Rick Cooper, The PDA Pro

Navigating with the Magellan Maestro 3100 GPS

Engadget mentions that GPSMagazine reviewed the Magellan Maestro 3100 GPS. This GPS system retails for less than $300. Unfortunately, it lacks Bluetooth support. But, if you spend a lot of time digging through maps, this may be an option for you.

I wrote about GPS options for PDAs back in February.

New GPS Software for Palm Smartphones

I occasionally get questions from people asking about GPS software for PDAs and smartphones. I'm very much a believer in using the right tool for the right job. I think for most people, getting a separate GPS device that will be mounted in their car is probably the best option. For one, safety is your ultimate priority when you're driving. You don't want to do anything that's going to jeopardize your safety or those around you.

A GPS device designed for the car will typically have a larger display. This is important if your eyesight is beginning to deteriorate. You want to be able to easily see maps. The sound quality for turn by turn directions will generally be better.

Another factor is that it's very likely you will want to drive, use the GPS device and make a phone call at the same time. What happens then? I'm not exactly sure, but at the very least, when you begin to make that call, you will no longer be using the GPS software on your smartphone. And some smartphones get a little dicey when you try running multiple applications at once. They have been known to crash from time to time. Usually a soft reset will fix it.

However, in certain circumstances, GPS software for your smartphone may make sense. If you travel a lot, you can cut your rental car costs by using GPS on your smartphone rather than having it in your rental car. If you ride along with someone who doesn't have GPS, it can be handy to help you navigate. In any case, it's important to consider your needs, now and over time. This will help you identify your best options.

Good news for Palm customers, Palm® GPS Navigator Smartphone Edition 3 is now available.  According to Andrew from Treonauts,

"Palm yesterday released its new Palm GPS Navigator Smartphone Edition 3 which includes an updated version of the terrific TomTom Navigator software  (see my review Travelling With A Treo GPS In My Pocket) that is now finally compatible with nearly all Treo smartphones models including the Treo 650, 680, 700p, 700w|wx an Treo 750."

I recommend you do your research first. As with any technology, consider all of your options. Visit retail stores and ask for product demonstrations. View online demonstrations. Identify the pros and cons for each option and rate them. And check out the return policy for the product. Then, you will be able to make an informed decision and not have any regrets. Good luck and happy motoring!

Give Big Brother a Helping Hand with Mologogo

Smartphone and Pocket PC magazine shares details on a new service that allows you to share your location in real-time. They indicate,

"Mologogo is a free service that will track a friend's GPS-enabled cell phone from another phone or on the web. Mologogo also serves as a dirt-cheap tracking system, so go ahead and fauxjack something."

This has immediate appeal for younger consumers. Can you see a business use for it? Can you see any risks or potential abuses (i.e. stalkers)? Does this open you up to increased scrutiny from Big Brother (as in the movie Enemy of the State.) It's another indication that we are integrating further with our technology, for better or worse.

Check out Mologogo for further details on their service.