Gadgets Blog » GPS

Cool Items on a Budget: Car Electronics!

Dan Evans — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 17:57:43 +0000

I’d like to start today’s article by shamelessly bragging about my winter break from school, which actually has some bearing on today’s topic. I’m from Missoula, Montana. When fall started, I drove from Montana to Los Angeles for college. This wasn’t as bad as it seems, as there was a week-long layover in Lake Tahoe. However, for winter break, I decided it was time to embark upon the ever-alluring college road trip, driving up the Pacific Coast Highway, to Sacramento, to Eugene, to Portland, to Seattle, and finally home. It was a remarkable week of travel, with the only damper coming two weeks later when I had to make the return trip. It was a great trip, and I was able to spend a lot of time exploring the west coast, bonding with Interstate 5, and hanging out in my car.

For that third reason, I feel incredibly qualified to write about some great car electronics that can improve the quality of your vehicle. If you’ve got a long trip in your future, or if you have a regular commute, a few additions to your automobile can greatly improve the use you get out of it. Here are three great kinds of electronics for your car:

Car Speakers:
While many cars on the market already have serviceable audio systems installed, there are always upgrades available if you find your stock system lacking in volume or quality. Most of these speakers require professional installation, making them more expensive than their price tag would indicate. If you have an older model, purchasing a stereo upgrade can be great for your commute. I almost always listen to music while in the car, and it’s a great way to relieve stress while on the road and pass the time on long trips. Some speaker systems are affordable, allowing you to expand your car audio easily. Check out this Pioneer speaker componant package for a great starting point.

GPS Navigation:
If you live in a big city, one of these units can be a great asset. While companies like Garmin and Tom Tom make devices that have many high end features (such as business directories built into the device), a less expensive model will still be a great asset. By having step by step directions to virtually any destination, it can take much of the stress out of driving to a new locale, or driving in a new city. Be forewarned, though, that some units suffer from confusing menu organization, making them downright dangerous to operate while driving. Always exercise caution, and never operate one while in motion. A great deal can be found on some of the entry-level models in the Garmin StreetPilot series.

Car DVD systems:
These are especially great if you have younger children, as they ease some of the boredom that comes on long car trips. A good DVD system for your car will have several essential features. First of all, make sure the screen is a decent size, something that can be stared at for a long period of time without straining your eyes. Also, make sure you’re able to plug headphones into the device, so that the sound from the DVD doesn’t have to be played through your car audio system. As with the GPS devices, it goes without saying that you (as the driver) shouldn’t be watching such a gadget while actually driving the car, save that for your kids! This in-dash Pyle screen has some great features at an affordable price, and is a great starting point!

Garmin Nuvi 1390t: GPS Gadget

Dan Evans — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 15:00:32 +0000

One really has to pity the civil engineers in charge of making modern American cities traffic-efficient. Its a difficult, if not impossible task, and regardless of the outcome, people will be frustrated. Not even the keenest of city planning can make up for the oppressive onslaught of cars that hit the road come Monday morning. The result can be a disorienting traffic jam, which is bad enough for locals but can be a downright nightmare for tourists or those unfamiliar with the city. When I moved from sleepy Missoula, Montana to Los Angeles, California for college, the difference in driving “across town” was like night and day. But today’s gadget of the week has made my driving experience excellent recently, and it has the capability to do the very same for yours.

Garmin arguably makes some of the best GPS navigation units, and the Nuvi 1390t is in my opinion, the best of their bunch. With an innovative touch-screen interface, extensive battery life, and an extensive host of additional features, it has the ability to get you where you need to go, and fast.

The basic premise of a GPS navigation unit is simple: plug in a destination, and the GPS uplink provides you with maps and directions to reach your destination. Obviously though, a high-end unit like the 1390t has a host of additional features. First and foremost, there are a number of ways you can locate your destination. If you know the address by memory, simply punch it into the device on the easy-to-use touchscreen and you’re on your way.

This is where the device has some tricks up its sleeve. If you’re not sure of the address, you can search for the location by a variety of criteria. While using the device in the Los Angeles area, a search of an In-N-Out Burger brings up the locations of the nearest burger stands (much like a search on Google Maps would do). However, say if you’re craving a burger, but are unsure of what type, the Nuvi 1390t has categories for browsing. It’s a great asset on road trips, if you’re looking for a place to eat but are unsure of any particular location.

There are also some features especially handy for tourists. Other categories for browsing are filled with gas stations, lodging, emergency services, and even points of interest. While using the device, the points of interest feature had some great suggestions, with everything from hiking trails to football stadiums programmed in the device. There were some discrepancies when searching for local businesses that had shut down. Overall, the device performed excellently while searching for a variety of locales.

The Garmin Nuvi 1390t is a great choice for a GPS unit, aside from a few annoyances. Once or twice during testing, the device shut off for no reason. Additionally, the Nuvi sometimes suggests routes that require you to venture off the beaten path under the guise that they are more time-efficient. While this can be a great feature for the highly impatient, leaving the freeways to drive on unfamiliar streets can be disorienting and at times downright annoying. Other than these two minor complaints, the device is one of the best available GPS units on the market, and at a price of $239.00, it is a great deal.

Check out Garmin Nuvi 1390 deals at Smarter.

Amber Alert GPS Lets You Locate Your Child’s Movements and Much More

gadgets — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 19:54:40 +0000

Amber Alert GPS is a compact GPS device used to track the movement of your child. At just 1.77″x1.68″x.78″ in size, when you slip the GPS into your child’s backpack or any other item that always goes with the child, you can track his/her location for up to 24 hours. You will be able to call the GPS to get a text message of the location and view it on a map in your mobile or computer.

The pricing for Amber Alert GPS is $379. There is an additional service agreement that must be purchased and is available right now only in the United States and Canada. The service charges vary from $9.99/month to $49.99/month. Depending on the service used, you get much more than just location tracking. You can get the history on all the places the unit has visited. You can also set a speed or boundary limit on the device and get a text or email alert any time your teen is traveling faster than your defined limit or your child is outside his/her normal parameters. Or get an alert when your child reaches school or a play date’s house. A voice monitoring feature lets you “listen-in” to your child’s conversations for up to 30 minutes. Your child could alert you by pressing an SOS button in case of any emergency and through the voice service; you can immediately access the situation. But it must be remembered that all this information gets transferred only if the GPS unit is within reception range of a cell tower as the GPS uses cell phone signals to communicate.

Sure the Amber alert GPS is a great tool for those of us with kids, but many of us are probably hesitant to spend on the monthly service after doling out almost $400 for the gadget alone. Thankfully the company is currently having a promotional “while supplies last” price of $119 for the holidays. So hurry over to https://www.amberalertgps.com/products/promo/holiday_special/ for details. If your little one has a medical condition that worries you throughout the day or you wait nervously for your teen to return back home everyday, it could buy you a whole lot of peace knowing you have better control over the situation.

GPS Products You Should Try

colleen — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 00:41:19 +0000

What do you need to get home safely? You need all the safety protections, plus the correct directions to get you from A to B. To do that, sometimes you need a device that’s a little smarter than the print out from the Internet or your memory. You need a GPS system.

The GPS market is flooded with gizmos and gadgets to get you exactly where you want to be. Here are a couple of the top GPS products for you to test:

Garmin Foretrex 201 Portable Navigator : $107.29

AVIC-S1 GPS from ReFurbDepot.com: $ 129.95

Shop for more affordable GPS systems.

GPS Deal: Garmin GPSMAP 478 Portable Navigator

gadgets — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 21:20:50 +0000

From $570.95

On land or sea, the Garmin GPSMAP 478 Portable Navigator can guide you in your adventures.

It comes preloaded with U.S. marine charts with BlueChart G2 technology for smoother display viewing, City Navigator NT street maps for North America and features coverage of U.S. coastal areas including Alaska and Hawaii. A database with over 6 million points of interest is also included, making it convenient to find hotels, restaurants, gas stations, tourist attractions and more on the high-resolution 3.8-inch 256-color TFT display.

Truly amphibious, the Garmin GPSMAP 478 is at home on the water or in the car. The system includes a marine mount and auto kit for convenient transfer from car to boat and back again.

A combination chart plotter and land navigator, this versatile GPS system has optional real-time weather and sonar capabilities and optional GXM 30 antenna, which lets you receive more than 150 channels of XM satellite radio. Easily add more maps and features with plug-in data cards.

Box includes the GPSMAP 478 navigator, AC charger, marine mount, auto mount, cover, manual, quick reference guide, USB cable, power/data cable, universal friction mount and 12-volt adapter. U.S. marine detail maps with G2 technology, City Navigator NT North America, Trip & Waypoint Manager software also included.

Get it at Amazon or Prestige Camera and get free shipping with your purchase – no coupon code required.

Find at Smarter.com: Shop for more GPS systems.

Tips for Buying GPS Accessories

gadgets — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 19:36:04 +0000

When it comes to GPS accessories, there are plenty. Most systems for automobile use will come with a dash or windshield mount and power cable, and handheld systems usually include the necessary cables and wrist strap or belt clip. But you might find, just like the GPS systems themselves, that your GPS accessory needs differ from person to person and activity to activity.

For use inside vehicles, getting a system with weatherproof covering or a waterproof design probably isn’t as important as if you wanted to use the system while hiking. Likewise, having a spare battery is probably more applicable with a handheld rather than an auto unit that can run off the car’s battery through an AC adapter.

Since most systems will include an instruction manual, video or software in-box, data cards are most likely what you’re going to want first. These cards hold maps and information for a specific region that you choose, or they can be purchased blank for info uploading from map software. Which one you’ll need depends on which GPS unit you have.

Helpful items to have on hand for backup power are the spare battery mentioned previously and a battery charger or maybe a car power adapter. A cradle or docking station with charging capability would also fit the bill. And to combat lost connections, antenna kits will help your GPS system better receive signal inside your vehicle.

While transporting your system, belt clips, holsters, neck lanyards, wrist straps and carrying cases can aid in keeping your handhelds easily accessible. Dashboard and windshield mounting systems and mounting locks will keep your system secure inside your vehicle.

You also might find that you want a screen protector or front cover to keep the display from becoming scratched from wear and tear. Other helpful items are remote controls (for vehicle use), stylus, external speakers and microphones.

Keep an eye out for GPS accessory combo packages. A complete essentials kit could knock out a few of these extras all in one box. Here’s one for Garmin Nuvi and TomTom One units for an affordable price:

GPS Combo – Car & Wall Charger + Travel Case: $34.99

Like anything else, look at what’s included with your GPS system; there should be an itemized list on the package. Then based on what your intended uses are, decide on your GPS accessories.

Also, as an important side note, practice with your new system in a familiar place like around your hometown or another well-known area before taking it out on the cross-country road trip or adventuring through the trails and hills. Be prepared. Get used to it and know its functions before the critical moment arrives.

Shop for these GPS accessories and more at Smarter.com.

Camping Gadgets for Summer

gadgets — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 19:29:14 +0000

Finally, summer’s here and the weather is great for playing and staying outdoors. Camping can be made even cooler if you’ve got the right gadgets to keep you cozy, clean and well-directed — unless you like roughing it, then all you’ll need is a backpack, a can of beans and a Swiss Army knife. But if you’re like me, you want a few conveniences without feeling weighed down by all kinds of junk.

I like to keep it as uncomplicated and compact as possible. But hey, maybe it’s your style to drag along the foldout cook top stove complete with waist-high counter and cutting board setup and bring extraneous items like tent decor and a welcome mat for outside the entrance. Seems like a lot of baggage, but whatever works for you.

Besides your tent, sleeping bag and backpack, here are some interesting gadgets to get you going:

Brunton Camping Combo Kit
From $94.19

Features a stove, lantern, spork eating utensil and canister stabilizer with three extended legs with rubber grips keep stove/lantern steady all in an ultra-compact, lightweight design. The 11,000-BTU burner boils 1 liter of water about 4 minutes and the lantern burns for 8.5 hours.

Swiss Army Victorinox 53203 Huntsman
From: $23.40

Because these classic gadgets come in handy more often than not, this model comes with large and small stainless steel blades, corkscrew, can opener, small and large screwdrivers, bottle opener, wire stripper, wood saw, reamer with sewing eye, multi-purpose hook, tweezers, toothpick, key ring and scissors. It’s 3.5 inches long when closed. It’s surprising how easily key items like corkscrews and can openers get forgotten. Keep this with your camping gear and you don’t have to worry.

Guide Gear Pop-up Room and Solar Shower

Okay, okay, so it’s not hardcore, but how cool is this? Easy to set up, made with 70 denier/190T polyester material, fiberglass pole frame and 5-gallon PVC Solar Shower. Bring your own water and the sun will do the rest. Feels great after a long hike, not to mention makes sharing a tent a bit easier on everyone’s noses.

Notebook Portable Flat-Folding BBQ: $24.99

We’ve seen the typical campsite grill *shudder* but lugging the full-size BBQ from home is just too bulky. This non-networking “notebook” looks like a ready solution. The compact, sturdy metal design comes with a built-in grill rack and uses charcoal or wood.

Garmin GPSMAP 60CSx GPS Receiver
From: $283.99

Hiking’s fun but getting lost isn’t. Something like this all-purpose upgradeable handheld locator can help with that. It has auto routing, turn-by-turn guidance and gives your bearings while you stand still. It lets you upload up your own digital maps for better reference, has a waterproof and a large, color TFT display for easy viewing, day or night. Up to 20 hours of battery life.

Image Source: Campist.com

Find at Smarter.com: Shop for more handheld GPS systems and portable BBQs.
Discounts on Swiss Army knives.

6ave.com Deal: Magellan RoadMate GPS for $148

nick — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 15:57:22 +0000

Never get lost again.

With this 6ave.com deal, you’ll never be able to use that excuse again.

Right now, you can get this Magellan RoadMate 1430 portable navigation system for only $148, reduced from $178. This little baby has more than you can ask for.

It comes with:

Text to speech navigation
Cental Atlas III processor gets you within 3 meters of your destination
A 4.3″ screen for easy viewing
Maps of the US, Puerto Rico, Canada
And much more!

Just enter in this 6ave Coupon Code for the deal at checkout: AFLTHL148

This 6ave Deal expires March 24th.

To check out more coupons and deals for 6ave.com on Smarter, click here.

To go to 6ave.com, click here.

TomTom Deal: Save $100 on Select TomTom GPS

nick — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 15:49:05 +0000

There’s no better time than now if you’re looking for a new GPS system.

If you’re like me and happens to get lost everytime he steps out the front door, then you should really consider picking up a GPS system.

Right now at TomTom, there practically giving away some of their GPS systems. You can save up to $100 on select TomTom GPS systems and on top of that, you get free shipping.

Here are some of the TomTom GPS systems that our on sale: TomTom One 125, TomTom XL 330, TomTom GO 930 T and much more.

To check out other models that are on sale and for how much, click here.

To check out more deals and coupons for TomTom on Smarter.com, click here.

Pharos GPS Deal: Save $45 on the Pharos Drive 200 GPS

nick — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 16:22:00 +0000

You won’t find a better GPS deal than this one online.

Dell is practically giving away this Pharos Drive 200 GPS. This GPS navigation system is now priced at $99 after Dell’s instant savings and the $25 mail-in rebate. And to get the additional $45 savings, just enter in our exclusive Dell coupon.

Dell Coupon Code for the Pharos GPS: LSVP97R$DVTP08

So what comes with the Pharos Drive 200 GPS?

4″ Easy to Read Touch Screen
Text to Speech Features
Choose from four different languages: English, Spanish, French and Chinese
Street level maps for the continental US and much more!

You don’t have much time to decide, as this Pharos deal expires TOMORROW. Hurry now and you may still be able to get it here by Christmas.

To check out more deals and coupons at Dell, click here.

To buy the Pharos Drive 200 GPS, click here.