The Mio Cyclo 210 could well be the ideal device for anyone exploring the UK and Europe by bike.

With cycle paths and full European road maps pre-installed, the Mio Cyclo 210 will have you exploring in minutes.

Packing an IPX5 rugged waterproof casing and a large 3.5-inch touchscreen, the Cyclo 210 certainly looks the business.

Mio Cyclo 210 bike sat nav

The bike sat nav offers the best way to get from point A to B. However, you can also choose to follow your own preferred route. Naturally, you get turn-by-turn navigation with a clear sound alert.

Additionally, choose to use the unique and fun Surprise Me feature and the Cyclo 210 will calculate three different bicycle routes based upon your entered time or distance. This is a natty way of perhaps finding new route options of regular journeys. Furthermore, this feature will continuously offer new bicycle routes, even if the you start from the same point.

Finally, the rechargeable battery life has 10 hours of stamina. That is plenty more than I’d need in one day!

Thanks to the pre-installed points of interests (POIs), such as bicycle shops, restaurants and emergency locations, it is always easy to locate some refreshments or source a new tyre.

Cycle computer

The Mio Cyclo 210 measures time, speed, distance, height, calorie consumption and more.

With the desktop application, you are able to store your data, manage your route history and share your experiences with your friends.

This easy-to-use tool enables you to download routes and enjoy new roads and areas others find interesting. Although, it doesn’t look like it links with Strava – something I know my cycling buddies generally look for.

The application is also your one-stop shop for managing your device and downloading map updates or latest product information.

Price and availability

It is available from Amazon with an RRP of £189.99.

The post Mio Cyclo 210 bike SatNav loaded with European maps appeared first on GadgetyNews.

Dogs, generally, do follow commands. But the instance of Fenton heading off towards deers will be forever etched in our collective mind. So, how do you keep track of your pet’s location? Here’s Motorola Scout Traks wearable.

The Scout Traks pet tracker attaches to your fur baby’s collar and not only keeps track of them but also provides additional info.

Motorola’s pet wearable can impart information regarding exercise, wellbeing and temperature of your canine.

Additionally, you can receive real-time alerts on location through the Hubble for Pets app.

Geo-fencing is also available and alerts can be set for when a dog escapes a pre-set zone.

Motorola Scout Traks

The Scout Traks device weighs under 30g and comes with a waterproof silicon rubber housing.

It is packing GPS, an ambient temperature sensor and an accelerometer. The latter uses an algorithm that not tracks the amount of exercise a dog has undertaken. Furthermore, it also compares the data with other breeds within the companion app.

If your pooch is gaining a paunch, you can use the information to set long-term goals, such as routines and feeding.

The Scout Traks battery will give up to three days of use, while charging from flat to full capacity takes around an hour.

Price and availability

The Motorola Scout Traks is available for £99.99 from Hubble Connected and includes a full first year service plan that comes with 150 location calls (safe zone breach, on demand location or temperature alerts) per month.

The service plan can then be renewed for £35 per year.

The post Motorola Scout Traks pet tracker appeared first on GadgetyNews.

I do like my Echo Dot and now Alexa can be in your car thanks to the new Garmin Speak.The connected

The Sat-Nav savvy Garmin has teamed up with Amazon to make a tiny Echo Dot that affixes to the windscreen.

Not only is it empowered with Alexa’s voice commands it dishes out turn-by-turn navigation by Garmin.

That’s right, as well as Garmin’s excellent directions you get all your usual info – news, weather, sports – from Amazon’s assistant as well. Forgot to turn off the house lights? You can sort that too.

Furthermore, if you have connected smart stuff, it means you can turn the livingroom lights off from your car.

Garmin Speak = smart car

Additionally, this little auto Dot works with your car sound system via Bluetooth or AUX.

This is great news as it means you don’t have to rely on a tiny tinny speaker.

The device is only 1.5-inches wide so iss a lot smaller than the Echo Dot. However, it does keep the familiar glowing blue ring.

Moreover, there’s an OLED display that will display arrows for navigation.
[youtube id=”fmVvWNN2sJc”]
Naturally, as you’ll be driving out of range of your home Wi-Fi, the Garmin Speak will need to be paired with your smartphone so it can get a data connection.

Is there a need for Alexa in your car? I’m not entirely sure. But, saying that, voice control of music and turn-by-turn navigation is appealing.

Price and availability

The Speak costs $150 and you can pick one up from Garmin’s website.

I have reached out to Garmin for a UK price and release.

The post Garmin Speak – Echo Dot for your car appeared first on GadgetyNews.

So many people trust Google Maps to get them to where they need to be. Now there’s great news if you’re looking for a giant ape.

A mysterious and otherworldly island, thought to be myth, was just revealed on Google Maps.

To celebrate the premiere of Kong: Skull Island and Local Guides, Google has sent an invite to those signed up to the Local Guides programme to go and explore this mythical isle.

Kong: Skull Island is about a team of explorers and soldiers who travel to an uncharted island in the Pacific, unaware that they are crossing into the domain of monsters, including the mythic Kong.

Needless to say, plenty of monkey business soon ensues.

The trailers do look good though.

[youtube id=”AP0-9FBs2Rs”]

They’re even letting ‘visitors’ to leave fantasy reviews.

Maybe start with “Beware of apes?”

If you fancy taking a virtual glimpse at Skull Island, just head over to Google Maps now.

The post Skull Island appears on Google Maps appeared first on GadgetyNews.

Recently I became a car owner once again. My first run in it was on the way back from collecting my Japanese vehicle from the importer in Norwich. Thankfully, I had the Garmin DriveSmart 60, part of the Drive SatNav range, to help me back home in London.

I’ve had the car a fortnight or so now and managed to clock up 800 miles already. Every inch of that has been guided by the capable DriveSmart 60 GPS.

Let me take you for a journey around this driving aid.

DriveSmart 60 design

The DriveSmart 60LMT-D sports a 6-inch widescreen format touchscreen.

There is minimal bezel so the focus is definitely the clear and bright display.

The rear of the device curves nicely and a circular recess is present for the mounting plate.

The mounting plate allows the DriveSmart to lock on the to ball-end of the suction-cup equipped arm.

The Garmin DriveSmart is quite slender and will slip in to most bags and even jacket pockets. It’s always worth remembering that these detach from their stand for a reason.

Everything feels solid and the SatNav clicks on to the mount securely. The suction cup has not failed me yet.

The power cable plugs in at the rear of the device. There is also an SD card slot beneath the mount. The mount plate includes a cable tidy.

DriveSmart 60 performance

Smart and accurate

Smart notifications

Before my trip, I synced my Nexus 6P with the system via Bluetooth. This was completed in a matter of seconds. This, of course, means you can’t stream music to your stereo at the same time.

Pulling out on to a strange road in a strange car could have been daunting, knowing that I had around 160 miles ahead of me. Thankfully, the DriveSmart 60’s notifications are clear and clever.

The smart notifications are also really handy. Whilst on my way to an event in Surrey, enjoying the turn-by-turn navigational skills on the unit’s 6-inch screen, I got an email from my contact.

The notification popped up on the DriveSmart on the right-hand portion of the screen. The mapping goes from full screen to about 60 to 70 percent, creating the space for the message to appear as a smart notification.

Calls and texts work just as seamlessly. When someone calls you are offered the option of answering or ignoring it right on the DriveSmart 60 device itself.

The unit touts a nice, clean speaker that allows the call to be clear on both ends while driving. Volume is adjusted via the main Settings function.

Accurate GPS

This is the main point of the DriveSmart 60 after all. I really cannot fault the pinpoint accuracy of the devices navigational mapping but there’s more.

The DriveSmart 60 comes equipped with voice-activated navigation. This allows drivers to change routes or destination by simply shouting orders at it. Nice. Not only does this work (even with a Yorkshire accent) it means that the driver doesn’t need take their eyes off the road.

Using the car park that is the M25, having timely alerts as to the state of the traffic ahead is really handy. As is the alternative route suggestions.

On the B Roads of Wales the DriveSmart 60’s notifications as what to expect on the road came in to their own. Sharp curves, speed limit changes and even rail and animal crossings are all indicated.

Heads-up for traffic lights, speed cameras and roundabouts are also shown.

I particularly liked the Real Directions system. This provides verbal commands that use landmarks as supplied by Foursquare. So, on driving through Seven Sisters I had the “turn right at the council building”. I found this really useful as, on larger roads, you can’t always discern street names.

The speed read out is also spot on.

Garmin DriveSmart 60 review conclusion

This is, quite literally, a very smart device.

I am glad I checked it before heading off as I had to update the device and add maps to it via the Garmin Express PC application. This took a while but, after that, the GPS has been faultless.

The smart functions are really handy and the notifications happen in a timely manner. I have to admit that I have become dependent on the DriveSmart, to the point of almost driving down what appeared to be a footpath in a country park. There were no signs stating no cars but I bottled it and went another route.

If you are looking for a well-priced navigation unit with clear, real world, directions. The Garmin DriveSmart 60 should be on your list, without a doubt. Add the hands-free skills of the smart connectivity and voice commands, it’s practically a no-brainer.

Garmin DriveSmart 60 price and availability

You can buy the DriveSmart 60 right now for £240 with maps covering all of Europe.

The post Garmin DriveSmart 60 SatNav review appeared first on GadgetyNews.

Garmin threw a launch presentation of their new Drive range of portable navigation devices (PNDs) which have been specifically designed to help increase driver situational awareness.

The Garmin Drive UK launch saw presentations from Dawn Ramsey, Garmin’s UK General Manager, and Perry McCarthy, better known as Top Gear’s original Stig.

The main focus of the event was increasing your safety when you are travelling by car, something that McCarthy was particularly, and rightly so, vociferous about.

Garmin was showing off their next evolution of PNDs that are intuitively named: Garmin Drive, Garmin DriveSmart, Garmin DriveAssist and the fashionably clothed Garmin DriveLuxe.

The entire Garmin Drive lineup boasts a number of driver alerts to encourage safer driving and situational awareness. This includes warnings for upcoming sharp curves, railroad or animal crossings, alerts for users driving the wrong-way on a one-way street and more. Drivers also receive red light and speed camera1 alerts as well as vital timesaving traffic information with fast-approaching traffic jam notifications. For longer routes, a fatigue warning alert suggests potential break times and available rest areas or places to stop.

In addition to the new driver awareness features, Garmin Drive includes preloaded data from Foursquare POIs (Points of Interest), adding millions of popular stores, restaurants and more. All models offer lifetime maps and traffic updates.
[youtube id=”7VHXR2XIF7Y”]
Other features designed to simplify navigation include Garmin Real Directions, which guides drivers using recognisable landmarks, buildings and traffic lights; and Easy Route Shaping that lets drivers modify a route to include preferred cities or roads by touching the navigation screen.

The Garmin DriveSmart boasts all of the features from Garmin Drive and adds customisable smart notifications that allow drivers to display calls, text messages and app notifications on the navigation screen. Voice-activated navigation and Bluetooth wireless technology for hands-free calling allows drivers to keep both hands safely on the wheel.

Garmin DriveSmart can also access Live Traffic information through the Smartphone Link app or out of the box through Digital Traffic solutions, the fastest traffic avoidance solution offered by Garmin. This feature is able to alert you to any changes to the traffic ahead with updates as often as every 60 seconds.

Garmin DriveAssist builds on the Garmin DriveSmart and includes a built-in dash cam to serve as an eyewitness. The device continually records and automatically saves video footage on impact with the included microSD card.

The integrated camera brings in more advanced driver awareness alerts, such as the Forward Collision and Lane Departure Warnings.

Additionally, Garmin DriveAssist integrates the new “Go” Alert, a camera-assisted feature that notifies distracted drivers when traffic ahead of their vehicle begins to move. As drivers approach select destinations, Garmin Real Vision unveils a camera view on the screen of the device and an arrow points out the specific destination. Handy for when door numbering is none existent or if all the frontages look the same, like in large business complexes.

The stylish Garmin DriveLuxe is an impressive premium navigator housed in a beautiful forged metal design. Powered with a sleek magnetic mount, the Garmin DriveLuxe delivers innovative navigation features and adds HD Digital traffic – the fastest traffic avoidance solution offered by Garmin, with updates as often as every 30 seconds.

The most exciting development of the new Garmin Drive line is that driver awareness features typically seen in luxury vehicles are now accessible as an aftermarket solution for all drivers,”

said Kirsty Quartley, Garmin UK PND Product Manager.

There are many distractions that drivers encounter while running errands, driving to work or taking road trips. These new driver alerts can remove some of these burdens and help drivers stay aware on the road.”

The Stig – Perry McCarthy

Perry McCarthy, a very humorous and approachable chap, gave an extremely captivating and passionate presentation regarding road safety.

As well as explaining why Garmin is the only brand he has ever felt so strongly about that he’d endorse it, he took questions from the various members of the press and industry.

Naturally the subject of Top Gear, especially Clarkson, Le Blanc and Evans, cropped up and Perry appeared to be very honest and measured in his responses. Apparently, as a driver Clarkson makes a great journalist.

McCarthy sees the Amazon deal with Clarkson, Hammond and May, and the new Top Gear team as a win-win for all involved. The trio are now known world-wide and, as Amazon is a subscription service, will see plenty of people willing to keep their regular connection with them. The new look Top Gear has had a rough ride in the press thus far but, as the programme has proven to be popular ever since its inception back in 1977, there is no reason why this latest version should flop.

Garmin Drive additions

All Garmin Drive devices can be paired with the Garmin BC 30 Wireless Backup Camera (sold separately) to easily see behind a vehicle when moving in reverse. Garmin Drive devices may also be paired with the new Garmin babyCam in-vehicle video monitor to view backseat passengers on the navigation screen.

Garmin Drive price and availability

The Garmin Drive range is available now in the UK and Ireland and RRPs are £99.99 – £299.99.

For more information, visit www.garmin.com

Check out the range in this Garmin DRIVE Comparison Chart 2016

The post Garmin Drive satnav range UK launch appeared first on GadgetyNews.

You may recall that I visited Vodafone’s HQ recently and while I was there my hosts mentioned xone, a fairly unpromoted division of Vodafone that specialises in testing new products and services on early adopters. I have taken the opportunity to test a couple of items, so here’s my Vodafone Findxone tracker review to start with.

The idea behind xone is pretty much the same as beta testing games. The benefit for Vodafone for having xone is that regular folks can feedback and help iron out any issues before the company commits to producing and promoting the product. For the testers and early adopters, they get early access to exciting new products, and pay less in the process.

Vodafone xone has a relatively small portfolio of products and services at the moment, but is looking to expand all the time. On my recent trip to Vodafone I met up with Paddy Harrison Harvey, head of Vodafone xone, who explained the thinking behind it all and also talked about some new products in the works.

Everything is sold and marketed via the Vodafone website, but products are despatched from Amazon which means you get free next day delivery.

Vodafone Findxone tracker design

The Findxone tracker is noot flashy, but rather sturdy and functional. Saying that though, the Findxone only costs £15 and then £24 per year.

Inside the box you get a charging cable, a USB-A to micro-USB lead, the tracking device, and rubbery case for the tracker. The rubber jacket features a handy hook so you can slip it on a keychain or carabiner should you feel the urge to do so.

Shoving the Findxone into its protective sleeve is fairly straight forward but once it was in there one thing became apparent. You have to take it out to charge it.

Now, if the case endowed the device with waterproof or water resistant skills, then I could understand the lack of a hole for the charging port but, as the back of the rubber outer is open, it is a bit of an oversight in my opinion.

Vodafone Findxone tracker use

This was the bit that I had to keep reminding myself that this is a beta device.

I downloaded the Findxone app but registered using a different email address than the one I used to order the device. When it came to logging the tracker’s serial number and other digits, they would not take.

The simple steps above on the Findxone website was mocking me!

I uninstalled the app. Reinstalled it, and tried again. Finally it dawned on me that it might be a clash of email addresses. So, uninstalled the app, reinstalled it and then, using the order email, managed to get the device up and running.

Well, so I thought. The app kept crashing. A lot. What made this even more irksome was the fact that the error message was misspelt.

When it does work though, it seems to do what it promises to do. You can see the current (and previous) locations of the device.

You can also add extra devices to the same account so you can keep tabs on your pets, kids, as well as your luggage.

The Findxone app also allows you to manage the alerts you get and, to a certain extent, tweak the battery management a bit.

Creating zones (or should that be xones?) is a bit tricky but doable, these will get the Findxone device to let you know if it has been taken out of a particular zone – handy if you’ve left a bag in the car as your partner is driving it away.

Thankfully tinkering with the Findxone tracker settings is pretty simple.

You can also share where your Findxone is or has been, should you feel like it.

Vodafone Findxone tracker review conclusion

Vodafone’s xone is a test bed, and that has to be kept in mind. Also, I was using a Google Nexus 6P smartphone for the testing and, as it gets the very latest Android version sent to it as soon as it is ready, this may have caused some of the hiccups. I tried it with the Huawei Mate S and on that attempt all seemed well.

The Findxone is obviously not as slick as the Thingsee, but then it is a heck of a lot cheaper. The issue for me is that if you are using something to keep tabs on your valuables, you want it to work every time and all of the time.

Battery life was a bit slim. I had the device only activate when moving in order to save juice but it was still thirsty by the end of the day, and that’s with me spending most of my time in an office.

The Findxone has promise and I’ll certainly be keeping an eye on the Vodafone xone in the future.

Can I recommend the Findxone? Yes, if you fancy trying out devices that might be a bit buggy and get involved in the developer forums. Not so much if you are just wanting to buy a device that works right from the get go.

Vodafone Findxone price and availability

Findxone is available now and costs £15 plus a £2 per month subscription

The post Vodafone Findxone tracker review appeared first on GadgetyNews.

A day doesn’t seem to go by without someone posting or sharing some dashcam or helmetcam footage on my Facebook timeline. Once these only appeared to be from Eastern Europe but lately the UK is representing and this aligns with the latest figures that dashcams have seen a 918% rise in sales in the UK over the last year. Garmin, a well known and respected GPS brand have brought their navigation know-how along with a natty dashcam which together makes the Garmin nüviCam LMT-D.

I must say that Garmin aren’t daft. They have obviously seen smartphone apps such as CoPilot take chunks out of the GPS market as well as the growing need to be able to prove who did what in an accident and put the two things together. It would have been easy for Garmin to have done just that but they seem to have put it in a really smart package with premium looks and build quality. But does it actually work?

Garmin nüviCam LMT-D design

Let’s be honest here. The unique selling point (USP) of the nüviCam is that Cam bit.

So, starting around back, you can see the 800 x 400 pixel camera which is set in a swivelling housing. This allows it to be angled towards the centre of the road ahead from wherever the unit is placed on the windscreen. This is aided by a prompted set-up menu whenever you fire the sat nav up. I particularly enjoyed the fact that this is done with the aid of a first person shooter-style crosshairs target. Too much Counter Strike you say?

In the picture above you can also see the on/off button at the top left of the device.

Garmin bundle in a 4GB microSD memory card which slots into the underside of the unit. Here is where you’ll also find the other ports.

This captures around 45 minutes of footage in full HD, 1080p resolution although you can change this to 720p in the settings, if you want to save more footage. If you have a card reader, you can pop the card out and download footage to a safe place so you don’t accidentally delete it (more on that later).

The rest of the unit, should you have experienced any of Garmin’s other nüvi gear, is housed in the same high quality body.

The GPS device features FourSquare points of interest (POI) support, programmable voice recognition, Bluetooth to link to your smartphone and sync Garmin’s excellent SmartLink app (this adds traffic support) and all of this is sent to you by way of a 6-inch touchscreen display that clamps to your windscreen via a top-notch magnetised housing.

Garmin nüviCam LMT-D performance and features

The Garmin nüviCam attaches to the windscreen housing with a satisfying clunk and the whole unit seems sturdy and of a decent quality.

The nüviCam is a decent navigation unit, as you would expect from Garmin, but it has a number of extra features.

We have already talked about the HD dash cam which is continuously recording but that camera is also used so that the unit can sense if you’re following too close to the vehicle in front of you when travelling over 30mph – I guess it could get annoying when you’re crawling bumper-to-bumper in traffic otherwise. If you exceed 40 mph, the nüviCam recognises when you’re drifting out of lane. In both of these instances, nüviCam will then alert you so you can take the relevant action.

Audio recording is an option you can turn on or off, depending on how sweary your driving style is. Again, this is handy if you are documenting your roadtrip down Route 66, perhaps not so interesting if stuck behind a queue of caravans on the A1. Just remember that potty-mouth if you have it switched on

Garmin nüviCam LMT-D set-up

When you first switch on the nüviCam you just have to quickly calibrate the camera and accept a couple of disclaimers and then you’re good to go.

Addresses can be typed in manually or dictated via voice command, which recognises standard phrases such as “view map”, “find place”, “find category”, “recently found”, and so on.

Once you’re on the road it’s a relief to say that the glass screen’s high-resolution, pinch-to-zoom display works quickly and accurately.

Garmin nüviCam LMT-D GPS

After all, this is the main point of a device such as the nüviCam. Thankfully Garmin haven’t cut any corners here. The widescreen display is responsive and thanks to its sharp, hi-res screen, everything is clear.

It can catch a little glare on its shiny glass face and it could be tricky to place depending on how much windscreen real-estate you have. The car used to test the nüviCam (thanks Syed!) has an on-board computer whose display sits higher than the dashboard, probably where the nüviCam would normally sit. This meant a little trial-and-error in finding the perfect situation for the 6-inch widescreen display so that it could be easily seen by the driver whilst not obscuring the view of the road ahead.

The user interface (UI) is simple, clear and direct offering a Where To? search or a map view to start you off. The voice command pops up immediately, offering you the option to tell the device your postcode. This works most of the time, as long as you attempt perfect, clear diction. Mumbling places in a thick Yorkshire accent? Not so much.

The Garmin nüviCam syncs with Garmin’s smartphone app which enables you to chuck addresses to it via your contacts, and add traffic updates over 4G.

[youtube id=”HztmN-RHzeg”]

Mobile phone numbers can also be dialled from the app via voice command and you can change the volume up or down with a few, pointed instructions.

Garmin maps now flash up brand locations as you breeze by, so stopping at BP garages, Morrison’s supermarkets or worshiping in the golden arched temple of the Happy Meal are all available should that be your kind of thing.

The turning instructions, direction graphics and lane change notifications all remain Garmin’s dependable best. Obviously this is a personal thing as to which brand of GPS map you prefer, and I do have a soft spot for Garmin’s design.

When entering unfamiliar territory, this is where Garmin’s Real Directions really comes in handy.

This system uses local landmarks and traffic lights as reference points, so you get phrases such as “In 500 feet, turn left at Marks and Spencer” instead of simply, “Turn left in 500 feet.”

On the screen, a rendering of the area pops up, with a highlighted purple arrow illuminating the correct route and exit sign if applicable. This technology works great in busy towns and city areas especially, and helps to give you a better sense of direction thanks to its use of visible landmarks. Missing your turn now becomes solely your fault though.

Once you arrive at your destination, Garmin Real Vision kicks in. Using the dash cam the nüviCam displays a real image of your surroundings, then overlays an animated arrow that points to the exact location you’ve told it to find. This is excellent when entering housing estates or looking for a particular shop in a high street filled with the same bland, safe, store fronts. This is a very nice touch indeed.

Garmin nüviCam LMT-D camera and safety

Garmin’s high-def dash cam is always recording when the device is on, providing a clear, unbiased visual account of accidents, alien abductions, unicycling lemurs, or whatever else it happens to capture. There’s even a still shot feature which, I am pretty sure is there to document vehicle damage but, let’s face it, it can also be used to quickly snap a pretty vista without you having to find your phone.

When you want to take a photo use the Snap Shot feature and press the big red button on top of the unit and it will capture a still. This is not the ‘on’ button, as I originally thought.

Because the nüviCam has an integrated G-sensor, it senses if you’re actually involved in a collision and automatically saves the video to its supplied 4GB MicroSD card.

Garmin nüviCam LMT-D Driver Assist

As well as the ability to record video and stills, the driver-assist safety features of the nüviCam really to help separate it from the competition.The Forward Collision Warning sounds very dramatic, and almost something you’d find in a cockpit but it’s nonetheless useful for those of you who spend time on the road. When traveling at more than 30 mph, the unit’s GPS and camera work together to determine safe following distance between you and the car ahead. If that distance is encroached upon, a red bar appears on the top of the screen and a audible warning sounds. You should be backing off now and allowing some extra room between you and the car in front.

Because it’s a camera-based system, Garmin’s Lane Departure Warning works by reading the solid white lane markers on either side of road. The sharp tones will keep you awake and should prevent you driving like a drunk shopping trolley.

Digital Traffic works well and proved to be pretty quick at warning of traffic jams. Digital Traffic is voice-activated, so it responds to spoken requests. It can give details about the situation, such as how many minutes of delay to expect and if there are any possible detours. It will even tell you if you’re on the fastest route.

Garmin nüviCam LMT-D review conclusion

The nüviCam is a really impressive kit. It’s well built, looks good and feels like an expensive bit of kit.

As well as being a solid performer in the GPS stakes, the added bonus of the dashcam brings with it neat tech such as its forward collision warning system and lane detection system. With things like that on-board having a stand-alone SatNav suddenly feels relevant again and they can once more thumb their digital noses at smartphones.

Yes, it is large at 6-inches but the mount is adjustable and you’ll soon find somewhere for the nüviCam to live.

If I was to look for any weaknesses I’d have to make them up so, as everything else is socially hooked-up, it might be fun when the nüviCam is linked to your smartphone that it could share stills or little video clips direct to your chosen feed or, perhaps, message the people you are visiting when you’re a minute-or-so away.

Garmin nüviCam LMT-D price and availability

As you have no doubt already figured, this is a premium, full featured SatNav with a good camera fitted to it that, in turn, gives it even more premium features. This will also mean that the Garmin nüviCam will have a premium price tag attached.

Personally I thought it would cost much more than it does, especially as you get free lifetime map updates too.

The Garmin nüviCam is available now and can be yours for for a RRP of £309.99 direct from Garmin.

The post Garmin NuviCam LMT-D – Dashcam loaded SatNav review appeared first on GadgetyNews.

Remember the picture of a cheeky Android Mascot peeing on an Apple logo which was discovered on Google Maps? Well, Google has responded by suspending their Map Maker tool.

Google has announced that as of today, Map Maker will be temporarily unavailable and Google are looking to fix the issues on Google Maps that have been discovered.

The statement issued from Google reads:

Every edit you make is essentially going to a backlog that is growing very fast. We believe that it is more fair to only say that if we do not have the capacity to review edits at roughly the rate they come in, we have to take a pause. We have hence decided to temporarily disable editing across all countries starting Tuesday, May 12, 2015, till we have our moderation system back in action. This will be a temporary situation and one that we hope to come out of as soon as possible.”

Google has not revealed how long their Map Maker tool will be suspended for.

Is this something that should have been predicted? Was Google foolish in trusting its users?

The post Google Map Maker suspended appeared first on GadgetyNews.

The battle between Google’s Android and Apple’s iOS operating systems have seen sneaky shots from both parties, but this might just been one of the most blatant – and funny.

I am sure that Android would happily back the No iOS Zone Wi-Fi hack but, until then, it looks as though they’re happy having a huge ‘Droid peeing on teh Apple logo.

Yes, there is actually a large Android mascot, also known as an Android bot or Bugdroid, using an Apple logo as a urinal on Google Maps.

Marked south of the Pakistani town of Rawalpindi, the image can be seen on the Map view in Google Maps — switch to Earth (satellite) view, and it disappears.

The image, spotted by Team Android, is still visible on both the desktop and mobile version of Google Maps, for now.

The mystery is how did it get there? Could it be an inside joke by one of Google Maps developers, or some sort of hack?

The latest explanation comes by way of a Google spokesperson who says that the image is likely a result of a user abusing Map Maker, the tool that allows everyone to contribute to Google Maps.

Even though edits are moderated, occasionally the odd inaccurate or cheeky edit may slip through our system,”

Sadly, it sounds like this particular “cheeky edit” will soon be removed. I now wait for an Apple-flavoured retort.

The post Cheeky Android bot seen taking a leak on Apple logo in Google Maps appeared first on GadgetyNews.