By Daniel Lee

Your GPS device communicates with satellites in orbit to detect your exact location, and help you navigate from point A to point B and also find nearby points of interest, such as gas stations or restaurants. Some products like the Garmin nuvi 1690 features services that give real-time data for your location directly to the GPS unit. This includes gas prices, weather, movie times, real- time traffic, local events, and more. Many models also offer Bluetooth features that use text-to-voice translation so you can hear spoken street names. Not only that, but many GPS units can store and play other digital media such as music, audiobooks, photos and videos. But this is just the beginning. The future of GPS navigation goes beyond these features.

Many of today’s GPS devices can direct you away from heavy traffic, caused by construction, accidents or rush-hour in most major cities. Thankfully, GPS manufacturers have stopped charging for the service, so now it’s free!

Rather than purchasing GPS unit, many people are downloading navigation apps for their smartphone. And after all, you take your phone with you everywhere, so why not get directions whenever and wherever? Google Maps, is free on many smartphones, but because it doesn’t offer audio-based turn-by-turn instructions many people see it as useless when driving.

While many people are downloading GPS apps for their smartphone, some GPS manufacturers are getting into the phone business. In fact Garmin has produced Garminfone, it’s an Android-based phone with a car charger and mount included. As with other Android phones, you can access many Google services, download apps, check e- mail, surf the Web, chat with friends and most importantly get navigation instructions for driving and walking.

While TomTom has offered downloadable voice packs for a few years now – from Homer Simpson to Snoop Lion– the company’s latest is sure to please sci-fi fans looking to spice up their road trip. Darth Vader is the first of four Star Wars downloads followed by C-3PO, Yoda and Han Solo – each of which adds familiar character voices to your turn-by-turn directions. Sound effects from the films are also incorporated, such as lightsaber hums and soaring TIE fighters also included is the iconic Imperial March.