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TomTom GPS navigation line-up for 2012

Jan 23, 2012 , Leave a comment


TomTom earlier this month introduced three new lines to their products. These are TomTom START, TomTom VIA, and TomTom GO LIVE.

Here’s the summary really:

TomTom START: Pretty basic, budget devices that get the job done.

  • Lifetime traffic and map updates
  • Speaks street names
  • Fuel prices

TomTom VIA: Have more money to spend? Get this. Add these features to above

  • bluetooth hands free calling
  • voice recognition
  • better graphics
  • slim design and TomTom’s famous mount

TomTom GO LIVE: Connected high-end product. Add these features:

  • HD Traffic
  • Live services
  • Capacitive touch screen
  • Travel apps

Telenav Scout ready for you iPhone

Jan 19, 2012 , , Leave a comment


TeleNav Scout is a new GPS navigation system that works across the web, your phone, and in-dash systems in your car.

  • available free on iPhone
  • provides real-time commute times to work or home
  • real-time traffic during daily commutes

Scout.me is the web interface to your navigation solution with Telenav which lets your start planning your trip in front of a computer. There’s also Scout for cars and the first to integrate this system will be Ford.

Magellan RoadMate 5190T GPS navigation system for commercial truckers

Jan 18, 2012 , , , Leave a comment


Not too long ago we talked about the Magellan RoadMate RV9145. Now we have yet another GPS navigation system for truckers and other big vehicle drivers. This one is called Magellan RoadMate 5190T and is designed for commercial drivers.

Here are some of the features:

  • customized routing based on the vehicle height, weight, width, length and HAZMAT restrictions
  • multi-destination routing
  • free lifetime traffic
  • tracking log to record hours of service, mileage
  • Bluetooth connectivity
  • loud built-in speakers
  • A/V inputs for back-up camera or others

Garmin Approach G6 – all you need to know

Jan 17, 2012 , , Leave a comment


You’re looking at a shiny new Garmin Approach G6 GPS golf device. Here’s the scoop:

  • available Feb 2012
  • MSRP is $300
  • preloaded with over 25,000 worldwide courses
  • weighs just over 3 ounces
  • 2.6” sunlight readable display
  • offers layup arcs that are drawn on the map
  • battery lasts up to 15 hours

Too expensive? Older models, such as Approach G3 and Approach G5 must be a whole lot cheaper by now. Too big? Check out Garmin Approach S1 which is just a wrist watch.

Garmin Smartphone Link – mostly no thanks

Jan 17, 2012 , , 1 Comment

Garmin recently announced Smartphone Link. This is an for Android devices to bring live updates to your GPS navigation system. The GPS navigation system and your smartphone have to connect via bluetooth. It will work on all new bluetooth enabled nuvis and also nüvi 2475LT, 2495LMT, 2595LMT which require a software update.

As you may have guessed this setup will be using your phone’s mobile data plan and the Android app is free. However there will be premium content available through subscriptions.

Free services:

  • Live weather information
  • myGarmin messaging – update notifications and special offers from Garmin

Premium Live Services:

  • Live Traffic ($20/year): updated every two minutes and covers major highways, interstates and main roads
  • photoLive traffic cameras ($10/year): ability to see real-time photos from more than 10,000 traffic cameras across the U.S. and Canada
  • Fuel Prices ($10/year): best prices in your area
  • Advanced Weather ($5/year): current and 5-day forecasts, severe weather alerts and view animated radar images

If you have a smartphone why you would pay for these services is beyond me.. Live Traffic? Try Google Maps. Traffic cameras? There’s an app for that too. Fuel prices, Advanced Weather? All free on Android. We like Garmin devices but all these services we say NO THANK YOU. Still interested? Here’s the link.

Magellan RoadMate RV9145 for RV and truck

Jan 12, 2012 , Leave a comment


Magellan RoadMate RV9145 is the latest GPS navigation system from the company that focuses on RV’s and trucks. It is going to sell for $399 according to their own website but we’ve seen other sites reporting lower numbers. Here are the facts for the RV9145:

  • 7″ touch screen
  • A/V input
  • The Good Sam club Trailer Life directory
  • Customize your RV routes using your own vehicle’s length, width, weight and height
  • auto night view
  • Preloaded Maps of US, Canada, Puerto Rico

Garmin’s new high end GPS navigation systems: nuvi 3550LM and nuvi 3590LMT

Jan 10, 2012 , , Leave a comment


Garmin announced a new series of high end GPS navigation systems yesterday which are on display at CES 2012. Called the nuvi 3500 series; the models include 3550LM, and 3590LMT which will be available starting this February.

Garmin Nuvi 3550LM

  • ultra thin design, 5″ glass display
  • Guidance 3.0 navigation engine
  • photoReal junction view

Garmin Nuvi 3590LMT has all of the above and:

  • subscription-free Digital 3D Traffic
  • compatible Garmin’s Android app for live services

Garmin Nuvi 3550LM has an MSRP of $370 whereas the Garmin nuvi 3590LMT which has Android connection for live services has an MSRP of $400. We say wait until June and pick them up for a lot cheaper :)

Magellan Switch and Switch Up GPS watch

Jan 9, 2012 , , , Leave a comment


Magellan is entering the fitness world with two brand new GPS watches. Let’s keep this short:

Magellan Switch:

  • fitness training device w/ 9 customizable sport profiles
  • high resolution display
  • 8 hours of battery life
  • high sensitivity GPS receiver
  • 50 meter water resistance
  • works with ANT+™ sensors

Magellan Switch Up has all of the above plus:

  • barometric altimeter for elevation data
  • thermometer
  • vibration alerts
  • quick release mount to easily transition between sports

Other features, etc

  • Battery Pack Extender w/ 16 hours of extra life (24 total)
  • available Spring 2012
  • Magellan Switch: $250 ($300 with Heart Rate Monitor)
  • Magellan Switch Up with a Multisport Mounting Kit $300, +$50 with HRM

on FBI and GPS tracking

Jan 6, 2012 , , Leave a comment


Recently a federal decision allowed the FBI to embed a GPS device to a suspected Missouri man’s vehicle. Does this mean they come after the rest of us? That is still up in the air until Supreme Court decides what it thinks about the practice which won’t be until later this year. Supreme Court will actually be hearing a different case, but it is still about warrentless GPS tracking. From the Missouri case for example the federal judge said the suspected person could not expect a reasonable amount of privacy on the outside of his car.

According to the same judge:

“Here, installation of the GPS tracker device onto defendant Robinson’s Cavalier was not a ‘search’ because defendant Robinson did not have a reasonable expectation of privacy in the exterior of his Cavalier. Agents installed the GPS tracker device onto defendant’s Cavalier based on a reasonable suspicion that he was being illegally paid as a ‘ghost’ employee on the payroll of the St. Louis City Treasurer’s Office.

Installation of the GPS tracker device was non-invasive; a magnetic component of the GPS tracker device allowed it to be affixed to the exterior of the Cavalier without the use of screws and without causing any damage to the exterior of the Cavalier. The GPS tracker device was installed when the Cavalier was on a public street near defendant’s residence. Installation of the GPS tracker device revealed no information to the agents other than the public location of the vehicle. Under these circumstances, installation of the GPS tracker device was not a search within the meaning of the Fourth Amendment.”

The results could’ve been different if the case was based on the violation of the first amendment as the defense team had hoped but instead it was about the fourth amendment.

China no longer needs your GPS

Jan 5, 2012 , , Leave a comment


If you don’t already know this – current GPS system used all over the world for navigation and many other things is a US based system. But China can now use their own version of satellite positioning system called Beidou.

It’s not quite worldwide yet but it is already offering positioning and timing services over China and other surrounding areas. This is done with only 10 satellites. By 2020 they’ll have 35 satellites in orbit which will provide a worldwide coverage.

China’s military is one of the biggest of the world and with Beidou they’re cutting their dependance on U.S. Their navigation system will offer 10 meter accuracy for civilians and an undisclosed level of accuracy for military purposes.

This is better US’ current system but with GPSIII America is planning to catch up with modern times.

Images shown are from Analytical Graphics, Inc. which shows that Beidou satellites provide regular coverage over China and South China Sea, but they currently provide very little to no coverage elsewhere in the world.

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