Archive for the 'GPS' Category

iPhone Google Earth

Published
by
Modern Hiker
on October 29, 2008
in GPS, Web Sites and Apps and maps
. 1 Comment

A few weeks ago, I welcomed an iPhone into my life. Long story short, it’s been mostly wonderful.

I’d read about a few trail specific applications for the Jesus Phone, and since many of them were free, I grabbed them to try them out — but I honestly don’t know what they’re good for. Anyone who hikes who wants GPS is going to have an actual GPS unit, which is far more accurate, more battery-efficient, and infinitely more droppable than the iPhone is ever going to be.

I’ll keep looking around, and if anyone’s got a suggestion or an app they really dig, leave it in the comments for me — but this week, Google unleashed a brand spankin’ new iPhone version of Google Earth.

The same usefulness arguments apply here — but this is notable in that it is essentially the complete desktop version of Google Earth — only it runs on your phone. And y’all know how much I love Google Earth.

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And if that weren’t enough for you, the touch interface is an INCREDIBLE way to interact with this program. Dragging your fingers across the screen is an intuitive and effective way to navigate the world, and tilting the phone — while still a bit wonky right now — still works well to view areas in 3-D. I’m sure Google will have some good updates to smooth out the wrinkles in the next few weeks.

Check out this video of the program in action, then go fire up your App Store and give it a try yourself. It’s free!

New GPS Shoes On The Way

Published
by
Modern Hiker
on September 28, 2008
in GPS, Gadgets and Gear and maps
. 2 Comments

nullNow that costs are coming down, will Personal Locator Beacons be the hot new accessory everyone’s got to have on everything they own?

In a bid to potentially become the new L.A. Lights, the Isaac Daniel Company is putting GPS tracking devices in just about everything, due to attack your store shelves sometime around Thanksgiving ‘08. The company has a history of tracking-device shoes for finding lost kids, as well as in medical and law-enforcement, and now they’re looking to broaden their horizons.

The shoe pictured above is their Hill model, aimed at hikers. They’re also rolling out a hunters’ boot and on-the-town shoe, although I honestly don’t know how useful that would be.

Their site’s shop is still under construction, but an article about a medical model from last year quotes sneakers at $335 a pair, with a $25 per month subscription fee — which is pretty outlandish, considering the SPOT tracker is only $169, with subscriptions of $99 a year ($150 with google maps tracking).

Then again, the SPOT probably won’t get you into a club.

Check out their web site for more info, and to see if anything else is available yet. And turn down your speakers. There’s a Good Morning America clip that starts blasting as soon as you open the page.

I Finally Got One

Published
by
Modern Hiker
on September 9, 2008
in GPS, Gadgets and Gear and hiking
. 0 Comments

nullSo, after Backpacker chronicled three separate incidents involving personal locator beacons (2 of which were successful), I finally decided to drop the cash to buy a Spot Satellite Messenger for myself.

I will say, the setup was very intuitive and painless, and the test messages to cell phones and emails worked out perfectly.

Hopefully, that is all I will ever have to use it for.

I’ll probably test out the GPS data and online interface for sending the “OK” signal on my next trip, though.

Hometown Mountain in the News

Published
by
Modern Hiker
on August 20, 2008
in GPS, hiking and in the media
. 1 Comment

nullWhen I saw the phrase “Connecticut Hikers” on my Hiker Hell feed this morning, I absolutely had to click-through. Even though I’ve been in California for over 5 years, now, I still like to keep tabs on my old Nutmeg State stomping grounds.

When I read that the lost hikers were on Ragged Mountain, I realized this story was not only in my old state, but actually in my hometown! Score one for Berlin, Connecticut — Home of the Yankee Peddler.

Ragged Mountain isn’t big by any standards, but it is a bit isolated from the rest of civilization in the area. It’s no Denali, but I could see how someone might get lost up there if they were unprepared. Thankfully, the two lost hikers were rescued without any problem, and everyone probably learned a valuable lesson.

Now I wonder if they were anyone I know …

Garmin 24k Map Update

Published
by
Modern Hiker
on July 23, 2008
in GPS, Gadgets and Gear, Technology and maps
. 0 Comments

nullReader Bruce was poking around a post I did on free Garmin-compatible map alternatives from a while back. In the post, I wrote that I hadn’t bought any MapSource maps for my GPS unit for three reasons: 1. You can’t transfer maps from a National Geographic Topo program onto the Garmin units and I HATE closed systems. 2. Hiker-friendly 24k resolution for Garmins was limited to National Parks and recreation areas, and 3. They’re expensive ways to get information that is essentially free to the public … given a reliable printer and some free time.

What can I say? I’m a New Englander. I hate spending money.

Bruce was similarly frustrated — and since the free options GPS Tracklog rounded up have made little progress in making more California based maps, it appears we’re up a certain scatalogically named creek without a paddle … or map.

Garmin has been working on solving one of those problems, and may have convinced me to drop 99 bucks on some maps — because they’ve finally started releasing regional 24k resolution map packs.

Right now, they have one pack for California and Nevada, and another for Washington and Oregon, available only on MicroSD cards. There are no announced planned release dates for further packs, but we can assume (and hope) they get here quickly.

Garmin Oregon First Look

Published
by
Modern Hiker
on July 17, 2008
in GPS and Gadgets and Gear
. 0 Comments

nullIn other hey-that-expensive-gadget-I-just-bought-is-now-obsolete news, GPS Tracklog got their hands on the New Hotness that is the Garmin Oregon.

They only had time to take it on a quick bike ride with an older Garmin 60CSx to compare accuracy, as well as fool around with the touch screen for a little bit.

Preliminary impressions look good — although it appears to still have the screen brightness problems that bothered me about the Colorado. This new unit may be worth it for vastly improved text entry alone, though.

Read the first impressions at GPS Tracklog.

New Garmin Leaked?

Published
by
Modern Hiker
on July 10, 2008
in GPS, Gadgets and Gear and Technology
. 0 Comments

nullA few days ago, GPS Tracklog — my favorite site for keeping up on what’s new in the satellite-based locationing world — got some info and links to a buy.com page listing the as-of-then unheard of Garmin Oregon unit, the heir apparent to their Colorado Series.

No images of the theoretical unit, but according to the posted specs, it looks to be a smaller, lighter version of the Colorado, with the same-sized screen. Oh, and the screen is supposed to be a touch screen. iPhone, eat your heart out.

Personally, I don’t know how effective a touch screen is going to be on a unit that’s probably going to get banged up and knocked around pretty regularly, but whatever. Maybe it’ll drop the price on those Colorados to something those of us not in the top tax brackets can afford.

Full copy of the buy.com page follows:

GARMIN OREGON 400C Hand Held Receiver North America. Garmin International is pleased to announce Oregon; the newest member of the premium handheld line. This rugged unit with a high sensitivity GPS receiver offers innovative features such as a sunlight readable touchscreen for easy operation, as well as the ability to exchange waypoints, tracks, routes and geocaches wirelessly between units. In addition, you can customize your Oregon with five different user profiles: automotive, marine, recreation, fitness or geocache. The microSD card makes it simple to load optional maps for different types of adventures. The Oregons detailed mapping and high resolution color display enhance any outdoor adventure, whether on land or water.

Features
3.0 in Hand Held GPS Receiver with U.S. Costal Charts Coverage-High Sensitivity GPS Receiver for Improved Performance and Reception-Wireless Exchange of User Routes Tracks Waypoints Geocaches and Images-Electronic Compass Barometric Altimeter Temperature Sensor-MicroSD Card Slot for Optional Mapping and Data Storage-Built In 3D Basemap / 3D Elevation View

Tech Specs
GARMIN OREGON 400C Hand Held Receiver North America

Saltwater mariners will love the preloaded detailed BlueChart g2 coverage for the coastal U.S. and the Bahamas in the 400c. The chart detail includes shoreline, depth contours, navaids and port plans.

High sensitivity GPS receiver for improved performance and reception

Easy to use, touchscreen interface

microSD card slot for optional mapping and data storage

Electronic compass, barometric altimeter, temperature sensor

Built in 3D Basemap /Digital Elevation Model

3D elevation view

Wireless exchange of user routes, tracks, waypoints, geocaches and images

Unit dimensions: 4.5 in x 2.3 in x 1.4 in

Display size: 3 in color, touch screen

Pixels / H x W: 240 x 400

Waterproof standard: IEC 60529 IPX7

Battery type: two high capacity or lithium ion AA batteries

Weight: 6.8 oz with batteries

Part Number: 010-00697-03

Best GPS Voice Ever

Published
by
Modern Hiker
on July 3, 2008
in GPS and Geek Stuff
. 0 Comments

nullOwners of driving GPS units currently have the ability to choose from a variety of voices for their turn-by-turn instructions. During a recent trip with a car rental, I became quite attached to our car’s British school marm voice, even though the differences between her and her American and Australian counterparts were subtle at best. Now I’ve finally got a voice that speaks to me: GLaGPS.

Long-time readers of the site know the original tagline of Modern Hiker was “60% Geek, 40% Granola” — and I wasn’t kiddin’. I’ve enjoyed the occasional video game since my first Atari in elementary school, and one of my all-time favorites is last year’s Portal – a (mostly) nonviolent first-person physics puzzler. It was short but impeccably designed and brilliantly written, with some of the most darkly comic dialogue I’ve ever heard in a game.

The main antagonist is a giant, self-aware computer called GLaDOS, who taunts the player and goes steadily more insane as the game progresses. Now her murderous voice can tell you the fastest way to your local REI!

Currently, it’s available as an open-source download for the Garmin Nuvi (and a few other Garmin models) on the developer’s page. It’s not covered by any sort of warranty, and it may not be able to pronounce all street names yet, but it is guaranteed to please any nerds you end up driving around with.

If you decide to add this psychotic OS to your Nuvi, do the guy a solid and donate a few bucks.

Via BoingBoing Gadgets

Spotty SPOTs

Published
by
Modern Hiker
on June 19, 2008
in GPS, Gadgets and Gear and hiking
. 0 Comments

nullIf you’re like me, you’ve been thinking about picking up one of those
SPOT Emergency Beacons. They’re more versatile, reusable, and way cheaper than other satellite beacons on the market, and have gotten rave reviews from everyone who’s tested one out.

But there’s one problem — no one’s ever had to use them in an actual emergency yet. Or at least, until now.

The fine folks at Backpacker.com have posted a very well-written, real-life account of an emergency distress call from the slopes of Mount McKinley. It’s a great read, and highlights some of the unit’s shortcomings when needed out on the trail.

I’m still planning on buying one this year — but maybe I’ll wait a bit to see if they’re planning on doing any sort of redesigns or updates. Anyone out there have ‘em? And what do you think?

via Two-Heel Drive.

Garmin Colorado Review

Published
by
Modern Hiker
on March 26, 2008
in GPS, Video and product reviews
. 6 Comments

On Easter, I took a short hike into Bear Canyon. The purpose was two-fold: 1). to get into some of that icy water on a hot day 2). to take a fancy new Garmin Colorado 400t GPS unit onto the trail for a short test.

I clipped my trusty eTrex Legend Cx onto its normal position on my left shoulder, and used a carabiner included with the Colorado packaging to attach the newer unit to my right shoulder. I wanted to compare the two units’ receptions and interfaces … and I wanted to go onto the trail knowing I looked like a total dork.

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Continue reading ‘Garmin Colorado Review’