GPS World

Tag: cycling

  • Garmin Adds eTrex with Touchscreen to Outdoor Line

    Garmin Adds eTrex with Touchscreen to Outdoor Line

    The Garmin eTrex
    The Garmin eTrex can be mounted on bicycles, boats, ATVs or in the car.

    Garmin International this summer is releasing the eTrex Touch 25, 35 and 35t, adding new touchscreen models to its line of outdoor handhelds.

    The eTrex Touch series has a completely updated user interface, improving the ease-of-use of the device, as well as a 2.6-inch capacitive touchscreen display, the largest display that’s ever been put on an eTrex device. The eTrex Touch series also features new activity profiles for easy-to-use navigation for multiple activities and an enhanced track manager to easily start and stop recording.

    The new eTrex Touch series has a high-sensitivity, WAAS-enabled GPS receiver with GLONASS support and HotFix satellite prediction to locate users’ position quickly and precisely, even in heavy cover and deep canyons.All units in the eTrex Touch series have a built-in 3-axis tilt-compensated electronic compass, which gives directional information even when standing still. The eTrex 35 and 35t also have a barometric altimeter to get more accurate altitude, elevation and climb information, as well as indications of pending weather changes.

    The eTrex Touch 25, 35 and 35t are compatible with an array of mounts that are easy to use on bicycles, boats, ATVs or in the car, and offer a long-lasting 16-hour battery life, and a rugged ergonomic design to withstand the elements.

    The eTrex Touch series integrates a variety of new activity profiles. The device remembers how each profile is set up to each activity, and will set it up for users the same way every time, making it comfortable, quick and intuitive to use the same device for entirely different purposes. No matter if users are out rock climbing, hiking, hunting, cycling, geocaching or fishing, with an eTrex Touch, switching between activities is easier than ever, even if they’re done all in one afternoon.

    The eTrex Touch series comes preloaded with a worldwide shaded relief basemap, 4 GB of internal memory on the 25 and 35 models and 8 GB of internal memory on the 35t. The eTrex 35t also comes preloaded with TOPO U.S. 100K. With the built-in microSD card slot, users can install even more maps, like HuntView to see public and private land data while hunting, BirdsEye Satellite Imagery or TOPO U.S. 24K. All models come preloaded with 250,000 geocaches from Geocaching.com, so right out of the box users can start their geocaching adventure virtually anywhere in the world.

    The eTrex 35 and 35t incorporate wireless ANT+ connectivity to accessory sensors like heart rate monitors, the Tempe temperature sensor, Chirp geocaching beacon, or the cycling speed sensors and cadence sensors. The eTrex 35 and 35t can also act as a wireless remote control for the VIRB line of action cameras. The eTrex 35 and 35t can connect via Bluetooth to compatible smartphones to receive smart notifications and stay connected out on the trail, but keep their phone safely packed away from the elements. Additionally, these units are compatible with the the Garmin Connect mobile app, for features such as LiveTrack. With LiveTrack, users can pair their device with the app, and invite friends and family to follow their activity in real time. This provides peace of mind, especially if users are alone.

    The eTrex Touch 25 will have a suggested retail price of $249.99, the eTrex Touch 35 will have a suggested retail price of $299.99 and the eTrex Touch 35t will have a suggested retail price of $349.99.

     

  • Holux Launches Touchscreen Bike Computer with u-blox GPS

    The Holux SporTrek 1305 for avid cyclists features a u-blox positioning module. Photo: Holux SporTrek
    The Holux SporTrek 1305 for avid cyclists features a u-blox positioning module. Photo: Holux

    Holux Technology, a maker of professional and consumer GPS products, has launched its next-generation bike computer, the SporTrek 1305, which integrates a u-blox MAX GPS/GNSS module. The new device delivers GPS and wireless health-monitoring features on a compact, three-inch color touchscreen display.

    The device delivers a variety of useful information such as speed, heart rate, distance, altitude, map, and route, and comes with a calendar and stopwatch. SporTrek 1305 is the designed for touring, competitive cycling and mountain biking.

    The device integrates a compact u-blox MAX GPS/GNSS module that supports GPS as well as GLONASS, QZSS and all SBAS. The module is targeted at applications requiring small size, low power, fast acquisition, and reliable operation in GPS hostile environments.

    “Since 1994, Holux has been manufacturing a wide range of battery-operated GPS products for sports, automotive and safety devices. We count on extremely fast, low-power and accurate global positioning technology to deliver the features our customers demand,” said Eddy Huang, director, Marketing & Sales at Holux. “u-blox’ advanced satellite positioning module provides us with the performance, small size, and low power consumption that we need in a consistent, future-proofed form factor.”

    u-blox MAX GPS/GNSS module. Photo: Holux
    u-blox MAX GPS/GNSS module. Photo: Holux

    The SportTrek 1305 is shock and water resistant able to operate in all weather conditions. Equipped with Bluetooth Smart for accessories (such as heart-rate straps), it can also connect to heart-rate monitor / combo (speed and cadence) sensors and smartphone connection and notification, providing navigation and performance training data.

    It also integrates a patented “carbon reduction” feature that informs the user about the amount of equivalent carbon emissions saved compared to driving, and converts the data into the corresponding number of trees planted to achieve the same effect.

    SporTrek 1305 can be integrated with ezTour Plus software to share track route and analysis of physical states, and it can also be used to plan routes using the ezTour Planner feature. Users can integrate their own paper maps and third-party application as well.

  • Garmin Launches GPS Devices Designed For Navigating By Bike

    Garmin Launches GPS Devices Designed For Navigating By Bike

    Garmin International IncGarmin International Inc., a unit of Garmin Ltd., today announced the Edge Touring and Edge Touring Plus GPS navigators designed for touring cyclists, commuters, mountain bikers and those seeking navigation on their handle bars. Edge Touring and Edge Touring Plus work like a GPS navigator for a car, yet with bike-specific features, preloaded maps and points of interest to help cyclists to find their way. They provide both on-road and off-road navigation and can provide round-trip ride options based on a set distance.

    The Edge Touring and Edge Touring Plus will debut at the Eurobike exhibition August 28-31 in Friedrichshafen, Germany (Hall A5, booth 201) and at Interbike in Las Vegas, Nevada (booth 11058), September 18-20, where they will be prominently displayed.

    “The new Edge Touring and Edge Touring Plus are perfect for those whose bikes mean adventure, freedom, exploration and a way of life,” said Dan Bartel, Garmin vice president of worldwide sales. “Easy to set up, easy to use and preloaded with bike-specific maps, they will let riders navigate safely and securely to their destinations.”

    Edge Touring comes preloaded with bike-specific maps that make it easy for cyclists to stay on the route and find their way back again. Whether cyclists are riding from A to B, asking Edge Touring to provide a round trip route, or following a ride that they have planned or downloaded from Garmin Connector Garmin Adventures, Edge Touring will guide them on their ride with clear turn-by-turn visual instructions. Cyclists can choose between Cycling, Tour Cycling and Mountain Bike modes to calculate the most appropriate route. Edge Touring will then guide cyclists on suitable roads or bike-paths to their destination. With the new round trip routing feature, cyclists need only to input the distance they want to ride and Edge Touring will do the rest. It will calculate up to three routes to choose from, including their distance and elevation profiles. Cyclists can compare the routes, choose the one to follow and are one tap of the screen away from turn-by-turn directions the entire way.

    This Garmin video shows Edge Touring and Touring Plus in action:

    Edge Touring is robust and water resistant and has a 2.6’-inch touchscreen that works in the wet and with gloves. It weighs less than 100g and fits  on the stem or on the bars. The rechargeable battery will last up to 17 hours, and it is also compatible with optional solar external battery pack, which will give an additional 20 hours of ride time.  Edge Touring displays key ride data such as time, speed, average speed, max speed, distance and much more. Cyclists can view from 1 to 10 fields on a clear customizable screen. Edge Touring comes with a quarter-turn bike mount and can be easily transferred between bikes.

    Edge Touring records how far, how fast and where cyclists ride so users can replay, relive and share each ride in detail once it has been uploaded to Garmin Connect. Cyclists can share their own rides or search for ones others have completed in Garmin Connect or look for Adventures in Garmin’s free Basecampsoftware. Cyclists can also create custom courses within Garmin Connect and send them directly to their Edge Touring.

    Edge Touring Plus provides all bike-specific features of Edge Touring, in addition to compatibility with ANT+heart rate monitors to help cyclists know how hard they are working, and will even display key data such as range or remaining charge from ANT+ compatible eBikes. It also includes a barometric altimeter for accurate elevation, gradient, ascent and descent data.

    Edge Touring and Touring Plus are expected to ship fall 2013 and have a suggested retail price of $249.99 and $299.99 respectively.

  • Navevo Announces Satnav-Based Truck Cyclist Alert Feature

    Navevo specialists in satellite navigation solutions for heavy-goods vehicles (HGV) drivers, now offers the ProNav HGV Cyclist Alert. Supplied as standard on the new ProNav PNN420 satnav for truck drivers and soon to be rolled out across all current ProNav systems, the safety feature provides junction alerts at high convergence areas of trucks and cyclists and prompts drivers to take extra care.

    The number of cyclists in London is on the rise, along with safety risks that arise when trucks and cyclists both are traversing busy London junctions and interchanges.

    The ProNav HGV Cyclist Alert software was developed in association with Transport for London (TfL) to provide a commercial vehicle driver with an audible and visual alert as he or she approaches a junction (or section of road) that has been determined to be a location where there are  high volumes of HGVs and cyclists. A warning symbol is displayed on the navigation system’s mapping that projects a 50-meter radius “warning zone” around each HGV/Cyclist convergence area. Drivers are also provided with a short audible tone as a reminder, giving the driver plenty of time to check for any cyclists on the road, Navevo said.

    The HGV Cyclist Alert software uses data provided by TfL and the up-to-date Department for Transport HGV and pedal cycle flow figures for London’s road network. The dataset uses this information to identify locations where large numbers of HGVs and cyclists converge. Initially, 100 high-convergence areas across London have been included (alerts at every junction would be counterproductive to drivers). Working with other local authorities both in London and nationally, Navevo plans to increase the level of coverage and will provide free updates when new data becomes available.

    “A navigation system is something a driver is likely to be listening to as they approach a junction, and so it makes perfect sense to also alert the driver of the risk of cyclists, reminding them to be observant and drive safely,” says Navevo CEO, Nick Caesari. “The safety of drivers, cyclists and other users of the road is a concern for everybody, and we are proud to lead the navigation industry by launching this ‘world first’ safety feature, which we believe could significantly contribute in improving road safety and reducing the number of incidents involving HGVs and cyclists.”

    “For many years, London has worked to lead the way in pushing for the adoption of safer lorries and safer lorry driving,”
    Ian Wainwright, head of Freight and Fleet at Transport for London. “The creation of a specific cyclist alert for HGV drivers is another positive step forward and will help to further raise awareness and improve cycle safety across the capital.”

  • GPS Vibrating Belt Guides Cyclists

    A new vibrating navigator belt guides cyclists by tickling them with buzzes and with directional nudges, according to a report by NDTV Gadgets.

    The “vibrobelt,” proven successful in early tests, uses vibrating actuators that indicate left, right, backward and forward turn directions. Developed by Haska Steltenpohl of the Intelligent Systems Lab at the University of Amsterdam, the Netherlands, the system aims to give cyclists a “heads-up” navigator, allowing them to keep their eyes on the road after they have chosen their destination on a GPS smartphone.

    The researchers plan to reveal their system and research results at the annual Intelligent User Interfaces conference in Santa Monica, California, in March.

  • GPS at the Olympics: Twitter Disrupts GPS Data from Olympic Cyclers to Broadcasters

     


    UPDATE: Title changed to clarify that GPS signals are not affected, but the transfer of the GPS data to the broadcasters.

     

    GPS is playing a role at the 2012 Olympics in London, through apps for smartphones to transportation issues, and even a clash with social media.

    Twitter Disrupts GPS Data from Olympic Cyclists to Broadcasters

    The International Olympic Committee (IOC) said that social media prevented broadcasters from getting accurate GPS data about the precise location of Olympic bicycle competitors during the155-mile men’s cycling road race.

    According to Reuters, commentators on Saturday’s men’s cycling road race were unable to tell television viewers how far the leaders were ahead of the chasing pack because data could not get through from the GPS satellite navigation system traveling with the cyclists.

    IOC spokesman Mark Adams says the Olympic Broadcasting Services service was jammed by “hundreds of thousands” of people sending texts, pictures and updates to social networks such as Twitter and Facebook, the Washington Post reports.

    To alleviate the bandwidth issue, the IOC asked users not to tweet, saying unless it’s an “urgent, urgent one, please kind of take it easy.”

    The problem arose due to lack of data bandwidth provided by telecom carriers, which did not properly anticipate demand. CNET’s Zack Whittaker reports that users send almost 10 million tweets during the opening ceremonies alone.

    The problem appeared to be solved for Sunday’s women’s road race.

    Apps Spark User Interaction, Excitement

    A number of mobile apps will help spectators at the Games keep tabs on the action.

    SoFit Mobile. A Toronto-based mobile development company, SoFit Mobile, has released a free social-gaming app that uses GPS technology to track users’ steps as they compete with friends. Users can donate money to charity or unlock medals and real-life discounts and coupons based on how far they travel. Early participants were eligible to win tickets to the games.

    The app is designed to connect users with friends virtually, regardless of geographical and cultural differences, where they can train together and take part in athletic events like the New York Marathon.

    “Using the Olympics as a way to inspire more people to get active, SoFit will engage users to take small steps to start living healthier while connecting millions to make the world a better place,” said Olympic figure skater Michelle Kwan in a press release.

    The app was developed in partnership with the Walk A Mile campaign, which was inspired by the 2012 London Games. SoFit is available for Apple and Android devices.

    Samsung Hope Relay. For every mile run while this app is activated, Samsung donates 1 pound to charities, including Kids Company and International Inspiration. The app uses GPS to track the users’ movements walking, running, or cycling, alone or as part of a team.

    TorchTracker. This app used GPS tracking to pinpoint where the Olympic Torch was as it made its way to the games, and helped fans find places to see it go by.

    American and Australian Team Buses Get Lost

    Before the games began, buses taking Australian and American athletes from Heathrow Airport to Olympic Park experienced a failure of GPS end users, sending the athletes around the city for a long tour before arriving at the Olympic Village.

    The bus driver hired by London Olympic organizers had not driven or been shown the route before, and could not operate the GPS navigation system fitted in the vehicle. Also, some of the venues, such as the village, had not been pre-loaded into the devices.

    For the Aussies, it turned into a 3½-hour marathon, accidentally taking them past central London landmarks such as Buckingham Palace and the Houses of Parliament.

    A separate London 2012 bus carrying American athletes got so badly lost it took four hours to make the 23-mile trip across the capital.

    Olympic Lanes and GPS Vehicle Tracking

    After there were problems for the athletes getting to events in 1996, every host country has had an Olympic Lane to speed the journey for Olympians. However, residents have grumbled about it and there has been some talk about defying the rule and using the lane for unofficial business.

    Blogger Oliver Ortiz posits that the conflicts could have been avoided if organizers had made use of GPS vehicle tracking. “The Olympic Lane is open from 6 a.m. until midnight both ways, and for many this is a folly. There will be certain times of the day when the Olympic Lane will be essential and it almost appears lazy on behalf of the Olympics organisers not to consider the best times for the lane to be open. If only they had thought about using GPS Vehicle Tracking to not only design the opening times, but also to monitor the Olympic Lanes during the games and make changes to when they are open. GPS Vehicle Tracking would have made these two things possible.

    “London knew they were having the Olympics way back in 2005, could the Olympic Committee not have thought about levels of traffic and travel times at various points in the day using GPS Vehicle Tracking to put forward a more practical schedule for the Olympic Lane to be open?”