iBuy GPS

We all know that one person in our life that is absolutely and completely directionally challenged. They seem to get turned around just heading to the grocery store, even if they’ve been shopping there for years! If you know somebody in that situation, consider giving them a gift that steps outside the conventional gift giving box. One great gift idea for this type of person that’s a bit unique and different is a GPS unit.

Do some basic research and find out what type of GPS would be best for them. If they’re a bit adventurous, maybe a Garmin eTrex would be best. If they don’t generally stray from the city, consider a car mounted GPS that can help them get around town. Whatever type of GPS would be best for them, it’s something they would probably never consider buying for themselves, but it’s sure to be something they’ll use on a daily basis.

New to the area?  Know someone new to the area?  Moving to a new area?  Buy a GPS device!  GPS devices have long been used to plan out road trips, navigate through foreign waters, or pinpoint a position in the wilderness, but the newest GPS models are ideal for more practical uses.  Most newer GPS models can navigate through traffic, avoid construction, locate points of interest, purchase movie tickets, and even make phone calls.  Having a GPS unit like the Garmin Nuvi 360 GPS is great for living in a new area. It’s hard to find the right way around town, but with a GPS like the Nuvi 360, it feels like you’ve lived in the area for years! You can use a GPS unit to find your way around town, and also to do all kinds of activities in the car. GPS devices over the years have become more like laptops or smart phones than just navigation technology.

GPS units are ideal for people who aren’t familiar with a particular area, and can cut a lot of time and stress from following directions the old fashioned way. You’ll be amazed at all the things a new GPS unit can do!

The advancement of technology has yielded some impressive available features on newer models of cars.  For example, several new vehicles feature automotive GPS systems, a feature which not only gives you directions to your destination, but finds gas, food, hotels, and even checks movie times for you. Another newer feature is a rear view camera, which helps when you’re parallel parking or backing out of a tight location. Several vehicles also come with embedded WiFi technology, allowing the driver or passengers to connect to the internet inside the vehicle.

Though these features comes standard or are available on all kinds of newer vehicles, it is possible to implement peripheral devices into older models.  GPS units, rear view cameras, and WiFi connectivity kits are available for individual purchase from various manufacturers of car accessories.

The Garmin eTrex Vista maintains the weight (5.3 ounces) and dimensions (4.4 by 2 by 1.2) of its predecessors and is housed in the same waterproof, pocket-sized casing. The main design difference between the Summit and the Vista is color (the Vista has a metallic-silver exterior). No changes were made to the 2.1-by-1.1-inch, high-resolution, monochrome LCD, and none were needed since the map detail is amazingly clear for such a small display.

Like the Summit, the Vista sports five convenient, black rubber buttons, including two Zoom controls, Power/backlight, Find, and Pages buttons, on either side of the unit, allowing for easy one-handed operation. However, Garmin has mounted a sixth button, called the Click Stick, on the face of the Vista. This five-position joystick-like navigation key lets you scroll through the various options within each of the main pages.

You can also use the onscreen keyboard to enter search criteria. Use the Page button to view satellite information, maps, compass heading, elevation history, or a trip computer (which displays an odometer, speed, average moving time, and more). The sixth page is a Windows-like menu where you can create routes, mark waypoints, view track logs, and find local points of interest. We were particularly impressed with the extended Find function, which displays the distances (”as the crow flies”) and a heading pointer to your desired location on both the map and compass pages.

GPS navigation system, digital entertainment system and traveler’s reference all in one, the Garmin Nuvi 350 GPS fits in your pocket and can take you anywhere.  This device includes an MP3 player, JPEG picture viewer, world travel clock with time zone designations, currency and measurement converter, calculator, and more.  It includes an anti-theft feature and has the capability to work with optional features such as language translation and traffic updates.  It has a rechargeable lithium ion battery.

The Garmin Nuvi 350 is preloaded with street maps and a points of interest database that includes ATMs, gas stations, and lodging information.  Users may also program custom points of interest (POI) such as school zones and traffic safety cameras.

In recent years, advancements in GPS technologies have been spearheaded by Garmin Limited. The company has grown steadily over the last decade or so, climbing from a $23 million profit in 1995 to over $900,000 in revenue in 2007. This growth can be attributed to their cutting edge technology in a wide range of GPS equipment.

Garmin sells a variety of GPS systems, including automobile and personal models. Many of the units feature a built-in Garmin antenna, which is used to patch into a satellite and pinpoint your location. In 2006 Garmin released all of its software for the Mac OS, and the company continues to make revisions to their business model to stay ahead of the competition.

Everyone knows the danger of driving and talking on a cell phone at the same time. It not only ties up your hands, but also distracts you from what is happening on the road. Virtually every state has laws in place that prohibit cell phone use, but there are many other activities that can distract drivers just as much.

When you are traveling in an unknown area, looking up directions with maps and GPS units can be just as distracting as using a cell phone. Utilizing a Garmin GPS mount will allow you to easily navigate unfamiliar areas without putting yourself or other drivers at risk. The unit mounts right on the windshield, displaying a detailed map of the road and will even tell you where to turn.

As an avid hiker, it’s absolutely essential that I have a firm grasp of the lay of the land. I set aside an hour or two before every camping trip to plot out my hikes, making sure to bring the proper supplies and gear in accordance with the temperature and altitude. Unfortunately, I found out the hard way what happens when I don’t pay enough attention to the topography of a region before a hike.

Without realizing it, I found myself in a high-altitude area that became tremendously cold at night – so much so that I sat up most of the night with my teeth chattering. If I had simply consulted Garmin topo maps, I would have known to bring an extra-insulated, cold-rated sleeping bag. Ever since that embarrassing incident, I’ve always been prepared for the terrain and the elements to come

When most people think of GPS technology, it’s probably the version made for cars that comes immediately to mind. Still, one could argue that these systems are even more practical for use on boats. When ships and small craft are far from land on an overcast evening, natural navigational clues are scarce indeed. With no lighthouse or constellations to guide them, boaters can drift far off course.

By putting a navigational system onto a marine GPS mount, it’s possible to avoid these problems entirely. GPS can also save the lives of the crew and passengers by alerting them about the presence of rock outcroppings and other treacherous debris that might be waiting in the murky depths. Clearly it’s just as crucial to have easy navigation ability at sea.

Watching your precious GPS flop around your dashboard like a fish out of water can make your stomach turn. After all, you spent big bucks to obtain this technological savior. Why would you want to waste your investment by allowing it to become utterly beaten and scratched? It would be in your best interest to shell out a few dollars to buy a contraption to hold it securely in place.

Handheld GPS mounts come in several varieties and designs to accommodate each and every GPS model. You can also choose whether you’d like a windshield mount, a dashboard mount or a mount that clips to your AC vent. Never again will you swerve as you reach to rescue your GPS from bouncing throughout your car. Protect your technology today!