Waypoints is a weekly link roundup of GPS related odds and ends. I had a hiccup with the plugin this week, so if you spot any broken links, please drop a comment and I’ll try to fix them.
GPS user FAIL
- This week’s edition of my GPS made me do it
- Smuggling pot? Don’t rely on your GPS if you’re near international borders
- And if you’re hiding a kilo of cocaine, don’t leave it near a geocache; via @locuslingua
The business of GPS
- New Magellan handheld to hit market soon?
- Lowrance Endura price drop coming
- Hmm, how long before we get a Garmin-Asus Android phone aimed at replacing our handheld GPS units? Puma leads the way in Europe
- Will the SiRFstar IV be the next hot chip or did manufacturers get burned too badly on the Broadcom patent dispute to re-embrace SiRF?
- Garmin Q4 2009 financials show 24% increase in outdoor/fitness revenue
- Interesting thoughts on free navigation in this MWC wrap up
- Navigon and Waze among reported acquisition targets in navigation industry
- New alliance seeks to challenge NAVTEQ and Tele Atlas
GPS in everything
- Casio EX-10HG geotagging camera expected to hit store shelves in October
- Nice discussion of how GPS cameras handle TTFF
- Philips to produce Android, GPS-enabled media player
- American Airlines tests GPS luggage tracking – this is laughable; last time my bags got lost the airline said they don’t even scan the barcodes on the luggage tags
- Maricopa County (AZ) will use GPS for tracking ballot boxes
- And everything in GPS: Mio to launch Moov V780 at CeBIT – Includes "digital TV;" no word on if it will be available it in the US
Geocaching
- It looks like Groundspeak may not have actually approved a third-party WinMo geocaching app, but its not banned from discussions now, so maybe they worked out a deal with the developer
- Geocachers in the DC area may want to check out the Star-Spangled Banner Geotrail
Mobile / Location-based services
- Travis County (Austin), TX sheriff’s department entering own speed trap locations into Trapster
- Testimony from Congressional LBS / privacy hearings; via All Points Blog
- But is location data really as sensitive as medical data? ; also via All Points Blog
- How Waze calculates your points
- Engadget compares smartphone nav apps
- The 2009 Engadget awards saddle the nuvifone G60 with worse gadget of the year; GPS device of the year? The Motorola Droid!
GPS in the news
- Using GPS cameras to track Afghanistan cash; via @ogleearth
- Raytheon wins contract to improve GPS OCX (advance control segment)
- Jamming of GPS signals threatens vital services
- Yacht crash blamed on GPS – it’s really unclear why though
- Google Maps gets a million corrections submitted every four days?
- Fusion tables are a way to store your map data in the cloud; MTBGuru has an example
- Google Maps avoid ghetto option
- How to navigate user photos in Street View
- Google told by EU to warn people before taking Street View photos; via @ogleearth
Firmware updates
- Garmin Edge 500 v 2.20
- Lots of Mac and Garmin Training Center updates this week; Allory has the links
- Garmin nuvifone G60
Miscellany
- New releases of Northwest topos, trails, and snow trails
- Transparent map lets you compare OSM with other sources; via @martinpinnau
- Wired tests the SPOT Satelite Messenger – they push the 911 button!
- Panbo on the Personal Locator Beacon that can send SPOT-like "I’m OK" messages
- Yes, Garmin Connect works on your Mac
- Free Geography Tools: Varying-Angle Terrain Views With Terrain Bender
- FGT also looks at the Getty Thesaurus of Geographic Names
Updated GPS and app reviews
- I’ve updated the following pages on GPS Tracklog with links to newly posted reviews:
- Garmin Edge 305 – The Rotor reviews this bike unit
- Google Maps Navigation – Another review of this Android app
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