Waypoints — March 13th, 2010

Waypoints is a weekly link roundup of GPS related odds and ends. To get many of these stories as they break, follow me on Twitter.

Hoowee! Lot’s of link love this week, so lets get right to it…

Garmin Oregon series marches on

• Garmin adds custom symbols and some awesome track improvements to their latest Oregon x50 beta firmware
• And here is the link to the Oregon x50 beta version 3.62
• GPS Fix takes a detailed look at custom symbols for the Oregon x50 series
• Garmin Oregon x00 series discontinued ? Via @gpsfix

More Garmin news

• How to load third-party maps on a Garmin – covers MapSource, Basecamp and Macs
• A Garmin-compatible map of Kabul
• Customizing your nuvi’s start-up screen
• Min Kao, Garmin co-founder, makes Forbes’ billionaires list

Just geo

• Chilean earthquake moved entire city 10 feet
• Some amusing maps; via @directionsapb
• The Bizarre Map Challenge
• Satellite imagery reveals large potential impact crater; via @ogleearth
• Edit places using Street View images
• Introducing the new Google Geocoding web service

Geocaching

• One million active geocaches!
• Geocaching.com is raising the pocket query limit from 500 to 1000; via @maingray
• Geocaching is one of 4 new Boy Scout merit badges coming out this year; via @locuslingua
• A look at the business side of Geocaching.com

GPS in the news

• California “cool car” rules could cripple GPS monitoring of parolees
• NYT: Gadgets in emergency vehicles seen as driving peril
• Pics of the new GPS IIF satellite at Patrick AFB; Via @AFSpace
• And more Block IIF GPS satellite pics; via @GPSGIS_Eric
• India, Russia for joint venture to produce dual band GLONASS/GPS receivers

GPS Tracking

• Win A SPOT GPS Satellite Messenger
• Upgrade your SPOT Satellite Messenger
• Using GPS to track stranded dolphins
• GPS reveals NYC taxi gouging rate of 0.5%

The business of GPS

• Vodafone’s Wayfinder is first victim of free smartphone navigation; Via @gatorguy2
• DeLorme orders 15,000 SPOT messengers for PN-60w; Via @gatorguy2
• The new Mio Moov V780 is using a uBlox chipset

More firmware and software updates

• Approach G3 firmware version 2.20 released
• Garmin GPS 72H firmware version 2.30 released
• Training Center For Mac version 3.0.4 released

Google Maps gets bike routing

• Biking directions added to Google Maps
• Insights into how Google Maps calculates bike routes
• The NY Post finds fault with the routing; via The Map Room
• Meanwhile, Google gives you a chance to win a $2500 bike

Getting Social

• Twitter turns on maps feature; via @directionsapb
• Facebook to roll out geolocation; via @justindavey
• MapQuest Links to FaceBook
• EveryTrail gets destinations
• Foursquare offers businesses a detailed look at customers

Mobile apps

• TomTom iPhone app v. 1.3 is out; adds traffic, Google Local search and more
• MobileNavigator first iPhone GPS app to win PCMag Editor’s Choice Award; via @NAVIGON_US
• A review of the TomTom for iPod Touch

Open Street Map news

• OSM’s State of the Map USA to be held in Atlanta on August 14 & 15
• CloudMade launches Navi Studio – helps developers create turn-by-turn applications using OSM maps

All the news that doesn’t fit

• The difference between IPX6 and IPX7 waterproof ratings

Updated GPS reviews

• I’ve updated my Garmin Forerunner 310XT page with a link to this review from About.com