Sunday, March 18, 2012

Garmin GLO review

Garmin GLO review

Garmin GLO Bluetooth receiver

The Garmin GLO is a small GPS/GLONASS receiver that sends 10 position fixes per second to an external device such as a tablet, laptop or smartphone using wireless Bluetooth® technology. read more

California court: Don’t use maps on your phone while driving

California Appeals Court rules hands-on use of smartphone maps illegal

Appeals Court rules hands-on use of smartphone maps illegal

A California appellate court has effectively extended the states’s texting while driving law to the use of maps on your phone. The statute in question says you can’t use your phone while driving unless you do it in hands free mode — don’t touch. read more

Garmin Smartphone Link comes to iOS for 2013 Bluetooth nuvis

Garmin StreetPilot iPhone iOS

Garmin StreetPilot comes to iOS devices

After a year’s wait, Garmin’s Smartphone Link app has finally come to iOS and iPhones. The big caveat — it only works with 2013 nuvi Bluetooth models. I’m betting that’s to help sell more new nuvis, and not due to technical issues, but that’s just speculation on my part. read more

TomTom for Android (brief) review

TomTom for Android app review

TomTom for Android map screen

The long-awaited TomTom navigation app finally came to Android in October, only to disappoint those of us with larger screen phones like my Samsung Galaxy Nexus, which weren’t compatible. Fortunately an early December update brought compatibility to a larger range of phones and I’ve been testing it on and off ever since. How did it do? Read on to find out… read more

Garmin’s Android strategy

Garmin Navigator Australia

Screenshots from Garmin Navigator for Australia

When Garmin and Asus ended their ill-fated nuvifone partnership, Garmin gave Asus an exclusive for any preloaded navigation apps through the end of 2012. Because of this, quite a few Garmin watchers expect an announcement of a Garmin navigation app for Android early this year. But that may not happen. read more

BluTracker – Bluetooth-based GPS tracking device

BluTracker

BluTracker Bluetooth 4.0 GPS tracking app

This is interesting – a GPS tracking device that uses Bluetooth to report it’s location. Surprisingly, it’s got a 1/2 mile range! It uses Bluetooth 4.0 (AKA Bluetooth LE), so it may not be compatible with your current phone, but that’s okay because it isn’t out yet. Still, there’s enough of interest to warrant discussing it, and the company has a good track record of bringing products to market. read more

Google Maps comes to iPhone; Apple to acquire TomTom?

Google Maps for iPhone

The Google Maps app is now available for the iPhone and other iOS devices

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you probably know that Apple ditching Google Maps in the iPhone 5 in favor of their own app was widely panned this year, with GPS World dubbing it the location story of the year. And the news continues to be bad for Apple. Earlier this week Australian police warned people about using Apple maps, although that debacle may not have been entirely their fault. So with that background, here are today’s related stories: read more

Garmin BlueChart Mobile app for iOS released

Garmin Bluechart Mobile app

Garmin Bluechart Mobile app screenshot from iPad

The Garmin BlueChart Mobile iOS app is now available for download from the App Store. This new app will allow your iPhone / iPad to function as a chartplotter using Garmin BlueChart maps. The app is free, while charts are available as an in-app purchase. read more

Sportablet connects Garmin devices and Android tablets

Sportablet

Sportablet running on an Android tablet

Sportablet is an Android app that allows you to connect many Garmin devices to Android tablets. Primarily intended for fitness buffs, it gives access to stats, allows you to post to Garmin Connect or Facebook and more. While it’s not designed for Garmin handhelds, it does appear to work with many of their more recent introductions. There is also a smartphone version – the Uploader for Garmin. read more

iPad mini – Too big for your dash?

iPad mini GPS navigation

Apple unveiled the iPad mini today, and the cellular versions come with GPS + GLONASS. But at 7.9″, that is going to be one huge navigator.

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