Navx

GPS for iPhone:this is real !

There have been many rumors for getting GPS functionality on the iPhone, some of them are fake, some of them with embedded A-GPS.

But this time we know that it's real because partfoundry designed a real GPS receiver chip that can send the data to Google Maps to get driving and directions and possibly allow for other location based services.

The code for the application will be open source allowing users and the chip will be shipping on february 2008.

See the video :

technorati tags: GPS iPhone navigation apple

Nokia LD-4W Bluetooth GPS Receiver

Nokia LD-4W has been officially released ! If you haven't met yet, you eventually will see that it's a Bluetooth GPS receiver whiwh allows GPS navigation on Bluetooth-enabled smart phones. It weighs 31 grams and lasts up to 10 hours on a single charge. LD-4W is available all around the world for about 125€. More info, here.

technorati tags: Nokia LD-4W Bluetooth GPS Receiver

Transfer Google Maps data to your GARMIN

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. 

technorati tags: Garmin TakeItWithMe Google My Maps Garmin Communicator API

INRIX announces updated traffic speed data

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.

technorati tags: Inrix TeleAtlas Navteq TMC traffic receiver

TeleNav version 5.2 on your mobile phone

TeleNav announced today the 5.2 version of their cell-phone based GPS navigation product, TeleNav. We have already known TeleNav version 5, allowing your cell phone to turn into a fully functioning GPS device with voice guidance. Now the 5.2 version has different updates like traffic, pedestrian mode and a new user interface, designed by the industrial design firm Frog Design. Interesting GPS-related features are also included : The ability to send your current location to other TeleNav users,  to share addresses of favorite businesses (restaurants, hotels or movie theaters)and to send information on local gas stations with the cheapest prices for that day. Find more info on the company's homepage , and the press release.

technorati tags: GPS TeleNav navigation

Mappy Mini

The French Mappy is about to launch its second GPS after Mappy Iti ? This new product is called Mappy Mini but it hasn't been officially announced yet. According to Fnac, “Mappy Mini” should be equipped with a 300 MHz processor, 64 Mo memory and a 3,5 inches touch screen. Not a spectacular product but  can allow Mappy to be present in GPS market..We don't know yet if Mappy Mini will be released or not. More info here, on Mobinaute.

technorati tags: Mappy GPS Fnac 

Flickr

Flickr has about 20 millions geo-tagged photos in its database, meaning millions of tags attached to millions of GPS coordinates. That's a lot, and there is certainly a way to build useful services on top of that.

For instance, Geocodr is a mash-up using Flickr's API to identify the possible location of  anything. Type "Eiffel tower" in the entry box, and you get the exact location of the famous French monument. Type "Celine Dion",  and you get Las Vegas.

But Yahoo! is taking it seriously with it's prototype : Zurfer. It's a mobile location-based photo browser. With Zurfer, you will access your Flickr pictures and browse the entire database of pictures taken around your current location. You therefore access user-generated geolocalized content from your phone.

Psst ! Here I am, 2 miles west of your position

We have already talked about Garmin Rino here, and  today it's on New York Times : Any satellite mapping system can tell you where you are. But a Garmin Rino can also tell other Rino users where you are ! Click here to read the article.

technorati tags: Garmin Rino New York Times

Social jogging, thanks to GPS

You prefer jogging with a partner than jogging alone -but you can't  find someone nearby who runs at the same place ? Jogging Over Distance just might be the answer to your prayers. The system makes it possible to jog with the perfect partner even if the person lives in another city. How ? By using mobile phone and GPS technology to transform a phone conversation into a 3D audio experience : While you run, you can hear your partner's voice coming from the front, to the side, or behind, depending on how fast or slow he or she is running.

Technical details ?

• As the person runs, the GPS data is collected and transmitted wirelessly to the miniature computer, which the jogger wears in a close-fitting backpack.
• An algorithm on the computer determines how fast each person is running in relation to his or her partner and calculates a sound position. It uses the value of the sound position to change the audio each jogger hears.
• As one jogger speaks, the partner hears the voice as coming from the front (if the partner is jogging faster), from the side (if they're running at the same pace), or from behind (if they're moving slower).

Cool isn't it, the social jogging ?  Hearing other people as you're exercising is a very good motivation:  Wireless technology means you never have to run alone again :-)

technorati tags: jogging GPS wireless 

GPS HUD Speed Meter

GPS HUD Site Meter is not a product released yesterday but we talk about it for people who haven't heard about this new technology in consumer electronics market : It's actually a GPS based system which projects your speed and direction on your windshield so you don’t have look down to read your dashboard. This Bluetooth-enabled device which also enables handsfree communications with your BT-equipped cellphone is manufactured by a company called GlobalTop  and it costs about 75€).
Click here to see the live pics, here for details.

technorati tags: Speed Metter consumer electronics market GPS