If you’re traveling to Beijing for the Olympics, don’t forget to pack your GPS. Garmin has released City Navigator China NT 2008 just in time to help you navigate your way around China.

“This new suite of digital maps helps tourists locate stadiums, hotels, restaurants, and more — so they can spend their time being spectators instead of worrying about how to get there,” said Garmin sales VP Dan Bartel. “Presently, Garmin is the only satellite navigation manufacturer that is able to offer these highly-detailed maps.”

Just plug in the micro SD/SD card and 7 millions points of interest (POIs) are instantly  at your fingertips. The maps provide full coverage of China with street level detail for 980 cities and the roads that connect them. Download the free Chinese Sports Arenas POI bundle and you also get turn-by-turn directions to all the important Chinese sporting venues in Beijing, Shenyang, Shanghai, Tianjin, Qinhuangdao and Qingdao. Entries are sorted by both type of sport and city and provide competition dates to make following the world’s greatest sporting events a piece of cake. Road and POIs are presented in Pinyin, a Latin-alphabet phonetic spelling of Mandarin Chinese, to aid Westerners with road signs.

Best of all, Navigator China is compatible with all current Garmin personal navigation devices and can be easily downloaded from Garmin’s website. Remember to pack your Garmin GPS anytime you’re travelling outside the U.S. Plug-in SD cards provide language translation and travel guides to enhance your travel experience anywhere in the world.

You know that saying about how some people would lose their heads if not for their necks? Or maybe you heard one person tell another that they couldn’t find their way out of a paper bag? Well, I am sorry to say that those descriptions fit me quite well.

The other day I was leaving a museum and talking on my cell phone. The exhibits had been so thrilling that I left and couldn’t remember how I’d gotten there. I looked up and remarked to the friend on the other end that I wasn’t quite sure where I was. She said that I needed on of those things and she described, but couldn’t quite remember “GPS.” I told her that I had one in my car, but that there are many GPS models that have also been designed for people to use while they are on foot.

In fact, I am so conditioned to thinking of a GPS as an in-car navigation system, that I forget that there are some that can fit into a pocket or purse.

The Garmin Quest 2 Portable Navigation Automotive GPS is one of many GPS devices that can travel in car or in pocket. With its slim and portable design, the Quest 2 is a great go-anywhere guide. The Quest 2 has a unique antenna that folds flush when you are not using it.

You can also check out the Mio DigiWalker C220 GPS Automotive Navigation System. This easy-to-use GPS device also has not problem transitioning for the car for on-the-road navigation to a pocket to provide on-the-sidewalk assistance.

Law enforcement has found another effective use for GPS devices. GPS monitors are already used in numerous states to track sex offenders. When ordered by the court, sex offenders must wear a GPS device that allows law enforcement officers to track their whereabouts. Joining 10 other states, Michigan has just enacted a new law that expands GPS monitoring to domestic abusers and stalkers. Victims of these crimes can elect to wear a device that allows them to be alerted by cell phone if offenders come too close. The system calls again with an “all clear” when offenders leave the area. Supporters of the law hope that an early warning will allow victims to take defensive measures to protect themselves.

New GPS technology takes victim protection to a new level. Protection orders are only partially effective in protecting victims of stalking and domestic abuse. Court orders can only protect victims in their homes, at work and at other regularly attended sites, such as their child’s school. Even then, attackers often ignore protection orders. The new GPS system protects victims wherever they go by creating a zone of protection that moves with them. Victims are alerted if their attacker enters the zone, giving them time to find safety or seek help. Police can also use the new system to determine whether an offender has violated a protective order.

“This returns some of the power and self-control of victims’ own lives back to them,” said Michigan Representative Bill Caul, who sponsored the GPS bill.

NASA has commissioned a new system that will work similar to a GPS  system for use on the moon. NASA isn’t planning on returning to the moon until 2020. Our space agency has given scientists three years (and over $1 million) to develop a navigation system that space explorers can use to find their way on the moon.

Unlike a GPS system, which relies on the signals from satellites to calculate the location of an object, this system will rely on a different set of sensors. Some of these sensors that will do the same work that satellites do in a GPS system are stereo cameras, lunar beacons, and orbital imaging sensors.

The aim of the new GPS-like system is to help keep astronauts safe and save them the stress and frustration of getting lost. It sounds a lot like what GPS navigation systems do here on Earth. And just think–you don’t even have to wait another three years to get a device that can make your journeys easier. You can get a GPS navigation device today and be on your way. Action GPS has a number of GPS devices that can fit the bill.

You may be really trying to explore and learn about new territory as some astronauts will do or you could just be taking care of routine things before returning to the mothership. Either way, there is a GPS device to help you get the job done.

For the adventurous, explorer types, there are Geocaching, Marine and Recreational GPS systems.
And for those of your who need some navigational help as you run errands and take the occasional trip out of town there are Automotive GPS systems.

The Garmin Oregon 200 Handheld Outdoor Color GPS is expected to be released on August 1, 2008 and you can pre-order yours now!

As we told you, excitement about Garmin’s new Oregon line has been building ever since some retailers let the cat out of the bag sooner than expected.

The Oregon 200 has a 3-inch diagonal, sunlight-readable color touchscreen display. Its easy-to-use interface lets you get the information you need quickly so you can get out an enjoy the great outdoors.

And because Garmin knows how much you like to get out there are really explore, they made sure that the Oregon 200 is rugged and ready. It is slim and lightweight, but it is no cream puff. The Oregon is durable and waterproof and made to face the elements and keep going.

If geocaching is your thing, then look no further than the Oregon 200. It supports Geocaching.com GPX files so that you can download geocaches right to the unit. You can upload the GPX file and hit the trail.

The Oregon 200 comes with a highly sensitive WAAS enabled GPS receiver and HotFix satellite prediciton. It can find out where you are fast and it is accurate, even deep in the forest or way down inside a canyon.

Forget bread crumbs. The Oregon keeps track of where you are and where you’ve been. There is a 10,000 point automatic track log. You can also save 20 tracks (with 500 points each) and retrace your steps in both directions.

Visit Action GPS to learn more about the Oregon 200 and other Garmin products.

My eccentric Uncle Leman came to mind as I planned my upcoming trip to the Big Apple. If there was ever an individual in need of a GPS system, it was my navigationally challenged Uncle Leman.  

What families lovingly refer to as “a character,” Uncle Leman convinced my Aunt Rose to forsake the comforts of their Ohio bungalow for a life of adventure on the open road. In typical Leman fashion, he did this by pulling their well-used Ford station wagon into the drive, little white house trailer in tow, throwing open the kitchen door, and yelling, “Rose, get packed!” What can I say? Times were different in the 1950s. I can only imagine Rose’s response today!

Despite a rocky start, the two of them seemed to enjoy life on the road. I think it was Uncle Leman’s goal to visit every state in the U.S. via the dinner table of each and every member of our very extensive, far-flung family. He and Aunt Rose crisscrossed the country for more than a decade before finally parking for good in Ft. Lauderdale.

Unfortunately, Uncle Leman’s thirst for adventure was unaccompanied by even the vaguest sense of direction. In an era well before cell phones and GPS devices, Uncle Leman’s method of navigating a strange city was to flag down a taxi and pay the cabbie to lead him to his destination, he and Rose trundling along behind with the trailer. I nearly resorted to the same tactic last time I drove to New York City.

Sandwiched between tractor trailers on the I-70 in New Jersey, I somehow missed the sign for the Staten Island bridge turnoff and wound up being funneled into the tunnel. I surfaced somewhere in Manhattan’s garment district, miles from my daughter’s home in Brooklyn and totally lost. It took me nearly two hours to find my way to Flatbush Avenue and familiar landmarks. New Yorkers have a surprising lack of understanding of their own city’s geography. But for the mercy of a kindly mounted policeman I’d probably still be wandering the inadequately marked streets of the Big Apple.

This time will be different. The first thing I’m packing is my automotive GPS. Uncle Leman would be envious!

It takes a lot to feed athletes and the Garmin-Chipotle racers, competing in this year’s Tour de France, are no exception. If the average person is supposed to do all they need to do on a 2000 calorie a day diet, imagine what a cyclist needs…this year’s Tour de France riders need between 7000 to 7500 calories for some parts of the race. At other times, when they will cycle through mountains, they could burn through 9000 calories.

And that is just food, let’s not even begin to talk about water. The riders had the help of a competent staff to prepare rations for them. They didn’t get regular water. The Garmin-Chipotle team drank water that was specially prepared with a carefully-measured amount of a sports drink with electrolytes.

If you are a cyclist, you probably do not employ a staff to prepare you to get ready to ride, but that doesn’t mean that you don’t need to prepare. Get some water, get a good meal and get a Garmin to help you keep tabs on your rides.

A GPS device like the Garmin Edge 605 Cycling Fitness Training Navigator GPS comes loaded with everything you need to make the most out of your ride. Get cycle computer data and mapping detail, all from one compact, easy-to-use device.

The Edge 605 automatically measure important stats like your speed, distance, time and the number of calories you burn. You can store these stats to analyze them and prepare for future rides. The Edge 605 also lets you share your stats with other members of Garmin’s online training community. If you are a member of a cycling club and the other members get a join, you can share stats with each other and with other a worldwide network of cyclists and outdoor enthusiasts.

Ohio is the latest state to jump on the geocaching band wagon. Capitalizing on the burgeoning interest in GPS geocaching, the Ohio Historical Society has placed hidden caches at 10 state historic sites. States across the country are using GPS geocaching to lure the public to state parks, historic sites and other attractions. A fun way to explore your own backyard, geocaching state sites is becoming increasingly popular. Given skyrocketing fuel prices, many families are taking advantage of the state-sponsored caches to take affordable mini-vacations close to home.

Newly hidden caches in Ohio include:

• Adena Mansion & Gardens in Chillicothe
• Armstrong Air & Space Museum in Wapakoneta
• Cedar Bog near Urbana
• Flint Ridge near Brownsville
• Fort Ancient near Oregonia
• Fort Meigs in Perrysburg
• Hayes Presidential Center in Fremont
• National Road/Zane Grey Museum near Norwich
• Piqua Historical Area in Piqua
• Serpent Mound near Peebles

“Two interests that Ohio Historical Society visitors and geocachers have in common are history and the environment,” said OHS site manager Erin Bartlett who coordinates the new geocaching program. Mixing history and nature, the new cache sites are expected to draw geocaching enthusiasts to explore parts of Ohio they may never have visited. “Introducing people to Ohio history, no matter where they live, is our main goal,” Bartlett said. “We’re thrilled with the response to our historic caches and expect more and more cachers to visit OHS sites in the future, especially now that Ohio travelers want to stay close to home to save on gas.”

Veteran geocacher J. B. Berry told the Chillicothe Gazette his favorite sites so far are the Serpent Mound “Snake in the Grass” cache and the Piqua “Treasure of the Upper Miami” cache. Berry, a biology teacher and environmentalist, has placed his own earthcache on a nature trail at the Serpent Mound site. Cachers are invited to add to the fun by placing their own caches at OHS sites by filling out an online application. For complete information on Ohio Historical Society geocache sites, visit the OHS website.

It’s easy to get starting in geocaching. All you need is a handheld GPS unit from ActionGPS. Geocaching hunt info can be found on many state, state park and state historical websites and on Geocaching.com.

Garmin, a manufacturer of high-quality GPS navigation devices, teamed up with Chipotle to put a cycling team in this year’s Tour de France. Team Garmin-Chipotle’s roster had three of the four American cyclists that participated in the famous bike race.

The Tour de France started on Saturday, July 5 and it will continue until Sunday, July 27. This is the 95th Tour de France and it will span a distance of 3,500 kilometers. The race has many varied stages including: 10 flat stages, 5 mountain stages, 4 medium mountain stages and 2 individual time-trial stages.

That is a whole lot of cycling. It is exhausting just thinking about it.

Maybe you are not ready to take on the Tour de France. But perhaps you are ready to get more serious about your own cycling or fitness regime. If that is the case, then Action GPS and Garmin are ready to help. Visit the Action GPS website and check out the selection of Fitness GPS devices available.

One such device is the Garmin Forerunner 405 GPS Green Sports Watch with Heart Rate Monitor. If you are an athletic type, the Forerunner will allow you to cross train. Pair it with an optional foot pod to track your speed, distance and running cadence indoors when a GPS signal is unavailable. This new design clips onto your laces for easy removal and automatically turns on when you start moving. You can also add a speed/cadence bike sensor to track the speed and distance of your cycling workouts.

Back in the day a sailor or adventurer set out with a map, a compass and a dream. These days you can hit the high seas and tough terrain with much better equipment than that. And there is no need to feel as if you are not really roughing it–they only did it back then because they had no other choice. We are certain that pirates and honest men alike would have used GPS devices if they could have gotten their hands (or hooks) on them.

Take the Garmin GPSMAP 76Cx Portable Handheld Outdoor Color GPS, for instance. Unlike a map, it is actually water resistant and provides odometer, stopped time, moving average, overall average, total time, maximum speed. Its card slot is inside of the waterproof batter compartment, so there is no worry about your stored data getting wet. It also accepts optional preloaded microSD cards with MapSource® data for your off-road and marine excursions.Plus, the Garmin GPSMAP 76Cx floats.

This device is mariner-friendly and has a ultra-sensitive receiver that can track your location in dense forests or deep canyons. It takes 2AA batteries and has a battery life of up to 18 hours.

If you are really attune with nature, you can figure out the best times to fish, or you can rely upon your Garmin GPSMAP 76Cx and let it tell you the best times to fish.

When you purchase the Garmin GPSMAP 76Cx, it comes equipped with:

MapSource Trip & Waypoint Manager

Americas Basemap

128 MB MicroSD Card

USB Interface Cable

Belt Clip

GPS units have some amazing features, but who knew they’d lead to big fuel savings. With pump prices pushing past $4 nationwide and over the $5 mark in some areas, operating a vehicle fleet is taking a bigger bite out of government and corporate budgets than anticipated. Many cities, government agencies and private businesses are looking for new ways to save on gas and mileage. GPS to the rescue!

According to a report by Newsday, here’s how some Long Island, New York cities and businesses are using GPS units to put the brakes on fuel costs:

• The town of Babylon installed GPS units on its patrol boats to help constables conserve fuel while patrolling Great South Bay.
• Islip is using GPS tracking devices to discipline speeding employees. Not only does the town want employees who drive city vehicles to set a lawful example, but driving at slower speeds burns less gas.
• The owner of a Hampton Bay heating and cooling business outfitted his service trucks with GPS devices. GPS helps his mechanics find the shortest route to their next service call and keeps them from getting lost. By driving fewer miles, his mechanics are saving fuel.

GPS units are being used by salesmen, service providers, tow-truck companies, government workers, police departments, harbor patrols and many others to plan fuel-conserving routes and monitor vehicle fuel use. Anyone who spends their day behind the wheel of a vehicle – including suburban soccer moms — is looking for ways to save gas. An automotive GPS unit can plan the shortest route between multiple stops. By driving fewer miles you save gas (and time). ActionGPS has top quality automotive GPS units to fit every budget. Check out our reconditioned automotive GPS units for even greater savings.

If you still think that GPS devices can only help you find a friend’s house or a well-known restaurant, think again! GPS devices have come a long way and they do some much more than just get you from point a to point b. The companies that manufacture GPS devices add more and more features each year.

Many GPS devices come equipped with pre-loaded POIs (that’s points of interest) Gas stations are included among these POIs, as a restaurants, schools, movie theaters and almost any other destination you can think of. We say they come pre-loaded, but that doesn’t meant that you cannot add your own favorite spots as well.

There was a time when drivers stopped at gas stations to get both gas and directions. And I’m sure some people still do stop at gas stations to figure out how to get where they are going, but with more people using GPS devices gas stations are probably dispensing less directional assistance.

In fact, the tables have turned: people are now using GPS devices to find gas stations. Not only are GPS devices pointing people to gas stations, you can also opt to find out which stations have the cheapest gas. Earlier this year, we reported that TomTom provides a service to help drivers find the cheapest gas. This service costs a mere $15 a year; a fraction of what you pay to fill your gas tank.

You can visit Action GPS and check out the TomTom GPS products that they have to offer. Soon you may be hitting the road, paying bargain prices for gas, finding shops and restaurants with ease, and wondering why you did not get a GPS device sooner.

At our family reunion picnic last weekend, my sister put a modern twist on that old camp staple: Find the Dinosaur Egg. If you ever went to summer camp, I’m sure you remember hunting through the woods for the “dinosaur egg,” actually a big, green watermelon. After a hot day of hiking, it made for a refreshing treat and always led to another camp favorite – the long-range seed spitting contest.

To keep our hyper-active slew of small fry busy so the adults could catch up on family news, my sister planned an elaborate dino hunt using her handheld GPS. A series of clues and activities led the kids around the picnic site, over to the playground, around the pond and down a hiking path in search of dinosaur signs. Along the way they had to search out mini-caches, each of which directed them to play a game or engage in an activity before moving on to the next clue.

Using the GPS held the interest of our middle-schoolers who took charge of directing the younger kids. At one stop they engaged in a noisy game of dino hide and seek which quickly degenerated into a game of chase with roaring ”dinosaurs” racing around chasing each other. We hid multiple clues around the playground to give each of the older kids a shot at using the GPS while the small fry played. With frequent references to the GPS, they stalked around the pond and through the woods until they finally spied the “egg.” Upon their triumphant return to the picnic site (all too soon), chin-dripping slices of watermelon were carved. And, yes, a seed spitting contest quickly ensued.

ActionGPS offers a wide range of geocaching GPS devices to suit every user. From Garmin’s dynamic Colorado 300 handheld color GPS with all the bells and whistles to the durable kid-friendly (i.e., indestructible) Garmin Etrex Venture handheld outdoor GPS receiver, ActionGPS offers GPS handhelds in every price range. Click here to check out the complete line of handheld geocaching GPS units at ActionGPS.  

A while back we commented on how Oprah featured a Garmin Nuvi as one of her favorite things for the summer on her television show. Well, it seems that Oprah and her staff have caught GPS fever.  After dazzling the viewers at home with a pink Garmin (and wowing the in-studio audience by giving them on the take with them), they are once again telling the world about their favorite GPS devices.

This month in her magazine she mentions GPS a few times. In her parting words, in a column on the magazines final page she writes about how your instincts act as a kind of GPS to get you to where you want to go in life.

Before that, however, the magazine is a little less philosophical and a little more concrete as it gets into actual GPS devices that can direct you to on specific route and to specific places.

The article shines a spotlight on the Garmin Nuvi 350 and the brand new Nuvi 880 and TomTom One products.

You can check out the Nuvi 350 right here on the Action GPS website. O Magazine was impressed with all of the extra features that come with the Nuvi such as the MP3 player, audio book player, JPEG picture viewer, world travel clock with time zones, currency converter, measurement converter, and calculator.

These features are really icing on the cake, though. The cake being the fact that Garmin’s Nuvi GPS devices have excellent mapping features to get you where you need to be.

If you’re looking for a great GPS device at a great price, check out the Mio DigiWalker C220 GPS Automotive Navigation System. This device was made especially for people looking for a simple, straightforward GPS device. That means for those of you who want to get where you’re going without a lot of bells and whistles. This doesn’t mean that the DigiWalker C220 is somehow lacking, it just means that it is a great choice for those of us who want a more streamlined experience.

The built-in map has over 1 million points of interest (POIs). So that are ready to hit the road within minutes of removing it from the box, the C220 comes complete with all accessories for you take it on the road. It’s a valuable travel companion whenever you’re away from home. It may even speak your language.

The DigiWalker C220 is:

Slim and portable: It fits into a pocket of purse with no fuss

Ready When You Are: This device comes pre-loaded with Maps of the continental U.S., Alaska and Hawaii

Not flashy, but knows how to make an entrance: The 3.5″ TFT Display comes with Anti-Glare so you can see it even while the sun is beaming

Straight to the point: A clear voice gives turn-by-turn directions

Adaptable and not stuck in its ways: It comes with Auto Re-route to get you right back on track should you veer of course. It also allows you to customize maps and add data  card, should you so choose.