GPS Tracklog

U.S. Boating Charts on DVD

MapTech has a new marine product -- U.S. Boating Charts on DVD, which has over 3000 NOAA and river charts. The best part is the price -- only $50. That sounds like a pretty good deal to me. Updates are free. More information is contained in this U.S. Boating Charts press release.

Technorati tags: GPS

Waypoints - April 29, 2006

Hardware

• Talk about all-in-one. Here's a PDA that really does it all - GPS, cell phone, digital camera and Windows Mobile 5.0.
• Brunswick Corporation is selling their unit that manufactures GPS, which means that Navman is going on the block.
• A head-to-head comparison of Bones in Motion with the Garmin Forerunner 205.

Miscellaneous

• Appalachian Trail shelter waypoints in GPX and MXF format, along with other useful links.
• GPS Review makes a case for GPS resulting in safer driving and offers some tips to keep you focused on the road.
• The mainstream media still doesn't get the difference between GIS and GPS.
• Articles on the roadblocks to LBS acceptance in the U.S. and Europe.

Cool maps

• Gas prices mapped by U.S. counties. Feel the pain. Via Very Spatial.
• For our friends down under, a look at 400 years of maps of Oz.
• A mapping service that lets you input a zip code to view campaign contributions to the two major parties in the 2004 U.S. Presidential election, though it is currently down due to being Dugg. Via Very Spatial.

Geo-Google

• GEtrax opens OziExplorer and GPX files as KML files. It will also output Garmin track files to a KML file. Via Ogle Earth.
• How to easily convert a Google Maps URL to a KML file.
• Lots of improvements to Google Maps and Google Earth last week, covered here and here.

From Russia with love

• An article on GPS in Russia.
• Free Russian GIS maps.

Cellphones and GPS

• Dale DePriest defines A-GPS.
• An overview of cellphone GPS.

The military and GPS

• Janes provides some technical details and historical info on the GPS constellation.
• An article on the military's use of GPS to guide air-drops.

Technorati tags: GPS

SiRFstar III GPS for $50!

Now that I have your attention, there is of course a catch. You have to buy Microsoft MapPoint to get this deal. All Points Blog is reporting today that the MapPoint 2006 with GPS package includes a SiRFstar III receiver, for only $50 more than MapPoint without.

Technorati tags: GPS

Garmin GPSMAP 376C review

The Garmin GPSMAP 376C marine and vehicle chartplotter updates the 276C, adding XM satellite radio and weather capabilities. Though listed as a marine unit, this is actually a dual-purpose device that supports City Navigator maps and turn-by-turn routing.

The 376C comes with base maps; if you want detailed maps, you'll have to buy those separately. Garmin is currently updating the 376C with the GPSMAP 378 and 478, which have preloaded land and sea maps, and are expected to become available in late May 2006.

Amazon has this to say in their Garmin GPSMAP 376C review:

"The GPSMap 376c GPS offers everything you need for marine navigation in a single space-saving package, including satellite weather reception, GPS functionality, marine chartplotting, and a brilliant, sunlight-readable color TFT screen. The device centers its built-in marine basemap, which is expandable via separately sold data cards programmed with BlueChart or Fishing Hot Spots maps. BlueChart maps deliver exceptional offshore marine coverage that includes shaded depth contours, navigational aids, shoreline detail, and tons of points of interest. For inland boating and fishing, users can turn to the Fishing Hot Spots data cards, which detail U.S. recreational lakes via inland lake maps, profiles, marinas, fishing areas, and more. As an alternative, users can also purchase the optional automotive kit and take the GPSMap 376c on the open road..."

Here's what others have to say about the Garmin 376C:

7% of U.S. cars have GPS navigation

An article on Automotive Business Review Online stated the following figures today:

• 7% of cars in the U.S. have a navigation system.
• 13% of cars in Europe have one.

I knew Europe was ahead of the U.S., but I thought the spread was higher. Interesting numbers from a rapidly growing industry.

Technorati tags: GPS

Garmin GPSMAP 76CSx review

The Garmin GPSMAP 76CSx updates the Garmin GPSMAP 76CS with two major improvements. First, the 76CSx includes the  SiRFSTAR III chipset, which has been getting rave reviews for its fast acquisition time and awesome coverage under canopy, in urban canyons and even indoors! Second, the 76CSx no longer utilizes its built in memory for MapSource maps, but loads them to a microSD card instead (the unit comes with a 128 MB card). This means you have unlimited map storage capability, plus you can use some of the newer MapSource software like City Select Mexico.

What's around the corner for GPS-based marketing

This article from BrandWeek on GPS-based marketing, which is a form of location based services (LBS), caught my eye this morning. Among the interesting things in the article:

• In discussing TomTom's partnership with Dunkin' Donuts, they called TomTom "the trendy No. 2 manufacturer."
• Garmin is expected to expand their Savers Guide product to units other than just the nuvi.
• Such advertising is attractive because it is trackable. Consumers "will have to use membership cards to redeem the discounts."
• Magellan confirmed that they too are going after such LBS deals.

Could such services make GPS receivers an even more dangerous distraction? The industry seems to think so:

"Ross Rubin, director of industry analysis at NPD, sees "huge potential . . . to almost literally drive traffic to the point of transaction."

These devices and others could serve as a distraction, prompting the Consumer Electronics Assn. to launch its "Watch the Road" campaign next month."

The article goes on to discuss demographics:

"The demographics of GPS buyers is desirable. A third (34%) of buyers earned between $100,000 and $150,000 annually per a three-month NPD survey. Roughly 45% made $75,000 or more annually.

Maybe this will help explain why men don't ask for directions: 81% of GPS purchasers were male, of which 29% were ages 45-54 while 23% were ages 18-24. The younger buyers "make a lot of investment in vehicle technology. They want to soup up their cars," said Rubin."

Amazon sale on consumer electronics

Amazon is offering 5% off (up to $100) on consumer electronics purchases through May 8. To get this additional savings over their posted price, use the code SAVECEEVENTT. Details are here.

Win a Garmin 60CSx

Going to Florida this summer? Check out the Hidden Treasures of North Florida Geocaching Contest. Find all 13 caches before September 1 and you could win a Garmin GPSMAP 60CSx. Along the way, you'll get to tour 13 counties in North Florida and the Panhandle. Thanks to the official Garmin blog for this tidbit.

Technorati tags: GPS

Waypoints - April 22, 2006

There’s lots to cover this week, so let’s get right to it:

GPS Hardware

• Looks like my TomTom GO 910 review was well-timed. It appears that TomTom is now shipping the new unit in the U.S.
• Magellan has posted info on the Roadmate 860T. It is expected to be available in May. More information is available in the Magellan Roadmate 860T press release. Via GPS Review.
• Garmin’s blog discusses the Auto Multi Sport feature found on the Forerunner 205, 301 and 305.
• Engadget explores the trend towards all-in-one GPS devices.

GPS Software / resources

• I’ve added GPS-Tour.info to my list of online sources of waypoints and tracks. Via Google Earth Blog.
• An extensive list of GIS resources, via Ogle Earth.
• GPSInformation.net covers changes to G7toWin.
• GpsPasSion reports on GPSGate, which allows you to connect a single receiver to multiple applications simultaneously.

GPS in the news

• I think the Darwin Awards needs a GPS category.
• Minnesotans have the opportunity to participate in a GPS Amazing Family Race.
• GPS receivers are being used to help track down pets of Katrina victims.
• A report on a privacy group’s concerns over parents tracking their children with GPS. Via GPS Notes.
• Pocket Gamer speculates on the development of GPS-based games, which may be triggered by GPS-enabled Sony PSP devices.
• How about a GPS-enabled ATV wheelchair?
• Nielsen will use GPS to track exposure to outdoor advertising.

Geo-Google

• Google Maps Mania links to a U.S. campground map. Remember, you can convert Google Maps search results to GPS waypoints.
• Google Earth Blog links to Earthclimber, a Google Earth tool for exploring rock climbing destinations.
• Ogle Earth explores Iranian nuclear facilities via Google Earth and triggers a comment-fest in the process. Stefan goes on in his next post to explore  Google Earth myths and terrorism.
• Also from Ogle Earth, resources to check out global warming in Google Earth.
• Google Earth Blog carries info on new areas of high-resolution satellite and aerial imagery.
• Google Local or Google Maps? Looks like an identity crisis to me.
• Ogle Earth reports on a KML importer being included in the newest release of NASA World Wind.
• Google Earth Blog reports on a new search feature in Google Earth.

Technorati tags: GPS