Garmin StreetPilot onDemand Review
Price: $0.99
Version Reviewed: 7.0
Device Reviewed On: iPhone
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Five years ago, I paid about $500 for a Magellan in-car GPS unit. For that reason, Garmin StreetPilot onDemand's 99-cent price tag is a truth that's remarkable and simultaneously painful Indeed, the tech has come a long way – both in terms of features and interface, as well as pricing.
For 99 cents, users get a lot with Garmin StreetPilot onDemand. Of course, to use many of the features, a $2.99 monthly subscription is required. We're talking about stuff like spoken turn-by-turn directions including street names, 3D visuals of buildings and landmarks, traffic re-routing and Google local searching. The app does come with a 30-day trial for the premium service, but after that, it's back to basic GPS functions.
But there are some small things I don't dig. For example, on the navigation screen itself, the app doesn't tell users how many miles are left until users reach their destination – rather it estimates an arrival time. This is a huge pet peeve of mine when it comes to these devices, though. I prefer seeing the actual distance. Some users might prefer Garmin's approach here, meanwhile. Moving on, though, there's an inherent problem with using the iPhone as an in-vehicle navigation device – the screen is on the smaller size. Simultaneously trying to watch the road and look at the iPhone while driving – especially when it's propped up on the dashboard – can prove challenging and even dangerous. And that's not to mention that the software is data intensive, gobbling up megabytes. Definitely something to consider for users on a limited data plan.
Despite some tiny quibbles, Garmin StreetPilot onDemand is impressive. This is especially true when one considers it very low price point – just 99 cents and $2.99 a month for full premium service. For users who don't want to invest in a more costly navigational unit, but still want the occasional benefits of using GPS, onDemand is a superb choice.
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