Anyone use smartphone only for everything on bike, gps, mp3, weather, etc....

[Mr Whiskey]

as opposed to individual units for each?
GPS, with custom route mapping, live traffic updates?
MP3, with decent sound through bike speakers & ample storage?
Weather, with doppler radar map overlay?
Connection to Escort Live (or such) for police updates/radar detection?
Good Camera?
Decent battery life............
Well, you get my drift.
Anybody got the all encompassing gadget & what kinda features ya got?
Thinkin' about updating our phones & was jus' wondering how close to an all-in-one I could get.

[hubcapsc]

I don't know about all that other stuff, but you can get good GPS on android
with openstreetmap data and an app called osmand... offline... custom routing...

-Mike

[Valkorado]

Yes.  On Android smartphone, I use a program called CarHome Ultra as a touch friendly (big buttons) home dock.  It lets you set up your favorite programs and shortcuts (even music playlists).  I use Sygic for GPS, has off line maps and optional plugin for live traffic.  I have over 10 gigs of tunes, and can start any playlist by touching as button.  Rain Alarm lets me see in real time storm intensity, location and area with radar map (data required).  Rocket player is the best mp3 player I've used but there are many.  All this works with bluetooth intercom and microphone -- can adjust volume, pause and skip songs, talk to passenger with it and even send and receive calls.  RAM mount X-grip thing holds phone tight.  It all works good together, believe it or not.

Oh yeah, I have a USB charger connected to the battery to keep it running and charged.

[BF]

as opposed to individual units for each?
GPS, with custom route mapping, live traffic updates?
MP3, with decent sound through bike speakers & ample storage?
Weather, with doppler radar map overlay?
Connection to Escort Live (or such) for police updates/radar detection?
Good Camera?
Decent battery life............
Well, you get my drift.
Anybody got the all encompassing gadget & what kinda features ya got?
Thinkin' about updating our phones & was jus' wondering how close to an all-in-one I could get.

I haven't used it on the bike, but you'll love a Samsung Galaxy Note 4. 

I don't know about some of that other stuff either, but....

Huge screen (bigger screen than the Iphone 6 plus, but yet, phone is smaller than the 6 plus).
Great camera.
Great battery life.
Apps through Google Playstore for stuff like Raindar for live weather on google map overlay. 

[oZ]

iPhone 6 Plus don't even plug it in battery last better than 12 hours. With that I use Waze a FREE APP. Works on iPhones, Android, Windows phones

Here is an explanation from their website:

Nothing can beat real people working together. Imagine millions of drivers out on the roads, working together towards a common goal: to outsmart traffic and get everyone the best route to work and back, every day.

Traffic is more than just red lines on the map. Get alerted before you approach police, accidents, road hazards or traffic jams, all shared by other drivers in real-time. It's like a personal heads-up from a few million of your friends on the road.

With community-edited maps, you won't hit a dead end

An active community of Waze map editors works to constantly improve and update Waze's maps. That's why they're the first to reflect changes happening in your neighborhood, constantly improving routing for everyone.

Your friends are just around the corner see other friends also driving to your destination, when you connect to Facebook. Coordinate everyone's arrival times when you pick up or meet up with friends. Now you're effortlessly in sync when you drive together.

Save on gas, every time you fill up Navigate to the cheapest station on your route, all powered by community-shared gas prices. By working together to report prices at the pump, Waze drivers can always save some gas money.

Anyway it's been amazing I've seen warning about a crash that happen and with 5 minutes I passes that crash really fast.  I can see all Waze users with a given route like on the highway I'm on and see how they are progressing, their speed etc.  They as you are anonymous you just see their little vehicles on the map.

Once going to Las Vegas I was caught in traffic, Waze beep me and ASK ME IF I WAS IN TRAFFIC SO THEY COULD SHARE THE INFO.

[Mr Whiskey]

Thanks hubcapsc, gonna add those to our existing Moto G.
Valkorado, looks like you're gonna keep me busy researching, thanks.
BF, Sugar wants one of those Galaxy Note 4's, thanks.
oZ, yeah I jus' found Waze recently (I'm no longer a "Baby Wazer") & love it but it wont let you customize a route & on my phone it eats up a lot of battery, thanks.

[jimmytee]

I've been using an Android based phone on both bikes for quite some time. The only issue with the phone as a GPS is if you are in an area where you don't have a signal and need set up a new route. The phones get their maps streamed to them as opposed to storing them. Other than that, no real issues. My last phone was a Motorola Bionic, and my current phone is a Motorola Razr M. Both phones are supplied and paid for by my employer. I have a docking station made just for my phone that when my phone is plugged into it, It automatically goes into a Car Mode and the screen has bigger buttons for easier use that can be assigned various apps. On both of my bikes, I have thumb drives also in the audio system so MP3s from the phone isn't my main use. I do use the navigation and stream I Heart Radio and Pandora through the phone. Works really well. Oh, I also have an app to display the video and control my Go Pro from my phone.

[BradValk48237]

Whiskey Brother.....

So good to see you back on here regular !!

I use my iPhone for everything and have it mounted high on the right handlebar so I can pop off pictures and movies as Im on the fly.... I tried it on the clutch side, but it was hard to use it at stops as you would have to cross body it.... so the right works best  I think.

I have used the traffic function, but main problem is seeing the screen... But i tend to use a map still.... I do use the compass function more than anything.....

Biggest issue, is that sometimes out in the "Boonies" you loose cell coverage.... which means non of those things that depend on a signal and data will work.... so 90% of the time it will work....

I use it as MP3 and have it wired to charge..... thats the best part as after a long ride i still have a fully charged phone...

If I get a chance I will post my $4 home made mount that i made out of spare parts and a plastic belt clip holder.....

So overall it works, but hard to see on the fly and only works with Cell coverage....

Brad

[fudgie]

I have maps, weather, and radar on mine. Only thing I use when traveling is the radar. I'm good at reading the skys (so far) out west so will look at it if I need to haul ass or stay. I dont use the map portion. Ive had bad luck with any gps. Nothing beats a paper map or locals. If I travel I usually study the map book weeks ahead and hardly use it when I travel.

[Oldfishguy]

iPhone on a RAM mount, right side.

"My Radar" app for weather

Music, stream Pandora or stored music hooked into I/S factory plug. Speakers or earbuds.

Google maps, only when needed (eats up a lot of data)

Make it simple, distractions are hazardous to your health.

[Mr Whiskey]

The only issue with the phone as a GPS is if you are in an area where you don't have a signal and need set up a new route.

Looks like Mike's osmand might be a good solution for custom routing offline. Installed it & like what I see so far!

Whiskey Brother.....
So good to see you back on here regular !!
 I do use the compass function more than anything....

Wazup Brother Brad! Yeah, snow'd in & buggin' on the VRCC Board, & I too use the compass more than 'bout anything else!

I have maps, weather, and radar on mine. Only thing I use when traveling is the radar.  Nothing beats a paper map or locals. If I travel I usually study the map book weeks ahead and hardly use it when I travel.

I installed Valkorado's "Rain Alarm" tonight, it looks to be jus' the ticket for weather radar, & I actually collect maps. Got one from every state we visit (he77, I've got horse trail maps, haha) in rain proof pouch, never leaves the bike.

Make it simple, distractions are hazardous to your health.

I heard that Brother, Amen! I guess in this digital age sometimes I forget, if I need to look for a destination, then I aint doin' it right!!

[BobB]

I use an iPhone 4S in a home made handlebar mount.  I can supply power to the phone via a plug in a windshield bag.  Phone audio can be fed to an input on my radio.  I have used it for GPS, listening to tunes and shooting pictures/video through the windshield.

[hubcapsc]

Looks like Mike's osmand might be a good solution for custom routing offline. Installed it & like what I see so far!

I found it hard to figure out how to do some custom routing stuff, maybe because I've
never used a "smart" device before, they're way different from "normal" computers  ...

Now I think off-line osmand can do everything that on-line google maps can do. I even
found the openstreetmap data to be more correct than google data on some local back
roads, but I'm sure that's the exception to the rule. I bought the $5 version instead of
the free version, the $5 version allows downloading of all the data you want.

-Mike

[Dred]

My Garmin Zumo has lived in my junk drawer for going on 3 years.  I replaced it with my iPhone and a waterproof case.  I use Navigon for navigation, Weather Channel app for weather, radar app for radar (I made it home from the Sisters in TX to Houston between the thunderstorms navigating by radar), and Pandora or the 30 gig of stored music for tunes.  My only wish is that there was a setting somewhere between regular and airplane that allowed me to run GPS and use the Net ... phone calls and texts can be a nuisance.

[Mr Whiskey]

I found it hard to figure out how to do some custom routing stuff..............
Now I think off-line osmand can do everything that on-line google maps can do.
-Mike

I'm a little outta my depth with it too, but I agree it looks to be as good or better than google, & you're not dependent on being connected. Downloaded Tn, Ga, Nc, Sc, Ky, & a world map last night.
Thanks again Brother!

My Garmin Zumo has lived in my junk drawer for going on 3 years.  I replaced it with my iPhone and a waterproof case.

Thanks Dred! Yeah, I think I'm headed in that direction myself. Some of these apps are pretty awesome & this is the next purchase for the Wing. Already got the Bagger Flip Windshield..........