GPS reviews, news, tips, tricks and deals
Location where carjack victim escaped Boston bombers
UPDATE: I’m now seeing multiple reports that authorities used the Mercedes mbrace system to track the vehicle.
Remember the Mercedes that the Boston Marathon bombers carjacked? Turns out that the police tracked it using GPS after the carjacking victim managed to escape and alert authorities. read more
Is GPS tracking of guns possible or practical?
Ever since the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary, I’ve been seeing proposals calling for GPS tracking for guns. I don’t really see how this would work, since GPS tracking systems require a power source and a transmitter. read more
BluTracker Bluetooth 4.0 GPS tracking app
This is interesting – a GPS tracking device that uses Bluetooth to report it’s location. Surprisingly, it’s got a 1/2 mile range! It uses Bluetooth 4.0 (AKA Bluetooth LE), so it may not be compatible with your current phone, but that’s okay because it isn’t out yet. Still, there’s enough of interest to warrant discussing it, and the company has a good track record of bringing products to market. read more
Even bales of hay are being tracked by GPS these days!
It seems like GPS tracking is finding its way into everything these days; even so, I was a bit surprised to see this story about a GPS tracking device being used to nab hay bale thieves. I guess I shouldn’t be shocked, what with the US drought spiking hay prices to as much as $250/ton, which a single round bale can weigh. Given that, hay theft is apparently becoming rampant.
One of the few chances PND manufacturers have of surviving these days to is diversify into the ever-expanding niche of opportunities that GPS continues to bring. Fleet management has long been the domain of small companies, but just like Garmin and TomTom before them, Magellan is now jumping into the game too. read more
Did you know you can use a Garmin nuvi or dezl for fleet tracking? Yes, you can dispatch and message vehicles, track them using a Web interface and more. In order to do this though, you’ll have to turn to one of Garmin’s Mobile Resource Management (MRM) partners. These companies have taken Garmin’s Fleet Management Interface toolkit and built an end to end solution around it. So in addition to the cost of the navigation unit, you’ll also be paying for a transponder, data usage and access to a fleet tracking Web interface.
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While the US Supreme Court has ruled against warrantless GPS tracking, they left unresolved a host of issues related to cell phone tracking. So why should law enforcement bother getting a warrant or messing with a GPS tracking device? All they need to do is go to your cellular carrier and pay a fee, and they can get your location history, a record of your calls and other data from your mobile phone. read more
The US Supreme Court did right by the fourth amendment today, ruling that GPS tracking requires a search warrant. In a 9-0 decision, the justices ruled against the Obama administration in the case of the US vs. Jones. Nevertheless, four justices differed on the broader issue of such tracking… read more
The US Supreme Court today heard oral arguments in a case destined to determine whether police can attach a GPS tracking device to an individual’s vehicle without getting a warrant. Cases such as this have divided various Circuit Courts of Appeal, with most coming down in favor of warrantless tracking.
The Garmin GTU 10
