Samsung Galaxy Tab for biking + GPS

[koolio]

Haven't the first idea about mobile phones or phone technology, I've been quite happy with my bang around ancient samsung, until recently I received a Samsung Galaxy Tab free. I'm a little bewildered by it.

Before I put it on ebay can anyone tell me if it's actually any good.

Does it have a decent GPS I could stick on and then put through a blue tooth headphone? I'm more of a map person, but maybe this unit could have its uses?

Strikes me as quite a big block of hardware.

[anthony_r6]

You could easily get satnav software for it. TomTom will do software for it, I believe it's android? Just mount it to your bike and keep your eye on it. Or connect it to your bluetooth headset and listen to the direction while the phone is in your pocket?

Either should be more than possible.
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[VTRkemshell10...]

[Chriss]

Google Maps should be included which now does Sat Nav too.
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[VTRkemshell10...]

[koolio]

[Chriss]

[koolio]

[mickfulton]

work for a mobile company selling this shit but you will be surprised at how little i know but anyway///////

most mobiles have gps and agps built in, such as the sony ericsson x8 and its only 3", £30 on ebay ......

The galaxy tab is a little bit big, i.e around 9" and is running android same as the x8 but is probably a bit better.

Using a mobile/tablet as a satnav will burn your data allowance unless u pre-download the maps but dunno if the voice directions work, maybe someone else can shed some light on that.

Either way dont be lured by the shiny shiny tablet/ipad balls, do a little research and you can get what u need for a fraction of the price (maybe an old satnav even)
Tablets are pointless and a waste of cash, they are okay at most stuff but there is always a cheaper, better alternative to get what u want
[rant over]

[koolio]

[Polarbear]

First off, a Galaxy tab isn't a phone, it's a competitor to an I-Pad, but more portable being that bit smaller. You can use it to phone but as you say, you'd look a tit

I use one as an alternative to a net book when I'm on my travels as it's easier to carry however lets be honest here, the only advantage over a 'phone sized' unit is the screen size, ok for games, ebooks and such on an aeroplane but not a lot else.

I have a use for mine, doing a shit load of travelling, but as was said earlier, in most cases they are a gimmick. They don't do any more than a smart phone and do a lot less than a laptop.

I honestly believe Apple have done the killing of all killings with the I-Pad, making people think they need one when they are really just a gimmick, and the Galaxy Tab is Samsungs version of this.

You would do better selling it and buying an HTC desire or the equivalent smart phone.

In answer to your questions - Yes you can tether it to a computer and transfer documents etc. It is easy to to do. There is a microsoft office compatible free programme so you can work with documents on the move, but using the on screen key pad isn't good for speed typing. The equivalent phone sized unit would be (I'm guessing here incase anyone knows better) the Samsung Galaxy S
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[koolio]

Thanks Polarbear pretty much the answer I was looking for to help me make my decision.

[Flip]

[Moo.]

[koolio]

[Deckx]

[koolio]

[AmirasDaddy]

Get a sony erricsson x8 for 99 small and has the software with gps, I mounted the spare back cover to my ped which all i do is click into place got me 30 miles and back using google navigation.


Brian

[Jim Mc]

It should be bundled with GPS nav software unless your particular telco provider has disabled it (some do in order to promote their own paid versions).

The standard one is simply called 'Navigation' and has a blue arrow icon. It's made by Google, uses google maps for routing data but as far as I can tell the street map (not the satelite view) is pre loaded, you enter your destination then off you go. I think it does attempt to use a data connection to get the latest road/route info, but doesn't require it.

I've found it brilliant, more reliable than my paid for GPS unit I used previously. But as of yet I've been unable to find a suitable cradle for a motorbike.

Let me know if you come across any.

[Jim Mc]

[koolio]

Thanks Jim Mc, will keep you posted once I sell the Tab and get something more suitable instead.

[AmirasDaddy]