Q1 What is the difference between the GPS Cradle and other products on the market, including dashboard navigation devices?
A1 In short, the Cradle gives you a whole lot more than just GPS navigation functionality, in an elegant, portable, all-inclusive solution:
• The Cradle is completely portable Use it for in-car navigation, and when done, simply snap the Cradle out of the windshield mount and take it with you. Because the GPS receiver is built into the Cradle, and not into the windshield mount that stays in the car, the GPS and navigation capabilities stay with you wherever you go.
• The Cradle has a built in rechargeable battery The battery powers the GPS, so you won' t drain your iPod battery, and you can also use it to recharge your iPod.
• The Cradle includes navigation software
You don't have to spend extra money for a navigation app - the NavAtlas® app comes with the Cradle and you can download it from iTunes at no extra charge.
• The Cradle turns any iPod touch into a dashboard GPS navigator You don't need another device for car navigation. The Cradle comes with a fully-featured turn-by-turn NavAtlas navigation app, windshield mount and a rechargeable battery.
• The Cradle turns your iPod touch into a global navigation device When traveling in different countries, use the Cradle with local navigation apps containing local maps.
Q2 Does the iPod touch have to be jail broken in order to work with the Cradle
A2 No, the Cradle has been certified by Apple. The Cradle provides power and GPS data through the 30 pin connector on the iPod touch.
Q3 Do I have to be in a WiFi hotspot in order to be able to use the Cradle for turn-by-turn navigation?
A3 No, the Cradle does not require a WiFi or cellular connection. The Cradle determines GPS location itself, and the included NavAtlas app contains all of the map data.
Q4 Will the XGPS300 work with a navigation application from another company?
A4Most likely. First, look to see if that navigation application is available for the iPod touch. Second, make sure that the application does not require a cellular connection in order to download map data or retrieve navigation instructions. The XGPS300 does not provide a cellular connection to the internet.
Q5 When will the GPS Navigation & Battery Cradle for iPod touch be available?
A5 We anticipate the XGPS300 will be available very soon within a week or two. It wasn’t late February like we thought, but we are closer to the launch than ever before: the product is in the retailer’s warehouse, and final arrangements are being made for it to be released. We apologize for the delay and appreciate your patience.
Q6 Where can I buy it?
A6 The XGPS300 will be available online initially. Look for the cradle to be available soon through other selected retailers
Q7 How do I know if a particular app works with the cradle?
A7 First, check the app description in the iTunes App store. Developers will usually indicate which devices an app will run on. You can also check for compatibility by opening the App Store app on your touch and searching for the name of the application. If the app isn't found, then it isn't downloadable onto a touch -- even though you can see the app available on the iTunes store from your computer.
Q8 I am a developer. Can I make my app work with the cradle?
A8 Absolutely. The XGPS300 provides GPS information through the iPhone OS Location Manager. Any app written to use the iPhone OS Core Location libraries can get GPS location and accuracy information from the XGPS300. No special API is required.
Q9 Can I sync my iPod touch with the cradle attached?
A9 Yes. Switch the XGPS300 into "Battery" mode and then use the included mini-USB to USB cable to sync and charge your iPod touch just like you normally would.
Q10 Does the XGPS300 need to be in "Battery" mode in order to charge?
A10 No. The XGPS300 can be charged regardless of what position the switch is in/font>.
Q11 Will an iPhone fit into the cradle?
A11 Although it looks like an iPhone will fit, only an iPod touch will slide into the cradle.
Q12 C'mon...surely my first generation iPhone will fit. I really need GPS in my phone?
A12 Forcing an iPhone into the cradle will definitely break the cradle, and certainly scratch the iPhone (at the very least) or (worst case) cause a micro Black Hole to form that will screw up the results of the Large Hadron Collider and make the folks at CERN very upset. .
Q13 Does the XGPS300 only work when it's mounted in the car?
A13 No. The windshield mount only provides power and a connection for audio. The GPS receiver is built into the piece that attaches to your iPod, so you can take the XGPS300 anywhere you go (except swimming).
Q14 How much battery life should I expect?
A14 The battery will allow you to use your iPod touch twice as long as you normally would.
Q15 How long does it take to charge the XGPS300?
A15 About four hours.
Q16 Why doesn't the XGPS300 charge my iPod and give me GPS location at the same time?
A16 We figured that running down the battery this way might leave you unexpectedly stuck in some canyon in the desert without directions, and that would be a bad thing.
Q17 Will it work with the touch that my sister/brother/father/daughter/boyfriend has?
A17 Yes. The XGPS300 will work with any iPod touch.
Q18 Will the XGPS300 provide GPS location anywhere in the world?
A18 Yes, however the NavAtlas navigation application only contains maps for the 50 US States, Puerto Rico, and Canada.
Q19 What's the microphone for?
A19 If you own an iPod touch with microphone support, and you have the Skype app installed, you can use the cradle as a speakerphone.
Q1 I've plugged in the cable on my cradle, but my computer doesn't recognize that my iPod is attached?
A1 Switch the XGPS300 into "Battery" mode. The cradle will not sync (and your computer will not recognize the iPod is attached) if the battery is in the "Off" or "GPS" positions.
Q2 I open the NavAtlas app and start driving, but sometimes it takes a long time before the app figures out where I am?
A2 Like any portable navigation device, a clear view of the sky is important for good GPS reception. GPS devices also take a little longer to determine location when they are off for a long time, are turned on in a new location which is far away from where it last was used, and if you are driving at highway speeds. If the NavAtlas application is having trouble finding your location, or frequently loses your location, try moving the windshield mount further away from the roof or the sides of the windshield. The frame of the car can obscure the GPS signal. However, please obey all local regulations affecting where (or if) a device can be mounted on the windshield .
Q3 I have an FM transmitter for my iPod so that it can be used with my car stereo. Can I use it with the Cradle?
A3 Yes. Most transmitters have a 3.5mm analog input on them, so you could plug the transmitter into either the headphone output on the Cradle or into the audio output on the windshield mount.
Q4 I'm having trouble installing the NavAtlas application. My iPod says that there isn't enough space available. However, iTunes shows that the NavAtlas application size is 2GB, and I have more than that available on my iPod. What's going on?
A4 The issue is that the iPod needs enough space to download the application into memory before installing it. This means there must be enough free memory on the iPod to hold both the downloaded application and enough memory to install it into. So you temporarily need a lot of free memory (about 5GB) to get through the installation process.
Fortunately, the solution is simple - but it takes a little time. You'll need to temporarily remove enough music, photos, movies or apps to free up about 5GB worth of memory in your iPod. Next you will install the NavAtlas app, and then finally you can move your music/photos/movies/apps back onto your iPod. All of this is done using iTunes.
Step 1: Attach you iPod to your computer via the USB cable and open iTunes. (It doesn't matter if your iPod is inserted in the Cradle or not. You can sync your iPod through the Cradle.)
Step 2: When your iPod appears in the left side of iTunes under Devices, select it from the list. The right side of the screen will change to show information about your iPod, and tabs will appear across the top of the screen for Music, Applications, Movies, etc.
Step 3: Pick a bunch of music, movies, photos or apps to temporarily remove from your iPod by deselecting them from within the respective tabs.
Step 4: Click the Sync button (bottom right) to move the music/movies/pics/apps off of the iPod.
Step 5: Look at the graph along the bottom of the screen to see how much free space is available on the iPod after syncing. If you don't have about 5GB free, repeat steps 3 and 4 until the graph shows enough free memory.
Step 6: Staying within iTunes, select the iTunes Store and download the NavAtlas application. The fastest way to find NavAtlas in the store is to use the Search box in the upper right corner.
Step 7: Once NavAtlas is downloaded, select your iPod again under Devices, and go to the Applications tab. Make sure that the NavAtlas app is selected.
Step 8: Sync your iPod again to install NavAtlas.
Step 9: Now that NavAtlas is installed, you can restore the music/movies/photos/apps that you removed. Select the Music, Movies, etc. tabs and reselect the files you removed in step 3.
Step 10: Sync your iPod again to reinstall everything and you are done.