We need new phones - help!!

[iris lilies]

For those of you who don’t have a smart phone, how do you navigate driving to new places? In the past couple of years I’ve driven out of state well and across state several times, and I am very dependent now on GPS.

When I travel I do have back up screenshot maps on my iPad, but I don’t intend to use them unless my phone goes out.

I don’t depend on my phone for much else other than it is my only phone, we no longer have a landline. But I don’t like it and it has an annoying new problem: I can’t text android folks unless I change the SMS setting, and then other stuff doesn’t work. Blech.

[Tradd]

IL, you can get standalone GPS units, but for traffic info, they need to be paired with a smartphone app. Garmin makes a variety of models. I had one for a while, but likes phone map app better.

[iris lilies]

IL, you can get standalone GPS units, but for traffic info, they need to be paired with a smartphone app. Garmin makes a variety of models. I had one for a while, but likes phone map app better.

Some years ago I was ready to get a Garmin GPS unit, but then we ended up getting low end smart phones

[Tradd]

IL, I text Android phones all the time and have no issues.

[Alan]

I can’t text android folks unless I change the SMS setting, and then other stuff doesn’t work. Blech.

That's interesting. I was under the impression that the only issue with texting between IOS and Android phones was that if the Android user had recently switched from IOS and failed to de-register their phone number in iMessage. Until that is done, SMS and MMS messages default to a device running iMessage which is only Apple devices.

[iris lilies]

That's interesting. I was under the impression that the only issue with texting between IOS and Android phones was that if the Android user had recently switched from IOS and failed to de-register their phone number in iMessage. Until that is done, SMS and MMS messages default to a device running iMessage which is only Apple devices.

I do not understand what’s going on with my phone. DH does not have the same problem and he has exactly the same phone I have. We’ve compared Settings.


When I complained to my friend who uses Apple products, she changed the SMS setting and I was then able to text 2 android users who I not been able to text in recent months, but last spring I could text them.

At the moment there are too many variables for me to fully test this out and as usual my patience for tech fixes lasts about 10 seconds. .

[frugal-one]

IL, you can get standalone GPS units, but for traffic info, they need to be paired with a smartphone app. Garmin makes a variety of models. I had one for a while, but likes phone map app better.

I have a standalone GPS that does not need to be paired with a smartphone app?? I like this GPS better... bigger screen and voice activated. Should try google maps and see how it does though????

[Alan]

I have a standalone GPS that does not need to be paired with a smartphone app?? I like this GPS better... bigger screen and voice activated. Should try google maps and see how it does though????

I think she was talking about real time traffic updates. We have GPS in our truck too, it's great for getting us to remote campgrounds all over the country and back again. There are some instances though where we depend on our phones to get us somewhere, generally when we're in an unfamiliar area and simply need to get to a specific place. We tell our phones to "Take me to the nearest Walmart" or "Take me to the nearest gas station" or whatever. Our standalone GPS won't do that but our phones never let us down.

[ToomuchStuff]

For those of you who don’t have a smart phone, how do you navigate driving to new places? In the past couple of years I’ve driven out of state well and across state several times, and I am very dependent now on GPS.

When I travel I do have back up screenshot maps on my iPad, but I don’t intend to use them unless my phone goes out.

I don’t depend on my phone for much else other than it is my only phone, we no longer have a landline. But I don’t like it and it has an annoying new problem: I can’t text android folks unless I change the SMS setting, and then other stuff doesn’t work. Blech.

Before I had one, I use to print out directions, or write down the exit info and directions from Mapquest. I was planning on a GPS since they tend to get reception in some areas that cell service sucked, and then there was still and Atlas or maps.

I expect to have to go back to that, with the new no phone touch rule, since I drive an older car that doesn't have integration.

[happystuff]

Dh has a GPS in his car and I will still print out directions. I like maps! They give me a much bigger "view" and a better sense of "where am I" than a GPS or phone does.