i-gotU GPS travel logger mini reviewThe i-gotU GPS travel logger isn't something that would leave a strong impression simply because it's too inconspicuous. In fact, I'm embarrassed to say that there was a period of time when I forgot that it was in my bag. If you can live with its relatively cheesy name, this mini thingamajig actually delivers more punch than expected of its plain-looking chassis. According to the literature, a SiRFStar III low-power chip, GPS patch antenna and built-in 230mAh Lithium-ion battery are packed into the diminutive 47 x 29 x 12mm form factor and it weighs a near negligible 21g.
Unlike Sony which didn't disclose the make of the chipset for its GPS-CS1, the i-gotU logger uses the well-established SiRFStar III and the device has a rated battery life of 20 hours based on continuous usage (15-second logging intervals). The battery charges via a USB cable that's connected to a cradle, so it's a little less convenient than swapping AA-sized batteries on the Sony. Our review set comes with a matching soft gel case that not only protects the core unit, it also has a strip behind for us to slot it onto our bag's carrying strap. Alternatively, there's an eyelet on the device to string a chain. In terms of usage, it's actually very straightforward. There's only one button to power on/off and it's next to impossible for anything to go wrong. The settings are managed via the software and we can program the logger to various modes, such as pedestrian, bicycle or car, depending on our traveling speed which would vary the logging intervals. There are two LED lights that blink in a variety of sequences when the device is powering up, connecting to the satellites, reaching maximum memory capacity or when the battery is running low. Frankly, we couldn't remember all of them and didn't try to. What's most important is seeing the blue LED blinking every 16 seconds because that's when we know it has had a successful lock on the birds. A really useful feature is the ability to tag manual waypoints along a route by pushing the central button. We didn't subject the i-gotU to the elements, although Mobile Action, the company that loaned us the unit, claims the logger is water-resistant. Other features include direct picture uploading to Flickr and Picasa, exporting of travel blogs to share with friends, and support for embedding YouTube videos in Google Maps. In a tiny country like Singapore, we would go so far as to say that a GPS travel logger has really limited uses here. But if you like to take pictures and often travel abroad, having one of these gadgets can be quite a liberating photo-viewing experience. The geotagging concept is similar to Flickr World Map where users can search for a particular location and see the photos taken at that place by other Flickrites. So it's like visiting a place without physically being there. The i-gotU GPS travel logger is available in Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan for US$49.99. There's also a Bluetooth version that is priced at US$75. Both GPS loggers are compatible with third-party GPS navigation software, but the Bluetooth version takes it up a notch with its ability to pair with a PDA or mobile phone.
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