Waypoints – October 29, 2006

Shorts from the past week…

POI’s

I am amazed how much information is out there on custom POIs. I’ve added these to my custom POI resources page:

• Here’s an article that tells how to create POIs using POIEditor.com (supports TomTom .ov2, Navman/Garmin .csv and ascii files).
• Three ways to make custom POI icons for Garmin receivers.
• GPSInformation.net has a forum on how to create custom POI’s using Garmin’s POI loader.
• GPSInformation.net also has a forum on POI collections.

Updated GPS reviews

• Garmin Forerunner 305 review – A Forerunner 305 review has been posted at GPSInformation.org has posted their .
• Garmin nuvi 660 review – A nuvi 660 review has also been posted at GPSInformation.info, and another posted on One Man’s Blog.
• Garmin StreetPilot 2820 review – A Garmin 2820 review has been posted at GPSInformation.org.
• Magellan RoadMate 800 review – A Magellan 800 review has been posted at Mac’s Facts.
• Magellan RoadMate 2000 review – A Magellan 2000 review has been posted by PC Magazine.
• Magellan RoadMate 2200T review – The first reader review of a RoadMate 2200T has been posted at Amazon.
• Magellan RoadMate 3050T review – A Magellan RoadMate 3050T review has been posted at PocketLint.
• Magellan RoadMate 6000T review – A Magellan RoadMate 6000T review has also been posted at PocketLint.
• TomTom GO 910 review – A TomTom 910 review has been posted at Motor Authority.

Hardware

• CNet compares six GPS devices, and we’ve reviewed the top four (Garmin StreetPilot i3, Magellan Roadmate 2200T, TomTom ONE, Lowrance iWay 350C).
• Wouldn’t it be cool to be able to give voice commands to your GPS? Well, you better live in Europe and have loads of cash.
• Here is a review of a couple of mouse type GPS receivers for Laptops. Via Digg.
• As part of an effort to drive down the cost of GPS receivers, manufacturers are likely to turn to non-SiRF chipsets. Looks like mass-adoption could lead to crappy receivers. Related post: What makes SiRFstar III so good?
• There’s a new lower-end (for Sony anyway) GPS receiver about to hit the market — the Sony NV-U51. An interesting new feature is finger gestures.
• It looks like Nokia will enter the GPS PND market.

Cell phones and GPS

• TomTom is partnering with Vodafone to provide more accurate estimates of travel time.
• How about a ruggedised BlackBerry?
• Cingular is coming out with a TeleNav based GPS navigation solution.
• Spot is a mapping solution for Blackberrys.
• GPS cell phones save a life. Don’t count on it though.

Maps, data, software

• These topo maps of Poland date back to 1919 to 1939. And while other things may have changed, little will have changed in terms of contour lines.
• Here is a KML to GPX converter.
• Geoladders allows you to download GPS data for mountain biking, primarily in Southern California.
• Talk about niche. Here is a marine – Mac – laptop shareware program.
• This appears to be a source of European maps for Mio devices.
• Inrix, provider of TMC traffic feeds, will begin offering dynamic fuel price information. That doesn’t necessarily mean your GPS manufacturer will buy in though.
• Magnalox provides a way to integrate YouTube videos into GPS track display. Via Digg.

All the new that doesn’t fit

• Custom Garmin vehicle icons for your Garmin.
• In case you get lost with or without your GPS, here are some survival tips. Via Digg.