Waypoints – March 18, 2007

Odds and ends from the past week…

GPS in the news

• An Alzheimer’s GPS bracelet may be coming to the U.S.
• Is Galileo dead?
• The Calabash World Explorer GPS tour guide will be used by Princess Cruises.

Maps and data

• Maybe soon we’ll have wi-fi POIs on our GPS receivers. That would sure help me!
• I’ve posted before about USFS topo maps. Free GeoTools gives a visual comparison of how these maps can be more current than USGS quads.
• They also post about worldwide data available from the UN FAO.

Hardware, software and firmware

• Anyone concerned about TomTom and Garmin moving away from SiRFstar III chips might want to look at these comparisons with GlobalLocate and MTK.
• TomTom has updated their list of Bluetooth compatible phones.
• Garmin has posted firmware upgrades this week for the following models: StreetPilot c510, c530, c550, Forerunner 205, 305, nuvi 310, 360, 370, zumo 500, 550
• Meanwhile, Magellan has posted a firmware upgrade for the eXplorist 500 and 600. Via Allory.
• SureShot GPS has issued a major software update. Here’s more on GPS for golf.
• Ogle Earth posts about Geophoto for Mac.
• Improving the accuracy of your MotionBased data.

Cell phones and GPS

• GPS Lodge posts a video review of Verizon VZ Navigator.
• A Helio Heat video preview. Via Digg.
• GPS widgets for your cell phone.
• The Nokia Sports Tracker. Via Digg.

DIY and GPS hacks

• Consumer electronics designed for hacking. Via Digg.
• GPS for Nintendo DS. Via Digg.

 Updated GPS reviews

• Garmin nuvi 670 review – I’ve added a link to a PDF version of the owners manual, and a link to consumer reviews of the nuvi 670 at Amazon.
• Garmin Edge 205 review – Singletracks.com has posted a Garmin Edge 205 review.
• Lowrance iWAY 250C review – Laptop Magazine has posted a review, giving the iWAY 250C 3 out of 5 stars.
• TomTom ONE review – I’ve added several links here, including the TomTom ONE owners manual, YourNav’s TomTom message forum and a GpsPasSion TomTom message forum too.
• Garmin Forerunner 305 review – I’ve linked to an article comparing the Forerunner to other heart-rate monitors.
• Garmin StreetPilot c580 review – Gizmodo has posted a video demo of the c580, along with a brief review.
• Garmin zumo 550 review – I’ve linked to detailed zumo installation info for the Harley Davidson FLHT.

Mashup land

• All about mashups. Via AnyGeo.
• Using Google Earth off-line for real-time tracking. Via Digg.
• 10 Virtual Earth features you might not know about, and how to add a custom map layer. Via The Map Room.
• Historical topo maps for Google Earth.
• A Twitter + Google Maps mashup.
• Creating overlays for Google Maps.
• If you dig straight down through the earth from here, you’ll end up in…

All the news that doesn’t fit

• Aerial photos as art.
• The U.S. Army Field Manual on Map Reading and Navigation.
• GPS riddle games. Or maybe just coordinate riddle games. Via Digg.