ncscz wrote:
AJR wrote:
I know nothing about these products. The “built in GPS” caught my attention.
I have not seen a reference to “built in GPS” on Walmart’s site yet. Can the thing be used as mobile GPS device?
What should I be looking for?
Most Android tablets do have a GPS. A lot of them also have a built-in compass. But do not trust the WalMart (or other retailer) to correctly list the features of a tablet. Get the model number and check the manufacturer site to find out what features each model has - and check carefully as Model XYZ (Rev.1a) may not have the same features as Model XYZ.
And yes it will function as a GPS. There are hundreds of Android GPS applications. Many are free, many are advertising free for XX days and then pay to remove the ads. The Google Maps works very well if you keep the 'offline maps' updated regularly.
You can get the GPS application as specialized as you want : Traffic alerts, hiking specialized, topographical routing, boating specialized, truck routing, truck routing with parking. Some of the apps have now started connecting with State DOTs for current road statuses. Some of the apps also include a dash cam function.
Very misleading statements.
Not "most", only SOME tablets have BUILT IN GPS RADIO RECEIVER.
Extremely CHEAP Android tablets typically DO NOT HAVE GPS RADIO RECEIVER BUILT IN.
Only the tablets which SPECIFICALLY STATE GPS RADIO RECEIVER are able to use GPS software as STAND ALONE (IE NO INTERNET CONNECTION)
There ARE "GPS APPS" that do not need GPS RADIO RECEIVER, they only work when you have internet and will not work at all without Internet connection.
If you WANT STAND ALONE GPS (IE NO INTERNET CONNECTION) you need to make sure the tablet you select has the GPS receiver AND you need a APP that can operate stand alone..
Co-Pilot is one of several Apps that downloads maps to your tablet and uses the GPS radio. You can get Co-Pilot as a FREE App if you don't mind not getting voice and a few other features after 30 day trial is over.
Personally, I found that using a tablet for GPS is clunky, the Co-Pilot APP is slow to load, slow to find sats (sometimes 10-15 minutes), impossible to setup a trip with multiple way points and once you start Co-Pilot it is impossible to stop (stays running in background eating up tablet resources).
Co-Pilot also BURNS THROUGH YOUR BATTERY!!! So, you must have the tablet plugged into a charger BEFORE starting Co-Pilot.. If you plug in after Co-Pilot has been started you WILL lose ALL of your trip that you entered in because Co-pilot will freeze and reboot.
You want GPS?
Buy a dedicated GPS, it will work better than a tablet GPS..
As far as buying cheap android tablets, don't, wasted a bunch of money on sub $150 android tablets which don't last, have weak WiFi cards (extremely common complaint) and often have random lockup issues.. And the cheap ones are typically multiple generations of Android behind (most websites and Apps no longer play well with versions 4.4 or below and many real cheap ones below $100 will be 4.2 or lower)..
