need to buy the GPS unit separately.

  1. 5  Mike Lazar  | 5/16/2007 10:05:45 PM

    Nice seat, Ed. I trust the flight home wasn't too taxing... ;)

  1. 6  Henry Bestritsky  | 5/16/2007 10:09:13 PM

    Why does Via need GPS! He is from Ohio and they only have 2 roads there! Just kidding Dave :-)

  1. 7  Stuart McIntyre http://quickrblog.com | 5/17/2007 1:49:22 AM

    Interesting discussion folks. Much as I love my Pearl the thought of using it for GPS whilst driving feels me with dread - that tiny screen and quiet speaker seems to be a recipe for disaster.

    I used to own a business (UK SatNav Ltd - dull name huh!) in my spare time selling dedicated transferable satnav units such as Navmans, Tomtoms and Garmins. When they first came to market they cost $1000+ (£700+ to us) and had decent margins, sadly that day has long passed - you can get them for £100 in every superstore here now ;-)

    However, my point is that we regularly used to get computer folks asking how they could use their smartphone/PDA as a GPS devices, and the answer always was "Yes, but why?". As detailed above, the screens are usually small and very reflective, GPS features limited (often no 3D view etc.), the speakers quiet and tinny, mounts generic and not secure etc, two power cables needed for phone/PDA and GPS device. In addition, most techies change their phones every 12-18 months and thus you may need to change your maps and GPS app every time too. Contrast this with a dedicated device like a Tomtom Go or Garmin Nuvi which are sleek, very portable, come with full continental maps (or even USA, CA and EU these days) and many other features these days.

    Especially to a regular traveller like yourself Ed, I really wouldn't make do with the compromise in this case. Just my 2c - I'm sure others will disagree!

  1. 8  Volker Weber http://vowe.net/about | 5/17/2007 5:03:43 AM

    Stuart is right on the money.

    However, I find the built-in GPS on the 8800 very compelling. You would not use it all of the time, as you would a TomTom. But it comes in handy when you are seriously lost. And in that case you have the benefit of an off-board navigation: no preparation needed. You did not have to install a navigation software prior to the fact. You did not need to get the correct map for the area. You just switch on Google Maps and it shows you where you are. Then you enter your target address and it shows you how to get there. Finally it monitors your progress.

    Without the built-in GPS however, your BT GPS device will probably be at home. As is mine. It it's not at home the battery is likely to be dead.

  1. 9  Pete McPhedran http://www.corefusion.com | 5/17/2007 7:50:20 AM

    I have it on good authority that downloadable maps will be available rsn for BB devices that have memory cards. i.e. Pearl, 8800, 8830, Wave, etc...

    I used a puck with my 8700 and found it to be great, but I don't need "driving" directions, like "Turn left, 50 metres" etc... I tend to use it to look up a route and then refer back to it if I get off course.

    I find the built in GPS of the 8800 better, but I miss the 8700 keyboard. The Wave is really nice, but they added a camera and dropped the GPS. Arggh!

    --Pete

  1. 10  Ed Brill http://www.edbrill.com | 5/17/2007 7:54:06 AM

    @5 Mike, if IBM had paid for that seat, I would have been very disappointed. Since I used an upgrade award that is use-it-or-lose-it, I don't feel so bad. Unimpressive in many ways.

    @8 very good point -- but aside from considering a different device, I'm going to be carrying -something- additional in the event I want a GPS. And carrying a TomTom or whatever means yet more chargers and the suction mount and everything else... maybe. Tough call.

  1. 11  Carl Tyler http://www.iminstant.com | 5/17/2007 8:04:08 AM

    I found Telenav to be next to useless in rural areas where cell reception was flakey. I used telenav for a month and cancelled the service.

    My preffered solution ended up being TomTom on the palm, works great, the turning directions voice is plenty loud enough, unlike telenav which was very faint.

    I also find the UI of TomTom much easier to use than telenav.

  1. 12  Keith Brooks http://kbmsg.blogspot.com | 5/17/2007 8:17:16 AM

    As long as google maps or other similar sites exist, it works fine for me in the US. When I am in a foreign(meaning never been there before) country I would most likely be driving a rental and get GPS if I wanted it.

    Otherwise taxi, bus, trains work fine for me.

  1. 13  MarvinK  | 5/17/2007 10:28:01 AM

    Rumor is US & Canada will get a new Pearl with GPS and 2mp camera this fall:

    { Link }

  1. 14  Joel Demay  | 5/17/2007 4:26:50 PM

    Not sure I get why the black berry is soo cool.

    My Nokia E65 is all I really care about:

    - Push email with Lotus Notes (BB Compatible software).

    - Sametime Mobile 7.5.1

    - Tomtom Navigator 6.1 (on the 2 GB Micro SD Card).

    - 2M Pix camera/Camcorder

    - Video calling on the Orange 3G+ Network.

    Also TomTom on a smartphone is awesome with real time traffic updates, click 2call for POIs (Restaurants, etc).

  1. 15  Ben Rodway http://www.lan2lan.com | 5/18/2007 3:25:14 AM

    Hi Ed,

    You may also like to consider "Telmap" navigator - admittedly I don't think it covers much of Asia but it is a viable alternative.

    Ben

  1. 16  Pete McPhedran http://www.corefusion.com | 5/18/2007 8:22:51 AM

    @14 The BlackBerry must be cool, when you (or your carrier) installed BlackBerry Connect to make your E65 work like a BlackBerry, that was pretty cool.

    You can get all of the *features* that you have on your E65, minus the video calling and movies, on a BlackBerry. I think what really makes the BlackBerry cool though is the push email.

    --Pete