Staying Safe During an Earthquake: Essential Tips

Earthquakes can strike at any moment, and being prepared is the key to ensuring your safety and the safety of your loved ones. In this article, we will explore crucial steps to take during an earthquake to minimize risk and stay safe.

Stay Calm and Take Cover

During the initial tremors of an earthquake, it's vital to remain calm. Panic can lead to poor decision-making. Drop to the ground to prevent being knocked over and take cover under a sturdy piece of furniture, such as a table or desk. If no shelter is available, shield your head and neck with your arms.

Avoid Doorways

Contrary to popular belief, standing in a doorway is not the safest option during an earthquake. Doorways are no stronger than any other part of the structure and may not provide adequate protection. Instead, stay low to the ground and take cover as mentioned earlier.

Stay Put

Once you are safely covered, stay in place. Do not attempt to run outside during the shaking, as falling debris poses a significant threat. Wait until the shaking stops and it's safe to move.

Be Prepared for Aftershocks

Aftershocks are smaller earthquakes that can follow the initial quake. They can be strong enough to cause further damage, so remain cautious. After the initial shaking subsides, stay under your cover and be ready for aftershocks. Only leave your safe spot when you're sure it's safe to do so.

Check for Injuries

After the earthquake has passed, check yourself and those around you for injuries. Provide first aid as necessary, and if someone is seriously hurt, call for medical help immediately.

Listen to Updates

Tune in to your battery-powered radio or use a mobile app to stay informed about the situation. Emergency services will provide updates on potential dangers, evacuation routes, and relief efforts.

Evacuate If Necessary

If your building is severely damaged and authorities advise evacuation, do so promptly. Use stairwells instead of elevators, as power may be unreliable. Remember to turn off utilities like gas, water, and electricity if instructed to do so.

Mind Your Supplies

Having an emergency kit on hand is essential. Include non-perishable food, water, a flashlight, batteries, a first-aid kit, and important documents. These supplies can be a lifeline in the event of a prolonged earthquake aftermath.

Reconnect with Loved Ones

After ensuring your safety, reach out to your loved ones to confirm their well-being. Use text messages or social media to communicate, as phone lines may be overwhelmed.

Be Cautious with Gas

If you smell gas or suspect a leak, turn off the main gas valve and leave the building immediately. Do not use any open flames or electrical switches, as sparks can ignite gas.

Conclusion

In the face of an earthquake, preparedness is your best defense. By staying calm, taking cover, and following these essential tips, you can significantly increase your chances of staying safe during this natural disaster. Remember, earthquakes are unpredictable, but your actions can make all the difference in protecting yourself and those you care about. 

Wear OS (formerly Android Wear) is Google's smartwatch operating system, letting users handle notifications, apps, and more all from their wrist.

Available across a range of smartwatches from a variety of manufacturers, there's likely a Wear OS design for everyone. But did you know you can customize your device with a fresh watch face? Here are eight of the best Wear OS watch faces of 2019.

Bubble Cloud Wear Launcher Watchface

What We Like

• Fast access to settings, messages, and more.
• Most frequently used bubbles get greater on-screen prominence.
• Supports countless complications throughout.

What We Don't Like

• Not all features are free.
• The layout can be overly complex at times.

Bubble Cloud Wear Launcher Watchface is excellent if you like to stay in touch with a lot of people, while also having quick access to all your Wear OS apps.

The watch face lets you create a slew of pages to which you can pin your apps and contacts. This is especially useful for creating groups of complications (such as tasks and note keeping apps), as well as clusters of friends (frequent contacts, family).

Additionally, if you already have a watch face you like, you can choose to use Bubble Cloud as a launcher only, allowing you to slide it in from the side and thereby replacing your smartwatch’s standard launcher.

Photo Wear Watch Face

 

 

Back in 2004, Google created the Google Santa Tracker to keep track of Santa during his holiday deliveries. Each year, the Santa Tracker is improved, and it's grown to include lots of free games, short movies to watch, and other fun activities.

Santa Tracker 2018 Starts at Santa's Village

Long before Santa and the elves load up the sleigh and Santa starts his whirlwind journey around the world (in one night!) Santa's Village opens on the Google Santa Tracker Page. December 1 is the official opening date, and that's where you'll find tons of cool activities to keep you busy until Christmas Eve. In 2018, there are new movies and games, and you can even call Santa with the Google Assistant.

Because December seems to go by slower than molasses in the freezer, Santa's Village is designed to help pass the time. New games are released each day during December on a path to get to Christmas Eve, on December 23rd. (That's when the real fun begins, but we'll get to that...) The games are designed to keep your brain busy. You can do everything from building your own custom elf to learning how to code a customized holiday emoji you can use online and in real life.

You'll also find plenty of fun games, information about holiday traditions in other places, and you can even learn how to say holiday phrases like 'Merry Christmas' in Polish and 'Ho Ho Ho' in Japanese.

There's a Santa Tracker App, Too! 

 

In case you don't want to be tied to your computer all the time, the Google Santa Tracker (including Santa's Village) is available for Android devices, too. There's even an app for Android Wear watches.

You can even access the Santa Tracker app using the Google Assistant on you mobile device. It won't take you to Santa's Village, but if you're in a hurry and don't have time to play the games or do any of the other available activities, just ask your Google Assistant "Hey Google, Where's Santa?" and the assistant will give you a quick update on where Santa is at this time.

Google Santa to Find Out Where He Is 

 

Another option for when you don't want to be distracted by the Google Santa Tracker is to google Santa. Really, it's a thing.

A quick Google search for Santa will pull up his current location along with the top stories about Santa, as well as some information about Jolly Old St. Nick, and links to movies, books, and Santa's affiliations.

Where is Santa Now? 

 

And now for the really fun part: the Santa Claus Tracker. All of the options covered above lead to one thing, finding out where Santa is right now! On the Google Santa Tracker website and app, there's a countdown at the top of the page that tells you exactly how long it is until Santa's sleigh takes off, right down to the number of seconds.

At the bottom of the page, on both the Santa Tracker app and website, is a link to the actual, where-is-Santa-now? tracking map. You won't be able to see the map until the counter runs down (which will be on December 24th),but once it does, you'll have access to Santa's current location, where his next stop is, and an approximate number of gifts he's delivered.

Something to keep in mind, though. Santa moves fast. Sometimes, faster than the app can update. He has to to make it all the way around the world in one night! So, if you find other trackers have a slightly different location than Google's Santa Tracker, don't worry. Neither one is wrong, it's just super hard to track Santa's magical movements.

That said, it's important to be self-motivated as well. You're making important progress if you've started wearing your activity tracker every day and have it configured to accurately record all your movement, but the most important step is to start exercising on a regular basis. Leveraging the social and community aspects of your device's app and desktop software can help you feel more involved — and more accountable — so these can be a good place to start if you're feeling less than motivated. Find whatever works for you to keep you active — and remember that many fitness trackers can collect data across a wide variety of sports, including cycling, so don't feel tied to the gym for all your workouts.

There are plenty of factors to consider if you're looking to purchase a new activity tracker, such as what features are most important to you and how much you're willing to spend. (Luckily, there are plenty of great options even in the $50 and under range, so finding something that fits your budget shouldn't be an issue). However, if you've settled on a device that meets all your needs, the next step is to use it on a regular basis and maximize all its features to make sure you're getting the most out of it.

In this article, I'll walk you through some of the ways you can get the most value out of your fitness tracker. Some of them are common-sense tips that nonetheless are worth repeating, while others encourage you to take advantage of some lesser-known features. Keep reading, and here's wishing you lots of success with your fitness goals!

1. Wear It — Consistently

Yes, it may seem obvious, but it's important to emphasize that an activity tracker will only help you if you wear it all day, every day. These devices are able to track and quantify your workouts thanks to an embedded sensor, so they're not doing you any good if you leave them on your dresser before you hit the gym.

For this reason, it's essential to make sure your wearable is comfortable enough for everyday use and aesthetically pleasing enough that you can keep it on at the office. It could be worth investing in some accessories that dress it up, especially if you think that these will make you more likely to wear it every day. And, when all else fails, a simple reminder note on your mirror could be the difference between you knowing the distance, calories burned and pace of your run and having to guess just how intense you worked out.

Aim to wear your fitness tracker for the majority of each day to track steps as well as actual workouts, but don't fret if you can't wear it to bed. The wrist-worn form factor of these devices may not be comfortable at night, especially for side-sleepers, so unless you're specifically looking to track your sleep quality and use a smart alarm, you can give yourself a break and resume wearing the device in the morning.

2. Read the Manual

Sure, it's not exactly the first thing you want to do when you get a new activity tracker, but it's worth taking a few minutes to peruse the product manual to make sure you're setting it up correctly. For example, when viewing the product guide for my new Fitbit Alta, I learned that the top of the tracker should be on the outside of my wrist — a detail that likely helps the device collect more accurate data.

While reading the manual is important in making sure you're wearing and using your tracker correctly, it's also useful for uncovering features you might not know about. Most of us are aware that these devices count your steps, distance traveled and calories burned, but many of these gadgets also include a smart alarm that will wake you up with vibrations based on your sleep cycle, and some devices — like the Fitbit Blaze — feature smartwatch-style notifications for incoming messages and more. The Misfit Ray even lets you take selfies and control music playback and lights with its design!

A great side benefit to taking the time to read your device's manual is that you'll likely get more excited about using it and leveraging its features, which means you might wear it more often. In turn, you'll be getting a fuller picture of your daily activity, which will come in handy as you're working toward specific health and fitness goals.

3. Be Vigilant about Recharging

This is another practical tip, but considering how many fitness trackers charge via micro-USB, it's worth driving home the point that you need to keep your device powered up. Most Fitbit trackers last 5-7 days on a charge, so you'll want to keep an eye on the battery level and plug in overnight to ensure you don't miss tracking for any workouts.​

If you think you'll have trouble remembering to recharge your fitness tracker, it could be worth choosing an option with a coin cell battery — these will last about 6 months before needing a replacement battery. The Misfit Ray, the Misfit Shine, the Misfit Shine 2 and the Misfit Flash all feature coin cell batteries, so you won't have to worry about keeping these products juiced up in the short term. The Garmin Vivofit 2, meanwhile, has a battery rated for a full year of use.

4. Use the Complementary App and Other Software

Stay up to date on your daily activity stats and progress toward goals by frequently checking your fitness tracker's app. This software is also a great way to stay motivated since by looking at the app you'll know exactly how much activity you've logged and how far you have to go.

You can go far beyond just viewing your stats, though. No matter which fitness tracker you choose, the complementary software likely includes some social features, letting you add friends to compete against and motivate each other. If you don't know many people on the activity tracker bandwagon, check and see if the software offering includes a forum-style community, where you can connect with other users about topics such as weight loss, healthy cooking, improving your sleep and learning the basics of your device. (These are some of the topics currently listed in Fitbit's desktop community feature.)

Plus, most apps (or desktop software) let you log your food — and if you're looking to lose weight, this can be a great tool. If you've entered your weight-loss goal information into your app, you'll likely be presented with a target number of calories per day, and keeping track of each meal can help you gauge whether you're staying on track or not.

5. Stay Motivated

Most activity trackers will vibrate at your wrist if you haven't been active for a given period (usually an hour), prompting you to get up and take a short stroll. While it can often be all too easy to ignore these reminders, incorporate them into your overall fitness strategy and start using them as an excuse to get up and grab a glass of water if nothing else. Especially if you spend most of your day at a computer, try to think of these reminders as a nice opportunity to take a break — you might even start to look forward to them!

That said, it's important to be self-motivated as well. You're making important progress if you've started wearing your activity tracker every day and have it configured to accurately record all your movement, but the most important step is to start exercising on a regular basis. Leveraging the social and community aspects of your device's app and desktop software can help you feel more involved — and more accountable — so these can be a good place to start if you're feeling less than motivated. Find whatever works for you to keep you active — and remember that many fitness trackers can collect data across a wide variety of sports, including cycling, so don't feel tied to the gym for all your workouts.

the Rundown

• Best Overall: Garmin Forerunner 35 at Amazon, "The Garmin Forerunner 35’s combination of slick design, high-end features and a relatively affordable price tag makes it the best GPS watch on the market."
• Best Budget: Amazfit Bip Smartwatch at Amazon, "The Bip includes GPS location tracking right out of the box, and they’ve also thrown in the satellite-based GLONASS tech as well. The Bip also includes a heart-rate monitor and a real-time activity tracker."
• Best for Runners: Garmin Forerunner 15 at Amazon, "Has a bulky front face with buttons all around that let you choose your activity, find out how many steps you’ve taken and more."
• Best for Heart Monitoring: Epson Runsense SF-810 at Amazon, "Unlike many GPS watches, the Runsense has heart rate sensing built in, so you don’t need attachments to see how you’re doing."
• Best for Protection: Sunnto Traverse Alpha at Amazon, "The device comes with a round watch face that’s made with stainless steel and has scratch-resistant sapphire crystal glass."
• Best for Multiple Functions: Casio Men’s Pathfinder at Amazon, "Arguably its most impressive feature is its battery life, which can last a whopping 6 months on a single charge."
• Best Design: Polar V800 GPS Sports Watch at Amazon, "It comes with a variety of training profiles you can use to guide you through your fitness regimen."
• Best for Hiking: Suunto Traverse at Amazon, "The Traverse has sunrise and sunset times built in and a barometric trend feature will shed some light on what kind of weather may or may not be coming your way."
• Best for Music: Garmin Vivoactive 3 Music at Amazon, "Garmin has loaded up the watch with internal storage so you can transfer up to 500 songs onto it and listen directly from the watch, no smartphone required."

  Best Overall: Garmin Forerunner 35

  

  Buy on AmazonBuy on Best Buy
  The Garmin Forerunner 35’s combination of slick design, high-end features and a relatively affordable price tag makes it the best GPS watch on the market.
  
  The device comes with a rectangular face that features a high-resolution screen, so you can easily view content day and night. And since the device connects to your Android device or iPhone, you can also interact with Garmin’s Connect Mobile app to share data back and forth.
  
  The Forerunner 35’s built-in GPS will “quickly” track satellites, according to Garmin, and will work wherever you are, including under trees. Best of all, it comes out of the box with 24/7 heart rate monitoring that won’t require an additional strap to get the job done.
  
  And just in case you’re a runner, the Forerunner 35 has an auto-pause and auto-lap function, as well as a step counter so you can keep track of your movement and see how far you’ve gone.
  
  Best Budget: Amazfit Bip Smartwatch

  

  Buy on Amazon

  If you want a smartwatch with GPS for under $100, you're going to wind up looking through some less well-known brands. We poked around and found the Bip from Amazfit that actually offers many of the same features as a Garmin but at a fraction of the price.
  

  The Bip includes GPS location tracking right out of the box, and they’ve also thrown in the satellite-based GLONASS tech as well. The Bip also includes a heart-rate monitor and a real-time activity tracker for more specific fitness needs, plus it syncs up to your smartphone, which expands its tracking functionalities. The manufacturer promises the battery will last up to 45 days on a charge, and they’ve even marked it at the IP68 dust- and waterproof standard. The best part? With a stylistic nod to the Pebble Steel, the design looks surprisingly stylish for the budget price. Choose from a few different colors including Onyx Black, White Cloud, Kokoda Green, and Cinnabar Red
  
  Best for Runners: Garmin Forerunner15Buy on Amazon

  If you don’t want to spend as much money as you would on the Forerunner 35 but still want much of its functionality, the Garmin Forerunner 15 is a good place to start.
  

  The Forerunner 15 has a bulky front face with buttons all around that let you choose your activity, find out how many steps you’ve taken and more. And if you want a heart rate monitor, you can buy it separately to track how your heart is functioning during exercise.
  

  In addition to tracking your movement, the Forerunner 15 can tell you how many calories you’ve burned. You can also connect it to the Garmin Connect app to give you a full data set of how you’re performing on your iOS or Android device.
  
  
  Best for Heart Monitoring: Epson Runsense SF-810

  

  Buy on Amazon

  The Epson Runsense SF-810 is an affordable GPS watch that does an outstanding job of keeping track of your heart rate.
  

  The device comes with a round design and four buttons all around that let you quickly record your laps, start and stop timers and display your heart rate. It also supports a variety of popular fitness apps, including Strava, MapMyRun and Runkeeper. Unlike many GPS watches, the Runsense has heart rate sensing built in, so you don’t need attachments to see how you’re doing.
  

  According to Epson, its Runsense even offers up to 20 hours of battery life on a single charge. And that figure is even more impressive, considering it was calculated with GPS and heart monitoring turned on.
  
  Best for Protection: Sunnto Traverse Alpha

  

  Buy on Amazon

  The Sunnto Traverse Alpha is one of the most rugged and capable GPS watches you can buy. Battery lasts 14 days in time mode and 10 hours if you're heavily using the GPS feature.
  

  The device comes with a round watch face that’s made with stainless steel and has scratch-resistant sapphire crystal glass. It also comes with a durable water-repellent nylon strap. Collectively, the features make it the most durable and reliable option of any on the market.
  

  The watch’s GPS functionality will quickly find you and track you as you move around and it even features a location-based moon phase calendar, so you can determine when to wake up and go to sleep (or determine optimal hunting and fishing times).
  

  It also has a built-in barometric pressure gauge to properly monitor your ascent if you're hiking up a mountain and can alert you about impending foul weather.
  

  The Sunnto Traverse Alpha is a feature-packed GPS watch that can be used at temperatures between -5 degrees to 140 degrees Fahrenheit. Just be ready to spend some serious cash to get it.
  

 

There are such a large number of GPS route gadgets out there to practically take a gander at each and every one in about a solitary article, however there are a bunch of classes and attributes that can be fundamental to accomplishing a more noteworthy comprehension of the innovation and settling on educated decisions as a customer. For example, in-vehicle route is accessible in two noteworthy structure factors: worked in and compact. Worked in units appear as route head units and production line infotainment frameworks, while convenient units comprise of independent GPS route gadgets and cell phone GPS applications.

Nav Radios and Infotainment Systems

The fundamental intrigue of inherent arrangements like post-retail nav radios and manufacturing plant infotainment frameworks comes down to shape factor. Regardless of whether you're managing a reseller's exchange overhaul or an OEM framework, these implicit units don't mess up your dash with any extra devices, mounts, or power links. In any case, there are likewise various downsides to consider. 

 Portable GPS Navigation Systems

Although portable units will never look at clean or integrated as nav radios or factory infotainment systems, they do have a number of things going for them. The most important factor to consider is that portable systems are portable, which means you can easily move them from one car to another, and they’re typically much less expensive than integrated options, which means you can always just buy a new device if map updates prove too expensive.

Shopper GPS Options: Diminishing or Expanding?

With the ongoing blast in the accessibility of processing plant infotainment frameworks, you may think about whether shopper in-vehicle satellite nav choices are really developing or contracting. Despite the fact that the OEM choices have expanded strongly as of late, buyer alternatives may really be contracting. Since the pattern in OEM nav is reconciliation with across the board infotainment frameworks, as OnStar and iDrive, that handle everything from the atmosphere controls to motor data detailing, purchasing a vehicle with one of these frameworks can diminish your future alternatives.

Incorporated Vs. Versatile GPS Navigation

While there is no straightforward response to the topic of whether incorporated or versatile GPS route is better, they are sufficiently distinctive that you ought to have the option to which one is better for you. In the event that you plan on driving a similar vehicle for quite a while, and you're alright with simply paying to refresh your maps now and again, at that point a resellers exchange nav radio update, or another vehicle with a plant infotainment framework, will be a decent decision. Then again, you'll most likely need to go with a versatile unit (or even a cellphone application) on the off chance that you esteem convenience and cost.

It's likewise critical to do some extra research before you settle on some framework. For example, each OEM has its own arrangements (and related expenses) with refreshing GPS maps. So while the infotainment framework may not be the most significant factor to take a gander at before purchasing another vehicle, the expense of refreshing maps may effortlessly factor into the basic leadership process when purchasing a trade-in vehicle.

 

GPS technology was once limited to a few types of devices, but GPS mobile is becoming standard on millions of smartphones, handheld devices, watches and more. What's the right technology for you, and how can you get the best GPS functionality for your dollar? Read on for your best GPS mobile options.

Virtually every phone made today includes a GPS chip. Smartphones, with their capacitive touchscreens make the best of location technology. There are thousands of apps that help you navigate as you drive, or track your workouts or hikes. Leading the smartphone pack for GPS mobile functionality are the Apple iPhone, Android operating system phones and BlackBerry phones.

Your GPS Mobile Smartphone Options

• Read the latest GPS smartphone reviews.
• Mount your smartphone in your car for GPS navigation and charge it at the same time.
• Compare iPhone GPS turn-by-turn navigation apps.

Car GPS Still Packs Plenty of GPS Mobile Punch

• Read the latest car GPS reviews and ratings.
• Check out new car GPS models, such as the TomTom XL 350 with free product lifetime map and traffic service updates.

Handheld GPS Mobile Devices Help You Navigate the Back-country

Waterproof, durable, and with long-lasting batteries, handheld GPS devices are reliable back-country companions. Try them for hiking, mountain biking, or the outdoor adventure game of geocaching.

• Check out the latest handheld GPS receiver reviews.
• Economical, do-it-all handheld GPS devices such as the Garmin Dakota 20 keep you on course anywhere in the world.

Get in Shape With Sports & Fitness GPS Mobile Devices

GPS sports & fitness watches can help you get the most out of your training and fitness time, and keep you on pace during a race. GPS watches don't require any supplemental wires or in-shoe sensors. You can use a GPS watch on a bike, during a run or hike, or for just about any outdoor activity.

GPS Mobile - Free Stuff

Location services are increasingly being offered for free, and you can read more about how to get free turn-by-turn navigation, map updates, GPS golf course databases, and more.

Changing the location on your iPhone or Android device involves tricking your phone into telling apps that you’re located somewhere you are not. In most cases, when you spoof your GPS location, every location-based app on your phone will be fooled.

This might seem like a weird thing to do since most of us use GPS for tasks that need our real location, like when finding directions and weather updates. However, there are legitimate reasons to change your phone's location to a fake one.

Unfortunately, faking the location on your Android or iPhone is not very straightforward. There isn’t a “fake GPS location” setting built in to either iOS or Android and neither do most apps let you spoof your location through a simple option.

Why Would You Fake Your Location?

There are lots of situations where you might set up a fake GPS location, both for fun and for other reasons.

Maybe you want to change your location so that something like a dating app thinks you’re a hundred miles away, perfect if you’re planning to move somewhere and want to get ahead of the dating game.

Spoofing your location might also come into play when using a location-based game like Pokemon GO. Instead of having to actually travel several miles away to pick up a different Pokemon type, you could trick your phone into telling Pokemon GO that you’re already there, and the game will assume your fake location is accurate.

Other reasons to set up a mock GPS location might be if you want to "travel" to Dubai and check-in to a restaurant you've never actually been to, or visit a famous landmark to trick your Facebook friends into thinking you're on an extravagant vacation.

You can also use your fake GPS location to fool your family or friends in your location-sharing app, to hide your real location from apps that request it, and even to set your real location if GPS satellites aren't doing a great job at finding it for you.

GPS Spoofing Problems

Before getting started, please know that although it can be a lot of fun to fake your location, it’s not always helpful. Plus, because GPS spoofing isn’t a built-in option, it isn’t just a click away to get it going, and location fakers don’t always work for every app that reads your location.

If you install a fake GPS location app on your phone to use it for, say, a video game, you’ll find that other apps that you want to use your real location with will also use the fake location. For example, the game might very well use your spoofed address to your advantage, but if you open your navigation app to get directions somewhere, you’ll have to either turn off the location spoofer or manually adjust your starting location.

The same is true for other things like checking in to restaurants, staying current on your family-based GPS locator, checking the weather around you, etc. If you’re tricking your location system-wide for everything on your phone, it will, obviously, affect the location in all your location-based apps.

Another important thing to know is that some apps, Pokemon GO for example, can, in some situations, detect when your location is being spoofed. Your account could be suspended or completely shut down if you try to bend the rules in apps that rely heavily on accurately pinpointing your location.

On top of the fact that some apps don’t work with a phone that has a fake location, some phones themselves simply do not support changing the location using certain methods. For example, the method below for iPhones running iOS 10 no longer works on newer versions of iOS.

Android Location Spoofing

Search for "fake GPS" on Google Play and you'll find tons of options, some free and others not, and some that require your phone to be rooted.
 

 

4. Use the back button to return to Fake GPS Free, and search for the location you want to fake on your phone. You can also double-tap any place on the map to drop the pin.
   
5. Use the play button on the bottom right corner of the map to enable the fake GPS setting. You should briefly see a message read "Fake location engaged..." appear on the bottom of the app.
   

You can close Fake GPS Free and open Google Maps or another app that uses your location to see if it has really been spoofed.

To get your real location back and disable the fake GPS location, return to the app and press the stop button on the bottom left-hand corner.

 

The Cellular iPad model not only gives access to 4G LTE data it also includes an Assisted-GPS chip, which means it can pinpoint your location as accurate as most GPS devices. Even without this chip, the Wi-Fi version of the iPad can do a good job of locating where you are at using Wi-Fi triangulation. This isn't quite as accurate as the A-GPS chip, but you might be amazed at just how accurate it can be at detecting your location.

Can an iPad Take the Place of a GPS Device?

Absolutely.

The iPad comes with Apple Maps, which is a full-featured mapping service. Apple Maps combines Apple's mapping system with data from the popular GPS service TomTom. It can also be used hands-free by asking for directions using the Siri voice assistant and listening to the turn-by-turn directions. A recent update also gives Apple Maps access to transit directions, so you can use it as a guide while walking as well as driving.

While Apple Maps was criticized for being a step behind Google Maps when it was first released, it has come a long way in the intervening years. In addition to turn-by-turn directions, Apple Maps pairs with Yelp to give you quick access to reviews when browsing for stores and restaurants.

One neat feature of Apple Maps is the ability to enter a 3D mode in major cities and areas. The 3D flyover mode gives a beautiful view of the city.

Alternatives to Apple Maps

Google Maps is the best alternative to Apple Maps, and it is available for free on the App Store. In fact, Google Maps now sports more features than it did when it came with the iPad by default. Google has added Google Maps Navigation, their hands-free turn-by-turn directions, which makes Google Maps an excellent GPS system. 

Similar to Apple Maps, you can pull up information about nearby stores and restaurants, including reviews. But what really sets Google Maps apart is Street View. This feature lets you put a pin down on the map and then get an actual view of the location as if you were standing on the street. You can even move around like you are driving. This is great for peeking at your destination so that you can actually recognize it when you get there. Street View isn't available in all locations, but if you live in a major city, most of it has probably been mapped.

Both Apple Maps and Google Maps can plot alternative routes and give out traffic information along the route. One excellent use of both the apps is to check the route to work in the morning to see if rush hour traffic is causing any major delays.

Waze is also a popular alternative. Waze uses social information and data collection to give you an accurate depiction of the traffic in your area. You can actually see Waze users on the map, and the app shows you the average traffic speed on major highways and interstates. You can also see information about construction and accidents that may cause delays.

Similar to Apple Maps and Google Maps, you can use Waze for turn-by-turn directions. But while it does a fairly good job in this arena, it's not quite up to where Apple and Google are with this feature. Waze is better used as a quick glance at traffic and driving around your local area rather than for longer trips.

 

The Global Positioning System (GPS) is a specialized wonder made conceivable by a gathering of satellites in Earth's circle that transmit exact sign, enabling GPS collectors to figure and show precise area, speed and time data to the client.

By catching the sign from at least three satellites (among a group of stars of 31 satellites accessible), GPS recipients can triangulate information and pinpoint your area.

With the expansion of figuring force and information put away in memory, for example, guides, focal points, topographic data and significantly more, GPS collectors can change over area, speed and time data into a valuable showcase position.

GPS was initially made by the United States Department of Defense (DOD) as a military application. The framework has been dynamic since the mid 1980s however started to end up helpful to regular folks in the late 1990s. Buyer GPS has since turned into a multi-billion dollar industry with a wide exhibit of items, administrations, and web based utilities.

GPS works precisely in every single climate condition, day or night, nonstop and around the world. There is no membership charge for utilization of GPS signals. GPS sign might be hindered by thick backwoods, gulch dividers, or high rises, and they don't infiltrate indoor spaces well, so a few areas may not allow precise GPS route.

GPS beneficiaries are commonly precise inside 15 meters, and more up to date models that utilization Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS) signals are exact inside three meters.

While the U.S. claimed and worked GPS is at present the main dynamic framework, five other satellite-based worldwide route frameworks are being created by individual countries and by multi-country consortiums.

Otherwise called: GPS

Global positioning system (GPS) trackers are portable devices that allow fleet managers, parents, and vehicle owners of all kinds to monitor and track their cars and trucks. Real-time GPS trackers for cars are capable of providing instantaneous speed and location data, while less expensive options record this type of information for later use. With some GPS vehicle trackers, it's even possible to set up real-time alerts to go off whenever a driver speeds or deviates from a specific area.

How Does GPS Tracking Work?

GPS tracking uses a network of satellites to determine the location of a device that was specifically designed for that purpose. The basic idea is that a GPS tracker uses a process called trilateration to determine its physical location based on its distance from three GPS satellites. This is the exact same technology used by your portable or in-car navigation system.

The difference between a GPS tracker and a car navigation system is that the navigation system provides you with your location and driving directions, while a tracker either keeps a record of your driving habits or broadcasts its location in real time.

When a GPS tracker for a car is capable of broadcasting its location, it typically uses the exact same technology that your cell phone does to make calls or connect to the internet. This is why some GPS car trackers require a monthly subscription fee.

What Are Car Tracking Devices Used For?

The main purpose of a GPS car tracking device is to let you know where your vehicle is at all times, and there are a lot of different scenarios where that can be helpful. For instance, if your car was stolen, but you had a tracker installed, you could provide the police with its exact location.

GPS trackers for cars also fall directly in the rift between free-range parenting and authoritative parenting. With the right tracker installed in your teen’s car, you can pull up their location in real-time, or view a record of where they’ve been, when they were there, and even whether or not they broke the speed limit.

Vehicle tracking devices are also tremendously useful for owners of large fleets of cars or trucks. Some use the technology to keep tabs on where their vehicles are at any given time to better coordinate daily operations, while others are more interested in tracking mileage for bookkeeping or reimbursement.

Of course, there is the dark side of automobile GPS trackers, too. Some might use them without the vehicle owner's knowledge to keep track of where the vehicle goes and when. If you suspect that's the case, you can always try to locate GPS tracker that's been hidden on your vehicle.

If you can think of any situation where you might want to know where your car is, or where it has been, then you might need a GPS car tracker. The only caveat is that most of these trackers require cell service to provide you real-time location data.

How Do You Use a GPS Car Tracker?

Using a GPS tracker in your car is usually pretty easy, but the process is a little different from one device to the next. The main difference is the power source, but there is enough variation that it’s still a good idea to check the manual first.

Some GPS trackers are designed to plug into the onboard diagnostics (OBD-II) connector that is usually located under the dash near the driver’s legs. The benefit here is that these trackers get power directly from the diagnostic connector, so they’re extremely easy to use. If you’ve ever used a code reader or scan tool, then using this type of tracker is a breeze.

Other car trackers are designed to plug into a cigarette lighter or accessory socket, which also limits where you can install them. These trackers are very easy to install and use, but some of them will continue to draw power from your battery when you aren't driving. In that case, you need to unplug the tracker to prevent your battery from going dead.

The most discreet car GPS trackers are powered by battery, which means they can be installed virtually anywhere. Since there is no external power source, this type of tracker has to be removed and charged periodically, or it will stop working.

Once you have a GPS tracker installed in your vehicle, you can use software on your computer, phone or tablet to view its location in real-time.

Are GPS Trackers for Cars Legal?

While all of the usages outlined above are legal in most jurisdictions, it’s important to understand that there are some circumstances where using a car tracking device could land you in hot water. When in doubt, contact a lawyer for legal advice on the matter.

The general rule of thumb is that if it’s your car, you can track it. This is true for both privately owned vehicles and vehicles that are owned by a company. So if you want to keep track of your minor child, or keep tabs on your employees during work hours, you’re generally in the clear.

If you don’t own a car, then it’s usually illegal to install a tracker in it. There are exceptions for police, provided that they obtain a warrant first, and private investigators working under the instructions of the owner of a vehicle. It’s illegal in most other circumstances, and some jurisdictions even have cyberstalking laws that specifically address GPS car trackers.

While GPS trackers for cars can be used to spy on people, legal uses fall well short of that mark. If you have any concerns, of course, you should seek a professional's legal advice. Even in the case of tracking a teen driver or an employee, the main goals are safety, accountability, and efficiency, rather than spying.