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“This Week in Tech History” Weekly Feature with Chris Graveline
Charles in Tyler, Texas listening on News, Weather Talk! KTBB 600 AM asked: “I have a question about an app– I am not real tech-savvy, but I would like to know if there is an app where you can just push in the GPS coordinates. That is what my company uses to send us from place to place…and use that app. I don’t know the name of it, or anything like that, I just wanted to know if there is one out there.”
Charles, There are a few apps out on the market that may suit your needs in terms of using coordinates to map your next stop, while you are on the job. For example, there’s an app simply named “GPS Location” which is derived from U.S. Cop, an app specifically used by police officers working the streets, that allows anyone to enter coordinates to find locations. The only downside to the GPS Location app is that it does not allow you to copy and paste, which seems to be the main complaint from it’s users.
You may also want to look into an app called “Map Coordinates” to suit your needs as it works similarly, but seems to garner far less complaints from it’s users. Map Coordinates also boasts its ability to show users different types of terrains, depending upon preference, and seems to have much more capability in terms of coordinate representations.
Either way, both apps are completely free and do not seem to push users into paying for other capabilities; which is especially appealing, considering how many apps SEEM to be free until you try to use them for something useful.
If you have an iPhone, check out Commander Compass Lite. Commander Compass is a GPS toolkit for outdoors and off-road navigation. It serves as a milspec compass with maps, gyrocompass, tactical GPS receiver, waypoint tracker, speedometer, altimeter, Sun, Moon and star finder, gyro horizon, and coordinate converter. It saves your custom places and waypoints, navigates precisely to them later, shows them on maps, displays detailed GPS info, measures distances, angles, and does a lot more. The Lite version is free in the iTunes App Store.
Technically speaking, Google Maps will also let you navigate to any coordinates you give it, so that may be all you need, if you just need to get around cities.
For more information tune in to Hour 2 of our podcast.
Guest Segment:
Ben Thacker, Vice President – Kensington
Discussing some of the products they are available including security locks and ergonomic products to enhance our computer using experience.
Paul from Saucier, Mississippi asked: “Tired of AT&T DSL. I don’t have or want cable. I have Verizon and direct tv. Money is an object,want to lower my bill,or get better service for the same money.I understand that at&t speeds are not what advertised.”
Paul, It’s hard to tell what may work for you without knowing what’s not meeting your needs now, but Cable One is offering internet-only services in your area (no cable TV required) starting at $35/month for 50mbps down 3mbps up, that should be enough for most people.
If that doesn’t work for you, DirectTV offers bundles that include deals with Verizon, you may be able to merge your satellite and phone bills and be able to add internet for a lower price. DSL can be cheaper sometimes because it tends to be slower, so don’t be surprised if better options cost you more.
As for AT&T’s speeds not being what’s advertised, you are correct in this aspect–they are distance sensitive. The speed is “UP to” a certain rate, depending on the distance you are from their network centers. So it’s not accurate to say they NEVER deliver the speed, but it is accurate to say that they OFTEN don’t deliver what’s promoted in the ads. The worst part is, they don’t apologize for it either.
For more information tune in to Hour 2 of our podcast.
Ben in Delta Junction, Alaska listening on NewsRadio 970 KFBX asked: “I want to get a new digital camera with a high powered zoom and wondering which you think is the best.”
Ben, You have many, many options, and they mainly depend on your budget.
If you’re interested in top quality, you can get a nice SLR, a multi-thousand dollar lens and you’ll be very happy with the quality of the pictures you’ll get, and unburdened by an excess of money, but assuming you want something a little more on the affordable size, you can also look at point and shoot large zoom cameras. The Nikon Coolpix S9500 sports a nice 22x optical zoom and 4x digital zoom, and the Nikon name pretty much ensures that you’re getting quality optics for the $250 you’ll be paying for it.
The Canon Powershot SX510 should match the quality of the lens, but with a 30x optical zoom, and a 4x digital zoom for about $50 less. If that’s not enough for you, for $340 you can buy a Sony DSC-HX300 with a 50x optical and 100x digital zoom, that should be plenty for most people’s needs.
For more information tune in to Hour 2 of our podcast.
This Week’s Prizes for Our Listeners
TYLT: Car Charger RIBBN Cables – These cables rapidly charge 2 Smartphones or 2 Tablets simultaneously.
Jabra: SoleMate Portable Bluetooth speaker for your laptop, tablet, smartphone or music player
Monster Products: DNA Pro 2.0 High powered Over-ear headphones
Hydreon Corp: FakeTV Burglar Deterrent – Simulates the light output of a TV to deter burglars from your home.
Verykool: S5015 Spark II Smartphone – Unlocked GSM phone with Android OS and front facing flash – perfect for selfies!
Kensington: SD4000 Universal 4K Docking Station for laptop computers