Originally Posted by
GerryinHouston
Sorry, I don't know the right term, that's why I put the 'low resolution' in quotes.
Smartphones and GPS units are basically the same things: they are small computers with displays and a GPS receiver.
The maps used on either smartphones and GPS units are just data loaded on to computers. Generally, one can install maps from various sources on them.
Some digital maps are raster (bitmap). Those maps can have issues with "resolution".
Originally Posted by
GerryinHouston
Since we are at it, I might just as well ask. What maps do the GARMIN bicycle computers use? Special bicycle centered maps or the City Navigator you mentioned above?
The current Garmins come with maps based on Openstreetmap data (as part of the base price). For older units, the maps were either extra or included in a bundle. Those maps where Garmin's City Navigator (CN) maps. These maps are very good (they are used in Garmin's car navigation units) but they don't include ways that cars don't use.
There are Garmin GPS units used for hiking and you can get topographic maps for Garmin GPS units.
Creating map data is expensive. There's is a strong market for car navigation but that doesn't really carry over into other uses (cycling). So, maps for those other uses have historically been under-served.
Openstreetmap (OSM) is a map database that anybody can contribute to. That means people with the interest and time can add things like cycleways. That's worked out very well in places like the Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany (for example). Another advantage to OSM is that the data is free to use and doesn't have burdensome restrictions on the use of that data. The problem with OSM is that, since it relies on volunteers to update it, the coverage can be spotty (some things are missing or inaccurate).
Google is a relative newcomer to mapping. It has a lot of money (and sees mapping as an opportunity to make money). They seem to have an interest in mapping "everything" (which is great). But there are a lot of restrictions on how their map data can be used. While you can download the Google maps so you don't need cell access (it's a recent feature), the way that is done is a little weird and subtle (you can't really download a map that can be used fully). Google doesn't provide a way of getting its map data so it can be used generally (in a Garmin GPS, for example).