GBalpha announces Ranger GPS unit for Nintendo DS
By Joseph L. Flatley 
posted Apr 15th 2009 12:23PM
posted Apr 15th 2009 12:23PM
There hasn't exactly been a rush to flood the market with Nintendo DS-based GPS mods over the years -- and when we have seen them, they've been largely DIY affairs. Looking to fill a niche that most reasonable folks assume does not exist, GBalpha has announced the upcoming release of Ranger, its new touchscreen solution for those of you wishing to saddle your handheld with navigation duties. If you're curious, this bad boy sports a u-blox GPS module, 32MB extended memory, Google Earth map integration, and optional Mandarin and Cantonese voice prompts. Are you stoked? What if we gave you a price and a way to order it? Well, we can't do that for you. Sadly, large swaths of the product website are mum on those details.
[Via Max Console]
[Via Max Console]
this is now my excuse for playing cooking mama while driving
Wont work with the DSi though...
Yeah thats what I was just about to say
Yeah... good job catching up on the slot 2 being removed!
Nintendo should just make a cell phone.
Nice! Perfect for my DSi
... oh wait
Let me see some games utilizing this gps and ill be interested.
i think this might be more for the homebrew crowd
i think it's cool as hell and if the price is right i'm going to get one
fuck paying $200 for a tomtom or garmin when i can use my DS which i always take on trips anyways
touch screen input would be nice, that psp gps unit input suffers b/c that
i see and xmb...
Why does the DS/DSi have to do everything? You'll need a special backpack for all the extra crap you have to plug into it.
Just focus on great games!
And this looks like a game studio to you... how?
People today want integration. They want their phones to surf the web, take pictures, tell them where to go, play MP3s and TV shows, and possibly make calls/ texts. This is capitalizing on that idea. If it was Nintendo doing this I'd agree w/ you, but these companies are catering to a niche, and this might sell decently well.
@Chris Are
This isn't integrated, it's an attachment. There are much better multipurpose devices that don't require a bag full of attachments.
It IS integration, because it's combining two useful things into one- but I get what you're saying. It's bulky and regardless of who you are there's probably a better way to integrate GPS into something you already have- I have a couple devices that have GPS functionality, actually. So call it a novelty if you want, but all I'm saying is people are nuts about this stuff right now and I think it'll attract a certain consumer- namely, an American one. ;-)
looks pretty sweet. My DS has taken a place on the shelf though ever since I got an iPhone. And my iPhone has GPS built in, so, this looks like a waste of money for me.
Buy a real GPS?
This would be awesome!
I want to buy a ds, r4 and this thing and I'm set. For now.
Depending on how expensive this is I might consider it. Straight-up GPS never seemed worth the money to me, but this might put my dusty DS to a good use.
Good job supporting the last gen DS rather than the current gen DSi.
looks really cool, to bad Im a map guy!
This device was developed by [url=http://www.dsgis.net]team oOkami.[/url]
Since development for this started well over a year ago, there was no way to know Nintendo was going to remove SLOT2 (GBA slot).
The version for DSi is in development, although it's already working. Without a WiFi transmitter!
This is indeed more or less intended for homebrew use. Load your own maps, Google maps, [url=http://www.openstreetmap.org]Openstreetmap,[/url] etc.