People are asking questions like – Why does the government need to know the GPS coordinates of my front door?

I think everybody is getting a little paranoid! I’m almost certain that the government isn’t going to send some drone out with the coordinates for your front door to do whatever they do with drones.

It’s more like this – the government is tracking their workers! With the data that’s logged by the GPS the government can make sure that the worker traveled to every place that s/he was supposed to go. The government can also view the amount of time spent gathering data as well.

Next time the government wants to do a census they’ll be better ‘armed’ and be able to streamline the process as well.

So don’t be paranoid! You can put your tinfoil hat away for another day.

I’ve been thinking of so many ways that this new device could be used. When it’s available it’s going to come at a really reasonable price – just $500!

So I looked into this device a little more and I noticed that it comes with assisted GPS, this made me really happy. This means there’s a possibility to throw out the old handheld GPS (or maybe keep it for when you need it) and use the iPad as your navigational GPS.

All we need is some software and we’re ready to go!

I already have plans to black out the front window on my car so that I can duct tape my iPad to the inside of the front windshield. I want to see how accurate it really is! No, I’m kidding, but I think that the bigger the screen for a navigational GPS the better and the iPad might be a great replacement than what’s available on the market today.

Garmin listens to their users (the people that are making them money) and then markets the products that people want.

Look how many people are out there on the internet searching for free Garmin voices or free Garmin voice packs! I’m telling you – there’s lots of people out there looking for this kind of stuff and it is not easy to find anything.

Sure, if you’re going to disrespect the ancient and outdated copyright laws you’ll likely find some stuff on the torrent sites and the P2P networks – but you know the risks in doing that.

What Garmin did above all is listened to the market. Garmin developed a piece of software that allows you to make your own voices for Garmin GPS devices and they are giving it away for free.

You thought you were going to have to pay for something like that didn’t you?

You can download Garmin Voice Studio directly from the Garmin Web Site.

For those of you who think outside the box you’ll figure out that you’ll have no problem making any free Garmin GPS voice pack that you want to with this piece of software.

If you don’t have a Garmin yet – get with it! We suggest the new Garmin nüvi 1690 4.3-Inch Portable Bluetooth Navigator with nüLink! Services

See larger image Garmin nüvi 1690 4.3-Inch Portable Bluetooth Navigator with nüLink! Services (Electronics) List Price: Price Not Listed New From: Check Amazon For Pricing In Stock Used from: $299.00 In Stock

Most electronics these days are becoming so miniaturized that they can be easily inside something as large as a vehicle without ever being found. GPS data loggers have no need for a user interface or screen to view things on as their purpose is just for logging data onto a storage card.

If you’ve ever thought about spying on somebody for whatever reason (like I said at the start this is up to you and you take your own risks) then hiding a GPS data logger in your victims vehicle is probably something you’ve thought about.

There are a couple of things that should be carefully considered when choosing a device that will perform well for these types of covert operations.

One very important thing is battery life. Since you likely will have to set the device up in your victims vehicle beforehand you’re going to want to have the battery in the device last long enough for them to actually get into their vehicle and go do whatever it is that they’re going to do.

Another important thing to consider is the amount of data that the device will be able to store. When the device is recording a point every 5 seconds that means that it’ll be recording 720 points an hour. The covert GPS device should at least hold enough data points that it is able to generate in the lifetime of it’s battery.

The GlobalSat GPS Datalogger featured below is an excellent device to use for a purpose such as this. This GPS tracker combines an 18 hour long battery life with the ability to store 600,000 GPS points which makes it perfect for covert ops. It’ll even export the data points as a KML file so you can see exactly the path taken in Google Earth.

See larger image Bluetooth Gps With Data Logger () List Price: Price Not Listed New From: Check Amazon For Pricing In Stock

Magellan (average consumer Magellan that is) has also made their way into the software market and puts out Navigation software for the iPhone and it doesn’t look all that bad.

One thing I do like about their software are the 3D landmarks, which are really cool and really help you find your way without having to look too hard at street signs as you’re driving by them. So the 3D landmarks are great – when they’re available.

I like the address book integration in the Magellan iPhone GPS software too. This allows you to easily enter info into your iPhone address book and then quickly access it through your GPS software later on when you need it without the need to enter it again.

The Highway Lane Assist and Find Your Car are pretty good too even if you don’t really need them.

For those of us that use our devices for real multitasking, there’s even Music Control built into the Magellan iPhone GPS software too.

You can find Magellan’s GPS software, Magellan RoadMate in the iPhone store.

Alright Magellan, this is getting better, but I still haven’t forgiven you for the Pro GPS stuff you pulled on me so you’re going to have to keep moving and improving. When it comes to your electronic devices Magellan – can you please come up with something that’s actually innovative as well, instead of just the same as everybody else has!

The GPS we know and love is part of a larger family of systems called Global Navigational Satellite Systems or GNSS. It’s similar to having different operating systems like Windows, Linux and OS X for a computer – they’re different but they ultimately get the same jobs done in the end.

• GPS is the USA system – Wikipedia GPS Entry
• GLONASS is the Russian system – Wikipedia GLONASS Entry
• Galileo is the European system – Wikipedia Galileo Entry
• Compass is the Chinese system – Wikipedia Compass Entry

I’d write a little more information about all those systems, but really who cares – and for those of you that do, I provided you links to very informative Wikipedia entries. Right now only the USA (GPS) system is fully operational and open to the general public.

Here comes the most important question of all: What do having all those different systems mean the average GPS end user like me? I just want to use the GPS to navigate while I’m driving or keep me from getting lost when I go hiking.

Things aren’t looking so bad in the answer to that question. Since us end users drive the market the manufacturers are hopefully going to listen to what we want.

When I turn on my GPS, or hopefully one day my GNSS device, I don’t want to worry about which satellites are available to me to use or have to configure some little gadget all the time to get it to work properly. I’m going to have more important things on my mind like driving or enjoying the view from atop some majestic mountain peak. I think manufacturers are intuitive enough to know that we’re not all Linux geeks and don’t want to configure it all the time so they’re going to design device that work on whatever system is available and devices that will probably use more than one system at a time to get even better accuracy.

Actually – there are already chips being designed to handle more than one system and a Quick Google Search shows that there’s already some pathetic competition killers trying to patent having all the different receivers on one chip (sarcasm: Wow, such a novel idea!).

Anyways, we’ll let the manufacturers work out all the details. Give me my GPS, make it accurate and make it ‘just work’.

Lately, it seems that Trimble has been trying to break into the consumer GPS market by teaming up with some cellular service providers to offer software services to the cellular provider’s clients.

So far AT&T, Verizon Wireless, Blackberry, T Mobile, Sprint and Alltel Wireless have jumped on board with Trimble. Or maybe Trimble has jumped on board with them.

Trimble has created a new division of the company and called it Trimble Outdoors. With Trimble Outdoors you can plan outdoor trips and use your phone for GPS navigation, tracking your fitness performance, geocaching, and sharing your experiences with others. All of the applications are available on the Trimble Outdoors site, but having them isn’t going to be cheap!

Trimble offers three different software applications that are built with different activities in mind. You’re going to end up paying $5-$6 per month depending on the software application that you choose.

AllSportGPS - The AllSport GPS software application turns your cell phone into a full-featured GPS-enabled trainer and workout tracker for cycling, mountain biking, running, walking and other sports activities.

The AllSportGPS phone application in combination with the Trimble Outdoors web site provides you with a complete solution for tracking, analyzing and improving your fitness.

Trimble Outdoors – The Trimble Outdoors™ application lets you use your cell phone to find your way and document your trips for hiking, backpacking, fishing and other outdoor activities.

The phone application in combination with the Trimble Outdoors web site provides you with a complete solution for using your phone to find your way, creating multimedia trip journals that you can share, researching and planning trips, and sending your trips wirelessly to your phone.

Geocache Navigator – Geocache Navigator™ on your mobile phone offers you a fun and easy way to enjoy a hugely popular hide and seek game called geocaching (also known as “GPS treasure hunting”).

With Geocache Navigator™ you can geocache on-the-go. Leave behind your GPS device, cables, and paper printouts! It’s easy to use for beginners and powerful for advanced geocachers. Just grab your phone, seek and enjoy.

Don’t be surprised about Trimble trying to lock you into using their software product as they’re famous for doing this already with their GIS software products. When I bought my Juno ST I was surprised to learn that there was no useable GPS software on the device or the software disc that came with it that was of any real value to me.

So what are the alternatives? There’s actually a LOT of alternatives, many of which are much cheaper than what Trimble and partners are offering their packages for. But it depends a lot on your device too.

If you’re a Nokia user and your phone has GPS capabilities you can go over to the Nokia Sports Tracker web site and get yourself all hooked up over there.

Handheld, standalone GPS users can use Zone Five Software’s SportsTracks Software which will accept a wide variety of devices and all your information is kept on your PC and the software integrates with Google Earth so you can even “fly through” your route in 3D.
TrailGuru seems to still be in the startup stage but they seem to have a lot of potential. You can use their web site by uploading your tracks or use the site in conjunction with their iPhone application that’s available at the iPhone App Store.

For those of you who want to try Geocaching you’ll find that a Basic Membership on the Official Geocaching Web Site is free.

I’m thinking that Trimble should stick with the professional GIS software/hardware market because there’s not a real big chance that they’re going to keep up in the fast moving consumer GPS market with only a few pieces of software and nothing that’s completely their own.

The iPhone is packed with powerful features and I’m going to put myself out there and say that it’s probably great for office people who are are the run and looking to find the closest copy or coffee shop, but it’s not good for me.

I’m the kind of guy who really needs a GPS, if I don’t have one the risk to my person go way up. Out in the harsh desert country, where I do most of my work, if I’m lost and can’t get back to my vehicle or find a source of water I’m pretty much screwed so a GPS is really important to help keep me safe.

Now, if the iPhone was a little more rugged and less pretty I’d be interested in having one of these.

An integrated camera, cell phone and GPS all in one what could make that better?

I know! How about a 2-way radio (independent of the cellular network – not like Nextel) and an ice cream maker just for fun.

So that’s probably not going to happen right. I’m doomed to having to carry around multiple devices to get my job done until someone comes out with a more rugged all in one type of device that’s comparable to the iPhone.

The Garmin Rino 530HCx is a really powerful collaborative GPS device that allows you to communicate with and view other people’s positions in real time.

Since I’m in the mining industry I see the potential in a device such as this. When I’m out in the wild looking for rocks or taking samples it’s sure be nice to have a team of people out there with me that I could communicate with without having to bring a separate radio.

But the Garmin Rino 530HCx goes way farther than voice communication with its’ position reporting function that allows you to report your position to other Rino users in the group. The position reporting feature allows Rino users to report and receive Rino user positions and display them on the handheld GPS device.

Obviously I see the potential for use in the exploration part of the mining industry but I also see how it would be useful in search and rescue operations, group hiking, hunting and many other group based activities.

If you’re used to carrying a radio to communicate with other users while you’re doing activities that require both a GPS and a radio the Rino will allow you to shed a bit of weight by combining these devices.

See larger image GARMIN 010-00564-00 Rino 520HCx 2-Way Radio With GPS/FRS/GMRS (Electronics) List Price: Price Not Listed New From: Check Amazon For Pricing In Stock

If you have a Nuvi 205, Nuvi 705, Nuvi 1200 or a Nuvi 1300 you’re on your way to saving some money.

The Garmin Nuvi EcoRoute software lets you choose between getting to your destination quickly, getting there via the shortest route or getting there saving some money by the most fuel efficient route.

The software will also allow you to keep track of your fuel usage and tell you just how fuel efficient your driving is. So if you’re one of those people that like to race to the next stop light or sign you may be able to break yourself of the habit by watching your fuel consumption using different styles.

When you’re doing a lot of running around or short trips back and forth you can also keep track of how much it costs you to do them! Keep running tabs on your trips and maybe you’ll even start walking once the trips to the corner store costs start adding up.

If you already have a compatible GPS you probably already know about the EcoRoute Web Site.

If you don’t have a GPS yet follow the links to find great prices on the following EcoRoute compatible Garmin GPS Devices:
Garmin nüvi 205 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator
Garmin nüvi 1200 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator
Garmin nüvi 1300 Series 4.3-Inch Widescreen Portable GPS Navigator

Enjoy the Savings!