INTRODUCTION

    I’ve always been intrigued by GPS and GPS
devices. The ability to place your location within 10-30 feet (depending
on the unit), and thus (almost) never get lost. I may never have to
ask for directions again! My only hangup with GPS units in the past
was the fact that I had to be either wired to the GPS itself, or attach
a large sled to the unit (when using a handheld). And I certainly didn’t
want to dish out the cash for a stand-alone unit.
    Along comes Bluetooth – and with it GPS units that
can take avantage of this short-range wireless technology. No large
sled, no extra cables to keep track of, not to mention the GPS units
themselves are small. But does the technology stand up to the hype?
Will it perform as well (or better), than a wired unit? Read on for
the full review.

WHAT’S
HOT

    There are quite a few "Hot" items
with the BT GPS from Socket. Size (see images below), battery life (6+
hours), and 2 full CDs of map data are just a few examples.

SETUP

    The installation for this unit was really
quite simple. It even included updated BT drivers for my 2215. There
is a small application (10Mb – Map Loader) that is installed onto the
PC to select and convert maps for the PPC version of MyNavigator. Once
the program is installed, the Map Loader will start, and you can choose
maps to install. Note that you can install this software to not only
your PPC, but also a laptop (or standard PC).

UNIT
FEATURES

    First, the list of the features and specifications
(copied verbatim from Socket):

   
Throughout the rest of the review – you will see pictures taken with
my digital camera of the unit itself. If you click on the smaller thumbnail,
a larger image will appear in a new window. That said, let’s take a
look at the packaging and what it contains!
    The GPS Nav kit comes in a standard box with the
GPS unit itself, a carrying case, a car charger + a power extension
cable, Quick Start guide, and 2 CDs (for map storage). This kit came
with the North America map set, but European maps are also available.

  
The next few screenshots are with a ruler to show length, width, and
height of the GPS unit:

Backside
of the GPS (Serial number changed to protect innocent). The rubber feet
on the bottom do an excellent job of keeping the unit attached firmly
to the dashboard:

Note
the antenna jack on the side of the unit. This is for those who want
to use an external antenna:

   
The top of the GPS, with (from left to right), the power switch, the
BT light, the GPS link light, battery light (red, yellow, or off depending
on the charge), and power jack. There is also a small loop for a lanyard.

Unit
on (and one shot with the BT light, which blinks). The green GPS link
button stays solid until it has enough signal, at which point it also
blinks.

 

Map
Loader Software

  
Now let’s look at the Map Loader software, and how it interacts with
the MyNavigator software. When you start the Map Loader software, you
are shown a space warning, and then the default map:

  
From here you can either choose to select a map by region, or by city
(depending on the amount of space you have)

Here’s
a 3 state example, note that it will take up 88Mb:

Then
you can choose your target location:

If
your PPC isn’t attached when you select a PocketPC location, it will
attempt to open a connection. The following shows the connection and
subsequent failure (as I didn’t have my PPC attached at the time):

Once
you pick your target location, then you click Generate Map to transfer.
If you stop the transfer, then it will clean up the map data from the
target location:

 

Continue
On: On to the Pocket PC!. . .

 

On
to the Pocket PC!

When
you first load MyNavigator, you are greeted with what seems to be
the standard GPS warning:

Assuming
that you tap OK, you are then asked to select the BT device that you
are using (in this case, the GPS):

Then
you will see the default map view (and a map depending on what you
have loaded). The arrow (within the gray circle) signifies the GPS
(and subsequently you). This arrow will change colors depending on
the GPS signal. Red for no signal, Yellow for insufficient signal,
and Green for strong signal. If you do not have any connection to
the GPS, the voice prompt will let you know (assuming your volume
is on):

Across
the bottom of the application are 3 menus and 3 buttons. First is
the File menu, from which you can enter a destination, save your current
location, record or play a track, view the help file or about page,
and exit the application. The following screenshots will show those
menu items save the destitation, which we will go over later in the
review.

Record
and Play Track

&nbsp

About
and Help

&nbsp

Next
is the Tool menu

The
Safety Features submenu enables Speed Alert (which we will discuss
later), and Fog Driving (which will emit an audible tone as you approach
an intersection). The Distance units allows you to set whatever you
preference may be (default is English (Mi/Ft)).

&nbsp

Route
and Display options will be covered later in the review, so we will
look at the Input (MyNavigator or Pocket PC Keyboard for entry) and
GPS Options (Com Port and Baud Rate plus an Auto Detect):

&nbsp

The
View menu, other than the Almanac and the Route List, duplicates features
that are found as buttons or in other, more convenient locations.
The Almanac gives your your current Sun and Moon information. The
Route List gives you step-by-step instructions (minus the map) to
a specified location.

&nbsp

Next
to the View menu is the Yellow speaker icon, which opens the volume
controls:

Followed
by the GPS Info button (with some of the digits hidden – I didn’t
want this review to turn into a "Let’s see where Tim was"
Geocache
*wink*):

The
Map Orientation Icon (the N) allows you to determine how the map is
displayed. If tapped, it will change the map from a vehicle orientation
= up to a north = up view.

&nbsp

Above
the toolbar are several other options. The red icon with the yellow
speaker is to mute and unmute the guidance sounds. Tapping on the
+ and – on either side of the scale will zoom you in, from 100ft to
25 miles, with many steps in between. Pressing up and down on the
D-Pad will produce the same zoom effect.

&nbsp

You
can also pan about the map by clicking and dragging. Clicking on the
large red boxed X will return you to your current position.

Tapping
on the 2 stacked rectangles (found near the botom right), will cycle
through the Speed, estimated time of arrival, remaining time, and
distance to destation (assuming that you have one). Otherwise, only
Speed will be shown.

&nbsp

Tapping
the large blue Menu button opens, well, the MyNavigator menu, which
is the next section we will cover in detail except for the Map View
(which returns you to the map), Volume, GPS Info, and Record (which
were previously shown).

First
button in the MyNavigator is Destinations. Tapping on this button
brings you to the Set destination screen. If you already have a destination,
then you will be greeted with a seperate screen.

&nbsp

Assuming
you already have a destination, then you can specify a Detour (roads
to avoid), or a Stopover point.

&nbsp

Whether
you choose Address or Intersection when first selecting a destination,
the result is really the same, you are asked to choose between City
or Street first. You can also change states if needed.

If
Street first is chosen, then you are shown the MyNavigator keypad,
from which you may begin typing in the street name (minus the street
number). Same with City, except you are looking for a City name (and
then the street name(s)). Once selected, you can choose the green
Nav to have it build a route.

&nbsp

The
Points of Interest menu allows you to find a particular POI and create
a route directly to it.

The
My Contacts is for selecting an address which you have associated
with your existing PPC Contacts.

My
Favorites is for storing locations for a later time. You can also
delete and edit these destinations.

The
My Recent button shows you your recent destinations. From here you
can make a recent destination a Favorite, find a route (via the Nav
button), or delete entries.

Back
to the main menu and to the Route Options from which you can change
the route method, reduce turns, and include/exclude Toll Roads/Carpool.

The
Display Options duplicates the Map Orientation button, but also allows
you to change the Color Scheme (Auto/Day/Night), adjust the Guidance
Screen, turn on/off the Point of Interest icons, and adjust the 3D
Map View.

Night
Mode

3D
Level 1, 2, and 3

&nbsp

The
Speed Alert button off the main menu, allows you to set an Auto or
Fixed Speed Alert. Once passed, you will hear an audible tone and
the speed indicator will turn red.

&nbsp

&nbsp
Now that we’ve covered all the basics of the software and hardware,
I want to show an example trip. For this example, I was driving back
from Albany, OR and had put in the intersection of Union and Capitol
as my destination. It took the GPS unit a little over 30 seconds to
get a fix (from what’s considered a cold start, warm starts are much,
much faster). You can see that my next turn is left onto Pacific Blvd
SE/OR-99E (and the voice guidance tells me as much).

&nbsp
As I get closer to that next turn, the voice guidance will continue
to prompt me. The next shot shows me leaving Albany and preparing
to enter I-5. If at any point I miss the verbal instructions, I can
tap on the big blue direction and the updated instructions will be
repeated. The bright blue lines signify one way streets/ramps.

Further
down the road, we see that I’m still heading towards Exit 253 on I-5.

And
now for a little animated .gif – we’ve exited I-5 and are now heading
towards OR-22.

&nbsp
The next shot shows that OR-99E-BR has changed into Mission St SE,
but we are still heading towards OR-22. Note the various points of
interest. Let’s say I needed to use an ATM. By tapping on the $, I
would see that there is a Valley Health Credit Union coming up. If
I clicked NAV, then the destination would change and the guidance
system would take me that direction. By tapping Cancel I continue
on my existing route.

&nbsp

&nbsp
Now we are on the ramp heading towards our destination. Note that
my next turn is in 1020 ft. The big green arrow shows the path I am
to take. The red path shows a one way street that I won’t be taking.
But let’s say I miss my turn and continue heading down the ramp and
onto the street it connects to (12th). The navigation system automatically
compensates for the change and adjusts the directions! In the second
example below, you can see that my target destination is ahead 0.6
miles. Occasionally, you will know of a faster path by experience,
but don’t be surprised if the nav. system attempts to have you take
every left turn along the way unless you tell it to avoid a specific
road.

&nbsp

 

HELP
SUPPORT

   
In addition to the help file installed on the Pocket PC, and the manual
included with the unit, Socket
provides a lot of support via their website
including drivers, forums, and FAQs.

SYSTEM
REQUIREMENTS

    size=2>According to Socket’s
meager documentation, the requirements are:

• Windows
  CE Pocket PC and Pocket PC 2002/2003 devices

But I’m
going to say that you will definately need a way to connect via BT to
this device along with storage space appropriate for the maps you want
to use.

BUGS
AND WISHES

    I found no glaring system-crashing bugs.
The only real issues I dealt with were related to my 2215 (BT crashes).
There are a couple of hardware issues already listed in the documentation
(certain units need a BT firmware upgrade which was included on my
CD). And so my wish list is really short:

• A
  battery life indicator would be really nice (ie like the metered
  style that comes on HP laptop batteries)
• No
  included AC adapter (so if I want to charge it, I have to leave
  it in my car or pay for the adapter).
• Include
  an option to keep the unit backlight on – as of now, I have to make
  sure I tap the screen every 5 minutes (until my powered cradle from
  Seidio
  arrives).

PURCHASING

    You can buy
this package directly from Socket.
The price shown is $439.00. A quick look at Shopper.com
today found me a price of just over $304.88 shipped.

PROS

• 
  

  Small
  form factor

• 
  

  Quick
  installation and configuration

• Mapping
  software is accurate and reacts quickly to changes
• 3
  year warranty!

CONS

• Price
• No
  AC adapter
• Battery
  light only indicates status when charging

OVERALL
IMPRESSION

  
Bluetooth to GPS is definately the way to go. Sadly, the price for
GPS’ and related packages have not come down in price recently. There
is a lot of free software out there for those interested in GPS, and
you can pick this unit up (without the Nav kit) for just over $200.
But that’s not to say that the MyNavigator software isn’t worth the
additional price – when compared to other GPS reviews, the price is
right in line with the rest of the market (doesn’t mean I have to
like that *grin*). The entire package is a good deal (better deal
if you buy it from someplace other than the Socket
store). Considering that the only problems that I had were with my
2215 and not the GPS itself, that says a lot for the design of the
package.

I
would like to once again thank Tati Meghdadi (and Socket)
for providing the review unit to us. I’m sure we will continue to
see great products like this in the future.

Have
you used Socket’s
Bluetooth Nav Kit? See something that isn’t quite right? Tell us what
you think! Click on the Discussion Link below!