Waypoints – February 25, 2007

All the news that didn’t fit, from the past week…

GPS in the news

• The sign says, don’t follow your GPS!
• Remember to clear your track after carrying out an assassination.
• 3-D GPS is coming. Despite the claims, I’d be surprised to see it anytime soon.
• Triangler – A new GPS game. Via Digg.
• GPS tourism for the blind.
• Next generation GPS satellites are being contracted for, this spring.

TomTom news

• Rumors about new TomToms are flying ahead of CeBIT. Oh, and in case you are wondering about the acronyms in these articles, here are some resources to help — Wikipedia pages on SIM and MVNO.
• Play video on your TomTom.

GPS software, firmware, maps, etc.

• TomTom has released a set of free POIs. Find more at our POI resource page.
• Of course, some folks think we’ll pay for POIs ala carte.
• Free GeoTools looks at software for simplifying GPS tracks. TopoFusion is another great tool for this.
• Here’s another post on geocoding photos. Via Using Google Earth.
• NAVTEQ has launched Map Reporter, allowing consumers to report mapping errors. There’s an ongoing discussion at GpsPasSion.
• Soviet maps of the UK.
• Do you know Baghdad? Help OpenStreetMap map it. Via Digg.
• Garmin has released a slew of StreetPilot firmware updates — the 2720, 2730, 2820, 7200 and 7500.
• And don’t forget the daylight savings time patches for the IQue M3, M4 and M5.
• More firmware updates — the zumo 550, Garmin Mobile XT and Lowrance iWAY 250C.
• From the updated maps department — City Navigator Europe V9 and BlueChart AMR version 9 have been released.
• As always, thanks to Allory for keeping us posted on map and firmware releases.

GPS hardware

• A GPS-enabled red light / speed camera warning device. Via Digg.
• Or just get a GPS speedometer.
• Rent a car in Canada and get a Garmin.
• Got a plane? Win a Lowrance 600C.
• GolfBuddy is another GPS system for the links. Check this post for more GPS for golfers.

Location based services (LBS)

• GeoCarta highlights a survey on privacy concerns and location-based services (LBS).
• Would LBS be adopted more quickly if carriers promoted them more?
• Speaking of LBS, Garmin and the Mayo Clinic have a new LBS partnership.

Macs and GPS

• TrailRunner is route planning software for Mac OS X with iPod compatibility.  Via AnyGeo.
• Ascent is another Mac application that allows import and export of GPX files. Via The Map Room.

GPS and cell phones

• Here’s a brief review of Verizon’s VZ Navigator service.
   
• Cell phone GPS a danger to the PND market? I doubt it — tiny screen, crappy speaker, and no touch screen (yet anyway — where’s that iPhone?).
• A GPS-centric review of the BlackBerry 8800. Via Digg.
• And here’s a GPS-enabled apartment finding service on Sprint. Via Digg.

Virtual globes

• FedEx is testing a pilot project for tracking valuable packages via Google Earth. The twist is, they aren’t just looking at location, but temperature, humidity and more.
• Just for fun…mazes on Google Earth.
• There’s a book out on Yahoo! Maps Mashups. Via The Map Room.

GPS reviews

Finally, readers who have used our GPS reviews
when they are shopping know that I try to be as thorough as possible,
linking to every review I can find. There’s a huge crop of updated
reviews this week, which is great. I love seeing other perspectives on
these devices.

• Garmin Edge 305 review – RoadBikeRider.com has reviewed the 305HR.
• Garmin GPSMAP 60Cx – BusinessWeek gives a 4.5 out of 5 star rating.
• Garmin nuvi 660 review – Ubergizmo’s write up includes a video review.
• Magellan CrossoverGPS review – I’ve been surprised that there haven’t been reviews of this unit other than ours. Now GPSMagazine has added one, dubbing it "versatile."
• Magellan RoadMate 2200T review – TechTaxi has posted a review.
• TomTom ONE review – I’ve linked to a piece at GpsPasSion that looks at the TomTom ONE version 3 model with the GlobalLocate chipset. BayReviews has another TomTom ONE review, giving it a perfect 5 out of 5 star rating.
• TomTom reviews – I’ve linked to a TomTom comparison tool. I’ve also added this link to my GPS comparison tools post.