LandAirSea SilverCloud

The LandAirSea SilverCloud ($369 direct) is more expensive than most GPS tracking solutions, but it's for a reason: You get real-time tracking capability. In other words, instead of attaching the device to a car, waiting, and then retrieving it later, you can monitor the device in real time, using both 2D and 3D map views. Thanks to its robust social networking components, it's a good solution for freight companies, promotional vehicles, or any time you want vehicle tracking to be publicly visible. It could also be used for less-visible, potentially creepy purposes, such as for law enforcement, or by private investigators or a stalking spouse, as you can slip it in a bag and it doesn't need to be in a car.

Design and Website Setup
The LandAirSea SilverCloud ?is made entirely of matte black plastic, and is about the same size, weight, and shape as a radar detector. There are virtually no controls on the unit itself; the back edge contains a row of LED lights that indicate status, while a covered micro USB charger port sits on the right edge towards the back. The bottom panel contains a snap-off battery cover; inside is the lone power switch.

Since it's cloud-based, the SilverCloud can store unlimited GPS tracking data on a secure server. But you can share real-time location via a URL or a live embed code on a website?perfect for, say, all those gourmet food trucks dotting the landscape of major cities these days. LandAirSea sells a number of SilverCloud combo packs targeted for individual and fleet use, including things like waterproof carrying cases, extended batteries, and hardwire power kits for vehicles.

To access SilverCloud data online, the website requires activation and a login, which is easy enough to set up. You need to do this before you intend to use the device on the first trip.?The website looks sharp, and displays current speed, compass heading, elevation, the date and time, and the remaining battery life of the unit. You can also set it to show satellite image data, which is a nice touch.

That said, I ran into some trouble initially with the SilverCloud. When I first brought the unit outside, it locked onto my location within a few minutes. I confirmed this by the three LED lights?one blue surrounded by two green?in the translucent display strip on the edge. However, I had plenty of trouble seeing real-time data after that point. I brought along a ThinkPad laptop and a Sprint MiFi 4G hotspot, so I could monitor what the SilverCloud was seeing during my trip (only when I pulled over, of course).

No matter what I did, including shutting the SilverCloud off and powering it up again, I couldn't get the website to show me any data past that initial lock-in point.?It wasn't a signal issue, as I had no problem browsing lots of websites in the same testing locations.?Whatever the problem on the trip itself, though, it turns out the SilverCloud was working properly the entire time, because all of the data was recorded, as the below screenshot shows.

Features, Cost, and Conclusions
You can run activity reports that include the number of locations and stops, as well as vehicle speed and distance traveled. You can also run historical playback scenarios to watch where someone went. The site also lets you send real-time directions to drivers in the field, either via their phone or via text message, as well as configure an array of alerts for arrival and departure notifications and battery status via text or email. A live support option in a chat window lets you get help from the company quickly?if you need it, and there's even a companion iPhone app.

The most difficult thing to swallow about the SilverCloud, though, is the cost of its monthly service plans. LandAirSea provides three free months of service as part of the package. After that, a?plan that allows for one-minute location updates costs $29.99 per device per month. 10-second updates cost $39.99, 5-second updates are $49.99, and 3-second updates run $59.99 per month. That's a lot of money, given that the Garmin Garmin GTU 10 costs just $50 per year (about $5 a month) for 30-second updates.

Overall, the SilverCloud did its job properly, and is an easy recommendation if you have the means. Another alternative is the aforementioned Garmin GTU 10, which is smaller and costs less, but also has a finicky website and a complicated setup process. The LiveViewGPS Live Trac EZ is a less expensive option up front, but it only works in newer (1996+) cars and trucks, since it plugs directly into the ODB-II port underneath the dashboard, and it it carries its own hefty subscription fees. If you don't need real-time monitoring at all, the LandAirSea Tracking Key ?is a much less expensive option, since there are no monthly fees, but its self-contained USB-compatible design means you'll have to retrieve each device whenever you want to view tracking data.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ziffdavis/pcmag/~3/H6qrGZUYWgA/0,2817,2408726,00.asp

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