Hasta La Gadget!

Each week Ross Rubin contributes Switched On, a column about consumer technology.

From pitch pipes to voice recorders, the list of standalone devices that an unadorned smartphone can substitute for runs long. But the portable electronics products that smartphones have had the most impact on have been digital cameras / camcorders, portable media players and portable navigation devices (PNDs, although the Europeans did a better naming job with “sat navs”).

The future of PNDs looked rosier in the days when cellphone navigation services required a monthly fee. Google Navigation changed all that and much of the market was relegated to sub-$100, Black Friday-bought glove compartment hermits. But even as they’ve released smartphone navigation apps, companies such as Garmin and Magellan keep plugging away at the PND, trying to differentiate from the smartphone apps while cooperating with them.

Filed under: Cellphones, GPS

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Many of us avoid flying with checked baggage when possible, and for good reason: even a simple delay can sour a whole trip. Airbus’ new Bag2Go prototype could save us from having to pack light, however. The smart luggage carries a raft of sensors that work with an iOS app to bypass the usual airport drudgery. Its RFID chip lets travelers check in their bag and link it to every step of their itinerary; in theory, couriers can ship baggage to the hotel at a lower cost than usual. Bag2Go should also provide some reassurance through GPS tracking and alerts to any possible tampering. Airbus is still early into development, but it foresees a business model where customers can either buy a Bag2Go suitcase at a premium or rent one for a long vacation. As for us? We’ll just be happy if our luggage avoids an unexpected detour to Belize.

Filed under: GPS, Transportation

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Via: MacRumors, Australian Business Traveller

Source: Design Q (Vimeo)

Lockheed Martin flipped the switch on its first (still Earth-bound) GPS III satellite earlier this year, and it’s now announced that it’s completed functional testing on the satellite’s key electronic systems. In a press release, the company says those systems, ranging from navigation and control to communications, are all “functioning normally and ready for final integration with the satellite’s navigation payload,” and that the satellite remains on track for deliverly to the Air Force in 2014. As previously detailed, the satellites themselves are promising to deliver a range of improvements over current GPS technology to civilian and military users alike, including three times greater accuracy and an eight-fold increase in anti-jamming capabilities, which Lockheed Martin says is designed to “outpace growing global threats that could disrupt GPS service.”

Filed under: GPS

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Via: The Verge

Source: Lockheed Martin

It’s not hard to navigate to a Facebook Event if there’s an address: it’s much harder if the organizer simply assumes that we’ll know where to go. Thankfully, we can now lean on some collective help through Waze 3.7 for Android and iOS. The update not only populates the destination list with Facebook Events, but fills in the blanks for everyone involved — enter an address and it will be sent to others on the guest list. It’s also easier to be fashionably late with the new app, as Waze members can see when others are likely to show up. Anyone who’s ever had to navigate to “that place near the guy with the thing” will likely want to grab the 3.7 upgrade at one of the source links.

Filed under: Cellphones, GPS, Mobile, Facebook

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Source: App Store, Google Play

We’ve come across a number of GPS-based tracking devices over the years but most are rather bulky and difficult to setup. eTrak’s attempting to remedy this here at CTIA 2013 with GPS+, a fob-like product that combines WiFi, cellular and GPS tracking in a small, light and easy-to-use package. The device, which is about the size and weight of a box of licorice-flavored Tic Tacs, features a panic button, multicolor status LED and charging contacts. It’s meant to be attached to a keyring, and comes with a matching charging base which includes a standard micro-USB connector. Battery life is about 5 days per charge — not too shabby for a product that packs WiFi, cellular and GPS radios. Speaking of which, eTrak’s partnering with Verizon Wireless for CDMA-based network positioning. The company provides a web-based interface which supports geo-fencing with SMS and email notifications, along with iOS and Android-compatible apps. GPS+ will retail for $129 and be available soon (production’s been under way since May 1st). Two plans will be available: $10 per month with a one-year subscription and $15 per month commitment-free. Want to know more? Don’t miss our gallery below and follow the source link for more info.

Filed under: Misc, Wireless, Mobile

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Source: eTrak