Calgary-based BlacklineGPS might describe the EntouragePS as a "vehicle security and GPS locator system," but it would be simpler to just call it a bug; the sort of thing cops and spies use to track cars in the movies.
A small black device about the size and shape of a slightly squished piece of bread, the EntouragePS is designed to be placed in your vehicle-preferably in a spot no one will look, like under a seat. Then just press the power button and you'll be able to track your car's movement online from any web-connected PC or your Blackberry (an iPhone app is due later this month).
When you log into the company's website you'll see a Google map that populates with little orange dots as your car moves about. Each of these dots represents what is essentially a phone call made to the device to collect data (the EntouragePS uses a sophisticated new technology that integrates cellular and GPS systems). Hover your mouse pointer over one of these little spots and you'll be able to see the car's heading, speed, altitude, precise co-ordinates, and the exact moment it was there. Each dot has a corresponding entry in a log of events below the map, which users can sort in any number of ways.
Aside from the power switch, the only other button on the device is "arm." Press it before you leave your car (or activate it remotely from the web app) and the EntouragePS will be primed to let you know if someone tries to pilfer your ride. A motion sensor will detect if a thief enters the car, creating a perimeter breach alert, and the GPS locator will take notice if your car changes position. Both result in alerts in the online application. If you have an e-mail address and cell phone attached to your account, you'll also be shot an e-mail and a text message, ensuring you're instantly aware of the theft.
Plus, your car's location will continue to be tracked, meaning that you can find the hapless villain who stole it (and thinks he's gotten away scot-free) and pass that information on to the police. Unless you're Jason Statham, in which case you can just deal with the carjacker yourself.
It all works as advertised. After charging it (the battery packs a seven day punch), placing it under the dash of our family car, and switching it on, I watched on my laptop at home one afternoon as my wife drove around town, her location popping up on the map at regular intervals. I switched between continuous tracking, which reports location every few seconds, and intervals of 10 and 30 minutes. I knew where she was, how fast she was driving, and when her car was safely parked. It was surprisingly comforting.
On the subject of peace of mind, a secondary application for the Entourage PS is child safety. Since it weighs only 120 grams, there's nothing stopping you from slipping it into children's backpacks so that you always know where they are (or at least where their bags are). It could literally be a lifesaver should the unthinkable ever occur.
And, if your kids are of driving age, the device will let you know when they borrow the car, whether they're obeying speed limits, and where they go. In fact, should you choose to upgrade to the EntourageCIS-a similar sort of device but one which is permanently installed in your car-each driver is provided a key fob that allows the system to identify who's behind the wheel. At the end of the month the web app generates a report card, letting you know who drove how much, how fast, and whether they obeyed custom-set curfews. Admittedly, it's a bit big brother-ish, but there are certainly some teens who could do with extra supervision when it comes to their driving habits and extracurricular activities.
Clearly, this sort of technology has uses outside of the consumer space as well. In fact, a Blackline representative told me that the California police were using data obtained from an EntouragePS as evidence in a murder trial that began last week. It allowed the police to place a suspect at the scene of the crime. He also said that the same technology in a different form is used by Red Cross workers to alert their colleagues of their location in an emergency.
The message here is that you needn't worry about quality; the EntouragePS is professional grade gear.
Prospective buyers should know, though, that there are still a few small quirks.
For example, I checked the web app after my car was parked in an underground garage for several hours and found a mob of orange dots that made it look as though it had been moving around adjacent blocks. I chalked it up to a weak signal caused by satellite obstruction, but it freaked me out a little until I actually laid eyes on my car again.
Plus, I'd have appreciated a manual. It ships with a simple and concise quickstart guide, but this small brochure didn't answer all of my questions. I wanted to know precisely when and how the motion sensor worked, the reason why one would choose to track location at longer intervals as opposed to shorter, and the difference between the security statuses "Motion," "Perimeter Breach," and "Alert," but this information isn't provided. The web site offers a link to a user manual, but it was broken the entire week of my review.
Still, these are minor issues that don't outweigh the device's safety benefits. Indeed, now that I've spent a week becoming used to the added level of security, it will be hard to go back to not being able to check my phone to know where my car-or my kid-is.
The EntouragePS is available through the company's online store for $349.95, plus an annual subscription fee of $179.95. It can also be found at brick and mortar retailers, including The Source by Circuit City and FutureShop.