James W. Coates, an avid traveler and Outdoor Explorer, loves to roam national parks. Even more, he loves to swap stories with other people who share his love of the outdoors. Drop by his blog at Nomadik.com and exchange GPS tips with him.
Category: Garmin 010-11280-00 Portable Friction Dashboard Mount for nüvi Portable GPS
GPS Devices and your Job
Posted by admin in Garmin 010-11280-00 Portable Friction Dashboard Mount for nüvi Portable GPS Friday, 18 December 2009 10:15 No Comments
Commuters braving rush hour know all too well how traffic jams can quickly tack on extra drive time. In an instant, a long string of red brake lights raises frustration levels that can pile extra stress onto an already hectic week. That’s why real time customized traffic data streaming to your on-board GPS only makes sense.
Like having a traffic reporter seated in the car next to you, on-board GPS units offer detailed traffic data and freeway speed information. As alternative routes are proposed, many devices automatically calculate the estimated driving time and any additional mileage a driver must take to avoid bottle neck situations. When merged with Bluetooth technology, drivers can call home to give the family their estimated arrival time.
Higher end models such as Garmin’s StreetPilot 2730 GPS Receiver offer larger screens that are easier to read, even in bright sunlight, and include convenient voice recognition.
Text to speech capabilities permit the unit to decode and pronounce street names, meaning that as the vehicle approaches a designated turn, the unit prompts drivers to turn left onto Bay Street, for example, instead of simply ordering them to turn left (without naming the street) as most basic models do.
While all GPS Units have the capability to constantly seek out alternative routs and subsequently avoid traffic jams, higher end models double as satellite FM radio broadcasters. These models allow you to listen to your favorite commercial-free music as well as real time traffic reports and weather forecasts while commuting home or to work. Other models are even capable of playing the MP3 format giving you the added freedom to listen to your music collection or favorite audio book.
Commuters who travel with their laptops may opt to transform their computers into GPS units byway of special navigational software. Just remember than since you can’t mount your laptop to the dashboard, frequent glances to a screen in the passenger’s seat could prove dangerous in heavy traffic situations. However a laptop screen is much larger than those on most GPS devices and most software includes voice recognition, still only available on higher end GPS units.
Given the many options, the best advise is to shop around and decide which model suits your needs. Then you’re halfway on the road towards less wearisome commutes.
Writer and commuter, James W. Coates knows the frustration the daily drive adds to his life. He loves how GPS devices can assist drivers in getting home faster and in one piece. Share your GPS driving story on his Blog at Nomadik.com.
Buy a Sat Nav for Your Dad on Father’s Day
Posted by admin in Garmin 010-11280-00 Portable Friction Dashboard Mount for nüvi Portable GPS Thursday, 17 December 2009 19:17 No Comments
Confused as to what to get your father on Fatherâs Day? What about a Satellite Navigational System for his car? As dad’s get older they start to become forgetful, unsure of what they’re were doing or where they were going, and well, people say their driving worsens, not that theyâll ever admit to it.
Sat-navs are now the newest must have in-car accessory for any driver. Offering step by step navigation through satellites in space in whatâs known as Global Positioning System or GPS for short.
The older generation might say they got by just fine for decades with just an road map, a hazy memory of being there before, or a special sense of direction using the sunâs location, but just like mobile phones, give them a sat nav and within no time theyâll wonder how they got by all these years without one.
Sat nav systems help you to navigate unfamiliar streets and direct you to your destination in a quick, easy and safe way. The advantage is that you wonât have to read a map while trying to drive or stop to ask for directions, eliminating the frustration and unpleasant feeling of being lost.
The device is a handheld gadget with a screen and speaker, is powered by the cigarette lighter socket and sits on the dashboard or windscreen of the vehicle. Featuring software and maps the satnav directs you with voice prompts and an on-screen map showing your location. Just input your destination using a postcode or address and the sat nav will calculate the fastest or shortest route.
SatNavGPS.net compares satnavs by feature and price to find the most suitable sat-nav gift for him. From a budget Garmin, to a user-friendly TomTom or a feature packed Navman, there is something for everybody.
So whether your father loves gadgets or is a technophobe that has trouble using the DVD player, youâll find the perfect gift with the help of the Sat Nav comparison site http://www.satnavgps.net
SatNavGPS.Net is dedicated to helping you get the best SatNav deals and information. Compare sat nav prices and stock availability from online shops, updated daily for the latest up-to-date offers on the cheapest satnavs online.
In-Car GPS Units – Navigate Easily to Your Destination
Posted by admin in Garmin 010-11280-00 Portable Friction Dashboard Mount for nüvi Portable GPS Thursday, 17 December 2009 05:24 No Comments
What is GPS?
The Global Positioning System (GPS) uses satellites to transmit signals to a GPS unit on earth to accurately identify a person’s direction, speed location and time. It was developed twenty years ago by the US military because of the security needs of the time. Today, it can be used by anyone provided they posses a GPS enabled device or unit.
GPS devices can be practically used in almost any situation that you can think of, whether it is commercial, military or recreational. In the scientific arena, it has been widely used for global navigations, scientific and aeronautical researches, and even for handling the probabilities of catastrophes like earthquakes and tornadoes. For the everyday lay person, probably the best know use of GPS is as an in car navigational device.
Why Use an In-Car GPS Unit?
A GPS car unit is a device that you use to navigate while you are in your car. They can be fixed to the car or portable. With a GPS unit in your car easily tracked by the satellites, the device will safely and accurately direct you to all the places you want to go to and tell you what is the best route to get there.
You may be surprised to discover how easy they are to use. The gadget will always provide the user with user friendly options, right through to the successful completion of your journey. For travelers navigating across the globe, one could follow their journey right from the dashboard of the car. The weather and climatic conditions are closely monitored from your driver’s seat, and you get the updates on events around you.
Brands of In-Car GPS Units
These devices come in different varieties and at different costs. Spending on an in-car GPS unit is proportional to the devices features and quality.
The Garmin Nuvi 660 comes with a wide and clear screen along with hands free communications from your phone for your convenience. The HP iPaq rx5900 Travel Companion is relatively affordable. It is smaller but has all that you need. Listen to music and indulge in games to break the boredom.
Then there is the Magellan Maestro 4250, one of the most popular GPS devices. With this GPS, you receive real and updated traffic as you cruise along the highway. Enjoy the Bluetooth feature and sit back as you safely navigate home. The Pioneer AVIC-Z2 is a sizable unit with wider memory capacity, thus it can refine the details of the maps even better.
When buying a GPS unit, you should choose one that is at the upper end of your budget so that you can get the best of what GPS devices offer. There are several other competitors which are just as good as those units outlined above, with marvelous performance. Some of them will be a little cheaper with comparable features and GPS units in general are coming down in price everyday. Make sure you test drive any GPS unit before you buy.
Today, most new cars already have the GPS unit installed when you buy them. This makes it more convenient and you have the warranty advantage for any breakages or fault. However, you don’t get to choose what unit comes with the car which can be a disadvantage when the unit isn’t that user friendly.
While GPS car units offer many advantages, some caution is necessary when you are looking to purchase a GPS unit for your car. You want something that is very user friendly and is of high quality. The lesson is: try before you buy.
The Best Handheld GPS Devices on the Market Today
Posted by admin in Garmin 010-11280-00 Portable Friction Dashboard Mount for nüvi Portable GPS Wednesday, 16 December 2009 16:06 No Comments
Remember the days when GPS units could only be installed on the dashboard of your vehicle? We do too – and that’s why we were thrilled when we learned that our favorite techie toys are now incorporating GPS technology from trusted brands like Garmin, Magellan and TomTom. Products from cell phones to PDAs have caught the GPS fever, turning everyday electronic essentials into convenient – and affordable – hand held GPS devices.
Want an electronic device that will allow you to store emails, maintain your busy schedule and even keep track of those to-do lists – all while navigating you from Point A to Point B? Then you need to check out the latest PDAs with GPS capabilities, many of which can be found in your favorite department or electronic store. Not in the market for a new PDA? Not a problem – there’s tons of great software on the market today that will turn your normal PDA into a navigating dream. These great multi-tasking devices take all of the stress out of managing your day-to-day routine while directing you from one meeting or social function to the next. You can even use your PDA with GPS capabilities to look up information about your favorite restaurant, movie theatre or mall – all from the palm of your hand! We recommend TeleNav, an innovative third-party GPS software system that’s compatible with most PDAs, as well as some sophisticated smartphones.
Pocket pcs are also catching on to the GPS trend, as more recent models are designed with inherent navigation and mapping capabilities. If you want to get your hands on one of the best pocket pc GPS products on the market today, check out the W800 Pocket PC, a sleek and portable device that not only lets you surf the internet and play your favorite games – you can choose from any of its detailed maps to navigate yourself anywhere in the country! Add in the fact that you can download third-party applications and can easily find a model for under $250 online, and you’ve got a pocket pc GPS device that will give you a huge return for a small investment.
Another great handheld GPS unit on the market today is the Palm Treo 800w, which not only has all of the great benefits of superior GPS navigation – it has Wi-Fi capabilities as well. With a high-resolution touch screen, a slim design and a camera that would make professional photographers envious, the GPS for Palm Treo 800w has really stepped up the game, even besting some of its more popular competitors. Recently released this past summer, you can find this hand held gps device for under $250.
These days, you don’t have to limit your handheld gps devices to your vehicle. Thanks to major innovative advances in electronics, you can purchase the latest PDA, smartphone or pocket pc with superior GPS capabilities, or download navigation software that adapts to the device that you own right now.