Amazon.com ReviewHandheld GPS receivers are growing in popularity as the hardware shrinks and the accuracy grows. Handspring Visor owners can slap a GPS module into their palmtop and find their location on their onscreen maps. GeoDiscovery's curvaceous and translucent Geode module offers some nifty design features to keep you from getting lost, but you'll first have to find the money to bring this device home. A great extra that helps offset the price is the two MultiMediaCard (MMC) slots. MMCs can hold up to 64 MB of additional storage space each, enabling you to store detailed maps and information about almost everywhere you're planning to go. Unfortunately, the MMC slots aren't currently supported, although GeoDiscovery hopes to have them functional within a couple of months. As with other enhancements, this support would require only a simple flash upgrade for the software. The GeoDiscovery Web site has an excellent map-finder tool, with detailed maps of cities and highways for all 50 states. Just download the file, synchronize with your Visor, and the maps are usable by the Geode. There are also downloadable guides, such as the National Park series for $4.99 each, with details like park hours, ranger station locations, and other pertinent content. After loading our Visor with appropriate maps, we headed out for a weekend camping trip. The first time we used the Geode, we had to calibrate the compass by turning around slowly. It took a while for the calibration to take, as well as for us to get our first satellite lock. But after that initial setup, we were able to get and hold a lock in less than a minute (rather typical for GPS receivers). We did have trouble maintaining a connection while in our car, but by holding the Geode closer to a window the connection stayed up more consistently. Because the Geode uses the new Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS), it can provide extremely accurate location readings--within three meters--and we noticed this during our tests. The tiny roads that led to our campsite were displayed on the Geode, with our location on the map coinciding exactly with a slight bend in the road. One of our main complaints about the Geode is the lack of street labeling. You have to click on a road or highway to see its name, which can make it difficult to use for navigation. On slower Visors, it can also take several seconds for the map to redraw when you're zooming in or out. Another caveat is the price--it's more expensive than some standalone GPS receivers. But if you're into lots of map storage, the MMC memory slots may make the Geode worth the extra cost when they come online. --J. Curtis Pros:
- Memory expansion slots
- WAAS support
- Lots of free maps to download
Cons:
- Pricey
- Streets aren't labeled until clicked
Amazon.com Product DescriptionThe GeoDiscovery Geode GPS Springboard module for Handspring Visor is an interactive travel guide that easily snaps onto your Handspring Visor. It incorporates a GPS receiver, a digital compass, and two memory expansion slots. The SiRFstar II-based 12-channel global positioning system receiver has an integrated antenna that enables the Geode to receive L1 C/A (course acquisition) signals from any of the 24 GPS satellites orbiting the earth. The Geode uses SiRF's FoliageLock technology, which provides a high level of signal sensitivity and performance even in canyons, between buildings, and in dense foliage. It also incorporates dual multipath rejection that eliminates stray data from reflected signals. This feature boosts GPS accuracy in many environments where the radio signals can bounce off rocks or buildings before reaching the Geode. Further enhancing the GPS accuracy of the Geode is the implementation of the Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS) developed by the Federal Aviation Administration. It is a geographically expansive augmentation to the basic GPS service. WAAS improves the accuracy, integrity, and availability of the basic GPS signals to approximately 2 meters in the United States, northern Mexico, and southern Canada. The Geode runs on two AA batteries and includes two MultiMediaCard slots capable of holding at least 64 MB each of storage for maps and trip information. Additionally, it includes a digital compass and a temperature sensor. The GeoDiscovery software runs on any Handsping Visor with Palm OS version 3.0 or higher. The GeoView Mobile software enables users to browse information linked to interactive maps and interactive travel guides. It can show you where you are on a moving map, provide navigation assistance, and help you bookmark your favorite places. |
