iPhone ARider HMD Navigation System
October 3, 2009
The navigational capabilities of the iPhone 3GS is constantly in news these days. Firstly, a couple of GPS manufacturers have introduced satnav applications specially for the iPhone. Next, it is TomTom who have designed a car kit for this latest gadget.
Now, is the turn of Ubiquitos Entertainment, which is a Tokyo based company that has introduced something for all the iPhone 3GS lovers. The company has designed an iPhone ARider, a head mounted navigation system for bikers. The iPhone 3GS is equipped with a compass, a GPS receiver, a CPU and a communication unit. For using the device, the user just needs to connect the HMD to the iPhone. The iPhone can be mounted on the helmet instead of holding it in your pocket or a separate pouch.
The iPhone ARider system features a head mounted display, a custom software and an iPhone 3GS attached to the cyclists helmet. The maps can be viewed on the HMD. The iPhone mounted on the helmet changes directions based on the direction of the rider’s face. It is capable of sensing slight movements. Thus if you want to find your way all you need to do is move your head, the map will rotate and point towards the right direction.
The device is not advisable to be used while riding as it may cause accidents. But this is definitely a good unit for pedestrians and cyclists who can stop for a few seconds have a look at the directions and move on. With a camera added through the AR, connected to the rider’s backpack, the device can be used a rear view mirror. Furthermore, the unit can be used to make hands-free calls via Bluetooth. Also the device is capable of connecting to Twitter.
With this unit, the user does not need to constantly have a look at the iPhone screen for routing information as it is displayed on the HMD. Overall, this can be termed as a futuristic portable navigation system.
Let’s have a look at the video that shows the iPhone ARider in action in Tokyo.
Garmin Edge 500 GPS System For Cyclists
September 26, 2009
Cycling has many benefits; it helps maintain an individual’s fitness levels, is a major sports activity, can be a fun-filled adventure sport and finally, it can also act as a great stress buster. Owing to these many benefits attached to cycling sport, more and more people are pursuing it as a serious activity. Cycling is not just for youngsters, it can be engaged in by the old as well due to the numerous health benefits attached to it. It helps in maintaining the blood pressure, lowers the sugar levels and increases the person’s overall stamina. It would be useful if an individual could keep a tab on factors such as calories burned, riding speed, etc. while cycling.
Here is where the Garmin Edge 500 Bikers GPS System comes handy. With its sleek exterior and a weight of just 60 grams, it is a lightweight companion that can be easily mounted on the bike. The device is ready to be used straight out of the box, no calibrations required. The unit brings along a bike mount that can be attached to the stem or handlebar of the bike. It keeps tracking satellites and acquires positioning information while moving via its integrated high sensitivity GPS receiver. Thus at any point of time the user is aware of the current location.
During the ride, the device can measure the rider’s speed, time taken, distance travelled, the amount of calories burned, the altitude, climb, descent etc. All this information is recorded and saved for future reference. An in-built barometric altimeter is capable of precisely pointing out the changes in elevation. The big screen and large buttons provide an easy to use interface. It is powered by a rechargeable lithium-ion battery that can last for up to 18 hours on full charge. So you need not have to worry about the batteries draining out and the device powering off within a few hours into your ride. Its waterproofing characteristics enable it to be used in rainy climatic conditions.
Although it does not include any kind of basemap, the device can store a history of about 1000 laps. The device is capable of notifying the user on reaching the goal. Some versions of the Garmin Edge 500 Portable GPS System include a heart rate monitor and a speed/cadence sensor that tracks the rate of heart beats and uses this heart rate data for advanced calorie computation. The device can be programmed to improve an individual’s fitness levels by setting in a specific heart rate zone to train in. A person’s pace and heart rate can be compared with their previous performances. Garmin has incorporated a “Courses” feature in the unit that enables a user to compare successive rides over a route.
Some other versions of the Garmin Edge 500 work in tandem with third party ANT+ enables power meters that displays the power output in watts. This gadget is able to connect to the Garmin Connect, which is an online community where one can analyse, categorise and share data. One can join a worldwide network of cyclists and outdoor enthusiasts with the help of the Garmin Connect community. The unit is simple to use and operate amking it a good choice for beginners. However, its powerful features and functionalities is sure to make it a favourite amongst the serious biking professionals. Expected to hit the stores by the end of this year, this one is capable of winning the hearts of many serious bikers.
Satellite Navigator for Cyclists “Garmin Edge Series”
August 17, 2009
‘Garmin’, the world’s leading manufacturer of satellite navigators has come out with a satellite navigator for the cyclists. These EDGE series of satellite navigators provide accurate information along with some add-on features such as displaying of cumulative elevation, distance covered etc. It also measures the performance, heart rate and lap distance of the user. Users can now upload the details on their computer and analyse the areas they need to improvise on. Also nicknamed as a cycling computer; it is a serious tool for athletes. This portable Edge series of devices not just allows users to keep track of the route, it also plans routes and motivates users to work harder the next time.
Opportunity comes just once in life, and with the Garmin Edge Series one need not have to miss it at all. By practising with this amazing gizmo users can be prepared to face the race when the need comes. The Garmin Edge models are easy to use, they do not require any kind of calibration. They provide customisable screens and data fields. Garmin has integrated GPS technology in the Edge series. This functionality includes basic navigation plus the option of recording races and rides on a real time basis. Everyone who purchases this GPS device gets Garmin Training Centre software included with the package that acts as a personalised trainer. This software provides them information on their speed, distance, climb, heart rate against various terrains and elevations.
Garmin has used the SiRF Star chipset for integrating with the satellite for faster signal acquisition; thus there is no loss of signal even deep in the woods. It has a wheel speed/cadence sensor that measures the distance travelled. Apart from the wheel sensor the Edge also has an additional sensor to record the distance between each track-point and store the details so as to be retrieved later. It also provides users with a 3D view of the route and displays the exact time user will take to reach their destination. It informs users about all the road-blocks occurring en-route.
The Edge Series is compatible with the Garmin Connect; which is an online community where users can share their data analyse and categorise their information. Garmin has incorporated the Edge series with a Virtual Partner; which is a digital person against whom one can practise and train. It provides the facility of automatically starting a new lap as well as automatically pausing and resuming the timer. It allows for goal oriented work-out sessions that can be customised by users. It can set-up an exercise programme or create a rest interval, also informs users if the pace is changed from a pre-set one. These gizmos allow users to compete against their own previous work-outs in turn mastering it. This is one gadget that is a must have for all the serious athletes out there.
Is It The End For Standalone GPS Devices ???
July 23, 2009
Is it time to say goodbye to the satnav companies such as Garmin, TomTom, Magellan etc. ? The answer to this question depends on a lot of factors; however with more and more mobile handsets incorporating GPS technology, it may be possible that the time has come to nail the coffin for standalone GPS devices.
Let us go back twenty years and remember what it was then. The facilities and comforts available today is just unbelievable as that compared to the yesteryears. The advancements in technology has made many a things a necessity (which was probably a luxury some 10 or 20 years ago). Integrating the GPS technology into a mobile phone is one of the best examples of this factor. Initially cellphones resembled the huge walkie talkies that could be used only for making and receiving calls. However now the mobile phones come in-built with music and video players, cameras and lately GPS systems. GPS facility is offered even by sim-free handsets that have access to 3G network.
Why mobile based-GPS is better
Having a mobile based-GPS service is better as it is all in one unit. This means that one does not have to carry additional unit for navigational or calling purposes, just one GPS enabled mobile phone is enough.
Why Standalone GPS is better
Cheaper : - In this case the price of the unit is a one time investment. You do not have to pay for using the navigational services while the mobile based GPS services carry a monthly fee.
Bigger Screen : - The standalone satellite navigators comes with larger screens providing a better view of the maps and routes. Additionally, it comes with a dashboard mount that holds it securely in one place.
Battery Life : - The standalone GPS units comes with 4-5 hours of battery life. When the mobile phone is used for GPS services, it can seriously drain the battery out, thereby compelling you to recharge it before using the other phone based applications.
Multitasking : - It is not easy to use the GPS services along with phone applications. This is because the mobile phones disable one service when the other is activated. e.g. if a user gets a call while navigating, then the navigational task is disabled. This leads to loss of route data and more time consumption while the device reconnects to the satellite and calculates the route info.
Multiple Use : - As the phone is required for many uses, it is not possible to be used by everyone; i.e. in case you need to lend your car to someone else, you cannot lend them your phone-based GPS device for navigational purposes as you need it for calling and texting purposes. In other words the mobile-based GPS services can be used only by you.
Even though the mobile phone has managed to incorporate a number of services like an in-built MP3 player, a games console, a camera and many other web based applications, there are still standalone units for each of them. This is because the standalone gadget can perform best the function that it was originally designed for. The others are just add-ons that can be used for small time purposes but in the long run, standalone gadgets are definitely at an advantage. Therefore, it is still a long time before these mobile based GPS services can replace the standalone units.
TomTom Rider V2 Satellite Navigator for Wonderful Biking Experience
July 14, 2009
The TomTom Rider V2 is a sat nav that has been designed specifically for bikers. It is tough and rugged and comes with waterproofing abilities to be able to face the tough weather. Its user friendly software has won an award for its ease of use. It just just needs to be mounted on your bike and can be used almost immediately. With its door-to-door navigation and crystal clear 3D graphics display, it is bound to provide you with an excellent biking experience. It includes a sturdy universal RAM mounting hardware that fits on almost any bike. Moreover, this TomTom Rider V2 Bikers Sat Nav System provides clear high quality in-helmet voice instructions that guide you smoothly from A to B.
Although, the TomTom Rider V2 has been designed for bikers, it can also be used in your car by fitting the car mounting kit. Also you need not have to fiddle with the menu options to switch it to in-car navigation mode, the device automatically adjusts itself. It provides precise and accurate turn-by-turn spoken instructions. Also route recalculation is pretty quick. Its multilingual capability provides instructions in 36 different languages, so you can choose one of your choice. The volume of the instructions vary in accordance with your speed. Additionally, one can use the tip feature of the TomTom Rider V2 Portable GPS System to discover all the features and functionalities it can offer.
This TomTom sat nav is integrated with a 20-channel GPS receiver for continuous tracking. Its 32MB internal RAM memory can increased using SD cards. It runs on a processor clocked at 380MHz. All the navigational instructions can be viewed on the device’s 3.5-inch touch screen and glove friendly display. It measures about 113.2 x 96.2 x 52.9 mm in dimensions and is a little heavy at a weight of 310 grams. Powered by a rechargeable lithium-ion battery it has a battery life of approximately 5 hours. It also provides Bluetooth compatibility thereby enabling you to make and receive hands free calls via a compatible Bluetooth headset. Furthermore, it alerts the biker about the upcoming safety cameras, thus preventing one from being caught for speed related issues.
This TomTom Rider V2 Satellite Navigator comes preloaded with the maps of 23 European countries for easy hassle free navigation. Overall, is satellite navigator is the big brother of the TomTom Rider that was initially designed to provide bikers with a navigational assistant. With its user friendly menu options, and smart services, it is indeed a safe and secure GPS device that is can provide a great biking experience. It brings along a Cardo scala-rider wireless Bluetooth compatible headset, a RAM mounting hardware, a home charger, a battery cable, a security strap, TomTom RIDER carry case, pre-Installed SD Card containing latest maps, a CD-ROM including full product manual, a USB cable and a user guide.
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