Posts Tagged ‘gps’

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The Garmin-Asus nuvifone G60 Buzz… Part 2

Friday, February 13th, 2009

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So in Part 1 we discussed Garmin’s plan to partner with  Asus and release the new version of Garmin nuvifone.  In part 2  we are going to take a look at all the specifications of the new Garmin-Asus G60 nuvifone expected to be released next week at Mobile World.

Before we list the specs; the Garmin nuvifone will be easy to used and its primary focus is to coming navigation, web content, and communication.  Each Garmin nuvifone will be LBS-centric Smartphones that will have a number of different platforms based on individual users.  These include social careerist, travel buffs, and tech geeks.

Here are the complete specs:

  • 2G Connectivity:Quad-band GSM / GPRS / Edge 850/900/1800/1900
  • 3G Connectivity: 850/1900/2100 HSDPA 3.6 Mbps
  • Other Connectivity:802.11 b/g WLAN, Bluetooth, HFP, HSP, AVRCP, A2DP mini-USB 2.0
  • OS: Linux
  • Dimensions: 112 x 58.1 x 14.6 mm
  • Weight: 137g (battery included)
  • Display: 3.55″ 65K colors, anti-glare resistive touchscreen
  • Display Resolution: 272 x 480 WQVGA
  • Camera/Photos: 3MP camera with auto-focus and geo-tagging
  • Flash Memory: 4GB on-board 128 MB RAM
  • Expandable Memory: Micro SD, HC Capable, expandable up to 16GB
  • Music Player: MP3 capable
  • Headphone Jack: 2.5 mm
  • Battery: 1100 mAh removable/rechargeable lithium cell
  • Email: POP3, IMAP 4, IMAP idle, SMTP
  • Internet: HTML browser based on Webkit platform
  • Calendar/PIM: Outlook contacts and calendar
  • Productivity: Document viewing: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, PDF, JPG

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Ferrari Portable Naviagation System by Becker

Thursday, January 29th, 2009

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Becker, the Germany brand, has launched a new GPS navigation system designed after the Ferrari brand.  Seems like technology and car brands are hooking up left and right these days!

Becker’s new portable Navigation system is entitled Traffic Assist Pro Z250, not only is it made of “special” materials, but it also has the soft touch features that have been so popular this year with new navigation devices.  After the iPhone, everyone is sick of jabbing their fingers into screens while driving.

For Ferrari lovers, this navigation device is perfect because it can point you in the direction of every Ferrari dealer in Europe and the United States along with restaurants, movie theaters, gas stations, and other points of interest.

The new Becker navigation device also has the original Ferrari colors, customized Ferrari software, 4.3 inch touch screen, telephone, bluetooth, 3D map views, lane info, turn by turn navigation, and a sleek design.

Some other cool features include a picture viewer which allows you to feature your jpeg files in a slideshow, the speed limit display which warns you if you are going over the speed limit, a day and night mode which adjust the screen brightness automatically, an MP3 player so you can play uploaded music at anytime, and pin entry for the ultimate security.

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Best 3 Portable GPS Systems

Monday, January 26th, 2009

Portable GPS Systems are pretty much popping up everywhere.  With all those choices to make, how do you know exactly which ones to buy? Well, when all else fails, choose the 3 most popular GPS systems and then choose from there!

Here three portable GPS systems that won’t disappoint:

Garmin Nuvi880 Portable GPS
Why: Well, the Garmin Nuvi880 has some features that just can’t be denied. These include Bluetooth, speech recognition, and MSN Direct.  But basically, the speech recognition is probably the best you’ll find out there today.
rf-lgTomTom Go 930 Portable GPS
Why: Well it’s clear as a 3D movie…literally.  This little baby gives you a 3D look at intersections and terrain and the price isn’t that bad.  Also, it has a wide screen, detailed directions, and up to date technology.

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Magellan Maestro 4370 Portable GPS
Why: Well, one finger controls the whole thing.  And with the iPhone and twitter generation, one click is the way to go.  The Magellan Maestro 4370 also has voice guided directions, which is a great perk.

getprodimageasp1So whether you are big on voice activation, one finger controls, 3D visuals, there’s a portable navigational device for you.

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Magellan RoadMate 1430 versus Magellan Roadmate 1412

Thursday, January 22nd, 2009

1430Magellan RoadMate 1430

Thinking of upgrading form the Magellan RoadMate 1412 to the Magellan RoadMate 1430? With a $150 price difference and no difference in design, it’s important to understand the differences and similarities between the two. Here are the similarities:

  • Both of the 1430 and the 1412 have a 4.3″ WQVGA color touch screen which shows your position on the map, surrounding points of interest, signal strength, street names, and much more.
  • Both navigation devices include 6 million points of interest for ATM’s, gas stations, restaurants, and more.
  • Both GPS systems from Magellan offer expanded maps for U.S., Puerto Rico, and Canada; all pre-loaded on a SD memory card.
  • Both Magellan RoadMates inlcude SayWhere text-to-speech so that you can hear street names with voice direction and don’t have to take your eyes off of the road
  • Both Magellan navigational devices include a Ultra-thin and portable design
  • Both also offer QuickSpell so that the user can enter destinations with fewer keystrokes.
  • Both the Magellan RoadMate 1430 and 1412 offer 3D or 2D views of your surroundings
  • Both have the exact same specifications including li-ion rechargeable batters, 3 to 5 GPS accuracy, and the same package contents.
  • Additionally, both offer auto re-route, auto night view- customizable route methods, and multi-destination routings.

1412Magellan RoadMate 1430

So the only difference? Well, the Magellan Roadmate 1430 includes a 3 month free subscription to the Magellan TrafficKit. The Magellan TrafficKit provides real-time traffic updates and advisories as well as offering new route options if there’s a quicker way to get to your destination.

Hopefully that helps with your decision. If you want real time traffic updates purchase the Magellan Roadmate 1430… but other than that, there is basically no difference between the two devices.

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Portable GPS meets style with the Navman S100

Thursday, January 15th, 2009

navman

So exactly what happens when GPS meets style?  You get the Navman S100, perhaps one of the most stylish portable GPS to date.  The navigational device measures at 13.5 mm thick with a 4.3 inch widescreen.

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Another cool feature of the Navman S100, is like other devices, it seems to be taking tips from the iPhone when it comes to screen interaction.  Instead of the user jamming his or her finger repeatedly into the screen, a tap and slide motion can be used to navigate between menu options. This is called Glide Touch from the Pioneering ‘Spirit’ software. You can call it whatever you want, but if you could combine the iPhone and a portable GPS the result would be the Navman s100.

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The “Super-flat” widescreen is an indication of a device that is loaded with gps technology.  The Navman s100 has some cool features including Pedestrian mode, geo tagged photos, 3d junction views and land marks, economical routing, MP3 player, and a safety camera.

Via: Navman

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TomTom Portable Navigation Device Connects at CES 2009

Monday, January 12th, 2009

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It’s called the GO 740 Live and at $499 it’s the first TomTom portable navigation device to be launched in the USA and it’s ready to connect you to the world… literally.

The TomTom GO 740 Live provides real time traffic information, a fuel price service and local search using all the major search people, including Google and Weather.

One issue we all have a problem with is that the new “connected” portable GPS navigation devices never come out of the box ready ready for action.  We end up paying more for connections, accessories, and monthly subscriptions just to get the unit ready for everyday use.  In today’s economy, we all want more for our buck and for good reason.

That’s why the TomTom Go portable navigators made such a huge splash at CES 2009.  Each TomTom Go 740 Live navigator comes ready right out the box with a built in SIM card and GPRS modem.  Another sleek and popular feature that TomTom Go Live incorporates is voice recognition which recognizes over 130 voice commands which allows you to get moving with planned routes, make phone calls, and set preferences… all by voice

Is it competition for Garmin nuvi 880 products? I guess we will find out in 2009.  Stay tuned here.

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GPS Review: Garmin StreetPilot GPS Portable System

Thursday, January 8th, 2009

49793Regardless of what anyone says, the Garmin StreetPilot GPS Portable System is one of the best GPS systems around because its reliable, its affordable, consumers love it, and it works.

The Garmin StreetPilot GPS Portable System features a touch screen navigation and automatic route calculation with turn by turn voice prompted directions.  However the best feature of this navigational unit is the out of the box convenience.  Once you pull the Garmin StreetPilot GPS Portable System out of the box you get MapSource City Select street data which includes over 5 million points of interest like hotels, gas stations, attractions and more.  You also get a 128 MB SD card so you can transfer the information from MapSource City Select to a CD-ROM for data transfer from a PC via a USB connection.

Another sleek feature includes the low number of buttons on the device which give it a contemporary and minimal look.  It only has a knob plus an on/off switch.  You can customize the appearance of the portable GPS by using face plates.

Additional GPS Specifications include WAAS-enabled, 12 satellites to compute and update your position, 2 minute auto locate, 1 second update rate, 95% GPS accuracy within 15 meters, and a built in antenna.  Additional navigation specifications include automatic turn-by-turn instructions, routing around bad road conditions (traffic, construction, etc.), choice of scenic route available, off route recalculation for mistakes,

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3 GPS Features You Shouldn’t Live Without

Friday, January 2nd, 2009

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Sometimes we buy a GPS system or device and the next day something newer comes out and we could hit ourselves for the lack of research we did which resulted in us purchasing yesterday’s gadget.  However, its 2009 and there are some features that your GPS should have, features that make them worth your money.

Feature 1: Your GPS Should Talk Back and Listen.
Yesterday’s GPS systems talked to you by saying “Hello”, “Turn Left”, and “Destination is to the right”.  However, if you GPS system does not ask you where you want to go and then wait for your answer, then it’s not the best of the best.  Speech-recognition is an important factor to hands free driving and it has to be good.  Some GPS devices do incorporate speech recognition,  but it can be a frustrating experience.  However, today’s speech-recognition has evolved and there are some good options out there.

Feature 2: Your GPS Device Should Stop You From Getting A Ticket
I’ve gotten one recently, and I’m sure you know someone else that has too…the dreaded in the mail ticket because of a red light camera. Sometimes, you forget to yield before turning right on red, however the camera seems to never forget to take your picture.  Today, some GPS devices will give you a warning if you are near a red light camera and that will give you plenty of time to slow down and avoid a ticket.

Feature 3: Your GPS Should Help You Avoid Traffic In Real Time
This is an important feature and an expensive one if you don’t do your homework.  Some GPS devices have real time traffic features already incorporated into the device, however, with some it’s not workable until you buy a receiver which could cost over $200.  Also, most real time traffic features require a subscription fee which can be more affordable, typically $60 to $70 per year. Also, another word of caution, if you don’t want to pay the annual fee you could get real time traffic reporting with advertising flashing across the screen.  That’s a turn off for me; I mean, who would want to be stuck in traffic and forced to watch advertising?

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Wi-Fi and Automative GPS, a Match Made in Heaven

Monday, December 29th, 2008

trafficalert_withmap_2d_270pxRecently a GPS System by AT&T helped the police in St Martin Parish find Charles Lodrigue, a 29 year old who got disorientated when his car struck a utility pole and got lost in the woods. (Source: KATC.com).

It’s a simple story of how important a GPS chip in a cell phone helped save someone’s life.  But exactly how do the authorities locate you in an emergency using your GPS system?  It’s not as simple as it sounds, and surprisingly the technology is fairly new.

We all know about Onstar by GM, a two way communicator that allows you to basically get roadside assistance anywhere and anytime with a push of a button. Combine that technology with a GPS system and you have Dash Express, the first car navigation device that can send data back to a server.  The key phrase here is “send data back to a server”. GPS systems didn’t used to do this until very recently; all they could do was receive data from one end because communicating a location to a tracking center requires more money and a separate service.

In the past GPS tracking systems, cell phones with GPS chips, and personal navigation systems existed, but none of these services and technologies were put into one because customers just cared about getting from the house to the cheapest gas station, or finding that new theatre. However, thanks to crime and theft, consumers now want more when it comes to their GPS systems.

The Dash Express, “the only internet connected automotive GPS”  finally gave consumers an option by incorporating Wi-Fi and a cellular modem into a GPS system.  However, due to privacy issues and other concerns, we still can’t directly tell where a GPS device is.. but the technology is getting closer and help is still on the way.

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The REAL benefits of having a GPS in your car

Tuesday, December 23rd, 2008

nuvi260withbow-thumbBy now you’ve probably heard the television and radio ads urging you to “Get a Garmin” this holiday season. But what are the real benefits of owning a consumer GPS device? Since we know you’re not the kind of person to simply buy what the TV tells you, we’ve provided the following objective list of reasons to own a GPS from Garmin, Magellan, Tom Tom or any number of consumer electronics companies.

What are the Benefits of Owning a Car GPS Device?
So let’s cut to the chase.Are GPS devices just cool gadgets to show off to your friends or do they have some practical purpose in your life? Here are some of the things you can do with a GPS device:

· Get directions. Obviously, the number one selling point of any GPS device is that it helps you get from Point A to Point B without getting lost. New GPS technology allows you to pre-program your trip into the device and then receive directions via turn-by-turn navigation. On many Garmin GPS devices, the information is even delivered by a friendly computerized voice.

· Use it as a phone. The Magellan Maestro and other recent GPS devices now integrate Bluetooth technology into the device, so you can now use the GPS as a hands-free phone. With concerns about safety due to cell phone use in the car (and many states having passed hands-free cell phone laws) this feature is more relevant than ever.

· Drive more safely. As amazing as it sounds, many GPS devices now provide warnings about upcoming obstacles in the road as well as advice about which lane has the least amount of potential traffic. These features give you an advantage over the unexpected bumps in the road that could pose a real safety risk to you or your family.

· Get there quicker. In the “old days” you had to bite your tongue and wait it out when traffic got tough. Now, GPS devices help make the traffic snarl a thing of the past. Many systems are linked to your local highway traffic reports and can clue you in when you need to take an alternate route. In fact, GPS technology has become so advanced that it can even provide that alternate route on the fly!

· Find something to do. Magellan, Garmin and other companies are now preloading their auto GPS devices with links to thousands of restaurants, movie theatres and other entertainment options. You can search by what you want to do tonight, and the GPS will provide a wealth of options (and even tell you how to get there).

· Enjoy your trip. If you’re taking your family on a car trip, pack your toothbrush and your GPS! GPS devices can provide information about all the points-of-interest along the way. You’ll get everything from national monuments to scenic overlooks – and everything fun in between. The GPS device will tell you the most efficient way to get there, so you won’t end up wasting a lot of money on gas.

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