Waypoints – April 15, 2006

My "waypoints" series has become a weekly feature at this point. It started out as a way to capture bits and pieces that didn’t warrant a full post. I’m noticing though, that this is the place I tend to post items related to certain themes — primarily GPS and cellphones, Google Earth and Google Maps. To a lesser extent, the same is true for GPS tracking and location based services. Enough introspection — on with the show:

Cellphones and GPS

• Memory-Map has released Pocket Navigator for Smartphone, with live weather radar. Via GpsPasSion.
• Have an older parent you’d like to be able to locate if necessary? They’re not tech-savvy enough to use a normal cellphone? The Twig Discovery could be the answer.
• MobileMag reports that the U.S. may soon see the E-Ten G500 Smartphone, which carries the SiRFstar III chipset.
• John Kass of the Chicago Tribune explores the issues associated with tracking your kids with a GPS cellphone.
• Fun in Vegas at the Luxor with location based services.
• Here’s a review of Verizon’s VZ Navigator.

Aerial photos and satellite imagery

• Kathryn Cramer theorizes about using satellite photos as a peace tool. Via Ogle Earth.
• Zillow adds Pictometry’s oblique (aka birds-eye) imagery to its real estate site. Via All Points Blog.

Google Maps

• Here’s a new mashup that gives you local news and traffic, by zip code. Interestingly enough the mashup uses Google Maps and Google RSS news feeds, but Yahoo! Geocoding and Yahoo! Traffic. Via Google Maps Mania.
• Google Maps is now displaying an overview pane.

Leftovers

• A new satellite system will use GPS to track hurricanes and climate change. It will do this by measuring the extent to which GPS signals are "bent" as they pass through the atmosphere.
• CBSNews.com has posted a story and video on geocaching.

Technorati tags: GPS