Garmin introduces new Dakota handheld hiking GPS

Garmin expands its handheld hiking device range with the Dakota 10 and Dakota 20.

A month after Garmin introduced its range-topping Oregon 550 with a built-in digital camera, it expands its handheld hiking device range at the entry-level with the all-new Dakota 10 ($300) and Dakota 20 ($350).

The Dakota is a shrunk-down version of the touchscreen Oregon units, with a 2.6-inch screen, compared to 3 inch. It weighs about the same, promises longer battery life, and has more internal memory. The overall size is smaller than the older, pocket-friendly eTrex models.

Dakota can store up to 1,000 waypoints and 50 routes. It comes preloaded with a worldwide basemap and is compatible with Garmin City Navigator NT for turn-by-turn directions on city streets. Other maps can be added, as well, including Blue Chart g2 for marine charting, and TOPO U.S. 24K and 100K map software.

Designed to be geocache friendly (GPS-based “treasure” hunting), the Dakota synchs easily with Geocaching.com and can store all information needed to find caches, with a premium membership.

The Dakota 20 adds a 3-axis compass, barometric altimeter, a microSD card slot for increased mapping and memory storage, and wireless unit-to-unit connectivity for sharing your waypoints with compatible Garmin devices.

The Dakota should appeal most to those adventurous types interested in a modern handheld, though put off the price premium for a Colorado or Oregon.

See our expanded Dakota preview, handheld hiking GPS buying advice, and Ratings. —Jeff Bartlett

Also, see our portable automotive GPS navigation systems Ratings and buying advice, watch our video guide, and browse our GPS First Looks. Discuss GPS devices in the forums.

GPS: When it’s time to turn it off

[ Photo courtesy of Jimmy_Joe]

I have long resisted using my car’s built-in GPS navigation system since, as a proverbial proud male, I like to think I know where I’m going. However, last weekend, a trip to Boston, the labyrinthine-road capital of the U.S., convinced me to swallow my pride and give the GPS a try.

I waited until I reached Beantown before enabling the system’s route guidance, after which it quickly lulled me into a blissful state of mindless dependence on its calm female voice. Cambridge to Jamaica Plain? No sweat. Brookline to Faneuil Hall? A breeze.

Handy as the device was for much of the trip, I later found times I would have been better off disregarding or even disabling it. For example, consider two drives I made from my hotel’s Cambridge neighborhood to Jamaica Plain: The first time, the GPS led me there in no time flat. But the next day, departing from nearly the same spot, it sent me on a wicked long route. The difference? Before the second trip, I was parked on the opposite side of the street, facing the opposite direction. Apparently, the GPS’s routing ruled out having me make a minor U-turn, which would have made the shorter route possible. By the time I realized I was on a longer route, it was too late to turn back.

Later that day, heading for a deli in Brookline, I found the town’s main street closed for a local event. As I struggled to find an alternate route, the GPS kept trying to steer me back to the street that was closed. As our Ratings of GPS systems (available to subscribers) show, some models can alert you to changing traffic conditions or let you sidestep certain streets. I don’t know if my new car’s built-in navigation system has those features, but I wasn’t going to hunt for them when I was just minutes from my lunch spot.

Father's Day: Electronics gifts for every e-dad

[ Photo courtesy of Duncan Rawlinson via Flickr. ]

If your dad has been sending signals, subtle or otherwise, about his need for a cooler digital camera, a lighter laptop, or a GPS to rid himself of those infernal maps that never fold up right, Father’s Day is your chance to shine.

As we did for mom on her day, we’ve picked some e-toy categories that we think our diverse group of dads would like to get. We’ve also recommended a model (or sometimes two) to buy in each category. These selections aren’t definitive; we’ve added links to our full Ratings (available to subscribers), where you’ll find many other recommended models.

The artsy type. For serious photographers, an SLR camera is the best choice. They are large and heavy but are more versatile than point-and-shoots, allowing a savvy shooter to capture images in a range of light conditions and styles. Not for amateurs.

• Recommended: Canon EOS 40D Digital, $900. For the price, this camera’s excellent image quality, large LCD viewer, and ability to snap 6.5 frames per second make this advanced SLR a great deal. Full SLR camera Ratings

GPS on the new iPhone: (Re)enter Navigon

Navigon's MobileNavigator software app for the new Apple iPhone 3G S (Click to enlarge.)

After declaring last month that it would leave the U.S. market for GPS units, the company has now announced new software in the works for the soon-to-be-released iPhone 3G S. The downloadable app, called MobileNavigator, will be available later this month and will offer turn-by-turn directions—one of the feature upgrades on the new iPhone.

The Cars blog reports that two version of the software will be available: a Lite version with maps but limited functionality, and a full version with Navigon’s usual complement of features—reality view, turn-by-turn guidance, lane assistance, current speed, day/night mode, and points of interest. Prices will be available upon release.

Navigon is joining TomTom in jumping on the iPhone bandwagon. The latter recently announced plans to release its own app software for the next-generation phone, including a car dock, microphone, and speaker to fully mimic a standalone GPS unit. TomTom for the iPhone is set for a late-summer release.

Not planning to buy the iPhone 3G S? You can still get guidance from standalone units. We’ve just updated our Ratings of GPS navigators (available to subscribers), so take a look. —Nick K. Mandle

GPS on iPhone: TomTom jumps in; others may follow

The new iPhone 3G S features a built-in compass, and GPS manufacturers are working on downloadable navigation apps. [Photo courtesy of Apple]

After the unveiling of the new iPhone 3G S, the biggest buzz from yesterday’s Apple Worldwide Developers Conference was arguably the announcement of turn-by-turn navigation for iPhones, starting with an application from GPS manufacturer Tom Tom.

The announcements promise to significantly improve the limited navigation capabilities of iPhones, under their current operating system, which will be upgraded to the new iPhone 3.0 on June 17.

Our colleagues in the Cars department have done a bit more digging into the Tom Tom announcement, set for release date later this summer; the price is as yet undisclosed. According to a rep, the maps and software will resemble the brand’s standalone GPS units. Intended for use in the car, the app will give turn-by-turn directions to destinations and will be able to create routes to addresses in the phone’s address book.

The company says it will also offer a car kit with “secure docking, enhanced GPS performance, clear voice instructions and hands-free calling, while charging your iPhone at the same time.”

But other GPS manufacturers may soon jump onto the GPS platform offered by iPhone 3.0, say our Cars colleagues. Next up, they say, may be Navigon, which announced its departure from selling GPS units in North America while leaving open the possibility of offering their own GPS applications for smart phones.

Will iPhone apps mark the beginning of the end for standalone GPS units? Maybe. While there’s a welcome convergence to using a smart phone as your GPS device, there are also some downsides. iPhones, including the upcoming 3G S, have 3.5-inch screens—which our Cars colleagues say are fine, though larger screens allow more information to be displayed. And family members can share a GPS-enabled iPhone less easily than they can a GPS unit, since the iPhone is also, well, someone’s phone. Finally, it’s unclear what iPhone GPS apps might cost; they could be very pricey.

What do you think? Would you consider using your smart phone as your GPS unit?

New GPS Ratings for summer road trippers, dads and grads

Consumer Reports just posted new Ratings of GPS navigation units (available to subscribers)—just in time for summer road trips and shoppers looking for Father's Day gifts or presents for grads just finishing school and starting to find their own way on the road of life.

The good news: There are plenty of excellent performers among the 67 portable GPS models we’ve tested and rated.

Top-performing GPS models with plenty of features such as big screens, text-to-speech capabilities for spoken directions, wireless Bluetooth, and real-time traffic reports can still be rather pricey. For example, three of the CR Recommended GPS units (available to subscribers)—two Garmin Nuvi models and one Tom Tom Go model—cost $400 and up.

But you’ll also find good choices among CR’s Best Buy recommendations—models that offer the best value for your money. Even better: Two of the four CR Best Buy GPS models—a Tom Tom Go unit and a basic Garmin Nuvi model—cost less than $150.

You’ll find more details about these and other notable GPS units in the Dads and Grads – New GPS Ratings post in our Cars Blog. And for further help on deciding which GPS unit is right for you or a loved one, check out our free Buying Guide to GPS navigation systems. —Paul Eng

Save the U.S. Global Positioning System – with a global tax?

An image of the Global Positioning System III satellite built by Lockheed Martin. [Image: Lockheed Martin]

A recent U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) report warns the constellation of space-based GPS satellites—the heart and soul of the Global Positioning System—could be in danger of failing. The U.S. Air Force, which is responsible for GPS operations and maintenance, “has struggled to successfully build [new] GPS satellites within cost and schedule goals,” says the GAO report. Among its conclusions, the GAO warns:

"...as old satellites begin to fail, the overall GPS constellation will fall below the number of satellites required to provide the level of GPS service that the U.S. government commits to. Such a gap in capability could have wide-ranging impacts on all GPS users, though there are measures the Air Force and others can take..."

Only 24 of the 31 GPS satellites are needed to fulfill commercial (civilian) and military navigation needs. But could seven satellites failing before the Air Force can launch new, improved GPS satellites? And given the $1.5 billion cost of the GPS III satellite launch program, Nicholas Thompson over at Wired has an intriguing proposition: Tax GPS to Save GPS.

Sound off: What do you think? Would some sort of global GPS tax be helpful? (Consider that anyone in the world can freely use GPS, a system developed, funded and maintained solely by the U.S. government—and U.S. taxpayers.)

Or would it be harmful? Feel free to use the comment section below! —Paul Eng

Top gadgets for Mom

Image: Mike "Dakinewavamon" Kline/Flickr

Don’t think that electronics make good gifts only for guys. Women—especially Moms—love them too. A recent study from Retrevo.com found that while more men than women consider themselves tech savvy, more women were able to correctly identify what “MB” refers to (megabyte) and what "1080p" stands for in HDTV jargon (the highest level of high definition).

We picked some gadgets we thought our Moms might like and mention a recommended model or two. (Value was a key factor, given the economy.) For each, also check out our buying advice and Ratings (available to subscribers).

An e-book reader. An electronic book reader may appeal to moms who are voracious readers. Amazon's Kindle has an edge in convenience over the rival Sony Reader; the Kindle receives content wirelessly. However, a new Kindle is expected to be announced on Wednesday May 6, which could complicate your shopping.

A digital camera. Easier to use than ever, many digital cameras today come with presets that will let mom optimize her shots in different light settings. "Smart camera" features, like face detection (and sometimes smile detection) have tended to work well in the models we've tested. Most point-and-shoots also have an image stabilizer to minimize camera shake. If you buy a camera as a gift, be sure to throw in a memory card—the ones included with the camera usually have a paltry amount of space.

Recommended for Mom: The Canon PowerShot SD1100 IS ELPH, $150. This subcompact has many of the above features and fits neatly into a pocket or purse. Digital camera Ratings & Buying Advice: digital cameras

CTIA: Cell phones get more social

There's a new adjective in the cellphone world: "socially inclined." The term showed up in a news release this week announcing the Motorola Evoke, a phone that will launch this spring.

The Evoke is among a number of phones announced at CTIA, the trade show for the wireless world, that aim at enhancing use of social media. Among the Evoke's features, according to Motorola (who did not announce a carrier for the phone), are "integrated widgets to access social-networking sites."

Other newly announced phones that emphasize social media include Garmin's elusive nuviphones, the G60 and M20, which will be available from either AT&T or T-Mobile. Their social-networking application, called Ciao!, is another of those applications, like Loopt for the iPhone, that use GPS technology to help physically locate the friends in your network.

iPhone 3.0: Highlights of the new operating system

Apple today previewed iPhone 3.0, the new operating system for its smart phone and Touch multimedia player. As expected, many of the enhancements of the new OS are "catch-up" fixes to what's already been offered on smart phones from other makers, including the upcoming Palm Pre. There were, however, a few welcome surprises—though those did not include rumored announcements of new iPhones or other hardware.

Here are highlights of the new OS—available free sometime this summer to iPhone owners, and as a $10 upgrade to Touch owners:

Cut and paste. For the first time iPhone users will be able to cut and paste text within and between documents, even if the documents are in differing applications. You double-tap the display to summon the cut, copy and paste tools; select text by dragging your finger over it; then double-tap again when you're ready to paste your selection. If you make a mistake, you just shake the phone.

Landscape keyboard. Since iPhone's debut, tilting the iPhone on its side has produced a wider keyboard when Web searching. Now that capability, a real plus for rotund fingers, is also being added to e-mail or messaging applications.