One of the worst feelings you can experience is walking back to your car - only to find that it isn’t there. More than likely, it has been stolen by a criminal. Losing your vehicle to theft is a terrible situation. Ridding the world of criminals is impossible, but thanks to advancements in GPS technology, you can make retrieving your stolen vehicle a little easier.
With all the GPS gadgets you can buy, most of them are designed to track vehicles and other large possessions. However, have you ever wanted to just locate an individual person? Thanks to the mobile phone networks, there are mobile phone tracking services that exist. However, tracking someone via the GSM networks only gives you accuracy to around 50 metres or so. Sometimes you get slightly more accurate results in densely populated cities due to the higher density of phone network masts.
The personal tracker from Maplin combines both GSM and GPS technologies in an easy-to-use package. Sold as a device to help monitor vulnerable individuals, it wouldn’t take much imagination to conceal the device as a covert tracking device. The personal tracker has the facility to store up to 3 telephone numbers for emergencies. By pressing one of the pre-set buttons, the person with the tracker can quickly speak to someone at the end of one of those phone numbers.
Although you might understand the basic functionality, you may still be curious to know what makes your TomTom GPS device tick. Whether you own a TomTom 940 or XL, each device consists of two major components: hardware and software. There is small computer in your sat nav receiver that makes sure the software runs efficiently. Depending on your TomTom model (if you don’t have one yet, choose your sat nav here), the software is either located on the hard disk or an SD card. With most devices, the hard disk itself has a capacity of at least 20 GB.
Espionage, secret agents and conspiracy theories are just a few of the many elements that come to mind when integrating modern technology with the government. When GPS initially started gaining steam, “big brother” conspiracy theories abound. Today, however, GPS is simply another example of how technology is being used to enhance both military and civilian operations.
Many view TomTom as the sat nav industry’s version of leading technology companies, such as Apple or Sony. Much of this acclaim is centered on the flagship TomTom Go 940 Live, which is arguably one of the most complete satellite navigation systems to date (check it out here or more sat navs from TomTom here). While it still sports the comprehensive, easy to read interface we have all come to expect, it is the addition of various LIVE services that truly elevate the 940 to new heights.
The XL represents the new breed of TomTom devices to sport the slimmed-down cradle unit. Its EasyPort mount design serves as a major benefit to drivers who were previously fed up with the chunky cradles and curved armatures that generally accompanied sat nav units. Unlike older devices, the TomTom XL twists in and out of a circular shaped retaining bracket. It can also be angled forward at your leisure to ensure that the screen is clearly visible. Design aside, the biggest attraction of this unit is all the innovative features it brought forth.
There is no denying that satellite navigation systems and GPS technology have come a long way over the years. With GPS’ immense popularity, it is no surprise that a large number of users are increasingly looking for ways to personalize their GPS units. To meet these fast growing demand, leading manufacturers such as TomTom have introduced solutions designed to satisfy this evolving demographic of users. Many sat nav device owners now have the ability to customize their units by changing the default voices to something a little more entertaining.
If you ask your kids to accompany you on a family hike through the world, they would probably, moan, groan and turn up the volume on their iPods. On the on other hand, if you ask them come out for a fun-filled, high-tech treasure hunt with a satellite navigation system, they will start packing before you can even finish your sentence. Read the rest of this entry »
Have you been thinking about installing a GPS tracking system in your car? While easy navigation is an obvious benefit, have you considered the other advantages of a GPS system?
Recent Comments