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Latest Tech Review-Sony/Etak GPS
From: Edward Zabrek, M.D. (stork@flash.net)
Sun, 27 Sep 1998 19:12:28 -0500
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Never Get Lost Again! with Sony's SkyMap Pro(r)Several months ago, while perusing through a non-medical journal, I noticed an advertisement for the Sony SkyMap Pro(r). It touted itself as the "Ultimate GPS and Map system for the Mobile Professional." I was so intrigued, I called the toll free phone number listed in the ad (1-888-2-SKYMAP or 888-275-9627). Expecting to hear the word Sony when greeted from the voice on the other side, they answered "ETAK". "ETAK?," I asked. "Yes," they answered, we are a subsidiary of Sony Corp. of America (http://www.etak.com/startGPS). The rest, as they say, is history. I ordered a SkyMap Pro® unit, and after receiving it, was excited to set it up in my subnotebook computer for use in my car.
Many of you may already know that GPS (Global Positioning Systems) will become an optional accessory in high end vehicles over the next few years. Currently Mercedes, Lexus, BMW, and Acura are placing “in-vehicle navigation systems” in the dash console of their most expensive vehicles. (Add-on cost is $2000-$3000.00 US.) The Windows CE engine will be used for the new AutoPC™, which is not yet available. These units will be priced between $900-$1500, and will incorporate many functions, including GPS and directional navigation. (Interesting note: . Etak will be providing real-time traffic information for these devices, manufactured by Clarion and several other companies.) You can expect this option to trickle to lower end vehicles from all manufacturers within the next two to five years. Several car rental companies are also providing in-vehicle navigation systems in some of their higher end rental cars. (I highly recommend that if you have an opportunity to rent one of these cars in a totally unfamiliar city, and try it out.)
For those of you who want a GPS device in their car NOW, for about $300.00 (utilizing your existing IBM compatible laptop computer), you can get the SkyMap Pro(r), and have it up and running in any vehicle in less than thirty minutes. Minimal requirements for the SkyMap Pro to work optimally are: [ ] 486 PC processor, with 75 MHz or better [ ] PCMCIA Type II slot [ ] VGA display with at least 640 x480 resolution [ ] 2X CD-ROM drive [ ] Windows 95/98 [ ] 20 MB of free hard-disk space.
The GPS antenna is about the size of a small pager (2.9" x 2.3" x 1.2 ") attached to the PCMCIA card with a 59 inch thin cable. It weighs about 3 oz..
It is not necessary to load any or all of the maps onto your hard drive. It is, however, recommended that, for faster access, you install the maps on your hard drive you are going to use. You can add or delete maps to or from your hard drive easily, any time your needs change. The larger cities are comprised of multiple "Detail Maps". There is a special screen for this grouping entitled "Major Metropolitan Areas." Another screen titled "Cities and Counties" allows you to choose additional maps not listed in the "Major Metropolitan Areas".
USING SKYMAP PRO (r)
Once you've loaded your pertinent city/county information into your laptop, you are ready to roll! Take your laptop (with the PCMCIA GPS in the computer's card slot), and the included remote control, to your car. When you first double click the SkyMap Pro(r) icon on your desktop, the unit sets itself, and small print in the lower corner of the logo screen warns: "Do not use this product in any way that interferes with safe vehicle operation. Always secure system components." You will also get a similar warning when you are using the program and attempt to use the mouse or keyboard while driving. If you are alone, I recommend that you place your laptop in a padded case, and secure it in an area of the vehicle so that quick stops wont send it to the floor (or worse yet, through the window, or even worse, into your face!) To be honest, I think that it is safest to use this device with a human co-pilot. This will add safety for both you and your computer. Your co-navigator can act as a map reader and direct you where you need to go. (In the beginning, you will be tempted to look at the computer because you won' t believe how damned accurate this thing is! As you pass street signs and look up, your computer "knows" exactly where you are.
SkyMap(r) Pro provides detailed maps of all 50 states on 2 CD-ROMs. Also included with the installation are addresses and phone numbers for over 500,00 businesses. Once loaded, searchable points of interest and business listings can help you locate airports, lodging, rental cars, stores, restaurants, theaters, and sports arenas, to name a few. Diagrams of major US airports and travel-related toll-free reservation numbers are also included. Two "live" overlay panels are available. One shows you the GPS signal strength. A second panel displays current and elapsed time; distance to or from your destination; current or average speed; location: current longitude, latitude, and elevation; and a compass showing you your orientation and direction of travel. All of these displays can be optionally turned on or off.
You can use SkyMap(r) Pro to track your travel time and mileage. (Take that IRS!) Human voice "alerts" provide status updates of speed, heading, distance to destination and more. You can record and save trips to be displayed at a later date on the preloaded maps. SkyMap(r) Pro boasts "powerful contact management" with its import and export wizards. The address book can import a wide variety of file formats (including, Access, ACT!, and Excel.) If you dare to try this alone, the included remote control does assist you with panning and zooming in and out of maps, along with giving you a constant "North Up" reference at the push of a button on your remote. While traveling, you can "see" your position on the street or highway as a small "flame-like" circle. (I wonder if this was purposely chosen as reminder icon as to what your car and you will look like if you don't heed the warning and try to operate your laptop while driving.) It is all quite amazing and fascinating to see how accurate this whole process is. I found about a five second delay (looking at landmarks around me) from the actual car location, and the flame icon. (When you stop, the flame catches up with you.)
I initially tried out this miraculous device around my home stomping grounds in Houston, Texas. I was truly amazed to see how accurate it was. The much traveled route from my home to the hospital carried new meaning when I actually was able to view my short-cuts "live" and realize exactly how much longer they actually were.
My next test came when I took the whole shebang to Seattle while working on a project for Sieman's Ultrasound. (Note: I preloaded all of the appropriate information from the CD-ROM for the Seattle metropolitan area.) I used to own a piece of land in a neighborhood on a mountain overlooking a lake in Issaquah, Washington. I wanted to see if the new owners had started building on the property, I had an idea how to get there. For fun, I took the SkyMap(r) GPS with me (just in case, and just for fun). I soon realized that I did not remember exactly how to get there, and was sorely lost. I pulled over to the side of the road and searched out the address using the search feature of the SkyMap Pro(r). Much to my surprise, it found it. I was pretty close, and easily drove to the lot without any more difficulty.
The SkyMap(r) GPS will also display a route on the Overview Map by choosing a starting and ending point. I was scheduled to have dinner at Doug Whisler’s house (the OBGYN.NET ultrasound corporate liaison with Sieman's Ultrasound Group). He phoned my hotel, and knowing that I was going to be testing the SkyMap Pro(r) GPS, gave me his address and zipcode. I entered that information into the SkyMap(r) program, and less than 5 seconds later, I was viewing Doug's neighborhood with all of the cross streets on the map. I added this information to the included address book function, and placed a marker on the map so that I would have a permanent reminder of Doug's house for this and future visits. (Note: it is not necessary to have the PCMCIA GPS card in the slot as you utilize this feature.) I then entered the address of my hotel into the "routing manager" feature of the SkyMap(r). Using this routing feature, I placed a green "start" flag on the map where my hotel sits. I then went back to the address book and searched for and located Doug's house on the map. Again, using the "routing manager", I placed a black "stop" flag over this area. I then clicked the "calc route" button within the routing manager menu box, and was instructed that the SkyMap Pro(r) would automatically plot out my route. In less than thirty seconds, a purple line (a la the AAA Trip-Tik(c)) was laid down on the major highways of the Seattle city map. A printable (and "save as a file") description (of the route was then available with a click of a button). Here is the actual description of the route (as pasted directly from the SkyMap(r) "routing manager".):
>From Starting way point to final way point
You are on InterState 5: Go South on InterState 5 for 4.1 miles to SPOKANE ST. Go West on SPOKANE ST for 0.5 miles to State Highway 99. Go South on State Highway 99 for 2.4 miles to State Highway 509. Go South on State Highway 509 for 5.5 miles. You have reached the end of the trip.Total Trip Distance: 12.5 miles.
Copyright © Etak, Inc. 1984-1998
I noticed that the purple highlighted route path did not extend completely to the final destination, but was not concerned because I figured that as I got closer to Doug's house, the purple line would magically appear. Unfortunately, it did not. (Note: I talked with Etak about this. They explained that smaller roads change all of the time. As a result, more detailed information could be misleading. They also said that the demand for this feature is so great, it will appear in the next version of the software.) The lack of “complete” directions did not impede my progress. (I did bring Doug's phone number with me, just in case, but aside from that, had not other instructions to use. I should also note that Doug's house is in a rather obscure, very beautiful area on the outskirts of Seattle. I set my sites on the "black flag" that denoted Doug's house, and kept that little flame of a logo heading in the direction of Doug's house. (An arrow also kept “pointing” to the direction of the final destination.) Without further difficulty, I noticed that the flame was very close to the black flag. I HAD ARRIVED!! The SkyMap Pro(r) functioned flawlessly. Both Doug and I were very impressed. I used the “flame” icon alone to get me back to my hotel and it functioned flawlessly.
I must admit, I have been truly impressed the Etak/Sony SkyMap Pro(r)! Its value and function is like nothing I have ever seen or used to date. (Laptop add-on GPS products from other manufacturers will appear in future reviews. Also be aware that the maps you are viewing are not "live". Construction, street closures (temporary and permanent), detours, etc. will not show up on your map (remember, they were loaded from the CD's).
Future advances in GPS technology will bring us "live updates" in construction and traffic patterns. I spoke with Etak about this and they informed me that they are the only company providing real-time traffic information on a nationwide basis. Much of this technology depends more upon the ability of the hardware device to receive info. For example, the laptop would need to be able to receive wireless transmission of such information. Etak currently sends this sort of information to websites (check out http://www.etaktraffic.com), but to be really useful, you want the information live, while it is happening. The new AutoPC units should have such capability and, when laptops can handle it, Etak add it to SkyMap.
In summary, If you are looking for a relatively inexpensive way to try out GPS technology, I highly recommend the Sony SkyMap Pro(r) unit! I know that I won’t leave Houston (and drive in an unfamiliar city) without it!
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- Previous message: Edward Zabrek, M.D.: "Pace ASCUS review"
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