Odds and ends from the past week or so.
GPS Hardware
- Apple may be making a GPS for Mercedes.
- Increased vertical accuracy in GPS receivers may allow your unit to know which level of a stacked freeway interchange you are on.
- Garmin has posted a Rino mini-site ahead of the launch of their Rino HCx line.
- Broadcom has agreed to acquire GPS chipset manufacturer Global Locate.
- A 44 channel chipset.
GPS maps, software, firmware and data
- City Navigator 2008 has reportedly started shipping, but don't expect the free update you may have gotten in the past. More on Garmin policy changes here.
- Garmin has posted new firmware updates for the eTrex, Camo and Summit, and for the nuvi 660.
- NAVTEQ has released a new world map, and maps of Turkey, India and key eastern and central European countries including Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary and Slovenia.
- TeleAtlas has announced places2protect.
GPS in the news
- GPS shock collars for cows. Hmm, I hope position accuracy improves by then or those cows are going to be hard to train and really stressed out!
- Australia looks to GPS to reduce speeding.
GPS for golfers
- Send GolfTraxx a .kml course map and they will send you the course of your choice for free.
- Scripps News looks at GPS golf applications.
- More on GPS for golfers.
The business of GPS
- GPS Business News thinks TomTom's Map Share may be bad news for map providers.
- 20% of Europeans use GPS, placing them significantly ahead of U.S. consumers.
GPS and cell phones
- PNDs trump cell phone navigation.
- A moderately positive review of Trimble's AllSport GPS application.
- The newest version of TeleNav GPS Navigator offers social networking, gas prices and reviews.
- How to pair a Bluetooth GPS receiver with your BlackBerry. Via Digg.
- Why cell phone navigation is slow to take off in Europe (registration required).
- MobileTracker for Blackberry phones has been updated to version 1.2.0. Via Digg.
Virtual globes
- Bungee connects your GPS to any version of Google Earth while GEtrax lets you plot track data on Google Earth. Via Allory.
- Getting your photo removed from Street View.
- Use Google Earth to track the countries, states and counties you have visited. Or you can show visited countries or states here, without Google Earth.
- The most recent Google Earth imagery update is now available on Google Maps.
- Here is a Google Maps-based package tracker capable of tracking UPS, USPS, FedEx, and Airborne/DHL. It will even generate a personalized RSS feed. Via Navx.
- Searching for user-generated content in Google Earth.
- Can Google Earth save the Amazon?
- Second Earth, a story about virtual globes and virtual worlds. Via Google Earth Blog.
Updated GPS reviews
- Garmin Edge 305 review - Here's a UK-based mountain biker's perspective on the 305.
- Garmin eTrex Legend Cx review - Hike Alberta has published a Legend Cx review.
- Garmin Forerunner 205 review - Offcamber.com reviews this popular unit.
- Garmin nuvi 200 review - The GPS Guy gives the nuvi 200 a 4.6 out 5.0 rating.
- Garmin nuvi 250 review - The first consumer-authored Garmin nuvi 250 review
has been posted at Amazon.
- Garmin nuvi 350 review - This review gives the ever-popular nuvi 350 a near-perfect 4.9 out of 5.0 rating.
- Garmin StreetPilot c330 review - The GPS Guy rates this unit at 4.5 out of 5.0.
- Garmin StreetPilot c580 review - GPSInformation.net does their typically thorough job of a review.
- Magellan Maestro 3100 review - CNet reviews this unit, giving it a 6.0 out of 10 rating.
- Magellan Maestro 4050 review - The first consumer-authored Magellan Maestro 4050 review
has been posted at Amazon.
- TomTom ONE XL review - GPS Lodge has posted a full review. SiliconRepublic has posted a review as well.
All the news that doesn't fit
- The problem with vanity addresses and GPS.
- A neat (non-GPS) map of subglacial Antarctica.
- GPS will ultimately play a bigger role in commercial air travel. More here.
Hey Rich. Just wanted to say thanks for the links. Glad you liked my reviews. Please feel free to quote any of my reviews on your blog (so long as you tag them as coming from my page, of course ;P). I've placed a backlink on my site to your nuvi 350 page. Keep up the good work!
-Bill
thegpsguy.info
Posted by: TheGPSGuy | June 20, 2007 at 07:51 AM
Bill,
You're welcome! Keep up the good work. And thanks for the backlink.
Posted by: Rich Owings | June 20, 2007 at 06:23 PM