Rand McNally MONA Cellphone Navigation
May 26, 2006 casio, gps navigation, gps phones, gps software, motorola
Would you rather trust your mapping needs to someone who’s been around since the civil war, or some upstart like Garmin or Magellan? If you chose the former, then Rand McNally’s MONA navigation service is just for you.
The service is a $9.99 application on your phone that has maps and directions. No big GPS unit or map updates to buy, they’re all included. The kink in the plan is—there’s always one—MONA is only compatible with GPS-enabled mobile phones such as the Motorola i710, i730, i736, i830, and i860. Also, the service only operates on Nextel. McNally plans to add more phones and providers soon, but if you meet the qualifications, this seems pretty useful for occasional driving directions.
Tags: casio, gps navigation, gps phones, gps software, motorola
Nokia Car Kit to include GPS navigation system
May 26, 2006 bluetooth, gps navigation, gps phones
Nokia is already one of the largest cell phone manufacturers on the planet, but they’re not content with hogging up all the precious real estate in your pocket and/or purse. They want a big piece of the in-car electronics pie as well, and that’s why they’re heavily promoting the new CK-20W Car Kit.
While it is basically just a dash-mounted dock and remote, their ingenious PR department is calling it the “first integrated hands-free solution to combine high-quality communication, music, navigation and push-to-talk in the car.” Of course, this is because many of their higher end (and even not that high-end) phones are capable of playing music, as well as “communication”, of course.
However, if you want your handy handset to tell you where to go, you’ll need to purchase an additional GPS Bluetooth receiver. Of course, they’re quick to mention that the soon-to-be-released Nokia LD-2 Navigation Pack is perfect for that purpose. No word on pricing, but both the CK-20W Car Kit and LD-2 Navigation Pack should be available later this summer.
Tags: bluetooth, gps navigation, gps phones
Jeep Celebrate 65th Anniversary with Detachable Free Navigation System
May 26, 2006 gps navigation, misc news
Jeep is celebrating 65 years of go anywhere, do anything capability with a 65 day sale, offering free GPS navigation across its range and special pricing on selected Wrangler, Cherokee and Grand Cherokee models.
Hot on the heals of the arrival of the all-new seven-seat Commander, joining the Wrangler, Cherokee and Grand Cherokee in the range – all new Jeep vehicles sold during the 65 day sale will receive a free navigation system.
The navigation unit differs for each model however boast easy to use functions and voice instructions. In addition to car based usage the navigation system on the Wrangler is waterproof and powered by a lithium-ion battery for on-foot adventures.
via
Tags: gps navigation, misc news
Microsoft pushes portable computers for media players and GPS units
May 26, 2006 gps navigation, umpc
Microsoft is pushing for Ultra Mobile PC (UMPC) devices to be used for new niche applications ranging from media players to GPS navigation systems and health monitors.
In a session at the Windows Hardware Engineering Conference (WinHEC) in Seattle, the company showed off concept designs for a series of such niche applications.
“The UMPC is a platform that enables us to reach people and markets that we could never dream of with desktop or mobile PCs,” said Seiya Ohta, a Microsoft hardware experience architect working on UMPC.
Tags: gps navigation, umpc
EADS, Lockheed team on GPS satellites
May 26, 2006 galileo, gps navigation, gps satellites, misc news
Lockheed Martin and EADS Astrium have signed an agreement to guarantee the interoperability of their respective Global Positioning System satellites.
The pact announced Thursday covers EADS’ Galileo program and Lockheed’s GPS III system, both of which will be mainstays of increasingly ubiquitous GPS devices.
“This opens a new dimension of cooperation … that will benefit consumers for decades as the Galileo and GPS III systems come on line,” observed EADS Vice President Reinhold Lutz.
The two companies will work together on systems engineering and other technical projects involving interoperability and optimization, a joint news release said. Some reciprocal bidding will take place for operational equipment and software.
Tags: galileo, gps navigation, gps satellites, misc news
Polaroid MGX-0550 GPS Navigation sold at Target
May 25, 2006 gps navigation, in-dash gps
This thing’s probably not legal in the UK, or many states in the US, like California, but Polaroid has combined a GPS Nav system with a DVD Player.
The Navigation itself isn’t anything out of the ordinary. It uses the Sirf Star III GPS Processor and has a touchscreen interface. But, the 5.6” screen allows you to watch The Fast and The Furious while you’re barreling down the 101 at 5 miles an hour.
Also, the system has a built-in FM transmitter, so that means you can listen to the audio from your movie through your car’s speakers. However, you can’t listen to music and this at the same time, unlike in-dash navigation systems.
Available at Target.
Navigation Features:
- Pre-loaded detailed maps of the United States including Hawaii, and Canada
- Rotary knob makes navigation of menus and other functions quick and easy
- Large 5.6” TFT LCD with easy touch-screen operation;High-brightness display is easy to read even in sunlight
- Display backlight dims automatically during nighttime use
- 1.6 million points of interest
- Visual and audible navigation prompts with user-selectable languages for voice and text provide clear turn-by-turn directions
- Send audio to the car stereo system through the built-in FM wireless transmitter
- WAAS-enabled 12-channel GPS for pinpoint accuracy
- View maps in 2D and 3D perspectives
- Auto route recalculation if you change your route; Built-in antenna and external antenna
- Sirf Star III GPS processor
- Built-in compass, speedometer and altimeter
- Zoom in/out
Tags: gps navigation, in-dash gps
Toshiba W44T with 3D GPS
May 25, 2006 gps navigation
At 51 x 108 x 21mm and 139g, the W442 manages to house a rotatable 2.6-inch TFT display that actually flips around (as seen in above image), perfect for business applications, games, or watching mobile TV. Other features include a 3.2-megapixel camera, 1GB of memory, media player, 3D GPS, and Bluetooth support. Pricing and availability have not yet been announced.
The auto-translation of the Japanese press release gives us this:
EZ Nabi walk “3D Nabi” correspondence
With loading the advanced 3D graphic engine, the building and the scenery before the eye real it corresponds to the up-to-date navigation which is indicated with the 3D picture. According to travelling direction, because the picture changes automatically, to understand cheapness is preeminent. It just speaks to the k tie, speedily to change, it can do search and destination search, “voice de input” and, it corresponds to also “relieved Nabi”.
Tags: gps navigation
Give directions to your Pioneer AVIC-Z1 navigation system
May 25, 2006 avic, gps navigation, in-dash gps, ipod, pioneer
Navigation devices may suggest routes that do not match your tried-and-true paths. But the Pioneer AVIC-Z1, an in-dash entertainment and navigation system, will learn and follow your favorite routes, storing the information on the hard drive that holds its map data.
The AVIC-Z1 can speak street names and highway numbers, and you can command it by voice — not just for navigation but also to operate its radio, DVD and CD players, and an MP3 music library it builds from CD’s as you play them. (When the car is in motion, DVD video will appear only in the back seat.)
With accessories, the unit can play Sirius or XM satellite radio, show which roads are jammed, connect to Bluetooth cellphones, operate an iPod and display images from a rearview camera.
The AVIC-Z1, which is available for about $2,250 from online and offline car stereo dealers, has a 7-inch touch screen that sits flush with the dashboard like that of a factory-installed system.
Its detailed maps show streets and landmarks clearly, whether the route you’re following is your choice or the AVIC-Z1′s.
Tags: avic, gps navigation, in-dash gps, ipod, pioneer
Inrix Provides GPS Traffic Info, In Real Time
May 25, 2006 gps navigation, gps software, inrix, misc news
While you’re finishing up that second cup of coffee at home and browsing the news online, delivery trucks already on the freeway are sending automated traffic reports that could help speed you to work when you’re ready to go.
It’s all part of the Dust Network unveiled on Tuesday by Inrix Traffic Services, a Microsoft spin-off, at the annual Telematics Detroit forum.
Inrix says it can predict traffic up to a year in an advance using Bayesian statistical analysis, which uses historical evidence and observation help you infer the odds of something being true. In plain English, the level of traffic flow on I-70 west out of Denver in a light drizzle the day before Thanksgiving in 2004 is probably a good predictor of what traffic will be like on Wednesday, November 22, 2006, if it’s raining.
The company explained how the Dust Network, so named for how much information you’d collect if every speck of dust had sensors and communication, will connect data. Since dust is too small for affixing logos and antennas, Inrix instead chose 500,000 commercial fleet, delivery, and taxi vehicles already equipped with two-way communications. (In exchange for the data, Inrix will give the fleets a cut rate on traffic-information reports.) The speed and position reports can generate map overlays that show traffic flow in real time, and will be stored for use in the Bayesian engine for future rush-hour reports.
The traffic reports will be available to automotive OEMs, Web portals, in-car navigation suppliers and portable-navigation-device manufacturers. Inrix announced its initial partners: TeleAtlas, Cingular, MSN, Garmin, Magellan, and TomTom, as well as a coming generation of Microsoft SPOT watches.
Tags: gps navigation, gps software, inrix, misc news
Review of Garmin Nuvi 300 personal travel assistant from Ireland
May 24, 2006 garmin, google, gps navigation, gps reviews, nuvi
Normally when asked to review a global positioning system (GPS), I hesitate. This is because reviewing such systems can be a hit-and-miss affair: the device works but the software doesn’t because the mapping software doesn’t have information about Ireland.
To my delight — and relief — the Garmin Nuvi 300 personal travel assistant brought the potential of GPS as a potential business and consumer phenomenon to life.
GPS systems for vehicles have been around for a while. Mostly they are built into cars and trucks or are massive dashboard-mounted systems that are both expensive and unwieldy. Ownership of GPS devices was the privilege of a few — a yacht owner or a tech savvy taxi driver perhaps.
However, the worm has turned and research out last week by Gartner revealed that 40pc of car owners are looking for in-vehicle navigation technology and that the devices are heading in the direction of commoditisation.
Certainly the Garmin Nuvi 300 proves that this is possible. About the same size as a BlackBerry email device, the Nuvi 300 can be attached to your car’s dash or popped in your pocket. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: garmin, google, gps navigation, gps reviews, nuvi
