Get More out of GPS

In the last two issues, we've focused on Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, but the most impressive wireless technology for the Pocket PC may be GPS. Global Positioning Systems are location-discovery systems that use signals sent from satellites orbiting the Earth to find your exact position, accurate to within a few yards. One of the biggest misconceptions about GPS is that you have to pay for the service. Once you purchase the equipment, GPS is absolutely free! There's no monthly charge for using the satellite system, which is set up and maintained by the U.S. Government.

A number of third-party Pocket PC applications have been developed which allow you to get more out of GPS. These programs require a GPS receiver, which supplies the raw data that they use. (Data must be in the NMEA format: check your GPS manufacturer's Web site for compatibility, or just download a trial version of the software to test it with your GPS hardware before purchase.) Also, it's important to note that these applications tend to monopolize the data sent to your Pocket PC by your GPS receiver. You will not be able to run two of these applications at the same time, nor can you use these programs while running the software that came with your GPS receiver. I recommend a soft reset before launching any of these programs to ensure that another GPS application isn't running in the background.

Turn your Pocket PC into a powerful car computer

Because GPS provides a massive amount of raw data on your movements, it seems obvious that your Pocket PC could double as your car computer. GPS DIS ($19.90) by Uwe Gerlach (http://gpsdis.webhop.net) makes any car appear more “high tech” with some fun and innovative features that rival digital displays installed in many luxury vehicles. As you drive, GPS DIS shows your current speed, driving direction and altitude (Fig. 1). For each trip, the program also tracks your overall distance driven, travel time, and your average speed for the journey. The program even monitors how often you travel under 3 MPH so you can see the time spent in traffic jams or at red lights. Thrill-seekers and techies will benefit from seeing the maximum speed and maximum/minimum altitudes reached. In addition to a GPS system that provides NMEA-formatted data, GPS DIS also requires Microsoft eMbedded Visual Basic Runtime for the Pocket PC (a free download available on Microsoft's Web site: http://msdn.microsoft.com/mobility/windowsmobile/downloads/evb.aspx).

Fig. 1: GPS DIS turns your Pocket PC into a full-fledged car computer.

Spy on your kids when they borrow the car

Although you may be accustomed to using GPS while you are in the car, special software for the Pocket PC is specifically designed for use when you're not around. Stealth GPS Data Logger (also known as Passive Background GPS Data Logging for the Pocket PC or Passive GPS) by Geoaps (http://www.geoaps.com) is a vehicle tracking application for the Pocket PC. Although the software doesn't allow you to locate a stolen vehicle (like the LoJack systems installed on high-end vehicles) it will allow you to download a complete “diary” of where the car has been once it returns.

The software will run in the background or full screen (Fig. 2), displaying data about the course, speed, and distance traveled. You can set how often Stealth GPS captures location data (the default is every 2 seconds) and the software can automatically ignore data if fewer than 2 satellites are in view (so you do not receive erroneous location information).

Fig. 2: Stealth GPS allows you to monitor basic vehicle statistics in real-time, or hide the software in the background with the tap of a button.