NaviGadget

Coyote Mini v2 GPS radar detector

Nov 30, 2009 gps navigation, radar detector

As you know there a lot of GPS radar detectors out there. And if you live in Europe we really advise you getting a radar detector since that continent is filled with speed cameras, red light cameras, and the usual cop with a radar gun.

Coyote is a big name in France for GPS radar detectors and they just came out with a new model called the Coyote Mini v2. This new version from the Coyote Mini series offer a screen that is twice as big as its predecessor. It has audible and visual alerts, can be configured without a PC or the internet, displays speed limits, and even real time traffic updates.

Coyote also has a community based web site where users can mark police hideout areas and participant has a confidence score based on their history.

Coyote Mini v2 promises no false alerts, highly configurable distances for highway and city, and reliable speed limits.

new Lowrance Elite Fishfinder and Chartplotters

Nov 29, 2009 gps navigation, lowrance, marine

Lowrance just recently announced a new line of fishfinders and chartplotters called the Elite.

The new Lowrance Elite series currently has 3 models all of which are going to be available as soon as March 2010. The new models Elite-5x fishfinder, Elite-5m chartplotter and Elite-5 fishfinder/chartplotter. However only Elite-5 and Elite-5m chartplotter models feature a built-in 16-channel GPS+WAAS precision antenna. There’s basemap included in these models which covers more than 3000 lakes with information on shorelines, depth, and more. Of course you can also buy more maps and load them onto a microSD card which is supported.

Some other features of these marine GPS devices include 5″ sunlight readable display with 480×480 resolution, built-in memory, waypoint storage, and NMEA 0183 output.

Here is the pricing:

• Lowrance Elite-5x fishfinder: $449
• Lowrance Elite-5m chartplotter: $499
• Lowrance Elite-5 Combo chartplotter/fishfinder: $549

Garmin nuvi 285WT Amazon Black Friday deal

Nov 27, 2009 garmin, gps navigation

Garmin nüvi 285W/285WT is the Black Friday Gold Box deal of the day from Amazon.

List price for this GPS navigation system from Garmin is $250. Before yesterday it went for $177, and just today they reduced the price down to $129.

Garmin Nuvi 285WT has a 4.3″ widescreen, does text-to-speech, delivers real time local weather, traffic, movie times, stock prices, gas prices, news, and more via MSN Direct, and even features bluetooth wireless for hands free calls using the embedded microphone and speakers.

285W and 285WT are pretty much the same but this deal is for 285WT since the box also includes “T“raffic receiver.

FedEx SenseAware

Nov 27, 2009 gps navigation, tracking

Fedex just recently introduced a new and highly sensitive tracking device that will be in use as soon as 2010. Called FedEx SenseAware this little device travels inside your shipment and monitor essentials whether it is on a FedEx plance, truck, or a ship.

The device has a temperature sensor, a light sensor, and of course an A-GPS receiver. In addition to giving you an exact location SenseAware can warn users if a packaging is outside its required temperature range, or it has been opened.

SenseAware is permitted by the Federal Aviation Administration to be used during flight on FedEx aircraft and will allow customers to monitor in-transit conditions during ground transportation.

However from the sound of this it looks like you won’t be able to get any updates while your packaging is on a plane.

Available in 2010, SenseAware will initially target the health care and life sciences industry to make sure those kidneys your friend needs are in good shape.

TomTom XXL 540S World Traveler Edition

Nov 26, 2009 gps navigation, tomtom

Remember the TomTom XXL 540S we mentioned back in September? Well they just came out with a new version of that called TomTom XXL 540S World Traveler Edition. As you may have guessed the only thing that’s going to different with this World Traveler Edition is the maps. The new XXL 540S will come with maps of U.S., Canada and Europe which requires a bigger 4GB internal memory.

Other features are pretty much the same, including text-to-speech, advanced lane guidance, seven million points of interests, TomTom Help Me, and Map Share technologies.

TomTom XXL 540S World Traveler Edition will cost $350 when it comes out in early December.

sms short code for vehicle position updates

Nov 26, 2009 gps navigation, tracking

An AZ company, GPS Insight, just recently announced their SMS text message short code GPSGPS (477477). Using this GPSGPS short code their customers can find where their vehicles are, and even customize it for more advanced queries such as get alerts when a vehicle arrives, or moves, find out which vehicle is closest to an address, and more.

NPR does not like Google Maps Navigation

Nov 25, 2009 gps navigation, phones, reviews

Our favorite news source NPR just talked about our favorite smartphone OS Android – developed by the mighty Google. The article is actually comparing the new (and free) Google Maps Navigation application which is now available on Android 2.0 and Android 1.6 to standalone GPS navigation systems. It is not good, they call Google Maps navigation unreliable. It takes a lot of guts to call something from Google unreliable :) Previous reviews and our own review had better things to say than NPR.

To be fair the reviewer likes the voice recognition and Verizon’s 3G coverage for the Droid. However manual traffic warnings, wrong directions (no left turn on rush hour), wrong prediction on travel time, no choice for shortest/fastest option ends up with an obvious thumbs down for Google Maps Navigation application.

Clarion MiND gets 3G

Nov 25, 2009 gps navigation, umpc

We talked about the Clarion MiND numerous times here before. Clarion MiND is a mobile internet device (MID) so it’s just natural to add 3G capability. However it is not new hardware or anything. It is just a new software update that adds USB modem connectivity when used with a compatible 3G USB modem – such as the iCON 322 from Option which costs $80 on Amazon. Clarion MiND already has WiFi but that’s useless unless you’re at a coffee shop parking lot.

Clarion MiND by the way now goes for as low as $189 on Amazon.

CoPilot Live only $20 through the end of the week

Nov 25, 2009 gps navigation, phones, software

Starting at 8:00am ET on Wednesday, CoPilot Live will be offered at $19.99 for the shopping weekend. Additionally, no features will be cut out and this will be a one time payment for turn-by-turn navigation.

As you know CoPilot Live is one of the iPhone GPS navigation apps (and Android) and normally costs $35 for the U.S. version.

Google Maps Navigation on myTouch 3G – first impressions

Nov 23, 2009 gps navigation, phones, reviews, software

Google just made their Google Maps navigation application available for Android 1.6 devices – which includes my T-Mobile MyTouch 3G.

To get the latest version what you need to do is go to the Android Market Place from your phone and find Google Maps. It should say “update available”. As you may have guessed you need to install this version. It will change the appearance of the little icon and you’ll have to agree to some new terms and read some warnings about the how it is beta and you need to keep your eyes on the road and stuff.

On the way back home from work I gave this a try and here is what I thought at the end:

• it works
• trip duration was almost dead on – it considered traffic accurately on an unusually congested day
• text-to-speech is a bit robotic but still very clear
• phone is noticeably sluggish while running this app
• answered a call while navigating – couldn’t go back into app and mute it – very annoying
• phone was warmer possibly because both the GPS and screen was on for the whole 40 minute drive
• switching to street view at the destination was a nice touch

That’s all – I didn’t really play around with the other features.