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gps

The Gizmo Report: the SPOT Satellite Messenger

I've written here before about emergency locators, those gizmos that can help rescuers find you if you become lost in the wilderness.

The tragic death of CNET's own James Kim and the disappearances of Microsoft's Jim Gray and famed adventurer Steve Fossett have convinced me that anyone who travels outside populated areas ought to carry one of these devices.

Following that earlier post, I was contacted by SPOT Inc., makers of the SPOT Satellite Messenger, which began shipping through major outdoor retailers this fall. They offered me a SPOT messenger for review, and I happily accepted. It … Read more

Dept. of Missing the point: The HP iPaq Travel Companion 310

I hope and expect that the majority of dash-top GPS products for cars that are released in 2008 will have one new feature that's missing from most 2007 and earlier models: A way to preprogram waypoints and routes via a Web site, and then send that information to the device. From Google Maps you can already send locations to certain BMW and Mercedes cars and some TomTom navigation units, and this is one of the cool new features we're anticipating in the upcoming Dash Navigation product.

But let's hope that other GPS manufacturers don't follow the … Read more

Pharos brings GPS to digital cameras

The official kickoff to CES 2008 is still a few days away, but some companies are creating preshow buzz by making some early announcements, including Pharos. This morning the GPS manufacturer unveiled Pharos Trips & Pics, a geo-logger that brings GPS capabilities to your digital camera. Available later this month for $89.95, the kit includes a Pharos iGPS-500 receiver and a pocket-size battery unit that you take with you on your trip, allowing you to record such details as time, location, heading, and speed. You'll also be able to define how often you want the receiver to log … Read more

A brief guide to getting the goods on cheating spouses

High-tech can protect soldiers in the field, but it hasn't been much use against that age-old threat on the home front; and that's Jody, the 4-F opportunist of yore, who's busy bird-doggin' Snuffy's wife while he's 7000 miles away dodging RPGs.

Time was, the cuckold only began to suspect something amiss when he arrived home to find an off brand butt in the car ashtray or a different flavor of beer in the fridge. No more. Here are a few suggestions on how to keep an eye on things while the cat's away.

The … Read more

Return of the $99 GPS

If you're a regular Cheapskate visitor (and my deep thanks if you are), you may recall the $99 GPS from earlier this month. It sold out fast, but now you have a second chance: The Holux GPSmile 52 Plus (known in some quarters as the GPSmile 53A) is available now from eCost for $99 (after a $35 mail-in rebate).

The GPSmile 52 Plus includes a 3.5-inch touchscreen, preloaded maps, a SirfstarIII chipset, and a windshield mount. You can even use it as an MP3 and video player (though I have to ask: Does anyone actually use those features?). … Read more

CES 2008: Car tech and GPS

The 2008 International Consumer Electronics Show is the first one to dedicate an entire hall to automotive-related tech. The convergence of in-car entertainment, communications, and information promises to continue in 2008 with the release of whole range of in-dash and portable device capable of providing GPS navigation and playing multiple media formats.

For portable navigation systems, the market is as hot as ever, helped in part by dropping prices and increasingly feature-rich devices. We reviewed quite a number of handheld navigation devices in 2007, and we've found that when it comes to the core navigation functions they all offer … Read more

Dash Express now available for preorder

It's been well over a year since Dash Navigation unveiled its Internet-connected GPS device, and after months of beta testing, we're finally one step closer to actually seeing the Dash Express navigation system hit the streets. Today, the company announced that it's taking preorders for the Dash Express from its Web site, carrying a price tag of $599.99 that includes a complimentary three-month subscription to the Dash Service. Afterward you can choose from several plans to continue the service: two-year plan at $9.99 per month; one-year plan at $10.99 per month; or month-to-month at $… Read more

Stalk your kids, Facebook friends with Whereboutz

Whereboutz is a new service powered by TeleNav that lets you announce your location for others to see, while mapping it to a geographical location. The service has two ways in the door, both as a Java app for phones that can run J2ME, as well as a Facebook application that accomplishes a similar feat without any sort of installation. Once linked up to your Facebook account, the mobile app will show you any of your friends' status updates on a map, as long as they're posting through Whereboutz (regular old status messages need not apply). You can also … Read more

Find your way to Point B with $129.99 GPS

The $99.99 Pocket Loox GPS I highlighted Friday sold out so fast, I spent a good part of the weekend trolling for a similarly good deal. (That's how much I love you.) Mission accomplished: The Holux GPSmile52 sweetens the pot with its 3.5-inch touchscreen, making it a better car companion. That extra screen estate comes cheap: The GPSmile is available now for $129.99 (after a $10 mail-in rebate).

The specs look pretty solid, including the all-important preloaded maps and SirfstarIII chipset. Plus, a little Google searching revealed that it's possible to unlock this unit and install different GPS software (… Read more