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Windows Phone Gets That Much Better With GPS Apps

May 20th, 2013

It’s rare for Microsoft to be the new kid on the block. In 2001, Microsoft began an extremely expensive foray into the console gaming market with the Xbox. To some, the idea was laughable; the corporation had for decades been known for its productivity software and PC operating systems. Microsoft leader Bill Gates, however, indefatigably marketed the machine, aggressively pursued top-tier game developers in an already competitive marketplace, and turned the Microsoft brand into one of gaming’s “Big Three.” Once again, Microsoft was king of electronic software.

Then Apple game-changed everything again. The iPhone, possibly the most fundamentally market-shifting consumer electronics device since the personal computer, changed the way we interact with computers. It was a handheld computer, no larger than a pack of cigarettes, enabling users to do most of the things people do on their desktop computers. Smart phones changed communication; they changed gaming; they changed the way the Internet is used; they changed the way we interact with the world.

Once again, however, Microsoft’s competitive spirit came out to play. Never content to be in second place, the software juggernaut set its sights on mobile. Released last year, the Windows Phone was designed to compete with Apple’s iOS and Google’s Android. Maybe, like Xbox, it wouldn’t be the most original Microsoft product ever invented. It would, however, have a ton of money behind it.

Windows Phone came out to largely “meh” reactions last year. The biggest problem was a lack of software. The phones themselves were fine–but the market was already comfortable with Android and iOS; third party software developers have been slow in getting on the Microsoft train.

That’s about to change, in some small measure, thanks to high-powered GPS tracking apps. We’re not just talking GPS gimmick navigating software like Waze, etc. We’re talking high-powered software designed to replace the full-powered GPS devices installed in automobiles. Software that uses hyper-accurate maps worldwide. Powerful software that automatically reroutes based on up-to-date traffic pattern data. Software that is fully integrated with the most popular search engines, including Google, Yelp!, etc. Software that is, in short, designed to be the ultimate road navigating solution for Windows phones.

Will Microsoft claw its way into the “Big Three” phone operating system providers? While the software giant has had a slow start, Microsoft’s tenacity will no doubt serve it well as it plows forward into the world of mobile. Its efforts will no doubt be helped by many exciting GPS apps.

DIY Map Provides Hands On Navigation

May 7th, 2013

GPS tracking information can now be personalized for special use with DIY Map. People who like to annotate or create their own maps will find this app particularly useful. While the app does require some hands-on use, it can be very helpful for those who need to input information that may not be on standard maps. After learning the ropes, you’ll be sure to enjoy releasing your GPS-powered creativity!

Get creative

Making your own navigation tool, though maybe not simple, is certainly viable. DIY Map lets you scan in a map you’ve already created or make a new map from scratch from a JPEG or PNG file. You can also use Open Street Maps to download data through an internet connection. Use Mobile Atlas Creator (which runs on PCs and Macs) to access atlas information from your DIY Map app.

Find your way

DIY Map is basically a springboard for your imagination. It contains the basic tools and information you need as a starting point to input the data that is particularly useful to you. It includes reasonably complete maps for 3,788 cities. This app does allow you to download POI information, but because its purpose is different (DIY and plug in your own points of interest), the local POI data supply may be lacking.

In the boondocks

No solid Internet connection? That’s no problem for DIY Map. Simply use a map you’ve already downloaded. If you have to carefully monitor your data usage because you’re on a metered plan, using previously gathered data is a great solution. This is a great advantage for those that want to take their maps into remote areas, where it’s nearly impossible to find a wireless connection.

A good fit

This app is a great navigational solution for those needing specialized maps for geographic or scientific use. It can combine the best of all worlds: existing maps and the user’s own map data. A hiker would enjoy the advantages of this app if planning a hike to an area where mapping geo-cachers could log very specific data using DIY Map. Another appealing factor is that built into the app is more helpful info such as weather, sunrise and sunset times, and moon phases.

Bike Spike Provides GPS Tracking Security For Cyclists

April 30th, 2013

Bike riding is popular all over the world. It provides great exercise, fresh air and low-cost, environmentally-friendly transportation. In fact, my husband and I just bought ourselves a pair of beach cruisers with our tax return. We love to ride our bikes along the beach and around town. The only reason I don’t take my bike out more often is because I’m afraid it will be stolen. We have bike locks and take precautions, but I’ve known many cautious people who’ve become the victims of bike theft. Some savvy entrepreneurs teamed up and came up with a GPS tracking device for bicycles designed to provide a little extra peace of mind for bike owners like my husband and me.

The device is called Bike Spike and was funded by KickStarter, an online forum for funding independent projects. Anything from music, design, art, games, films and technology can be funded through KickStarter. The only catch is that in order to get any funding, the project must meet it’s goal within the set timeline. According to the site, about 44% of the projects at KickStarter meet their goals. Bike Spike managed to meet their $150,000 goal and are working on making the product available at around $150.

Bike Spike has developed a GPS tracking device, which doubles as (and is disguised under) a cup holder that attaches to the bars under the seat. The tracking device connects to your smartphone and records all kinds of useful information. Bike riders can record and publish their mileage, speed, route and more. This information can be used to compare with fellow cyclists or simply for one’s own fitness records. Competitive cyclists can use the distance and speed information to better their performance.

The other primary use for Bike Spike is the extra security provided by a tracking device. If you finish lunch, shopping, or a movie and return to the bike rack to find your bike missing, the Bike Spike tracker could help recover your bike. Simply access the Bike Spike smartphone app to locate the GPS device. With any luck, the thief didn’t think to remove the unit. Using security bolts to attach the tracking device will make it more difficult to remove the device should a thief try to remove it.

CA: Woman Nabs Mobile Phone Thief Thanks To GPS Apparently

April 21st, 2013

It seems a Sacremento woman learned just how powerful the GPS tracking apps that track down your missing cell phone can be. However, she learned another valuable lesson as well after thieves made off with her cell phone at an Elk Grove bowling alley: call the police.

She and her friends were finishing up a bowling game at Pins N Strikes bowling alley, when Leora (no last name provided) noticed her phone was missing. One of her friends pulled out her cell phone and showed Leora a GPS tracking app that would track down her phone.

“We downloaded the app on one of my friend’s phones and I never used it before. I didn’t even know how it really worked,” she said.

The GPS tracking device directed the group of friends directly to an Elk Grove address, where the thief answered the door with another woman, holding a gun.

“I was surprised he came to the door with a gun,” said Emmanuel, one of the friends in her group.

The man had actually been flirting with her at the bowling alley, prior to stealing her phone. “I was just dumbfounded. I couldn’t believe that this was the same person. Now he has this gun.”

He yelled at the group in an effort to get them off of his property, and Leora called police. She admitted she should have done that in the first place, rather than trying to play Nancy Drew. “I think it’s important to definitely let the police do their job,” she said. “That (GPS) technology is super helpful, it is, but at the same time it’s important not to just go somewhere. It could have ended so much worse for us.”

Police did arrest both people inside the home, who are now out on bail and face charges including making threats with a deadly weapon.

Leora, a psychology student, offered her own assessment of the thief: “I think he’s a sociopath. That’s what I kept saying. That’s what I kept saying the whole night. I think he’s a sociopath.”

RunKeeper for Android Gets Facelift

April 18th, 2013

Do you use the RunKeeper app, whether iOS or Android? The Boston, MA based GPS tracking app company boasts over 17 million users in over 200 countries worldwide, all thanks to the fact they are now offering the Android version of the app in six additional languages – Spanish, French, Italian, German, Japanese, and Brazilian Portuguese.

Their Android 3.2 update brings more than just additional languages to the digital table. The company wanted to freshen up the GPS tracking app “with Android design guidelines and best practices in mind,” according to a company spokesperson.

To that end, the user interface was overhauled to be more pleasing to the eye while at the same time showing you the information you want to see most often, front and center. A new ‘Me’ tab showcases your personal records, progress, and activity tally over a period of time.

Also added to the app: the ability to schedule in your next workout and receive reminders to annoy you into action, in case you feel like skipping out.

The updated RunKeeper Android GPS app added the ability to view your pace per mile, kilometer, or workout interval at any point during your workout. This is definitely a handy feature for the runner looking to challenge their personal best, as it keeps you informed as to how fast you are running and at the same time how fast you should be going in order to beat your record.

Adam Stroud, lead Android developer for RunKeeper, said, “During the development process, we took the opportunity to not only rethink how our app looks, but also to rethink how we deliver it to our users…While refreshing each and every screen in our app, we took special care to ensure that the RunKeeper experience is in line with the overall Android user experience.”

The updated Android RunKeeper app also offers sharing your workout on Facebook and Twitter, as well as the ability to earn badges for RunKeeper Elite users.

Protecting Teenagers through Vehicle GPS Tracking

April 12th, 2013

It makes sense that parents would think using tracking apps on their phone or mobile device is adequate enough to monitor their teenagers’ every move. That’s what tracking apps (“Find My iPhone”) do—track the device and presumably the person along with it. But if teenagers are driving somewhere they know they shouldn’t be, they will also probably know how to turn off that tracking feature (or just the phone itself). More and more it’s recommended that parents consider installing a vehicle GPS tracking device instead.

A Problem with Accuracy

Those cell phone tracking apps aren’t as accurate as we think. They don’t use the orbiting GPS satellites (which are extremely precise) to calculate a position like most vehicle tracking devices do. In fact, some phone tracking apps use pinging off of cell phone towers near the phone’s current location to determine coordinates (triangulation), giving a highly inaccurate result. Teens being monitored through a cell phone tracking app might not be at that supposed “location” at all—they could be many miles from it.

Holding Teens Responsible

GPS tracking systems installed directly on the vehicle enable parents to keep a watchful eye, via the account on a smartphone or mobile device application or computer, on where their teen is driving. They can track current heading, location, and speed (which comes in handy for verifying the teen is observing the speed limit). The vehicle GPS tracking system is virtually un-removable, unlike cell phone tracking apps, and many, like the electronic monitoring devices from Lifeguard GPS, maintain their charge by hooking into the car battery with little to no chance of losing power. Should the need ever arise, an installed GPS tracking system allows owners to find and report stolen or lost vehicles and many times get them back within a matter of hours. Additional features of the tracking system can help teens learn the need for vigilance in car maintenance; they can be programmed by manual input to remind car owners of tune ups, registration deadlines, oil changes, and tire preservation among other things, alerting parents of these upcoming dates by email or text message.

Vehicle GPS tracking systems allow parents more than ever to safeguard teens in their growing independence.

GPS for Wi-Fi iOS Devices

April 4th, 2013

GPS for Wi-Fi iOS devices is a feature that has been sought by many consumers. After purchasing an iPod Touch or a Wi-Fi only iPad, users are often disappointed to learn that they cannot use their new devices for navigation. Their Apple or Google Maps apps work only while they are connected to a Wi-Fi network, thus rendering them virtually useless when driving down the road. A recent development by Bad Elf and CoPilot Live may provide the answer consumers have been seeking.

The Receiver

Upon purchasing this system, the customer receives what appears to be a typical data connector cable. One end of the cable is a USB connector that can be connected to a computer or car power source, allowing the device to charge and sync. The other end of the cable contains the connector for the device, but it also holds the Bad Elf GPS receiver. The receiver draws its power from the iOS device itself or from the power source to which it is connected.

The Software

The Bad Elf GPS for Wi-Fi iOS devices is being marketed as a package with CoPilot software. It is also possible to purchase the GPS separately, although the savings are minimal. At any rate, the GPS receiver can be used with any iOS app that uses self-contained maps. This includes such applications as Magellan Roadmate, Navigon, TomTom, and Garmin, as well as the CoPilot Live app. Programs like Google Maps do not work with the device since they require a data connection to obtain the map information.

Advantages and Disadvantages

The obvious advantage of this technology is that it enables users to perform GPS navigation without paying for costly cell data plans. The large screen of the iPad makes viewing the maps and directions quite enjoyable. It does seem that the external Bad Elf GPS receiver is somewhat slower than its built-in counterpart on the iPhone. In addition, it may sometimes be more difficult to acquire and keep a GPS signal. The company advises using an extender cable in order to place the receiver closer to the window of the vehicle.

Due to its cost ($99) and its occasional drawbacks, this new product may not be the answer to everyone’s prayers. But for those looking for a way to utilize GPS for Wi-Fi iOS devices, it is certainly an option worth considering and may be the harbinger of other products of this nature.

GPS Apps for Smartphones

April 3rd, 2013

With recent advances, many people are choosing GPS apps for smartphones. There are a number of applications on the market and their features vary as widely as their price tags. Most of the latest developments have been for the iPhone iOS. The latest system release for this device included a new app called Apple Maps. Unfortunately, this program did not perform up to expectations, even drawing an apology from Apple due to its poor functioning. Following this failure, a number of other apps were made available.

The Free Apps

The most attractive option to consumers is the free apps. These include such programs as Google Maps, Scout by Telenav, and Waze. Google Maps offers very good walking directions and public transit navigation. It also includes free voice navigation. Its driving directions are not quite as helpful, and its interface is lacking much of the information drivers have come to expect from their dash-mounted GPS. Scout by Telenav is the better app in the driving directions department, yet it too lacks some of the expected information like speed limits or lane assistance. It also does not provide walking directions. Waze brings crowdsourcing and social networking to navigation. This background can be especially helpful for obtaining real time traffic information.

Paid Apps

Paid GPS apps for smartphones offer a number of features to compensate for their sometimes hefty price tag. $40-$50 is the most common cost for products in this genre. Paid navigation apps, which include such options as Navigon, Magellan RoadMate, and Garmin, offer much more streamlined driving directions. They choose the best route based on current traffic or road quality. Unlike most free applications, these programs take into account the rules of the road and refrain from directing you to drive the wrong way on one-way streets. The driver will also see features familiar to him from his stand-alone GPS unit such as 2D and 3D lane assist and information on the speed limit for the current road.

While it appears that many people will rely more on their smartphones for navigation, stand-alone GPS units continue to have an assured place in the market. These units are able to offer many features and tracking capabilities that cannot be rivaled by a mobile device. It is likely that the future will bring more GPS apps for smartphones that will integrate with and serve as accessories to the stand-alone devices and programs.

Japanese Ad Agency Develops Ad Recognition App

March 28th, 2013

One of Japan’s largest advertising agencies has developed a smartphone app for consumers which integrates image recognition and GPS technologies for ads. Hakuhodo, a Tokyo-based company, launched Kokoku Plus on February 18th of this year. Fittingly, kokoku is the Japanese word for advertisement. Essentially, the app is used to take pictures of advertisements in commercials or magazines. The photos are then matched with an online database of ads and the consumer is sent relevant data and offers.

The Kokoku Plus app uses the GPS tracking technology built-in to smartphones to stamps the ad image with location and time data. The location and time information are used to provide the user with the most relevant deals. Another popular feature of the app is that it doesn’t require any registration or record personal information. Many modern consumers are wary of advertising agencies having too much of their personal information. This app only uses the images taken by the user to connect him or her with the best deals in the area.

“This is the next step from barcodes and links in advertisements,” Yukiko Ono said, spokeswoman for Hakuhodo. Scanning ads is nothing new. Over the past couple of years, QR, also known as “quick response”, codes are popping up in ads all over the world. Consumers with smartphones can scan these blocks of data to access more information about the deal. WIth Kokoku Plus, consumers can scan almost any advertisement and come up with results.

Another cool feature of the Kokoku Plus app is that it responds to motion commands. After an ad has been scanned, users can access more information about the product or service by flicking their phone towards the ad. By shaking the smartphone downwards, the user can automatically download any relevant coupons. Currently, Kokoku Plus is only available in Japan, but the company hopes to expand globally sometime in the future.

Dating Apps: Are They Safe?

March 25th, 2013

Sometimes, people need a little help finding that special someone. When the recommendations of friends don’t work out, you could turn to the internet for help. A slew of matchmaking sites have successfully brought people together, but for others it is just another dead end as matches might be too far away to feasibly work. In today’s smartphone age, some are turning to dating apps an alternative. The apps rely on GPS location technology to help find singles nearby, but is this a safe idea?

Rob Bent, unsuccessful with traditional dating methods, relies on a dating app and finds it works better than anything he’s tried. The 30-year-old says, “It definitely helps in planning and meeting up and making it easier.”

Why GPS Location Dating?

It seems more and more people are finding value in GPS location dating, ditching online dating for a better experience. But what is so great about GPS location dating? One reason people are attracted to dating apps is the simplicity. There is no planning required, no emailing each other incessantly prior to making the big “should we meet up” decision.

Tiffany Youdim, 32, relates her experience with a GPS location dating app: “I was just online waiting for my coffee and I was just like, let me see who’s available. It just happened to be that that person was in the back of the coffee shop, so we were able to right then and there spend a few minutes and chit chat.”

How Does It Work?

Start by reviewing your app choices. There are plenty to choose from, and each one works a little bit differently. Most are free, but some require a paid subscription, like Match.com’s app. Most of them perform the basic function of locating those around you who use the same app using your GPS device. As Chris Klotz, CEO of Singles Around Me, a popular location dating app, “Instead of hiding behind a computer screen, we’re trying to bring real life back into dating.”

The founder of another dating app, Aaron Schildkrout of How About We, agrees. “You meet in the real world, where it wasn’t about endless online chatter and email after email.”

The Problem

If you are a security expert, however, red flags are raised all over the place. “One of the biggest problems with GPS dating is the immediacy of it,” said Alan Rosenthal, a security expert. “You have no time to vet them or even to think about what your actions, your interactions, or the ramifications are going to be.” His biggest issue with a GPS location dating app is that someone knows exactly where you are.

Those in favor of GPS dating apps point out that the same could be said about any person, anywhere. “If somebody knows your name, they can look in the phone book and find your address,” said Klotz. “People can always switch off their location.”

Have you, or would you ever, use a GPS location dating app? Do you feel it is safe?