Waypoints is a weekly link roundup of (mostly) GPS related odds and ends. To get a few of the biggest stories as they break, follow me on Twitter.
Geocaching
- Thanks to the folks at GeoGearHeads for having me on this week’s podcast
- The KC Cache Dash is an Open Caching charity event in Garmin’s hometown of Olathe, KS
- Oenocaching(?) with wine as the prize; via @CacheAdvance
Smart Cars
- Nevada Approves Regulations for Self-Driving Cars
- Consumer Reports: Smarter Cars That Could Prevent or Minimize Up To 80 Percent of Crashes
GPS jamming and spoofing
TomTom
- Create custom startup and shutdown images for your TomTom
- TomTom delivers data in Esri’s file geodatabase format
Where Conference
We’re a media partner for this event; click the ad at the top of the page for a 15% discount on registration - Now in its 8th year, the O’Reilly Where Conference is where the grassroots and leading-edge developers building location-aware technology intersect with the businesses and entrepreneurs seeking out location apps, platforms, and hardware to gain a competitive edge.
Updates
- New firmware updates this week: Garmin Dakota, eTrex 10, 20, 30, Forerunner 910XT
Garmin
- Garmin wants your ideas
- Garmin nuvi 3590LMT vs 3490LMT comparison
- Not free, but here is a Boundary Waters Canoe Area map
- New “marine white” GizzMOVest cases
GPS in the news
- GPS-controlled kite to harness wind power
- Rocket sent into northern lights for GPS research
- Um, not so sure about this - Thieves Turn To Bluetooth To Identify Cars Containing Satnav
- Inaccuracy of GPS turned into quake prediction model
- Global-positioning system uses cameras instead of satellites
- Ship GPS holds key to Italians’ trial in India
Satellites
- If there was a total meltdown of society, how long would the GPS system continue to work? Via @ThinkJose
- Two More GLONASS Satellites to Fly in 2012
- President’s Budget Request Would Continue GPS Modernization
- Fifth Beidou/Compass Satellite Launched
GPS tracking
- The question is, how is smartphone competition going impact it: Personal Tracking to Be the Next Billion Dollar GPS Market
- Secret GPS tracker terrifies Ontario man; community reaction
- Expect to see more of this type of use of GPS: GPS device monitors safety of staff working alone (or at least companies using it as spin for tracking employees!)
- How does the Supreme Court decision impact MD DNR’s tracking of boats?
- Town kills GPS monitoring of patrol cars due to battery drain!
The business of GPS
- Demand for driving recorders to top 400,000 units in 2012 (in Taiwan)
- Garmin Q4 Earnings: Growth in all Segments, Beats all Estimates
- Skobbler Withdraw Nav App from Android Market While Sygic Celebrates 5 Millionth Download
- Epson joins fitness market with world’s lightest GPS watch
- Garmin® Announces Victory in Triangle Software LLC Patent Case
- TomTom PNDs Debut in Indonesia; Late Market Entry for Satnav Maker
- Not sure what these are used for; they have a 1-3 meter cable - Multifrequency GPS antennas take lead
LightSquared
- Ars Technica - Why LightSquared failed: It was science, not politics
- Harbinger investors sue Falcone, Harbinger fund over LightSquared
- LightSquared defaults on Inmarsat payment
- LightSquared plans to cut 45 percent of workforce
- LightSquared - Where should the GPS industry go from here?
Just geo
- Russia gets Street View (highlights)
- Beautiful geo-art: a transect – Due East; here’s the full PDF (via @maproomblog)
- Featured U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service National Recreation Trails
- For those of you into nude beaches; via All Points Blog
All the news that doesn’t fit
- CNet readers’ favorite GPS receivers
- Google to Sell Heads-Up Display Glasses by Year’s End
- SiRF Star IV USB GPS receiver Globalsat BU-353 S4 available soon
- A site I just came across: Spatial Law and Policy
- Build your own mobile travel guide with Toozla
GPS deals
These are some bargains we’re currently tracking at our GPS deals site:
- NEW: Garmin nuvi 2360LMT for $159.99 with free shipping
- Garmin Oregon 550 with camera for $324.95
- Garmin GTM25 lifetime traffic receiver for $35.05 shipped
- Price drop on Garmin nuvi 3400 series
- $50 Garmin Forerunner rebate for student athletes
- Garmin eTrex 30 for $249.99 with free shipping
Updated GPS reviews
I’ve updated these review and resource pages with the following links:
- Garmin Edge 800 - PC Pro reviews this top of the kine GPS cyclometer
- Mototorla MOTOACTV - Wired reviews this sportswatch
About Rich Owings
