The Rhode Island Traffic Tribunal made a landmark decision recently that may have cemented the beginning of troubles for phone GPS apps. Recently, the ruling from the Tribunal’s Appeals Panel upheld a state fine for a man in Rhode Island who was given a ticket for looking at his phone while driving. The man claimed that he was checking his GPS, not texting.
“…Based on the plain language of the statute,” the judges wrote in their decision, “a reader may be looking at any visual display on the phone’s interface and be in violation of the statute. To hold otherwise would defeat the purpose of the statute: to prevent drivers from distractions caused by operation of a cell phone while driving.” read more
As the fight to help reduce the use of fossil fuels heats up around the world, more and more people are walking, taking public transportation, and riding bicycles. And, while the average smartphone can definitely do a lot of the same tracking and such that a dedicated GPS bike computer can, there are also some major benefits to having a separate device for your bike. read more
We’re revigint the This week in GPS link roundup here on GPS Traklog! This segment, which will be every Friday, is a roundup of (mostly) GPS related odds and ends from GPS Tracklog and other places around the Web. This week’s featured image is, of course, Black Friday deals! Make sure to take advantage of all of the deals going on. Find more info here! Then, read through these other things going on in the world of GPS below: read more
Black Friday is one of the best days of the year to shop, and electronics are usually some of the most discounted items. This year, the GPS deals were a little slimmer than normal, but you can still pick up some fantastic GPS devices for a bit of a discount. Below, you’ll find some deals from top retailers including Amazon, REI, and Cabela’s. And the best part? Most of these deals can be taken advantage of online so you won’t have to fight the crowds. Happy Thanksgiving indeed!
So, while you’re recovering from the Thanksgiving feast, take a look at all of the GPS deals that you can take advantage of either in store or from your armchair. read more
There are absolutely no shortage of stories of people taking a wrong turn or ending up in the wrong place, and as it turns out, being a pilot doesn’t make you immune to this error. Recently, an AirAsia flight from Sydney to Malaysia ended up in Melbourne for a spell due to a clerical error.
The flight, which left the Sydney Airport just before noon, began to experience some technical problems, and when the autopilot was switched on, it immediately became apparent something was very wrong as the entire plan began to turn in the wrong direction. read more
Garmin announced recently that it has partnered with the cycling platform JOIN to provide some additional features to its popular Garmin Edge 820 and Edge 1000 products.
Available through the Garmin Connect IQ Store and the App Store, cyclists can use the app to find routes across the world, invite others to join them, share experiences, and even create their own routes. read more
Whether your furry friend is a professional escape artist, or simply loves running and playing, it only takes a moment to lose them. For many people, your dog is a part of the family, and while there are plenty of GPS pet trackers, most of then are basically new versions of the exact same thing. However, the folks behind the popular Findster GPS tracker have announced that they are creating a new no-fee GPS pet tracker.
The Findster Duo features many of the same sorts of things that you’d expect from a commercial pet GPS tracker including 5-10 foot margin of error, invisible leash, built-in radar, security fences, and realtime GPS tracking. However, unlike most pet trackers on the market, Findster Duo doesn’t require any cellular connection, making it one of the only trackers with no monthly fee. read more
The sport and fitness tracker is expanding at a rapid rate, and with automotive GPS starting to taper in recent years, it’s no surprise. However, most trackers are basically more of the same—designed for adults who are looking to either track their fitness, or simply get reminders to stay active. But, Garmin announced recently that it has released its first fitness tracker for kids: the vivofir jr.
This device is designed completely with children in mind from the waterproofing to the bright fun bands suitable for any child. The stretchy band comes in a variety of colors including black, broken lava, digi camo, purple strike, and a flower pattern. The tracker is designed for children ages four to eight, and there are two sizes of bands to fit every kid. read more
Since the advent of the smartphone, the GPS market has been fighting an uphill battle to prove to consumers that smartphones really can’t do everything. While standalone GPS devices are a bit more expensive, there are still some things that they do better than the almighty smartphone including signal reliability and better directions. But, it looks like that list might be getting shorter by the day.
Last month, several Google Maps users reported seeing speed limit indicators in the bottom corner of the Google Maps app. Waze, which Google purchased fairly recently, already had this capability so it’s not a huge surprise, but it is definitely worthy of note. read more
Anyone who passed seventh grade could probably tell you that all the continents on Earth are not as stable as they seem. In reality, there are several tectonic plates which sort of move around on top of the upper mantle of the planet. That’s basic science. But, what most people probably haven’t considered is how that effects your GPS coordinates.
According to the National Geographic and the New York Times, Australia is actually moving around at such a rapid pace that the coordinates need to be adjusted before the end of the year. Since the last adjustment in 1994, the continent has moved 4.9 feet. That might not sound like a lot, but with more and more companies investing in precision GPS satellites that use that information, five feet is a big deal. read more
"We were desert mystics, my few friends and I, the kind
who read maps as others read their holy books."
– Edward Abbey from Slickrock —
The Canyon Country of Southeast Utah
