Socket Release GPS Nav Kit

[Jonathon Watkins]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.socketcom.com/about/press/read.asp?ID=147' target='_blank'>http://www.socketcom.com/about/pres...read.asp?ID=147</a><br /><br /></div>Another week, another release of a new bit of GPS kit. This time it's the 'GPS Nav Kit' by Socket Communications and it looks rather decent actually. It's a software/hardware combination which includes Socket’s MyNavigator software and provides turn-by-turn instructions and map support for the United States, Canada and over 14 European countries. With Americans apparently spending over 500 million hours per week in their car, it's easy to see why GPS is proving so popular. New MyNavigator software features are:<br /><br /> <li> Allows hotkeys to be assigned to the most popular functions <br /><li> Ability to select destination by intersection or city center <br /><li> More than 1.2 million new points of interest and new categories including attractions, businesses/shopping, education/government, emergency, lodging, recreation, restaurants and transportation <br /><li> Improved optional map views including flat, bird’s eye and 3-D <br /><li> Updated NAVTEQ maps of North America and Europe <img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/socketgps300.jpg" /> <br /><br /><i>"Additional hardware features include a new receiver chip-set from u-blox that is capable of receiving 16 GPS channels and processing 8192 simultaneous search bins as well as a removable and replaceable battery. In addition, it includes Satellite-Based Augmentation System (SBAS) support for increased location accuracy with the Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS) in the U.S. and EGNOS in Europe. The hardware weighs only 71 grams and fits into the palm of your hand without requiring wires or cables."</i><br /><br /><b>Update: </b>There's were no pictures of the GPS hardware in the press release, but Stik and Freitasm turned up pictures of the unit anyway. The GPS Nav Kit is apparently available immediately for around $249 though I could not find it in any shops yet. I think I can see GPS in my future purchase plans. What about you?

[Stik]

There's no pictures of the GPS hardware at the moment, which is a pity

Hi Jonathon,

Here's at least one picture of the hardware...

http://www.socketcom.com/images/450x450/GP0822-523.gif

On a sidenote, who are these happy fellas?

http://www.u-blox.com/news/1millionth_gps_big.jpg

That part of the story can be found here...

u-blox AG today announced the delivery of its millionth GPS receiver to Socket Communications, Inc., for Socket's new wireless GPS Nav Kit.

The millionth GPS module, a TIM-LA, was presented personally by Nikolaos Papadopoulos, President of u-blox America, to Kevin Mills, President and CEO of Socket Communications in a commemorative celebration at Socket headquarters in Newark, California.

http://www.u-blox.com/news/1millionth_gps.html

[freitasm]

http://www.geekzone.co.nz/images/news/socketgps300.JPG

It was available with the press release, but not on the official site.

[Jonathon Watkins]

Thanks guys. :way to go:

So, has everyone that wants a GPS unit, already got one then? :wink:

[davast]

I started with TTN2 in early 2003 with a SOC CF GPS receiver in my iPAQ 2210, then updated the software to TTN3. Now I have CoPilot Live 5 with a Holux GR231 bluetooth GPS receiver. I never go anywhere now with out them. You do not have to use them all the time, but it is so handy knowing your ETA, if there are any speed cameras on route, where the nearest Tesco petrol station is for my clubcard points, etc. It is a definite advantage over just using your PPC for PIM/notes/Excel/lists and whatever else.

[disconnected]

I've had a Fortuna GPSmart bluetooth GPS receiver for about a year and a half. I use it with Mapopolis. I've gotten a lot of use out of it, but it has a few flaws, so I'm thinking of putting a new one on my Christmas list. I haven't done much research yet (need to spend more time on GPSPassion.com I guess), so I'm not too clear on the pros and cons of Xtrac, Xtrac2, etc. My Fortuna has the unfortunate "feature" of operating on battery power as long is it contains a battery, even if it's plugged into the car lighter socket, and it's also often very slow to acquire a fix. I want a unit that has a rechargable battery that lasts a long time, and recharges while in use as long as it's plugged in.

[Dolphin]

I just had a DVD player installed in our minivan at "Car Toys" here in Denver, Co.. While I was waiting for it to be installed I was checking out all the GPS systems they had. Very nice... but very expensive!

How would this system compare to the dedicated car units?
What is the best GPS/PPC combo?
I really like the idea of no wires... is this the only one that is bluetooth?

TIA

[Jonathon Watkins]

I really like the idea of no wires... is this the only one that is bluetooth?

There are *plenty* of other units Dolphin. :D Try the Pocket GPS website (http://www.pocketgps.co.uk/menu_gpshardware3.php) for reviews of over a dozen devices.

I personally like the look of the Fortuna Clip-On unit, which goes for £230 including Tomtom 3 from Expansys. It has Xtrac, which should be great for improved accuracy while walking and in cities. I did not know about Xtrac2 Disconnected. I think there are very few units even with Xtrac on the market, though this thread seems to say that you can upgrade to Xtrac2 via a firmare upgrade (http://www.gpspassion.com/forumsen/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=12597). (The upgradeable unit is the Fortuna Clip-On interestingly enough).

Does anyone have any more thoughts on Xtrac vs Xtrac2?

[sheik]

Do these units need to be connected to a Pocket PC in order to work?

If I'm walking around a city or round the countryside, I wouldn't want my PDA to be turned on all the time.

Ideally, I would like to be able to just turn on the GPS box at the start of my journey and if I needed directions or wanted to see my route so far, turn on the PDA and have the screen update via bluetooth. Is this possible, and if so, does it actually work well?

Thanks,

/\dam

[Jonathon Watkins]

Do these units need to be connected to a Pocket PC in order to work?

No.

Ideally, I would like to be able to just turn on the GPS box at the start of my journey and if I needed directions or wanted to see my route so far, turn on the PDA and have the screen update via bluetooth.

From reading the reviews, this is indeed the way they work. The BT device takes time to get a fix, but once it has it, it keeps it regardless if the BT signal is being received by the PPC or laptop.

[davast]

The Holux GR231 is Xtrac2, which means it is more accurate &amp; does not have the lag problems associated with some xtrac1 receivers. it also has a rechargeable battery which is interchangeable with Nokia 7/8 series phone batteries. If you want to get the low down on these and on stand alone GPS receivers then visit www.pocketgps.co.uk or gpspassion.com. You will not find better sites for anything GPS.

[gpspassion]

Does anyone have any more thoughts on Xtrac vs Xtrac2?

Why not try the XTRAC File (http://www.gpspassion.com/fr/articles.asp?id=90) ;-)

As a side note, Socket's new navigation software is an essence Intellinav v2, released by other OEMs back in the Spring review here (http://www.gpspassion.com/fr/news.asp?id=327)

I'm surprised that Socket plan to sell 1 million GPS receivers ?! This sounds crazy, maybe they put several uNav chipsets in one receiver ;-)

[Stik]

I'm surprised that Socket plan to sell 1 million GPS receivers ?! This sounds crazy, maybe they put several uNav chipsets in one receiver ;-)

Thats funny gpspassion, but so theres no confusion, the article I dropped off stated that the u-blox/ Socket 'party' was thrown because Socket's new B^ GPS receiver was utilizing the 1 millionth chipset delivered by u-blox, not that Socket bought 1 million chipsets from u-blox. :wink:

uNav and u-blox the one and same company and chipset? I don't think so.

u-blox is an international company headquartered in Switzerland

uNav is a privately held, fabless semiconductor company that develops GPS chipsets and is headquartered in Irvine, Calif

What I'd really like to know is, is there any big difference in the capabilities ( performance ) of the one companies GPS chipset over the other? Navigation accuracy? Advanced WAAS/EGNOS support?

http://www.spacedaily.com/news/gps-04zn.html

TIA! :mrgreen:

[gpspassion]

Thanks for clarifying, I read that a bit quickly! The confusion came from the fact that the new Socket GPS was going to be using the uNav chipset, at least that's what's in the prototype I got this summer.

Now the specs say uBlox Antaris, which I'm not familiar with (at least at the consumer GPS level) and if anyting could be a "home grown" chipset based on the existing SiRF or uNav chipsets...or not. Guess I should send an email to uBlox to find out for sure.

As for SBAS, I don't think I'd worry about it too much unless you fly planes or sail in a rock infested area. I have yet to see any real-life report that WAAS brings anything to the quality of a GPS and in Europe EGNOS is still undergoing "testing"...You'll find some useful links here - http://www.gpspassion.com/fr/articles.asp?id=50

[Stik]

Thanks for clarifying, I read that a bit quickly! The confusion came from the fact that the new Socket GPS was going to be using the uNav chipset, at least that's what's in the prototype I got this summer.

Now the specs say uBlox Antaris, which I'm not familiar with (at least at the consumer GPS level) and if anyting could be a "home grown" chipset based on the existing SiRF or uNav chipsets...or not. Guess I should send an email to uBlox to find out for sure.

Whoa, that was a FAST response gpspassion, thanks! :lol:

Thanks for any additional information you can glean from u-blox.

You received a Socket GPS prototype this summer? Cool! 8)

Ok, heres my understanding on that. Socket was ' supposed ' to have released their new B^ GPS receiver months ago. However, after the savvy GPS folks like yourself tested the ' prototype ' units, minor glitches were revealed and they ( Socket ) totally scrapped that project after weeks of engineering couldn't fix those same minor glitches. The company than started to build another unit from scratch again and may be why they dropped the uNav chipset in favor of the u-blox Antaris chipset.

It was all about the end user experience.

Just a guess on my part. :wink:

[gpspassion]

Sounds like a good guess to me. Seems like I also need to send an email to Socket now ;-)

So we now have a wealth of chipsets to choose from:
1. SiRF IIe/LP - ST or XT2
2. SiRF III - Q1 2005
3. Nemerix - iTrek BT GPS (http://www.gpspassion.com/fr/comments.asp?id=467) - 24 hours of battery life!
4. u-Blox - Socket BT

[uzetaab]

Someone asked about the difference between dedicated &amp; PPC GPS devices.
I can only speak for Navman which hasn't even been mentioned, but that's all I sell at present.

The only differences between the two are:
1) the dedicated units have larger, brighter screens
2) the dedicated units have louder, clearer speakers.
3) the dedicated unit's calculation times are faster because the Ram is not sharing resources with PPC functions like the OS &amp; Outlook stuff.
4) the dedicated units are very overpriced.

Buy a PPC version.