Liz E., Author at GPS Tracklog

Are GPS Voice Commands worth the time?

August 4, 2015 By Liz E. 4 Comments

There are some features that are absolutely essential for GPS units, like lifetime map updates and lane junction views. But what about voice commands? Back when they were first introduced I can’t say that I was a huge fan as they were incredibly touchy. The mic couldn’t pick up voices with the AC going or music playing and don’t even think about having the window open. And even then, I felt like I was constantly shouting at my GPS.

Of course, technology has really advanced quite a bit since the early 2000s, and even my phone has a pretty decent voice recognition program now. So, what about GPS? Is voice command worth the time? We’ll take a look at the pros and cons, and then you can tell us your thoughts! read more

Filed Under: Auto, Featured

Garmin Rino 650 on Sale

August 3, 2015 By Liz E. Leave a Comment

As Garmin recently announced that it has updated the Garmin Rino line with a new 650T device, a lot of the older 650 devices (which are pretty pricey) are going on sale. However, as the most recent 650T really only updates a handful of things, the older version should still be pretty viable. read more

Filed Under: Current GPS Deals, GPS Deals

Essential Geocaching Gear

August 2, 2015 By Liz E. Leave a Comment

For me, one of the best parts of geocaching is that you never quite know exactly what you’ll come across. It’s all about the adventure and the hunt, and the thrill of finally spotting that little container is really unmatched.

However, if you want to be a successful geocacher, then having the right gear with you and being prepared is absolutely essential. Here are a few things that I always try and have on me when I’m out on the hunt, as well as a few suggestions from some fellow geocaching friends! read more

Filed Under: Featured, Geocaching

Garmin to Open Stores in Miami

August 1, 2015 By Liz E. 1 Comment

Personally, I tend to prefer brick and mortar stores over shopping online. I’m one of those old-fashioned people who wants to actually hold it in my hand so I know exactly what I’m getting but as far as GPS units goes, Garmin does most of its business online so for the most part, that’s not really an option. However, if you live in Miami, you might soon be able to do just that.

According to a press release, Garmin is looking to open a new store in Miami, Fla. The new 2,600 square-foot Garmin store will be located at the Lincoln Road Mall in Miami. Garmin describes the location to feature “conceirge-like customer service” plus all of the newest Garmin products in all of Garmin’s operating sectors—wellness, running, cycling, golfing, marine, automotive and outdoor recreation. read more

Filed Under: Garmin

This Week in GPS — July 31, 2015

July 31, 2015 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 SmartTracker 2, a small GPS tracker that has gained a lot of traction on Indiegogo recently. Check out our article below for more info!

Here are some other things going on in the world of GPS this week:
read more

Filed Under: Featured, More GPS News, This week in GPS

4 Common GPS Misconceptions

July 30, 2015 By Liz E. Leave a Comment

GPS is a pretty immersive and prevalent technology and as more and more people begin to explore the incredible capabilities and capacities of this technology, more and more misinformation and misconceptions are being spread.

I think that of all of the technologies of our age, GPS is one of the most widespread. And, as widespread use of GPS is on the rise, so are the rumors, misconceptions and misinformation. While I’m not going to be able to dispel all of these rumors, I wanted to take today and talk about some of the ones that I tend to hear over and over again.

1. The government/Google/everyone is tracking you

This is, without a doubt, the most common misconception about GPS and I can’t even count how many discussions I’ve had on this topic with various friends and family members. Generally, I hear this more in relation to people using their phones for GPS units but I wanted to touch on it anyway. read more

Filed Under: FAQs

Amazon Proposes New Drone Airspace

July 29, 2015 By Liz E. Leave a Comment

More than a year ago, Amazon sparked the imaginations of thousands of consumers and with the announcement that it was working on drone delivery send out packages within 30 minutes of ordering. Called Amazon Prime Air, this program was extremely controversial and the Federal Aviation Administration, which released its official rules for drones, basically said no.

Well, it looks like Amazon isn’t giving up on the idea of sending thousands of drones whizzing over American cities and catering to the worst impulse buyers with almost immediate delivery. On Tuesday, VP of Amazon Air Gur Kimchi, spoke at the NASA Ames Research Center and proposed the FAA set aside a specific airspace for drones to operate safely in cities, suburbs and around the world. read more

Filed Under: GPS News

China Launches Two BeiDou Satellites

July 28, 2015 By Liz E. Leave a Comment

Last weekend, China successfully launched two new navigational satellites for its BeiDou Navigational Satellite System (BDS). The second successful launch this year, these two satellites will become the 18th and 19th satellites in the navigational constellation. The satellites were launched from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southern China on Saturday. read more

Filed Under: Satellites

Garmin Announces New Advanced HRMs

July 27, 2015 By Liz E. Leave a Comment

If you use any kind of sport or activity tracker for anything other than the most basic, casual run then you probably have a heart rate monitor (HRM) to go along with it. And, having worn a few in my time, I know how uncomfortable they can be. Well, it looks like Garmin agrees and wants to fix that.

This week, Garmin introduced two new heart rate monitors, the HRM-Tri and the HRM-Swim. Both devices are still in development but should be compatible with a number of its activity tracking devices including the Forerunner 920XT, Forerunner 620, Fenix 3, Fenix 3 and Epix. The HRMs are designed to be comfortable to wear with adjustable straps with hidden seams and smooth edges. read more

Filed Under: Garmin

Garmin Announces Tracking Collars for Small Dogs

July 26, 2015 By Liz E. Leave a Comment

Only a few days after the recent announcement of the Sport PRO handheld for training dogs, Garmin has announced that it will be adding two additional dog collars to its popular Astro and Alpha GPS dog tracking and training systems. The new collars, dubbed T 5 Mini and TT 15 Mini are designed for smaller dogs but still have the same functionality as their larger counterparts.

“The new T 5 mini and TT 15 mini are the ideal solution for sporting dog owners who run smaller breed dogs – from dachshunds to beagles to brittanys,” said Dan Bartel, Garmin’s vice president of worldwide sales in a press release. read more

Filed Under: Featured, Garmin