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GPS for GBA
Grey Ninja writes "I just came across a preview for a new gadget that's going to be demoed at E3, which is a GPS and map attachment for your GBA. It should be mentioned that you can pre-order now and get $50 off. " I can't imagine very many useful applications for this, but it sure is nifty.
You can't see entering address information with five buttons being very viable, eh?
Have you even looked at other GPS devices? Garmin eTrex, for example, has five buttons as well. Only one is used for entering address information. I would love to have a GPS with a colour screen. The only downside I see to this is backlighting and accurate maps. Nothing else.
Dude, do you know how GPS works? A GPS unit on the ground listens to the signals from a couple of different GPS satellites and uses the information in those signals to triangulate its own position relative to the satellites (that's a very simplified explanation, but that's basically how it works). The satellites don't "find" you or "tell you where you are." They just beam messages down to the surface. They have no idea where, or by whom, those messages are being received.
Why is Nintendo so entrenched in portable gaming? Long-term involvment. Just yesterday I was busy with all the home's computers, so my girlfriend dug out some old (1983!) Nintendo "game and watches" I have. They still work, they're still fun.
I agree that GPS on the GBA seems odd, though, but I'd guess the target market is more youthful - the kind of market that (like my niece!) loves Barbie Walkie-Talkies, and can accept the imitations.
Perhaps Nintendo can turn global navigation into a 2d mario-style game. Then, I could break the road blocks in my way by jumping up at them.
I'm sold! Reminds me of a marathon Sonic-the-Hedgehog-and-beer session at college, and the journey to the pub afterwards: took me the entire journey to realise my "jump button" wasn't working...!
This is where the serious fun begins.
"I take 4 AA batteries yet my light only lasts a whole 2 hours" flashlight attachment.
Dude! Trade that in. Eveready makes a nice folding LED reading/tent light. (it looks like a miniture folding flouresent lantern) It claims 200 hours on a set of batteries. I can't verify the claim as I'm still on my first set of batteries from last summer.
The truth shall set you free!
Global Positioning, not Tracking. GPS units are entirely passive. The only person who knows where a given GPS is located is the person holding the GPS. Unless you're going to also fit the children with a cellular telemetry rig or something, only the kids will know where they are.
If a job's not worth doing, it's not worth doing right.
I'm flattered actually, that you would think that I am a real developer, or capable of building such a device.
The truth of the matter is that I just came across the gadget from gcadvanced.com, and I thought it would be cool to mention it to Slashdot.
I have a rather extensive knowledge of the GBA hardware, as I homebrew some stuff on the console. It just kind of goes with the territory. I don't have anything to really show for it though, as all my projects are still works in progress. The truth of the matter is that I am still merely a 3rd year Computer Science major, and not really capable of a whole lot yet.