Apple was issued a couple of interesting new patents today (spotted by AppleInsider), including one that could make an iPhone aware of changes in a user’s situation, and alter phone settings accordingly. That would make for a mobile phone that might be able to automatically switch to silent mode when in a movie theatre, for instance, or which could wake from sleep upon being pulled out of a… → Read More
Y Combinator company Glassmap, a location-aware app that was big back in the day (last year), has just announced that is has been acquired by Groupon. A representative from Groupon has confirmed to TechCrunch that the company has indeed acquired Glassmap and is ”excited to bring the team aboard.” This makes total sense, because Groupon needs to know where you are, who you’re… → Read More
eeGeo the startup behind Recce — a rich, interactive searchable 3D mapping platform which aggregates data feeds from other services to create an animated bird’s eye view of a city and what is going on in it — has launched its first game using the same technology: a GPS-based iOS app called Go Deliver – London, in partnership with games studio Midoki. → Read More
MyTracks for Android is one of Google’s lesser known mobile apps, but it’s actually a pretty useful tool for those who would like to keep a record of their bike rides, runs, hikes and other outdoor activities. Google itself is actually using it together with Team HTC-Columbia during the Tour de France to track the team’s riders during the event. Today, the company is releasing version 2.0 of the… → Read More
Sure, GPS helps us get from Point A to Point B, but what if you’re just trying to find the Cinnabon? A new system from Fraunhofer allows for in-store (or in-mall) navigation and uses very simple sensors to asses where you are in the building at any time.
The system works when you enter the edifice and scan a QR code. This identifies your current position. A built-in pedometer and compass assess… → Read More
Geoloqi, a name you may know because of the mobile app that once provided automatic Foursquare check-ins and geofenced reminders, is today launching its next-generation location platform as an SDK. Although previously available in API format for developers’ use, the new iOS and Android SDK makes it even easier for developers to drop in location services into their apps, whether those are… → Read More
Considering Android is getting on in age, it’s surprising it hasn’t been featured on more “miscellaneous” devices. Phones and tablets, sure, but we haven’t seen many, say, DVD players or PMPs using the OS. And certainly not GPS devices, whose proprietary libraries and interfaces were developed at great cost, leading the companies that made them working desperately to squeeze every last penny out… → Read More
Pioneer yesterday announced the so-called Potternavi [JP], a GPS for bicycles that will be available in white or black. Buyers can expect a 2.4-inch color LCD with 240×320 resolution, ANT+ support, an acceleration sensor, a USB port, and 10 hours of battery life.
Pioneer says that the Potternavi not only shows maps and directions but also lets users look for popular spots, for example the… → Read More
It’s interesting to chart the size and shape of fitness watches over the years. The first Garmins looked like protein bars melted to your wrist by this new one, the Forerunner 910XT, looks as svelte and lithe as the marathoners who will probably wear it. The 910XT costs about $400 and will be available next week.
The new model supports Garmin’s Connect online service as well as their clever… → Read More
I just had the unique pleasure geocaching for the first time. I’d always been interested in the concept: someone hides something tiny in the wilderness and you use a GPS tracker to find it. However, the thought of traipsing around in the woods to look for someone hippie’s Tupperware did not compute. Then we got the GeoMate Jr., a small GPS tracker designed for kids and discovered that it wasn’t… → Read More
Garmin Ltd. and Navigon AG just announced that the two companies have reached an agreement and a subsidiary of Garmin will acquire the privately-held navigation company. The financial terms of the transaction was not released.
German-based Navigon pulled out of the North American PND market in 2009 and has since focused on the European region and smartphone apps. It’s likely that these two areas… → Read More
Why this is making a splash today, I can’t really answer, but here we go. Nasa published a white paperin November that discusses how best to protect our GPS satellites from any sort of impropriety. The primary suggestion is to have the president declare our GPS satellites critical infrastructure. Once they’ve been classified as such the Department of Homeland Security will be put in charge of… → Read More
It’s illegal to own or operate a GPS jammer in the United States for many valid reasons. More importantly, it threatens many systems us humans find relevant. If GPS goes down, how will people get around cities without getting lost? (Google Maps works so well for public transit.) It’s not surprising that the biggest threat to GPS is actually its owners: the US government. → Read More
Telogis, a location-based technology firm in Aliso Viejo, Calif. has raised another $2.9 million, according to a new SEC filing, to help businesses track and manage their fleets of vehicles, and workforce using GPS, mobile and web technology.
The company touts its “mobile resource management” software and services as environmentally beneficial, and fuel-saving. According to the Telogis website… → Read More
Existing GPS systems usually achieve an accuracy of about 10m, but that will change soon, according to a recent report in Japanese business daily The Nikkei: a new technology developed by Mitsubishi and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) improves that number to an unbelievable 3cm. → Read More
http://www1.ntv.ru/swf/vps1.swf?xmllink=http://www.ntv.ru/vi215229/ Oh, those Russians. Sistema, a mobile operator over in Putin Country, just released the first GLONASS/GPS phone in the country. GLONASS is Russia’s GPS solution that doesn’t depend on America’s capitalist satellites. → Read More
Now here’s a prickly issue: should the government have to obtain a warrant in order to slap a GPS tracking device on your car as you drive around town doing whatever? A federal appeals court says yes, in fact, the government does have to obtain a warrant, if for no other reason than a “reasonable person does not expect anyone to monitor and retain a record of every time he drives his car… → Read More
TomTom is back and ready to sell its next generation of PNDs. The 4.3-inch Go 2045 TM and 5-inch Go 2505 TM are built around a new system that was developed by regularly monitoring traffic information, which is said to provide smarter and faster routing. These models also hit with a redesigned UI that reduces the amount of user inputs to reach the desired function. Pinch-to-zoom and swipe from… → Read More
North Korea is apparently active jamming GPS signals using truck-mounted systems that overrun signals coming from Russian tracking satellites. South Korea is unable to pinpoint the locations of these jammers because the Army runs them for about ten minutes at a time and then moves them. → Read More
The makers of the ContourHD camera just announced an update to their hands-free product, the ContourGPS. The CoutourGPS uses the same camera as the ContourHD, but with the added functionality of GPS tracking. Check out a video of the camera in action, and the press release after the jump. → Read More
Afraid that the almighty government will sneak into your driveway, attach a GPS device to your car, then track your every move? Perhaps you should be more afraid of what your child’s school has in mind? A Chicago-area elementary school will keep track of students’ bus rides using GPS. This a move to ease parents’ concerns about the perils of bus rides! Children have been riding in school… → Read More
The government is coming after you! Run for the hills! Oh, wait, the government owns the hills! Shrill, yes, but there’s a point. A recent article in Time magazine paints a fairly scary picture of the potential for the government to use GPS (originally a military creation, remember) to track your every move. Will this happen? Eh, pretty hard to see that happening—but it could happen. → Read More
These maps, by Eric Fisher, are the result of interpreting geotagging data for Flickr photos taken in popular cities. Red dots mean tourist photos, blue dots mean locals. Personally I don’t see a lot of utility in geotagging, at least for myself, but hot damn does it make for some interesting (and beautiful) data. Above you see London; there are dozens more in the set. Check it out. [via… → Read More
I love me a GPS watch. While they’re not quite as exciting in practice as they are in theory, they’re still great for exercising and keeping yourself on the right trail. I’ve thus far only used Garmin models but I’m quite excited by this new Timex watch for $275. → Read More
So you’re trapped in the high mountains of Tibet with only your wits and a slice of beef jerky between you and certain death. What do you do? Why not text your friends “WIZARD NEED FUD BADLY LOL!” on the DeLorme Earthmate PN-60w. This device is a portable GPS unit with a built-in keyboard. It supports SPOT satellite messaging technology – apparently unrelated to Microsoft’s MSN… → Read More
Good news for GPS users, Boeing is getting ready to launch the latest generation of GPS satellites, the “GPS IIF-1″. The new technology provides improved accuracy for military and civilian users, as well as being more resistant to jamming and an improved lifespan. → Read More
MobileHelp is a small device that works “beyond the home” allowing your loved one to call for help at a press of a button. The device also also tracks your loved one via GPS and, when they sound an alarm, MobileHelp’s staff will contact them directly and call the proper authorities. My mother tried this at home and found the installation to be fairly easy – all she had to… → Read More
TomTom, you sneaky, sneaky devil. You thought you could pop two new GPS models up on your website and no one would notice. Well, you’re wrong. The Internet doesn’t miss anything. → Read More
I think the standalone GPS device is all but dead – I’m a pessimist that way and I know that your parents and mine both use standalone GPSes but that’s because we never showed them how to use the ones on their phones – but Garmin is still churning out some nice-looking models. → Read More
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