The Gadget Blog - New Gadgets & Tech Talk » Portable GPS

How a Portable GPS Changes Everything

Author — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 17:40:54 +0000

The Blair Witch Project was a movie put out before everyone had cell phones and way before anyone ever even heard of a portable GPS system. Think of how Hollywood would have suffered if the portable GPS had been invented years earlier and then think about the countless scripts that the mainstream acceptance of the portable GPS has probably caused to be rejected.

Could three college students still get lost in the woods of Maryland if they all had a cell phone and if instead of a map they relied on a portable GPS system to guide their way? It was indeed quite frustrating enough to watch the Blair Witch Project and wonder why no one bothered to just climb the highest tree to see where they were and which direction to go in.

To accept the fact that they would have ventured out into the woods without cell phones or a portable GPS system would have been unacceptable. Movies like The Hills Have Eyes would have never made sense because how would a whole family get lost if they had a portable GPS? But it isn’t just Hollywood that suffers from advances in technology. The inability to get lost anymore because of the portable GPS affects everyone.

You get invited to a party by a close friend but the party is at the house of someone you don’t know. You do not want to go to the party but your friend decides to loan you their portable GPS system so you don’t get lost on the way to the party.

Just another way that the convenient excuse of getting lost is completely corrupted by the availability of satellite technology that can tell you where you are, show you where you want to go, and then tell you how to get there. It isn’t just directions on a screen either, the portable GPS will literally tell you in a human voice how to get to your destination. All of the probability for error is removed much to your chagrin.

No More Excuses on That Blind Date

Your best friend sets you up on a blind date and thinks that double dating with him and his girlfriend will help make your blind date easier to tolerate. Of course it never works out like that but the date is made and your only option is to go.

Now with the availability of the portable GPS systems you can no longer skip your blind date with the excuse that you could not find the restaurant. It just takes all of the gray area out of finding where you are going and leaves you with absolutes.

I am sure that the people that invented the portable GPS system meant well but I don’t think they thought it through completely. When everyone expects you to know where you are going that can really put the pressure on.

High Tech Your Outdoor Fun With The Top Portable GPS Systems

Author — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 11:05:07 +0000

It seems like eons ago when the closest thing to a portable GPS unit was your trusty old compass. They gave you the basic information – which direction you were headed, and which direction you were supposed to be traveling. They also helped Agent Mulder find alien hot spots on The X-Files. They also served many grander purposes throughout history. Hooray for compasses, the directional dinosaurs.

The vast difference between your compass and a portable GPS navigation system could probably fill up the Grand Canyon. It is like comparing Fred Flintstone’s little cinderblock scoot coupe to the ultra sleek Bond-mobile Aston Martin. Fred can get you from point A to point B, but the snazzy Martin can do it faster and without the blisters and calluses. And how much better would Columbus, and countless lost Boy Scouts have faired with a TomTom portable GPS device rather than a compass?

So Much For Hide-And-Go-Seek

What is all the buzz surrounding portable GPS systems anyway? You know that you should think them cooler than sliced bread, but do you know why? GPS stands for Global Positioning System, and was developed by the United States Department of Defense to aid the military in keeping an eye on their people when abroad. Those engineers likely had no idea how dependant the entire world would eventually become on this technology.

Eight satellites orbit the planet, sending a steady stream of exact positioning and time data. Contrary to what you may think, portable GPS devices that are purchased in stores are as precise in their information as those used by the US military. Everyone is plugged into the same system. The Global Positioning System is free for all, and paid for by the US government. Goodwill toward men was probably never so cool before.

The handheld devices are very popular with campers, hikers, mountain climbers, and even soccer moms in giant shopping malls. Road trips and sight seeing excursions can be mapped out with ease. You can venture into the wilderness with an assurance that help can come, no matter where you are. Rain or shine, you can always be found. Just think if Waldo had a portable GPS unit.

GPS technology is now almost everywhere it seems; it is in your car and on your cell phone. Portable GPS systems can be purchased over the counter in stores, and are easy to use and understand. It has taken the place of compasses and maps, by giving precise locations and directions to almost any destination. Road trips are finally becoming fun again. Now if only it could roast marshmallows and count bottles of beer on the wall.

Balance Features and Price with the Best GPS System

Author — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 11:03:09 +0000

When you’re shopping for a computer, chances are you’re looking for something fairly different from most others. You might want a computer just to e-mail and type with. You may want want to browse the web with it. Then again, you may also want to calculate physics, process video, or play PC games with it. Most computers nowadays will be able to do all of those activities at least moderately well, but you probably want a computer capable of doing those things very well without spending too much money on it. The same goes with GPS devices. With so many devices on the market today, it can be difficult to find the best GPS system for you, where you balance features and price.

The Features You Want

The best GPS system for you is the one that has the features that you’ll enjoy without going overboard. Why buy extravagant features if you’re never going to use them? In fact, it’s probably wise to only get the features that you want, because all extra features above basic functionality generally incur a monthly fee from the portable GPS service. Unless you’re going to use all the features, it’s probably wise to skip the best deluxe GPS system and find a system that better fits your needs and desires.

What are some of these extra features alluded to? Well, real time updates concerning all things traffic – accidents, road work, and congestion. Extra features also include various businesses that you might want to use along the way, such as hotels, gas stations, and restaurants. The best GPS system for you will only include what you want it to. There’s no reason to include more than that, because you’ll merely need to pay a larger monthly fee for operation.

Some consumers might want to label a best GPS system based on a particular model or company, but this doesn’t really make any sense. Brand loyalty is, at the very least, an interesting aspect of any market, but it doesn’t serve any purpose in the larger picture. GPS models vary so much in specifications, features, and price that you can only really judge them for yourself. Other folks’ experiences can give you a solid head start about where to begin, but they can’t decide for you. By reading a number of reviews from technology professionals and users of the products themselves, you can guarantee that you’ll have the best chance of finding the best GPS system.