Turn Here

by David English on May 31st, 2010

If you own the 3G version of the iPad, you already have the hardware for a first-class GPS navigator. The large touchscreen, built-in GPS, and instant-on capability are just waiting for the ideal turn-by-turn navigation app.

ALK Technologies’ CoPilot Live HD North America comes pretty close to fitting the bill for anyone who doesn’t have to depend absolutely on GPS navigation, such as an ambulance driver or police officer. While CoPilot Live HD does have its limitations, you would be hard pressed to find a better value given its rich set of features.

You do need to have the 3G version of the iPad in order to run CoPilot Live HD. The program takes up a considerable amount of space (1.34 gigabytes) to store all the needed maps, street names, and points of interest for North America. So why can’t you use the Wi-Fi version if the maps are preloaded? Only the 3G version has the GPS chip, and without the GPS chip, the iPad wouldn’t know where to place you on the map.

Because the maps are stored locally, and not downloaded on the fly, the onscreen views update smoothly as you travel by car. When driving alone, and unable to look at the screen, I was able to use the program’s voice directions for a satisfactory experience. You’ll be prompted well ahead of time with clear and concise directions. Another option: Have a second person watch the screen to help direct the turns. Or you could purchase a dashboard mount for your iPad.

The app has a wealth of features and settings, including the ability to enter multiple stops within a single trip. You can manually enter a street address or pull the information from a contact in the iPad’s address book. There are single-view and dual-view options with either a 3D or 2D map. And the supported live services include local weather, traffic, and fuel prices.

All this costs just $29.99. That’s a one-time fee that provides you with monthly map improvements and quarterly full-map updates for the U.S. and Canada. So what’s the downside?

Because CoPilot Live HD offers so many features, it can be difficult to maneuver (you may need a copilot for your CoPilot). The interface doesn’t help, as it isn’t logically arranged. Case in point, I found a cool feature where you could demo a trial run through a programmed trip, but I haven’t used it since, because I couldn’t find it again.

That may be nitpicking for a turn-by-turn app that costs only $29.99. CoPilot Live HD is an incredible bargain that requires a little extra effort to figure out how to get from here to there. All in all, that’s not a bad trade-off.

Say What?

by David English on September 3rd, 2009

Do you fumble with your Bluetooth headset because you can’t remember how many times you’re supposed to press the tiny buttons? Or do you find yourself repeatedly taking the headset off your ear because you can’t distinguish the buttons just by touch?

Unfortunately, those are common complaints with Bluetooth headsets. BlueAnt’s Q1 headset promises to remedy those issues by making the commands almost entirely voice controlled.

I was highly dubious about this approach before I tried the Q1. What would I do in an exceptionally noisy environment if the Q1 couldn’t understand me? Would I miss the call? And how would I remember all the different voice commands, especially if I used the headset only occasionally?

BlueAnt has addressed the problem of exceptionally noisy environments — as well as situations where it may be awkward to speak out loud — by providing dual methods for dealing with incoming calls. Using the voice commands, you can say “answer” to accept the call or “ignore” to reject the call. Alternatively, you can press the Q1′s big button once to accept the call or twice to reject it. Both methods worked fine for me.

Remembering the commands hasn’t been an issue either. Hold that same button down until you hear the Q1 say, “Say a command.” Then if you ask “What can I say,” you’ll hear the available voice commands, which include tasks such as “call back,” redial,” “check battery,” and “settings menu.” “Teach me” initiates an audio tutorial. “Pair me” pairs the headset with your phone (it can handle two phones simultaneously and remember as many as eight different devices). “Call speed dial 3″ automatically dials one of your eight stored speed dial numbers.

The only times I ran into problems with the Q1 understanding me was when I was in an exceptionally noisy environment or when I didn’t have the headset positioned properly toward my mouth. You need to have the two microphones lined up for it to understand your voice commands or for the built-in noise suppression to function effectively. The detachable ear hook is handy for when you’re physically active, though I found the two different-sized ear tips did a pretty good job of holding the headset in place.

Most importantly, the audio clarity has been consistently top-notch for both ends of the conversation. If you don’t mind the price (it lists for $129), the Q1 is well worth considering.

Instant Wi-Fi

by David English on August 24th, 2009

If you travel a lot, you’ve probably encountered a hotel, convention center, or remote office that supplies an Ethernet jack rather than Wi-Fi. That’s generally not a problem. Most notebook computers can handle both types of Internet connections.

Sometimes, however, I prefer to connect over Wi-Fi. I might want to use my notebook away from the desk in the hotel room. Or I might want an Internet connection for my iPod Touch or BlackBerry Curve — both are Wi-Fi enabled.

Being able to connect a Wi-Fi enabled phone can be especially handy if you’re traveling outside the country, and your phone isn’t compatible with local cellular standards. With a Wi-Fi phone, you may be able to make and receive calls over Wi-Fi using your regular phone number and be charged as though you’re making a local phone call.

So how do you convert an Ethernet jack into a Wi-Fi access point? You can use D-Link’s DWL-G730AP Wireless Pocket Router. It sells for about $50, comes with a durable carrying case, and supports three wireless modes: Router, Access Point, and Wireless Client.

Set up can be a little tricky, as the documentation isn’t as clear as it should be, though once you have it configured with your Wi-Fi-enabled devices, you can just plug it in and connect. (For tips on configuring the DWL-G730AP, check the comments section for the product on Amazon.com. Here’s a link to the review there that helped me configure it as an access point. Unfortunately, I can’t offer advice beyond that.)

The DWL-G730AP can handle multiple connected devices at the same time, so you could provide Internet access for family, friends, or co-workers. WPA security is built-in, and you can hide the SSID as an additional safeguard. You could configure the SSID and password for your own devices before the trip, and then supply that information to others while traveling.

Sharing the Connection

by David English on January 23rd, 2009

If you have a cellular data plan for your notebook or netbook computer, you may feel as though you’re paying a lot for very little flexibility. The plans tend to run about $60 a month, and the signal is tied to a specific data modem, whether it’s an internal or a USB-attached modem. Consequently, you can use only one device at a time, unless you take on significant security risks.

Too bad there’s no easy way to share your notebook’s cellular signal with your phone, media player, PDA, camera, or portable gaming system.

Help may be on the way. Novatel Wireless’ MiFi promises to create a “personal cloud of high-speed Internet connectivity.” Essentially, it replaces your internal or USB-attached cellular modem with a small external cellular modem that doubles as a wireless router. It can distribute the data connection to your notebook, your colleague’s notebook, and any other Wi-Fi-compatible device.

The MiFi is small enough to fit in the palm of your hand. It operates for fours hours on a charge, has a standby time of 40 hours, and recharges in 2 1/2 hours. Look for it to be available sometime in the first half of the year.

Here’s the rub. You can theoretically connect as many as five devices at a time, but that number can be configured down to just one device by the carrier. Novatel Wireless doesn’t have any choice here, as the MiFi has to be approved by each carrier. If Verizon or Sprint decides your MiFi will connect with only one device, that’s how it will have to be.

There’s a lot of potential here. Unfortunately, the carriers may be so afraid that potential customers will use it for a free ride, they’ll miss out on the possibility that data sharing could attract even larger numbers of new customers. The airports are full of road warriors who travel with multiple Wi-Fi devices. A fully configured MiFi could encourage more of them to sign up for cellular data plans.

Air Apparent

by David English on October 7th, 2006

I finally got around to replacing my eight-year-old notebook. My ancient ThinkPad 600E worked reasonably well after several hard drive transplants and memory upgrades, but I was ready to move on. When it came time to configure my new ThinkPad X60s, I knew I wanted to include a built-in wireless wide-area network (WAN) modem. It lets you connect to the Internet over a high-speed cellular network.

The X60s is configured with a Sierra Wireless modem that’s locked into Verizon Wireless’ EV-DO network. Verizon has expanded its EV-DO coverage recently, so I contacted them about their 30-day trial offer. I called on September 29, and it turned out that was the last day the 30-day trial would be offered. Now it’s just a three-day trial.

Though Verizon’s connecting software (VZAccess Manager) is flakey, the service itself is excellent. I’m getting speeds that vary from about 300 kbps to 800 kbps. That’s not exactly DSL or cable modem speeds, but it’s fast enough to make mobile browsing an enjoyable experience. There are two downsides, however. The first is the price. You’ll have to pay $80 a month, or $60 a month if you currently have your cell phone through Verizon. The second is the restrictions on the “unlimited” service. You’re prohibited from streaming or downloading movies, music, or games. You also can’t use your notebook as a server or with a webcam.

Am I going to sign up after the 30-day trial period is over? I’m not sure. There is an option to pay $15 a day, which may work out better for me, as I’ll mostly need the service when I’m traveling to and from tradeshows.