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Geode


Wed Feb 7, 2001 - 12:00 AM EST - By James Hromadka

Product Info
Details

»	Name Geode
»	Company GeoDiscovery
»	Size 2.4" x 4.3" x 1.2"
»	Weight 5.7 oz. w/ batt.
»	Memory 3 K on Visor when inserted (GeoView maps take extra)
»	Accuracy 2-3 Meters
»	Fact Sheet & User Opinions

Availability

»	Unknown

Pricing

$289

Using the Map

Position with a satellite fix

I really like the way that the Geode uses the digital compass when in map mode. When you have a solid fix, you will see an arrow indicating your position and the direction you are facing.

If you lose the fix, the Geode puts a marker on your last known position and places a compass indicator at the top right of the screen. By doing this, you at least know the direction you are going even if you don't have an exact fix on your location. This is one of my favorite features of the Geode. It makes the module useful even when you lose your satellite fix.

Find a great spot that you want to remember or share with others? Create a GeoPoint by selecting Action | Create Point. On this screen you can select the database to store your entries (MyPoints is the default) and give your point a name and icon. You can also type in notes for the point.

If you tap on a blank area on the map you will be given the option to set that location as a Target, recenter the map around that location, or create a point where you tapped. I have here a picture of what a Target looks like and the distance screen. As I said before, I couldn't figure out how to de-select a Target.

Things stored on the Geode

One of the Geode's best features out of the box is that it stores useful data on the module, alleviating the need to store it on the Visor's memory or on an MMC. Quick Tips is the user documentation, and is actually useful when compared to other help files. For example, I found these two power tips inside Quick Tips: draw L while in a map to get Lat/Long, altitude, status, and direction; draw a C to create a Geode Point based on your current location.

Also stored on the Geode is a High Level World Map. World Cities, Major US Freeways, and Major US Water. All of these files would have almost totaled an additional megabyte of storage you would have needed. Kudos to Geode for including these on the module.

MMC Storage

At the time that this review was published, GeoDiscovery hasn't finished the GeoData Manager application that will let you store Geode maps on the two MMC slots of the Geode. According to GeoDiscovery's website, they "anticipate availability before the end of February." I will update this portion of the review after the GeoData Manager's release.

Usability >>