Product Reviews

MobilitySite.com: OnCourse Navigator 8 Reviewed

2008-10-31T21:45:00Z

"After my three-week evaluation of it, I can say that OCN8 has stepped up to the reputation of its predecessor. It remains far and away the best product I’ve tested in a long time. It has retained the quick operation, bug-free and highly configurable features to fit your personal likes. It works flawlessly on long and short journeys and never caused any problems at all. It’s a great system!" by Jake Rich

Rating given by MobilitySite.com

Maps – A-
Speed – A
Voices – A
Options – A
Configurability – A
Reliability – A
Overall rating – A

This way to read the complete review (click here).

Canmore USB GPS Stick being installed as in internal GPS on Dell Mini 9

2008-10-31T19:00:00Z

Tom Beauchamp of Dell Mini discussion forum has a detail instruction on how he install the Canmore GT-730F USB GPS Stick Dongle as an integrated GPS receiver.

According to Tom, "It's a nice unit with a SkyTraQ chipset and support for AGPS. Once I used the included utility to download an AGPS update into the unit, it gets a location fix in about five seconds after a reset." Lots of pictures and a YouTube video are provided in his article. Please click here to learn more...

Technical Review on the Qstarz BT-Q1300

2008-09-19T04:48:00Z

Qstarz BT-Q1300 Travel Recorder Nano reviewed by PocketNow.com

Neal Stublen of PocketNow.com posted this nice review on the Qstarz BT-Q1300. This way to read the complete review on Qstarz BT-Q1300 (click here):

This is Neal's final thoughts on Qstarz BT-Q1300:

"OVERALL IMPRESSION
The Qstarz BT-Q1300 is an easy to use and reliable Bluetooth GPS. The keychain design is a very convenient way of keeping your GPS with you. Although battery life is not as long as some other Qstarz devices, it is still more than sufficient for a day's activities and the BT-Q1300 still provides very fast signal acquisition. If you are looking for a GPS unit that will work with both your mobile phone and a non-Bluetooth laptop, you'll want to consider this unit. Personally, I'm not used to having much on my keychain, so I'm still getting used to carrying around this GPS. However, I will continue to see how I adjust to it since I've found myself on the road one too many times wishing I hadn't forgotten my GPS."

Review of Garmin XT with upgraded 2008 Map Data on Palm TX

2007-12-28T05:59:00Z

SKU: 693
Product Description: Garmin Mobile 10 (GPS10x BT GPS, DVD with North America Software for PC, Pocket PC, Palm, SmartPhone) (Free Phone/PDA Mount)

Source: http://www.buygpsnow.com/ProductReviewPopup.aspx?productID=693

Customer Reviews

Average Rating

View All 7 Reviews

As a pilot, I have been using Garmin GPS aviation products for many years. They make great aviation stuff but is is the first non-aviation Garmin product I have ever used. As far as the GPS receiver is concerned, it seems to be an excellent device. It has good battery life, reasonable Blue Tooth range and acquires satellites quickly. Much to my surprise I can turn the unit on in my windowless work room in my basement and receive signals adequate for 3-D naviagation. That is better than a much more expensive aviation GPS in the same location. I also use the Garmin receiver for another aviation navigation application and it works very well. However, the Mobile XT software that comes with the package, is not all that exciting. It is adequate for help for short unfamiliar trips and around town. I frequently find myself in an unfamiliar town and have used Mobile XT to search for a restaruarnt, of find my way to my hotel. The accuracy of that facility is often poor, and contains non-existant places or incorrect address for places I'm looking for. So, it is helpful, but not 100% for sure. Even after upgrading the street and maps database to the 2008 version, a lot of local things are incorrect. Things that are 2, 3 or 4 years old are not included, or incorrect. It is plenty "clunky" when it comes to using the software. For example one can get deep into the multilevel menus, but the only way out is "back out" all the way. If there is a "quick return" back to the main page(s) I haven't found it. Buy GPS Now delivered the package quicly and at a good price. The only thing is that they delivered a unit that had an install CD for a Windows CE device. The PDA program installed on my SD card was "Install.exe." Of course everyone knows that an .exe program won't run on a Palm OS. It needed a .prc file. Anyway, I got beyond that by registering the product online with Garmin and then downloaded the latest updated software. Installation of this was a nightmare. Once I got the right version that was for the Palm OS I still could not get it to install on the Palm. I spent hours on the phone with Garmin over a 3-day period of time. I did 3 complete reboots of the Palm TX. That meant that I lost my applications and data three times and had to hot-sync it all back three times. I suppose that I spent a total of 30 hours trying to get it installed and running. That is unacceptable. In fact, I had already filled out the RMA request to send it back, when I decided to try it again. It is working now, but Garmin apparently doesn't fully understand how the Palm TX manages internal memory, and it will often fail to run, with the message that there is not enough memory to run the program. Well the Palm TX has plenty of internal RAM, but if another program had been running, I will get that message and will have to do a reset in order to get it to run. That is OK, except that it takes a couple of minutes for the reset to happen. In the hours I spent on the phone with Garmin they were patient, but mostly unable to resolve the install and insufficient memory problems. They finally told me to do the Complete Reset, and actually stayed on with me through the whole process - only to come up with the same install problems on a "clean" Palm. I went back and re-downloaded the software from the Garmin website and then re-installed the three parts of it in a "non-standard" sequence (a different sequence than the instructions and the phone customer service had told me I had to follow.) Anyway, I finally got it installed and except for the database inaccuracies and the frequent need to "reboot" the Palm TX, it works as advertised. I think that the receiver is an excellent performer, but I'd suspect that other software options might be better performers than the Garmin software.
by Gerry , on 12/26/2007 11:35:20 AM

Read other reviews from other users here.

OnCourse Navigator 6 Review by Don Sorcinelli of Boston PocketPC

2007-04-22T16:30:00Z

Introduction
With the ever-growing number of GPS solutions on the market, finding that "just-right-fit" software for your mobile device can be challenging. The key to your happiness with a GPS solution may very well come down to one or more key differentiators between any of the applications you look at.

Easy PocketNAV has just released their latest version of OnCourse Navigator in OCN6. If ease of installation, simple route planning and general ease of use is important to your GPS solution for a Windows Mobile device, then OCN6 might be the perfect solution for you.

Mr. Don says “I have rarely come across a GPS solution for a Windows Mobile device that is user-friendly from "soup to nuts". OnCourse Navigator 6 is definitely an exception. From initial installation to configuration to route planning to usage, OCN6 provides all of the tools to make GPS navigation an enjoyable experience for me. Its extensive POI database and reliability on the road have quickly made it a favorite application, whether it is for a trip in the neighborhood or a long haul.”

Click here to read the complete article...

Garmin Mobile 10 Review: Part II

2007-04-05T03:55:00Z

I do apologize that I’m a little late the second part of this review. Work sometimes gets the best of you! Without further ado, let’s get started with the second portion of this review.

Bottom Line: Garmin Mobile XT is not a bad product, but I think it could be a lot better. Take away its online services and Garmin Mobile XT is a slightly below average GPS solution. Until Garmin updates their software to give simpler, more efficient maneuver directions (thus no longer requiring the user to have to read the directions), make menu navigation more efficient, and remove the requirement for users to use a proprietary Garmin GPS receiver, I would look elsewhere for a navigation product.

Click here to read the complete article...

Garmin Mobile 10 Review: Part I

2007-03-10T16:24:00Z

Well GPS fans, I have to admit. I’ve been looking forward to reviewing this GPS navigation solution for a while. I first heard about this software when Garmin first posted a beta-testing version (for Windows Mobile devices) online last fall. Recently, Mr. Joe Kee of www.buygpsnow.com was kind enough to send me an evaluation copy of the Garmin Mobile 10 package. All he asked was that I post my thoughts on it after I’ve had time to “kick the tires”. As always, “Thanks Joe!” Enough of the pleasantries! Onto the review!

A quick note too. I have a felling that this review is also going to be quite lengthy. I’ll be breaking it up into 2 sections. The first (which you’re reading) will cover the installation of Garmin Mobile XT onto your PDA. The second section will cover the features of Mobile XT and its strengths & weaknesses.

Discuss your questions or Share your user experience here…

i-Blue 757 Solar Energy Bluetooth (BT) GPS Receiver Review

2007-02-27T03:04:00Z

As always, I’d like to thank Joe Kee and the folks at www.buyGPSnow.com for sending me a testing/evaluation unit.

I’ve always liked the i-Blue product line. Before I received my i-Blue 757, I was using the i-Blue High Sensitivity Bluetooth GPS Receiver (PS-3200). I just loved this GPS Receiver. i-Blue was one of the first companies (if not the first) to offer a “smart power management system”. I don’t know about you, but before I bought my first i-Blue unit, I was always forgetting to turn off my BT GPS receiver. I’d use it to drive to work, but after parking my car, I’d forget to turn my GPS receiver off. Consequently, when I left work later that evening, I’d usually find my BT GPS receiver dead. I drained the batteries….again. This happened so often that I finally switched back to a hardwired GPS antenna and ditched the idea of using BT GPS antenna. Then along came the i-Blue product line. These GPS receivers were made for people like me.

Discuss your questions or Share your user experience here…

Initial Feedback, Strengths and Weaknesses and Bug Fixes!

2006-12-16T20:19:00Z

Let’s finish this review….what do you say? I’ve been using TomTom Navigator 6 for about a month now and I’ve got a good feel for what I like and what I dislike.

First of all, for Windows Mobile users who want TomTom Navigator 6 to work “properly”, your PDA must be running WM2003 Second Edition or later (See compatibility list here: TomTom Compatibility List. However, I’ve read on many forums that Windows Mobile users who only have WM2003 installed on their device are able to successfully run TomTom Navigator 6 with one exception: Screen rotation (i.e. You'll only be able to use TomTom 6 in "Portrait Mode").

Portrait Orientation

Landscape Orientation

HISTORY: In TomTom Navigator 5, WM users had a button in the “Preferences” menu that would allow them to rotate the screen by 90 degrees each time the button was pushed. In TomTom Navigator 6, TomTom has removed this button ...

Click here to read the complete article...

TomTom Product/Map Activation and a few Tours of TomTom Features

2006-12-07T09:07:00Z

Wow! I’m really sorry about the delay. I was hoping to have the activation part of the review up last week. However, sometimes life just gets the best of you, no matter what your plans are. What can you do? Anyway, on to the activation portion….

The activation process is nearly identical to the previous release (TT5). My last blog finished up with installing the maps, software, voices and satellite images onto your storage card. I had you disconnect your device from your computer and then remove and re-insert your storage card.

Once you re-insert your storage card, installation begins immediately. (Background for Windows Mobile Devices: TomTom HOME copies the .cab files (i.e. the install files) and creates a “2577” directory on your storage card. From what I’ve learned, a “2577” directory is a special directory used by the OS to install programs. Basically, if the OS “sees” a directory on your storage card labeled “2577”, it will look in that directory and install any .cab files it finds in it.)

Step 1: Program automatically begins installation when you re-insert your Storage Card.

You will soon be prompted to specify some of your preferences (i.e. time format, preferred language, etc). If you make a mistake on any of your preference choices (or change your mind later), don’t worry! You can change them under the “Preferences” menu (discussed in a later blog).

Click here to read the complete article...

Installing and Using TomTom HOME on your PC (Including TT6 Installation on your PDA)

2006-11-29T20:21:00Z

Part 1: Geek Speak.

Below I’ve outlined the hardware that was used during the review.

Hardware: - Desktop: AMD FX-55 w/4GB RAM running Windows XP

Professional x64.

- PDA: Qtek 2020i running WM2003 Second Edition.

ROM was flashed with O2 ROM. TomTom (including Voices) was running from Persistent Storage (onboard 64 MB ROM available to user). Available RAM was approximately 80 MB. All maps were stored on SD Card. Initial card used was an A-DATA 4 GB SD card. During the review, I switched to a San Disk Ultra II 1 GB (plus USB) SD Card (I’ll explain later why I switched).

The packaging is quite nice (see below). The left-hand side contains a graphical TomTom Installation Guide and a TomTom Quick Start Guide. The right-hand side holds the TomTom Software DVD, the Product Code card and a TomTom PLUS Quick Start Guide. I really like the way TomTom provided an insert for the Product Code card in the DVD case (see picture below).

Overview of TomTom Navigator 6 Product.

Part 2: Installation of TomTom HOME

TT6 has a slightly different installation process than previous releases. TT6 for PDAs now incorporates the “TomTom HOME” application. TomTom HOME is an application which connects your computer, your TomTom device and you. TomTom HOME is designed to help you manage the contents of your TomTom device, as well as to prepare for trips in advance. TomTom HOME resides on your PC (Desktop/Laptop) and provides a very easy interface to communicate with your TomTom device (i.e. your PDA). TomTom HOME is the center-piece for all TomTom devices (including TomTom’s All-In-One (AIO) devices). Some of TomTom AIOs allow for the user to listen to MP3s/audiobooks, communicate with their iPOD or even view pictures.

Click here to read the complete article...

Introduction To TomTom Navigator 6 Review

2006-11-29T17:36:00Z

Hi Everyone! A couple of weeks ago, Joe Kee asked if I’d be interested in writing a blog on my experiences with the latest release of TomTom Navigator for PPC (TomTom Navigator 6). ABSOLUTELY! Over the next week or so, I’ll try to cover everything from installation/using TomTom HOME on your PC as well as using TomTom Navigator 6 on your PDA.

I’d first like to mention a quick thank you to Joe and the folks over at BuyGPSNow! for sending me a review copy of the software. I would also like to mention that I’ve never written a Blog (or a review for that matter) before. Please bear with me. My self-editing skills leave a lot to be desired. That said, if you read something in this (or hopefully future) reviews that either doesn’t make sense or is grammatically incorrect, please PM on this site’s forum. I’ll try to answer/correct any PMs I receive as quickly as possible.

I must warn you, this blog series will be long. I’ll try to cover as much information as possible that new and current users of TomTom products might find helpful. Throughout the review, I’ll highlight some “Nuggets” (i.e. Tips) that I found in the user’s manual or online. Hopefully, they’ll make your “TomTom Experience” a little better.

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DISCLAIMER: I’m a HUGE TomTom fan. It is my preferred navigation application and I use it almost daily. I will try to keep my review unbiased, but you, as the reader, should know this ahead of time. Additionally, this review will focus on the application itself. It will NOT focus on the accuracy of the maps. For those who may be new to the GPS scene, software companies (like TomTom, iGuidance, Mapopolis, etc) design navigation software. Rather than trying to develop a piece of navigation software and concurrently create their own mapping database, TomTom and other rely on other companies to provide accurate, highly detailed maps. This makes sense when one realizes that the proper surveying of streets (and the Points of Interests found on those streets) on a State/Province/National level takes a lot of manpower to accomplish. Street data is gathered from a variety of sources which include both manual surveys as well as collecting data from previous surveys conducted by local municipal agencies. It’s too big of a task for a company the size of TomTom (and others) to accomplish. So instead of developing/maintaining their own map database, TomTom (and others) have chosen to purchase their map data from a mapping company. There are two primary providers for map data: TeleAtlas (which is what TomTom uses) and NavTeq. Both mapping companies provide very good-to-excellent quality maps over most of the United States and Europe (They cover other areas too). The quality of the mapping data varies on where you live/drive. Some factors that influence the accuracy/quality of the map data include: how long the roads have been there, when the last survey was completed and whether or not TeleAtlas/NavTeq has verified and incorporated this survey into their databases. Both companies have very stringent quality control methods, so updates sometimes take a while. Although both companies provide very good quality maps for North America, there is a general consensus among GPS navigation users that NavTeq maps are SLIGHTLY better (i.e. slightly more accurate) than TeleAtlas maps for navigation within North America. As stated above, it is location specific and depends on when TeleAtlas/NavTeq have updated their database. Where I live, I have found that TeleAtlas maps are a little bit more accurate than NavTeq (although the NavTeq maps are very good too). If you want to check out the maps where you live, go to:

http://www.google.com/maps

(To look at NavTeq Maps)

http://www.geographic.com/teleatlas/mapyouraddress/us/

(To Look At TeleAtlas Maps)

This might help you in determining which maps are more accurate in your area. Although I am comfortable with maps from either company, my personal preference is to use NavTeq maps. As with many other users, I find NavTeq Maps to be more accurate (even though they too contain their fair share of errors).

Next Blog Entry: Installation!