Waypoints – July 28, 2007

GPS news shorts from the past week…

GPS in the news

• They GPS horses, don’t they?
• No wait, they GPS squirrels.
• Quebec may legalize GPS. I kid you not.
• But NYC cabbies don’t want it.
• GPS may be a better technology for air traffic control.

TomTom – TeleAtlas deal

• Is the TeleAtlas acquisition a risky strategy for TomTom?
• Not according to CNN Money.
• A collection of more comments on the deal.

GPS hardware

• Recently I compared the Mio C520 and nuvis. PC World takes the Mio head to head with the nuvi 680.
• GPSLodge predicts a TomTom GO 920.
• A sneak peak at the Dash Express.

GPS software, firmware and tools

• A comparison of City Navigator 2008 (version 9) with version 8.
• Free Geography Tools looks at a couple more photo geotagging tools — the WMMX Location Stamper and GPicSync.
• Garmin has posted firmware updates for the nuvi 200, 250 and 270, and for the StreetPilot 2720, 2730, 2820, 7200, and 7500.
• Garmin has updated their Communicator Plugin.
• Garmin has also released new versions of the WebUpdater for Mac and POI Loader for Mac.
• Lowrance has posted new firmware for the iWAY 600C. Via Allory.
• Caching TerraServer imagery.
• How to download large scale, high resolution orthophotos from TerraServer.

GPS satellites

• WAAS users in the northeastern US and eastern Canada may find that reception has improved recently.
• But if you’re firmware isn’t up to date, you may have problems again at the end of this month.
• The EU and US agree on GPS – Galileo compatibility.

GPS cell phones

• US consumers prefer PNDs to cell phone navigation.
• Using your TomTom with an iPhone.
• Garmin Mobile 10 reviews have been posted by consumers at GPSNow.com.
• Trimble bundles AllSport GPS, Geocache Navigator and Trimble Outdoors.
• Shozu now supports geotagging.

Virtual globes

• Microsoft Virtual Earth to support KML?
• On D.C. imagery censorship.
• Google uses local knowledge to map India.
• A Google Maps API wiki. Via BlinkGeo.
• Temporal geobrowsing with Terrascope. Via Ogle Earth. It appears that TerraLook does something similar.

Updated GPS reviews

• Garmin eTrex Vista HCx review – The first consumer-authored review of this new unit has been posted at GPS Now.
• Garmin nuvi 250W review – Technical Itch has posted a detailed review of this new entry-level wide-screen model.
• Garmin StreetPilot c580 review – PC Mechanic posts a video review.
• Magellan Maestro 4040 review – Location Intelligence reviews the Maestro 4040.

All the news that doesn’t fit

• WiMAX is coming. The whole GPS world will change then.
• Location based gaming. With sharks!
• Why GPS units often favor right turns.
• Ogle Earth introduces a Neogeography job board.
• Garmin is sponsoring Middlesbrough Football Club, giving players Forerunners and giving fans access to the data. Directions Magazine looks at the larger trend of Garmin using sports for marketing.