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Omnitracs fleet tracking review
8:20 pm | May 27, 2020

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets | Comments: Off

Omnitracs is probably one of the oldest fleet management and GPS fleet tracking solution providers. It was established in 1998 by Qualcomm, one of the world's largest chipmakers. Since then, it has grown to manage over 1.25 million assets. The company has a global presence, with operations in over 50 countries and over 13,000 fleet clients who use its solution, creating over 500,000 routes each week.

Omnitracs provides a SaaS-based fleet management solution that aims to improve fleet reliability, routing, safety, productivity, and compliance. In addition to its long history of innovation in technology and fleet management, Omnitracs was also named one of the "Top 50 Companies for Women to Work for in Transportation."

Omnitracs: Pricing

Like many other leading fleet management companies, Omnitracs does not publish pricing and contract details online. This is likely due to the large number of additional services that they offer, which can vary in price and length of contract depending on the specific needs of the customer. In other words, the company offers a wide range of customization options, which they think can only be priced out with company contact. This can be done via a phone call, or through a contact portal as the only options.

The contract terms are monthly or annual, and in some cases longer. To get clarity on the term and minimum number of vehicles required for your business, you should contact sales. They will also answer questions about the free demo and the company's money-back guarantee. However, this information should ideally be available on the website.

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Omnitracs: Features

Omnitracs, which has been in business for over three decades, provides one of the most comprehensive solutions for enterprise-grade vehicle tracking and fleet management. This solution is highly customizable and adaptable to your specific needs.

Omnitracs is a fleet management solution that can be customized to meet the needs of fleets of all sizes. However, some online reviews indicate that the company does not support fleets with fewer than five vehicles, making Omnitracs unsuitable for these very small fleets.

The software is customizable and has a tailored dashboard that allows operators to perform all the basic functions you would expect, such as fuel consumption management, route optimization, and driver safety, all with the help of an intuitive interface.

The system provides a variety of reports, including a driver report card, vehicle health and maintenance, driving behavior, fuel performance, and more. These reports provide businesses with a 360-degree view of their fleet's status and driver performance. This allows for timely coaching for drivers who need it and incentives for drivers with better performance.

Omnitracs offers a wide range of services and features, but its solution can be divided into three main products:

Omnitracs RDC (Routing, Dispatching and Compliance): Omnitracs RDC is a platform that helps fleet operators manage all aspects of their fleet, from route planning and real-time monitoring to compliance and driver behavior. The platform uses mobile devices and backend software to provide a range of features, including route creation from orders, dispatch to mobile devices, vehicle inspection and duty status collection, and more.

The Omnitracs RDC's route optimization feature automatically calculates the most efficient route for a journey, saving businesses time and fuel while meeting customer needs. 

This dynamic system enables operators or admins to monitor the live status of the vehicle and allows them to make changes to the route if necessary. The two-way communication between drivers and the admin allows them to exchange important information such as route changes, delivery confirmation, and so forth.

Omnitracs RDC also offers compliance benefits, such as Hours of Service (HoS), IFTA fuel tax, and ELD compliance. It also provides assistance to drivers during roadside inspections by allowing them to access important reports, such as driver vehicle inspection reports (DVIR), at any time. 

 

Some key features of the RDC are:

  • A relay telematics device that is simple to set up.
  • Connection is made easy by integration with major ERPs.
  • The management of the flow of information, the distribution of tasks, and the conformity with other internal systems.
  • Tools for business analytics and intelligent reporting.
  • Shows the day's route, including real-time GPS pings.
  • See route timelines with adjustable exceptions, such as missed delivery time windows.

Omnitracs XRS:  Omnitracs acquires XRS Corporation in 2014, adding mobile capabilities to its core system. The Omnitracs XRS automatically sends diagnostic, positioning, and log data via a small plug-and-play device connected to the vehicle. The data also includes compliance-related information such as HoS, IFTA, and DVIR.

Omnitracs IVG (Intelligent Vehicle Gateway): The Omnitracs IVG improves driver productivity and satisfaction by keeping up with regulatory policy changes and regularly updating data even without cellular coverage. As it is focused on compliance, the hardware must be physically connected to the vehicle.

The hardwired device's display makes it simple for drivers to follow their assigned route, and it also allows them to indicate their availability for work. This technology also allows for real-time monitoring of compliance.

(Image credit: Omnitracs)

Omnitracs: Support

Omnitracs has acquired quite a few businesses during its long run as a successful enterprise, and it has dedicated helplines to cater to its customers. These help desks can be reached via email or phone every day of the year on a 24/7 basis, although looking further they are only available for critical issues after hours and on holidays.

The company also hosts webinars and has a number of ebooks, white papers, and case studies uploaded on its website. Omnitracs has a YouTube channel, but it is not very active, with the last video having been published three years ago. However, its Facebook page is quite active, although its last Twitter post was from last year. 

Omnitracs: Final verdict

To sum up, Omnitracs provides a simple and user-friendly web interface that is independent of the operating system and can be used on any connected device. It also offers a wide range of services that can be customized to meet your specific business needs. However, the Better Business Bureau has rated Omnitracs as an 'F' which is pretty concerning. It only gets one star, and has 6 complaints closed in the last 12 months.

Further reading

GPSWOX review
1:25 pm | May 21, 2020

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets | Comments: Off

GPSWOX is a global fleet management company that provides GPS fleet tracking and fleet management solutions  for both businesses and consumers. The company was founded in 2012 and is headquartered in London, UK. 

The company has customers in over 120 countries across the globe, and provides GPS tracking services for a wide range of moving assets like cargo, trucks, or delivery vans, through to consumer products like boats, bikes and so forth. 

The company's main offering is a simple yet effective vehicle tracking software that works with almost any GPS tracker on the market, giving businesses the freedom to use the hardware they already own. The software provides precise vehicle location monitoring, efficient management functions such as fleet dispatch and fleet monitoring, and helps ensure the safety of drivers and vehicles, thus optimizing the costs associated with running and managing a commercial fleet.

Unlike its competitors, GPSWOX provides white-label cloud-based vehicle tracking software that can be used to set up a vehicle tracking business anywhere in the world.

(Image credit: GPSWOX)

GPSWOX: Pricing

GPSWOX's pricing structure allows you to pick the add-ons that best meet your business needs. Because the company does not sell its own hardware, it only charges you for its software. There are trackers available for purchase on the site starting at $69. 

For starters, GPSWOX offers a 100% money back guarantee for assessing the service yourself, and also a 30-day free trial. This is currently available starting at $99 per month and is valid for unlimited users allowing them to track up to 100 assets. This can go on up to 500 objects for $199 per month, and also 1000 objects for $290 per month. There is also an option for a lifetime subscription for a currently discounted single payment of $3990. The software is hosted on GPSWOX’s servers.

Small businesses or individuals can also choose a smaller plan. To track a single object, the Lite plan is an affordable $2.99 per month, but needs to be paid annually. There is also the Basic plan that can track up to 5 objects, at $9.97 per month, also paid annually. Finally, the Pro plan can track up to 50 objects, at a cost of $49/month, but this can be paid monthly.

Unlike other companies, tracking vehicles on mobile is an added cost here. The Android fleet tracking app costs an additional $49 a month while the iOS app is available at an extra $84 a month. However, once subscribed, both the apps are available for unlimited users. Furthermore, users are required to subscribe to Google Maps for an additional $9/month.

The company offers an additional discount for paying upfront for three, six or twelve months; these benefits can be bagged on checkout. Overall, while at least the pricing is more transparent than most, we wish that this section of this company’s website was easier to navigate.

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GPSWOX: Features

GPSWOX is one of a few select cost-effective fleet management solutions that is available globally. It focuses organizations on optimizing fuel costs, safeguarding their fleets, and managing their employees. 

It meets the tracking needs of small, medium, and large fleets in the automotive, healthcare, transportation/logistics, retail, government and defense, hospitality sectors, and also individual and family users.

With just a few clicks, the software provides precise information and is simple to use. The software has received numerous awards for its usefulness, with the company boasting this satisfaction.

GPSWOX intends to provide a solution that can be used by enterprises with different fleet sizes by offering transparent pricing that is free of any contract obligations. The business offers comparable features for all tiers, adhering to the one-size-fits-all philosophy. It does, however, offer alternative add-ons to customize the final product to meet the needs of the organization.

Some of the key features of GPSWOX’s solution are:

Real-time tracking: Although this is a fundamental function that many tracking solutions provide, GPSWOX allows you to track practically every asset in real time, including cars, phones, people, bikes, etc. To gather more information such as speed, fuel consumption, address, journey history, and more, it provides three alternative options, namely Google Maps, Satellite, and OSM.

Notifications and alerts: Instant warnings and notifications are provided by GPSWOX in response to events such as a vehicle entering or leaving a geo-zone, speeding, unexpected stops, and even the theft of a vehicle.

Reports: By date and GPS tracker name, GPSWOX provides a variety of downloadable reports that include driving time, rest stops, mileage, fuel usage, and more. Additionally, downloading comprehensive and group reports is an option.

Fuel savings: Businesses can keep gasoline costs under control with the help of real-time fuel use data and the ability to check fuel levels at any time. Rapid acceleration, speeding, and braking are three aggressive driving habits that directly affect fuel consumption. Timely alerts and reports on these behaviors can be a useful tool. This monitoring of gasoline use can reduce fuel use by 5% to 15% and is a useful tool for preventing drivers from engaging in any possible fraud.

Geofencing: With the help of this function, enterprises can limit the geographic range of their assets' mobility. As soon as a vehicle leaves or enters the geo-fenced area, administrators are notified.

Numerous awards have been given to GPSWOX's software for providing excellent user experiences. It won the Expert's Choice by FinancesOnline Award, the Supreme Software Award, and the Great User Experience Certificate.

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GPSWOX: Support

Since GPSWOX’s software is available globally, it offers support across different regions. The technical helpdesk can be reached 24/7 via email while general inquiries are available on all days from 9am to 9pm (GMT+2) through email as well. Users can also book a free call by filling in a contact form though it may take up to 24 hours depending on the query. Sales is also reached via email, and is available 7 days a week, from 9am to 9pm (GMT+2).

In case a customer needs assistance, the business also makes FAQs, user guides, and videos available on its website. Although GPSWOX has a large number of videos on its YouTube account, we were sad to learn that the channel is not frequently updated with new videos because the most recent one was posted more than two years ago.

GPSWOX: Final verdict

GPSWOX is an intuitive cloud-based fleet management solution. It can be the perfect solution for businesses with international operations due to its straightforward pricing structure along with a global presence. Users who already own tracking devices but require a comprehensive fleet management solution to track their fleet will find it convenient as it syncs with the majority of telematics systems and allows you to use your existing hardware.

Also see:

Everything you need to know about fleet management

How does fleet management work?

Fleet management software vs telematics

Best dashcams for fleets

Tresorit cloud storage review
10:49 am |

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets | Comments: Off

Swiss-based Tresorit focuses on two key aspects with one of the best cloud storage services: security and simplicity. It sits on your computers and your mobile devices, syncing files to and from the cloud, and enabling you to share files and folders with other people when needed.

It's a lot like services such as Dropbox or SugarSync in the way that it operates. But its clean user interface and emphasis on keeping your files protected (it offers end-to-end encryption everywhere, for instance) make it worth considering whatever your requirements. 

Tresorit: Pricing & plans 

Tresorit offers a basic free plan - you get 5GB storage space, which isn’t much, but it’s on par with some of the best free cloud storage providers, including Microsoft OneDrive and Apple iCloud Drive. However, this account limits you to a 500MB file size, which is quite restrictive, but an expected trade-off for zero-cost. 

Tresorit has pricing both for individuals and for teams as well as a free offering called Basic with 5GB storage. For the full cloud storage, after a 14-day free trial, you'll need to pay $13.99 a month for 1TB of storage or $33.99 a month for 4TB.

On the business side, your options are $18 per user per month for 1TB each or $24 per user per month for 2TB. Both plans require a minimum of three users. 

For larger organizations with at least 50 users, Enterprise plans are customizable, with a scalable amount of storage depending on the company’s needs. You'll need to contact Tresorit directly for a bespoke quote. 

Business users can also add end-to-end email encryption for emails using the Tresorit tool for the desktop version of Microsoft Outlook - on Windows only. This costs $7.50 per user per month on top of any of the three business subscriptions. It's not clear what this add-on would do that free email encryption tools for Outlook like GpG4win couldn't but we encourage you to do your own research if you want this feature. 

All tiers of membership, including the email encryption add-on, can be paid annually for a discount of approximately 20%, with a slightly smaller discount for the entry-level Personal plan. 

Naturally, this represents the best value for prospective Tresorit users, and while business pricing is reasonable, we find the personal plans to be on the pricey side. The 1TB Personal plan, for example, costs more than the 2TB available from iCloud Drive and other big names.

(Image credit: Tresorit)

Tresorit: Interface

The interface sported by the various Tresorit apps is certainly one of the strong points of the service. The apps are clean, fresh, and modern-looking, and you won't have any problems finding your way around them. The guided tour that you get when you first open up the client apps certainly helps.

We originally tested Tresorit on macOS and found most of the functionality could be controlled through the desktop client, including file activity, sharing and integrations, however the ability to also embed Tresorit into the native file manager system - Finder - was really appreciated, helping to create a seamless experience with which users are already familiar.

For our most recent test on our Windows 11 virtual machine, the client app created a virtual mounted volume, with the drive letter 'T' appropriately enough. You can then place files in your Root Tresor or upload them via the desktop client itself. 

The mobile apps are perhaps even more intuitive to use than the desktop programs, and there's definitely a Dropbox-style vibe here. Files can be accessed quickly and simply, and shared with just a few taps. If you need yet another app to automatically upload your mobile photos and videos to the cloud, then the apps for Android and iOS are able to do this for you too. 

There is a toggle to enable and disable mobile data, helping to preserve your allowance, however there are no automated warnings based on file size unlike some other cloud storage apps. Passcode or biometric access to the app adds another level of security, and this can be a different passcode to the one you use to log in to the device itself.

It's a similar story on the web. Everything is simple and plain, but easy to find and functional. A few more options would be welcome, like the ability to stream media files directly from the web interface. However, overall we don’t have too many complaints. If you want, files can be kept exclusively on the web rather than being synced to one or more of your devices, giving you better control over how you manage local storage.

Tresorit cloud storage being put to the test by TechRadar Pro

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Tresorit: Features 

When it comes to core functionality, the client software essentially lets you sync any file or folder from your computer or mobile device to the cloud and back, under the limits set by the type of account you're using. 

You can also create specific 'tresors' inside the apps: collections of files and folders that you wish to organize, share and distribute as one. It gives you a bit more flexibility if you don't want to stick to the exact folder structure that already exists on your computer, but to be honest, we can't imagine using it very much. Still, this feature could be useful to businesses storing files in the cloud to keep data safe. For instance there's no need for the Accounting Team to see blueprints for the top secret project that R&D working on, so each section could have their own Tresor. 

Online collaboration tools are fairly strong, offering access to Tresorit account holders and non-account holders, as well as the ability to set up a link for other people to upload files into. The 'Basic' plan supports setting a password to access a link. Paid plans allow you to fine tune sharing settings further by specifying the time after which a link will expire (default 30 days) or how many times a link can be opened (default is 20). 

Data from networked drives and NAS drives can be included in your cloud backup, if needed, and there's also support for file versioning: that means you can roll back to older versions of files rather than the latest versions, if you have to.

This varies by account, with top-tier Enterprise plans getting unlimited versions and entry-level Personal plans making do with 10 versions. 

While there is a file syncing solution that works between multiple people and multiple devices - so everyone is always working off the latest versions - there's limited in-app collaboration here, like you get in alternatives such as Dropbox and Google Drive. True, Tresorit might not have as many bells and whistles as these rivals, but in pur experience, we found it covers the core functions very well indeed. 

Tresorit: Security

End-to-end encryption is one of the flagship features of Tresorit, with all files and metadata protected using randomly generated encryption keys that never travel in an unencrypted form. Data is protected with AES-256 encryption and new keys are generated each time a file changes. This means, for instance, if you remove someone from a group of people with access to a folder the encryption keys on their device can no longer read files in that folder. 

As an extra level of protection, Tresorit clients apply a Message Authentication Code (MAC) to the content of each file, and this code is held only by the client and with those the file is shared, but not kept by Tresorit.

Decryption is only possible with a user’s unique decryption key: even Tresorit staff can't access your files. This 'blind' or 'zero knowledge' approach has the advantage that neither hackers nor law enforcement can access your files; but if you forget your key, it's gone forever.

The Tresorit Blog cites a well known saying in Information Security "Trust is good, validation is better." This is ironic, as the client apps aren't open source. In other words, if Tresorit made the source code for their apps publicly available the coding community could verify that client-side "end to end" encryption works in the way they say.

In fairness, open sourcing an existing project is a huge undertaking. Tresorit have however, undergone an independent security audit in 2019 by Ernst and Young, which did have access to the platform’s source code. They concluded that customer data was protected in the way Tresorit claimed. 

As well as zero-knowledge security, two-factor authentication is included as well, for extra account protection from the user’s end.

Tresorit: Our tests 

We ran three key tests, measuring Tresorit’s sync speed, file recovery and versioning.

These occurred on a Windows 11 virtual machine running the Tresorit desktop client, with the VM connected to the internet via a VPN server. Our speed tests consistently showed an average upload speed of 70 Mbps  

Tresorit cloud storage being put to the test by TechRadar Pro

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  • Test 1 - Sync speed

During our original tests we found that upload and download speeds using the macOS desktop client were poor compared with other cloud drives. Multiple tests with a minimum 30Mbps upload speed resulted in the upload of our 1GB test file taking around 30 minutes. We’ve seen as little as five minutes elsewhere. Downloading the same file, on the other hand, took a little over 30 seconds, which is the best we’ve seen using the same 350Mbps speed used elsewhere. 

Our most recent tests were using a connection with an average upload speed of 70Mbps. The 22 files (625MB in total) took a little over 180 seconds to upload. This is much slower than other major cloud storage providers like Dropbox. In fairness, many factors can affect the upload speed. If files are being encrypted client-side prior to upload this will also necessarily slow things done, whilst making your data much safer. 

We're pleased to be able to see the progress of individual file uploads by hovering the mouse over the 'Syncing' icon. We also were delighted with the ability to throttle bandwidth use in the client apps, in order to avoid overwhelming your web connection, which is something other services offer too.

Tresorit cloud storage being put to the test by TechRadar Pro

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  • Test 2 - File recovery

When we uploaded our test folder of files, Tresorit automatically created a corresponding folder in the cloud drive. When we checked the mounted T: drive on our device, there was also a shortcut to the folder's location on the hard drive.

We deleted the original folder, which caused Tresorit to throw up an error saying Path Lost, although the client didn't remove the corresponding folder from the cloud. We right clicked the cloud folder with our test files but the only option was to "permanently delete" the folder. Files that are permanently deleted can't be recovered.

We had more joy uploading a single one of our test files. The MP3 in question synced in seconds and we could choose to delete rather than permanently delete it. It's also very simple to check Show Deleted from within the client to restore a file. 

The bottom line is that Tresorit seems great for restoring deleted files, but folders are permanently erased.

Tresorit cloud storage being put to the test by TechRadar Pro

(Image credit: Tresorit)
  • Test 3 - Versioning

To test versioning options, we uploaded a test file, then opened it on the local machine and removed all text except the intro. The changes were automatically synced to the cloud.

However when we clicked the file and chose to Display Versions, the unmodified original document was listed. We could only download the document however, not restore the original as is possible with other cloud providers like Dropbox. 

Tresorit: Verdict 

Overall, we found Tresorit is a very secure, very fast, very reliable service, with apps that are a breeze to use. Its backup services are flexible and sophisticated, with the option to create custom groups of files and folders outside of the folder structure of your main computer. 

The advertised end-to-end encryption and security measures are top notch. On the face of it, there's nowhere safer to put your data. As impressive as the recent independent security audit is, we still think a cloud storage provider who places such an emphasis on security should open source their client-side apps. Although this can't happen overnight, Tresorit could follow the Signal model whereby the app is open source and available for anyone to examine but the developers don't accept "pull requests" from the community. In other words, Tresorit would remain in control of exactly what goes into the software rather than it being a group effort.  

Tresorit is also on the relatively expensive side for the amount of cloud storage you get, puts limits on the number of devices you can use, and doesn't come with some of the extras (like collaboration tools) that its rivals do. We came away impressed, but it's not going to be the best cloud storage solution for everyone and every business.

Fleetio Review: Pros & Cons, Features, Ratings, Pricing and more
11:35 am | May 20, 2020

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets | Comments: Off

Fleetio is a cloud-based comprehensive fleet management solution that was created in 2012. It helps businesses track their vehicles, drivers, and vehicle parts. The company is currently present in over 80 countries and handles over 528,000 vehicles and operators.

Fleetio's solution is appropriate for fleets of all sizes and aims to simplify fleet management. It does this by automating fleet operations, allowing for the management of asset life cycles, fuel efficiency, and also supporting the staff who operate these vehicles. Like other cloud-based solutions, it emphasizes teamwork and strives to lessen the use of less elegant tools, like spreadsheets.


Fleetio pricing

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Fleetio: Pricing

Fleetio is transparent in terms of listing pricing and contractual details on its platform. There are three different plans, each for a minimum of 5 vehicles. Pricing is available on a monthly basis, with a discount available when paying annually.

The lowest tier is the Starter plan, which costs $4 monthly, or averages out to $3 per month when paid annually.  It includes vehicle VIN lookups, vehicle reminders, service reminders and total cost of ownership.

Moving up a tier brings us to the most popular Pro plan. This has a cost of  $5/month when paid annually for the discounted rate, or $6/month. It adds in features including vehicle assignment scheduling, NHTSA recalls, shop maintenance integration, and inspection schedules.

The top tier of plan is the Advanced plan, which incurs a cost of $8/month on the monthly basis, or $7/month on the annual discounted rate. This plan brings forward all of the features of the lower plans, and also add in support for work orders, in-house garage management, purchase orders, automatic stock adjustments, and also can support multiple locations.

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Fleetio: Features

Fleetio provides a variety of services, including maintenance and fleet management, in addition to tracking vehicles. It enables administrators or operators to optimize costs by allowing them to manage fuel, drivers, and assets in a controlled and seamless manner.

The company offers a mobile app: Fleetio Go. The app focuses on mobile fleet management and is available for use with any of the three tiers of plans. This app is available on iOS and Android for free on those respective app stores. The Fleetio dashboard is a cloud-based solution and so is operating system agnostic.

The service can be divided into several broad categories, that we’ll look at more in depth now.

Mobile Asset Management is a process that oversees the entire life cycle of a vehicle, from purchase to disposal. It helps to manage fleet operations more efficiently by tracking vehicle location, fuel consumption, and maintenance schedules.

Vehicle and equipment management helps administrators track vehicle inventory, driver assignment history, important dates, and more. Important documents related to the vehicle, such as purchase or loan documents, total cost of ownership, and so on, can be stored electronically, allowing easy and timely access for authorized users.

Fuel management is a key component of efficient fleet management. By optimizing fuel efficiency, fleet managers can save money and reduce their environmental impact. A fuel management system can help fleet managers track fuel usage, identify areas where fuel is being wasted, and implement cost-saving measures. The system can be updated in real-time through integrations, imports, the app, or website, keeping admins informed of all fuel-related transactions.

Total cost of ownership gives decision-makers continuous data that helps them stay up-to-date on the true costs of running a fleet, allowing them to make informed decisions about replacing old vehicles with new ones. This section includes a breakdown of all vehicle expenses, such as loan payments, maintenance, fuel, telematics subscriptions, and more. This aids in identifying cost savings and improving fleet cost-effectiveness.

VIN decoding eliminates the need for manual data entry by automatically retrieving a vehicle's specifications, such as engine and transmission details, wheels and tires, dimensions, weight and payload, and even fluid capacity levels, directly from manufacturers. This helps ensure the use of correct spare and replacement parts, as well as a better understanding of a vehicle's limitations.

Vehicle assignment keeps admins updated on the availability of drivers and vehicles. This feature is extremely beneficial for scheduling reports on vehicle utilization, distance traveled, and more.

Vehicle location history is a valuable tool that provides a comprehensive overview of a vehicle's location data and GPS data from various sources, such as inspection reports, fuel entries, service entries, and GPS integrations. This information can be used to track vehicles daily, identify potential problems, and improve fleet management.

Fleet Maintenance Management covers vehicle maintenance and historical service data, as well as inventory reports and more. Preventive maintenance scheduling helps track, automate, and forecast recurring service-related activities. Automatically scheduling a vehicle's services based on its history not only ensures timely maintenance, but also increases the uptime of vehicles across the fleet. This fleet management software includes customizable vehicle inspection forms. Timely inspections can help identify failed components and track trends for any particular issue with one or more vehicles.

Issue management allows drivers to report problems from their mobile app, keeping admin staff informed in real time about vehicle issues, failed inspection items, and more.

Maintenance shop integration works to streamline the maintenance process and allows all invoices to be stored and consolidated electronically. 

Electronic and automatic logging of service records helps to keep track of a vehicle's service history, set up automatic reminders, record service dates, and more. It also helps to easily identify recurring issues and allows decision-makers to assess maintenance costs.

 

Fleetio integrates with other services to increase functionality. This allows the software to automatically collect data such as odometer readings, vehicle locations, and fuel card expenses alerts. It can also track each vehicle, service, document, and other records, allowing users to find key data all in one central dashboard. Since Fleetio's software allows for an unlimited number of users, it has options to assign role-based access on the upper two plans.

Fleetio contact us page

(Image credit: fleetio)

Fleetio: Support

Fleetio offers email support, as well as a dedicated telephone help desk which is available weekdays between 8am to 8pm EST. The company hosts videos, webinars and podcasts to help users. Fleetio also has a dedicated YouTube channel where it keeps posting informative guides. We did find plenty of resources, but it would have been nice to see them better collected and organized in a central location Knowledge Center.

Fleetio: Final verdict

Fleetio provides comprehensive fleet tracking services that help manage all aspects of a fleet effectively. The company has received positive reviews on sites like Capterra, but is not yet rated on Better Business Bureau, and only has a few reviews on Trustpilot. Still, we like the upfront pricing with the choice of tiers, so the free trial offer is a valuable way to try out the service to determine if it meets your fleet’s needs.

More on fleet management:

Kobo Libra H2O review
5:58 am |

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets | Tags: | Comments: Off

[Update February 7, 2023: The Kobo Libra H2O is now only available in Australia and will now set you back AU$269.95, AU$20 more than its price on release.]

When the Kobo Forma launched in 2018, we had high expectations that it would give Amazon’s Kindle Oasis a run for its money. However, a slightly lackluster design and a jaw-dropping price tag changed our minds. Rakuten – the Japanese company that makes the Kobo ereaders – seems to have learned some lessons from that Forma feedback, and its new 7-inch Kobo Libra H2O introduces a range of refinements and changes that largely address the complaints.

While the Libra’s  7-inch screen makes it a fair bit smaller than the 8-inch Forma, it brings with it the latest E Ink technology, making it one of the fastest, most responsive ereaders currently on the market. 

Add to that a refreshed user interface and a superior build than the Forma (plus the waterproofing and support for multiple file formats that Kobos are famous for) and you’ve finally got a very compelling competitor to the Kindle Oasis. Better yet, the Libra H2O is far more affordable than either the Oasis or the Forma.

Kobo Libra H20

(Image credit: TechRadar)

Kobo Libra H2O price and availability

The Kobo Libra H2O was launched first in the US and Canada in September 2019 – just a couple of months after Amazon released the second-gen version of the Kindle Oasis – and it became available in other markets later that year. 

Considering it shares a lot of the Forma and Oasis’ premium features, its biggest selling point is perhaps its price tag. The Libra H2O was available directly from the Kobo Store and from major retailers for $169 / £149 / AU$249 on its initial release. In comparison, the 2019 iteration of the Kindle Oasis will set you back $249 / £229 / AU$399, while the Kobo Forma is available for $279 / £239.99 / AU$429.95, though the Forma is no longer available in the US.

And while it’s possible to occasionally pick up the Kindle Oasis for a cheaper price directly from Amazon, you’ll be hard-pressed to find discounts on any of the Kobo ereaders.

As of February 2023, the Kobo Libra H2O is only available in Australia from Rakuten Kobo, with both the global and UK store no longer offering this 2019 ereader. It has also had a small price increase of AU$20, and will now set you back AU$269.95.

Design and display

Unlike more traditional tablet-like ereaders like the Kindle Paperwhite and Kobo Aura One, the Libra H2O’s asymmetrical design closely resembles the Forma and the Kindle Oasis. One bezel is much thicker and wider than the rest, providing lots of space to comfortably and securely hold the device without covering the screen. A pair of physical buttons on that same bezel are used for page turning, and the ereader’s battery is housed inside this area of the chassis, with the microUSB charging port on the side of this thick spine. However, the difference between the Forma and the Libra is that the latter has a 7-inch E Ink Carta HD display (the same as the Oasis) as compared to the 8-inch screen on the Forma. 

Kobo Libra H20

One bezel is thicker and larger than the rest, making it comfortable to hold and use the Kobo Libra H2O single-handed. (Image credit: TechRadar)

The Libra H2O and the Kindle Oasis also share the same screen resolution of 1,680 x 1,264, which translates to 300 pixels per inch (ppi), offering a beautifully sharp display that’s easy to read on. That said, the screen on the Libra H2O is not flush with the bezel (as it is on the Oasis) and is, instead, fitted into a recess within the frame. 

This slight depth makes the text on the display appear sharper when compared to the Oasis, and also allows Rakuten to use Neonode’s zForce infrared technology – a plug-and-play sensor module used for touch and gesture control. And whether you’re selecting a word for dictionary look-up or typing in a Wi-Fi password during setup, the screen is supremely responsive – on par with the latest Kindle Oasis and a beat or two faster than Forma.

Kobo Libra H20

(Image credit: TechRadar)

The Libra H2O shares the patented ComfortLight Pro screen technology that’s found on all modern Kobos, and reduces the exposure to sleep-disrupting blue light. There are white and amber LED lights on the bottom of the screen that project light upwards and evenly across the display. Both color hues can be used either together or independently, with the brightness adjusted via a simple slider built into the touch interface. 

And while there’s no ambient light sensor on board, you can set the lighting to change depending on your time zone. This change in color temperature happens even when the device is ‘sleeping’ and, if you happen to read a little in the afternoon, then pick it up only around bedtime, you will notice the light is warmer. That, we found, doesn’t happen with the Kindle Oasis, where you’ll have to manually change the brightness to adjust the light at night if you’ve just picked it up for reading in bed.

The Libra weighs 192g, which is 4g heavier than the Oasis, despite the latter’s metal finish. The difference is so small that they both feel the same in the hand, however the larger bezel (or grip) of the Libra H2O is slightly thicker than the Forma’s and its smaller screen size gives it a slightly stocky look.

Kobo Libra H20

The physical page-turn buttons are sturdy with a good feedback (Image credit: TechRadar)

Despite its plastic chassis, the Libra H2O looks a lot better than its more expensive sibling. Where there’s a joint on the thicker bezel of the Forma (between the buttons and the screen) for dirt to collect, the Libra’s front face is constructed from a single piece of plastic. Moreover, the Forma’s soft-touch plastic begins to look shiny and oily within weeks of use, leaving it looking grubby and old. The Libra’s harder plastic finish should mean it’s a little more resistant to this, although you can see fingerprints on the bezels if you have particularly oily or sweaty skin.

Another reason to recommend the Libra H2O over the Forma are the page turn and power buttons – on the latter they feel too squishy, while there’s a very good click and feedback on the Libra. That said, the buttons on the Kindle Oasis are easily the smoothest and best feeling of the three.

Kobo Libra H20

There's a microUSB port on the side of the thicker bezel for charing the device (Image credit: TechRadar)

There’s a recessed power button round the back of the Libra, and while it’s reasonably easy to locate just by feeling for it, it’s practically impossible to press if you’re using the Libra single-handed. It can also take some getting used to locating it without flipping the device over if you tend to keep rotating the Libra to read in different orientations, as it’s far from where your hand sits – on the opposite side to the grip, in the corner diagonally across from the Kobo branding on the bezel.

The Libra H2O retains its IPX8 waterproofing and can survive a 60-minute dunk in about 2m of water. However, you will not be able to use the touchscreen if the device is submerged, but the physical page-turn buttons still work just fine.

Battery life

The underlying hardware that keeps the Libra H2O ticking consists of a Freescale Solo Lite 1GHz processor, 512MB of RAM and 8GB of internal storage – which, sadly, can’t be expanded as there’s no microSD card slot on board.

It matches the 1,200mAh battery that’s in the Forma which, we found was capable of powering weeks of constant reading. If you are an avid reader and spend pretty much all day doing just that, then you should be able to get about two weeks’ worth of use between charges. If, however, you’re a more casual reader and spend no more than an hour or two reading per day, you can likely push that to around four to six weeks with display brightness set to about 15%. 

During our test period, we spent about three to four hours each day with the Libra H2O for over a week (with brightness set at 8%) and barely made a dent in the battery indicator on the screen.

Kobo Libra H20

(Image credit: TechRadar)

Reading experience

Like the Forma before it, there’s a gyroscope inside the Libra H2O that’s capable of detecting full 360-degree movement. That means you’ll be able to read in portrait orientation with the page buttons either on the left or right, or in landscape mode with the buttons above or below the display.

Thanks to the latest generation of black-and-white E Ink technology, page turns on the Libra are almost immediate, whether you choose to use the touch interface or the physical buttons, and its smaller and lower-resolution screen make it a bit faster than the Forma in many areas. When you rotate the device, for example, the change in page orientation is a lot quicker than its bigger brother, and using the onscreen keyboard is more responsive and immediate.

The Forma’s physically larger display may not sound like a significant increase over the Libra (8 inches vs 7 inches) but, in the flesh, that difference is quite stark, and arguably makes for a more immersive reading experience on the bigger Forma – and that extra screen real estate means it can fit more words, so you’ll be turning the page a bit less frequently too. But the downside to the Forma’s bigger size is that it’s less portable – the Libra, conversely, is compact enough to fit into a smallish shoulder bag, satchel or handbag, so it’s more friendly for anyone who wants to read on the go. 

Kobo Libra H20

The user interface remains largely unchanged but there are some new features (Image credit: TechRadar)

The Libra’s user interface is simple, with only one or two points of difference from the older models. You can quickly do all the basics, like adjust the font size, look up unfamiliar words, add annotations, and change margin and line spacing. However, the Libra H2O’s new version of the Kobo OS has added a few new features, which have selectively been rolled out to some other Kobo ereaders. 

The new Kobo interface adds an improved ebook navigator that’s accessible by swiping up from the bottom of the screen or tapping in the middle of the display. The progress bar on the lower part of the navigation overlay makes it easier to scan forwards or backwards through a book and be able to find your place again. It also offers one-touch access to all your annotations, and a search box so you can look up a specific word or phrase through the entire book. You can even pull up a list of chapters from this new menu. 

Move the scrubber and a preview of the pages appears on screen (although you will need to lift your finger off the slider before the preview is displayed), letting you decide if you’ve found the right page instead of taking you directly to it. After moving to another location within a book, there will also be a dot on the slider marking your last page, so you can get back to it easily with a single tap on the dot. We were already partial to Kobo’s UI and these improvements make it a lot more streamlined than the cluttered interface on a Kindle.

Kobo Libra H20

The new ebook navigation scrubber makes it easier to skim through your current read and find your previous place again (Image credit: TechRadar)

Another reason we’re partial to Kobo is because of its support for multiple, open file formats. You can read books in EPUB or PDF format, and there’s support for CBR and CBZ formats for fans of graphic novels and comics. You can even load MOBI, PNG, JPG, GIF, BMP, TIFF and HTML files onto a Kobo device for viewing. Heck, you’ll even be able read plain old TXT files on a Kobo device.

If you happen to be a Pocket user (a website and browser plugin that lets you save articles for reading later), you can sign into your account on your Kobo and all saved articles will automatically be synced to your ereader. Dropbox also has an agreement with Kobo that allows users to wirelessly transfer files from a Dropbox folder to the Kobo device – a much easier way to get free or non-DRM books and documents onto your reader than laboriously plugging in a USB cable. (Ugh, such inconvenience!)

Kobo Libra H20

You can hold the Kobo Libra H2O in any orientation and read (Image credit: TechRadar)

Another major benefit of the Kobo OS is baked-in Overdrive support, which in supported countries can allow you to borrow ebooks from your local library – a very handy money-saving tool.

Verdict

Despite a plastic finish, the Kobo Libra H2O is a strong all-round ereader, particularly if you’re not keen on Amazon’s more locked-down Kindle ecosystem. What makes it a worthwhile upgrade if you’ve been using a more traditionally shaped ereader (like the Kobo Clara HD, the Auras, or even the Kindle Paperwhite) is its more comfortable and convenient asymmetrical design, with page-turn buttons that are perfect for single-hand use – whether that’s in bed, during your daily commute in a crowded train or bus, or while simultaneously sipping a glass of something naughty in the bathtub. 

And while you can also get that with the Forma or the Kindle Oasis, the Kobo Libra H2O is significantly cheaper than either of those options, while also being notably more responsive than its bigger (and more expensive) sibling. 

If you’re already a heavy user of Amazon’s ebook services like Prime Reading or Kindle Unlimited, then there’s perhaps still a case to be made for picking up the Oasis over the Libra. But for anyone else looking to buy an ereader with an asymmetrical design, Kobo's newest option is a compelling choice.

Competition

Amazon Kindle Oasis

Amazon Kindle Oasis

(Image credit: TechRadar)

Amazon's Kindle Oasis has a much more premium feel than either the Kobo Forma or the Libra H2O, thanks to its metal body, but its luxurious reading experience doesn't stop there. There's Audible support on board, so you can listen to audiobooks, and Bluetooth connectivity means you can use a set of wireless headphones to listen. However, it will cost you more than the Libra H2O, support very limited file formats and will keep you locked into Amazon's Kindle ecosystem.

Read our in-depth Amazon Kindle Oasis (2019) review to find out more.

GPSTrackit review
4:35 pm | May 5, 2020

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets | Comments: Off

GPSTrackit, founded in 2002, is a Roswell, GA-based company that offers comprehensive fleet management solutions. It is one of the industry's pioneers and has served over 12,000 fleets to date. It is also listed on Deloitte's Technology Fast-500 list.

GPSTrackit, a low-cost telematics provider, offers services such as Electronic Logging Device (ELD) compliance, safety features, and vehicle diagnostics. However, like many other companies in the market, GPSTrackit does not offer customers a transparent pricing and package structure. Despite this, features such as easy-to-install hardware, free training and hardware, monthly billing without contracts, and more, make it one of the most popular fleet management services on the market.

The company is proud of its customer support, which is evident in the many positive reviews that users have given it on various platforms, such as TrustPilot.

(Image credit: GPSTrackit )

GPSTrackit: Pricing

GPSTrackit previously listed its basic fleet management plan at $23.95 per vehicle per month, making it one of the cheapest services in the business. However, now there is no pricing provided, and rather a custom quote process is required. Other selling points include monthly billing without a contract, no limitation on the minimum number of devices, and free GPS hardware with free installation. We did find a current offer for a commercial dashcam for $29.95, but it is unclear if that is for the hardware acquisition, or that is the monthly price for the service. 

The company previously offered a 30-day money-back guarantee, but we did not find that offer recently. Although GPSTrackit does not offer a free trial, it does provide users with a free demo which can be accessed by getting in touch with a sales representative- or Fleet Advisor, as the company prefers to call them. 

The basic plan includes live vehicle tracking, time and driver management, asset protection and management, maintenance planning and alerts, as well as free hardware and training. 

There are additional features available, such as video telematics, which include video footage, asset tracking, ELD compliance, and more. These features can be purchased separately with different plans. The company also offers custom solutions based on specific requirements, but contact is needed to get pricing on any of these features.

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GPSTrackit: Features

GPSTrackit offers a sturdy tracking solution at a reasonable price. The fact that the company provides its services at an affordable cost does not mean that it sacrifices quality. Although GPSTrackit's prices are significantly lower than those of other companies, its telematics solutions are comparable to those offered by premium-priced products.

The cloud-based software from GPSTrackit automates the creation of optimum routes, making it easier and taking less time to schedule and map out vehicles. Businesses may significantly reduce the number of miles that fleet drivers travel, reduce idle times, service more customers faster, and even reduce vehicle wear and tear with the use of the system's insights. 

Some of the features of the software are:

Route Planning & Tracking: Route planning based on data helps to minimize costs while keeping all stakeholders informed of daily routes, route status, and more.

Driver Communication Portal: This allows for two-way communication between drivers and administrators, while also keeping the mobile workforce connected at all times. Real-time communication helps to provide route updates, changes, delays, job site updates, and other important information.

Form Creation & Data Collection: Customized forms can help reduce paperwork and allow workers to submit data electronically. This is because customized forms can be designed to collect only the data that is needed, and they can be made available online so that workers can submit them from anywhere.

Mobile apps: The company has native mobile applications for Android and iOS in addition to its cloud-based software, allowing fleet management on the go.

(Image credit: GPSTrackit)

GPSTrackit's software integrates Google Maps for precise vehicle tracking. It is ideal for both large and small fleets, as it has a lower upfront cost, flexible customization options, and no contract. The integrated fuel tracking feature allows administrators to track fuel expenses using fuel cards.

The software updates the vehicle's location every 30 or 60 seconds, depending on the plan you have chosen, and also sends alerts based on incidents such as speeding, harsh braking, geofencing breach, and unauthorized use.

The system also offers a variety of reports, including driver scorecards that track speed, reports that identify speed patterns, fuel usage, distance traveled, real-time temperature, and more. Additionally, users can customize reports and have them automatically delivered to their preferred inbox based on preset triggers.

While GPSTrackit offers a cost-effective basic package, businesses needing ELD compliance solutions must choose a separate plan that allows drivers to digitize their Hours of Service (HoS) reporting. The company has a separate mobile app for drivers who need ELD compliance to file their reports on the go.

(Image credit: GPSTrackit)

GPSTrackit: Support

While many other companies take the DIY approach to support by offering an online knowledgebase or tutorial videos, GPSTrackit offers unlimited training- for no additional cost. Although online video guides are also available, live training takes the customer support experience to a whole new level. There is also self help in the form of ebooks and guides, webinars, a blog, and a searchable knowledge base.

For direct assistance, phone and email support are available on a 24/7 basis. A dedicated sales team is also available between 8am and 5pm ET on weekdays.

GPSTrackit: Final verdict

GPSTrackit is one of the few companies that offers low-cost GPS tracking solutions without sacrificing quality. The feature-rich reports prepared with the vast amount of vehicular and route data collected by the software provide businesses with a wealth of insights as they are needed.

The number of positive reviews on various user business review websites suggests that customers are happy with the service, and especially with the 24/7 support offered. We also like the number of self help resources available, and the numerous software features available, although we wish that the pricing was more upfront. At any rate, consider calling for the custom quote as this is one of the better options available.

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