Text to
Speech GPS Navigation
Text-to-speech GPS units offer the ability
to “speak” specific directions, such as streets that you
should be turning on, versus a generic direction. For
example, a GPS unit with text to speech technology may
say, “turn right on Washington Street”, versus “turn
right at the next street”. Clearly, this is a feature
that can ease your driving experience, as the voice
messages leave less room for confusion in
navigation.
Costs for these text to speech GPS navigation
units currently range from about $200 to $500, depending
upon the age of the unit, name brand, as well as the
other features that are provided.
We have listed our recommendations of GPS text-to-speech
systems below, and we compare key features of each
unit.
| |
Garmin Nuvi
370
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Magellan Maestro
4040
|
TomTom Go 930
|
Sony NVU 44
|
| |
|
|
|
|
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Screen Size
|
3.5"
|
4.3"
|
4.3"
|
3.5"
|
|
Weight
|
5.1 oz
|
8.5 oz
|
7.8 oz
|
5.5 oz
|
|
Size
|
3.9"W x 2.9"H x
0.9"D
|
5.0"W x 3.8"H x
0.9"D
|
3.3"W x 4.7"H x
1.0"D
|
10.2"Wx 7.5"Hx
2.8"D
|
|
Data Card
|
SD
|
SD
|
SD
|
Memory Stick Duo
|
|
Preloaded Maps
|
North America and
Europe
|
USA, Puerto Rico,
Canada
|
USA, Europe, Canada
|
USA, Canada, Puerto
Rico
|
|
Battery Life
|
4-8 hours
|
Up to 3 hours
|
Up to 5 hours
|
4 hours
|
|
Included
Accessories
|
Suction cup mount, carrying
case, USB interface cable, AC charger, Car
charger
|
Windshield mount, cradle, AC
charger, Car charger, USB cable, Protective
pouch
|
Winshield holder,
documentation pack, Car charger, Home dock,
Remote control
|
Car cradle, suction
cup mount, car battery adapter, USB
cable
|
|
Other
Features
|
Handsfree calling, MP3 Player,
3 month trial subscription for FM traffic
receiver (N.America version)
|
Built in AAA travel
information, Bluetooth handsfree
calling
|
Bluetooth handsfree calling.
The 930T version is slightly more expensive
than the 930S, but includes a real time traffic
receiver.
|
Photo viewer feature allows
you to turn the screen into a picture
frame.
|
To further describe the
text to speech GPS functionality, let’s
say you come to an intersection where you are supposed to
turn right; however, there are two streets that veer
right at about the same time. Without GPS text-to-speech,
you’ll likely not know which street to turn on, and quite
possibly, you will be staring at your GPS screen trying
to figure it out instead of staring at the
road.
 |
With a unit
with text to speech GPS technology, the GPS
unit will tell you the name of the street to
turn on.
If you’ve
never been to the location before, you will
still need to find the street name on a sign;
however, when you’re driving, would you rather
be looking at your older GPS screen inside the
car, or would you rather be looking outside the
car for the road signs and be aware of what is
happening around you?
|
My clear preference for
convenience and safety is the text-to-speech GPS
navigation.
In addition to the units in the table
above, the units listed below also have the GPS text to
speech functionality. Simply click on the GPS unit photos
towards the top of this page, which are provided in
association with Amazon, and you will be routed to an Amazon
page where you can do a quick search for more details on
these units. Be sure to see if your purchase qualifies for
free shipping.
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Garmin Nuvi
350
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Garmin Nuvi
360
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Mio DigiWalker
C230
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TomTom One
XLS
-
Navigon
2100
|
-
LG
GPS
-
Locator GPS
4300
-
Pharos Drive GPS
250
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InVion GPS
|

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