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- Springboard Modules (http://discussion.visorcentral.com/vcforum/forumdisplay.php?forumid=10)
-- GPS?? (http://discussion.visorcentral.com/vcforum/showthread.php?threadid=5058)

Anybody got word on when the GPS springboard is coming out? I saw the article that said they were planning it...

I know I shouldn't respond without solid info, but I think I read next summer for the release of the GPS Springboard module.

PC Magazine (paper version) doesn't state when however, I remember reading on the net somewhere that the fourth quarter of 99 is a target date for GPS module. It'll probably be posted here when they are available.

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Your answer is in the springboards section of the Handspring website

Thanks everybody. Heard back from Marcosoft and its planned for November 99. Hopefully they do better than Handspring at meeting a deadline...

What official deadline has Handspring missed? Everything on their website points to October. When in October is the big question. I know that the people taking orders do not have any info, but there has not been anything official on HS's website that says we should have them in our hands now.

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James Hromadka
VisorCentral.com
Personal Website: http://www.geocities.com/jehromadka

Hopefully they do better than Handspring at meeting a deadline...

This is absurd! October has just begun and people are already saying Handspring has missed the October deadline! When it's November 1st, and nobody has a Visor, then complain.

I agree with those who are backing HS on the fact that they have NOT missed a deadline.

While I've complained about a lack of corporate information and website-based feedback, HS still has nearly a month to go before missing a deadline.

Heck, if we go by Jeff's stated shipping date, they still have until the 15th to ship.

Sure a GPS would be neat. But would it do anything differently than a standard GPS.

Probably just a little more portable.

I heard something about "soft GPS" - some type of GPS software that runs on Palm OS without the need of special hardware. Doesn't make sense to me.

The Springboard GPS from Quo Vadis/Navicom sounds really cool for 140 bucks, but I wonder if it will be able to connect by cable to other hardware... e.g. a notebook computer running another company's mapping software...

I hate to ask, but what is the attraction for the GPS module?

I have an awful sense of direction!

Seems pretty small and self-contained, which is another nice thing. There's a photo of it in the Infoworld article here.

...Unless of course they compromised accuracy or tracking power to get it down that size, which they probably did. It probably won't hold a fix in woods or near dense buildings...But hey, if you're going to rely on a Visor to get you out of the rainforest, you need more than directional help!



[This message has been edited by Tonys (edited 10-07-1999).]

I doubt it will connect to any other hardware b/c it'll have a Springboard slot on the bottom.

For a more versitile receiver use the Earthmate. I'm pretty sure you can stick that on a laptop too if you change the cable though I haven't done that myself. Anybody tried that?

I was thinking more of some sort of pass-thru function using the usb/serial cable.

redmud,

"SoftGPS" was a gag program that was put out a few months ago. It had a big star on the screen and a note saying "YOU ARE HERE!" To the best of my knowledge, that is about as good as it will get without a receiver of some sort. Oh, well.

tyler

Ok, I know zip about GPS products. Is this sort of thing usually limited to location (longitude/latitude) superimposed on street maps? (A quick look at www.marcosoft.com shows that to be their focus.)

As an occasional hiker/backpacker, what I'd like is the ability to see topographic mapping instead (or in addition, though that'd stress the display capabilities).

Bearpaw:
I'm an outdoor enthusiast too, but no one I know of makes topo maps for Palm devices. I read somewhere there "just wasn't demand." Which is too bad. Of course the hardcore mountaineers would never use a palmpilot as a GPS, but you'd think there'd be a market among the weekend campers...
If you ever some across something let me know and I'll do the same.

I saw where the GPS unit is supposed to come out in November. It will come with downloadable maps. I could see that coming in really handy for salesmen and such.

Of course, it would be really nice if it has data logging and calculations where you can go hiking and it tells you how far you hiked and what the changes in altitude were.

As far as hiking goes.. yeah, interactive topo maps would be nice, but if a GPS unit could display the Latitude/Longitude, you could compare that with paper maps. Better than just trying to figure out where you are with a map and compass. (Although I would suggest bringing all the "old-fashioned" stuff just in case the GPS breaks)

now that would be awesome; Topo maps are one thing i have always wanted electronically; and compared to road maps (especially in towns or cities) trail maps are much less cluttered. this would make a gps actually worth it if under 100$

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Tom Alphin III - [email protected] - www.students.bucknell.edu/alphin/