Waypoints – December 1, 2007
December 1, 2007 by Rich Owings
Waypoints is a weekly posting of news shorts, links and other odds and ends for the week.
Custom POIs
I’ve updated my custom POI resource page with the following links:
- POI Factory has an extensive list of POI files.
- POI Factory has several POI-cenrtric forums.
- Another U.S. POI database.
- RouteConverter supports Navigon, Route 66 and TomTom POI file formats. Via Navigadget.
- POIs can be loaded to Navigon units using POI-Warner.
- More POI conversion tools and other resources are listed at GPS-Data-Team.com.
- POI Download UK focuses on the UK (of course).
- I’ve updated the link to Garmin’s list of POI sources.
- POI Plaza has POIs from around the world.
Magellan Tritons
- Magellan has posted video demos of VantagePoint software and the Triton 2000.
- Meanwhile National Geographic has posted a PDF how-to guide for uploading maps to the Tritons.
- And Magellan has signed up another mapping partner with snowmobile and equestrian maps.
- A PDF of the Triton 200/300/400/500 owners manual has been posted in the Triton Yahoo group.
GPS hacks
- A text to speech hack for the Mio C320. Via Digg.
- Phrack, an online hacker magazine, has posted instructions for a home made GPS jammer.
Blasts from the past
- 1958 Disney film predicts GPS with traffic data (second video on screen). Via Digg.
- A 1981 pre-GPS navigation unit.
Just maps
- How long before our GPS receivers get maps this cool? Via BlinkGeo.
- A great gift for the map junky – historical map reproductions.
- A seven meter long roadmap of the Roman Empire.
- Live in Denver? Get free holiday gift map-wrap.
- The shifting Mississippi River. Via Vector One.
- Free maps of Cyprus for OziExplorer. Via Digg.
Aerial imagery
- Antarctic imagery online.
- 2005 Michigan aerial imagery. These are from the NAIP so I’m assuming they are color.
- Displacement in Burma captured by satellite. Via BlinkGeo.
Road data
- EU to TomTom and Tele Atlas — not so fast.
- How to go from a road database to a map display.
- Another U.S. road data provider.
TomTom
- TomTom is looking for beta testers!
- Want to try out a TomTom? Use their virtual GPS.
- TomTom invades New Zealand.
Military madness
- China targeting GPS satellites? Via Blink Geo.
- Planned improvements for U.S. GPS satellites.
GPS and cell phones
- Verizon opens up to other hardware and application providers. More on this from GPS Business News.
- Is there a Mio GPS cell phone in you future?
- A review of Ask GPS and Nokia Maps. Via Digg.
- Skyhook has a social networking beta going for Loki.
- MapQuest Navigator 5.0 is now available.
- Google to participate in FCC spectrum auction.
Google’s "My Location"
- Google Maps for Mobile 2.0 released with cell phone triangulation positioning. More from the Wize blog.
- People freak out about Google and privacy. More on this from Navigadget.
- The GPS Insider says don’t drink the kool-aid.
Virtual globes
- Terrain comes to Google Maps.
- Google Earth heading for extinction? Via All Points Blog. Commentary on this by Google Earth Blog.
- A GIS add on for Google Earth.
- Group editing of My Maps.
- Google Earth and gaming.
- What kind of info does Google Maps have for (insert country)? Via BlinkGeo.
Miscellany
- Clarification of the California don’t place your GPS on your windshield law.
- What do we want? Voice control! When do we want it? Now!
- A $2900 GPS telescope.
- Tips to keep your GPS from being stolen.
- Garmin has the greatest GPS mindshare. Via All Points Blog.
- Geocoding parcels without addresses.
- An HP iPAQ 310 review. Via Digg.
- Lowrance updates MapCreate 7 for Windows Vista. Via Allory.
- A claim that Schmap is better than Zagats. Via BlinkGeo.
- More GPS cameras are coming.
- Here’s a review of the ViaMichelin X-970.
Updated GPS reviews
- Garmin eTrex Vista Cx – Trailspace.com reviewed this model that is being discontinued.
- Garmin Forerunner 305 review – I’ve posted two updates here — one by DC Rainmaker and one by My Running Life.
- Garmin nuvi 350 review – I’ve posted two links to new reviews here as well — one by NewsRoute and a brief one by Stream Clips.
- Garmin nuvi reviews – I’ve added a link to this nuvi 660 vs. 760 comparison to my nuvi 660, 750 and 760 reviews.
- Garmin nuvi 670 review – ComputerActive reviews this transatlantic unit.
- Navigon 2100 review – Tech Review has posted a review of this Black Friday star.
- Navigon 7100 review – GPS Magazine does their typically thorough job reviewing this unit.
- TomTom GO 920 review – The first consumer review
has been posted at Amazon.
- TomTom ONE review – Kyle Hahn has posted a personal review.
Filed under Waypoints
I’m not too sure if this is the correct way to post tidbits of information, but here’s an awesome link to a side-by-side comparison of NAVTEQ and Tele Atlas maps for your area:
http://uwmike.com/maps/source/
I just noted a missing street on the TeleAtlas map for Atlanta. But everything is not hunky dory for the mighty NAVTEQ. There is a cul-de-sac just 2 blocks from my house that’s missing but is perfectly rendered on the TA version.
Zane, Whoa! That is great! Thanks so much for the tip. I just emailed Mike Purvis for a little more info, but I’d like to do a full post on it. I think it will be of tremendous interest for GPST readers. Thanks again. I appreciate everything you’re adding to the discussion here.
Here’s a bit of info for your next Waypoints blog post – Garmin has just released an update for the SirfSTARIII GPS chipset. Run the web updater and you should see v3.2.5 available for installation. From another forum, “improvements include better jamming mitigation and enhanced ephemeris collection in difficult environments, something that should help get a quicker warm-up time in the morning.”
That said, Garmin hasn’t rolled out the new firmware for all nuvis as yet. The nuvi 370 uses Sirf but doesn’t have an available update.