You say "they can use GPS navigation offline without a cellular or internet connection." You mean this thing gets communications from satellite without a cell phone plan, without a data plan? Please indulge me, I don't even know what a data plan is. I know it's probably a very simple idea, maybe storage on a server somewhere of data I can access with my mobile device, but I've never had that.
So, I can download maps (for free) to a Nokia 520, and use it in a kind of GPS mode without using cell phone minutes? It triangulates my position from satellite signals, figures out where I am without a plan at all?
Now, I presume that to use it as a phone I need a plan, maybe a prepaid plan. I plan on calling my current prepaid plan people (pagepluscellular) and see if I can use my current plan with a Nokia 520 (their website seems useless in determining this sort of thing). I have over $60 accumulated of prepaid minutes, because there's a minimum use requirement of buying at least $10 worth of minutes (10 cents/minute at that rate) every 120 days. Yeah, I haven't been using my cell phone a lot!
Please demystify smartphone activation. What is "activation?"
BTW, you say you would hate to give up your Garmin 2595 because of the HD traffic, but I saw a review (at Amazon, I think) by a guy who said that feature doesn't work where he drives, and he identified that at my area (SF Bay Area). Can't imagine why it doesn't (or didn't). Seems from reviews I'm reading that the HD traffic feature is very hit or miss. It can work great for some people in some places and circumstances but a lot of people have found the results really bad.
I watched a few videos about the Nokia 520. All people with rather thick accents (Indian, British), a little hard to understand at times. It seems like a really good entry level smart phone at a great price. I'm trying to get an idea of what it will do, what I'd need or don't need.
Edit: Just read some more info on the Nokia 520...
http://reviews.cnet.co.uk/mobile-phones/nokia-lumia-520-review-50010925/
Assuming I might be satisfied with the Nokia 520's GPS navigation in my car, I'm thinking I might want to return my Costco-purchased Garmin 2595, unopened ... right to the B&M Costco I usually go to! I should receive it tomorrow. I'm going to consider not opening the package until I make that decision. I don't drive much these days, the Garmin's HD traffic might not work for me in this area. Why have an extra device?
Thanks.Modern smartphones have GPS modules which do not require any other connection to know where you are. WiFi and Cellular gives you better accuracy but you don't need them. You'll have to pre-cache the maps though, meaning you need to download the maps while you still have internet connection. Afterwards, you should be able to use GPS navigation without any other connections. Accuracy is not the best but should be ok for driving.
I have no current plans to travel internationally, even Canada. Heck, I'm tempted to buy a Nokia 520, maybe get on a cheap PAYGo plan (I saw a couple $10 plans, one with 90 day expiration, at Airvoice, saw in a post) that use AT&T's network, just to get my feet wet in smartphones. If I don't like the coverage, it's no tragedy. I am not in the habit of using my cell phone anyway, just for when I need to make a call away from the house, where I always use my land line. I could try the GPS functionality and if I don't like it, take my Garmin out of its packaging and keep it, otherwise return it to Costco for refund.Yea, he is right. But I don't think its that slow, might take 10-15 seconds max depending on your location. That's only for the first time lock, afterwards it shouldn't be slow. Note that in a lot of phones, if you turn off your screen and make it go to sleep, it'll have to re-lock the GPS position the next time its on.
The sound thing might be true, but the speakers on most smartphones are good enough when you turn the volume high. I have a nexus 4 and unless I have my radio blasting, I can hear it very clearly. Probably the only reason to get a standalone like someone said is that it works well if you travel internationally.
I decided this is a good idea... thanks!Get on the smartphone craze while your brain cells are still active.
I bought the Nokia 520 phone last night off Amazon. Should have it next Tuesday (6 days from today) if Amazon's estimate is right. My first smartphone! Not only that, believe it or not it will be my first touch screen device! I have been quietly observing people using theirs and wondering what they were up to. I suppose it's usually email, maybe they are finding music tracks, could be anything. What really amazes me is seeing some people texting at incredible speeds!The Nokia phone will work fine. At least in Android, I know that you can easily change the setting so that turning off the screen will not put the phone in sleep mode. I don't doubt that Windows has something similar. Anyway, that's probably a moot point since you'll probably want to see the map as well so the screen will be on
Most phone battery will last for days if you don't call often or use data or WiFi often. You can even buy an adapter that'll plug into the 12V jack in the car to charge the phone for few bucks. Either way, no harm in trying the phone. If you like it, then you can return the Garmin.
Car has no bluetooth. However, I have a gizmo I picked up that you insert in the cassette slot that you can plug into the output from an audio device, e.g. my MP3 player, CD player, and presumably the Nokia. I suppose I could just use the headphone jack and use a suitable volume setting. My car does have a really good stereo system, sounds great, well compared to all my former cars.if your car has bluetooth you can run audio through your speaker system. aux cable might work also.
anyone know when they are supposed to issue the cashback checks? Its been a while since I got mine...
I seem to remember seeing it on my last Amex card statement, but I think I threw it away.anyone know when they are supposed to issue the cashback checks? Its been a while since I got mine...
anyone know when they are supposed to issue the cashback checks? Its been a while since I got mine...
Annual Reward Couponlet us say thanks - with a coupon
Cash back provided annually as a Reward Coupon redeemable for cash or merchandise at U.S. Costco Warehouses.The coupon will be issued in your february billing statement and expires on August 31st of the year issued.
I'm going to return the Garmin, it's unopened in the shipping box awaiting my next Costco run, which should be within a week or so. The Nokia Lumia 520 smartphone is 0.4 the cost and has other functionality. I don't drive that much, the smartphone's GPS should be adequate AFAIK.
LOL ... I just wish the AT&T network didn't suck so bad around here. I saw a little article in the paper yesterday saying Walmart has dropped the price of iPhones, the 5S to $119 and the 5C to $29, 2 year contracts. Verizon is an option. Has me thinking.Congrats on joining us in the 21st century
No it's not. They're selling a product that advertises "Lifetime Map Updates." If the map updates stop, the product is broken and should be returned. Let Costco deal with the manufacturer. That is a big part of why we pay annual membership fees.
LOL ... I just wish the AT&T network didn't suck so bad around here. I saw a little article in the paper yesterday saying Walmart has dropped the price of iPhones, the 5S to $119 and the 5C to $29, 2 year contracts. Verizon is an option. Has me thinking.
Walmart is slashing its pricing on the iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c, reports CNN. The lower pricing is available to users who sign a two-year contract with AT&T or Verizon.
I have no idea what the terms of the contracts are.
Yeah, look, guys, I have been a Costco member since the last century and I have NEVER returned one of those types of items they don't allow you to return now. I am not a scammer or hard case. I can count the things I returned (if I could remember them) on 3 fingers, I figure, and they have been new and unused. Give me a break. It's not like I'm working the system here.
90 days return for televisions, projectors, computers, cameras, camcorders, touchscreen tablets, MP3 players and cellular phones.
I have a stereo receiver I bought there. They had it on sale for $100. When I decided I wanted it and went back to get it the price had gone up to $150. I bought it anyway. Yes, this was in the 1990's. It died last year. It stopped being able to pick up a good FM signal. It's sitting on my front porch waiting to be recycled. It never occurred to me to return it to Costco. I have a toaster I bought there considerably later that's been toasting unevenly, the button to pop up the toast electronically stopped working. I won't return it. But a GPS advertised as enjoying lifetime free traffic updates and not getting them after 2-3 years seems to me another matter.