GPS reviews, news, tips, tricks and deals
Just about every handheld top 10 features at least one, if not more, of Garmin’s eTrex line. These durable and affordable devices are incredibly popular, so it’s no surprise that Garmin has finally announced the next-generation eTrex devices: the eTrex 20x and 30x. The new eTrex units are expected to be available this summer and will share many features with the original eTrex line including the simple, easy-to-use interface. read more
GPS is one of those technologies that has completely changed the way that people function, and I would argue completely for the better. While I talk a lot about how knowing how to use a paper map is a good skill, at the end of the day, GPS is incredibly useful and helpful. But, according to an article by the National Defense Magazine, Defense Secretary Ashton Carter is somewhat less of a fan, and would be all too happy to see GPS reliance gone completely.
“[GPS] is very expensive to launch and operate,” Carter said during a podcast in April. According to Carter, GPS makes the United States vulnerable and “is impossible to use in the valleys of Afghanistan or in a big city, or in places where the signal is poor.” read more
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 Garmin’s newly introduced Forerunner 225, which is the first Garmin watch to include heart rate monitoring without a chest strap! About time, Garmin.
Here are some other things going on in the world of GPS this week: read more
Drones are pretty cool, but I have to admit that I’ve never really seen any particular reason to invest in one. They are super expensive, hard to maneuver (judging by the hundreds of drone crash videos I’ve seen), there are all kinds of legal considerations as to where you can fly, and they just don’t seem all that useful for your average person.
However, today I saw a video for Lily, a video-recording, photo-snapping, GPS-guided drone that is designed to be durable, pretty small (all things considered), extremely simple to use, and I totally want one. Lily is still in production and is expected to be shipped in February of 2016. read more
If you’re in the market for running trackers, GPS watches or fitness activity trackers, then you have no shortage of options. There are literally dozens of different units on the market right now, and they are all pretty similar. But, if you’re looking for something that does all of the above, then Garmin has finally delivered.
This week, Garmin introduced the next Forerunner running watch. Called the Forerunner 225, this GPS watch is the first Garmin device to include heart-rate monitoring without uncomfortable and more expensive straps or any external devices whatsoever. Thanks to a partnership with Mio, industry-leading technology has made this particular running watch stand out. read more
In December of 2013, Amazon announced that it was working on allowing drone deliveries to Prime customers within an half hour of order. It caused quite a stir on the internet and most customers were as excited as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) was condemning. However, after much debate and posturing on both sides, apparently the FAA has decided that letting Amazon test drones in the US wasn’t really going to hurt anything.
The date on the exemption is actually listed as early April, so this is slightly old news. However, as the FAA has spent many public meetings stating that it wasn’t a huge fan of this idea, it’s definitely a step in the right direction. Amazon, however, can’t be 100% happy as the exemption did come with a few restrictions; at least one of which is extremely problematic. The FAA is allowing Amazon to test out its drones as long as: read more
If you’re in the market for a new Garmin, then you won’t want to miss GPS City‘s most recent sale on refurbished Garmin units. The range of units available is pretty vast, and buying refurbished us a great way to get a new, gently used device without having to pay out the nose. read more
When you are out and about, there is a good chance you’ve stepped on, over or past a plain metal marker set in the ground, similar to the one above. Chances are, you didn’t think anything of it and neither do the hundreds or maybe even thousands of people who walked past it. But, that little mark is actually pretty special, and hunting them down can be just as much of an adventure as geocaching, albeit normally not done in as remote of locations.
These marks are commonly referred to as benchmarks (also spelled bench marks), and searching for them can be quite the challenge as many are placed in places that seem pretty insignificant. There is one located at the edge of the sidewalk near the newspaper office in one city I lived in, for example. But, that’s kind of part of the draw of these little disks. They are almost like hidden gems resting in plain sight.
Unlike Geocaching, benchmark hunting requires a bit more patience and less reliance on technology (sometimes). It’s almost like modern-day treasure hunting, except your treasure is a geographically significant point instead of a tangible item. In short, if you’re more interested in the act of searching than actually leaving behind anything, then benchmarking might be right up your alley.
As a girl, I can say with authority that GPS units, from a style perspective, are pretty boring looking. They’re often all gray or black and the user interface, while functional, has a distinct lack of fun colors like pink. So, if you’re looking for something neat to do for your mom (or any woman in your life) then why not download a fun pink car to show her the way?
Here are some free Garmin vehicles you can download for Mother’s Day: read more
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 one of TomTom’s new units, which boast lifetime world maps and a host of other cool features. Read more about it below!
Here are some other things happening in the world of GPS this week: read more
