In keeping with one of this issue's themes (travel), the first thing we'll do is take a look at some Web sites devoted to Global Positioning System solutions. GPS is a great application for the Pocket PC, letting you know where you are at all times and providing digital maps and turn-by-turn routing information so that you can find your destination more easily.
If you'd like to see a demo of GPS in action, check out Pocket PC magazine's Video Edition for Planet PDA 2003 (http://www.PocketPCmag.com/video/#Planet%20PDA%20Expo%2003). Diane Dumas recorded a video of an in-car demo of Tom Tom Navigator. You're right there in the car heading down a highway in Danvers, MA, using an iPAQ Pocket PC and the Tom Tom Navigator system to find the Sea Witch Restaurant.
If you want to read what other Pocket PC users say about GPS, or ask some questions about it, visit Pocket PC magazine's GPS forum (http://www.PocketPCmag.com/forum/forum.asp?FORUM_ID=42), moderated by experts Shawna Kelly and Gary Garland. They can answer just about any question you have about this technology. Note the "GPS links worth checking out" at the top of their topic list.
Pocket PC GPS sites
GPS solutions for the Pocket PC involve two components: the physical GPS receiver and the navigation software that displays maps and your location on the Pocket PC. Selecting a solution can be complicated because there is a wide range of choices for both of these components. Fortunately, there are a number of Web sites that can help you navigate through this maze of choices.
GPS PasSion (http://www.gpspassion.com) is a popular site that offers news and reviews of GPS hardware and software, with a special focus on technologies for the Pocket PC platform. They also have articles such as "How to Choose a GPS," which tells you which GPS receivers work with which Pocket PCs. If you join the GPS PasSion Club, you can receive personal assistance via e-mail as well as discounts on GPS hardware and software.
www.gpspassion.com
Pocket GPS World (http://www.pocketgps.co.uk) is a general GPS site covering a variety of GPS hardware, software, and mapping tools. Although it covers many platforms, much of the content is related to the Pocket PC. They offer news, reviews, and product comparisons. The site also has dozens of forums, many of which are focused on a particular GPS hardware or software product.
www.pocketgps.co.uk
GPSinformation.net (http://gpsinformation.net) is another general GPS site with FAQs, tutorials, hardware and software reviews, GPS-related hobbies, and a section dedicated to GPS solutions for Pocket PCs and other PDAs. It provides a great overview of GPS topics, and their Quick Start Info section is especially useful for new users.
Geocaching (http://www.geocaching.com) covers the increasingly popular GPS hobby of geocaching, which is a sort of treasure hunt using GPS.
Aximsite stands out
Switching now from the topic of GPS to other Windows Mobile-related sites, I want to touch on some great resources that I haven't yet covered in this column.
With the release of the Dell Axim in late 2002, Chris Leckness started Aximsite (http://aximsite.com), which quickly became one of the premier Pocket PC sites. Its focus is the Axim Pocket PC, but much of the information is more generally useful.
aximsite.com
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