Waypoints - August 4, 2007

Quick links from the past week...

GPS Hardware

• Another GPS that includes Zagat restaurant ratings has been announced. Garmin, when will we get this from you?
• Looks like we'll see a TomTom GO 920 in the not too distant future.
• 20 questions for Dash Navigation. Via Digg.
  
• The Washington Post compares the Garmin nuvi 680, Magellan Maestro 4050 and LG LN740. Garmin wins.

  

GPS software and firmware

• Garmin has released firmware upgrades for the Legend HCx and Vista HCx, and new Arabic firmware for the nuvi 310.
• How to display USGS landmarks in USAPhotoMaps.
  
• CNet wants to know what you use for geotagging. Via BlinkGeo.
• Audio driving tours for your nuvi.
• A Java-based GPS route converter.

Cell phone GPS

• Google issues cease and desist to creator of MobileGMaps. Commentary.
• Verizon disables GPS on the BlackBerry 8830. Via Digg.
• Your Navigator will be U.S. Cellular's navigation solution, powered by Networks in Motion.
  
• Cell phone navigation marketing BS. All systems have a downside, including cell phone navigation.
• Even SiRF thinks that navigation won't be the cell phone GPS killer app.

Garmin Map Update 2008

• Step-by-step instructions on installing the 2008 Garmin Map Update.
• Which units qualify for a free upgrade (if purchased after May 1, 2007).

GPS and Macs

• Garmin City Navigator 2008 updates are Mac compatible.
• An overview of GPS and Macs.
• Garmin releases a beta MapInstall and MapManager for Mac. More here.
  
• Garmin has released a new version of its Communicator Plugin for Macs.

Contests

• Win a TomTom ONE.
• Tele Atlas runs a "maps in apps" contest. Via BlinkGeo.

GPS in the news

• Rent a GPS-tracked dog.
  
• Nissan wants GPS in 20% of Beijing's 3 million cars in the next year. Wow!
  
• GPS saves gas and time. Via Digg.

Cartography

• A great cartography resource -- the Shaded Relief website. Via Free Geography Tools.
• Another cartography tool -- Nautical map symbols.

NAVTEQ

• There's lots of speculation on the future of NAVTEQ. Here's a good background article that delves into the company's history.
• And now for the speculation. Via All Points Blog.
• NAVTEQ now offers map coverage of Southern Africa.

The business of GPS

• Tele Atlas develops a global map.
• SiRF strikes a deal with Intel.
• Garmin expands their efforts to attain continental hegemony (of their distributors anyway).

Traffic

• XM NavTraffic adds 29 new markets.
• Real-time traffic comes to Australia.

Virtual globes

• Google Maps now gives time in traffic estimates.
• PC World has a slide show on the strangest sites in Google Earth. Via Google Maps Mania.
• An in-depth article on the GeoWeb. Via Slashgeo.
• New satellite imagery in Google Maps.
• I may have covered this mashup before but it's worth mentioning again. Fast rendering of topos is a big plus.
  
• Assign a specific camera angle and altitude to a placemark in Google Earth.

Updated GPS reviews

• Garmin eTrex Vista HCx review - The first consumer-authored review at CNet has been posted. I've also linked to a German and English language review.
• Garmin nuvi 250W review - CNet UK has given this unit a 7.5 (very good) rating.
• Garmin Rino 530HCx review - I've linked to a mini-review at Groundspeak.
• Garmin StreetPilot c320 review - Brad Ward posts on this unit following a full year of experience with it.
• Garmin StreetPilot c330 review - Another "oldie but goodie" review.
• Mio DigiWalker C520 review - I've linked to a Mio forum at yourNAV.com.
• TomTom GO 720 review - No sooner did I post my review than these turned up -- GPSreview.net, yourNAV and a review in French that has lots of screen shots and video.
• TomTom ONE XL review - CNet gives a 6.7 out of 10 rating in their review. Also, BrothersOnTech has posted a series of video reviews.

All the news that doesn't fit

• Satellite imagery shows Hans Island may not belong to Canada. Via BlinkGeo.
  
• An interesting reminder of how we first navigated by latitude and longitude.

Comments

[James]

Thanks for sharing that review of the TomTom 720 - I agree the Map Share looks like an amazing new feature for GPS devices and a significant improvement. It will be interesting to see how its received by consumers and how they like the ability to update their maps themselves and share them. I like the TomTom ONE I've been using a lot so this looks really good to me.