NaviGadget

Thanko GPS watch

Oct 30, 2009 gps navigation, tracking, wrist watch 7 Comments

Thanko of Japan is getting to release a new GPS watch that actually looks like an ordinary wristwatch. If it wasn’t for the battery, satellite, and way point icons and LEDs on its face you wouldn’t be able to tell this little thing was tracking your location. The name of this GPS watch is unfortunately GPSTRVBK which means nothing in any known language on earth.

Once you wear this watch, or convince somebody to wear it, you can transfer the GPS track logs to a PC and lay them over Google Maps. It sells for 17800 Yen (~ $200) in Japan, and apparently it is coming to geekstuff4u.com very soon… Read More …

GPS tracking for Alzheimer’s patients

Oct 3, 2009 gps navigation, tracking, wrist watch 6 Comments

Vision Localization Systems and CEAFA (Spanish Confederation of Relatives of Alzheimer’s) just unveiled a new and improved GPS tracking system for Alzheimer patients and their families called Keruve 2010. Keruve 2010 is made up of two parts. The base station which helps you locate where the patient is, and the super sleek wrist watch that actually looks pretty stylish too.

Different from their previous version, this GPS locator is a lot more discrete and comes in three gentleman models (classic, sports), two lady models, and even a unisex model – wrist watch without any compromise in functionality.

The device relies on four different tracking systems which includes GPS-SBAS (<2.5m), a special indoor positioning system (10-40m), VisionCellid (200-500m), and T-GSM (200m-1500m), and has a feature called “multicoverage” which use the sum of all GSM networks available in each country.

The base station has a 4.2″ screen, display streets with large letters, and has an ergonomic design. We don’t have any information on how much this GPS tracking system from Alzheimer’s patients will cost but it can’t be that cheap.

Lok8u locates your unruly child

Sep 26, 2009 gps navigation, tracking, wrist watch 7 Comments

We thought we’d mention the Lok8u GPS child tracker. It has been around for a while in the UK, but they’re now in the States side as well. Their company name “NuM8″ is quite tacky – something you wouldn’t expect from Brits :) – which should sound like “new mate”. If you still haven’t noticed the product name Lok8u sounds like “locate you”. Alright, enough with name calling. The device is in the shape of a digital wrist watch which can communicate its precise location to parents via Google Maps or text messages and can warn you if it has been removed without your authority.

Their technology makes use of A-GPS too – which should help when your child is indoors and help satellite fix times be a lot shorter. Lok8u can last about 2 – 3 days with a single charge but we’re not that optimistic.

Their pricing in the U.S. has not been revealed yet but UK prices are as follows: The watch itself is £150 and the monthly fees range from £5 to £20. £5 gets you 1 update for a whole month while £20 gets you unlimited everything.

Garmin Forerunner 405CX

Apr 3, 2009 fitness, garmin, gps navigation, wrist watch 3 Comments

Garmin Forerunner 405CX was just announced yesterday by Garmin. 405CX is obviously very similar to Forerunner 405 which came out beginning of last year. Improved with the 405CX is the way your heart rate and consumed calories are calculated.

Apparently people at Garmin spent some time with exercise scientists (Firstbeat of Finland) and pro athletes to come up with the algorithms which use the micro changes in a your heart rate to better calculate the number of calories burned during aerobic activity.

Garmin Forerunner 405CX weighs only 60 grams and has some features that let you track speed, distance and location. It has this “bezel” based interface that lets you control this GPS integrated wrist computer by tapping, holding or running a finger along the bezel.

Garmin Forerunner 405CX uses ANT+ technology which sends workout data to a PC or Mac wirelessly so you don’t even need to take off the watch.

Forerunner 405CX will cost $370 when it comes second quarter of this year.

Here is a video showing how easy it is to change wrist bands on the 405CX.

Timex Expedition WS4

Mar 20, 2009 gps navigation, wrist watch 2 Comments

Timex is getting ready to ship their latest outdoorsy adventure style wrist watch called Timex Expedition WS4. “WS” is for widescreen, and 4 is for the four functions it has: altimeter, barometer, thermometer, and a compass. Showing time is not listed as a feature but we know it is capable of doing that as well as having a chronograph, timer and alarm.

Your heading is not determined by your displacement calculated with the help of a GPS receiver like done with car GPS navigation systems, but rather with an actual digital compass.

Timex Expedition WS4 will be coming out in May 1st.

new holux GPS tracker 005

Dec 7, 2008 gps navigation, tracking, wrist watch 10 Comments

Holux has a new GPS tracking device device called GPS Tracker 005. It is designed to look like a wrist watch but we’re not sure if it actually shows the time at all. GPS Tracker 005 can provide real time tracking – meaning it is not only for logging where you’ve been. It actually has an integrated SIM card so it can transmit it is location via SMS or other channels.

To improve satellite fix times this GPS tracking device can download ephemeris data from server through internet. This is pretty much same as A-GPS but you’re going to have to download this data manually – about once a week. GPS Tracker 005 has a rechargeable Li-Ion battery which can provide max 60 hrs working time when set to send data every 15minutes.

GPS Tracker 005 is also water resistant (IPX6) so you can take it to a hike with you even on a rainy day. For more specs check out specs page.

globalSat releases waterproof GPS watch

Oct 19, 2008 gps navigation, wrist watch 1 Comment

We had a chance to check out GlobalSat GH-625 GPS enabled wristwatch today and since we like you we’ll share the results. Naturally this is next model up from the GlobalSat GH-615 which we had already mentioned a while ago.

Overall this is a nice, sturdy, product. The GPS function works as advertised. It has a track back feature that can re-trace your route which is nice. The watch is also waterproof so it can be worn in adverse conditions.

Features include:

• Built-in SiRF Star III high performance GPS chipset. Excellent sensitivity for fixing the position even at a weak signal status.
• Built-in rechargeable and high capacity lithium-ion battery.
• Large LCD for easy read.
• WAAS / ENGOS support
• Waterproof and rigid design to avoid damaging with carelessness.
• Recording all history of self-training by defined day.
• GH-625 can be used as a GPS receiver by easy setup.
• Firmware of the GH-625 series can be upgraded through PC.
• Heart Rate Monitor Sensor (For 625M model)
• Supports Google Earth file format
• Embedded high capacity flash memory to store the plenty of data.
• Calories calculation.

If this review doesn’t do it for you feel free to check out GlobalSat’s website.

suunto X10 review

Sep 16, 2008 gps navigation, reviews, wrist watch 25 Comments

We’ve had our awesome Suunto X10 for a while now and we’re ready to share a short review with you.

Hardware:

Suunto X10 has a nice feel to it. Even though it is quite bulky, its curves gives it a decent look (unlike some G-Shocks). It is actually quite plausible to use this as an everyday watch. The plastic which was used all around seems to be of good quality. Suunto used a few metal parts where it mattered such as the buckle on the strap and where buckle would connect on the other strap.

According to the spec sheet Suunto X10 has a 33% longer battery life than previous version. We were never able to test it to its limits which is a good sign. Reported battery life range from 5-7 hours (with heavy usage of the GPS, backlight, compass and data storage functions) to about 3 months if you only use Time and/or Alti/Baro mode. If your hiking trip is expected to be longer than 5-7 hours do not worry: You can change the GPS fix interval from 1 second to 1 min and this would get you to about 16 hours. Or even more if you change it to ‘manual’ to only mark important waypoints along your trip.

Suunto X10 is 100 meters water resistant, so no worries if you’re going to get wet. The backlight was sufficient. It is a not as nice as Timex Indiglo but it does the job. Read More …

suunto X10 is out

Aug 21, 2008 gps navigation, wrist watch 12 Comments

We haven’t been talking too much about GPS enabled wrist watches lately but worry no more for Suunto recently announced the successor to their highly popular X9i.

The Suunto X10 has upgraded GPS performance, which locates your position even faster than the X9i. The improved GPS also tracks better in difficult conditions, such as heavy foliage, for more reliable readings when you need it most. Unlike bulkier, hand-held GPS units, the Suunto X10 is hands-free, so you can focus on the action instead of worrying about dropping or losing your GPS when the going gets tough. The Suunto X10 also records waypoints and routes, allowing users to analyze and catalog trips on a home PC.

The Suunto X10 includes an altimeter, barometer, digital compass, thermometer, and an extensive memory, as well as the usual time/stopwatch functions.

When you are navigating with the Suunto X10 on a preplanned route it can show you the direction you need to head and the estimated time of arrival. There is of course the obvious ‘find home’ preset which can lead the user back to the start point or marked ‘Home’. In addition you can also ‘track back’ function which can guide you back along any recorded route.

Suunto X10 offers a battery life that is 33% longer than that of X9i and it has its own USB charger which can also be used to transfer data.

It will be available in two colors.

holux gps tracker 007

Jul 22, 2008 gps navigation, tracking, wrist watch 4 Comments

Holux is about to come out with a new GPS receiver tracking device that works in sync with a wrist watch to communicate its location.

The details of this GPS receiver + wrist watch combo is quite unclear but we think the GPS receiver component is in the bigger black box and the data is transmitted to the GPS watch.

We’ll keep you updated once we find out more about this.