After a nearly one-month absence (due to a new baby), Waypoints returns. For newer readers, Waypoints is an occasional posting of GPS (and related) news briefs.
Garmin
- GpsPasSion reports that City Navigator 2008 is really NAVTEQ Q1 2007, or worse yet, Q3 or Q4, 2006!
- Nice review of Garmin’s friction mount from GPS Magazine.
- Garmin picks up another chipset manufacturer. In case you missed it, I recently tested the MTK chipset used in the new eTrex H-series.
- Garmin cited a partnership with Quarq in developing the Edge 605 / 705. Maybe Garmin could take some style lessons from them. Via Digg.
- MotionBased is going to become Garmin Connect.
TomTom
- Map Share can’t be this easy.
- Tom Tom announces the TomTom ONE 3rd edition. GPS Review finds it all quite confusing.
- An updated Bluetooth cell phone compatibility list for the TomTom GO 720.
- TomTom announces RDS-TMC traffic for the North American market.
GPS in the news
- Wipe away suction cup smudges to prevent car break-ins and GPS theft.
- Mapping the Continental Divide Trail. Via The GPS Insider.
- Bizarre anti-GPS signs.
- Mercedes introduces "send to car" maps for Google and Yahoo.
More GPS hardware news
- Confirmed: the Mio C620 with 3-D maps.
- Photo of the PSP GPS add on.
- Does your OnStar have an analog receiver? If so, you may be cut off from the service. But here’s a hack to turn it into a navigation unit.
TeleAtlas
- Zagat reviews will be available to Tele Atlas partners.
- TeleAtlas maps China.
Aerial imagery
- Confirmation of real-time satellite imagery from spy satellites.
- DigitalGlobe will provide imagery for Bushnell GPS receivers.
Mapping software
- A USAPhotoMaps group has formed on Yahoo but, with only two posts to date, they need activity!
- There is now a GlobalMapper forum. Via AnyGeo.
- GlobalMapper 9.0 has been released.
- I may have linked to this before — freeware mapping programs. Via Digg.
GPS and cell phones
- Verizon disables GPS on the BlackBerry 8830.
- Meanwhile, AT&T may reconsider its decision to cripple the GPS in the BlackBerry 8820. Via Digg.
- PC Magazine reviews TeleNav GPS Navigator with Telenav Traffic.
- Google Phone rumors. Via Digg.
- Social networking beta for the BlackBerry 8800.
- Live weather for your smartphone.
Virtual globes
- Embed Google My Maps into your website, just like YouTube.
- Google Maps shaded relief sites updates.
- More ways to export Google Maps points.
- HeyWhatsThat takes advantage of Google Sky with a new mashup that "overlays the celestial sphere with the horizon, visible summits and an
azimuth-altitude grid for that location at the current time." More from Ogle Earth. - Virtual Earth gets a high-resolution imagery update. Via Slashgeo.
Updated GPS reviews
- Garmin nuvi 370 review – The header may say nuvi 360, but this is really a review of the 370.
- Garmin Rino 530HCx review – GPS Lodge has posted a great, detailed review. And the first Garmin Rino 530HCx review
has been posted by a dissatisified consumer at Amazon.
- Garmin zumo 550 review – Women Riders Now reviews the zumo.
- Mio C220 review – Mr.Gadget Man reviews this great budget device from down under.
- Mio C520 review – SteveX lays out his reasons for purchasing the Mio C520. iTWire has also posted a review.
- TomTom GO 720 review – I’ve posted links to new reviews by Tracy and Matt, GPS Magazine, and Trusted Reviews.
All the news that doesn’t fit
- You may have already seen this YouTube video on Miss South Carolina’s answer to why 1 in 5 Americans can’t find the U.S. on a map. If not, it’s definitely worth a look. Just for fun. Via Slashgeo.
- A cartography book for kids. Via BlinkGeo.
- Map maker sets a trap (street).
- RapidoMap is a geocoding app for Macs. Via BlinkGeo.
About Rich Owings
