GPS reviews, news, tips, tricks and deals
Just over a week ago a new project launched on Kickstarter that I wanted to talk about a little bit. Generally speaking, I tend to be a little wary of Kickstarter projects and I strongly recommend that all of my readers be the same. However, this particular project, called LightBug, has a lot of really fantastic possibilities should it receive the funding that the founders are looking for. At the very least, it is definitely worth a look. read more
The Fitbit Surge was the No. 1 running GPS unit
In my opinion, Amazon is one of the easiest ways (if not very scientific) to see small trends in the GPS industry as it sells for all of the different GPS manufacturers. It isn’t super accurate or really all that important, but it’s certainly interesting!
Today we’re gonna look at the running GPS units, some of which are GPS watches and some of which are not, as the market is pretty fractured and crazy right now. There are some duplicates in the list (due to multiple sizes or colors) which I have skipped over if they were already listed. read more
Whether you’re talking about a SPOT device, or an automotive GPS device designed simply to get you from point A to point B, sometimes I wonder if technology doesn’t encourage recklessness more than anything. While I want to be quick to add that there’s nothing wrong with using technology (heck, I make my living on technology) it has to be used in the right manner and with the right mindset. 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 the prime meridian, or the point of zero longitude on the globe. For decades, GPS units have read it as a different location than the one set into the ground at Greenwich, but this week, scientists have finally figured out why. read more
On GPS Tracklog, we talk about Garmin quite a bit and TomTom on occasion, but it sometimes feels like GPS maker Magellan gets left by the roadside. So today, I wanted to take a minute and let you guys know about some of the Fitness Back to School Sale that Magellan launched recently. read more
Much like the more widely used Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS), the Differential GPS (DGPS) system was designed to help give GPS signals a boost in accuracy and integrity through the use of correction messages. DGPS has been used especially on the coasts, but is technically a nationwide system which spans the whole of the United States.
However, that might not be the case for much longer. Yesterday, a notice was posted in the Federal Register which requested public comment on the idea of shutting down more than half of the DGPS sites in the country. read more
Whether a result of increased availability, formalized FAA rules or simply the excitement of new technology, GPS World reported earlier this month that sightings of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) or drones by manned aircraft like helicopters has increased dramatically in 2015. According to the article, there were 238 recorded sightings in all of 2014 and as of August 9, 2015 the number has already more than doubled to 650 sightings. read more
Voice-guided navigation is one of those features that I think that every GPS ought to have. Be it an app or a dedicated unit, having your device able to call out directions is way more convenient and safe than having to constantly check the little screen while on the road. It’s almost like having a passenger navigate but without the side conversation and spilt drinks.
However, I have to admit that sometimes the default voices can be pretty terrible, especially on some of the older units. While a lot of units will have multiple options for voice (and GPS apps provide even more flexibility with celebrity voices) the choices are still a little limited and don’t really provide any benefit other than to break the boredom. Well, a Swedish company recently debuted a new app overseas that is designed to help keep children safe. read more
The Prime Meridian, as I am certain most of you probably know is located in the United Kingdom at the Greenwich Royal Observatory in Greenwich, England. This line represents the zero value on the longitude scale and separates the eastern and western hemispheres on the globes. It was set based on a vote which included 25 nations in 1884 and basically standardized mapping, set time zones and has been invaluable for any other number of important things. It’s a pretty big deal.
If you visit the Greenwich Royal Observatory, you’ll see a big fancy metal line set in the ground to represent the divide and millions of tourists every year take photos at the location, with one foot on either side of the world.
But there’s a problem. That line isn’t actually the Prime Meridian. read more
GPS City is one of the oldest online GPS resellers and the Canadian company offers a pretty wide range of GPS units from Garmin, Magellan and others. Its deals on GPS units are pretty fantastic and you can find anything from auto to outdoor handhelds, golf, fitness and marine GPS units on the online store.
Recently, GPS City announced that it has added a new way for customers to take advantage of its excellent sales. Effective immediately, customers can now check out using PayPal instead of entering card information directly to GPS City. This might not sound like much, but the extra level of protection for payments in addition to the pretty sweet sales is a pretty big deal for this company and for those of you who have been a little leery of the site in the past. read more
