If you think that the GPS on your phone sucks and you’re looking for a way to improve it, Garmin might just have the solution for you. Called the GLO portable GPS and GLONASS receiver, this handy little device can connect to your smartphone via Bluetooth and provide it with a stronger, more reliable GPS connection for you to use with any of your location-based apps i.e. Google Maps.
It has the ability to receive signals from both the US GPS satellite network and Russia’s GLONASS satellite networks which means you’ll get “the most comprehensive satellite coverage available”. The GLO is said to be approximately 20% faster than using GPS alone and it is also supposed to be more reliable in challenging environments such as deep canyons or urban environments where a large portion of the sky is blocked by solid objects. The GLO will feature a battery life of up to 12 hours and functions at an update rate of up to 10 times per second (though it may be limited by the host device).
The Garmin GLO is expected to be available in August with a suggested retail price of $99, while the GLO Aviation (a version for pilots) is available now for $129. Find out more from the Garmin website.