Sony Adds New GPS Devices to Lineup

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Sony has added four new navigation devices to its nav-u product line. The new models include the NV-U94T, NV-U84, NV-U74T, and NV-U44. The top-of-the-line NV-U94T has a photo viewer, audio/video player, and stereo Bluetooth. It also features a Memory Stick PRO Duo media slot. Audio stored on the device can be streamed wirelessly to Bluetooth equipped car stereos.

The device has a 4.8-inch screen and a full POI database. Other features include dual view 3D junction guide and POSITION Plus. The device will sell for about $400 in September. The NV-U84 has a 4.8-inch screen and will retail for $350. Read more

Posted on Thu, 28 Aug 2008 05:53:55 CDT | by Shane McGlaun

Cowon L3 7 inch GPS and PMP debuts at IFA 2008

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Cowon will introduce the Cowon L3 7 inch touchscreen media player with GPS navigation at the IFA 2008.
These multitalented portable media players rarely make it outside of Korea. Features of the sleek looking Cowon L3 include 7" touchscreen with 800x480px resolution, media player, T-DMB TV, FM transmitter, speaker, SIRF III antenna, SD card slot, and remote control. Read more

Posted on Mon, 25 Aug 2008 03:58:33 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

Knight Rider GPS is I4U Top 100 Holiday Gift Tip #5

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If you want to gift someone this year a GPS device than the Knight Rider GPS from Mio is a cool choice for everyone who grew up watching Michael Knight and the talking car K.I.T.T. on TV.
The turn-by-turn voice instruction sound like K.I.T.T. and the user interface has also been adapted to Knight Rider style. Besides the Knight Rider style the GPS is comparable with other devices in that $270 price range.
Read more

Posted on Sat, 23 Aug 2008 12:00:00 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

TomTom One GPS Review

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ThinkComputers published a review of the TomTom One GPS device.
Quote from the review: "One piece of technology that has really made it into the hands of most consumers is the GPS. Some people really rely on GPS units and for constant drivers they are a valuable tool. Read more

Posted on Sat, 23 Aug 2008 12:00:00 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

Mio Knight Rider GPS available for Pre-order

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The MIO Knight Rider GPS device is available for pre-order on Amazon.com for $269. The K.I.T.T. for the poor is shipping on September 24th.
The Knight Rider to GPS navigation device from MIO is featuring turn-by-turn guidance from K.I.T.T. and synthesizer lights that accompany the voice directions.

MIO might have landed here possibly one of the must have gadgets for this Holiday season. A Knight Rider GPS is the ideal gift for dads who grew up watching David Hasselhoff in the Knight Rider TV series. Read more

Posted on Mon, 18 Aug 2008 04:42:35 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

Intelligent GPS Devices tap away Traffic

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By Reed Stevenson

AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - Next time you're stuck in traffic on the way to an unfamiliar destination, navigation device pointing the way, look around.
Chances are, there are other drivers just like you, staring back and forth between the tail lights ahead and the little screen with a digital map instructing you to stay on the road - a road often clogged with bumper-to-bumper traffic. Read more

Posted on Sat, 16 Aug 2008 07:34:40 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

Zoombak Universal A-GPS Locator Now Available at PEP Boys

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We talked a bit about the Zoombak A-GPS locator before. Today Zoombak announced a universal A-GPS locator and announced that it will be available nationwide in more than 600 Pep Boys stores across the country.

The new universal locator is small enough to be placed in a vehicle, a backpack, briefcase, or attached to a bicycle or dogs collar. Like the other locator's it uses a cellular network for positioning, and provides real-time location information. Read more

Posted on Thu, 14 Aug 2008 09:19:45 CDT | by Shane McGlaun

Judge Finds SiRF Infringed Six Broadcom GPS Patents

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Broadcom announced that a Judge from the international Trade Commission has ruled that SiRF Technology Holdings has infringed on six Broadcom patents that relate to GPS processing and sensitivity. Global Locate, a Broadcom subsidiary, holds the patents in question.

The SiRF products infringing upon the patents include the SiRFstarIII and SiRFInstant GPS architectures. Broadcom says that a final ruling by the full six-person ITC panel is expected in December. Read more

Posted on Mon, 11 Aug 2008 11:14:10 CDT | by Shane McGlaun

Garmin Oregon 400t GPS Introduced

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Outdoors types that are always looking for the next GPS gadget to make life easier have a new device from Garmin to check out called the Oregon 400t. The 400t is waterproof and uses a color 3-inch screen and a high-sensitivity GPS receiver.

The device uses Garmin’s new HotFix feature that allows the device to store position information so it can calculate positions quicker without needing to go back to the satellite for data. The device is loaded with U.S. topographic maps in a 3D elevation perspective. The device also offers shoreline features for inland lakes and navigable rivers. The 400t weighs 6.8 ounces and has 16 hours of battery life from a pair of AA’s. Pricing and availability are unknown. Read more

Posted on Thu, 10 Jul 2008 12:00:41 CDT | by Shane McGlaun

Dash Navigation GPS Gets Wireless Updates

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Dash Navigation has announced that it is the first GPS provider to offer wireless updates to its customers. The wireless downloads are completed over-the-air so users don’t have to connect the GPS device to a PC or use a DVD.

The updates are done over Wi-Fi and the update adds other new features to the Dash Express GPS unit. The update provides answers to driver’s questions like finding the closest coffee shop on their route. FasterFind allows the GPS unit to get a faster position fix. Read more

Posted on Tue, 1 Jul 2008 10:10:16 CDT | by Shane McGlaun

Passport 9500ix Radar Detector Uses GPS

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Passport is certainly one of the biggest names in radar detectors and it has announced a new high-end detector called the Passport 9500ix. The device isn’t cheap, retailing for $499.95, but it packs in lots of features for the money.

The 9500ix provides 360 degree radar and laser detection and uses GPS to locate nearby traffic cameras. Passport says that the detector also uses artificial intelligence to eliminate false alarms. It’s been years since I have seen a radar detector in use, but I do recall the one my dad had went off every time you passed a store with automatic doors. Read more

Posted on Mon, 30 Jun 2008 12:26:12 CDT | by Shane McGlaun

Archos 605 GPS Review

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Archos announced their first GPS unit in April - the Archos 605 GPS.

Archos is not integrating the GPS chip inside the 605 WiFi. It offers a car holder that has the GPS chip inside. The Archos GPS accessory provides complete navigation support with Tele Atlas maps, available for the European version covering 22 countries, the North America version covering the U.S. and Canada, and a Chinese version. Read more

Posted on Mon, 23 Jun 2008 14:00:00 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

iPhone 3G Killer Apps: GPS Navigation and Location based Services

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The new iPhone 3G will have a GPS chip inside enabling GPS based navigation and location based services. With the intuitive user experience, big screen and the iPhone SDK location based services could get their break through on the iPhone.

Mashable has a good article on that topic identifying location based applications that exist today and could be available soon on the iPhone 3G. Read more

Posted on Wed, 11 Jun 2008 13:00:00 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

Review Round-up: XFX 9800 GX2 Black Edition, Asus P527 GPS Phone

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Last week we reviewed the super fast XFX 9800 GX2 Black Edition Video Card. Shane's verdict on this card: "The XFX 9800 GX2 Black Edition is one of the best performing 9800 GX2 video cards on the market and comes bundled with one of the best video games currently available—Call of Duty 4. Couple the game, the performance and the XFX double lifetime warranty and what you have here is the best 9800 GX2 around." Read the full review. Read more

Posted on Sat, 17 May 2008 15:00:00 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

Asus P527 GPS Smartphone Review

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Today we are checking out a smartphone that features GPS and more from Asus called the Asus P527. This phone has some very interesting GPS software that comes with the device.

The drawbacks are that the maps are out of date and the phone has a high retail price. If you are in the market for a new, unlocked GPS enabled smartphone you might want to check out the Asus P527 review. Read more

Posted on Wed, 14 May 2008 13:27:12 CDT | by Shane McGlaun

Trimble Announces Tiny Copernicus II Surface Mount GPS Receiver

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Trimble is famous for its GPS systems and it has announced a new very small surface mount GPS receiver. The Copernicus II GPs receiver is a thumb nail size surface mount module with high sensitivity.

Trimble says it has significant feature enhancements form its predecessor including improved signal tracking for poor signal environments and a high-sensitivity stationary timing mode. The GPS module is complete and can provide position, velocity and time data. Read more

Posted on Wed, 14 May 2008 10:04:28 CDT | by Shane McGlaun

Nokia sees half of Cell phones with GPS in 2010-12

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By Eric Auchard

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Nokia plans to add navigation to half of the phones it sells within a few years to find new revenue streams amid decreasing handset prices, a senior official at the world's top cellphone maker said.
Read more

Posted on Wed, 14 May 2008 06:01:17 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

GPS grows as a crime-fighting Tool in U.S.

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By Jason Szep

BOSTON (Reuters) - It was just after 10 p.m. when William Cotter, wearing a belt full of ammunition, burst into the home of his estranged wife, Dorothy, shooting her in the back with a sawed-off shot gun before taking his own life.
Read more

Posted on Tue, 13 May 2008 22:26:51 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

NIM Gets Patent for GPS Social Networking System

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Networks in Motion (NIM) has been granted a U.S. patent for a social networking application that uses the GPS chip inside some mobile phones. The patent issued was titled “Position Determination System” and is said to protect its intellectual property for networking applications that request and or push a users GPS location through a wireless network.

The patent features a method of providing real-time position information from one person to another via the mobile phone, land line or a computer network. The method patented also allows for users to exchange location information including address, GPS coordinates, or nearby fixed locations. Read more

Posted on Mon, 12 May 2008 06:35:36 CDT | by Shane McGlaun

TomTom does not plan GPS Phones

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GPS gadget maker Garmin decided to introduce GPS mobile phones under their own brand with the Garmin nuvifone. TomTom apparently has no such plans according to Digitimes.

TomTom continues rather to focus on the development of core software and further strengthen its in-Car navigation devices. Read more

Posted on Tue, 6 May 2008 03:00:00 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

Asus R300 GPS Navigation Device Review

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Today we are checking out a portable GPS device from Asus called the Asus R300. The R300 packs in all sorts of features like an FM transmitter and an internal GPS antenna.

A few issues I found in testing keep the R300’s score down, but on the whole many will find the R300 will perform well for them. Read more

Posted on Mon, 5 May 2008 13:51:55 CDT | by Shane McGlaun