It looks like we’ll see fewer personal navigation devices (PND), but more devices with built-in navigation. A report from ABI Research finds that while PND sales will go down over the next few years, the market will continue to grow as navigation in phones, watches and eyewear take hold. Continue reading Trend Growing Toward GPS-Enabled Watches and Eyewear
Tag: GPS
Oakley Gets Some Air(wave)
Recon Instruments has had various data transmitted directly to the lens of its ski goggles for a while now, but beginning soon Oakley is looking to get in the game with its Airwave goggles. These will feature a heads-up display that was developed by Recon Instruments – so we know what to expect – and users can expect integrated GPS< Bluetooth and a variety of onboard sensors.
Snowboarders and skiers will be able to view jump analytics, pinpoint their location on a map, and even see information such as distance traveled, altitude, speed and vertical descent. The Airwaves can be paired with a smartphone to take incoming calls and see text messages, and stream music from Bluetooth-enabled devices. Video after the jump
Recon Instruments Brings GPS Goggles to the Sky
When skydiving a whole new view of the world is opened up, so why would someone want to look at a computer screen? That’s actually not such a bad question, especially as some data could be considered crucial such as altitude for one. Now Recon Instruments, which has introduced a number of GPS-based ski goggles that provide real-time information such as speed, have re-purposed its technology for those who like the thrill of skydiving, BASE jumping and wingsuit flying.
The company announced its new Flight HUD system, which is a goggle-mounted heads-up display that uses a variety of sensors including GPS, altimeter and accelerometer to calculate and display forward speed, glide ratio and the ever important altitude. What makes this really stand out is that with the flip of a switch these same googles can be used for skiing. Perhaps this is something a superspy such as James Bond might appreciate. Video after the jump
eXplorist GPS for Hunters
Hunting season is here and heading to the great outdoors shouldn’t mean wandering aimless in the woods. To help hunters on their way Magellan has released the eXplorist Hunter GPS Edition with TRAX Hunting maps by Kirsch’s Outdoor Products – and is available for both eXplorist 310 and 510 rugged waterproof handheld GPS receivers. Each unit comes with the user’s choice of one U.S. state from the TRAX hunting maps.
The Magellan eXplorist 310 Hunter Edition includes a lightweight Magellan eXplorist 310 outdoor handheld GPS with a 2.2-inch color screen, rich graphics and a simple user interface. The Magellan eXplorist 510 Hunter Edition features a three-inch WQVGA transflective touch screen offering a high-contrast daylight-readable display, along with a built-in 3.2 megapixel camera for geotagged photos and recording videos, plus a microphone and speaker for voice notes while out in the wilds – after all who needs to bring a notebook hunting!
TRAX maps provide real-time mapping data for hunting and other outdoor activities, including BLM, PLOTS and topographic data. The maps are also available to owners of eXplorist 310, 510, 610 and 710 GPS devices.
The Magellan eXplorist Hunter Editions are available now from for $329.99 (eXplorist 510 Hunter Edition) and $229.99 (eXplorist 310 Hunter Edition).
Magellan Specialty Maps Official Website
Interbike 2012: Timex Keeps Ticking with 2.0 Cycling Computer
Timex – the company know to take a licking and keep on ticking – was back at Interbike last week with its Cycle Trainer 2.0 GPS Bike Computer, which includes five screens of real-time cycling data provided by GPS. It can track speed, distance and grade all in real time, while also providing barometric altimeter readings and temperature. Continue reading Interbike 2012: Timex Keeps Ticking with 2.0 Cycling Computer
Contour Doubles Down
While Sony and JVC have entered the rugged action camera market this year, and GoPro seems to be going towards and IPO, Contour Inc. has essentially doubled-down by announced its next-generation action camera, fitting called the Contour+2. The wearable camera will be available this fall for $399.
The form factor hasn’t been changed much, but that’s because there was really nothing wrong with it in the first place. Clearly Contour knows that change for changes sake isn’t the way to go. But while it may look the same this time around it offers a new shooting mode of 120 frames per second in 480p resolution. This isn’t close to HD by that ultra-high frame rate will be ideal for anyone who looks to do a “super slow motion” cut. The company has promised the “highest quality action video, ever.” Seeing will surely be believing. Video after the jump
Garmin Run Time
There are sports watches that do everything – and more. But for those who just pound the pavement while running Garmin has you covered with the GPS-enabled Forerunner 10. It is designed to provide runners with the most essential data, including how far you ran and how fast you ran it, but it can also keep track of personal bests and records so you can know if you’re improving. Other features include a virtual pacer to allow you to compare current running speed to that of the optimum speed to meet a particular goal.
The watch doesn’t include a lot of more advanced functionality, but the $129 price point reflects this fact. It is designed – as Garmin notes – “for runners who want to simply lace up their shoes, push one button and just run.”
Simple sometimes is what wins the race. Video and press release after the jump
Polar Leads the Way With Integrated GPS
Heart rate monitors are great for keeping track of heart rate (obviously), time and calories burned. Some have added GPS as an add-on function, but now Polar takes it a step further by offering fully integrated GPS within the device. The Polar RC3 GPS is aimed at runners and cyclists who want a light weight heart rate monitor.
The water resister (IPX7) device offer GPS functionality for distance and speed recording without the need for an extra sensor. It features route mapping and a “back to start” option so you don’t need about worrying about how to get back home! Continue reading Polar Leads the Way With Integrated GPS
Ecoxpower Brings the Gear
We’ve seen a new trend this year with bicycle hub-attachments that power lights and more. Earlier this month we noted the BikeCharge Dynamo and now rugged outdoor and waterproof lifestyle product maker Ecoxgear by Grace Digital has introduced the Ecoxpower pedal powered headlight and smartphone charger.
This nifty gizmo attaches to most standard and oversized hubs, which is what the Dynamo and other devices do, but the Ecoxpower takes it a step further by providing handlebar mounted, water-resistant yet touch-screen compatible phone/GPS case. This solves the problem of worrying about that expensive device while riding home in the rain. Continue reading Ecoxpower Brings the Gear
Magellan Says Take a Hike
We’ve seen Magellan really go the distance this year with its eXplorist GPS receivers. These are rugged, waterproof and of course handheld. The fishing based ones cast off earlier this summer and now Magellan has said to take a hike.
The company announced its TOPO! Special Editions, which provide hikers with a best-in-class total navigation solution, offering National Geographic’s TOPO! maps with up to USGS 1:100,000-scaled topography for planning and visualizing long trips, while USGS 1:24,00-scale topography is also provided for fine detail.
The eXplorist 310 TOPO! Edition includes an eXplorist 310 GPS device with a 2.2-inch color screen with rich graphics and a simple user interface; while the eXplorist 510 TOPO! Edition includes an eXplorist 510 GPS device (right) with a built-in camera, microphone and a 3-inch color touchscreen. Both TOPO! Editions include one-year of unlimited map downloads that never expire once downloaded. The Magellan eXplorist TOPO! Editions will be available in August for an MSRP of $199.99 (eXplorist 310 TOPO! Edition) and $299.99 (eXplorist 510 TOPO! Edition).
Garmin’s fēnix Outdoor Watch Goes Off Trail
GPS is great, but when you’re on a road you typically still have an idea of your location. For trails and other outdoors activities, if the GPS stops marking when you step off the trail, it’s useless. Garmin just released its fēnix Outdoor Watch, which still tracks and directs adventurers, even when they’re off the beaten path. Continue reading Garmin’s fēnix Outdoor Watch Goes Off Trail
Magellan eXplorist Helps Find The Fish
We reported about the Magellan Fishing Hot Spots Pro, a comprehensive suite of approximately 4,000 U.S. lakes with detailed shorelines and depth contours. Now Magellan have announced its Angler Editions for Total Fishing Solution last month, including the new Magellan eXplorist 510 Pro Angler Edition.
It will feature inland coastal waters maps and data, and is designed with a rugged, waterproof form factor that is ready to go fishing. Costal data includes information on 5-foot contours, tides, currents, wrecks, port plans, marsh areas, and marine services.
All Fishing Hot Spots content are pre-loaded on a single MicroSD card that is included with the eXplorist Pro Angler Edition.
You can cast off in August!
Magellan Gets Active and Switch’s Up
The company that has made its business in helping people find their way is now looking at helping users find their way to better fitness. This week Magellan announced its new Magellan Active Website for fitness activity tracking. And to help users get there the company has released its new Switch and Switch Up crossover GPS watches.
Magellan Active’s Dashboard is designed to help multisport athletes from a single location for viewing all of their performance activities. Users are provided with total control of data and given the ability to quickly search through all of their activities with a range of filters. Activity analysis is easy with summaries, lap comparisons and easy-to-read maps and charts. Multisport athletes can further record each segment on their Switch GPS watch, upload the data to Magellan Active, and then view all of the segments with a single view. This ‘True Multisport’ experience presents multisport activities naturally with a single view of the entire activity and the ability to drill into each segment such as swimming, biking, running and transitions. Continue reading Magellan Gets Active and Switch’s Up