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According to new PND data, Garmin was the #1 GPS brand in the United States in 2007, and by a pretty comfy margin -- taking 47% of the total GPS market. TomTom ranked a distant second place with just 19 percent market share, followed closely by Magellan in third place.
Nothing says "I love you" quite like a spanking new GPS to adorn mom's dashboard. It's not too late to pick up a GPS, but which one is right for her?
According to the FBI's National Crime Information Center (NCIC), 836,131 persons were reported missing in 2006. About 80% of those were juveniles (persons under 18 years of age), the overwhelming majority of which were girls. While most missing persons return home safely, that statistic shows that 2,290 times per day, parents or primary care givers felt the disappearance was serious enough to warrant calling law enforcement. Even more troubling, the number of missing persons reported to law enforcement has increased almost 500% in the past 20 years.
What if, instead of sitting at home in a terrified panic that harm has come to your child, you could instantly locate him or her on a map, pinpointing their exact whereabouts? That's the promise behind a new wave of GPS and RF (Radio Frequency) tracking devices aimed at helping parents keep electronic tabs on their children. I've spent the last few months testing a number of these products at length, sorting out the good from the bad.
The bottom line? Hollywood-style GPS tracking still eludes us, but there are some good products available that will indeed help parents keep track of AWOL kids. There's also some duds out there that either underperformed or simply don't work at all. Read on for the full review, including which products I recommend, and which ones you should avoid.
Continue reading "The Ultimate GPS Child Tracking Buyer's Guide" »
Aimed at helping parents answer the terrifying question, "where's my child?", Amber Alert GPS is a relatively inexpensive solution that can track indoors and out, has an SOS button to call for help, supports Geo-Fencing, and can send speed alerts (ie. send an alert if my kid is driving faster than 80 MPH) -- all for under $200.
Available in custom sizes for over 2,000 devices, invisibleSHIELD sells full body protection kits for everything from Apple's MacBook Air to GPS units to digital cameras. I tested invisibleSHIELD and have to admit I'm a believer.
Originally designed to protect high-speed helicopter blades from dust, dirt and debris, invisibleSHIELD is a thin, polyurethane film that doesn't scratch, adds no bulk to the device, doesn't interfere with GPS signal reception, uses no adhesive, and can easily be removed at any time. Read on for the full review and pricing details.
Continue reading "InvisibleSHIELD Keeps Your GPS (and Other Gadgets) Looking Like New" »
A widescreen display, preloaded maps, bluetooth, an FM transmitter, hands-free calling, and Enhanced MSN Direct service put Garmin's new nuvi 780 squarely into the premium GPS category. Sure, other GPS manufacturers offer similar features on some of their models, but unlike many competitors, the nuvi 780 manages to integrate a bevy of sophisticated features while still maintaining reliability and ease of use.
Garmin's Map Update 2009 for North America is out, and available for about $65. Garmin's website still says the update is due out later this month, but it looks like a number of retailers (including Amazon
The 2009 update is valid for all Garmin nuvi series, most StreetPilot models, and Zumo units. Read on for all the details, including what's changed in the new maps.
I've been reviewing GPS tracking devices for the past few months, but WorldTracker's PLD (Personal Locator Device) feature list made me sit up and take notice. This quad mode GPS tracker is capable of two weeks of continuous GPS tracking on a single battery charge, works worldwide with both GPRS/SMS, can be used to place a phone call to a pre-programmed number, and even has an eavesdropping mode that lets you listen in on what's going on around the device.
All that plus some pretty stunning mapping and reporting features, and you've got one powerful GPS tracking device.
Continue reading "WorldTracker PLD (Personal Locator Device) GPS Tracker Review" »
Details are still sketchy, but I'm getting an increased number of reports that Garmin nuvi 200 GPS units are unable to function in some Volvo, Nissan, and Toyota vehicles. From the sounds of things, the issue might be related to vehicles that have wires embedded in the windshield, preventing the GPS from getting adequate reception to function.
We've already heard of several reports from 2008 Toyota Camry and 2008 Toyota Highlander Limited owners. If you own a Garmin nuvi 200 series GPS and the unit won't work in your car, we want to hear from you -- post a comment and we'll get do some investigating.
Don't let GPS Snitch's curiously urban styling fool you, this real-time GPS tracking system is a serious device that offers up to 7 days of battery life between charges, has a built-in motion sensor, can send you an alert if your car moves, and can be used hidden virtually anywhere in your car.
Available in the US and Canada for $399, GPS Snitch uses a combination of GPS and cellular technologies to provide real-time tracking. Like other real-time trackers, GPS Snitch requires a monthly service fee of $14.95 - $25.99 per month, depending on the usage plan you choose. How does GPS Snitch stack up against the competition? Is it worth the money? And is it better than competing product Zoombak? Read on
