Suggestions for an intuitive mobile phone with GPS, camera for directionally-challenged adult daughter.

September 4, 2008 10:57 AM

I need a suggestion for a mobile phone that is very intuitive, has GPS and is a camera phone. Bonus points if it's kinda like OnStar, speaking directions aloud, and is affordable--under $250--although I don't know if that is possible...you tell me.

I have an adult daughter who, due to a learning disorder (comprehends better with audio than visual cues) spends a lot of time...and gasoline, looking for places rather than getting to places. She needs a handsfree phone, with GPS, loves to take pix to send to her out-of-town sis, and isn't terrifically tech-savvy--like her mom!--so needs something intuitive. Info on monthly cost as well as initial purchase cost is appreciated. Audio reminder capability and any other organizer features would be wonderful but not required. If it matters, we live in Oregon, east of the mountains (recently moved here from Seattle) and currently use T-Mobile service, although Verizon seems to be a good provider in this area.

posted by mumstheword to Technology (6 answers total)

I'm using an LG VX8350 from Verizon. You can get one for $130 with a new 2 year contract, so it's in the ballpark. Has a built-in camera phone. It supports VZ Navigator, Verizon's GPS navigation system. Pretty easy to use, costs $10/month. Speaks directions aloud. Works pretty well most of the time, though like all GPS devices, it's only as good as the maps loaded into it, and I've gotten lost more than once.

I'm spending $50/month for a low-end plan plus the navigator. I've got an employee discount through work, so you'd probably be looking at spending closer to $60.

For the record, most of Verizon's phones sold within the past year support their Navigator. Certainly anything you get from them today will.

One thing to keep in mind here: the navigation system depends on EVDO, so if that hasn't been deployed in your area--and eastern Oregon isn't exactly reputed to be on the cutting edge of cell-phone rollouts--neither Verizon's system nor any other EVDO-dependant cell phone is likely to work.
posted by valkyryn at 11:10 AM on September 4, 2008

I have a Samsung Flipshot from Verizon. The VZ Navigator is pretty decent and has voice directions, though my tech-challenged mother had some problems using it. The other nasty thing about it is that there's a delay; if you turn onto a street and have to make an immediate turn after that, the directions don't catch up fast enough to tell you about the 2nd turn until you've missed it. Also, "MAKE NEXT LEGAL U-TURN" is my least favorite phrase.
posted by desjardins at 11:28 AM on September 4, 2008

Nokia N95, kinda expensive but it has everything you're looking for. Use it w/ att for excellent data service to use the GPS.
posted by hipersons at 12:24 PM on September 4, 2008

Verizon XV6800. Windows Mobile 6. It has a built-in GPS. Verizon cripple/disable this GPS so that you have to pay for their VZ Navigator service, but it is possible to uncripple the GPS by flashing a new ROM into it - techniques for how to do this are out there on the web. Once you sew the phone's bollocks back on, there are a ton of free and commercial apps that you can install into the phone that give you real nice GPS features - Google Maps Mobile and Microsoft Live Search are two of the free ones. 2 megapixel camera phone with video capabilities. Full syncing to Microsoft Outlook over-the-air as well as set up any number of your own email accounts. Slide-out keyboard and full touch-screen. I miss out on the bonus points because it's more expensive than $250 unless you have a nice VZW business rep, like me, who can get them for a great price.
posted by tra at 12:58 PM on September 4, 2008

The LG Dare from Verizon is awesome. It's full touch screen, and shortcuts to the programs (Nav, Music Player, Internet) can be added to the desktop for quick access. It has a 3mp camera that can be accessed from a button on the edge of the phone. I haven't used the bluetooth feature, but I'm sure it's not too hard.

The GPS program does take getting used to, but I've had it for two years and I love it. The directions desjardins mentions are actually easier to follow once you get used to it b/c she'll say (I named mine Stella!) "In 3 miles, turn left left on Willow St, then prepare to turn right in point 2 miles." Again, I'm very accustomed to my nav, but I assume there's a gettting-used-to-it aspect. The other awesome thing about VZW Navigator is that it saves lots and lots of your recent searches. (100+!) You can also set up favorites, like home, work, other favorite locations that she could find from anywhere. And, there are other sweet options, like local search and the capability to back up all your addresses to a website so you can access them from any web-enabled computer.

I spent $200 for the phone initially. I have a family plan, but I think with the mobile internet/vz nav package and an individual plan, it would run you in the ballpark of $80/month. I think it's well worth it, and I heart my phone!
posted by santojulieta at 2:01 PM on September 4, 2008

Perhaps it's too obvious, but the iPhone is worth considering, especially since "intuitive" is a priority. It has GPS and a camera, although neither are as fancy as some of the competition. It doesn't speak directions out loud. (Maybe someone will publish a third-party application to do that.)

Initial cost is $200, ongoing cost is about $70/month (for the cheapest voice plan plus unlimited data).
posted by mbrubeck at 8:37 AM on September 5, 2008