The future of motorcycle navigation?

[RideLondon]

http://www.cultofmac.com/320234/how-to- ... ple-watch/

If they weren't so expensive I would actually consider buying one just for this purpose.

On the whole, I try not to use my iPhone to navigate, because I like to get to know my way around. But if I'm making a journey to a new place, and I need to get there on time, I can't risk getting lost or taking detours that will make me late. So when that happens, I set Google Maps to take me where I need to go, connect my headphones to my phone which then goes in my inside jacket pocket, and then put one earbud in my right ear. It works pretty well, I get accurate turn-by-turn directions. But with this you would actually be able to see the map by just glancing at your wrist.

What are people's thoughts?

[DAB]

With the battery life, would have to be a short journey.

[mtheall]

I was thinking about buying an Android Wear watch for this purpose, too. It would also be much safer for my phone! Just keep it in my pocket; no worry about a phone mount failing.

[dkazzed]

I have a Bluetooth headset anyway so I leave my phone in my pocket and rely on audio prompts. But I wish I had a phone mount as sometimes I want to see where Waze (my navigation app of choice) is choosing to route me some strange way. On a few occasions I think to myself "I'm not making that turn" but sometimes I think "I'm not in a huge rush, let's see where Waze takes me." Waze has brought me down some excellent backroads at times but others it would do something dumb like force me to turn left from a residential side street to some really busy road.

The Apple Watch would work, assuming the screen stays off to save battery life until you lift it up when you need a visual cue. I'll also wait for Waze or Google Maps to bring in Apple Watch compatibility as I'm not a fan of Apple Maps myself. I also need $1,000, because if I buy one for myself, I better buy one for my wife as well.

[maddiedog]

I don't see this as the future, especially in the USA. The cost is incredibly prohibitive, and you rely 100% on cell towers.

I try to use my iPhone for GPS, but fail miserably in the areas that riding is actually great in, because they're spotty in cell coverage.

I want a Garmin Zumo so bad, but alas, I'm just a man with a toddler who can't afford toys at the moment. Damn diapers are expensive!

[Alibally]

You need an app that offers offline mapping such as the Nokia Here app. (iOS or android). It means that if you lose signal the maps still work.

[dkazzed]

I bought TomTom North America many years ago for $40 before the advent of "free" navigation apps on iOS that use data. It uses 2GB of storage on your phone and only uses data if you pay for traffic data or search Google. With data off say when we're roaming on a road trip to Disneyland, it works great. We've had lifetime updates since.