Navx

How to handle with all these new My Maps mashups ?

We have already talked about the new feature of Google Maps called My Maps, here. The release of this mashup which allows users to easily create a Google Maps mashup was a huge event for Google Maps mashup ecosystem. Since the number of new mashups has increased, here is a new site which is helping to create a way to add, find and vote on the best new My Maps mashups. So check what maps mashups have the most number of votes on Ongopongo.com. If you've created a Google My Map, you can also add it to this site.

And what's the way for My Maps to be embedded into a blog or website ? A new site called mymapsplus.com : you can get the embeddable code for websites and put your maps into any blog or website. And the cool thing is, when you generate the code you can opt to share your map with other users and let mymapsplus link to your page where you embed the map. Have fun ! (You can see googlemapsmania for more info)

ps. A picture we like on mymapsplus.com :-)

technorati tags: Google Maps My Maps mashup blog

Nokia N95 pics

We have already talked about Nokia N95, here.   It's an all-in-one multimedia computer with integrated GPS functionality, including maps for more than 100 countries, enabling users to explore the world, find specific routes or locate services such as restaurants and hotels and covering more than 15 million points of interest. Gizmodo has some nice and GPS related pics. Have a look here :

technorati tags: Nokia N95 GPS Mobile Phone

Nokia N95 in Europe

Nokia N95 is finally going to hit the European market ! Introduced last year, the N95 is an all-in-one multimedia computer with integrated GPS functionality, a 5 megapixel camera and support for high-speed mobile networks. The Maps application includes maps for more than 100 countries, enabling users to explore the world, find specific routes or locate services such as restaurants and hotels and covering more than 15 million points of interest. It's also possible to purchase additional features, such as city guides and voice guided navigation. Interested ? The N95 will be available for 799 €. Click here for more info.

technorati tags: Nokia N95 smartphone GPS mobile

GPS + SIM card: first products released

It's been a year or so that we expect the market to move in the direction of communicating GPS. The first official product is the TomTom 715. It is basically a 710 with a GPRS modem and a Data SIM card included.  TomTom targets professionals in need of a fleet management solution: tracking a sales force or delivery trucks.

The TomTom 715 costs 649€ and comes with a Vodafone subscription: 19,90€/month for Germany only, 27€/month for West Europe and 37€/month for Europe. The subscription includes the TomTom Work Webfleet software, allowing you to track your people, send them information and have them report on deliveries, late arrival, etc.

TomTom is not the only company launching a communicating device: Garmin is planning to launch its own solution in a month, combined with its GPS Buddy software for fleet management.

Ok... this is just the beginning. We should soon see solutions addressing the mass market, with cheap subscriptions and cool community apps.

GPSPrevent G200

GPSPrevent (a french company) released a GPS integrated radar detector device, the G200.  The G200 warns drivers about fixed and mobile radars, also danger zones for France and Europe. It tells you the distance  as well as the type of the radar based on its frequency. You can choose a female or male voice for vocal alarms :  The update of the radars is free and unlimited. The G200 will cost 130€.  More info here and here.

technorati tags: GPS navigation radar detector GPSPrevent

You can download Nokia Maps free "Smart2go" service

Nokia announced that they will make their mapping and navigation solution (Smart2go) available for free download from this saturday ! Smart2go is a freeware for your mobile phone for downloading maps and street plans, and also for saving your favourite spots to share them with your friends.

There will also be a companion PC application that allows you to install maps of specific areas to your phone: Maploader. This mean it will not be necessary to download maps over the air. You will be able to take the maps that you want with you. You can just select the region you want, download the maps, transfer them onto your memory card or mobile device and start exploring the world!

It's a really great news that the smart2go software is free. Well done Nokia! More info here, and here. But is it such a great news for companies selling off-board navigation applications, such as Jentro ? We are eager to discuss that with them at 3GSM next week.

technorati tags: Nokia Maploader Smart2go navigation

A GPS I-Pod ?

Here is the article : Research analyst Jesse Totora said to International Business Times that the next generation i-Pods will include GPS ! The addition of GPS functionality should position the iPod as the central hub for all digital content (music, movies, GPS) in automobiles ! The article goes on to say Internet capability seems to be a possibility too. Estimations and rumors besides, we have to wait and see : Can Apple have a significant market share with GPS or not ? What do you think I-pod fans ?

Source : GPSTracklog

Free GPS Navigation Software for mobile phone

LocatioNet Systems has launched amAze, a new free mobile mapping, navigation and local search solution for regular mass-market mobile phones. AmAze is a free GPS application that provides any regular, Java-enabled mobile phone with navigation information in Central and Western Europe and North America. Interested ? All features here. You can also log into the site to register and obtain a free copy of this mobile software or just see a demo of the application. It's an interesting first step, isn't it ?

Grab your Garmin, take on the world

Who is the first GPS manufacturer to advertise during the SuperBowl ? On February 4th, it will be Garmin who will air a 30-second commercial ! The buzz has already begun, everyone is talking about Super Bowl commercials.  Isn't it great for the popularity of GPS devices ? You can read more detail here and watch the crazy music video too, which will inspire the ad :

TomTom News

1° TomTom launched the free QuickGPSfix service for all TomTom ONE users ! This free service enables users to get an immediate connection between their TomTom and the GPS satellites: even if the GPS signal is weak, the position of the TomTom One is automatically "fixed" with QuickGPSfix. Users just need to install the QuickGPSfix by connecting their TomTom ONE to a computer running TomTom HOME  (TomTom’s free software application) and let QuickGPSfix predict the location of GPS satellites for seven days.  TomTom’s QuickGPSfix is compatible with TomTom GO 910, 710, 510 and now, with the entire TomTom ONE range.  More info here.

2° TomTom has admitted that "a small number" of  TomTom Go 910 were infected with a virus ! The models affected were produced in one week in the last quarter of 2006 with software version 6.51. The virus is qualified as "low risk" and does not affect the navigation performance of the TomTom GO 910; it just shows that a good GPS device can attract the attention of hackers :-) You can click here to learn how to detect the virus and what to do when it's found ! For more information, see the article of Cnet.