Archive for April, 2010

GPS navigation on iPad from CoPilot

Apr 30, 2010 , , ,




Our friends at CoPilot just announced their GPS navigation system on the new Apple iPad 3G. But you know Apple is – you’ll have to wait for the new app to get approved by the App Nazis. What’s cool with the new app is that maps stored on the device, so no need for a data connection. Called CoPilot Live HD, this GPS navigation software takes full advantage of the large screen offered by the iPad and can show split screen; combining 2D with 3D instructions, and auto rotate the as you turn the device.

They hope to make the app available for the release of iPad 3G which is coming up soon and maps for additional regions will be launched as the iPad 3G becomes available worldwide in coming months.

CoPilot Live HD North America like we said has been submitted to the App Store for approval, and it is expected to be available early May for $30. One time fee, no monthly fees.

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Pro Tech offender tracking GPS ankle unit

Apr 29, 2010 ,


Makers of offender tracking devices – Pro Tech – just got their latest Smart One Wearable MTD through FCC meaning soon you’ll be able to see this on your favorite offender’s ankle (??!). For obvious reasons this is a live tracking device which utilizes a sensitive, low power GPS receiver, as well as a GSM/GPRS module transmitting location information to the ‘base’.

This tracking device supports various rules such as exclusion and inclusion zones, schedules, etc, and they are all stored in the device. This makes it possible for the ankle unit to warn the offender about a possible violation even when there are no wireless signals.

Other features include communication via LED lights and vibration, soft key for offender acknowledgment, support for multiple tracking technologies including GPS, and an advanced motion sensor.

If you happen to wear one of these please let us know your thoughts on this GPS tracking device. Performance, sensitivity, battery life, etc…

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garmin-asus A10

Apr 29, 2010 , , , , , , , , ,


Not to be confused with garminfone or nuviphone M10 Garmin and Asus partnership just announced another Android powered phone called Garmin Asus A10.

Of course its focus is again on GPS navigation; however more so for pedestrians rather than drivers which probably means it’s probably not going to make it to the U.S. where driving almost always takes precedence. The press release actually says it will be available in mid-2010 in Europe and Asia-Pacific.

Garmin-Asus A10 features a 3.2″ touch screen, electronic compass and a 1500mAh battery. Depending on your location the A10 will contain preloaded maps so you won’t have to rely on a data connection for maps which can be non-existent or just too expensive to use. Of course Garmin-Asus A10 will also work in your vehicle too – thanks to the powered audio mount.

Some other features of A10 include WebKit browser with multi-touch, 5MP camera with auto-focus, and auto-geotag, built-in accelerometer for horizontal and landscape views.

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TomTom Urban Rider GPS navigation for bikes

Apr 28, 2010 ,


TomTom just announced their latest GPS navigation system for bikers called TomTom Urban Rider. Expected to go on sale in Europe at the end of May for 249 € the new Urban Rider tries to make things very easy for hands with gloves on such as even bigger icons, glove friendly touch screen, and only two button operation.

Other features include the usual Tomtom services such as IQ routes, and MapShare.

If you want the maps of whole Europe it will cost you an extra 50 € and there’s also the pro version which adds bluetooth headset into the mix.

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Nokia N8

Apr 28, 2010 , ,


Nokia N8 is out. Select European markets first. It will cost about 370 € when it comes out third quarter of this year. It is a very sleek device measuring only 12.9mm in thinness but still packing a whole lot of features while fitting a 1200mAh battery that last quite a bit ( but of course depends on what you do). Anyhow, with the latest Nokia N8 you’ll be one of the first to get a taste of the new Symbian ^3 OS and enjoy a 12.1MP camera while shooting 720p videos at 25fps.

Nokia N8 has a 3.5″ capacitive touch screen, orientation sensor, electronic compass, proximity, and a ambient light detector. It has 16GB of internal memory but you can get up to 48GB with microSD card slot.

Other highlights include GPS and A-GPS receivers, FM radio and transmitter, bluetooth, WiFi b/g/n, HDMI, flash lite support, 3.5mm audio port, and a lot more.



Bunch of videos follow…

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TomTom GO Live 1000

Apr 28, 2010 ,




TomTom just announced a new GPS navigation system called TomTom GO Live 1000. One of the highlights of the new sat nav device from TomTom is that it is going to have a capacitive touchscreen just like most smartphones out there – which should make it more pleasant to interact with it. Also interesting is the fact the new OS makes it possible for to install applications on the device – but only time will tell if creating apps for GPS navigation systems ever takes off.

Other things to note on the new TomTom GO Live 1000 is the Webkit based user interface, 1 year of free HD Traffic updates, and a new algorithm for routing which should be even faster than ever.

The pricing of TomTom GO Live 1000 has not been announced yet but at least know it will come out this summer…

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garminfone from T-Mobile

Apr 27, 2010 , , , , , ,





We just talked about Garminfone that will be exclusively available from T-Mobile. The phone is not out yet but some people managed to get their hands on the device, and unboxed it while documenting every step.

What makes Garminfone special is that fact that you’ll have Garmin’s expertise in GPS navigation always with you. The interface is familiar, maps are preloaded, and you can navigate to a location stored in a picture.

Would you prefer a Garminfone over another Android phone with free Google navigation?

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Garmin GPSMAP 78, GPSMAP 78s, GPSMAP 78sc

Apr 26, 2010 , , , ,


Garmin just announced three new marine GPS handheld devices. Garmin GPSMAP 78, GPSMAP 78s, and GPSMAP 78sc. Before we go into their differences and unique features let’s go over this newly remodeled series. They all have the same form factor which now has contemporary industrial design with rubber side grips. They can last up to 20 hours on a pair of AA batteries, and all use the HotFix GPS receiver from SiRF. 2.6″ color TFT screen, IPX 7 waterproof, 1.7GB internal memory and microSD card slot are also standard.

  • GPSMAP 78: ($350) base model
  • GPSMAP 78s: ($450) add barometric altimeter, tilt compensated 3-axis electronic compass, wireless unit-to-unit transfer
  • GPSMAP 78sc: ($550) add preloaded maps

You can even also paperless geocaching on all the new GPSMAP 78 models.

Oh and the maps. They all have a built-in worldwide shaded relief basemap and the GPSMAP 78sc adds BlueChart g2 cartography for the coastal U.S.

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no Google Maps navigation on iPhone

Apr 26, 2010 , , , ,


Recently there were some rumors about Google making their free GPS navigation application available on the iPhone platform. Apparently those were nothing but rumors as Google clarified that today. They said they never meant iPhone when they announced their GPS navigation application would be available on other platforms in the future.

So it looks like iPhone users are still out of luck when it comes to Google powered, free, 3D, over-the-air – but cached, turn-by-turn GPS navigation application. Sorry guys.

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custom gps navigation in sun visor

Apr 23, 2010





We got this custom made GPS embedded sun visor project from R. Barrios’ site. It is done really well. It keeps the power connection, and windshield mount out of the way, and more importantly you don’t have to worry about break-in’s since thieves would have no idea you have a GPS navigation system inside your sun visor.

This was done for a Mini Cooper and keeps the original look of the car. There are also no buttons to mess with. Power on off is done via deployment of the visor (is this a good idea?), external roof mounted GPS antenna for better reception, and built in speaker for the best embedded GPS navigation system we’ve seen so far.

You think this is easy to do? Think again. Here is excerpt from the instructions:

Programm a PIC processor to drive a NPN transistor after power-up, so that the GPS unit turns on by a electric press of the ON/OFF switch each time the unit receives power (the turn-off is handled by a TomTom firmware setting).

… see the LCD assembly, motherboard and Li-Ion battery. They’ve been rearranged and mounted with three small screws that allow for dis-assembly if necessary. On top of the PCB is the PIC processor, getting power via the red cable connected to the 5V from the mini-usb socket. Next to the PIC 16f875, also connected to the 5V is the 100uH coil that powers the external antenna via in the PCB. The tiny SMD DC blocking capacitor is on the other side of the PCB, where the little patch GPS antenna was and the new coax was connected.

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