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« June 2007 | Main | August 2007 »
According to GPSTracklog, Magellan may just have a new handheld on the way and it would be announced at the Outdoor Retailer show on 7-8 August. It's possible that they upgrade their eXplorist line, let's wait and see.
Takitwithme is a new service which allows you to transfer Google Maps data and KML files directly to Garmin devices, or download them as GPX files -using the recently announced Garmin Communicator API. You just have to copy a my Maps URL into the form and click ‘Load My Maps’ to get started.
We have already talked about geotagging digital photos, here.We can also add to these web sites a new software : PixGPS is a new photo Geotagging available for Microsoft Windows, a software that can calculate the exact location where you took your photos and store this in the photo file. You can also view the location of photos on maps, in Google Earth, or save the coordinates as a comma separated text file. All you need is a GPS Receiver with tracking capabilities. You turn on the GPS and put it in your camera bag or a pocket. When you take the photos you can download them and the GPS will track file to your computer. So PixGPS can read the track file and calculate the latitude/longitude for each photo: couple of minutes for hundreds of photos ! Cool, isnt'it ?
MainNav MH350 is a new GPS navigation system that offers a 3.5″ touch screen and several interface buttons to make the device as easy as possible. It uses a Samsung 2410 processor at 266MHz, and a SiRF Star III fold out GPS antenna in the back, right next to the integrated speakers.
MH350 has embedded 32MB Flash ROM and 64MB SDRAM but also offers SD/MMC card slot for maps and memory expansion. Click here for more info.
Asus is preparing a new P series smartphone running on Windows Mobile 6 Professional, and Marvel 520 MHz PXA27x processor with 256 MB ROM and 128 MB RAM.
The new device will run on GSM/GPRS/EDGE networks and HSDPA at 3.6 Mbps and will feature 801.11 b/g and Bluetooth. There’s an integrated SiRF Star III GPS receiver as well as an FM transmitter making the number of antennas on the device 5+. And don’t forget the 3.2MP auto focus digital camera.
If these device becomes true - with the mentioned specs - this seems to become an interesting because the UMTS/HSDPA and GPS combination is still rare.
TomTom announced that it has agreed to acquire Tele Atlas, the second largest mapping data provider behind NAVTEQ, for $2.77 billion: A surprising move and also very smart strategy for TomTom, whose entire GPS line-up is powered by Tele Atlas mapping data.
According to Harold Goddijn, the Chief Executive Officer of TomTom, the navigation industry is going to change dramatically in the next few years as end customers will give ever increasing importance to intelligent routing and continuously updated maps. By integrating customer feedback (streets, POIs, traffic) into the Tele Atlas map manufacturing process, TomTom can nicely integrate all the data in TeleAtlas data base. It will be also possible for TomTom to supply all companies improved maps for their PNDs, wireless handsets, in-car systems, internet services and in-house routing services.
So this acquisition makes a lot of sense: access to a great source of data for TomTom,and also access to the automotive market and customer feedback integrated on the mapshare applications of TeleAtlas. But what about the issues ? With Google rumored to be looking at NAVTEQ with bedroom eyes, does it mean that only Navteq remains independent (for the moment)? Is Google really planning to acquire NAVTEQ ? Other PND manufacturers won't accept to buy TeleAtlas data anymore ? Answers will be coming soon.
See the press release, and find more info here and there.
technorati tags: TomTom TeleAtlas GPS navigation maps
Spanish traffic authority (DGT) is studying a new law to fine drivers using their GPS navigation while their vehicle is in motion ! 1.3 million GPS navigation devices will be sold in Spain in 2007 and DGT wants the fine to be €300 as well as three points removed from the driving license. Interesting :)
The DGT also intends to contact GPS navigation manufacturers asking them to modify their software in order to prevent its use while the vehicle is in motion ! Good luck.
Inrix, the traffic flow information provider has announced the latest release of its Nationwide Average
Speeds (NAS) data. NAS is designed to improve the accuracy of fastest route calculations for navigation application providers and device manufacturers. GPS receivers calculate travel time on the basis of the posted speed limit. This
sort of historical speed data can discern patterns associated with time of day,
day of the week, holidays, etc. The new data set will be available next month.
So if you have a TMC traffic receiver, you could benefit from this very soon. According to GPS Lodge, INRIX is bundling data with TeleAtlas, and NAVTEQ is also acquiring historical average speed data.
Read more from the press release, here.
When you search a thing on google maps it's now possible to see also the user generated content : Red pins appear first, that's normal-they indicates google maps data and when you scroll down to the bottom of the list there is a link titled "See user generated content", results showed by blue pins and pulled from a variety of "geo web" sources. To see different exemples of how Geo Search can help, visit google maps mania.
Have you seen the GlobalSat GH-615 GPS fitness watch, it's a cool unit for hikers, runners, bikers or any athlete who wants to
incorporate GPS technology to record their
tracks.
The device uses a SiRF star III chip and is IPX7 water resistant. It can also allow the user to download saved data to a PC where it
can be saved into formats for use by a variety of third party programs such as
Google Earth. File formats include .CSV, .TXT and .KML.
More info on gpslodge.
