Posts Tagged ‘Handheld’

Remember the days when GPS units could only be installed on the dashboard of your vehicle? We do too – and that’s why we were thrilled when we learned that our favorite techie toys are now incorporating GPS technology from trusted brands like Garmin, Magellan and TomTom. Products from cell phones to PDAs have caught the GPS fever, turning everyday electronic essentials into convenient – and affordable – hand held GPS devices.

Want an electronic device that will allow you to store emails, maintain your busy schedule and even keep track of those to-do lists – all while navigating you from Point A to Point B? Then you need to check out the latest PDAs with GPS capabilities, many of which can be found in your favorite department or electronic store. Not in the market for a new PDA? Not a problem – there’s tons of great software on the market today that will turn your normal PDA into a navigating dream. These great multi-tasking devices take all of the stress out of managing your day-to-day routine while directing you from one meeting or social function to the next. You can even use your PDA with GPS capabilities to look up information about your favorite restaurant, movie theatre or mall – all from the palm of your hand! We recommend TeleNav, an innovative third-party GPS software system that’s compatible with most PDAs, as well as some sophisticated smartphones.

Pocket pcs are also catching on to the GPS trend, as more recent models are designed with inherent navigation and mapping capabilities. If you want to get your hands on one of the best pocket pc GPS products on the market today, check out the W800 Pocket PC, a sleek and portable device that not only lets you surf the internet and play your favorite games – you can choose from any of its detailed maps to navigate yourself anywhere in the country! Add in the fact that you can download third-party applications and can easily find a model for under $250 online, and you’ve got a pocket pc GPS device that will give you a huge return for a small investment.

Another great handheld GPS unit on the market today is the Palm Treo 800w, which not only has all of the great benefits of superior GPS navigation – it has Wi-Fi capabilities as well. With a high-resolution touch screen, a slim design and a camera that would make professional photographers envious, the GPS for Palm Treo 800w has really stepped up the game, even besting some of its more popular competitors. Recently released this past summer, you can find this hand held gps device for under $250.

These days, you don’t have to limit your handheld gps devices to your vehicle. Thanks to major innovative advances in electronics, you can purchase the latest PDA, smartphone or pocket pc with superior GPS capabilities, or download navigation software that adapts to the device that you own right now.

Have you been wanting to buy a portable handheld GPS or portable GPS navigator but just didn’t know quite what you were going to use it for? You may even have friends who own one, but you’re still unsure? These devices are great tools that provide a huge array of ways to get the most use out of them. Take a look at some of the fun (and practical) ways to make the most of these fun GPS gadgets:

1. Driving. This is one of the most common and practical ways a GPS device can be used for especially with with mapping software. The software allows you to navigate to and from specific destinations by choosing the shortest distance, or fastest routes. It can get you from one place to another and can even allow you to choose to avoid toll roads, avoid major highways, and have it recalculate to a different route than the one you are currently on. Finding necessities like fuel and food near your current location are also added perks. Do you need to go to the restroom? Yes, just check your GPS and you can find the closest the restroom! Now how cool is that?

2. Kayaking and Boating. Using a portable GPS navigator in boating is beneficial to mark favorite fishing spots, a favorite landing point, a great scenic view that you may want to return to, or to navigate to and from your Kayak put in spot. Once you get out in the water, it is easy to loose your way as it all looks the same unless you have a land mark. A GPS unit will allow you to navigate back the exact same way you went out. Most of the GPS systems also have a Man Overboard feature. If by chance someone falls overboard or you loose equipment (fishing rods, etc.) you can mark the spot and go exactly back to the same location.

3. Hiking. A portable handheld GPS can be used in hiking to mark a trail head, a favorite location along a well-used trail, mark your campsite, trail tracking through the backlog, navigate toward previous marked points, and track your speed, distance, elevation, and much more. A GPS in the wilderness is almost a must and it can actually save your life. There are many stories of hikers getting injured on their journey and by being able to provide the coordinates of their location, rescue help found them quickly.

4. In an Airplane. Only for fun. While flying commercial , you can track the distance to your destination, see how high you are flying, how fast the plane is traveling, and even where you are currently flying over. Make sure to adhere to any regulations about portable electronic devices.

5. Geocaching. A worldwide high tech game of hide and seek, geocaching is a great hobby. Players use their GPS to find treasures, or geocaches, hidden by others with user-posted latitude and longitude coordinates. This recreational sport has only been around for a short time, but is definitely growing in popularity. There are probably a few geocaches within only a mile or two of where you live!

6. Vacation and Tourism. While on vacation, a portable handheld GPS is a great way to visit places that may be of special interest, find local restaurants, and to mark places that you would like to remember, possibly return to, or recommend to others. It’s also great for finding lodging and other amenities near your location, if you are traveling on a whim.

7. Biking. The use of a portable GPS navigator is a great way to keep track of statistics like distance biked, how far to a destination, current speed, average speed, amount of time you’ve been moving, and amount of time spent stopped. Whether you are a serious biker or a casual rider, this is a great way to keep track of your progress.

The possibilities are virtually endless for using a portable GPS navigator. These are just a few ideas. Once you start using one, you’ll wonder why you waited so long, and how you managed without it. There are many different styles, so you are able to get one that fits your needs and budget.

In the past few years, GPS devices have become more popular. However, when many people think of GPS, they think of larger devices that come in automobiles. Well, today you can find smaller versions as well, such as a handheld GPS device. You don’t have to have a large system that only stays in one vehicle. You can purchase a handheld GPS device that will be able to go wherever you do, which is a huge benefit and step forward when it comes to GPS products. There are many companies that are producing these devices, so here are some excellent tips to help you make the best choice when you purchase a handheld GPS device.

Take a Close Look at the Extras

First of all, you should definitely take a close look at the extras available when purchasing a handheld GPS device. You’ll find that GPS systems have definitely come a very long way and today there are a variety of great features that are available. While most of them come with similar systems, the extras may make the difference. Consider whether it is waterproof, is rugged enough for your use, whether it has turn by turn directions, or Bluetooth capabilities. All of the features can make a huge difference. So, be sure to look at them when consider a handheld GPS device.

Ensure Your Handheld GPS Device Can Be Updated

When you choose a handheld GPS device, you should definitely ensure that it can be updated. You’ll find that routes and common maps change on a regular basis, so your handheld GPS device should be able to be updated so that you can keep track of changes and have the best information possible. Removable memory is a great idea too in a handheld GPS device, since it makes it easier to update the device and pick out new software that you want to use in the device too.

Color vs. B&W

Consider the screen when choosing your handheld GPS device. When you pick out a handheld GPS device, you will be able to choose between a nice color screen and a black and white screen. Prices will vary depending on what you choose. While you can save money on a screen that is black and white, it may not offer you the image you need. Color is a bit more expensive on a handheld GPS device, but they provide images that are much clearer. It’s probably best to try out both kinds to see which one works the best for your specific needs.

Consider Going with Bluetooth

Today Bluetooth is available when you’re choosing a handheld GPS device. While you don’t have to have this feature, it is definitely a wonderful idea. It may not be important when you are using your device while on foot, but if you plan on using the handheld GPS device while you are driving, it can be a great option to have Bluetooth so you don’t have to take your attention from the road. Many of the newer models are coming out with this technology today.

If you travel a lot using several different modes of transportation then you probably are looking for a handheld GPS to help you find your way. Locating a source of discount handheld GPS units can be a problem. Being just a little bit bigger than a standard cell phone, handheld GPS receivers offer the ability to navigate to any location on earth. When not in use you can put in its holster ready for the next use.A quality handheld GPS unit can range from less than $100 to as high as $2,000. A good quality unit with the best features will cost you about $500.00.

Manufactures that commonly offer handheld GPS systems include Cobra, Magellan, Garmin, Lowrance and Bushnell. Lowrance offers the best prices for handheld GPS systems that contain monochrome coloring. Their cheapest model is only $63.99, however we do not recommend buying a gray scale or black and white display. Unfortunately, Lowrance is not the best choice when it comes to colorized GPS handhelds, as their prices, (which can be over $1,000) are almost expensive as more well-known Garmin or Magellan brands. For colorized handheld GPS, it is best to go with Cobra, (with their cheapest colorized unit costing only $922) and Bushnell, (whose cheapest colorized unit costs only $500). Bushnell is a new manufacture of GPS. However they offer unique GPS aerial photo mapping and weather tracking features.

Where can one buy a handheld GPS systems at a discount price? http://Amazon.com is one place that offers dozens of discounts on various brands of handheld GPS systems. Some of their handheld GPS systems are offered at a reduction rate as high as 41%. Others are discounted through special rebates. If this is not enough of a discount, one can try an online auction site. Since sellers on most auction sites are not professional vendors like Amazon. Usually they are just selling their used personal units allowing them to offer more in terms of price negotiation. It is not uncommon to buy discount handheld GPS systems at hundreds even thousands below retail price when purchasing from online auction sites.

Manufactures that market a large number discount handheld GPS receivers are: Cobra, Lowrance and Bushnell. These and other brands can be purchased from sites like http://Amazon.com or online auctions. Doing your homework and searching carefully you should not have any excuse for buying an overpriced handheld GPS system. Initially it might seem nice to get the most expensive, most popular brand-name handheld GPS available. However,if you can get all the features they need from a discount GPS system. The bottom line is that discount handheld GPS systems will function in the manner and have most of the same features as any retail priced handheld GPS receiver. A good handheld GPS receiver is a great travel necessity that will open the whole world to you, don’t leave home without it.

I want to be able to get GPS coordinates from various places in Panama and then place them on a Google map. Do I need a special handheld, software, etc.? Thanks!

So many companies that offered GPS handheld mapping devices are operated today. Some of them are just among those many outstanding GPS handheld mapping providers such as Magellan, Garmin, Lowrance, and much more.

For those who are interested to acquire some knowledge about some of those GPS handheld mapping devices that are widely used by many nowadays, try to look at some of the information below about a couple samples of GPS handheld mapping devices. Note that these are just among the many GPS handheld mapping devices that are out in the market today.

One of the outstanding GPS handheld mapping manufacturers and providers is the Magellan GPS Company. Magellan GPS devised one of their excellent GPS handheld mapping receivers and that is the Magellan SporTrak Map which is a Euro base map. This certain GPS handheld mapping device is a scraggy well-built, lightweight and compact GPS handheld mapping device that provides an exceptional benefit for the outdoor junkies. Aside from that interesting of feature, the Magellan SporTrak Map as a GPS handheld mapping device has an accuracy of about 3 meters and highlights a 2 MB European mapping database.

For much detail, the Magellan SporTrak Map as one of the outstanding GPS handheld mapping devices has a free memory that is 6 MB for favors for downloading street-level maps. Besides of being a GPS handheld mapping device, the Magellan SporTrak Map contains seven huge graphical navigation displays for the adventure junkie to fully and clearly view all the details stored in such GPS handheld mapping device. With this certain GPS handheld mapping receiver, I am sure that you will gain something that will add a new level of pleasure to your adventure.

Another noticeable GPS handheld mapping receiver is the Garmin GPSMAP 76 unit. The Garmin GPS Company has designed this GPS handheld mapping receiver to give those adventure enthusiasts concrete GPS positioning through the correction data gathered from the Wide Area Augmentation System. This smart GPS handheld mapping receiver highlights a built-in quad helix antenna for an exceptional coverage and this particular GPS handheld mapping device can offer accurate position to less than three meters when acquiring WAAS adjustments.

Besides, the Garmin GPSMAP 76 as one of the notable GPS handheld mapping devices has an internal memory that is capable of eight megabytes for obtaining optional MapSource which is detailed maps, including some marine cartographic sketches. Lastly, this GPS handheld mapping device is capable of storing exact details about the worldwide cities and the nautical navigation aids.