Sunday, March 18, 2012

Garmin nuLink gets live traffic cams in Europe

Garmin nuLink PhotoLiveLooks like Garmin is pulling a TomTom, rolling out cool new features on the other side of the pond while leaving US commuters stuck in traffic. The nuLink 2300 series, announced today, brings European motorists PhotoLive cameras and 3D traffic.

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No such thing as a GPS implant

Feline_microchipJournalists continue to be snookered by already debunked hoaxes, and perhaps a few too many nights watching Dollhouse. The latest one proclaims that:

Tiny GPS microchips with your personal info can be slipped under your skin, leaving you lighter, ID tossed in the shredder.

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Garmin GTU 10 GPS tracking device

Garmin GTU 10

UPDATE: Read my hands on review of the Garmin GTU 10.

Well, well, look what showed up on the FCC website this morning. With the GTU 10, Garmin apparently has a GSM/GPRS tracking device up their sleeve. While they’ve offered up commercial fleet tracking solutions in the past, bundled with their navigators, this is the first time they’ve produced a discrete remote GPS tracking device (at least as far as I’m aware).

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GPS chip in boot guides air strike of guerilla camp

Mono_jojoy_-_EEUUA pair of GPS-chipped boots has helped Colombian military forces destroy a Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) camp, killing 20 rebels and second in command “Mono Jojoy” (pictured at left). Suffering from diabetes and subsequent foot problems, the leader had ordered a pair of custom boots made. When a communication was intercepted, the Colombian military intervened, managing to insert the GPS chip into the boots.

My point in posting this story is to delve into the technology involved. I’ve already been contacted by one mainstream media reporter, asking if this is plausible. In a word, yes. GPS chips are very small and transmitting location is not a huge technological feat. Remote monitoring is the challenge, due to two aspects:

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