Decide what functions you want your GPS to perform. For example, for driving from Point A to B, spoken navigation instructions are considered essential. If you are a hiker, there are some important functions you are going to need including light weight, shower proof and screen backlit for night time viewing. For Marine GPS systems you may want your system to double as a GPS fish finder. PDA/GPS systems are convenient multi purpose systems but do they provide a good solution for your requirements, for instance talking instructions while driving.
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Even with a good view of the sky, acquisition can sometimes be difficult and slow. GPS signals shift frequency a lot - predictably, in a programmed sequence, and unpredictably, from speed and temperature variations.




motorcycle gps News

Write Here, Write Now: And you thought you were overloaded with information now, just wait. Hewlett Packard is working on a technology to let folks print messages in mid-air based on their location incorporating GPS technology. I find this stuff fascinating, even if no one seems to have thought of a good use for it yet. The first sentence of the article is right, though: "The kids are going to love this." in New Scientist via RCPL's Liblog]

When the ALA summer conference was in San Francisco in 1997, the SF Museum of Modern Art had a fascinating exhibit called Icons: Magnets of Meaning. I spent hours browsing through it, but one of the pieces that has always stuck in my mind was called @: Marking the Electrosphere . It talked about the meaning of that one little symbol. How it can define, place, and root you in the world, but at the same time let you be found anywhere. Integrated, widespread use of GPS is going to take this to a whole new level.

Lots of interesting articles from today's PC World. First up, Microsoft Takes on MapQuest: "MSN launches MapPoint online mapping service, offering maps, directions, and more."

Apparently this is going to be yet another component of MS' push for .Net services with hooks into other MSN services. MapPoint is XML-based, which makes it interesting in other ways, and there it launches with a phone-based direction service. The articles notes that this is another step towards location-based services. "For example, you might someday be able to click on a Windows Messenger buddy's name and retrieve a map showing the location of his or her home."

Good or bad? You make the call. I like parts of this, but I'm incredibly wary of .Net.