Review: Freedom Keychain GPS

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You've probably noticed a new entry in the recent weeks into the bluetooth GPS world, the Freedom Keychain GPS receiver ($89.95). GPS is condign ever more than popular, and when it comes to bluetooth GPS pucks, in that location are quite a few out in that location to choose from. Like many of yous, though, beingness a smartphone user I've e'er believed in integration. I don't run across the need for conveying ii, 3, or iv devices in my pocket when one will easily do the job. Equally it stands today, only nearly 10-15% of smartphones on the market actually accept dedicated GPS congenital in. As such, I've never been likewise interested in bluetooth GPS units since information technology would be another affair to occupy my ever abating pocket existent estate. However, I recently received the Freedom Keychain GPS to review, and I'm starting to change my mind.

Design

I've had a standard bluetooth GPS puck (a GlobalStar BT-339) for near a year. GPS fans volition probably know information technology because the BT-339 has been rebranded and sold all around the internet. It's pretty thick, kind of hefty, and uses a round plug Air conditioning adaptor. When I throw it in my pocket I can definitely feel the weight; it feels about like walking around with a roll of coins in your pocket. The size of the unit of measurement was also somewhat awkward (compared to many of the slim phones of today) and took up valuable pocket real manor, and the shape didn't even look like it was designed for a pocket simply rather information technology was meant to be attack a flat surface. The result concluded up being that I left the GPS puck in the car or at home, and rarely took it with me. Enter the Freedom Keychain GPS...

The Liberty Keychain GPS impressed me when I got it because I wasn't expecting it to exist and so pocket-size. As you tin can see in the pictures, comparison the size of the BT-339 to the Keychain GPS is like comparing the size of an HTC Tilt to a Touch; the Keychain GPS, like the Touch, is much sleeker and more pocketable. What yous can't see in the pictures is the Keychain GPS is also much lighter weighing in at a mere 1.06 ounces. The obvious reward of this is that it's very pocketable.

The night grayish color and rounded profile add a sleek look to the Keychain GPS, and the soft affect feel of the finish gives it the experience of a quality product. There's no feeling of looseness or hollowness to the device, it but feels solid. The multicolor LED in the middle indicates the connectivity and battery status of the device. Bluish blinks describe the condition of the bluetooth radio (duh!), while orange blinks indicate GPS connectivity and ruby indicate the battery condition (low or charging).

The fact that it attaches to your keychain seals the bargain (in the design category) because most of united states of america will always carry our keys with u.s.a.; after all, when do you e'er leave the business firm or the car without your keys? With the Freedom Keychain GPS on my keychain, this little unit of measurement stays on my person everywhere I get and thus maximizes its potential usefulness.

Use

Putting the Freedom Keychain GPS to use is equally unproblematic as using whatsoever other bluetooth GPS. You starting time by switching on the device with the switch on the side, then search for information technology with your phone and pair it. The master hurdle for me was WM6 (setting upwards a bluetooth GPS is more complicated than it needs to be), withal after following Dieter's excellent how-to video and realizing the pairing lawmaking for this unit of measurement is atypical (1234 instead of 0000), I got my Treo 750 connected and running with the Liberty Keychain GPS with minimal effort.

On WM6, both Live Search and Google Maps Mobile now fully support data from a bluetooth GPS unit, and both are free. With both installed and the bluetooth GPS connected, I hopped into the car and started putting it to use. In a real world exam, with the Keychain GPS dangling from my keys in the steering column of the auto, the Freedom Keychain GPS held signal from about viii satellites (according to Google Maps Mobile). As a reference, I held my Treo adjacent to the in-nuance GPS unit of measurement in my auto, and positioning and tracking was every bit as skillful as the in-dash unit of measurement. Of course, if you want to match the practicality of an auto GPS unit of measurement, you'll demand to purchase software like TomTom to actually spout out vocalism directions as you drive.

The out of the box usefulness of the Keychain GPS comes in situations when you're traveling or walking pedestrian routes in unfamiliar areas. GPS enabled programs will allow you to check for restaurants, movie showtimes, and even pedestrian directions as long as you accept your GPS puck with you.

Charging and Connectivity

The Keychain GPS uses the SiRF starIII-based chip, which is renown amidst GPS fans for its loftier sensitivity and low acquisition times, and according to the specs it can support upward to xx simultaneous satellites. In my use, I constitute information technology caused well-nigh 8 satellites in my area and even held onto them indoors. Bluetooth ii.0 is supported on this GPS puck, and pairing is achieved with the lawmaking 1234 (this is worth noting to avoid whatsoever frustration in trying to pair with the Keychain GPS).

The Keychain GPS also sports a 420mAh lithium polymer battery and claims a battery life of up to 10 hours. If you lot look closely in the pictures, you'll see the front of the Keychain GPS has a rubber door that opens up to reveal a mini-USB port. Yeah! That's right! The Liberty Keychain GPS charges with a mini-USB cablevision. That means you can accuse it anywhere you take your calculator. In fact, included in the box are a mini-USB cable and a mini-USB motorcar charger. This only adds to the Keychain GPS's entreatment since many phones are adopting mini-USB as a standard data and charging interface, then anywhere you lot charge your phone (provided it uses mini-USB), you can now charge your GPS puck too.

Conclusion

In summary, to anyone who's looking for a bluetooth GPS puck, I can't think of any reason not to recommend the Freedom Keychain GPS receiver ($89.95). Information technology's excellence comes in its compact size, solid build quality, and potential for utilise. Even with a 420mAh battery, the life of this puck is good enough to go you through an entire day of continuous use with a little juice left over.

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