This week in GPS — February 8th, 2014

The fifth GPS block IIF satellite is set for a February 20 launch; image via United Launch Alliance

This week in GPS is a weekly link roundup of (mostly) GPS related odds and ends, from GPS Tracklog and other places around the Web. To get a few of the biggest stories as they break, follow me on Twitter. This week’s lead image (above) shows the fifth GPS IIF satellite being readied for Feb. 20 launch.

From GPS Tracklog

Our posts from the past week:

• Best selling GPS for January 2014
• Magellan Echo sports watch review
• First looks at the Garmin GPSMAP 64s
• DeLorme to offer monthly plans for inReach satellite communicator

Garmin

• City Navigator North America 2014.40 released
•  Garmin had to pull the latest Montana and Oregon 6xx firmware updates
• Organizing nuvi saved places with BaseCamp or MapSource
• Garmin to help quell prison riots?
• Bar Fly releases two new Garmin Edge mounts
• Garmin videos introducing marine 8200 and 8500 series MFDs

Magellan

• Golf Pad app works with Magellan Echo

GPS in the news

• Big wrong turn for man carrying gun in car may lead to 3-year jail term in Canada
• TomTom map shortcut is a Tisbury road to almost nowhere

Geocaching

• A personalized Valentine’s Day geocache?
• Geocaching the E.T. Highway:

Updates

• Garmin updates this week: Dash Cam PC Tool, Express
• RandMcNally updates its RV GPS app
• ExpertGPS v 5.02

GPS tracking

• A Hacker Found GPS Data in the Audio of This Police Chase Video
• SPOT Gen3 Satellite GPS Messenger Review
• Another positive SPOT report
• The difference between avalanche beacons and personal locator beacons
• GPS insoles for tracking Alzheimer’s patients
• Uncle of slaying victim: GPS device for violent criminals might have saved her

Going to Russia? You must register your #inReach at http://t.co/2t5l8Xvxe4.

— DeLorme GPS (@DeLormeGPS) February 5, 2014

The business of GPS

• $2.6 Billion GPS Fitness Device Market Overshadowed by Smart Devices and Wearables
• Ricoh takes on action cam market
• Telenav Thinks Scout Can Take On Google Maps
• TeleNav’s Transition Continues Quarterly Result Show $4m Loss
• Garmin sponsors UK Arenacross series

Google Maps on the iPhone now notifies you of faster routes

Drones

• California Assembly approves bills limiting use of drones by police, public agencies
• This concept car uses its own reconnaissance drone to spot traffic jams
• Lockheed Martin’s autonomous convoy tests bring Skynet one step closer to reality

Satellites and such

• eLoran making a comeback?
• Maybe not: FY14 Budget Pares GPS Appropriations
• GPS III main payload facing more delays
• Switzerland Joins the EU’s Galileo Program

Jamming

• Canadian Army to test anti-jam GPS antenna

Going mobile

• Google Maps on iOS now notifies you when a faster route is available
• Tips and tricks for Google Maps for Android
• A new Android app will show users who is mining their GPS data
• This GPS Lightning Adapter Makes Cheap iPads Location-Aware; here it is at Amazon
• Want to help this guy test his Android app?
• Print Maps with GaiaPro
• Video: Get started with HERE Maps
• Scout iPhone Update Includes More Free Features to Help You to Beat Traffic…

Just geo

• If All The Ice Melted
• Sochi StreetView and more; via Google Maps Mania
• The (climatically) Pleasant Places to Live; via Google Maps Mania
• OSM hits the 20 million edit mark
• How to Create, Customize, and Embed a Google Map
• Where people run
• How the US maps the world’s most disputed territories
• The Pick of ESRI Story Maps
• A Book About Globes; here it is at Amazon
• Google Maps SDK for iOS: Gradient Polylines and Structured Reverse Geocoding Results
• U.S. Inter-city public transit map; via Jonathan Crowe

All the news that doesn’t fit

• U.S. DoT to Move Ahead with Vehicle-to-Vehicle Communication Technology
• Optical illusion to slow drivers
• This UK site’s best sat-navs? Garmin > TomTom > Mio
• HERE (NAVTEQ) gets their own blog
• Smart motorbike helmet has inbuilt GPS and live feed from rear-view camera
• Iridium’s satellite hotspot will get you online nearly anywhere on Earth
• Scout Leaders Who Toppled Ancient Rock Formation Are Charged: