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Waypoints — January 31st, 2010

January 31, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Waypoints_iconWaypoints is a weekly link roundup of GPS related odds and ends. Many of the links below are posted to my Twitter account, where you can follow me for GPS news briefs in a more timely manner.

iPad & all things Apple

  • ZDNet misreads Apple specs and stokes the flames
  • GPS Business News explores what the iPad means for location-based service providers
  • Good discussion and video of iPad mapping capabilities; I like Street View but don’t like having to go back and forth for settings
  • The NYT asks "Is the iPad the Final Nail in the GPS Coffin?" Stupidest thing I’ve seen them write in a long time
  • Dual Electronics iPod touch GPS cradle ship date now set for late February
  • Zagat To Go 3.0 iPhone app adds augmented reality

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Filed Under: Featured, Waypoints

Apple iPad, A-GPS, and ambiguity

January 27, 2010 By 70 Comments

iPad aerial imagery

UPDATE: The WiFi model can determine your approximate location via Skyhook WiFi positioning, but does not have a GPS chip. The WiFi + 3G model has true GPS.

The Apple iPad was announced today, and Apple’s specs led to some confusion over whether or not this thing has GPS. For the record, here are the “location” specs for the iPad:

  • Wi-Fi
  • Digital compass
  • Assisted GPS (Wi-Fi + 3G model)
  • Cellular (Wi-Fi + 3G model)

It’s that assisted-GPS (A-GPS) thing that was confusing. A-GPS can mean a couple of things:

  • A software-based system designed to speed satellite lock, by providing alternative positioning data, projecting satellite locations, etc.
  • A system that relies solely on cell tower triangulation

The fact is, we don’t know yet which the iPad has. If it does have a GPS chipset, it seems clear that it’s limited to the 3G models. And the more I look into it, the more I’m inclined to think it does.

If the iPad does have GPS

But even if it does have GPS, what would you do with this 9.7” touchscreen beast? If you think your smartphone is fragile for geocaching, the iPad seems even less appropriate for field use. If you drive an RV or an 18-wheeler, perhaps you could justify the screen real-estate; it will be interesting to see if any of the nav app providers come up with a dedicated iPad version of their software. The iPad is bound to be used as a portable device though, even if its just for the coffee shop set, and as such I can see location-based services (including social media apps) being quite useful. What would you use an iPad with GPS for?

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Waypoints — January 23rd, 2010

January 23, 2010 By 2 Comments

Waypoints_iconNot that kind of waypoint. Up until a couple of years ago, I would do a weekly link roundup called Waypoints, a collection of (at least tangentially) GPS-related odds and ends that might not warrant their own post. It got to be a massive undertaking so I let it fall by the wayside. The move to the WordPress platform gave me access to some new tools, like Postalicious, which I’m trying out this week as a way to make prepping the link-fest a little easier. With a little luck, Waypoints will again become regular feature.

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Filed Under: Waypoints

Garmin zumo 220 announced

January 20, 2010 By 7 Comments

Garmin zumo 220

UPDATE: Check out our Garmin zumo 220 page for links to reviews, etc.

Garmin has announced the zumo 220, a somewhat less expensive unit in their motorcycle-friendly zumo product line. I say somewhat because the list price is still $599.99, although that’s $400 less than the recently announced zumo 665. read more

Filed Under: Auto, Garmin, Garmin auto GPS Tagged With:

Google Maps Navigation review

January 19, 2010 By 20 Comments

satelliteNot the nav app you’re looking for

Google Maps Navigation (referred to hereafter as GMN) is a free navigation app for Android version 1.6+ phones in the U.S. I bought the Motorola Droid recently (which I absolutely love BTW), so I thought I’d share my experiences with this much discussed free navigation app.

One important thing to be aware of — this is a beta application. Google has been known to keep their products in beta for a long time, but this one is pretty new and the beta label definitely applies.

The first part of my review is basically a tutorial, walking you through the interface, and offering useful tips. For my overall take, head on down to the conclusion.

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Filed Under: Android, Android apps, Location based services, Mobile, Mobile apps, Software Reviews Tagged With: , ,

More on Garmin BirdsEye aerial imagery

January 18, 2010 By 6 Comments

BirdsEye stadium The BirdsEye aerial / satellite imagery subscription program for the Garmin Colorado, Dakota and Oregon series is now official. EDIT: I’ve learned that Garmin decided not to support BirdsEye imagery on the Dakota 10, due to its lack of an expansion card slot. I have a few tidbits to add to my post from last week:

  • The $29.99 subscriptions will be available starting this March
  • Imagery will include “0.5 meter per pixel resolution in many areas of the United States”
  • There is no mention of world-wide imagery in today’s news release, though it was mentioned on the Garmin BirdsEye imagery product page last week, which is unavailable right now


  • Another BirdsEye web page has been announced, though it too is currently unavailable
Filed Under: Aerial imagery, Garmin, Garmin handheld GPS, Handheld/Sport, The business of GPS Tagged With: , , ,

Garmin BirdsEye Satellite Imagery coming

January 15, 2010 By 1 Comment

Garmin-BirdsEyeEDIT: I’ve learned that Garmin decided not to support BirdsEye imagery on the Dakota 10, due to its lack of an expansion card slot.

It looks like Garmin is getting ready to announce a BirdsEye satellite imagery subscription program for owners of the Colorado, Dakota and Oregon handheld series. Similar to DeLorme’s Map Library, the BirdsEye program will let you transfer an unlimited amount of satellite imagery and aerial photos to a compatible Garmin handheld for $29.99 per year. Imagery will be locked to one device per subscription; you’ll need Garmin’s free BaseCamp software (version 3.0.0+, yet to be released) and a myGarmin account. I hope to update this post soon with details on when the program will be up and running.

Filed Under: Aerial imagery, Garmin, Garmin handheld GPS, Handheld/Sport, The business of GPS Tagged With: , , ,

Two free apps help name that peak

January 14, 2010 By 3 Comments

Peak-AR Hey What’s That goes mobile

It’s been quite a while since I wrote about Hey What’s That?, a website that helps you identify mountains on the horizon. Well, today comes news that they have a mobile app for Android and iPhone (here is their mobile FAQ). So I tweeted about it and @CompeGPS turned me onto…

Peak.AR

Peak.AR icon(iTunes link) is a free augmented reality app that looks much better. There’s a screenshot at the top of this post (note that both English and German languages are supported). It’s limited to the iPhone now, but an Android app is expected by the end of February.

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Filed Under: Android apps, iPhone, iPhone apps, Location based services, Mobile, Mobile apps Tagged With: , , ,

Lifetime map updates coming to TomTom models

January 7, 2010 By Leave a Comment

UPDATE: Our TomTom XXL 540TM page has been posted.

Well, well. In what could be the biggest news coming out of CES in terms of auto GPS this year, TomTom has announced that they will offer Lifetime Map Updates, a feature that will be incorporated into a range of TomTom units released in 2010.

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Filed Under: Auto, The business of GPS, TomTom, TomTom auto GPS Tagged With:

TomTom to introduce lifetime traffic

January 7, 2010 By 2 Comments

UPDATE: Our TomTom XXL 540TM page has been posted.

TomTom announced today that they will begin to offer Lifetime Traffic Updates later this year. There’s no word on who the data provider will be, but they are saying that coverage will include 89 metropolitan markets in the US and four cities in Canada. The new Lifetime Traffic Updates will be bundled with a range of TomTom devices starting in early Q2, 2010.

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Filed Under: Auto, TomTom, TomTom auto GPS Tagged With: ,
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