Sunday, March 18, 2012

Archives for March 2013

This week in GPS — March 30th, 2013

Small cat GPS tracker

A GPS tracker small enough for cats!

This week in GPS is a weekly link roundup of (mostly) GPS related odds and ends, from GPS Tracklog and other places around the Web. To get a few of the biggest stories as they break, follow me on Twitter. This week’s lead image is of a cat tracker (via Outdoors Magic)! read more

Why I love Eneloop batteries

Eneloop rechargeable batterySimply put – Eneloop batteries are awesome. If you’re a user of handheld GPS units, I highly recommend that you check out these rechargeable NiMH batteries which feature a low self-discharge rate. That means you can charge them and put them in a drawer, and they’ll retain 85% of their power for a year and 75% for three years. Apple thinks highly enough of them to rebrand Eneloops as their own, and come on – how many batteries have their own Wikipedia pageread more

This week in GPS — March 23rd, 2013

Traffic hack

Traffic hack!

This week in GPS is a weekly link roundup of (mostly) GPS related odds and ends, from GPS Tracklog and other places around the Web. To get a few of the biggest stories as they break, follow me on Twitter. This week’s lead image is from a story saying hackers can cause traffic jams by manipulating real-time traffic data; here is the full research paper (PDF). 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

Rove connects your Garmin GPS and smartphone

Rove Bluetooth GPS smartphone connector

The Rove device connects your Garmin GPS with your smartphone

Here’s an interesting device — the Rove connects to your Garmin handheld GPS and allows you to download geocaches from your phone (great for first to find seekers) or share the trail you just hiked or biked with your social networks. read more

This week in GPS — March 15th, 2013

early Google Street View van

An early Google Street View van

This week in GPS is a weekly link roundup of (mostly) GPS related odds and ends, from GPS Tracklog and other places around the Web. To get a few of the biggest stories as they break, follow me on Twitter. Today’s lead image is from a cool history of Google Street View. read more

First look at the Garmin nuvi 2013 Advanced series

Garmin nuvi 2597LMT active lane guidance

Garmin nuvi 2597LMT map screen with active lane guidance

UPDATERead my hands on reviews of the Garmin nuvi 2597LMT and 2797LMT.

I received a Garmin nuvi 2597LMT and 2797LMT for testing last week, so here is a first looks post. The full reviews should be up within a month. read more

Garmin nuvi 52

Garmin nuvi 52 review

The Garmin nuvi 52 is one of the company’s 2013 Essential series models, their entry-level line. Even so, it includes many features that were relegated to high-end models not that long ago — speed limit display, junction view and lane assist. The nuvi 52 is great choice for someone who needs a basic navigator without all the bells and whistles. It’s got an extra-large 5″ display and comes with preloaded maps of the entire US except Alaska. read more

US to mandate GPS training for new commercial drivers

US to require commercial driver GPS training

Low clearance warning; Image courtesy zozolka

Too many bridge strikes and you get new regulations. According to Bloomberg, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) will:

…will require GPS training for new operators seeking commercial-driver certification (and) begin distributing GPS training recommendations, including how to select professional-grade navigation systems, instructions on how to input truck sizes and axle weights, and tips on avoiding distracted driving.

read more

This week in GPS — March 9, 2013

stranded bus gps yosemite

This school tour bus got stranded in Yosemite when the driver followed his GPS onto a one-lane dirt road. Courtesy photo, copyright 2013

This week in GPS is a weekly link roundup of (mostly) GPS related odds and ends, from GPS Tracklog and other places around the Web. To get a few of the biggest stories as they break, follow me on Twitter. This week’s lead image is the result of a GPS snafu that stranded a tour bus in Yosemite. read more