Garmin Montana Multi-purpose GPS

The Garmin Montana GPS is an "advanced Garmin handheld featuring a ruggedized design with multiple mounting and battery options, dual-orientation screen layout options and support for a wide range of Garmin cartography," states Garmin. Highlights include the option of using the unit's built-in rechargeable lithium-ion battery, or three AA batteries; a built-in 5-megapixel camera, additional memory and map-loading with a microSD card, 3.5mm audio jack, and a waterproof rating.

The idea behind the Montana is to be a device that can get you to your destination like a regular dedicated car GPS using Garmin's tried and true City Navigator spoken turn-by-turn directions, then unclipping the device and taking it with you on the next leg of your trip, whether by boat, ATV, mountain biking, hiking, hunting, fishing, and more. If you need local topographic maps or lake or ocean charts, these may be purchased form Garmin and downloaded or plugged in as a microSD card.
Overall, this is an impressive new entry into an adventurous outdoor market segment that's been hankering for just this device. Backcountry and boating trips are usually bracketed by road trips, and the Montana, with its powered mount options, is the way to go.

Specifications
Unit dimensions, WxHxD: 2.9" x 5.7" x 1.4" (7.48 x 14.42 x 3.64 cm)
Display size, WxH: 2"W x 3.5"H (5.06 x 8.93 cm); 4" diag (10.2 cm)
Display resolution, WxH: 272 x 480 pixels
Display type: transflective 65k color TFT, dual-orientation touchscreen; sunlight readable
Weight:    10.2 oz (289 g) with included lithium-ion battery pack; 11.7 oz (333 g) with 3 AA batteries
Battery: rechargeable lithium-ion (included) or 3 AA batteries (not included); NiMH or Lithium recommended
Battery life: up to 16 hours (lithium-ion); up to 22 hours (AA batteries)
Waterproof: yes (IPX7)
Floats: no
High-sensitivity receiver: yes
Interface: high-speed USB and NMEA 0183 compatible
 
Maps & Memory
Basemap: yes
Ability to add maps: yes
Built-in memory: 3.5 GB
Accepts data cards: microSD™ card (not included)
Waypoints/favorites/locations: 2000inter
Routes: 200
Track log: 10,000 points, 200 saved tracks

Features
Automatic routing (turn by turn routing on roads): yes (with optional mapping for detailed roads)
Electronic compass: yes (tilt-compensated, 3-axis)
Touchscreen: yes
Barometric altimeter: yes
Camera:     yes (5 megapixel with autofocus; automatic geo-tagging)
Geocaching-friendly: yes (paperless)
Custom maps compatible: yes
Photo navigation (navigate to geotagged photos): yes
Hunt/fish calendar: yes
Sun and moon information: yes
Tide tables: yes
Area calculation: yes
Custom POIs (ability to add additional points of interest): yes
Unit-to-unit transfer (shares data wirelessly with similar units): yes
Picture viewer:    yes
Garmin Connect™ compatible (online community where you analyze, categorize and share data): yes

TomTom Rider 2nd Edition

The TomTom Rider 2nd Edition comes with a Cardo brand "Scala-Rider" Bluetooth-enabled wireless, helmet-mounted headset that allows you to hear the Rider 2nd Edition's text-to-speech directions. The headset also enables hands-free calling when the Rider is paired with a compatible cell phone.

The TomTom Rider blocks outgoing calls when the bike is moving for "safety reasons" but allows incoming calls, automatically routed to your earpiece. The Rider also features a simplified, "ride mode" four-icon menu system that helps you focus on the road while you're moving. The Rider has a 3.5-inch (diagonal) screen, is sturdily built, waterproof, and may be mounted in a car with an accessory mounting kit.

Garmin Zumo 550

Garmin Zumo 550
The Zumo 550  is at the top of Garmin's four-model Zumo motorcycling line. All four of the Zumo models have the same, color, 3.5-inch diagonal touchscreen, and the same durable, waterproof, made-for-biking metal body. The main feature setting the 550 apart from the other models is its text-to-speech directions capability. You may hear the directions via the unit's speaker, or via your helmet-mounted, Bluetooth-enabled mike/speaker (not included). The Zumo 550 will also sync with a compatible, Bluetooth-enabled cell phone to permit hands-free calling and touchscreen phone control and dialing. The 550 comes with special bike mounting hardware.

"With optional XM® subscriptions and an XM antenna, you can check the weather, move ahead of traffic and listen to the radio when you travel with zūmo in the U.S. As an alternative, zūmo can receive optional TMC traffic alerts (in select cities) when used with a compatible traffic receiver. Simply press a button on the screen, and zūmo recalculates your route to avoid traffic tie-ups," states Garmin.

Garmin's New Approach G8 and G7 Golf GPS Devices

Garmin continues to stretch its lead in the handheld golf GPS market with the introduction of new Approach G8 and G7 models. The $399 G8 becomes the new top of the line from Garmin. It boasts an all-new chassis that is slimmer and lighter than its predecessors. It also has Garmin's largest golf GPS screen, at 240 x 400 pixels and 1.5 x 2.6 inches. As you might expect, the G8 has every feature you can imagine and some you may not have thought of. Like other Garmins, it comes with a free, and free-to-update database of 30,000+ courses world-wide. It also has Smart Notification technology, which communicates with your smartphone to receive emails, texts, and call alerts.

Garmin is also in the process of adding golf tracking features to its free online Connect services, so the G8 will feed stats to Connect when you are ready to keep a log and to analyze performance and scores.  A new PlaysLike feature adjusts distances for uphill and downhill terrain if you opt to use it. A rechargeable lithium-ion battery lasts 15 hours in full GPS use. Other features include touch-targeting, manually moveable pin, shot distance tracker, stat tracker, and digital scorecard. A new G7 model ($299) shares most of the same features but has a smaller screen.

Fodor's Travel Apps for iPhone

Fodor's Travel Apps for iPhone
Fodor's is known for its on-the-ground research, and lively, thorough writing about all of its covered destinations, from corner restaurants, to major museums and other attractions.
Also, unlike a lot of travel and map apps, which simply dump a lot of information into a searchable form, Fodor's makes many editorial choices and recommendations. For example, "Fodor's Choice" identifies what to see, where to eat, where to stay, shopping, and other categories with editor-researched picks.
Since the app is on a GPS-equipped iPhone, it knows where you are (with your permission) and provides the type of location-centric services we've become accustomed to, including showing where you are, and what's nearby.

Pros
Download maps and store them in-app to avoid data-roaming charges overseas.
Well-researched destinations with well-written descriptions.
Guidance on what to see, and where to eat, stay, etc.

Cons
Available for only five cities so far.

Description
Compatible with iPhone, iPod Touch, or iPad only.
Free in-App download required for offline maps
iPhone OS 3.1 or higher.

The maps are of very good quality and really help ease navigation when you have them open. Other tools, such as detailed subway and train maps, with color-coded and ID'ed stations and lines are valuable to the traveler.
Maps include digital "pushpins" for all of the listed locations, with additional info and links to websites. You may also use a map filter tool to select for what you want to see - "Greenwich Village / Music Stores" - for example, and the map will show only pins for your selection.
Overall, Fodor's Travel Apps for iPhone provide the solid and reliable experience and well-researched information you'd expect from a long-time industry staple.

Google Earth

The first thing to know about the Google Earth app, is that it is not Google Maps. Google earth is a global exploration and visualization tool, and is not intended for turn-by-turn navigation. As Google states, the Google Earth app lets you "fly around the planet" with a swipe of the finger.

Google is constantly increasing its inventory of 3D imagery and aerial photography, so you are able to view most major global landmarks in 3D, pan-and-sweep glory. A tour guide feature takes you through a pre-programmed virtual tour of locations and trips. Great for the armchair explorer and for trip planning.

National Geographic World Atlas HD

In its World Atlas HD app for the iPad, National Geographic states it "utilizes our highest-resolution, press-ready images, providing you the same, rich detail, accuracy, and artistic beauty found in our award-winning wall maps and bound atlases." The map set, which pops beautifully on the bright, high-resolution display of the iPad, includes a globe (that you can spin!) and country-level resolution for the entire planet.

When internet-connected, you may drill down (via Bing Maps) to street level. This maps app is a great educational tool for kids. Each nation has a pop-up flag and facts set. Be sure to get the HD version for the iPad.

My Topo Maps Pro by Trimble Outdoors

If you are an outdoors-person, and like to dream and plan trips with the help of topographic maps, My Topo Maps Pro by Trimble Outdoors for the iPad is a great solution. With this app, you may manage, download, and archive topo maps. The app includes 68,000 maps covering the U.S. and Canada, with 14,000 of them digitally enhanced and updated. With this app, you may view five different map types: topo of course, plus streets, hybrid satellite view, aerial photo, and terrain.

You may download to your iPad an store as many maps as your iPad's memory will allow, so you don't need an internet connection to use the maps in the field.
The app also includes useful planning and navigation tools, including a multi-function digital compass, a search feature covering 10 million points of interest, and a ruler to measure the distance between two points.
You may also register for a free account to save trips to the Trimble Trip Cloud for storage and for syncing between devices.dist

Tripit - Travel Organizer

Frequent travelers know what a juggling act flight, hotel, rental and other bookings can be to track and organize. The Tripit app for iPad consolidates your travel plans, and automatically organizes them for you. Tripit combines your trip details to create a single, set-format itinerary on your iPhone or iPad that gets synced across your i-devices, as well as the Tripit.com website.

 

To build your Tripit itinerary, simply forward confirmation e-mails from flight, hotel, rental car, rail, event, and other types of travel confirmations to a Tripit e-mail address, and it will build your schedule and even keep friends, family, or co-workers informed, if you wish. Tripit also includes a built-in turn-by-turn-directions navigation app to help you reach your destinations, right from your itinerary.
A Tripit Pro version will update you on flight status, consolidate your frequent flyer information, and monitor your travel plans for any unexpected changes or delays.

Backpacker Map Maker

The Backpacker Map Maker fulfills the incredible potential of iPad to make detailed topographic map use and planning easy and effective. Backpacker Map Maker by Trimble Navigation (a long-established GPS and mapping firm) provides access to 68,000 downloadable topographic maps in the U.S. and Canada.

Once you have downloaded the maps for your destination, you may mark waypoints by touch drag-and-drop, use a virtual ruler to measure distances, overlay a digital compass, and display and copy exact coordinates. Once you have planned a trip, you may sync it to Backpacker Trip Cloud and access it from any Internet-connected device. You may also print maps, or export them in GPX mode. A dual-map mode lets you overlay maps (such as a Bing aerial view map over a topo).