Defence contractor Rockwell Collins has presented a new handheld commercial GPS system called Polaris Guide. It will feature the same features and ruggedness as their “Defense Advanced GPS Receiver”(above). So if you keep breaking your GPS, this might be something for you.

via NaviGadget

The Magellan MobileMapper CX is a GPS for professional GIS users and has sub-meter accuracy. It use features Bluetooth and WiFi, so mobile users can access the Internet easily or communicate with remote systems and networks.

via NaviGadget

Garmin has presented two new GPS devices the Edge 705(left) and the Edge 605(right) designed for cyclists. Apart from being a navigator it can display/record information from a Heart Rate monitor and Speed/Cadence monitor. Other features are distance, time, calories burned, climb and descent. The Edge 705 has a barometric altimeter and the ability to wireless transfer data from device to device. Both devices has a 2.2″ color screen. Maps can be uploaded on a miniSD card.

The devices will be available 4th quarter 2007.

via NaviGadget

It’s not only Magellan that releases new GPS systems, Garmin will be releasing a Forerunner wrist GPS, the Forerunner 50. As a wrist GPS it will be quite similar to it’s predecessors, but the new Forerunner will have a series of wireless connect-able sensors, a heart rate sensor, a foot pod and a cadence sensor.

Garmin has also jump on the whole Internet community thing and you will be able to upload all your data to Garmin’s online training community via Garmin Connect. On the online training community you will be able to share your training data with others.

There is a Forerunner 50 product site here.

Now it’s official Magellans new line of outdoor GPS system will be the Triton. There will be six different units in the serie the 200, 300, 400, 500 1500 and the 2000 (above).

The Triton really brings some news to outdoor GPS systems, how about a built in 2-mega-pixel camera, voice recorder and touchscreen display. All the units will be waterproof according to the IPX-7 standards (water submersible that is). Base maps in built in to all the units and all but the Triton 200 will upgradable with new maps.

Below is just a short run down on the different units:

• Triton 2000 features a color, 2.7-inch QVGA touch screen, built-in 2MP camera, SD card slot, electronic compass and barometer, speaker/microphone and flashlight. The unit will retail for $499.

• Triton 1500 is features a 2.7-inch QVGA, SD card slot, speaker and microphone, flashlight. The unit will retail for $399.

• Triton 500 features a 2.2-inch QVGA color screen, SD card slot, electronic compass and barometer. The Triton 500 will have a more compact size than the 2000 and the 1500 and will retail for $249.

• Triton 400 includes 2.2-inch QVGA color screen, SD card slot, built-in base maps, pointer and compass screen. The unit will retail for $199.

• Triton 300 features a 2.2-inch QVGA color screen, pointer and compass screen and 10 MB of memory for map storage. The unit will retail for $149.

• Triton 200 is the base model in the series, and includes a 2.2-inch QVGA color screen, pointer and compass screen and runs on two AA batteries. The unit will retail for $129.

The Triton 2000 looks like a real killer, I really like the idea of a touchscreen display I have it on my cellphone and it really makes GUI navigation easy. The built in camera will probably really spark GeoTagging of photos. Now it will be interesting to see what Garmin and Lawrance can come up with to match this..

The latest cellphone trend is built in GPS systems, this can be quite handy, since it would mean that you only would have to bring one device when you go out (There are a whole bunch of downsizes too, but lets be positive). Unfortunately these new cellphone/GPS system are design for driving or navigating a city and does not meet the needs of hikers/geocachers etc etc.

TrekBuddy is small (and free) tool that meets this need, it’s designed with outdoor usage in mind. You can use it with cellphones that has a built in GPS or with a cellphone and a bluetooth GPS. The software that is still in Beta is written in j2me so it should run on most cellphones.

There is only one nag, since the software is free you get no bundled maps, so you will have to get them somewhere else. I live in Sweden and have tested the tool with Swedish “Green Maps” but it was a bit of a hassle to get it to work properly.

According to GPS Blog, GPS Tracklog, Magellan is about to release a new handheld GPS line at the Outdoor Retailer show in a few days. Hopefully it will be a successor of the eXplorist line that will boost handheld GPS systems to a new level. Magellan has stated that they “will announce partnerships that will change the landscape of the handheld GPS category”, also according to GPS Tracklog.

via GPS Tracklog

The Satmap Active10 gps looks to be the next generation outdoor gps. It’s has a rugged design a bright 3.5″ screen that gives a good view of your position. It has support for Aerial photography / satellite imagery and download-able maps. The gps chip is a now standard SiRFSTAR III chip and it also has a builtin digital compass. This nice little gadget will be out in February/March.