Waypoints is a usually weekly, usually GPS related, posting of news briefs. Usually.
TomTom
- TomTom’s new TMC traffic receiver is getting good reviews. But is it available in the U.S.?
- Details on upgrading your TomTom to NavCore 7.
Garmin
- GPS Magazine gives a sneak peak of the Garmin Edge 705.
- Garmin has posted firmware updates for the nuvi 200, 200W, 250, 250W, 260, 270, 610 and 660.
- A reported firmware bug in the Garmin eTrex Vista HCx.
- New versions of Garmin’s Communicator Plugin and API have been released.
Macs
- And there is a new Mac version of the Garmin Communicator Plugin as well.
- GPSNavX 4.70, a Mac marine navigation application, has been released.
Dash
- Earlier this week, I posted about the redesign of the Dash Express. Gizmodo has a photo gallery.
- Meanwhile, Ubergizmo goes hands-on and posts their own photo gallery.
- GPS Business News thinks Dash may be in trouble.
- The new Dash blog covers planned software improvements for the Express.
Magellan
- Looks like there might be a Maestro 3270 in the near future.
- Magellan tackles the Chinese PND market.
- A little bit of info on European editions of the Magellan Maestro 4200 series.
GPS in the news
- GPS used to nab bank robbers.
- BarZ Adventures is offering GPS tours of Death Valley National Park.
- Don’t have your GPS stolen.
Maps and data
- I’ve added this desert trekking page from Wickenburg, Arizona to my GPS data search engine.
- A Google Earth index of US Army topo maps of Asia and Africa.
- Strange Maps, a blog about um, strange maps. I’ve known about this one for awhile but was reminded of it by GeoCarta.
- Will GPS units start using universal addresses?
Satellite news
- It’s official, no more selective availability!
- Galileo gets funded. Via Digg.
GPS and cell phones
- Will the rumored Garmin or TomTom cell phone be a Palm?
- Gizmodo reports this week about successfully using Navizon wifi/cellular location on the iPhone, but few others have been able to get it to work very well.
- A reporter tries out Ask Mobile GPS.
- Sprint and Microsoft partner on GPS-enabled mobile voice search.
- Meanwhile, Dial Directions goes nationwide, covering 1800 cities.
- The Moto Q is a new GPS-enabled cell phone from AT&T.
GIS
- Importing Google Earth imagery into GIS programs. This can also be used with OziExplorer. But is it legal?
- Free GIS Data links to a Colorado GIS portal.
Updated GPS reviews
- Garmin Astro review – I’ve linked to a hunting story posted on the Garmin blog and a video on using the Astro.
- Garmin eTrex Vista HCx review – MTB Guru has posted a comparison of the Vista Cx and HCx.
- Garmin nuvi 250 review – I’ve linked to this YouTube video review.
- Garmin nuvi 370 review – And I’ve linked to another brief YouTube video demo. And an Epinions review.
- TomTom GO 720 review – GPS Lodge has posted a positive review.
- TomTom ONE XL review – DevHardware recommends the TomTom ONE XL.
All the news that doesn’t fit
About Rich Owings
Thanks for sharing all the info on the 720. I got to use one for a little while and its probably the best GPS unit I’ve ever messed around with. The Map Share feature is really something I would want any gps device I’d use from now on to have in addition to the Help Me function.
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