I am an avid motorcyclist and lifelong geek.
I am looking for a GPS for my motorcycle but find the TomTom Rider 2($400) and the Garmin Zumo ($600) to be too dumbed down for my taste.
I know I may want a lot in my wish list below, but believe the droid just might have what I need to do it all with one device as opposed to the phone, gps, ipod I am using now.
My thoughts on mounting would be to find a waterproof enclosure similar to below so I can do basic operations with a stylus and the majority of operations from voice commands.
*Negative comments about operating a motorcycle and a GPS will go unanswered. Please trust me that no one wants to ride safer than I do, and I never operate my current GPS while moving.
OK, here we go: Updated answers in RED
Can I use the voice search feature with a bluetooth headset? (even when stopped, searching for an address stinks with gloves on) YES
Does Google Navigation have an option to avoid unpaved roads? (My digiwalker sent me down a logging road once....never again.) NO
Does the Droid do A2DP? Its a delayed connection, needs work, but works.
Can I listen to music and navigation at the same time over bluetooth? Yes, Music is lowered or muted?
...if I can, can I receive a call without interrupting navigation and have it mute/pause music? Music is paused, see below
How does Navigation behave when there is an incoming e-mail or Text message? See Vid below, call come to front and hides Nav, but you can hear Nav commands. Txt is icon at top of screen.
Can you create a loop/route with Google Navigation? (Motorcyclists tend to plan out scenic loops, because often riding is for pleasure and not for A to B driving.)Not currently
...if so can these routes be shared with other Droids wirelessly? Not currently
Can you share locations wirelessly? (ie. I can share my destination to another person in my address book) Yes, With Latitude
Is there a weather layer for navigation, so I can zoom out to see an incoming storm and route myself around it? No/Not yet...
New Questions:
Can you use voice commands to search for and dial a contact, or voice dialing?
Notes pertaining to Motorcyclists:
-Will need a stylus that works on a capacitive screen through the enclosure.
-Cornering and bumps tends to activate vertical orientation, might need to stabilize/pivot mount.
-So long as you give the Nav time to download the entire route to the finish, GPS will work with now signal. Rerouting does not work outside coverage area.
I'm sure this may spawn more questions, but those are the biggest questions for now. Thank you!
I am looking for a GPS for my motorcycle but find the TomTom Rider 2($400) and the Garmin Zumo ($600) to be too dumbed down for my taste.
I know I may want a lot in my wish list below, but believe the droid just might have what I need to do it all with one device as opposed to the phone, gps, ipod I am using now.
My thoughts on mounting would be to find a waterproof enclosure similar to below so I can do basic operations with a stylus and the majority of operations from voice commands.
*Negative comments about operating a motorcycle and a GPS will go unanswered. Please trust me that no one wants to ride safer than I do, and I never operate my current GPS while moving.
OK, here we go: Updated answers in RED
Can I use the voice search feature with a bluetooth headset? (even when stopped, searching for an address stinks with gloves on) YES
Does Google Navigation have an option to avoid unpaved roads? (My digiwalker sent me down a logging road once....never again.) NO
Does the Droid do A2DP? Its a delayed connection, needs work, but works.
Can I listen to music and navigation at the same time over bluetooth? Yes, Music is lowered or muted?
...if I can, can I receive a call without interrupting navigation and have it mute/pause music? Music is paused, see below
How does Navigation behave when there is an incoming e-mail or Text message? See Vid below, call come to front and hides Nav, but you can hear Nav commands. Txt is icon at top of screen.
Can you create a loop/route with Google Navigation? (Motorcyclists tend to plan out scenic loops, because often riding is for pleasure and not for A to B driving.)Not currently
...if so can these routes be shared with other Droids wirelessly? Not currently
Can you share locations wirelessly? (ie. I can share my destination to another person in my address book) Yes, With Latitude
Is there a weather layer for navigation, so I can zoom out to see an incoming storm and route myself around it? No/Not yet...
New Questions:
Can you use voice commands to search for and dial a contact, or voice dialing?
Notes pertaining to Motorcyclists:
-Will need a stylus that works on a capacitive screen through the enclosure.
-Cornering and bumps tends to activate vertical orientation, might need to stabilize/pivot mount.
-So long as you give the Nav time to download the entire route to the finish, GPS will work with now signal. Rerouting does not work outside coverage area.
I'm sure this may spawn more questions, but those are the biggest questions for now. Thank you!