Archives for January 2007

Geodashing and other lesser known GPS games

January 22, 2007 By Rich Owings 1 Comment

Most people reading this already know about geocaching, but did you know there are a host of other GPS-enabled games? There is benchmark finding, the degree confluence project and GPS drawing, but the list is even longer than that.

I came across a post today at GIS Lounge that mentioned geodashing, which is defined here:

In each game, a large set of waypoints, called dashpoints, from all over the world is posted on the Web. Dashpoint locations are chosen at random by computer, with all the unpredictability that presents. Dashpoints might be in suburban neighborhoods or in the middle of
wilderness areas.

Then, the race is on to see who can reach the most dashpoints before the deadline.

Geodashing players can participate as individuals or as teams of up to five players to increase the number of dashpoints reached. The competition is friendly and teamwork helps to get high scores, so put your online acquaintances to good use.

Because the dashpoints are spread all over the world, it doesn’t matter where you live. Dashpoints are as likely to be near to you as to anyone else. It’s easy to start playing. Pick a dashpoint, visit it, report what you find.

Filed Under: Geocaching

Wal-Mart to drop GPS sales due to high rate of returns?

January 18, 2007 By Rich Owings 9 Comments

DigiTtimes is reporting that Wal-Mart may be considering discontinuing sales of GPS receivers due to the high rate of consumer returns. First a quote, then comments…

GPS sales have an average return rate of about 25% in North America and as high as 40% at Wal-Mart, with the return rate being much higher than other electronics products.

Some major channel distributors including Best Buy and Circuit Buy have started limiting returns to within 14 days of the purchase date, while
requiring customers to pay a 15% restocking fee for returns.

However, Wal-Mart currently accepts product returns for within 30 days of purchase and requests no additional charge, which exposes the retailer
to more risk, the GPS vendors commented.

Filed Under: The business of GPS

DeLorme Earthmate GPS PN-20 review

January 18, 2007 By Rich Owings 9 Comments

Hands on with the DeLorme Earthmate PN-20

UPDATE: There are now two newer models in this series, the DeLorme PN-30 and PN-40.

Finally, a GPS that displays aerial photos. The DeLorme Earthmate GPS PN-20 does just that, and displays USGS topo maps too. It is incredibly cool to be carrying a GPS that shows your position on an aerial photo. Having said that, DeLorme clearly has some improvements they need to make, and I hope they do, because this is one nifty device. Before we get into the details, let’s get up to speed on aerial photos, and why other GPS receivers lack this capability.

Aerial photos on the DeLorme Earthmate PN-20

Most GPS receivers utilize vector files — basically data files consisting of lines and points. The DeLorme PN-20 differs in that it can also accommodate images, such as aerial photos and USGS topo maps. The technical term is raster imagery, and they eat up much more memory than vector files. For a more detailed explanation of raster versus vector imagery, see What kind of maps can I put on my GPS (and what do you mean by raster and vector)?

Vector lines are redrawn, and therefore appear sharp, at every zoom
level. Aerial photos and USGS topo maps, on the other hand, will only
appear clear at one zoom level. DeLorme probably uses aerial photos
supplied by USGS which are available at multiple resolutions – 1
meter/pixel, 4 meters/pixel, 16 meters/pixel and 64 meters/pixel.
DeLorme appears to be utilizing the one meter/pixel imagery.

Filed Under: Aerial imagery, DeLorme, DeLorme handheld GPS, GPS Reviews, Handheld/Sport, Hardware Tagged With: DeLorme Earthmate PN-20

Consumer Reports rates GPS navigators

January 16, 2007 By Rich Owings 5 Comments

Nuvi_350_1
The February 2007 issue of Consumer Reports contains updated ratings of portable GPS navigation devices. I’ll list the top ten, best buys and quick picks, but I have to comment first. Many of these are "last generation" units, and I don’t necessarily agree with their rankings. For alternative recommendations, check out my auto GPS buyers guide. For insight into GPS Tracklog readers’ choices, take a look at the top ten most popular GPS receivers on this site.

Here is Consumer Reports’ top ten (all links go to our GPS reviews, except where indicated):

Filed Under: Hardware

Upgrade your Magellan 2200T to a CrossoverGPS

January 12, 2007 By Rich Owings 134 Comments

Magellan has announced a $49 upgrade option to convert your RoadMate 2200T to a CrossoverGPS. From the press release (additional commentary below):

The CrossoverGPS upgrade creates an outdoor navigation mode in the Magellan RoadMate 2200T to help users find their way through land areas without streets by using the latitude and longitude for geographical locations. The upgrade equips the Magellan RoadMate with topographic contour maps and easy-to-use functions including the ability to create and go to waypoints and routes or backtrack. The upgrade also provides a compass screen and the ability to save a base camp location. The integrated battery lasts up to eight hours for extended cord-free operation during outdoor activities.

The CrossoverGPS upgrade also gives users the flexibility of loading additional mapping software for boating and land activities to the Magellan RoadMate 2200T through optional memory cards. Users can load marine charts, lakes data with fishing hot spots and additional topographic detail, currently available at www.magellanGPS.com.

Filed Under: Hardware, Magellan

Dash Navigation wins best of CES honors from CNet and Laptop Magazine

January 11, 2007 By Rich Owings Leave a Comment

Dash_express
Dash Navigation’s Dash Express has won Best of CES awards from both CNet and Laptop Magazine. CNet had this to say:

One of the most eagerly anticipated aftermarket car tech gadgets at this year’s CES is the Dash Express from Dash Navigation. Dash Express is the first portable navigation system to have built-in two-way connectivity (cellular and Wi-Fi), giving drivers access to a whole new world of information via the Internet and the network of other Dash-connected users. The system display real-time traffic data, which comes from the network of other Dash drivers, while Web connectivity gives drivers a points-of-interest database served up by Yahoo Local, with whom Dash announced a partnership last week. Here are some of the major functions of the Dash Express:

Filed Under: Auto, Hardware, Other auto GPS

Magellan CrossoverGPS review

January 10, 2007 By Rich Owings 3 Comments

Hands on with the Magellan Crossover GPS

UPDATE: This model has been discontinued. For current recommendations, please refer to our auto GPS buyers guide or check out our other Magellan auto GPS reviews.

For the past few weeks I’ve been trying out the Magellan CrossoverGPS, which is billed as marrying auto navigation features with those of a ruggedized outdoor handheld. When first announced, this receiver was referred to as the Magellan RoadMate 2500T.

The Magellan CrossoverGPS is very similar to the model below it, the RoadMate 2200T, except that the Crossover GPS adds pre-loaded topo maps. Like the 2200T, The CrossoverGPS offers voice prompted turn-by-turn directions, a 3.5” color touch screen and pre-loaded highway maps of the U.S. and Canada. Additionally, both units feature the SiRFstar III chipset, an SD slot that allows you to load more detailed topo maps or marine charts, an MP3 player, photo viewer, and real-time traffic capabilities. I did not receive a traffic receiver and was not able to test that aspect of the unit.

According to the manual, the Magellan CrossoverGPS has 90 meter topographic maps included for the 48 contiguous United States, though the unit I tested had topo maps of all 50 states and all of the Americas. The manual also says that more detailed (30 meter) topographic maps can be added by purchasing one of the Magellan MapSend Topographic products from www.magellanGPS.com. The screen shows 20 foot contour intervals, but this is likely interpolated from 90 meter data, which can lead to inaccurate contours. The pre-loaded topo maps do not show trails or streams, giving you another incentive to buy detailed MapSend topo maps. Oh yeah, you can’t use your old copy of MapSend to load topos; you have to buy a new version on an SD card, but the U.S. version is not yet available.

Filed Under: GPS Reviews, Handheld/Sport, Hardware, Magellan, Magellan auto GPS, Magellan handheld GPS

Location, location, location

January 6, 2007 By Rich Owings 1 Comment

Weather3dayforecast
This is beginning to look like the year in which location based services (LBS) will break out big time. In the past week, we’ve heard that the Dash Express will feature Yahoo! Local search, and that the Garmin StreetPilot c580 and Garmin nuvi 680 will both feature MSN Direct, giving access to traffic, weather, gas prices and movie times (see accompanying screen shots).

Other announcements are coming fast and furious. Garmin, which has used XM Radio’s weather service and and now MSN Direct’s, yesterday announced the acquisition of LBS provider Digital Cyclone. This gives them a developed weather product for cell phones and aviation, more options in personal navigation devices, and additional distribution channels in the wireless telecommunications industry.

Filed Under: Hardware, Location based services, The business of GPS

Garmin nuvi 680 review

January 6, 2007 By Rich Owings 8 Comments

Hands on with the Garmin nuvi 680

UPDATE: Though still available and supported, Garmin has discontinued the nuvi 680. For newer models, check out my Garmin nuvi comparison chart.

UPDATE: MSN Direct is ceasing operations on January 1, 2012.

I’ve tried out the Garmin nuvi 680, an update of the nuvi 660 that adds MSN Direct services (see coverage area), which it receives via FM radio signal. MSN Direct offers weather, movie times, gas prices and traffic. This also means that the source of traffic data is different than that of the 660, which receives TMC data. The first year is free; after that, MSN Direct service is $49.95 per year or $129.95 for the lifetime of the device.

Filed Under: Auto, Garmin, Garmin auto GPS, GPS Reviews, Hardware Tagged With: Garmin nuvi 680

Garmin Astro 220 GPS Dog Tracking System

January 4, 2007 By Rich Owings 53 Comments

Georgeastro UPDATE: Read our Garmin Astro dog tracking system review.

In perhaps the most surprising announcement from Garmin today, they unveiled their new Astro 220 GPS Dog Tracking System, and I just couldn’t resist leading with a picture of George and Astro from the Jetsons. I’ve placed an image of the actual Garmin Astro 220 below, after the jump.

Based on the incredibly popular Garmin GPSMAP 60CSx, the Astro 220 is designed for hunters with hunting dogs, or any kind of sporting dog you would want to track. According to Garmin, the setup actually has two components:

"The dog’s transmitter (called the DC 20) and the user’s handheld receiver (named the Astro 220). The DC 20 is mounted into a lightweight neoprene harness that straps to the dog’s collar, around its chest, and behind its front legs. Users can also thread the unit directly onto a standard one-inch collar (a third-party e-collar is recommended for proper mounting) so that the unit fits on the back of the dog’s neck.

Filed Under: Garmin, GPS Tracking, Hardware