NaviGadget

Leica GPS Spider V2.1.0 contains numerous improvements that significantly enhance the sofltware usability and performance. Amongst many other software optimizations such as further improved data processing for network RTK, the graphical user interface has been enhanced with consistent map views supporting now loadable background maps and a graphical continous raw data status view.
In view of GPS Monitoring applicatoins Leica GPS Spider now supports the recently introduced Leica GMX902 monitoring GPS receiver. A new coordinate post-processing complements the previously available real-time positioning, to support slow moving object monitoring. Both, real time positioning and post-processing, support now data rates of up to 20Hz, as can be provided by GMX902 or GRX1200 series GPS receivers, for detection of high frequency object motion… read

Vodafone today anounced the 904SH by Sharp, the world’s first mobile phone will a full VGA-resolution display, offering 480 x 640 pixels. First previewed at 3GSM earlier this month, it was announced today that the 904SH also features a 3.2 megapixel autofocus camera with 2x optical zoom and facial recognition biometric security. Other features of the phone include 3D motion sensor, FeliCa e-money capability, Bluetooth, GPS, and miniSD memory card slot. The 904SH is a WCDMA/GSM phone that will be available in Japan starting in late April… via

TomTom, today announces that Nissan will provide TomTom portable navigation technology as an accessory option on the new Nissan NOTE in the Netherlands, France and Italy.

“This is an exciting opportunity for TomTom and further demonstrates our dedication to the automotive market.” commented Harold Goddijn, CEO of TomTom. “The Nissan NOTE is a perfect fit with TomTom’s brand, combining fun, innovation and affordability. This partnership, together with other recent high profile automotive agreements, highlights the simplicity, cost-efficiency and quality of the TomTom offering for car manufacturers.”

TomTom and Nissan have a number of relationships across Europe. Nissan UK promoted the TomTom GO 300 with its Pathfinder model. In France, Nissan promoted a special edition Micra featuring the TomTom GO 500. Meanwhile in Germany, TomTom continues to be the best selling navigation system offered by Nissan… read

We have been comparing GPS receivers since the site was launched in late 2002, although at the time models available for testing where few and far in-between and our testing methods were naturally a bit “inexperienced”. These days, new GPS systems and chipsets seem to be “popping out” each day, in PDAs, in phones, AIO’s, etc…and our test methods took a turn for the better in 2005 with the reference GPS Chipset Comparison Article that focused on comparing actual tracks to see what type of raw data the GPS receivers were feeding to the navigation software, the idea being that the better the track, the better the guidance provided by the software, the aim of any system out there, regardless of its form factor. We have further refined the test methods with quantitative signal analysis… via

The fleet of Global Positioning System (GPS) Block IIR satellites designed and built by Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] to significantly enhance the overall performance of the GPS constellation has now accumulated 50 years of successful in-orbit operations.

GPS provides such essential services as situational awareness and precision weapon guidance for the military. It is also an information resource supporting a wide range of civil, scientific and commercial functions – from air traffic control to the Internet – with precision location and timing information.

GPS IIR satellites have been delivering precise navigation service to the U.S. military as well as civil users world-wide since the first successful launch of a GPS IIR satellite on July 23, 1997.

There are currently 13 operational Block IIR satellites within the overall 28-spacecraft constellation, including the first modernized IIR satellite recently declared fully operational for GPS users around the globe following extensive on-orbit testing of the spacecraft’s new military and civilian signals.

“GPS has not only proven to be a national asset for our military, but has also become an important service for civil and commercial users around the globe,” said Dr. Don DeGryse, Lockheed Martin’s vice president of Navigation Systems. “We take great pride in the sustained performance of the GPS IIR satellites on-orbit and look forward to delivering greater navigation capabilities now that we are launching the modernized series.”

Designated GPS IIR-M, these spacecraft incorporate two new signals and enhanced encryption and anti-jamming capabilities for the military, as well as a second civil signal, thus providing military and civilian users of the navigation system with greatly improved capabilities…. read

An article worth reading. I’ve always wondered about the ground work that needed to be done before the software could give me directions…

…Navteq supplies the raw map data that underlies those directions. That data isn’t as raw as you might think, though. Unlike paper maps, Navteq’s digital maps have to include details about which roads are one way, which way, and things like whether left turns are illegal Monday through Friday, excluding holidays, from 7:00 a.m to 10:00 a.m. unless you’re driving a bus.

Users who rely on this data to guide them from one place to another expect an extremely high degree of accuracy. People who use paper maps understand that their map may be old and that the map can’t tell them which way they’re allowed to go at a given intersection. People using computer programs just expect them to be right.

To check those sorts of details, Navteq relies on hundreds of Geographic Analysts like the two men I was with, Senior Geographic Analyst Christopher Arcari and Geographic Analyst I Jean Pierre Loize. They spend about half their time driving around gathering data about every road, large and small, in their designated region of the country. The other half of their time is spent sorting out all that data… read

The software finds the location of the images from the cell towers you were connected at the time the image was taken and will actually upload the exact coordinates if the user has GPS device on board. Currently works with only Nokia 6620, 6670, 6680, 6681, 6682, 7610 models and they say it is likely to also work on Nokia 3230, 6630, 6260. Here are the requirements for you to get this to work:

Data plan for your phone
Photos are uploaded over an Internet connection. MMS or SMS plans are not enough. Your phone will need to have a “data plan,” allowing your phone to send any data over the network.

Photo files are large. Make sure you don’t exceed your data plan’s limits when you upload photos.

Roaming costs may be surprising. Make sure you know how much you are being charged for data upload if you are in a different calling area or country.

We are not responsible for your bill.

Flickr & Yahoo! accounts
If you happen not to have one of these, you will be able to create it during the process. You will not be required to merge your Flickr and Yahoo accounts.

US users only
This research prototype is currently only available to US users.

Not doing too well on the green these days? The Sureshot GPS by Tee2Green might help you slice a few strokes off your game. The device uses GPS to determine distances on the course, whether to the nearest hole or sand trap. It keeps scores, recommends clubs and stores game data for up to 10 courses, freeing you from such tedium and allowing you to concentrate better on your game. Get one for $399 from Tee2Green and start practicing your hole-in-one shots now… via

I somehow browsed to this site and saw that some Korean gadget crazy person took some live pictures of the multi-functional PDA built by CyberBank. This gadget has a built-in GPS chip as well as the software for it. If you want to know more ask your Korean friend to come over and visit the site.

From some other sources I gathered some specs:
OS: WM5
ROM: 128MB
SDRAM: 64MB
Screen: 2.8″
GPS chip: SiRF3

Garmin has purchased a vacant factory to expand the production capacity of its Taiwan subsidiary, according to the subsidiary.

Garmin undertakes R&D, marketing and production of GPS equipment used in large aircraft and ocean-going vessels at its Kansas City (US) headquarters, while Garmin in Taiwan is its R&D and production base for portable GPS products use in light propeller planes (for leisure), yachts, automobiles, motorcycles and other kinds of vehicles.

Garmin currently has 14 SMD (surface mount device) production lines located near Taipei, with a monthly capacity to produce about 420,000 portable GPS devices. As the production capacity has been fully utilized for a while, the company has purchased a vacant factory elsewhere in northern Taiwan to gradually expand its capacity. The vacant factory has space to accommodate 14 SMD production lines at least, approximately the same as the existing capacity…via