Waypoints – September 8, 2007

I’ll start this week’s edition of Waypoints with everyone’s favorite category…

Free stuff

• Have a TomTom ONE XL? Get a free upgrade to version 7 of TomTom Navigator software. It appears that this will give you Map Share if you have relatively recent maps installed.
• Free nautical charts.
• How to get MapSource for free.

Garmin

• Garmin has posted firmware upgrades for the Venture Cx, Legend Cx and Vista Cx.
• Garmin has also posted a new version of MapSource.
• Garmin Developer posts info on Garmin formats.

GPS and cell phones

• Seth Godin feeds the Google Phone rumor flames. Via jWalkr.
• Business Week reviews VZ Navigator, giving it 3-1/2 out of 5 stars. Groundspeak members discuss it too.
• CactusLocate is a beta GPS tracking app for BlackBerry phones.
• These reports are always of dubious objectivity, but this one says that Sprint is tops in location based servcies (LBS).
• Boost Mobile launches Boost Navigator.

GPS hardware news

• Mio
  releases a few details about the C620, C620T and C230. In addition to
  3D it appears that MP3 playback will be better integrated.
• A new budget GPS from Navigon. Here are some screenshots.
• HP to release a PND, the iPaq 314.
• It’s really too bad that GPS Business News makes you register for a
  free account to see some stories. Nevertheless, this one on the Japanese consumer GPS market may be worth the pain.

Maps, traffic, imagery

• A side-by-side comparison of Garmin, Magellan and Lowrance topo maps. Via Groundspeak.
• NAVTEQ to provide Microsoft with maps for Mexico. Looks like Streets & Trips may navigate Mexico in the future.
• Meanwhile INRIX will provide traffic data to Microsoft.
• INRIX
  has added six new markets to their real-time traffic coverage network -
  Birmingham-Hoover, Alabama; Mobile, Alabama; El Paso, Texas; Columbia,
  South Carolina; Greenville, South Carolina; and Boise City-Nampa, Idaho.
• Historical maps online. And more online map collections.
• Will a lack of satellite imagery bring down the Greek government? Via SlashGeo.

Applications

• A CNet article on geotagging.
• Video + mapping = VeoGeo. Via Mapperz.

In the news

• NYC cabbies are not striking over GPS.

Virtual globes

• Google Earth 4.2 gets a flight simulator. Here are some tips on using it.
• You can now use Google Earth at work. More from OgleEarth.

Updated GPS reviews

• Garmin eTrex Legend HCx review – The first user-written review has been posted at Amazon.
• Garmin nuvi 200W review – The first consumer-authored review has been posted at CNet. Meanwhile, GpsPasSion has a user review thread for the nuvi 2xxW series, which I’ve also linked to from my Garmin nuvi 250W review.
• Mio DigiWalker C520 review – TechTaxi reviews the C520.
• TomTom GO 720 review – They’re pouring in on this one. I’ve linked to CNet (who rated it an 8.0 out of 10), Engadget, Device and BasketCase.