GPS enabled phones up 92%
Mar 22, 2010 gps navigation, misc news
According to an analysis firm in Sweden the number of GPS enabled handsets shipped worldwide increased 92% in 2009 to 150 million. If it continues with its 39% compound annual growth rate this number will be up to 770 million in 2014.
The articles acknowledges that almost all smartphones have GPS feature standard and the same is about to happen to even low-cost smartphones.
It also says that feature devices will be able to analyze signals from GPS, Glonass, and Galileo at the same time but this still won’t be able to provide a reliable location info when indoors. To circumvent the problem measurements from cellular networks, and WiFi signals will have to be used together.
“Chipset developers and handset vendors are already working on next-generation location technologies that will address the limitations of GPS when using handsets in urban canyons and indoors,” said Andre Malm, a senior analyst with Berg Insight, in a statement. “Multi-mode receivers that also support the Russian Glonass satellite system will appear in handsets in 2011. By combining the two systems, more visible satellites will increase the chance to receive sufficiently strong signals to get a fix in more locations.”
Garmin moves from Cayman Islands to Switzerland
Mar 20, 2010 garmin, gps navigation, misc news
Garmin wants to shift the location of its incorporation from the Cayman Islands to Switzerland, a move which was approved by the board and now waits for share holders to chime in. Company says the Swiss office will provide a base for expansion in Europe and allow for easier acquisition of European businesses. Garmin would then become a Swiss company but would still remain subject to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission reporting requirements and other rules of Nasdaq. All their finances would still have to be managed in U.S. dollars too.
Garmin Connect Team – for hire
Mar 19, 2010 garmin, gps navigation, misc news, software
Garmin told the developers of their popular software – Garmin Connect – that they were closing down their San Fran office and moving everybody to Kansas. This obviously didn’t go so well. The Garmin Connect connect team now put up this website, telling people they’re not going anywhere, while showcasing their skills.
On the other hand this could related to the fact that the migration from motionbased.com (which was bought by Garmin) to Garmin connect went nothing like planned and all the features that people loved didn’t make it to release software. Now Edge, Forerunner, etc users all have to rely on Garmin Connect.
If you’ve used both motionbased and Garmin Connect please tell us what you think.
dear Rick Sanchez, please use this guide
Mar 1, 2010 gps navigation, misc news
After the earthquake in Chile Rick Sanchez was on CNN discussing the tsunami that could possibly hit Hawaii.
So he was off by a bit so we put together a little map for him to clarify a few things:
View Rick Sanchez’s Guide to Hawaii in a larger map
Raytheon gets GPS contract
Feb 26, 2010 gps navigation, misc news
Raytheon just won a contract worth $886 million to develop the advanced control segment (OCX) of global positioning system. The new system will bring anti-jamming features, advanced security features, and more accuracy.
GPS command, control, and mission capabilities will be affected by OCX, making it easier for operators to run GPS II and upcoming next-gen GPS satellites.
You can read more about GPS Advanced Control Segment (OCX) on Raytheon’s site.
sex offender removes GPS tracking bracelet, rapes again
Feb 21, 2010 gps navigation, misc news
This is probably the worst GPS news you’ll hear all day. A level 3 sex offender in Massachusetts who was wearing a GPS tracking ankle bracelet cut the GPS tracking device off and went off to rape again.
…29-year-old William French had been fitted with a GPS monitor for violating his probation after failing a random drug screening. He was out of prison after serving eight years for a 2001 rape…
He was probably wearing a GPS bracelet similar to what we’ve talked about here and managed to cut it off without triggering any sensors.
He is now behind bars again and facing a new rape charge.
Boeing getting ready to launch GPS satellite
Feb 18, 2010 gps navigation, misc news
Boeing shipped their first GPS IIF satellite to Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida using one of their own C-17 Globemaster III airlifter. After some final preparations this next-generation navigation spacecraft will be ready for launch.
Called Space Vehicle 1 (SV-1), this is the first of 12 GPS IIF satellites for the U.S. Air Force, which will be sent into orbit later this year. The plan with GPS IIF system is to bring some very much needed enhancement to the aging GPS constellation.
You can read all about Boeing’s GPS IIF here.
U.S. kills civilians with GPS guided missile
Feb 16, 2010 gps navigation, misc news
The title may be a bit too direct – but that’s just what happened. This past Sunday a GPS guided American missile hit a building in Afghanistan filled with civilians – where it should’ve hit a building a hundreds of yards away.
NY Times reports the rocket was fired Camp Bastion; a base to the northeast which utilized their HiMARS. HiMARS stands for High Mobility Artillery Rocket System. Apparently the GPS guided munitions of HiMARS are highly accurate, capable of striking a target with a few yards accuracy.
American commander said he deeply regrets the tragic loss of life and he will suspend the use this weapon until thorough review of this incident has been conducted which took lives of at least ten people five of which were children.
WiLink 7.0 does GPS and more
Feb 10, 2010 gps navigation, misc news
TI reduces size, power consumption, and cost with its new WiLink 7.0 platform. It combines GPS, WiFi 802.11n, Blutooth, and FM transmit and receiver. Since everything is on one single chip manufacturers do not have to worry about interference, overlapping spectrums, and many other things the regular YouTube watching teenage kid doesn’t care about. It can use all connectivity cores in parallel and they have a video to prove it.
Apple keeps locking down their iPhone platform
Feb 6, 2010 gps navigation, misc news
According to macnn Apple now is prohibiting the use of GPS for serving location aware ads. They want to limit the use GPS feature of your iPhone to only get beneficial information. This immediately makes everyone think that Apple is probably reserving the right for location based advertising for themselves and might make a move in this direction soon.
Apple initially was in touch with AdMob which later was acquired by Google; so they recently purchased Quattro Wireless; another ad company. Analysts in the field claim that Apple will launch a mobile advertising network to serve ads on free apps.
Keep in mind all these are speculations.
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