VisorCentral.com
Blast from the past! We stopped updating VisorCentral in late 2002, but feel free to browse around and feel nostalgic. There are 135 reviews and over a thousand articles in our archives. Also check out an even older version of the site.
FrontStoriesProductsGuidesSupportDiscussionMobileAbout            
 
visorcentral.com >> Products & Reviews >> Modules
Geode

Wed Feb 7, 2001 - 12:00 AM EST - By James Hromadka

Geode Info Application

Geode Info main screenGeode Info is where you can view your current location's latitude and longitude, adjust power settings, and use a full-screen compass.  You can access Geode Info in several ways: the Visor's application screen, on the GeoView Mobile's home screen, or by selecting View | Geode Info while looking at a map.

The main screen on Geode Info lists the current lattitude/longitude, GPS Time and date, current speed, etc.  The speed is in km/h and there isn't currently a way to change this to miles/hr.  The Status is important as it shows the type of GPS connection.  Here are some of the status messages and what they mean:
 

  • No GPS Detected - No communication between Visor and Geode
  • Searching - No satellites
  • 1 Sat - 1 satellite found
  • 2 Sat - 2 satellites found
  • 2D Fix - 2 dimensional location determined
  • 3D Fix - 3 dimensional location determined
  • 2D Est - 2 dimensional location estimated
  • 3D Est - 3 dimensional location estimated
  • Dead Reck - Lost all satellites

  •  

     

    Tap the Compass button to bring up a full screen compass.  The entire dial rotates with a pointer towards North.  I would have rather had the pointer going straight up with the directional dial rotating around it.  This would indicate in a more intuitive way the direction you were facing.  It would also be nice if your current heading were displayed in degrees.

    The only applicable option here is to calibrate the compass by selecting Options | Setup.  This brings up a Compass Setup screen that has you turn slowly around in circles to calibrate the compass.  This is also one of the initial procedures that the Geode has you do when you first insert the module.  The Compass Setup screen doesn't have a Cancel option, so if you select it accidentally, the only way to cancel is to press one of the hardware buttons (Datebook, AddressBook, etc).

    The most significant feature of the Geode's digital compass is that you do not have to have a satellite lock to use it.  This comes in handy when traveling in a car when you can sometimes lose a GPS signal.  More on that later in this review.

    Satellite Status >>

     

    Product Info
    Details
    » Name Geode
    » Company GeoDiscovery
    » Size 2.4" x 4.3" x 1.2"
    » Weight 5.7 oz. w/ batt.
    » Memory 3 K on Visor when inserted (GeoView maps take extra)
    » Accuracy 2-3 Meters
    » Fact Sheet & User Opinions
    Availability
    » Unknown
    Pricing
    » $289

    References
    Actions
    » Print this page

    Copyright ©1999-2016 Smartphone Experts. All rights reserved : Terms of Use : Privacy Policy
    VisorCentral is not not affiliated with or endorsed by Handspring Inc in any way.