There's a new little toy I've started throwing in my camera bag--a GPS receiver. It's not what you're thinking. There are no movings maps. In fact, there's no readout at all. This GPS receiver, smaller than a pack of Tic Tacs, doesn't tell me where to go; it shows where I've been. I'll explain how that enters into photography in a second.
I found the i-gotU (among the worst named products of this century) on eBay; it's available widely online at electronics outlets too. For $40 or so, including shipping, you get the receiver, a small USB holster for charging and data transfer, and a software CD.
The i-gotU itself features a single button and two hidden LEDs. That's all you need, because as it finds your position using the constellation of GPS satellites, it's also recording it on internal memory. Back home, the data is quickly pushed to your computer.
If you carry the i-gotU while you shoot, and the clock on your camera is reasonably on-time, your photos can be geotagged. That means the major photos sites, and even Google, will properly place them on the map.
I lent mine to a friend, who carried it and his camera as he snowmobiled through Vermont. I now have documentary proof that he's crazy enough to hit 80 mph on snow!
The i-gotU is not without its shortcomings: When you turn it on, make sure to leave it in the clear until it's latched onto a few satellites. Once that's done, it works fine in your pocket. Forget step one, though, and you'll find yourself missing data points.
The time interval between fixes, which you can set, is really more a suggestion than a hard-and-fast rule. Does it make a difference that I knew where I was about every 26 seconds instead of exactly every 15? Probably not. I'm told this has to do with the battery-conserving sleep mode it goes to between sightings.
Speaking of battery--shades of iPod--it can't be changed. I have no idea what the reasonable life expectancy is, but hopefully when it gives up, the next generation will be here and be cheaper!
Post by Geoff Fox
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May 16, 2008 2:25 AM
What an amazing idea.
May 16, 2008 6:23 AM
Hi,
thanks for the info. Using a Mac I'd like to know in which format the tracks are saved? Can you get the files directly off the device, e.g. using the device as a regular drive, or do you have to use the (Windows only) tool?
Thanks!
Holger
May 16, 2008 3:45 PM
Hi Holger -
My friends with Macs always say two things.
1) I love my Mac
2) I wish they wrote a specific piece of software for my Mac
We're dealing with number two here!
As far as I can tell, the software to read the data from i-gotU is written only for PCs. I'm not sure the data can be read directly from the device with 'generic' tools.
The provided software outputs kmz files, and an mht compilation, which my Vista laptop will not allow to be read by Internet Explorer.
All the best,
Geoff Fox
ps - Thanks for your comment.
June 12, 2008 5:28 AM
Hi!
I also bought the little cute device.
You mentioned: "The provided software outputs kmz files, and an mht compilation, which my Vista laptop will not allow to be read by Internet Explorer."
You can update the software on i-gotU's official website and it should work. I also had the same problem. After mail to mobileaction's service mail, I got this soluation. Or, you can contact them directly.
Al
June 14, 2008 8:55 AM
Any idea how long you can log for before the memory fills? I'm about to go on a week long trip and won't have a PC to upload. Will the memory last that long? Charging isn't a problem.
July 16, 2008 10:51 AM
I found one of these on the Sony store a year ago when looking for a case for my Cybershot, that one goes for 10 hours on an AA battery and is supposed to keep a months worth of data. I don't know how the the specs of this one compare, but it is a lot cheaper.
August 17, 2008 7:30 AM
BarCar - I realise I'm a couple of months late with this post. If you already went on your trip I hope you enjoyed it, with or without the i-gotU.
The device can store 16,000 waypoints and you can set the interval to anything from a second to an hour, so it's a simple case of doing the math. An interval of one minute would provide over 11 days of recording.
As Geoff said, it works well as long as you make sure it has a fix before putting it into a bag or pocket.
September 12, 2008 5:31 AM
I have just bought one of these and taken it on a 12 mile hike which it plotted superbly. I can`t find an option to output as .kmz though as your snowboard friend did. I have emailed support but thought I would also ask a real user :o)
September 15, 2008 9:04 AM
...and how the buggeries do you calculate distances?
No reply from tech support yet, but from browsing the web their email support isn`t as good as the product