Waypoints — February 19th, 2011

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

Garmin

• Photorealistic Junction Views arrive in Canada 
• Screen size isn’t the only difference between nuvi 2360 and 2460 models
• Contacts2Garmin allows you to export your Gmail contacts to Garmin units; via Karl
• Buried in this story –  Asus exclusive deal with Garmin to last for several years
• Several new Pennsylvania maps added at GPS File Depot (Codorus & Kings Gap SP’s, Quehanna Trail)

TomTom

• MyTomTom gets an update, allowing for third-party POIs 
• Reviewers trash TomTom audio / nav unit in Subaru; via @gatorguy2

GPS in the news

• Why you shouldn’t freak out about GPS and solar flares
• Garmin goes on the offensive against LightSquared 
• GPS World says high-precision users would be affected most
• This week’s edition of “My GPS made me do it”
• And another one
• GPS stolen? Check Craigslist
• GPS used to prove officers lied
• Chandler woman ‘mad at men’ rips GPS from patrol car
• Iditarod mushers to be allowed to use GPS
• Senate measure would help abuse victims disable GPS; I understand the motivation, but it needs to auto-enable GPS if they call 911

Geocaching

• OpenCaching.com launches Chirp-a-Day Sweepstakes
• Intro to geocaching on Tekzilla (starts around 11:30 mark)
• Bookmarking a map on geocaching.com 
• Another geocaching app for Windows Phone 7; via @GPSCity 

Updates

• Garmin dezl 560 v 2.20
• Garmin GTU 10 US v 2.40
• Garmin nuLink 1695 v 2.60
• Garmin nuvi 12xx v 5.00
• Garmin nuvi 13xx / 14xx v 5.00
• Garmin nuvi 24xx v 2.20
• Garmin nuvi 37xx v 3.90
• Garmin POI Loader for Mac v 2.2.1 (Mac App Store link)

Android

• One of the more innovative navigation interfaces I’ve ever seen
• Dazzle helps preserve battery power in backcountry, by allowing you to run GPS with cellular radio disabled; Thanks Bob!
• MapQuest now in Android Market; free nav app is 2D, but allows you to report OSM corrections
• More at the MapQuest blog
• ANT API for Android released
• Low cost ruggedized, solar-powered semi-smartphone
• Android app spoofs your GPS location

All the news that doesn’t fit

• Truckers might not want to rely on GPS navigation around these
• Magellan eXplorist vehicle kit now available
• Good read on intelligent vehicles
• NYC gets GPS-powered condom finder app
• New OpenDEM initiative
• Interesting chart showing experience with GPS navigation by country
• Tracking truants

Current GPS deals

Currently featured on our GPS Deals site:

• DeLorme PN-60W + SPOT for $339.99
• 20% off TomTom coupon code at Amazon
• Garmin US Inland Lakes $40 rebate
• Garmin nuvi 1350LMT for $168.24

Updated GPS Reviews

I’ve updated these review and resource pages with the following links:

• Garmin Edge 800 – BikeRadar reviews this cycling GPS
• Garmin Forerunner 305 – ProfHacker uses this ever popular sportswatch as a training tool
• Garmin nuvi 500 – A motorcyclist’s perspective 
• Garmin nuvi 2350LMT – A first impressions review