BlackBerryInsight

Sometimes we are talking about the BlackBerry and GPS. Most of the time we are referring to the GPS and mapping program Spot from Skylab Mobilesystems. Well, there are other opinions out there but we think it is by far the best you can use as positioning and orientation tool if you do not need “real” turn-by-turn navigation like BlackBerry Maps or TeleNav are offering. It is NOT subscription based like programs mentioned before and therefor it does not cause costs after the initial purchase of a program license. The updates even come free for users who already purchased a license. Moreover, they are also offering a free demo version (again and again BlackBerryInsight brings links to free downloads to you) for those of you who would like to test it before.

Now this great tool (did you get it? I am a fan :)) has been released in a new version called 1.4.1. It comes with all features we reported about before. But not only waypoint and map image support is part of the 1.4.1 release, Spot does now also give you the possibility to take control over your BlackBerry’s backlight. This very convenient if you are using the program on the road (let’s say in the car or at ‘hiking, biking, geocaching’). After some time of use I also saw that a lot of annoying bugs were fixed as well. So if you tried it before and were not satisfied you can now try it again.

Tip: if you do not have a BlackBerry 7100i, 7520, 8703e (Sprint/Alltel) or 8800 you will need an external Bluetooth GPS receiver. You can find one here.

2007-03-01

GPS & Mapping Tool “Spot” now in version 1.4.1 available 

Our GPS mapping tool “Spot” is now available in version 1.4.1. This update is available over all current platforms which include:

 

• » GPS BlackBerrys (7100i, 7520, 8703e/Sprint and 8800)
• » Bluetooth enabled BlackBerrys (7100 Series, 7130 Series, 7250, 7290, 8700 Series and the Pearl)
• » Palm OS powered devices (like Palm Treo 600, 650, 680, 700p)
• » GPS mobile phones (Motorola A780, Siemens SXG75)
• » Bluetooth enabled mobile phones (like SonyEricsson K750i, K800i, Siemens S65 and others)

 
The new “Spot” 1.4.1 comes with a lot of improvements like:

• » Newly Supported Devices:
• » BlackBerry 8800 series.
• » Improved Features:
• » User Interface: It is now more easy to navigate within the program.
• » Registration: The registration procedure once you have purchased a license has been improved dramatically.
• » New features on the BlackBerry platform:
• » File Access Support
• » The BlackBerry Pearl and 8800 are equipped with the BlackBerry OS 4.2 and therefor offer the ability to gain access to the internal memory card. You can now import waypoint files from your memory card which have the famous formats GPX and LOC (www.geocaching.com) as well as export the collected waypoints to a GPX file on your memory card.
• » Both devices are also able to import static map files so you are able to use maps without having network coverage or without the need to be subscribed to a data plan.
• » Backlight Control
• » You can set up “Spot” to keep your backlight on while using it.
• » Several minor improvements were added as well.

 
This update is free for all current users of “Spot”. They can just download the program on our “Spot” product site and register it using their old registration data.

The current pricelist of “Spot” on our site is:

“Spot” for GPS BlackBerry devices:	$49.00 (~37.00€)
“Spot” for Bluetooth enabled BlackBerry devices:	$49.00 (~37.00€)
“Spot” for Palm OS powered devices:	$49.00 (~37.00€)
“Spot” for GPS mobile phones:	$29.00 (~22.00€)
“Spot” for Bluetooth enabled mobile phones:	$29.00 (~22.00€)

A time limited demo version is available free for download. After time limitation is expired you restart the program as often as you want.

Further information can be found at: http://www.skylab-mobilesystems.com/en/products/spot.html

I found the Bluetooth GPS receiver for my BlackBerry here.

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