About.com

Epson to Offer World's Thinnest, Lightest GPS Sport Watch

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 10:20:56 +0000

Epson, the company of printer fame, is floating a "conceptual image" of a new GPS sport watch that it claims will be the thinnest and lightest on the market (see photo). Epson also states the watch is its first entry into the sports electronics market. At just 50 grams, and 13 millimeters thin, the watch likely does live up the the thinnest, lightest billing if it goes into production. However, it's not a big difference - Garmin's Forerunner 610 for example, weighs 72 grams, and is 14 millimeters in thickness.

...

Read Full Post

The Wandering Couple Ad: Making the Most of iPhone and Siri on a Road Trip

Sat, 18 Feb 2012 09:54:58 +0000

A new and compelling Apple ad shows off the navigation, location-finding ("What's the best barbecue in Kansas City?"), and information-providing ("How big is the Grand Canyon?") features of the iPhone and the Siri intelligent assistant as a couple makes a cross-country road trip. But how well do the iPhone and Siri really perform in these situations? What really happens when you use the iPhone for this type of road trip help? Understanding what's going on when you make these types of queries, and being aware of the strengths and weaknesses of the iPhone and Siri will help you get the most from these tools. Read on for my take on the "wandering couple" ad, and the details on how Siri really handles these challenges. Image © Apple

LightSquared Barred From Deploying Broadband Signal That Could Harm GPS

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 12:33:39 +0000

LightSquared, a Virginia-based startup company funded by Philip Falcone, a New York hedge fund manager, has been barred by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) from deploying a wireless broadband network that would interfere with GPS. LightSquared had been granted a conditional waiver for testing its system to determine if it could coexist in spectrum adjacent to the weak signal provided by distant GPS satellites. The plan to place a powerful broadband (the type consumers and businesses use to access the Internet) signal in a spectrum range traditionally used for weak satellite signals had drawn opposition from a wide range of firms with a stake in GPS, including military, agricultural, aviation, and construction. The decision came after a prolonged and contentious battle and a recent report by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration that "there is no practical way to mitigate the potential interference at this time." LightSquared has blamed GPS makers for not making their devices selective enough only to their slice of spectrum, while GPS makers contended that a land-based signal one billion times more powerful than a GPS signal cannot co-exist in the same spectrum range without harmful interference.

iPad 3 GPS

Sat, 11 Feb 2012 11:22:59 +0000

The Apple product-release rumor mill is heating up again, with a new iPad 3 said to be on tap for an early March announcement. Various industry leaks point to an iPad 3 that is approximately the same size and thickness as the current iPad, but with a much higher-resolution screen - either 326 pixels-per-inch (ppi) or 264 ppi - compared to the current iPad's 132 ppi. That would be a welcome change, as I find the current iPad's screen too low in resolution, with some noticeable pixelation. Higher resolution will be especially welcome for e-book reading on the iPad. Also rumored to be coming in the iPad 3 is a higher-resolution camera, more powerful processor, a larger battery, stereo speakers, and Siri.

...

Read Full Post

More About the New, Compact, Garmin G6 Golf GPS - Video

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 19:36:42 +0000

Garmin introduced its new G6 handheld golf GPS device earlier this year, and it will be available for sale soon (2 -3 weeks). I'm impressed with the compact size (about 2 x 4 inches), long battery life (15 hours), and on-the-course and scoring features. For example, the course maps, which come from an included free and updatable database of 26,500 courses, now include shot layup arcs, which show at-a-glance arc lines on the maps for 100, 150, and 200-yard layups.

...

Read Full Post

Sleek Navigon Car Mount Matches Aesthetic of the iPhone

Sun, 05 Feb 2012 09:19:28 +0000

If you're still seeking an in-car iPhone mount that matches the aesthetic appeal of your iPhone, the Navigon mount by BringMobi may be your solution. This $45 mount has clean, simple, and sweeping lines, avoiding the awkward, bolted-together look of so many mounts. Another advantage of the design is a thick and solid mounting arm that doesn't wobble when you use the iPhone. The Navigon mount easily transitions between portrait and landscape positions. It comes with a 4.9-foot Apple-certified USB charge/sync cable and USB car power port plug. One downside to the Navigon: It doesn't work with iPhone cases.

...

Read Full Post

New Nikon COOLPIX S9300 Packs Power, Plus GPS

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 09:28:09 +0000

Camera makers continue to distinguish their compact digital cameras from each other, and from the competition of smartphone cameras, by packing a punch. The COOLPIX S9300 ($349 list) just announced by Nikon certainly fits that description, with a 16-megapixel sensor, 18X optical zoom, full 1080 HD movie recording with stereo sound, six frame-per-second burst, and macro, panorama, and 3D shooting features. Wow. The camera also makes innovative use of GPS technology. "A high-performance GPS chip records location data for each shot, and can also log your movements, even when not taking pictures. An onboard database of approximately 1.7 million POI (Points of Interest) lets you confirm and record the name of the location when shooting. There is also an electronic compass function that displays the camera's orientation when shooting and records the location for later viewing on your personal computer," states Nikon. Image © Nikon

Telenav Scout - A Glimpse of the Cloud-Based Navigation Future?

Sat, 28 Jan 2012 11:04:09 +0000

Somewhat lost in the flurry of GPS navigation announcements made during the recent Computer Electronics Show in Las Vegas was Telenav Scout. I blogged about it, but resolved to return to find out more. Telenav Scout provides a deep level of destination research, route planning, and location favoriting capabilities that sync up in the "cloud." As Telenav describes it, Scout is about "Connecting personalized navigation and search to the phone, the computer, and the car - in the cloud." This is a good buzz-phrase, but what is Scout delivering now, and what will it deliver in the future? Read on for my evaluation.

Garmin Announces New iPhone App Features, Including Wikipedia, Social Integration

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 11:23:11 +0000

Garmin has packed up its road show and taken it to the big Macworld conference (January 26-28) in San Francisco. Garmin has announced that it will be bringing some new wares to the fair in the form of iOS app additions and enhancements. First up, the next version of the Garmin StreetPilot app will integrate Wikipedia, Facebook, and foursquare functionality. "Clicking on one of the Wikipedia icons on the map will reveal detailed information about a location, such as the identity of an interesting building or landmark," states Garmin. The new version of the app will also ease and build in check-in capability for Facebook and foursquare. Garmin will also provide the StreetPilot onDemand app with the ability to track in real time objects fitted with its GTU 10 tracking device. Image © Garmin

Find the Best Fishing With New iPhone, Android Apps

Sat, 21 Jan 2012 09:57:26 +0000

If you're a fisherman, you know it can be frustrating and time-consuming to comb through the online message boards, guide books, and state-issued fishing brochures to find the best spots, and the details you need to fish them. The Ultimate Fishing Maps company has just released two new apps for iPhone (Android app is in development, the company states), including detailed fishing information and maps for the states of Pennsylvania and New Jersey. It's great having extensive, searchable data available on your smartphone, including turn-by-turn directions. Read on for my review of these very useful, if somewhat pricey ($49.99) apps. Image © Gogal Publishing