NaviGadget

Garmin just today announced that together with BMW Motorrad they have developed the new BMW Motorrad Navigator IV. This is a new GPS navigation system for motorcycles that is based on Garmin’s zūmo 660. The new BMW Motorrad Navigator IV takes Garmin’s navigation technology and adds BMW specific features such as customized mount, preloaded BMW dealer database, unique audio and Bluetooth handling capabilities.

Take for example the custom hardware which is a four-button motorcycle mount with quick-key functions for extra control and usability. The mount and GPS device are vibration-tested, waterproof (IPX-7), and designed to withstand fuel sprays and UV rays.

The rest of the specs should be pretty similar to zumo 660, such as the 4.3″ glove friendly touch screen, millions of POIs, and turn-by-turn, voice-prompted directions to the final destination. In addition BMW Motorrad Navigator IV’s A2DP Bluetooth wireless technology makes it possible for riders to pair their phone to a Bluetooth enabled helmet or handset so that they can safely talk on the phone or listen to MP3’s without having to remove their gloves or helmet.

BMW Motorrad Navigator IV is expected to be available third quarter of this year from authorized BMW Motorrad retailers in North America and Europe. No word on pricing just yet.

Designed by Stephen Dettman, this concept device is called MotoMap. It is supposed to be an inexpensive alternative to those pricey bike GPS navigation systems. It uses Powerfilm flexible solar panels and E-Ink flexible displays – technologies that haven’t matured yet.

MotoMap wraps around the fuel tank and stays put thanks to the magnets in it. There’s also the adjustable strap to secure the device further. One side of the device is the display for the GPS navigation system, and the other side is reserved Powerfilm flexible solar panel. Not a bad idea.

One of the properties of flexible E-Ink is that the image won’t distort when bent and it requires little power to run. And it is almost always sunlight readable.

The controls for MotoMap is designed so that bikers won’t have to take their gloves when interacting with the device… read »

Have you been following the concept devices we feature here every now and then? If so you already know how we like to criticize them. Take this Velocity for example. It is supposed to be a GPS navigation system for bicycles.

The idea is that you download your routes from the internet, fit the device on your handlebar, and then get visual and audio route guidance. Here is our take on it: It looks like it is ready to snap in half, the translucent display is probably very fragile and almost impossible to read under direct sunlight, and how is this supposed to fit anywhere when you’re done with it? We do like the single hand operation though.

Read more on it here… read »

Starting fall semester University of Minnesota police will implement a “Bait Bike” program to put an end to ever increasing bike theft problem around campus.

Police will use unclaimed and abandoned bikes as bait, and attach the hidden GPS system to the frame. If stolen, the bike will send a signal to police, who may track its location electronically and make an arrest.

Apparently the GPS tracking hardware they’re using costs $1000 and it also requires a monthly fee. Well if they had come to Navigadget for consultation we could’ve showed them some cheaper tracking solutions – but hey, that’s the government for you.

University of Wisconsin-Madison police implemented this solution back in 2008 and has since seen some good results: Bike theft went 30 percent down from the 2007-08 academic year.

At the beginning of each year, University of Wisconsin police distribute stickers reading “This could be a Bait Bike” to students in hopes that they will put them on their bikes, Whitney said.

via

BMW has an ad campaign going on these days showing how you can endanger the lives of pedestrians trying to scribble something on a map using GPS :) On this next video for example for they tried for “unstoppable” but it more looks like “Un_toppdole”.

Apparently you can join in on the fun by Uploading your GPS drawing at BMW-Motorrad.com.

Theare two more videos and to see what the scissors drawing looks like on Google Maps follow this link.
read »

Mio’s parent company Mitac of Japan is getting ready to release the Mio C523 V2, a GPS navigation system that can easily be fitted on to motorcycles if desired. They’ve come up with something called “rider mode” which will show the next three turns on one screen to minimize the time spent looking at the device.

If you remember we had talked about the original Mio C523 a couple years ago – the model that is designed for cars.

Some specs of the Mitac Mio C523 v2 include 2GB internal memory, 4.3″ touch screen, 1seg digital TV tuner, Windows CE operating system, SiRF Star GPS receiver, and Samsung 2440 processor. The Mio’s will be manufactured in Kunshan, Jiangsu, China.

The suggested retail price of the Mio C523 V2 will be ¥44,800 which is about $448… read »

It’s only got one button but it does the job. The Holux M-1000C Bluetooth GPS Logger allows you to trek around town or in the mountains and then show your adventures on Google Maps or Earth. The Holux M-1000C only has a power button so all the configuration is done via the included Holux ezTour software. You can configure the device for Car, Bike, Hike or running mode.

Overview & Features

• Built in MTK MT3329 Low power consumption GPS chipset.
• 66 parallel satellite-tracking channels for fast acquisition and reacquisition.
• Built-in WAAS/ EGNPS Demodulator without additional any hardware.
• Compatible with Bluetooth Serial Port Profile (SPP) completely.
• Small, sleek, and lightweight design easily fits in your hand.
• Built-in rechargeable and changeable Lithium-ion battery lasts for 20 hours
• Comes with Cigarette adapter and USB cable for charging/syncing.
• Auto Power Saving Mode
• Physical Size : 62.5 × 41 × 17.1 mm Weight： < 53 g
• LED Functions
  • Orange: GPS status
  • Blue: Indicate Bluetooth status
  • Green/Red: Battery Status and Battery charging status.

The software is the same as another Holux device the GPSport 245 I reviewed back in January

To summarize, you can bring up your treks in the built-in Google Maps window. And with the Google Earth Plug-In you can view your voyage & pictures on Google Earth as well.

There are different screens that allow you to browse your pictures, movies or show you a summary of your Speed & Altitude for each journey.

As a lot of the current GPS Logger’s software allows you to do, the Holux M-1000C ezTour software lets you upload your pictures to your Flickr or Locr account.

The Holux M-1000C Software is easy to use, and with one button the device is pretty self explanatory. If you are using it for tracking photography trips, you can put a tie on one corner and attach to your camera or bag. There are definitely more complex devices out there that have the same features but for $40-$50 the M-1000C is a good option that as the size information above shows isn’t bulky.

-by Gautam Khattak

Our winner for MG-950D is #13, Adam David who said:

looks interesting…

Adam we’ll get in touch with you to get your shipping address.

Garmin has a new GPS navigation system for bikers. Just announced today at CES 2009 Garmin Zumo 660 has a 4.3″ anti-glare touch screen, glove friendly left handed interface, and is waterproof.

It comes preloaded with maps of United States, Canada and Puerto Rico and include over 6 million POIs.

Other features include the lane assist capability which is relatively new for Garmin devices, blutooth connectivity so you can pair it up with compatible helmets, and the ability to plan your trips online and send them to your device. It also accepts Garmin’s MapSource U.S. Topo maps for off-road navigation.

It will be available first quarter of this year for $800.

As a rule, Men don’t need for directions. Now with that statement you probably think I’m going to be writing about a GPS Navigation Unit, but in fact I’m talking about the Holux GPSport 245 which is so easy to use that you don’t need to look at the directions! See how that first line makes sense now?

I’ve played with some of the GPS sport recorders out there and for some of them you definitely need to read the manual to understand how to get into all the different modes. Not with the Holux GPSport 245 though. With the dimensions of 82 x 53 x 23 mm and weighing in at 72g, this little device weighs has a large and very well organized screen.

There are six buttons on the unit. One each on the Left and Right side (Back/Esc and Enter respectively) and then on the front of the unit below the LCD are 4 function keys. read »