Help At Your Fingertips: Lokate Emergency GPS Watch

If you fear getting lost when you're out in the great outdoors, the Lokate Emergency GPS watch is for you. This watch not only helps you keep the time but features an integrated cell phone and panic button as well, allowing you to summon help from wherever you are. The internal GPS tracker will alert the control center of your position which is pinpointed on Microsoft Virtual Earth maps or aerial photography, where the relevant rescue authorities will then go about to provide any assistance necessary. A monthy subscription is required.

[ubergizmo]

Kid Tracker Watch: Lok8u’s Nu•M8 GPS Child Locator Watch

Lok8u is releasing a set of watches that incorporate GPS, so that you never lose track of your little ones. It also has a handy function that lets you know when the watch has been removed, either by your child or someone else. It's not the coolest looking watch but worth the peace of mind.

[Coolest Gadgets]

Successor to the X9i: Suunto X10 GPS Watch

The Suunto X10 has upgraded GPS performance, which locates your position even faster than the X9i. The improved GPS also tracks better in difficult conditions, such as heavy foliage, for more reliable readings when you need it most. Unlike bulkier, hand-held GPS units, the Suunto X10 is hands-free, so you can focus on the action instead of worrying about dropping or losing your GPS when the going gets tough. The Suunto X10 also records waypoints and routes, allowing users to analyze and catalog trips on a home PC.

The Suunto X10 includes an altimeter, barometer, digital compass, thermometer, and an extensive memory, as well as the usual time/stopwatch functions.

When navigating with the Suunto X10 on a preplanned route it shows you the direction you need to head and the estimated time of arrival. There is the "find home" preset which can lead the user back to the start point marked "Home". In addition you can also use the "track back" function which can guide you back along any recorded route.

Suunto X10 offers a battery life that is 33% longer than that of X9i and it has its own USB charger which can also be used to transfer data.

It will be available in two colors.

[ubergizmo]

Blurring the Lines: Sports Genius Wrist Tracker

The Sports Genius Watch Tracker is a a Cell Phone + GPS tracker + GPS datalogger + watch. Not only does it tell time, but the integrated GSM and GPS modules enable it to make and receive calls, track user movements and beam out current location via SMS. It also provides the means for logging runs and points of interest. Saved data can be uploaded to mapping software.

The device displays system setting, current coordination data and satellite indicator among other info. It transmits both longitude and latitude coordinates to a cell phone via SMS and can also be tracked online in real time by GPRS.

[Coolest Gadgets]

For the Stylish Fitness Conscious: Garmin Forerunner 405

A few weeks ago I wrote about the Garmin Forerunner 205 and 305. Well, the newest GPS-enabled fitness device from Garmin was introduced at CES 2008.


The Forerunner 405 has something for everyone. It can track a runner's speed, distance, heart rate and location accurately and effortlessly, while the revolutionary patent-pending touch bezel on the face of the watch makes navigation a snap. Tap, hold or run a finger along the bezel to begin a new workout, access the training history or challenge a Virtual Partner. The Virtual Partner’s pace can be adjusted without having to interrupt your workout by stopping. The Forerunner 405 is water-resistant and can be used outdoors or indoors (with an optional foot pod).

Using ANT+Sport technology, the Forerunner 405 sends workout data to the user's computer via automatic wireless data transfer. There's no need to take off the watch or bother with cables as the computer automatically syncs with the Forerunner 405 as soon as the user enters the room. And the data transfer is two-way. Runners, joggers, cyclists and hikers can send courses, goals and workouts to their Forerunner 405 before they begin, and then the data gets sent back to the user's computer when the workout is over.

The Forerunner 405 does all that and it's a stylish watch. Nice.

[Source: Ubergizmo]

GPS Devices for the Fitness Conscious

I must admit, when I first saw these wrist-mounted GPS devices, I thought they were only GPS navigational devices. While they do have some GPS navigational features, they do a whole lot more.

The Garmin Forerunner 205 (and 305) features an integrated, high-sensitivity SiRFstar III GPS receiver. The super-sensitive GPS tracks your every move, even working on tree-covered trails and near tall buildings. While the 205 doesn't offer heart rate monitoring, or connectivity with Garmin's wireless speed and cadence sensor -- for that, there’s the Forerunner 305 -- it's a great way to get basic GPS location and performance data.

The Garmin Forerunner 305 - Speed and Distance Monitor & Heart Rate Monitor features a high-sensitivity GPS receiver, new courses feature, and robust ANT wireless heart rate monitor for optimal performance. The heart device monitors your heart rate, speed, distance, pace and calories burned. The courses feature lets you download recorded courses and compete against previous workouts.

Both devices integrate seamlessly with the Training Center(*) software and a workout history is quickly uploaded and stored on the PC. The Training Center also lets you define courses on your PC that you can upload to the device. When course information is combined with uploaded workout information, the Forerunner becomes a complete guide, telling you where to go, when to make a turn, and what kind of workout to do when you're on the road or path.

While the 205/305 aren’t billed as GPS navigation devices, they do have some rudimentary mapping, waypoint marking, and routing capabilities. In addition to marking locations along your journey, you can zoom in or out of a simple map that displays your current direction and path. There's also a "go to location" feature that routes you back to your starting location, or to any location you have defined. Once you have defined several locations, you can save this information as a route, allowing you to travel the same path in the future.

Check out other Garmin Forerunner watches in the webstore.

(*) Training Center is not Mac-compatible