Waypoints is a weekly link roundup of (mostly) GPS related odds and ends. To get some of the biggest stories as they break, follow me on Twitter.
Geocaching
- $500,000 economic impact from geocaching trail
- Happy Birthday EarthCaching – EarthCaches Turn 8
- Is peer review flawed?
- Nice geocaching lost and found story
GPS in the news
- This week’s edition of “my GPS made me do it:” Framingham wrong-way driver blamed GPS
- New Waypoints feature? “My GPS saved me:” Hog hunter leads rescuers to disabled boat with GPS, 2 rescued safely
- TomTom to French: Disable speed cam alerts
- Bike-Share GPS Data Will Help Plan NYC Bike Network
The business of GPS
- GPS sales off 33% over holidays
- TomTom promises update; clearer privacy policy
- Are they going opt-in? If so, how will that effect TeleAtlas and HD Traffic and will it be required to use HD Traffic/MapShare?
- Garmin’s cycling team gets a new partner
- Garmin Winter Training; basically it’s an ad campaign
- NAVTEQ Launches Real-Time Traffic Service in India
Garmin
- Garmin Nuvi Smartphone Link video from Phandroid
- A closer look at Garmin/Gracenote MoodGrid partnership
- Garmin Vector Offers Cyclists the First Ever Power Pedals with Left/Right Balance
- Fan of Portal? How about GLaDOS voice on your nuvi
Updates
- New software released in the past week: Garmin nuvi 24×5, 25×5 and WebUpdater for Mac
GPS tracking
- GPS helps clear accused man of child sexual assault
- California wolf tracking map; via SacBee.com
- Trial Reveals Security Forces Used GPS To Track IRA Suspect
Satellite news
- Lockheed Martin to start building third and fourth GPS III satellites in $238.5 million deal
- GLONASS Modernization: Maybe Six Planes, Probably More Satellites
LightSquared death watch
- LightSquared in 11th-hour effort to woo Washington
- Grassley seeks info from GPS companies
- LightSquared Seeks Probe of GPS Advisory Board Member; via @GPSGIS_Eric
- Federal Officials Conclude No Way LS Can Not Interfere with GPS
- LightSquared Asks for More Tests After U.S. Cites GPS Disruption; firm running out of money
Just geo
- Google conspiring for regime change in Syria through maps? Hardly
- Pakistan military wants govt to regulate maps, criminalize "non-professional" mapmaking; via @ogleearth
- Open Source Maps Gain Ground as Google Paywall Looms
- And a solution: A detailed look at switching from Google Maps
- Map of US forest cover; via @maproomblog
- Create Your Own Aerial Imagery Map (exportable in GeoTIFF)
- New website – GISnation
All the news that doesn’t fit
- Steampunk GPS App Evokes Jules Verne Era
- Just how bad are military GPS receivers?
- What consumers want in the connected car
- Update to Google Maps improves battery life, public transit options and more
- TomTom plays key role in carbon offset scheme
GPS deals
These are some bargains we’re currently tracking at our GPS deals site:
- UPDATE/NEW: 2012 Garmin nuvi 2455LT for $149.99 with free shipping
- $50 Garmin Forerunner rebate for student athletes
- Transatlantic Garmin nuvi 1370T for $139.99 shipped
- Garmin Oregon 550 with camera for $339.95
- Garmin nuvi 2350LMT for $149 with free shipping
- Garmin eTrex 30 for $249.99 with free shipping
- Garmin dezl 560LMT truck/RV GPS for $349.99 shipped
Updated GPS reviews
I’ve updated these review and resource pages with the following links:
- Garmin Edge 200 – Cycling Tips reviews this entry-level GPS cyclometer; Bike Rumor gets in the act too
About Rich Owings
“GPS sales off 33% over holidays”
The linked article attributes the decline to functional takeover by SmartPhones… has anyone taken a survey to find out what the threat of LightSquared may be having on the consumer side of the GPS industry? I’m reluctant to spend dollars on GPS hardware until I know that what I buy today will work a year or two from now.
Interesting thought, but I doubt that most people are even aware of the LightSquared issue. I think they are going to be bankrupt by summer though.