http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/08/expresso-announces-pnd-for-the-golf-course-youll-have-to-find/ Engadget Comments for Expresso announces PND for the golf course, you'll have to find your own polyester pants http://www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/08/expresso-announces-pnd-for-the-golf-course-youll-have-to-find/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/08/expresso-announces-pnd-for-the-golf-course-youll-have-to-find/Jul 8th 2010 6:38AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/07/08/expresso-announces-pnd-for-the-golf-course-youll-have-to-find/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/08/expresso-announces-pnd-for-the-golf-course-youll-have-to-find/
Because you were their only sale demographic. Now they will never sell the device because you have a phone with the same functionality. Woe is the company who made this product specifically for you.]]>Jul 8th 2010 6:49AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/07/08/expresso-announces-pnd-for-the-golf-course-youll-have-to-find/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/08/expresso-announces-pnd-for-the-golf-course-youll-have-to-find/Jul 8th 2010 6:58AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/07/08/expresso-announces-pnd-for-the-golf-course-youll-have-to-find/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/08/expresso-announces-pnd-for-the-golf-course-youll-have-to-find/Jul 8th 2010 7:31AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/07/08/expresso-announces-pnd-for-the-golf-course-youll-have-to-find/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/08/expresso-announces-pnd-for-the-golf-course-youll-have-to-find/
@Leachpunk

It's too early in the morning to be such a douche.]]>Jul 8th 2010 7:32AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/07/08/expresso-announces-pnd-for-the-golf-course-youll-have-to-find/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/08/expresso-announces-pnd-for-the-golf-course-youll-have-to-find/Jul 8th 2010 6:54AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/07/08/expresso-announces-pnd-for-the-golf-course-youll-have-to-find/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/08/expresso-announces-pnd-for-the-golf-course-youll-have-to-find/
]]>Jul 8th 2010 7:25AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/07/08/expresso-announces-pnd-for-the-golf-course-youll-have-to-find/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/08/expresso-announces-pnd-for-the-golf-course-youll-have-to-find/Jul 8th 2010 7:53AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/07/08/expresso-announces-pnd-for-the-golf-course-youll-have-to-find/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/08/expresso-announces-pnd-for-the-golf-course-youll-have-to-find/
The 3GS was alright for certain longer range shots and carry yardages, but I wouldn't trust it inside of 200 yards because being more than about 4-5 yards off is pretty much useless if you're actually a serious player.

That said, I have no idea why anyone would buy this when you have smartphones like the iPhone 4 already breaking into the 0-2 yard accuracy range. Having used golf GPS's for years now, I have a hard time believing that this is on that level. ]]>Jul 8th 2010 9:25AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/07/08/expresso-announces-pnd-for-the-golf-course-youll-have-to-find/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/08/expresso-announces-pnd-for-the-golf-course-youll-have-to-find/
Sorry, but you can't beat a dedicated golf PND for accuracy and features. My playing partner has an iPhone with a golf app, and I have a SkyCaddie SG5. First, he has to keep turning the thing off to ensure that the battery last for the whole round. My SG5 can last 2 to 3 rounds.

The accuracy of SG5 blows away the iPhone. We'll be standing in the fairway at the 150 yard mark, and his iPhone will be showing +/- 3 yards, where's my SG5 will be spot on. Three yards means the difference between being on the green, and being in the front bunker.

Lastly, and most important, the ground-mapped features of the SG5 have no equivalent in the satellite based maps in the iPhone. The Intelligreen feature in the SG5 rotates the green depending on your location, so you get accurate measurements to the front, middle, and back from your angle. Also, the contours of the green are displayed, e.g. false fronts, tiers, etc.

Now, if given the choice between a phone-based app and nothing, I'd certainly take the phone, but one can't compare a phone to a SkyCaddie.
]]>Jul 8th 2010 10:30AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/07/08/expresso-announces-pnd-for-the-golf-course-youll-have-to-find/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/08/expresso-announces-pnd-for-the-golf-course-youll-have-to-find/
Actually, we use a very high-end linear patch antenna which is much more accurate than the chip antennas used in cell phones to receive a GPS signal. That, combined with a SiRFstarIII GPS receiver and Instant Fix II allows for amazing acquisition times and accuracy within 1 yard.

I'm not sure where you live, but if we can set something up - I'd welcome you to play an 18 hole round of golf with us any time (we'll even pay for it) and we can do a side-by-side comparison the entire time. But if your iPhone battery can't last the entire 18 holes, you'll have to pay for the beers :)

]]>Jul 8th 2010 10:44AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/07/08/expresso-announces-pnd-for-the-golf-course-youll-have-to-find/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/08/expresso-announces-pnd-for-the-golf-course-youll-have-to-find/
I've used a SkyCaddie, and yes they are quite nice. However, for the price on an iPhone app, the accuracy on the iPhone 4 specifically is really amazing. I play nearly every day, and have been comparing the readings against marked sprinkler heads at my home course and have been shocked by the accuracy. Like I said, the 3GS wasn't quite as good and I wouldn't trust it inside 200 yards.

I attribute this to two things. One is OS 4.0 which lets the GPS stay on and keep lock. The other is the new GPS chip in the iPhone 4. My phone has no problem with battery life, and playing an 18 hole round will generally leave me with around 75% battery left.

Traditionally, I have used a Bushnell Pinseeker 1500 Tournament Edition, but it was stolen and I have had to go back to sprinkler heads and GPS. When I started testing my new iPhone, I was blown away by how useful it is. As a skilled player, I have always been a little skeptical about GPS in general. For the average player looking to break 100,90, 80, etc. it is great, but at higher levels I've always considered a laser to be the only way to go. ]]>Jul 8th 2010 11:05AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/07/08/expresso-announces-pnd-for-the-golf-course-youll-have-to-find/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/08/expresso-announces-pnd-for-the-golf-course-youll-have-to-find/
Hey, that sounds good to me! I'm at http://www.vbnational.com virtually every day.

Be warned though, it's quite a difficult track ;)]]>Jul 8th 2010 11:11AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/07/08/expresso-announces-pnd-for-the-golf-course-youll-have-to-find/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/08/expresso-announces-pnd-for-the-golf-course-youll-have-to-find/
Perhaps the new iPhone has better accuracy, but I don't see the apps matching up in the feature set.

Approximately 50% of the courses I play are my first visit to the course. With a new course, the features of the SkyCaddie are invaluable. If I played the same course every week, then basic yardage information would probably be sufficient, as I would already know the shape and contours of the green, and the locations of the various hazards.
]]>Jul 8th 2010 12:48PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/07/08/expresso-announces-pnd-for-the-golf-course-youll-have-to-find/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/08/expresso-announces-pnd-for-the-golf-course-youll-have-to-find/
Yeah, I can definitely see your point with that. I basically play the same rotation of courses that I know very well, so details like green contours are things I'm already aware off. I'd definitely like one of the new SkyCaddie's but, for the money, the Golfshot app plus the iPhone 4 are an amazingly good value. I definitely want to reiterate that it's only on the 4, the 3GS with its older GPS chip does not provide enough accuracy for serious golf. I mean, it's alright if you're looking for a club to carry a certain fairway bunker, but not if you're trying to carry onto a specific ridge on a green.

When I am playing, I am basically looking for something like the distance to the front edge for example. From there, I'll mentally add how many paces in the hole is cut.





]]>Jul 8th 2010 1:32PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/07/08/expresso-announces-pnd-for-the-golf-course-youll-have-to-find/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/08/expresso-announces-pnd-for-the-golf-course-youll-have-to-find/
Expresso's CEO just said that he likes playing at Virginia Beach and would love to go head-to-head with you... Expresso AG1 vs iPhone 4. Send us your contact information to info at expressogps.com and I'll have him get in touch with you.]]>Jul 8th 2010 2:42PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/07/08/expresso-announces-pnd-for-the-golf-course-youll-have-to-find/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/08/expresso-announces-pnd-for-the-golf-course-youll-have-to-find/
That's awesome. I'll get in touch with you boys. ]]>Jul 9th 2010 10:29AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/07/08/expresso-announces-pnd-for-the-golf-course-youll-have-to-find/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/08/expresso-announces-pnd-for-the-golf-course-youll-have-to-find/Jul 8th 2010 9:49AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/07/08/expresso-announces-pnd-for-the-golf-course-youll-have-to-find/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/08/expresso-announces-pnd-for-the-golf-course-youll-have-to-find/Nice catch, I was wondering where the he'll I'd seen that pic before!]]>Jul 8th 2010 10:46AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/07/08/expresso-announces-pnd-for-the-golf-course-youll-have-to-find/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/08/expresso-announces-pnd-for-the-golf-course-youll-have-to-find/Misspellings the complement of iPads whacked out dictionary...]]>Jul 8th 2010 10:48AM