Waypoints – September 30, 2006

Holy cow, I go ten days without posting my Waypoints summary and look what happens! Anyway, there is lots of news in this edition, especially on the hardware front, so lets get to it:

GPS Hardware

• Dash Navigation aims to, among other things, network GPS devices, so that real-time traffic data is coming from other drivers.
• CNet ranks their four top GPS receivers — the Garmin nuvi 350, TomTom One, Garmin StreetPilot c550 and Navman iCN 750.
• Got a crappy TomTom: GO x10 mount? Trade it in.
• Do text messaging on, and import MP3 playlists to, your nuvi 360.
• Rand McNally is another new entrant in the increasingly crowded GPS marketplace.
• The Delphi NAV200 is their first entry in the PND GPS market.
• Navman has also announced new devices, the N40i and N60i.
• Is a small TomTom GPS on the way?
• Looking for a more robust (though bulky) GPS solution? You might want to check out this ruggedized UMPC with GPS.
• Here’s a review of the HP iPAQ rx5900, and here is news on the rx5915.
• Umm, when did they start awarding GPS titles like "Sexiest GPS alive?" And "alive?" Oh well, I guess us geeks are hip now!
• And as if the roads weren’t already crowded enough with GPS manufacturers (sorry, couldn’t resist), it appears that ViaMichelin devices may be headed for the U.S.
• Win a Pioneer AVIC-D2 from Popgadget.
• Got your own plane? Me neither. But hey, if you do, you might want to enter this contest to win a
  Garmin GPSMap 496.
• In conjunction with Atmel, Magellan is introducing a new GPS chipset. No word yet on when or where these will show up.

GPS Software

• GPS Magazine says that NAVTEQ provides better data than Tele Atlas, at least in the U.S. I’m inclined to agree.
• I see a number of location-based services applications, but don’t recall one like this — designed to remind you of things based on your location.
• TopoFusion’s newest beta versions are beginning to incorporate some GIS features.
• If you don’t know about the Garmin WebUpdater, here’s the low-down.
• Signs of the growing sophistication of GPS map data.
• Open source GPS navigation anyone?
• Here’s a website accumulating lists of open-source and free GIS solutions.
• And here’s a Route 66 review from down under.

GPS in the news

• It’s old news that thieves are stealing GPS devices from cars, but this is new…
• Police losing a GPS-equipped  "bait car".
• Solar flares can play havoc with GPS.

GPS and GIS data

• More U.S. hiking trails for Google Earth. Via Google Earth Blog.
• And here is a source of Canadian trails on Google Maps.
• The Map Room links to a conservation maps and GIS resource.
• European speed camera POIs.

Just maps

• Help save Canadian paper topo maps.
• Ten thousand digital maps.

GPS for athletic training

• Another cell phone / GPS / training system.
• Garmin showcases the virtual partner feature on their Edge and Forerunner series.
• And here is another product – Running Log software.
• A quick review of several running gadgets.

Geocoding photos

• Another photo geocoding tool.
• And another geocoding solution.
• Here’s one for Macs and Google Earth.
• One of the most popular solutions, RoboGEO, is now up to version 5.0. Via Google Earth Blog.

Goooogled

• Find your bank with Google Maps.
• Or find a job.
• Brazilian street maps are available on Google Maps now.
• Can Google Earth foment revolution?