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.
GPS in the news
- We’re quoted by CNN.com!
- A GPS-fueled Easter egg hunt
- GPS use said to dull ‘direction finding’
- GPS jacket for the visually impaired
Satellite news
- LightSquared – The answer to US wireless competition? Via @saschasegan
- Block IIF GPS satellites mean improved accuracy
- GLONASS smartphone a flop?
Geocaching
- Geocacher discovers archaeological treasure
- The latest edition of “it’s a geocache, not a bomb”; via @Cache Advance
- Geocacher loses ring; another shows up with metal detector
- Pocket query performance improvements
- More on the ET Highway / geocaching snafu; via @locuslingua
- Virtual caches arrive at OpenCaching.com
GPS tracking
- The iPhone tracking fiasco and what you can do about it
- It looks like Android is gathering location data too
- Ah, but on Android it’s opt-in
- Zoombak security flaw exploited
- GPS-tracked near-space photography on a budget; via @GPS City
- National Geographic selects Garmin GTU 10 as Gear of the Year
- New pricing model for GPS vehicle tracking – free device if you pay $279 for 3 years of tracking service up front
- Minnesota experimenting with mileage-based highway taxes
Updates
- Garmin ANT Agent for Mac v 2.1.9
- Garmin ANT Agent for Windows v 2.2.17
- Garmin Edge 500 v 2.70
- Garmin Edge 800 v 2.20
- Garmin nuLink 1695 v 2.80
- Garmin nuvi 22xx v 3.10
- Garmin nuvi 23xx v 3.10
- Garmin nuvi 37xx v 4.10
- Garmin Training Center For Mac v 3.1.5
- Garmin zumo 660 v 4.20
- Garmin zumo 665 v 2.30
- Global Mapper v 12.02 (PDF release notes)
- Magellan eXplorist 710 – Software Version 4.83
- Magellan eXplorist 610 – Software Version 4.82
- Magellan eXplorist 510 – Software Version 4.81
Garmin
- Garmin Forerunner 610 giveaway
- Wyoming topo map for Garmin mapping receivers
The business of GPS
- Garmin CEO’s compensation
- STMicro shipping improved MEMS compass
- Consumerist takes TomTom customer service to task
- Fast Company article on GPS manufacturers becoming app developers, but I doubt that its more profitable (as the author implies)
- Is TomTom branching out into, um, chargers?
Mobile
- When hands-free cellphone laws don’t make sense
- A Google Maps Navigation keyboard
Just geo
- The world’s scariest roads; via @TeleNav
- Finding new barrier islands with Google Earth; via Ogle Earth
- Which National Parks have the most miles of roadways?
- Comparing 16th century maps to aerial imagery; via @CacheAdvance
All the news that doesn’t fit
- Hacking third-party USB chargers to avoid mass storage mode
- Fujifilm FinePix XP30 can’t get a lock
GPS deals
These are some bargains we’re currently tracking at our GPS deals site:
- Garmin Dakota 10 for $169.99
- Garmin nuvi 2350LMT for $198.88
- Garmin nuvi 2450LM for $198
- Garmin 4000/5000 series $200 chartplotter rebate
- Garmin US Inland Lakes $40 rebate
Updated GPS reviews
I’ve updated these review and resource pages with the following links:
- Garmin Edge 800 – Race-Pace.net reviews this GPS cyclometer
- Garmin Forerunner 305 – Meganerd Runs reviews this popular GPS sportswatch
- Garmin nuvi 2460LMT and 3790LMT – GPSInformation.net compares these two high-end units
About Rich Owings
