Global Positioning System or GPS technology, in general, provides positioning and navigation services. It can be used anywhere in the world, made possible by a United States - based space satellite. GPS has become widely used worldwide, and marketing sales for this device continued to rise. It has been very important in navigation, map-making, land survey and other related fields of human activity. Yes, it has many applications, the most popular of which is for transportation - air, maritime or land transportation.

In plain language, a GPS device can tell you where you are exactly. Hence, this device, which originally is used only in the military, has become very much available even to regular car owners through in-car navigators. The thing also that brought this surge in the use of such device is the fact that it is becoming more and more affordable. While traditionally, you still consult a map or directory, with a GPS device connected, you’ll have access to a highly detailed mapping data. An in-car GPS can show your exact location, provide turn-by-turn instructions to reach your destination, directs you to avoid traffic spots, and even identify certain places within a locality, like gas stations, restaurants, hotels, etc. usually called points of interest. It will be a hassle-free travel indeed.

Enumerated below are the most popular and latest car GPS units according to reviews and recommendations by technology enthusiast and experts to help you decide on what GPS model is suitable for you.

1. TomTom GO 740
TomTom’s latest GPS unit includes superb features such as up-to-the-minute traffic data, weather forecasts, fuel prices, excellent routing instructions. It has a Local Search powered by Google. Hence, one can have access to a tremendous amount of information while driving. 740 offers as well a Bluetooth hands-free calling and voice command system. This allows the driver do pretty much a lot while keeping both hands on the wheel. You can as well be ensured of a clear GPS signal, even with an unfavorable weather condition. Also, while the earlier GO units are bulky and more weighted, GO 740 offers a thinner and lighter design. GO 740 sells for $400.

2. Magellan RoadMate's OneTouch
The most useful feature of RoadMate is its OneTouch Menu. How does this work? With this one touch menu, the driver can create at least six shortcut keys to display the most searched and useful locations and information. It also has text-to-speech turn-by-turn directions of street names and recommended exit points. The majority of the RoadMates’s visual is occupied by a colored touch-screen display. This 4.7 - inch touch screen gives the driver an extra control and view of the menu at a highway speed. The unit has a micro card slot and mini-USB port for charging and connecting to a computer. The device’s price ranges from $144 - $249.

3. Garmin nuvi 780
The Garmin nuvi 780 offers a slim and attractive design, making it practical to be carried anywhere. It has a user-friendly interface, text-to-speech technology and a Bluetooth-enabled hands free connection. Nuvi 780 also added innovative features such as MP3 player and photo viewer and the ability to transmit sound via a built-in FM transmitter. This means the unit can send sound wirelessly through your car stereo, preventing the driver to miss out on the directions and instructions due to low volume. It has a 4.3-inch widescreen, making the display bright and extremely effective. Nuvi 780 is offered in the market for $600.

4. Garmin Nuvi 1690
The most sough-after feature of 1690 is its free access to Garmin's nuLink data service. NuLink delivers real-time data for your location, from fuel prices to Google local search to traffic data. 1690 comes with a two-year data subscription so there are no extra fees. 1690 also offers a microSD media, which renders all old Garmin SD cards obsolete. Further, it saves you gas and money through its ecoRoute. It is this unit’s green feature that calculates the most fuel - efficient route, checks fuel usage and more. This unit’s price range is from $500 - $633.

5. The TomTom XL 340 S
XL 340 has advanced features such as lane guidance, downloadable fuel prices, and updated maps from TomTom Map Share, which constantly updates its map data and routing system. Its advanced lane guidance shows detailed illustrations of complex freeway information. Arrows on the illustration notify drivers of what lanes will keep them on the chosen route. It has a wide-format touch-screen with a large and loud 2-inch speaker that facilitates the text-to-speech functioning. XL 340’s retail price is $250.

6. Navman’s S90i
S90i is Navman’s top of the line. Apart from it extremely clear interface, S90i features NavPix, a built-in 2 megapixel camera which geotags photos taken. When the cover is slid open, photos are taken and are saved to its 2GB internal memory and is automatically geotagged. These photos are then used as specific points or routes to aid the vehicle’s course. The S90i is also equipped with SiRFstarIII GPS receiver and its performance is efficient and speedy, taking less than a minute to pick up a GPS signal. There are also safety features such as text-to-speech and built-in Bluetooth hands-free calling. S90i is being sold for $600.

7. Mio DigiWalker C520
Mio C520 uses a split-screen technology to display additional information. By this, the display is split 70/30 with the largest view dedicated to the navigation map, and the other 30 percent displaying additional information. These may include current time, speed and date, a list of nearest points of interest, traffic data. It also has a larger than average 4.3-inch widescreen that is a bit brighter than earlier devices in the series and is very lightweight and portable. C520 is currently tagged at $350 - $400.

8. Garmin nuvi 1350T
The Garmin nuvi 1350T offers traditional features of a nuvi device such as a widescreen interface, ecoRoute, public transit mode, and text-to-speech system. In addition, it is one of the first to offer pedestrian navigation capability enabled through optional CityXplorer maps. This is available for select tourist destinations in North America and Europe and can easily be downloaded directly to the nuvi. Its suggested retail price is $270.

9. LG’s LN500
LG LN500 is a basic, but incredible navigational unit for first-time users. This is because it has a simple interface with clearly labeled selection boxes. With a 4.5-inch display, it is easier to navigate through the unit. It provides text-to-speech technology, an MP3 player, and a picture and photo viewer. LN500 is sold for $550.

10. Eclipse AVN2210p
Eclipse AVN2210p tries to combine the functionality of a GPS navigation device and media player. Eclipse is quite an interesting device as it brings together mobile navigation and portable entertainment. The system can be used to play a variety of digital audio formats and input from audio players via a USB port. Among this unit’s many features is iPod connectivity, built-in Bluetooth, a USB connection and a touch screen. It also carries advanced features, including a phonebook transfer and text message playback. It does not include text-to-speech functionality to enable the system to call out individual road names, but a useful bar on the bottom of the screen displays the name of the upcoming street. It carries a price tag of $600.

Portable navigation devices are transformed from being labeled as luxury to that of being a necessity. These devices interact with your car in a smart way. Luckily, there are products in the market designed to give you just what you need.

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