Archives for September 2014

Holux Introduces Multipurpose Bike Computer

September 10, 2014 By Liz E. Leave a Comment

Holux Technology launched their latest multi-function handheld GPS device this week. The SporTrex 1305 designed for all kinds of cyclists from serious to hobby. The device has features designed to for touring, competitive cycling and mountain biking, and has can measure and calculate a number of information fields in addition to recording tracks with GPS. The SporTrex 1305 is also shock resistant and IPX7 water resistant.

One of the cooler (albeit rather pointless) features is the Carbon Reduction Function, which converts the amount of carbon emissions you are saving into trees planted in a sort of odd numbers-game. The device itself is advertised as “earth friendly’ and uses lithium-ion batteries and low power consumption to help the environment. read more

Filed Under: Handheld/Sport

TomTom, Jeep Partner on New Jeep Renegade

September 9, 2014 By Liz E. Leave a Comment

TomTom and Jeep have announced a partnership today for Jeep’s newest vehicle line, the Jeep Renegade. The Renegade line will all be outfitted with TomTom’s UConnect 5″ Radio Nav infotainment system integrated into the dashboard.

The TomTom UConnect 5″ Radio Nav offers turn-by-turn navigation, traffic information to avoid jams and work areas, and POI searches. Other features include a Help Me! emergency menu, advanced lane guidance that show realistic intersections, safety warnings when approaching schools, fuel-efficient routes, speeding alerts and more. I didn’t see any information whether or not lifetime maps comes with the purchase of a vehicle. read more

Filed Under: Auto, GPS News, TomTom auto GPS

Using GPS to Create Art at the National Mall

September 7, 2014 By Liz E. Leave a Comment

A terresterial portrait, much like Rodriguez-Garda's "Expectations" shown above, will soon adorn the National Mall.

A terresterial portrait, much like Rodriguez-Gerada’s “Expectations” shown above, will soon adorn the National Mall.

GPS technology has seen any number of applications, but starting this month it will be put to an unusual use: creating a six-acre landscape portrait at the National Mall in Washington, D.C.. The project is titled “Out of Many, One” and has been commissioned from Jorge Rodriguez-Gerada, an artist known for large-scale and terrestrial portraits, like the one of President Obama shown above. read more

Filed Under: Aerial imagery, GPS News

Can You Use GPS to Avoid the Flu?

September 6, 2014 By Liz E. Leave a Comment

sickweather screenshot There are all kinds of apps for your smartphone that are designed to use GPS to help improve our lives. Some of them are incredibly useful, and others…well, they are mostly just odd. Joining the ranks of odd (and slightly creepy) apps is the app Sickweather.

The idea behind Sickweather is to map out places where people are sick by scanning social media like Facebook and Twitter for people posting they aren’t feeling well, and then using GPS to see where they are. The app then puts it on a map so you can see where the sick reports are and follow trends of illnesses. That’s the idea, anyway. And while the theory sounds kind of useful, when you stop and think about it… well, it isn’t. read more

Filed Under: Featured, iPhone apps, Mobile, Mobile apps

This Week in GPS — September 5, 2014

September 5, 2014 By Liz E. Leave a Comment

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. This week’s featured image is the Lechal, a brand of smartshoes that use google maps and vibrations to give you directions while walking. read more

Filed Under: Featured

Garmin nuvi 50LM Still Going Strong

September 5, 2014 By Liz E. Leave a Comment

The Garmin nuvi 50LM was released in 2011 and is still one of the best entry-level GPS units available. In fact, if you do a quick search on Amazon or Google, you’ll find that it’s one of the most searched GPS units. Currently, the Garmin nuvi 50LM is ranked #96 on Amazon’s top 100 electronics. That’s 96 out of all of the electronics that Amazon sells, and it is three years old! With as fast as technology moves, that’s quite a testament to the quality of this unit. Check out our extensive hands-on review of nuvi 50LM for a preview of what to expect. read more

Filed Under: Auto, Featured, Garmin, Garmin auto GPS

Garmin Introduces Foursquare to Advanced Nuvi Series

September 4, 2014 By Liz E. 1 Comment

Yesterday, Garmin introduced the 2014 Nuvi Advanced Series, the first Nuvi line to come with Foursquare venues designed to help users find and explore new businesses. The new GPS devices also come with Direct Access to help navigate to complexes like malls and airports and traditional advanced Garmin features like Active Lane Guidance, Real Directions, multi-touch displays and Photo Real and Bird’s Eye Junction View. read more

Filed Under: Auto, Featured, Garmin auto GPS

Smartwatches Get GPS With Update

September 3, 2014 By Liz E. Leave a Comment

Some smartwatches will have GPS capability with the newest update.

Yesterday, Google made an announcement about their Android Wear that sounded an awful lot like the first death knell for GPS running watches from companies like Garmin and the like. Or maybe I’m getting ahead of myself.

As you’re probably aware, the Android wearables market has exploded in the last few months as several so-called ‘smartwatches’ have hit the markets to mixed reviews and enthusiastic support. Of the several different smartwatches available, several of them will get an update soon that will turn on their apparently latent GPS capabilities. read more

Filed Under: GPS News

Rumor: Controlling Garmin With Handlebar Remote?

September 3, 2014 By Liz E. Leave a Comment

photo by Bike Radar

I read an interesting rumor today on Bike Radar that suggested that Garmin representatives are contemplating a partnership with Shimano Cycling, a company known for cycling equipment and accessories.

According to their article, both companies were discussing a possible partnership during a cycling conference earlier this week. The partnership, if it happened, would likely be to design technology to control a Garmin cycling GPS with Shimano’s shifting lever hoods. Nothing is solid yet, but both companies seemed quite excited by the idea. read more

Filed Under: GPS News, Handheld/Sport

Epson Dives Into Sport Watch Market

September 2, 2014 By Liz E. Leave a Comment

Epson Runsense

Epson, a company known for printers and other office-like equipment has, surprisingly, delved into the world of sport watches with two activity and heart rate trackers called Pulsense and a line of GPS running watches called Runsense.

This UK company has two models of Pulsense which offer heart rate tracking to help monitor your activity during exercise and during the day. They also can track caloric intake and monitor your sleep. The Pulsense exercise band and the watch are supposedly available in the U.S. as well as Europe, but I didn’t see a ‘buy’ button on their site. Only a ‘subscribe for updates’ screen. read more

Filed Under: GPS News, Handheld/Sport, Other handheld GPS