Archive for February, 2010

giveaway: QStarz 5Hz GPS recorder

Feb 28, 2010 , , ,


We told you we would giveaway the QStarz BT-Q1000eX after we reviewed it. We were very pleased with the device except the official name so we’ll just refer to it as the 5Hz GPS recorder, which just highlights one of its unique features. This GPS data logger can actually record your position 5 times a second! We believe this is the only such product in the market – but if you think we’re wrong just leave us a comment below.

Anyhow, it is time for us to part ways with the QStarz 5Hz GPS recorder and give it away to a lucky reader. That means free!

We like to keep the rules very very simple. All you have to do is leave a comment below and if you haven’t already done so subscribe to our RSS feed. You don’t need to take a picture of yourself or write a poem about the GPS logger (however we’ll need a valid email so we can contact you back). So go ahead, scroll down and enter your name and a silly comment.

We will ship this out to a U.S. address only. Sorry rest of the world. Also duplicate entries, emails, IP addresses will be disqualified.

We’ll close this article for comments a week from today and after that we’ll announce the winner.

Good luck.
UPDATE: QSTARZ now ships worldwide.

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Mio Moov V780

Feb 27, 2010 , , ,


Mio will be showing their brand new GPS navigation + entertainment + internet device called Mio Moov V780 at CeBIT 2010.

Mio maybe targeting the area between netbooks and sat nav systems with this device since Moov V780 has a carrying case with keyboard, 7″ screen, and can play HD movies up to 720p resolution. Not only that but it can even output HD video with its HD interface port. Other entertainment features include digital TV support, YouTube access, photo and music players, and the intuitive 3D interface.

Mio Moov V780 comes with WiFi 802.11b/g but the spec sheet [pdf] says 3.5G and WiMax connection is supported but optional.

It has built in mail clients for Microsoft Exchange server and Gmail and comes with a web browser with Flash capabilities.

Some hardware specs include 600Mhz processor, 4 – 8 GB memory, 512MB RAM, microSD card slot, 6.95″ TFT LCD capacitor touch screen with 800×480 resolution, a giant 2300mAh battery, 3.5mm headphone jack, DVB-T, TDMB, and 1-Seg digital TV support.




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Raytheon gets GPS contract

Feb 26, 2010 , ,


Raytheon just won a contract worth $886 million to develop the advanced control segment (OCX) of global positioning system. The new system will bring anti-jamming features, advanced security features, and more accuracy.

GPS command, control, and mission capabilities will be affected by OCX, making it easier for operators to run GPS II and upcoming next-gen GPS satellites.

You can read more about GPS Advanced Control Segment (OCX) on Raytheon’s site.

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Sony NV-U35 GPS navigation system

Feb 26, 2010 , ,


We haven’t heard much about the Sony NV (or Nav-U, whatever you want to call it) series lately. Well, Sony just came out with a multipurpose GPS navigation system called NV-U35 that is designed to be used in automobiles, on bicycles, or just on foot.

What makes Sony NV-U35 different than most other sat nav systems out there is that it has a direction recorder and is IPX5 water resistant. It does also include a digital compass.

Some other features of the new NV-U35 include the 3.5″ QVGA touch screen, 8GB of internal storage that can be used for various multimedia formats including support for audio, video, and still images…

It will be coming out in Japan mid March.


Read the rest of this entry »

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Pocket GPS S1

Feb 25, 2010 , ,


Looks like Korean Cuu:B found some customers on the States side and is getting ready to cross the oceans to come to the U.S. now that it has cleared FCC regulations. Called Pocket GPS S1, this is a multi-purpose GPS receiver with bluetooth connectivity.

Pocket GPS S1 can be used while traveling for recording tracks, measuring distance covered, geotagging, and even voice recording. It can be used while working out since it can record laps, calculate top speed, and average velocity, and keep track of progress. Other uses may include other outdoors activities such as camping or fishing where you can mark your favorite spot.

Pocket GPS S1 can also be used as a tour guide where it can be programmed to play media in the form of voice, image, or text when a user arrives at a certain location.

The device is a bit different than other GPS recording devices with its high quality color LCD screen, microphone, and even a 3.5mm standard headphone jack.

If we figure out who will be selling this here in States we’ll be sure to let you know.

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thieves learn how to use GPS jammers

Feb 24, 2010 , ,


You know how much we like GPS jammers here at Navigadget. Maybe it is because they’re illegal, or maybe they can give us a piece of mind that we’re not being followed. It looks like some thiefs are making use of this technology to plan their escape.

These days any truck belonging to a fleet is more than likely equipped with a GPS tracking system. Same thing goes for cars with LoJack or OnStar. In case of theft this technology can be used transmit the exact location of the vehile to a base station for fast recovery.

The Register is reporting that thieves have now learned that they can use an illegally imported GPS jammer to disable this function. A GPS jammer with 2 watts output can stop a GPS receiver from getting a satellite fix within a few meters radius where as a more powerful 20 watts jammer can mess up GPS signals for an area as big as an airport.

What can you do? Not much, especially if they’re using a GPS and GSM jammer combo which would stop any hopes of recovery using cell tower triangulation. Your best bet would be to follow their tracks from the ‘last known location’ or keep listening for a signal hoping that they’ll for some reason fail to use the GPS jammer properly.

Oh, and don’t ask us where to get a GPS jammer from – really. We don’t know. You can leave a comment below though, maybe some other reader can help you.

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tamtam flash GPS navigation

Feb 23, 2010


Here is a concept device we kinda like. The tamtam flash. This one is actually big enough to carry some serious batteries that may power that mini projector in there.

The idea with this projector style GPS navigation system is that is projects navigation information on users’ path or when switched to other mode it can simply project the map on surface so you can orient yourself.

Apparently it can also read those QR tags which sometimes contain location information to a concert, bar, etc.

We found out about this at designaffairs website.

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Alpine INA-W900

Feb 22, 2010 , , , ,


Alpine INA-W900 is an all-in-one GPS navigation and entertainment system that takes up 2DIN space and has mototrized 7” screen. It works with iPhone and iPod and lets you control all search options of your iPod directly, via playlist, artist, etc and the connection is via USA for playback as opposed to lame FM transmitters which don’t give out good sound.

As far as navigation it can do picture in picture, where the maps come from Navteq which can be rendered as 3D, 2D full map, split map, and turn-by-turn arrow view. It carries 6 million points of interests, coverage of US, Canada, Puerto Rico, and Virgin Islands, SD card map update, text-to-speech, and more.

Other features? We’ve got a lot since this is entertainment system that has an MSRP of $1100. FM, AM, bluetooth connectivity, 50Wx4 power out, optical drive, HD radio, and a remote control.

See more details here and find a retailer perhaps.

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GPS gloves

Feb 22, 2010 ,


Ever wondered why the heck your skiing gloves do not include a GPS receiver? I guess people at Zanier Gloves had the same question so they decided to come out with X-Plore.XGX – a pair of gloves that can keep track of your altitude, speed, distance, duration and other route data. What’s really cool is that you can even plan a route and then let the glove route you where ever you want. We’re not sure how you’d plan your route with a pair gloves but we’re guessing you’d set it up with the software on your computer and then download to your gloves… And then let the mini screen on your thumb tell you where to go – on a slow downhill they like to add in the press release.

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sex offender removes GPS tracking bracelet, rapes again

Feb 21, 2010 , , ,

This is probably the worst GPS news you’ll hear all day. A level 3 sex offender in Massachusetts who was wearing a GPS tracking ankle bracelet cut the GPS tracking device off and went off to rape again.

…29-year-old William French had been fitted with a GPS monitor for violating his probation after failing a random drug screening. He was out of prison after serving eight years for a 2001 rape…

He was probably wearing a GPS bracelet similar to what we’ve talked about here and managed to cut it off without triggering any sensors.

He is now behind bars again and facing a new rape charge.

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