Waypoints – October 28, 2007

Odds and ends from the past week…

Garmin

• Garmin has posted firmware updates for the eTrex H, StreePilot c530, c550 and c580.
• The pink nuvi comes to Europe.

Mio

• A Mio TMC page has been posted. Discussion at GpsPasSion.
• Mio traffic services in Australia.
• A Mio C520 POI loader.

Dash

• Backstage Dash talk — there are a few good tidbits here like "The Dash will let drivers let other Dash users know if there’s a cop in the area!"
• Jasper Wireless says Dash may lower its monthly fees.
• Wired on the Dash Express.

GPS hardware

• Coming soon — GPS touch screens with tactile feedback.
• This European GPS for skiers looks like it may use raster imagery.

Software

• Free Geography Tools links to a couple of marine applications.
• Create range rings (concentric circles) on Google Maps or Google Earth with this tool.
• A Google Earth PhotoOverlay tool.

GPS in the news

• Diabolical ways to be a GPS prankster.
• New Jersey mimics GPS to promote tourism. Example here.
• Wouldn’t you like to control traffic lights with your GPS?!
• Mapping the border to prevent immigrant deaths. Via BlinkGeo.
• A GPS job network for day laborers in Japan. Via Digg.

GPS and cell phones

• Garmin forms a partnership with Palm, previously TomTom turf.
• Garmin has also posted a new version of Mobile XT for Windows Mobile.
• OpenStreetMap on an iPhone.
• Traffic.com, a NAVTEQ (soon to be) Nokia company, rolls out TrafficOne Mobile.
• An article on social mapping.
• Point and find systems are getting closer.
• MapQuest launches MapQuest for Mobile Web. And they already have 13% of the total mobile Internet audience!
• NAVTEQ powers Dial Directions.
• Mobile GMaps supports NAC universal addresses.

Geocoding

• CNet on privacy and geotagging.
• National Geographic embraces photo geocoding.
• Batch address geocoding for Europe.

The business of GPS

• An ad supported GPS is coming to hotels and car rental companies. Here’s the full press release.
• Kudos for TomTom service.
• GPS-powered billboard ratings prove to be expensive.

Location-based services (LBS)

• SiRF tries to get into the location based services arena.
• TeleAtlas "Maps in Apps 2007" finalists.

All the news that doesn’t fit

• A new online geocaching magazine.
• NYC wayfinding.
• I may have linked to this before — a GPS traffic forum.

Updated GPS reviews

• DeLorme Earthmate PN-20 review – PC World gives this unit a rating of 84 — very good.
• Garmin Astro review – Consumer-authored Garmin Astro reviews are being posted at Amazon.
  Also, quite a bit of good information is being posted by our readers in
  the comments section at the end of the post I wrote when the Astro was first announced.
• Garmin eTrex H review – The first consumer-authored Garmin eTrex H review has been posted at Amazon.
• Garmin nuvi 350 review – Canadian Driver reviews this ever-popular favorite.
• Garmin zumo 550 review – A consumer review has been posted at Epinions.
• Navigon 7100 review – GPS Review tackles this interesting unit.
• TomTom GO 720 review – Audioholics reviews the TomTom GO 720 and Martin Brooks has posted a personal review.
• TomTom ONE XL review – Laptop Logic gives this unit a 3 out of 5 star rating.