Gear Diary » GPS

Magellan Adds eXplorist 110 to Outdoor Line

Douglas Moran — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 21:30:24 +0000

Okay, yeah, you got your iPhone or Android phone, and it works pretty durn good from a GPS perspective. Not only that, but there's lots of apps out there that give you turn-by-turn instructions and whatever else you're looking for when you're navigating around, right? Well, not so much if you're up the side of a mountain, or tramping through wilderness somewhere. That's where a product like Magellan's eXplorist family of outdoor GPS's may come in handy. They're ruggedized, weatherized, and maybe even toddler proof. And they're introducing a new one at CES. Here's what Magellan has to say about it:

Magellan is excited to introduce the latest model in its eXplorist family of outdoor GPSs

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Telenav Launches Scout, Their Personal Navigator for the Web, Phone and Car

Judie Stanford — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 19:45:06 +0000

Telenav has just launched Scout, an iPhone app which they are calling the "first daily personal navigator that seamlessly works across the web, smartphones, and in-car systems – offering users an easy and consistent experience no matter where they are. As Telenav explains,

Most people still start their searches from their home or office. In fact, according to the same Telenav survey, 75 percent of respondents prefer to use a personal computer over other options to begin their search for local businesses, and 65 percent turn to a personal computer rather than a mobile device to find navigation information. To ensure Scout users have a rich online experience, Telenav is launching

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Garmin’s CES News for Android Users, Golfers, Drivers and … You?

Christopher Gavula — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 12:00:17 +0000

Garmin, who seem to be going like gangbusters lately (including the addition of Navigon to their lineup last year) have released a preview of what they are showing at CES this week. In their press release they are announcing some new and update products including: - Garmin Smartphone Link is the first Android app that provides live services to a PND utilizing the smartphone’s data connection. - The new nüvi® 3500 series: Garmin’s newest flagship personal navigation devices and the company’s first GPS navigators that combine the ultra-thin form factor with a large, 5-inch glass display. - Garmin® Approach™ G6 GPS takes golf to a whole new level with Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

GPS, Measurements, and Why RunKeeper Is Lying To You

Carly Z — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 23:00:21 +0000

(image courtesy Cheezburger.com)

I've reviewed quite a few run-tracking apps for Gear Diary, and just about everyone of them has had some margin of error. Some of them have been minor, and others have just been mind-blowingly egregious. My personal favorite is when RunKeeper for Android told me a 1.5-mile run had been a 7 mile run. Apparently I broke several world records in my first month of running! All joking aside, it's a common issue for people to comment that a race is short, or long, based on their Garmin or iPhone returning a different distance than the race was supposed to be. Apparently the folks at the Hampton Half-Marathon were really Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

Find Your Way and Be Safer on the Road With OnStar FMV Review

Dan Cohen — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 23:00:16 +0000

When we needed a new car last week one thing was clear- I wanted to lease one with all the technological bells and whistles I could find. After all, I've been whining and complaining about not having integrated Bluetooth and navigation in my car and my mechanic, and Elana, had been hearing a refrain of "Is it time yet?" for months. So I now have Bluetooth, navigation, destination assistance with real human beings on the other end of the call and impact/emergency detection. Had we not needed a new car however I would most likely have been putting one of OnStar's FMV systems in my old car. I took a look at one last month Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

Localscope For iOS 50% Off For 5 Days

Travis Ehrlich — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 19:15:04 +0000

Even though I rarely shop, I am an admitted Black Friday participant. I usually have a playoff football game that Friday night but I almost always wake up early in the morning and head out. Why not hit a store or two, find a possible deal and watch people be crazy? The entertainment value alone is worth the loss of sleep. An area often overlooked on these big shopping days are deals in the iTunes App Store. Here's a good one.

One of my favorite location based applications, Localscope will be on sale for half price from Black Friday until Cyber Monday. For more information on the app, read my initial review here

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Garmin StreetPilot App Helps Avoid Gridlock with Real-Time Traffic Photos

Dan Cohen — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 23:45:06 +0000

Just in time for the huge travel weekend that is Thanksgiving, Garmin has released an update for its StreetPilot Onboard iPhone navigation app. The new version of the app includes the ability to show real-time photos from traffic cameras. As the Garmin release explains,

This functionality can help holiday travelers get to their destination faster by giving them the ability to literally see traffic conditions ahead of time. The update also includes live weather information, the option to share points of interest via Facebook and SMS as well as other improvements.

The update is a free download to current app users. The photoLive Traffic Cameras feature is an in app purchase of $9.99. And there Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

The Dynavix Navigation App for iPhone Review

Travis Ehrlich — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 20:00:39 +0000

Like many of you, I use my phone for everything! One area I have had mixed results is in GPS turn by turn navigation. The apps tend to be on the pricey side, and they just usually do not have the same feature set found in a stand alone unit. I love my Garmin Nuvi and use it often, but there are times it is not with me and I need another option. I have tried several app options on my iPhone, but have not been satisfied with the lack of features and the terrible sounding voices. Dynavix promises to bring plenty of features and extras and even better voices to the iPhone with

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Holiday Gift Guide: Subscription Services Your Loved One Will Love

Dan Cohen — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 17:15:19 +0000

From the Editorial Staff of Gear Diary: If you don't want to give your loved one something tangible this year, why not give them a subscription to a service that will enhance their life? Here are a few suggestions for subscriptions services we love and use on a regular basis ... Tripit: Judie loves it and uses it all the time. Judie turned Dan on to it, and he's now an evangelist for it as well. Tripit is a great way to monitor your travels, keep all in your information in one place, and, with a pro subscription, get real-time updates when your travel plans change. In fact, you may even know about a gate change before it's announced at the airport! We find the service invaluable and especially love the new Pro feature that constantly scans your email for reservations and trip updates so you don't even have to send the documents to the service. TripIt Pro is just $49 a year. Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

Navigon Launches Version 2.0 for the iPhone

Douglas Moran — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 12:00:00 +0000

I've mentioned before that I'm not hella big on navigation software (and hardware). I find that turn-by-turn, voice-activated stuff to simply be confusing, particularly when I'm driving around cities that I already know, but am just looking for a new address. (Maybe I need something like Siri, where I can say, "Siri, what part of town is St. Michael's High School in?", and have Siri say, "St. Michael's High School is over off of 360, near where it meets Bee Caves Road", or something like that.)

Click here to view the embedded video.

But I'm in the minority--the turn-by-turn navigation world is hugely helpful to a ton of people, no question. Sami was extremely upset when our Honda's GPS was down Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

TeleNav GPS Plus Gets Tests on a Quick Roadtrip

Dan Cohen — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 14:10:16 +0000

I have to make a quick trip up to Boston to see a few people. I was hoping to take the train but the schedule just doesn't work. The same was true for flights. As a result, I'll be driving to Boston shortly and then, later tonight, making my way back home. The trip is long enough on its own without my taking any wrong turns so I want/need a good GPS program. I looked at all my options and decided to go with TeleNav's offering. The app now comes with voice-guidance and, thanks to competition in the GPS app market Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

Gear Diary at 5 You CAN Get There from Here, Magellan RoadMate 9055-LM Giveaway Winner Announced

Dan Cohen — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 01:30:30 +0000

Yes, it is time to announce the winner of the You CAN Get There from Here, Magellan RoadMate 9055-LM Giveaway but before we do, here’s a reminder that we already have some great contests going. There is the Gear Diary at 5 Giveaway: Trick Out Your iPhone 4 and the Gear Diary at 5: Sena’s Got Your iPad 2 Covered Contest. And now to announce the winner of the GPS… The GPS is going to our reader… david marlowe Congrats david marlowe. You have 24 hours to send us an email with contact information Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

Gear Diary at 5 Giveaway: It’s In the Bag Winners Announced!!!

Dan Cohen — Sun, 25 Sep 2011 02:45:10 +0000

We've got winners! Three awesome laptop bags, lightly used review samples, were up for grabs and today we are announcing who is getting them. But before we get to that here's a bit of a reminder. We've got two other contest currently running. There's the "Gear Diary at 5: You CAN Get There from Here, Magellan RoadMate 9055-LM Giveaway". Check it out and enter here. And then there is the "Gear Diary at 5: Win a Sceptre 24″ HDTV / DVD Combo AND Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

Gear Diary at 5: You CAN Get There from Here, Magellan RoadMate 9055-LM Giveaway

Dan Cohen — Sat, 24 Sep 2011 02:00:33 +0000

Okay, we're going to keep this going. Right now we still have the Gear Diary at 5 Giveaway: It’s In the Bag contest for three awesome laptop bags running. It will end tomorrow, but there is still time to enter. You can find it here. In addition, we've got the contest for giving away the Spectre TV/DVD combination that's also running. You can enter the contest to win the TV/DVD player right here.

Let's add yet another contest giveaway into the mix.

We're giving away a Magellan RoadMate GPS!!!

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FourSquare Quick Tip: Upload a Profile Picture to Become a Mayor

Dan Cohen — Sun, 18 Sep 2011 14:15:14 +0000

It had become a running joke in the family. "Dan, did you FourSquare here?" "Dan, still one day away from being mayor?" "Dan, when you can't even become mayor of your own house what does that tell you?" "Dan, you know the 'no fly' list? I think FourSquare has you on the 'no mayor' list." Yes, I was one day away from becoming the FourSquare mayor at well over a dozen venues. Despite this I had only actually become major once and then it was only for one day. And to add insult to injury THAT location was a tram stop in Vegas during CES 2010. Yes, it seemed I was a FourSquare pariah. Turns out Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

GPS Review: Magellan RoadMate 9055-LM

Dan Cohen — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 15:00:08 +0000

Smartphones and tablets are "category killers" that have decimated numerous standalone products. As I have written previously, from one perspective the iPhone and the iPad are like "Rorschach devices". They are "blank slates" (pun totally intentional) that can take the form and function of a wide range of devices depending on whatever software they are currently running. That means that, with the right apps, they can double as a camera and do photo and video editing on the fly. The result has been the demise of the Flip camera and some serious "hurt" on the point-and-shoot camera market. (Once the iPhone 5 and its 8MP sensor is released watch out point-and-shoots!) Similarly, smartphones and Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

Satellite Navigation GPS Review: Navigon 40 Plus

Mitchell Oke — Sat, 03 Sep 2011 21:00:02 +0000

The increasing reach of smartphones has called into question the usefulness of many dedicated devices, from music and video players, to compact cameras, and of course the ever-useful GPS. With GPS and turn-by-turn navigation almost standard equipment on Android devices, and the prevalence of iPhones, one could be forgiven for retiring their trusty nav and leaving their destination in the care of their phone. Realising this, several of the top navigation device companies have put their eggs in several baskets, with versions of their software and maps available for smartphones across the globe. A personal favourite of mine is Navigon’s iOS app. It’s clear, easy to use, has excellent mapping display and can harness Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

Let Jedi Master Yoda Guide Your Garmin GPS

Douglas Moran — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 14:15:40 +0000

I'm unusual among nerds in that when it comes to gadgetry, I generally go for function over form. Let's take turn-by-turn GPS direction apps--I just want 'em to tell me where the heck to go. Most of the time, honestly, I keep the voice turned off, and only watch the map with one eye. But that's me, honestly, and as Sami often points out, I'm weird. Lots of people like a little more interactivity from the turn-by-turn apps then that. And into that breach has stepped Garmin, with a nerd dream: Darth Vader and Yoda-voiced navigation. Let's face it: if this is your thing and you already have a Garmin system, that alone is more than Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

Take Full Advantage of Your iPhone’s GPS with Locational

Douglas Moran — Sun, 07 Aug 2011 14:45:50 +0000

I know what you're thinking to yourself: "Okay, what with all this fancy GPS stuff on my iPhone, there must be more I can do with it!" You weren't thinking that? Well, can you just do me a favor and pretend you were, so's we can get on with this here news item? Please? Thanks. Anyway, GPS! You know there's more you can do with it, and what you need is some programmer somewhere, pushing the bounds of that functionality. And the Locational folks think they might have done that--their app covers your physical location history like a blanket! Okay, not a blanket; a web, maybe! No, that's not right either. Anyway, you get the Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

Let’s Make a Deal: Telenav Survey Shows Our Smartphones Aren’t in Play

Dan Cohen — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 14:45:36 +0000

I hate being predictable. I hate being statistic. But Telenav's new survey basically suggests that I, and I suspect many of you, fall right in line with the data when it comes to out smartphone dependence (read: addiction). The question asked in the survey was, "How willing are you to give up… your smartphone, coffee, shoes etc.". For example,

54% of all respondents would be more willing to give up exercise for a week than their mobile phone. 55% of respondents would be more willing to give up caffeine for a week than their mobile phone, 63% would be more willing to give up chocolate 70% would be willing to forego

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Google Maps’ Unfortunate Mistake

Carly Z — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 16:00:04 +0000

(image courtesy Chevy Truck World)

Google Maps is not infallible. It's been known to give wonky directions, as Sarah and I learned on Sunday when Google Maps mistakenly thought McCarren Park in Brooklyn was in Manhattan. Luckily we caught the mistake before we got completely lost. However, that's nothing compared to the Google Maps fail for one NJ neighborhood, where they've mistakenly indicated the state park entrance is someone's driveway. According to NJ.com:

Since 1987, Gneiding and her husband Michael Brady have lived in one of three log homes found at the end of a quarter-mile long driveway in Clinton Township. The homes back Round Valley State Park, which boasts swimming

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Enjoy Being ‘King of the Road’ with the Magellan RoadMate Pro 9165T

Judie Stanford — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 13:15:03 +0000

What good is spending $200K on a land yacht if you end up RVing down a scary rut road that winds through the middle of Deliverance country? Sure, you could buy one of those huge atlases that they sell at every truck stop on the interstate, but this is the middle of 2011! Any self-respecting captain should have the finest navigation tools at his fingertips! And as much as we all love convergence, that doesn't mean placing your smartphone on a mount in the middle of your 7' wide x 5' tall windshield -- squinting at its 4" screen -- and calling it "good". What you need is a larger-screened dedicated GPS device that allows Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

Gear Giveaway: Unleash the Force with VoiceSkins Star Wars GPS Voices and Garmin

Dan Cohen — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 01:00:27 +0000

GPS navigation isn't fun… but with VoiceSkins and Garmin it can be! Yes, VoiceSkins, the folks who made your GPS sound like Bugs Bunny are going Sci-Fi with their new Darth Vader GPS Voice for Garmin navigation systems. The Darth Vader GPS Voice will get you were you need to go with directions such as

Lord Vader commands you to turn to the dark side. Will you be able to resist as he guides you to your destiny?

Obi-Wan has taught you well but now it is time to choose your path. Lightsabers at the ready!

and

Right you should turn, then sharp left...control, control, if a Jedi, you wish to be” and “In 100

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Gear Deal: Garmin nuvi 4.3″ GPS with Lifetime Traffic and Map Updates

Dan Cohen — Wed, 18 May 2011 12:59:50 +0000

Okay, okay, we get it: your phone can also be your GPS. Good for you but there are a lot of folks out there who still want their phone to be a phone and their GPS to be their navigation system. If you are one of them we have we got a deal for you today! The Garmin nuvi 2350LMT has a 4.3-inch backlit TFT color touchscreen display. That makes it sunlight-readable. (Try that with your phone!). It comes with free lifetime map and traffic updates, voice-prompted turn-by-turn, trafficTrends historical traffic and myTrends predictive routing. Rounding it off is a microSD Card slot. The Garmin nuvi 2350LMT GPS Navigator w/ Lifetime Traffic & Map Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

The SCOUT Toolkit Lightens Field Service Reps’ Loads

Judie Stanford — Thu, 12 May 2011 20:20:39 +0000

Do you need to locate, acquisition and verify satellite links? Probably not unless you have a military title before your name or you deal in some kind of surveying industry; if that describes you, then this is probably news you'll welcome: Coolfire Solutions has just introduced SCOUT, a Satellite Communications Operational User Toolkit which has been "engineered to assist in the location, acquisition and verification of satellite links." The total SCOUT Toolkit consists of The SCOUT Surveyor™ and SCOUT Observer™ mobile applications which run on the iPhone and iPad and are connected to the SCOUT™ hardware.

As Coolfire Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

Geocachers: A Secret Society Stalking Your Streets

Gary Bunker — Tue, 03 May 2011 18:00:46 +0000

There's a secret society stalking your streets, peering behind bushes and rummaging through parks. They work in the dead of night, or boldly move at high noon. These stealthy denizens are known to leave suspicious packages around public parks and quiet neighborhoods, and yet nobody tries to stop them. Using the latest in GPS and smartphone technology, they track hundreds of locations in nearly ever county of the USA. Their secret stashes are tracked on cryptic websites, and they've even made inroads into Canada and Europe. Their nefarious websites include listings for thousands of mobile treasures or "hitchhikers" which are shuffled from location to location. Nobody tries to stop them because they're playing "geek Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

Gear Giveaway Winner: Magellan Premium Car Kit and RoadMate iOS App

Dan Cohen — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 18:15:59 +0000

We reviewed the Magellan Premium Car Kit and RoadMate iOS App the other day. We were impressed and continue to use them on a daily basis. Here's the conclusion we reached:

What I Like: Car Kit: Let’s the touch function as a GPS; Holds the iPhone or touch securely; can be used when device is in most cases; charges the device; includes Bluetooth speakerphone capabilities; has line-out for audio; windshield or deck mounting App: Full-featured; loads rather quickly; turn-by-turn directions; integrates music player; one-touch destinations What Needs Improvement: Car Kit: Speakerphone is nice addition but not on part with standalone units; line out feeds most but not all audio out

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Gear Giveaway: Magellan Premium Car Kit and RoadMate iOS App

Dan Cohen — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 16:20:41 +0000

We reviewed the Magellan Premium Car Kit and RoadMate iOS program last week. The combination is impressive. The car kit charges your iPhone or iPod Touch, adds GPS functionality to the iPod and serves as a Bluetooth speakerphone as well. When combined with RoadMate, Magellan's iPhone and iPod Touch application, you get a complete in-car navigation system that can go anywhere you do. We especially like the one touch button control in the application. Our conclusion in the review?

What I Like: Car Kit: Let’s the touch function as a GPS; Holds the iPhone or touch securely; can be used when device is in most cases; charges the device; includes Bluetooth speakerphone

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Review: Magellan Premium Car Kit and iOS App for iPhone and iPod touch

Dan Cohen — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 19:00:13 +0000

My iPhone makes a great portable GPS system. This is particularly important because my car does not have a built-in GPS system, and my daily work has me going to a variety of locations with which I am not always familiar. Using the iPhone as a GPS works rather well for the most part. It starts up in GPS mode rather quickly, locks in on satellites fairly efficiently and does quite a good job of holding the signal once it does. There are a few significant shortcomings however. Chief among them is the impact using the GPS on the iPhone has on battery life and the fact that using the iPhone as a GPS at Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

iPhone App Review: Localscope GPS App

Travis Ehrlich — Sun, 06 Mar 2011 17:00:45 +0000

Ever since the iPhone has had a built in GPS, location based applications have been useful and popular. I have personally looked at many of these apps and love to see the innovations developers are able to come up with. Of course, it was just a matter of time before these apps started integrating with social networking as well as other GPS apps. Localscope proves to do both by allowing users to search around their location using a variety of social engines and will allow directions to be sent to the Tom Tom navigation app. Tons of features and choices allows Localscope to be unique to each user's needs and preferences. Let's take a

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