Handheld/Sport Archives

Garmin Announces New Forerunner 935

April 5, 2017 By Liz E. Leave a Comment

Last week, Garmin released the newest device in the Forerunner series. The Forerunner 935 is aimed at serious athletes and has the ability to track multiple sports including running, cycling, swimming, skiing, golf, hiking, and others. The device features both GLONASS and GPS and is compatible with a variety of sensors for measuring exercise statistics.

At first look, the Forerunner 935 stands out from the rest of the Forerunner line with a more slim appearance–more like a smartwatch than a running watch, which may have been the intention. This device shares many features with the fēnix 5 Series, including the replaceable QuickFit bands, but rather than just being a generic watch for active people, the Forerunner 935 is focused entirely on athletes looking to get the most out of their given activity. read more

Filed Under: Featured, Handheld/Sport

TomTom Study Reveals Global Traffic Congestion at All Time High

March 8, 2017 By Liz E. 1 Comment

Many GPS devices include some sort of traffic information—even Google Maps now has this ability. While in the past it was a subscription service, now it’s offered free with many dedicated automotive GPS devices. However, I constantly hear people saying that their GPS traffic is useless or that it is one of those bloat features that you don’t really need. But after reading a recent report from TomTom, I think that some people may start to change their minds.

For the last six years, TomTom has conducted a study of traffic and congestion across the world. Called the TomTom Traffic Index, this study was released recently with information on 2016 traffic trends. And, as anyone who drove in a major city could tell you, traffic definitely didn’t reduce in most places. In fact, globally, traffic rose an average of 10% in 2016, and is up a whopping 23% since 2008, when the study was first conducted. read more

Filed Under: Handheld/Sport, TomTom

How to Use Garmin Handhelds as Trail Cam Viewers

March 1, 2017 By Liz E. 2 Comments

Hunting season is still a ways away, but in the cold winter months and the coming spring is when trail cams are among the most fun. In these months, you’re more likely to catch a glimpse of an animal wandering to search for food, shelter, or a mate. It’s also a good time to get a feel for where your favorite game animals are located so that you know where to start in the fall, when hunting season opens.

Each trail cam is slightly different and features different ways to view the images. Some of them require owners to wait til they get home to check the content, while others will include some sort of trail cam viewer which can be used at the site to review the images. However, there’s a much easier way; instead of lugging the viewer all the way to the site and back, simply use your Garmin. read more

Filed Under: Garmin, Garmin handheld GPS

Garmin Introduces New Golfing GPS: Approach G30

February 1, 2017 By Liz E. 2 Comments

Garmin has announced that it has added a new device to the Approach line of golfing GPS devices. The new Approach G30 is the most recent in the line but, unlike previous devices, is not a watch but rather a small clip-on device that can be easily attached to a golfer’s bag, waist, cart, or wherever else. The small 2.3 inch color touchscreen allows users to view a variety of statistics and game information to help give golfers a competitive advantage and better understanding of their game.

Much like other Garmin Approach devices, the G30 comes preloaded wiht 40,000 courses around the world and free map updates so that users can always have the most accurate and up-to-date information. Other features include: read more

Filed Under: Garmin, Handheld/Sport

New Cycling Navigation Device, Beeline, Launches

January 25, 2017 By Liz E. Leave a Comment

With the prevalence of GPS technology, sometimes it seems like we have lost the ability to really enjoy the journey and explore. With a mechanical voice constantly telling you to turn hear or there, rides suddenly can become stressful and even dangerous. However, a new GPS device, Beeline, is bringing some of the adventure and spontaneity back to finding your way around.

Originally launched via a successful Kickstarter campaign, this unique device works with your phone to provide directions in an unusual way: via an arrow literally pointing in the direction you need to go. The device was created in the UK by developers looking for a way to help cyclists take more control of their rides. The device, which pairs with an app on your phone, allows cyclists to choose their own path, bike safely with fewer distractions, and actually helps users build mental maps over time. read more

Filed Under: GPS News, Handheld/Sport

Do You Need a GPS Watch?

January 17, 2017 By Liz E. Leave a Comment

GPS watches have been around for quite a while, but with the recent explosion of smartwatches, they have become more and more prevalent. It seems like you can’t turn around without seeing someone jogging along, staring down at their wrist, or hearing about the latest and greatest running watch that you simply must have to measure everything under the sun. There’s almost a pressure to track yourself when you jog. But, do you really need a GPS watch?

The short, easy answer is no. You don’t really need a GPS watch to run or do any sport. The long answer is that it really depends on what you’re doing and what your reasons for that activity are. Depending on your motivation, a GPS sport watch can actually be invaluable. If you are deciding if you need a GPS watch, then there are a couple things you should consider. read more

Filed Under: Handheld/Sport, Sport Fitness Trackers

Garmin Launches New Third Party Connect IQ Apps

January 9, 2017 By Liz E. Leave a Comment

Garmin’s Connect IQ has, up until fairly recently, been kind of unimpressive. Designed to help users customize their wearables and other devices, most of the apps on the Connect IQ store were pretty much designed specifically for location tracking and fitness—not super surprising, considering the market they were aimed for, but it definitely limited the usefulness of a Garmin watch outside of workout tracking.

However, at the recent 2017 CES, Garmin announced that it was debuting several third party apps from bigger companies including Strava and Uber. At the time of writing, the apps appear to all be available on the Connect IQ store, but they aren’t all available on all devices, obviously. Here are some of the cool new apps and data fields that you can try out on your compatible Garmin: read more

Filed Under: GPS News, Handheld/Sport

Garmin Debuts Two New inReach Devices

January 8, 2017 By Liz E. 1 Comment

Whether you’re out backpacking through the wilderness by yourself or headed out on the trail with a group of friends for an afternoon, communication and the ability to call for help is extremely important for not only your safety, but the peace of mind of your loved ones. One of the more popular devices for this has always been DeLorme’s inReach devices. As one of DeLorme’s bestsellers, inReach provides the ability to not only call for help, but also communicate with others, track your location, and provide peace of mind.

Early last year, Garmin purchased the faltering DeLorme and folded it into Garmin’s expansive GPS empire. And, as with any business acquisition, it shed some doubt on what would happen with DeLorme’s product line. However, fans of DeLorme’s inReach devices will be pleased to hear that Garmin recently introduced two new devices at the 2017 CES. The inReach SE+ and inReach Explorer+ are the first Garmin devices with satellite communication technology, courtesy of DeLorme. read more

Filed Under: DeLorme, DeLorme handheld GPS, Garmin, Garmin handheld GPS

Garmin’s New Fenix 5 Series Features 3 Different Sizes

January 7, 2017 By Liz E. Leave a Comment

The annual Consumer Electronics show is this week and Garmin has announced a slew of new releases which we’ll talk about in the coming days. Without a doubt, the one that has caught the most attention is the new fēnix 5 series which was announced earlier this week. A popular brand in Garmin’s fitness wearables line, the new fēnix 5 is making a splash as the first time Garmin has released the same watch in multiple sizes. The series includes the fēnix 5, fēnix 5S, and fēnix 5X, all of which should be available in the next few months.

From what it looks like, the fēnix 5 and fēnix 5S are essentially the same, with only a few millimeters difference in watch face size. The fēnix 5X is a little bigger than the fēnix 5 and comes with a handful of additional features (and a slightly bigger price tag). However, we’ll take a look at what all of the fēnix watches have in common first.

Filed Under: Handheld/Sport, Sport Fitness Trackers

GPS Smartwatch for Kids Encourages Creativity

January 4, 2017 By Liz E. 4 Comments

Kids GPS trackers are, for the most part, a dime a dozen. We’ve written about several different ones and, much like pet trackers, they are basically all trying to fix the same problems and all have the same solutions. However, the new POMO Waffle is a little different and, of all the GPS trackers that I’ve read about, this is the first I actually would consider purchasing for a child.

At its core, the POMO Waffle is a kids smartwatch with the sort of helicopter parent GPS functionality that all kids smartwatches come with, including the ability to set safe zones and track where your child has been via an app. However, unlike other GPS watches, the POMO Waffle actually has some really cool features that will make kids want to wear it, and will actually help them learn, play, and stay safe.

Filed Under: GPS Tracking, Handheld/Sport