Launched back in February, Vector is among the very few GPS devices that are available in the Philippines. We’ve been using one for a couple of weeks and bringing it on road trips on occasion.
With over 38,000 points-of-interests, Vector has a decent number of POIs I’ve seen around (my AVT initially had 40k with additional 11k this April).
This touch-screen GPS comes with a built-in battery that lasts about 3-4 hours on a single full charge but you can always hook it up via a mini-USB car charger that comes with it.
Vector V100 specs:
4.3″ touchscreen panel @ 480×272 pixels
SiRFatlasV ARM11 533 Mhz CPU
128 MB DDR RAM
NDrive 10 navigation software
Bluetooth hands-free calling
2GB internal flash (up to 8GB microSD)
FM Transmitter
LED light sensor
USB 2.0
Extras: Calculator, Converter, Games
900 mAh Li-Ion battery
Vector has almost all of the standard features — turn-by-turn navigation with voice direction, expansive search, itineraries and alternate routes. The device is pretty easy to use although you could get confused sometimes with the icons and the menu (perhaps a quick read of the manual will help). The system loads quite fast and the satellite look-up of the GPS locks in under 10 seconds (though this will heavily depend on your location and other barriers).
Some nifty add-ons include hands-free Bluetooth connection with your phone, an FM transmitter, music/video player and basic games. It even has an LED sensor at the back panel that adjusts the brightness of the LCD depending on the ambient light.
Vector uses NDrive for the navigation system and Accu-Map for the map data (which I think is the most comprehensive local mapping data around). NDrive is heavily used in Europe and some Android phones also have them (like HTC and Samsung).
What I really liked about the NDrive system is that you can just pin-point any location or area in the screen and the GPS will take you there with its turn-by-turn navigation (so you’re not just restricted to POIs or search data).
The unit is available in SM Appliance Stores with a suggested retail price of Php13,900.
Quigley but she seems to be such an eccentric one that you’re not really sure whether you like her or not.
In truth, LED grow lights can function for over 50,000 hours.
We sat near the lake, and enjoyed the beautiful view with about 2 other hikers.
I’m planning to buy a portable gps but i want something that does not let me tufn to a one way street. I tried using my htc desire hd phone, garmin, nokia ovi ß iphone and it seems like the maps are not updated. When going to the south from buendia-pasong tamo, i am always being directed to turn left to osmeña highway, which is not allowed. It should be turn right to osmeña then make a u-torn to the left.
what about vector or car navi? Are the directions accurate?
Thanks
I am a CarNavi user quite some time already, bought it in their online shop. The support of carnavi is perfect, the maps are regularly updated and they even offer free downloadeable maps for other countries here in Asia. It’s defenitly worth a look.
Say i want to use a gps device for hiking here in Philippines, are there available topo maps that i can use?
Ang tanda-tanda mo na nawawala ka pa rin sa patutungohan mo?
nice nice. hope i can try this
http://goo.gl/tcdTz
the ‘G’ in GPS means “Global”. It was intended for civilian use thru SPS (Standard Positioning Service) and the US military and its allies use thru PPS (‘P’ for Precise) to provide real time geographic positioning service anywhere in the world. I guess it’s safe to say that GPS positioning is available in PHL since day one. And yes you can use GPS with or without base map and database of points of interest.
@Ed: Oh yeah. My bad. Was talking about the availability of Philippine maps for use with a gps devices. Of course most gps devices are not quite useful to us civilians without the road maps. Of course unless there are any avid Geo-caching users here. (Are there any Geo-caching groups here in the Philippines? I don’t quite know.)
ndrive is also pre installed on my lg optimus one android phone. i guess the difference is it locks longer on the phone (3-5 minutes). but it’s the same price so an android phone is better.
Sorry guys! I made a mistake…what I am trying to say is that “the time where GPS navigation here in the Philippines is still unknown (not yet available), I usually hear it in cable televisions.”
Nokia Ovi Maps is free worldwide , yes thats true
if anyone is thinking Philippines is backward then he is backward ; we aren’t.
Sino singer nung cover ng hey soul sister sa vid? sorry off-topic ako 😀
@Benchmark:
I also forgot to mention the ‘not so bad’ Nokia Ovi Maps. It is free worldwide! The map data is from Navteq. It is not that updated but every other month I am noticing the ever increasing file size of the Philippine maps so it is probably getting updated. Some of the data is crowd-sourced via the web version of Ovi Maps and some of the data (although quite old data is from AccuMaps) Hey, I can’t complain. It is free. 😀
Oh Crap. Sorry for the double post.
@Benchmark:
I’d like to correct you. Local navigation is available… via a Garmin unit + Open Street Map Philippines or Roadguide.ph (which started around 2006 if I am not mistaken). The Philippines is not that backward. 🙂 Roadguide.ph and OSM Ph are nice free crowd sourced maps. You just need to buy a Garmin unit 5,000 php – 20,000 php.
There are a few other brands that offer a PND with Philippines maps but I forget the brand names.
This Vector PND which uses maps from Accu-maps which is under AsiaType which is the leading producer of printed maps in the Philippines. This seems like a great product because their maps are supposed to be the most accurate. I can’t wait to try it actually.
The competition is getting real good. 😀 The situation is great for consumers.
BTW I have a Garmin Nuvi 295w + OSM Ph and Roadguide.ph Maps. Not bad. It really helps in places I usually get lost (Makati and Manila). It also works quite okay when I go to Baguio, Batangas, et cetera. It also really saved me when I needed to find a hospital on the way to Baguio, my driver was having a heart attack (Man the stress!).
I don’t want to sound like a smart*ss know it all. I really just don’t like the impression that the Philippines is backward. We aren’t.
@Benchmark:
I’d like to correct you. Local navigation is available… via a Garmin unit + Open Street Map Philippines or Roadguide.ph (which started around 2006 if I am not mistaken). The Philippines is not that backward. 🙂 Roadguide.ph and OSM Ph are nice free crowd sourced maps. You just need to buy a Garmin unit 5,000 php – 20,000 php.
There are a few other brands that offer a PND with Philippines maps but I forget the brand names.
This Vector PND which uses maps from Accu-maps which is under AsiaType which is the leading producer of printed maps in the Philippines. This seems like a great product because their maps are supposed to be the most accurate. I can’t wait to try it actually.
The competition is getting REAl good. 😀 Great for consumers.
BTW I have a Garmin Nuvi 295w + OSM Ph and Roadguide.ph Maps. Not bad. It really helps in places I usually get lost (Makati and Manila). It also works quite okay when I go to Baguio, Batangas, et cetera. It also really saved me when I needed to find a hospital on the way to Baguio, my driver was having a heart attack (Man the stress!).
I don’t wanna sound like a smart*ss know it all. I really just don’t like the impression that the Philippines is backward. We aren’t.
Yeah sir, I have a Garmin Nuvi 295W too which I use for my car, big bike and hiking. I got it last year for P7,500.00 at sulit. I read this Vector has better maps, but weighing things out, why would I pay double (P14K-) for something which has the same features? Perhaps the nuvi is even better.
It’s really sad that throwaways and phased-out models (not only vector) from other countries are sold in the Phiulippines at double the price just because they(esp. Filipino businessmen) think we are backward (manul ba lah). There’s even a stand at SM North Edsa that sells the 295W for P34K – susmaryusep. They really think we are that dumb and backward.
@Benchmark
How can you tell that GPS is not working here in the Philppines? GPS navigation units and street maps are available here for a couple of years now.
I saw one in CD-R king…am not sure how much…yet its amusing coz GPS navigation is not available locally…I mean I’ve been hearing this most of the times in Turbo (Discovery channel), only in other countries.
This is very useful to Newbie taxi drivers also to foreigners who are willing to be challenged in Philippine streets specially here in NCR.