Odds and ends from the past week…
New GPS units hit the shelves
- The nuvi 200 series is starting to show up online. Amazon’s prices are fickle as can be, but here is how it stands right now. The nuvi 250 is $414.69
at Amazon, while the transatlantic 270 model is $517.39
. GPSNow is selling the nuvi 270 for $499.95. The nuvi 200 has yet to show up. Confused about so many nuvis? Check out our Garmin nuvi comparison chart.
- Amazon also has the Magellan Maestro 4000
in stock for $365.56.
Firmware and software
- Got the DeLorme PN-20? If so, you might want to get the new firmware (version 1.2).
- Does your TomTom GO 510 or 910 turn off when you hit a bump? Install firmware version 6.51 for a fix.
- Garmin has introduced a slew of new software and firmware updates
in the last week, including Training Center for Macs, the eTrex
x-series, the nuvi 660, the zumo 550, StreetPilot c500 series, Edge
series and some oldies — non x-series eTrex, 60 and 76 units, Quest 2,
and Gekos. Rather than create a zillion links, I’ll let Allory show you the way. Or go direct to Garmin.
The business of GPS
- Looks like Magellan wants to help commoditize the GPS market. How long before we see $50 Casio GPS navigators?
- Look for more Garmin TV ads soon. They are going to spend 7% of second quarter revenue on marketing. That’s quite an investment!
- A stock picker likes NAVTEQ. I think he’s dismissing TeleAtlas a little too easily though. Via Digg.
Just maps
- Make your own topo maps using MicroDEM. Note that this is not a procedure for making custom topo maps for your GPS.
- Map symbol clip art for all you budding cartographers out there.
All the news that doesn’t fit
- GPS-assisted landings for airlines.
- Homeland Security has a favorite photo geocoder.
- A GPS camera for disaster recovery efforts.
- GPS on a UMPC.
- PPL Corporation has 17,000 acres of land open for public use, and now they’ve set up geocaches on it.
Virtual globes
- A discussion of using the Google Earth overlay feature to plan a mountain bike trip.
- A Google Maps mashup search engine. Via AnyGeo.
Updated reviews
- DeLorme Earthmate GPS PN-20 review – Also at GpsPasSion, they’re discussing the new firmware (version 1.2).
- Garmin Forerunnner 305 review – MSNBC reviews the Forerunner 305.
- Garmin GPSMAP 60CSx review – BMC Software’s CEO cops to using the 60CSx in this mini-review.
- Garmin nuvi 250 review – GpsPasSion has posted a Garmin nuvi 250 review thread.






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