Oh! Gizmo

By Jonathan Kimak

This is part interesting and part adorable. A GPS-fitted box turtle helped uncover a marijuana grow-op in Rock Creek Park, south of Maryland. The turtle was wearing the GPS device for a research project run by park rangers. It’s not sure what sort of research the turtle was performing but my guess is it has something to do with fighting evil ninjas.

The turtle stumbled upon an area filled with marijuana plants. When a park ranger followed the GPS signal to retrieve the hero turtle they found the stash and also determined the culprit was a 19 year-old named Isiah Johnson of Chevy Chase, Maryland. Isiah will be charged and the unamed drug sniffing turtle will go back to the sewers, I mean ranger outpost, to fight crime another day.

[ WUSA9 ] VIA [ Tech Digest ]

By Andrew Liszewski

What is this, unofficial ‘biker day’ here at OhGizmo? Last week Garmin revealed their new zumo 550 GPS unit and the announcement was timed to coincide with the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally which makes sense given the new device is specifically designed for use on bikes. As a result the zumo 550 is not only vibration tested, UV-resistant, waterproof and built with fuel-resistant plastics, but also features a glove-friendly touchscreen display which is readable even in direct sunlight. Other biker-friendly features include a motorcycle console screen which includes easy-to-read trip information and a fuel gauge that will warn you when it’s time to fill up, as well as custom ‘caps’ that come in a variety of colors allowing you to match the color of the zumo to your ride.

It includes Garmin’s City Navigator NT street maps software with a “hefty” POI database including motels, restaurants, gas stations and ATMs. You can also add your own custom POIs for things like school zones and “safety cameras” as the Garmin website puts it. (cough, speed traps, cough) An optional XM radio antenna gives you weather, traffic and of course satellite radio, while built-in bluetooth allows you to make calls via the zumo or hear turn-by-turn directions delivered directly to a BT headset or helmet. Compared to other GPS devices on the market, the zumo 550’s $964.27 price tag is a bit steep, but you have to remember that this thing is specifically built to survive the elements.

[ Garmin zumo 550 ] VIA [ CrunchGear ]

By Luke Anderson

Have you ever wondered where your kid was, and thought it would be nice if you had some way to track them down at any time? I don’t have kids yet, but I seriously hope I don’t have those thoughts. Well, if you do have those thoughts, and want to ensure that your child hates you, then you should definitely check out this device from Keruve.

There are actually two devices here. One is a somewhat ordinary-looking watch, which also happens to be a GPS transmitter (it also uses cell phone towers to help gain the correct location). The other is a handheld GPS receiver which, as you guessed it, keeps track of your kid. Don’t worry about them taking th watch off either, it only comes off with specialized tools. There’s no word on pricing or availability, but I’m sure you could get one for the whole family. I’m sure you’ve always wondered where your grandparents and spouse are at all times as well.

[ Keruve Technology ] VIA [ Medgadget ]

By Andrew Liszewski

Apparently in some parts of the world you’re not allowed to have a GPS device suction-cupped to your windshield. And if Johnny Law frowns on you doing that, I can only assume the other options like duct taping it to your steering wheel, or hanging it from your rearview mirror are also out of the question. That’s when you might have to settle for the Nav-Mat GPS Dash Mount from Bracketron. It’s basically a weighted pillow that features a mounting surface on top where you can attach your GPS device’s windshield mounting bracket. Its weight, combined with an anti-skid material on the underside allows the Nav-Mat to stay perched on your dashboard while supporting a GPS device that weighs as much as “several pounds.”

At $29.95 it’s considerably more expensive than a roll of duct tape, but I guess it does make it easier if you ever wanted to use your GPS device in another vehicle.

[ Bracketron Universal Nav-Mat GPS Dash Mount ] VIA [ The Red Ferret Journal ]

By Luke Anderson

I’d be willing to bet that a good many of you have, at some point in your life, wanted your very own KITT from Knight Rider. Seriously, who wouldn’t want a bad ass Trans Am voiced by Mr. Feeny? Since there is no actual Knight Industries Two Thousand, you can at least subsitute with a cool car and one of these new Knight Rider GPS.

Mio has cooked up this special Knight Rider GPS which is essentially one of their Mio systems with a few fancy decorations to make it look like something you’d see in the show. The best part (and likely the selling point for most) is the fact that you’ll be given directions by William Daniels, otherwise known as KITT himself. When you turn it on you’ll even be greeted with his voice asking “Hello Michael. Where do you want to go today?”. Look for this awesome GPS later this year for around $270.

[ Mio ] VIA [ GearLive ]

By Luke Anderson

When you go shopping for a GPS, what are the features you look for? Maybe you want a bigger screen, Bluetooth capabilities, or one that is really cute. Okay, so I doubt that many of you are looking for a “cute” GPS, but if you are, few are going to top this robotic teddy bear.

While not the most practical GPS out there, this bear will provide directions by speaking aloud and point its arms to indicate which way to turn. Don’t try getting behind the wheel drunk, because this little guy won’t bear (sorry, couldn’t resist the obvious pun) it, thanks to the alcohol detection unit in his neck. Sure, without a display this won’t be of interest for most people, but it’s still interesting to see what people come up with.

[ iXs Research ] VIA [ Dvice ]

By Evan Ackerman

I don’t personally carry around a purse, but I know people who do (generally, female people). And somehow they manage to stuff all 9 bazillion of their most precious possessions inside. Losing the thing (or having it stolen) then turns into something of a huge deal, so for you absentminded purse people are these Light Bags. They come in a number of fake designer styles, and as their name suggests they contain an interior lighting system that’s activated by the heat of your hand when you reach into the bag, but they also have integrated GPS tracking devices.

The GPS uses Wherify to pinpoint its location and communicate with you via cellphone, and it can also be used as a personal alarm. This service will run you $15 per month (first two months free) in addition to the cost of the bag, which starts at $150. It seems a little steep to me, but if you buy a first edition bag and keep it for 10 years, you’ll get a $1000 rebate check. ‘Course, by that time, the bag will have gone from techy and trendy all the way through the fashion spectrum to old and busted, and you won’t need the GPS anymore since you’ll know exactly where the bag is at all times: in a shoebox at the bottom of your closet.

[ Marilyn Light Bags ] VIA [ Shiny Shiny ]

By Luke Anderson

Have you ever been driving along, blindly following the directions of your GPS, only to find yourself on a road that leads nowhere, or just plain lost? That’s happened on a few occasions, but I’ve always been able to get myself back on course again. However, if you or someone you know doesn’t want to hassle with either the complications of programing a GPS or are afraid that one will lead you astray, you might check out this cool Paper GPS Notepad.

It seems almost silly to use something like this with navigations systems becoming such commonplace, but I think it would still prove useful. If you’ve ever had to jot down directions in a hurry and then try to follow them later, it can be a real pain. Granted, I would have probably found this more useful a couple of years ago, it’s still a good product. I especially like the checkboxes in the corner notating whether or not you got lost. You can pick up a pad of 60 for just $6.50.

[ Perpetual Kid ] VIA [ Technabob ]

By Luke Anderson

If you’ve ever watched Star Wars (please tell me everyone here has) you’ll remember that the location of the rebel base was outed when Vader and Tarken decided to put a homing beacon aboard the Millennium Falcon. Well if you’re ever paranoid that someone might be tracking you in a similar fashion, you might want to pick up one of these GPS Tracker Defense devices.

This is quite simply a GPS jammer. You need only to plug it into your car’s cigarette lighter and every GPS device within a 5-meter radius will be disabled. This of course means you won’t be able to use your own GPS to guide you to your location, but that’s the price you pay for paranoia. Well, that and around $300.

[ TrackerShack ] VIA [ TFTS ]