This category was removed last year. I'll let Hal Goldstein (editor of S&PPC mag) chime in on specifics.
What we did last year is have several experts review all the top products and publish a special edition of the magazine that is focused exclusively on GPS.
There were several reasons. First, a product as complex as GPS with Voice, could not easily fit in our system. It is one thing to judge soft keyboards, action games, or chess games. It is another to judge a much more sophisticated product.
However, the main reason was logistics. I know it may sound trivial, but I was spending all my time coordinating between judges and vendors and making sure the process was fair. I could go into details, but you'll have to trust me - it was a nightmare.
So, we came up with what I think is a much better solution. We have three reviewers reviewing each GPS product. Expert, Myron Swartz, is coordinating the effort once again this year. We will end up publishing a review in the same issues where winners and finalists are announced. The reviews will be in depth, there will be a table that compares features, and Myron will make a recommendation as to the "best" all around package. Last year's reviews and conclusions can be found athttp://www.smartphonemag.com/_archives/Dec06/GPSSolutions.aspx. You can get a PDF which includes the original article and table at www.pocketpcmag.com/products/. Select Special Report: Best Software Awards.
Hal Goldstein, hal@pocketpcmag.com
Publisher/Exec Editor
Smartphone & Pocket PC magazine
The GPS issue has been somewhat obscured by the tremendous success, I believe, of GoogleMaps. I.e., unless one needs to see one's progress and/or hear directions GoogleMaps is great. I was viewing a friend's street in melbourne, Australia yesterday and following the train line stations from 2 hours out in the burbs!
That said, I believe there is an opportunity for developers to provide tremendous help to pocket pc users and hopefully Hal might feel the same way and even stimulate the category which one might call PocketPC Enhanced Devices. Such would be a bluetooth type GPS receiver like the great ones from GlobalSat, which had in addition to the receiver capability a print driver, audio and maybe video capability. This would be in a way akin to the KVM (keyboard, video, mouse) boxes/units used with networked clients in hospitals, or like the base units used for several years with laptop computers.
Chuck Cohen
__________________
Charles A. Cohen, DVM
Concepts in Clinical Decison Making & Publishing
Marina Del Rey, CA 90292
Email: cacohendvm@gmail.com
Cell: (203) 824-4969
While Google Maps and the new Live Search are good, they lack many of the features of full blown navigation systems. When you need to setup complex routes (or avoid things like tolls etc.) and want voice guidance the "free" ones don't compare.
What is up and coming are companies like Telenav - subscription services where you have a small install footprint and maps/POIs are loaded "dynamically" using your phone's data connection.
In the ever evolving world of mobile GPS I'm sure we'll see many changes and "cool stuff" over the next couple of years!
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Al Harrington
Moderator
Hi,
This category was removed last year. I'll let Hal Goldstein (editor of S&PPC mag) chime in on specifics.
What we did last year is have several experts review all the top products and publish a special edition of the magazine that is focused exclusively on GPS.
We will be doing the same thing this year.
-Al
Pocket PC blog
- Al
Smartphone and Pocket PC Magazine Blog
Graham Best
Nice.
Do you know which month Pocket PC Magazine will be releasing the edition so I can look for it on the stands?
Hal Goldstein
Moderator
There were several reasons. First, a product as complex as GPS with Voice, could not easily fit in our system. It is one thing to judge soft keyboards, action games, or chess games. It is another to judge a much more sophisticated product.
However, the main reason was logistics. I know it may sound trivial, but I was spending all my time coordinating between judges and vendors and making sure the process was fair. I could go into details, but you'll have to trust me - it was a nightmare.
So, we came up with what I think is a much better solution. We have three reviewers reviewing each GPS product. Expert, Myron Swartz, is coordinating the effort once again this year. We will end up publishing a review in the same issues where winners and finalists are announced. The reviews will be in depth, there will be a table that compares features, and Myron will make a recommendation as to the "best" all around package. Last year's reviews and conclusions can be found athttp://www.smartphonemag.com/_archives/Dec06/GPSSolutions.aspx. You can get a PDF which includes the original article and table at www.pocketpcmag.com/products/. Select Special Report: Best Software Awards.
Hal Goldstein, hal@pocketpcmag.com
Publisher/Exec Editor
Smartphone & Pocket PC magazine
Hal Goldstein
Publisher/Founder
Smartphone & Pocket PC magazine
www.thaddeus.com
hal@thaddeus.com
Al Harrington
Moderator
Should be around the December timeframe.
-Al
Pocket PC blog
- Al
Smartphone and Pocket PC Magazine Blog
ChuckCohen
The GPS issue has been somewhat obscured by the tremendous success, I believe, of GoogleMaps. I.e., unless one needs to see one's progress and/or hear directions GoogleMaps is great. I was viewing a friend's street in melbourne, Australia yesterday and following the train line stations from 2 hours out in the burbs!
That said, I believe there is an opportunity for developers to provide tremendous help to pocket pc users and hopefully Hal might feel the same way and even stimulate the category which one might call PocketPC Enhanced Devices. Such would be a bluetooth type GPS receiver like the great ones from GlobalSat, which had in addition to the receiver capability a print driver, audio and maybe video capability. This would be in a way akin to the KVM (keyboard, video, mouse) boxes/units used with networked clients in hospitals, or like the base units used for several years with laptop computers.
Chuck Cohen
Charles A. Cohen, DVM
Concepts in Clinical Decison Making & Publishing
Marina Del Rey, CA 90292
Email: cacohendvm@gmail.com
Cell: (203) 824-4969
Al Harrington
Moderator
While Google Maps and the new Live Search are good, they lack many of the features of full blown navigation systems. When you need to setup complex routes (or avoid things like tolls etc.) and want voice guidance the "free" ones don't compare.
What is up and coming are companies like Telenav - subscription services where you have a small install footprint and maps/POIs are loaded "dynamically" using your phone's data connection.
In the ever evolving world of mobile GPS I'm sure we'll see many changes and "cool stuff" over the next couple of years!
-Al
Pocket PC blog
- Al
Smartphone and Pocket PC Magazine Blog