Since we now have a consumer handheld that can utilize the Russian GLONASS constellation, I couldn’t resist posting this. My apologies for the poor quality of the image. ITAR-TASS apparently sells these, so there are probably better images available, but the “buy” link takes you to a Russian language only page.
Archives for 2011
GLONASS infographic
November 29, 2011 By 2 Comments
UPDATED: Garmin nuvi Advanced series, handheld deals and more
November 23, 2011 By Leave a Comment
We had some surprises this morning as the Garmin Oregon 450 went on sale a couple days early, and we came across an unanticipated sale on the nuvi 2012 Advanced series as well. UPDATE: Plus two more killer handheld deals. Here’s the full list of bargains we’re tracking on our GPS Deals site:
- NEW: Garmin eTrex 20 for $151.99 and Montana 650t for $479.96
- Cabelas.com sale (Oregon 450, eTrex H, Legend HCx, nuvi 1450LMT and 2350LMT)
- 2012 Garmin nuvi Advanced series on sale (2455LMT, 2495LMT, 2555LMT, 2595LMT)
- TomTom VIA 1505TM 5″ GPS with Lifetime Traffic & Maps for $119.41
- 5″ Garmin nuvi 2450LM with lifetime maps for $159.99
- 3.5″ TomTom EASE for $55
Still going:
Garmin StreetPilot Onboard iPhone app gets traffic camera option
November 23, 2011 By 2 Comments
Tired of inaccurate traffic data? How about live traffic camera images instead? Well that’s a new option as of today’s update to the Garmin StreetPilot Onboard app for the iPhone. The update will also add live weather info and the ability to share points of interest via Facebook and SMS. While the update is free, the photoLive Traffic Cameras feature will cost you $9.99 as an in-app purchase.
TomTom PRO 7150 Truck
November 18, 2011 By 17 Comments
TomTom has quietly rolled out the PRO 7150 Truck, as they take on Garmin in the truck-friendly GPS navigation arena. Unlike previous offerings, the PRO 7150 Truck does not appear to require a contract with TomTom’s WebFleet services; in other words, it should be available as a stand alone unit.
Garmin nuvi 3450LM
November 17, 2011 By 5 Comments
The Garmin nuvi 3450LM
Auto GPS features worth paying for
November 17, 2011 By 50 Comments
In my last post I looked at several GPS features you don’t need. Today we’ll check out the flip-side, updating my post from several years ago. What are the best and most useful upgrades when choosing a navigator? I’ll start with ones available on relatively low end units and then move on to features found on more expensive models.
Auto GPS features you don’t need
November 16, 2011 By 7 Comments
Several years ago I did a post titled 5 GPS features you don’t need. Thankfully the industry has winnowed things down some and the list is shorter, but it’s definitely time for a refresh. So read on and then chime in with your take.
Traffic
I wish I could say that things have changed dramatically, but there’s only been incremental improvements in the reliability of traffic data. Live traffic seems to work best in the largest metros like LA, and while HD traffic holds promise, the roll out has been anything but smooth. Expect plenty of erroneous reports (false positives), as well as lots of bottlenecks going unreported (false negatives).
3D buildings
I can see the theoretical usefulness of this, but for the most part it feels like distracting eye candy. Something more realistic, from the perspective of the driver (as opposed to the birds-eye views we see now), might be more useful.
DeLorme inReach inStock
November 14, 2011 By 2 Comments
The DeLorme inReach is now shipping. For those of you who don’t recall, this is one of the first consumer satellite communicators with two-way messaging capabilities, so search and rescue can tell you that they’re on their way to bail your ass out. It requires another device to pair with (to compose messages), which is why it comes in two flavors – one that pairs with Android smartphones and another for the DeLorme PN-60w. Here’s where you can pick this bad boy up:
Garmin Montana series RAM mount
November 14, 2011 By 5 Comments
The RAM cradle for the Garmin Montana series was finally released recently, so I ordered one right away and put it on my mountain bike’s handlebars.
Geek in the woods redux
November 14, 2011 By 4 Comments
It’s been almost two years since I posted a similar photo, but I thought I’d show you what my setup can look like these days when I’m out testing. Left to right, that’s an Edge 200, GPSMAP 62s, Oregon 450 and Montana 600 – all mine except for the first one, and I hope to have a review of it posted before Christmas.
