NaviGadget

Timex Ironman Global Trainer with GPS

Jan 26, 2010 gps navigation, wrist watch

Timex is coming out with a GPS enabled training watch called Timex Ironman Global Trainer. The watch is equipped with SiRF Star III GPS receiver that can get you your speed, distance, and even pace.Nothing your Google Tracks apps can’t do on your Android phone but we don’t think you’d want your phone on your during swimming part of the triathlon.

Back to this GPS training watch – Timex can record 100 waypoints to track back and create routes, has 50 meter water resistant case, for display panes that can be customized, and a special USB connection for charging and syncing.

Timex Ironman Global Trainer with GPS is compatible with Timex Heart Rate and Bike Sensors, and other third-party bike power sensors using ANT+.

We’re not sure how much this GPS enabled Timex watch will cost but our source tells us it will be available in U.S. of A starting this May at REI stores.

multi-m8 from lok8u announces GPS watch for adults

Jan 12, 2010 CES 2010, gps navigation, tracking, wrist watch

We’ve talked about Lok8u’s GPS tracking watch for kids. During CES 2010 they just launched a version of their live GPS tracking device for grown-ups.

Called multi-m8, their press release [pdf] says the GPS watch is suitable for people who are working alone in remote places, elderly with health issues such as Alzheimers’ patients, and outdoorsy kind people who risk being lost all the time. We’re not sure how this help out if you’re out of cellular network coverage area. The company is from England though; maybe the whole island there is under coverage, who knows…

By the way their GPS watch for kids is now available on Amazon for $180 – does not mention about service coverage areas.

come in for drug test now

Nov 16, 2009 gps navigation, tracking, wrist watch

We really hope you never have to wear this criminal offender GPS tracking device. But if you do get to wear one this could be one of the messages you receive: “come in for drug test now”. Developed by PTM this is a two-piece tracking system designed exclusively for tracking criminal offenders. Called SMART MTD, this little device utilizes multiple wireless carriers for data communication with the
option of a land line backup.

With this GPS tracking device the officers can choose from four levels of supervision, have two way communication with the offender, get 1minute to 15 seconds updates, real time texting, and more.

It has a battery that lasts 2 days, and can charge in only four hours, the autonomous GPS on board works independently from wireless carriers, and it can store up to 5 days of tracking data.

Thanko GPS watch

Oct 30, 2009 gps navigation, tracking, wrist watch

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…

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GPS tracking for Alzheimer’s patients

Oct 3, 2009 gps navigation, tracking, wrist watch

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

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.

UPDATE: Now available on Amazon for $180.

Garmin Foretrex 301

Jun 16, 2009 fitness, garmin, gps navigation, tracking, wrist watch

In addition to Foretrex 401, Garmin also introduced its little brother today: the Garmin Foretrex 301.

Foretrex 301 is quite similar to 401, except that it lacks the electronic compass, and the barometric altimeter. In addition it is slightly has a lighter color and supposedly will last up to 18 hours (instead of 17) with only 2 AAA batteries.

Garmin Foretrex 301 is rugged and waterproof, boast a sensitive GPS receiver with HotFix that quickly acquires and maintains satellite reception. It keeps track of where you’ve been so you when turn on the TracBack feature, it will retrace your path right back to where you started.

Foretrex 301 feature dual-position readout so that you can view your current location in multiple formats, including latitude/longitude and an alternate position format of your choice.

Also no wireless sharing your tracks and waypoints on 301. Only 401 has this feature.

Garmin Foretrex 301 can store up to 500 waypoints, 20 routes or a tracklog of up to 10,000 points and 10 saved tracks.

UPDATE: Pricing info has just been released and Garmin Foretrex 301 will go for $200.

Here are some more specs:

• Unit dimensions: 2.9″ x 1.7″ x 0.9″ (7.5 x 4.3 x 2.3 cm)
• Display:1.4″ x 0.9″ (3.6 x 2.3 cm)
• Resolution: 100 x 64 pixels
• Display type: Black and white LCD
• Weight: 3.1 oz (87.3 g) with batteries
• Waterproof: yes (IPX7)
• Floats: no
• Interface: USB

Garmin Foretrex 401

Jun 10, 2009 garmin, gps navigation, wrist watch

Apparently Garmin is coming a with new Foretrex called Garmin Foretrex 401. We didn’t think Garmin would continue with this series after coming up with products such Forerunner 405CX and even Forerunner 310XT, but they must have seen the market for it. Specially the DoD market: Militarytimes got their hands on a final prototype and the specs for the new Garmin Foretrex 401 looks quite impressive.

First off Garmin Foretrex 401 is about 20% smaller than the original 201, and 101, but do share the same size (1.4″ x 0.9″) screen. It has a 2-axis digital compass, barometric altimeter, and a USB port to hook up to a computer. It even has some sort of wireless waypoint sharing option.

Up to this point everything is OK. But then you get to some other set of features which makes us think Foretrex 401 was designed for those who regularly jump off planes:

There’s even a “Jumpmaster” function for static, HAHO and HALO jumping that will let you set data points for under-canopy guidance to an LZ. It’s got options for forward throw, windspeeds at altitude and HARP to get you to the right place. Garmin also improved the GPS sensitivity so it will pick up a signal faster once out of the aircraft, but it’s still best as a backup to your backup altimeter.

Garmin Foretrex 401 runs on two AAA batteries which can last up to 24 hours and if you really need this to be with you on a mission you can get the optional pouch that was designed with the help of Navy Seals and will make it easier to mount the 401 to your gear or rifle. Huh.

Really? Did Garmin really design and is about to announce a military grade GPS receiver for only $250? Wow. Expected to release date is June 16th.

Garmin Forerunner 405CX

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

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

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.