GPS manufacturers have to work harder as the market of stand-alone GPS devices becomes over-saturated with new products and solutions. Going beyond satnav Mio Technologies will present this week in Hannover, Germany its first TV-enabled GPS unit -  Mio Moov V780. This slim device with 7 inch screen is completed by embedded  digital TV receiver, Wi-Fi hub, HD Movie player, email app, Flash-able web browser and YouTube viewer with 3D touchscreen interface. It also comes with an optional carry case with keyboard. That all will allow users to turn this  smart GPS unit into a fully-featured entertainment station to  watch HD TV and videos,  use email, visit websites,  scroll photos and play their favorite music.

Mio Moov V780

Mio Moov price tag and availability

At the moment Mio isn’t giving  more details, neither price tag nor availability have been announced.  More information about Mio Moov range will be revealed by Mio during a press conference on March 4, 2010, but you can be sure this “TV on the Moov” GPS unit could be a hit of the CeBIT 2010.

Microsoft Corp. announced about signing a licensing agreement with Navizon Inc., a geo-positioning provider based in New York. Microsoft  will use Navizon’s crowdsourcing global location database to provide mobile positioning services to the users of Windows Mobile OS. The license includes using Navizon’s advanced positioning solutions that combines GPS, WiFi and cellular positioning.

Navizon Windows Mobile

Navizon community powered geo-software

Navizon is a software-only hybrid wireless positioning solution, that works for most major cities across the world thanks to Navizon’s community of more than 1 million users. The community users build themselves a dynamic database of worldwide Wi-Fi points (WiFi positioning) and GSM, CDMA and 3G cellular towers. Navizon’s technology provides gathering signals broadcast from Wi-Fi access points and CDMA and 3G towers to determine geoposition. The software is able to run in the background, which allows users to simultaneously open other applications on a handset device.

It is not exactly explained how Navizon’s technology will be incorporated into Microsoft’s mobile services, but for sure users of the new version of Windows Mobile operating system, launched about few months ago, will profit from it soon.

Microsoft isn’t the first Navizon license partner

The first large Navizon’s customers is Yahoo, that has been using its power geo-location for Yahoo Mobile for about a year. The biggest Navizon’s competitor is currently Skyhook Wireless, which technology provide similar service for Apple since 2008.

Around five months ago, an independent application developer Edward Kim started his initially side-project while vacationing with family. As for now this very basic, but incredibly useful Android app has 70,000 downloads of the free version and about 7,000 of the paid package. Originally Car Locator was priced it at $1.99 per download. Now you can get the this for $3.99.

What is Android Car Locator?

The app saves the car location wherever you park it, and navigates you back using Google Maps which makes it very easy.

With a free trial version you also get:

• 15 times to use
• Using GPS & compass
• Radar-map-split view
• Parking timer
• Desktop widget for quick save
• Notes & Photos
• Location History
• Manual entry
• Sending coordinats to another Android device
• Sonar feature

Where to download Car Locator?

To download the free trial version of the app, go to Android Market with your phone or other Android device through this URL: market://search?q=pname:com.edwardkim.android.carlocatorfree

]]> http://www.maps-live.com/2010/03/02/car-locator-android-download/feed/ 0 http://www.maps-live.com/2010/02/25/garmin-zumo-220-scales-down-size-and-price/ http://www.maps-live.com/2010/02/25/garmin-zumo-220-scales-down-size-and-price/#comments Thu, 25 Feb 2010 09:39:42 +0000 Map Editor http://www.maps-live.com/?p=609 Zumo 220 – a way cheaper than Zumo 660 or Zumo 665

Garmin announced a new, compact motorcycle GPS navigator,  Zumo 220, priced significantly lower than predecessing Zumo models  -  550, 555, 660 and 665. The new waterproof motorcycle satnav unit has a 3.5″ color touch screen and includes a built-in speaker. It’s completed with car and bike mounts, and is delivered with a powerful trip planning software package. Users can take advantages of  the Garmin’s online route sharing community, Zūmo Connect, that enable riders to create, customise and share routes online and transfer the them directly to the device.

Street-level maps and HotFix included

Zumo 220 is able to display speed limits on most major roads, provides the rider with turn-by-turn directions, spoken street names  through a Bluetooth-enabled headset or helmet, or via a built-in speaker. Preloaded street-level maps with different points of interest include hotels, restaurants, petrol stations and other objects a motorcycle rider may be in need while riding long distances. Zūmo 220 also features HotFix processor, that allows to calculate and store critical satellite location data and calculate your position quickly with a significant reducing of satellite acquisition time.

Expected availability date of the navigator is April 2010.

EMT, the Estonian division of TeliaSonera Group, announced that the carrier successfully completed field trials of Assisted GPS (A-GPS) enhanced  SIM cards. Embedded A-GPS technology allows location based services (LBS) to be deployed with old and ordinary 2G models of cellular phones, too.  A-GPS improves the performance of a GPS-based positioning system for mobile devices. Solution developed by a Luxembourg startup, BlueSky Positioning, includes embedding of  a micro GPS antenna and related software applications directly into a SIM card. That allows even 2G phones to support LBS.

USSD technology improves  A-GPS application

The solution was tested using both GPRS and USSD (Unstructured Supplementary Services Data) for processing  data in a live 3G mobile network. EMT Estonia is the first carrier to test USSD, a technology that brings numerous benefits for the customer. i.e. the ability to be used simultaneously with a call, which may be extremely important in case of emergency calls.

Thief gangs in the UK and Germany have begun to actively use GPS jammers to steal expensive cars and trucks with valuable loads. GPS jammers, small pocket-sized GPS devices operating on the same frequency as GPS satellites, allow criminals to confound car GPS tracking units by drowning out timing signals. In this case a in-vehicle tracking chip is unable to determine its current location and  can not report any position data to vehicle tracking centrals.

GPS jammers don’t need to put out strong interfering signals, as the the GPS satellites signals are extremely weak themselves. A thief only needs a jammer that can output of about 2 watts signal to “kill” any signal from the GPS satellites in area of a few meters.

What is a GPS jammer?

GPS jammer is an illegal device that is designed to block GPS signals from GPS satellites. GPS jammers are used to jam GPS navigation, data logging and tracking systems. GPS jammers could be used for vehicle, load, shipment, person, or every asset concerned.

Could GPS jamming be a new tech danger?

There are many fears that terrorists, too, could use GPS jammers in more powerful versions to disrupt air traffic, functionality of emergency networks and power stations.  A UK consortium is currently building the first GPS-jamming detection system, that is already tested in prototype stages and will be soon used at airports and other objects that rely on GPS satellites.

We all love maps that help us to explore the world. Especially if they’re bundled with easy-to-use, feature rich applications. The recently launched National Geographic’s World Atlas app for iPhone and iPod Touch is definitely one of them. It contains seven different native cartographic levels, plus seven bonus levels provided by Microsoft Bing maps, as the application development partner. The MS Bing bonuses allow you to zoom in live objects to see them at the highest resolution level. No need to say that NG cartography itself provides you with the world’s detailed maps, that NG’s World Atlas app enables you to search and browse.

This is an atlas, not only maps

Using the app you can search and mark your favorite places, zoom in objects, and add your own photos. But it’s not all about the World Atlas – if you like traveling, you certainly will like a built-in place directory with the advanced search functions tools that contains more than 7 million entries. The Flags and Facts database of the application contains expertly researched up-to-date social, economic and geographic data on the most of countries. With your GPS-enabled Apple device you can easily turn the app into a friendly handy travel guide.

Where to buy National Geographic’s World Atlas

The app costs only $1.99 and is compatible with iPhone OS 2.0 (and later) and iPod Touch. You can buy it online at the Apple App Store, or at your local outdoor or computer software store.

The leading manufacturer of satellite navigation devices, Garmin, launched a range of new GPS tracking units for winter sports enthusiasts.

Company’s latest product is a wrist-worn and fully waterproof tracking device – Foretrex 401. The unit has been developed especially for skiers and snowboarders to provide them with the complete location statistics for a day on the slopes. The wrist-worn Foretrex 401 is a device with advanced extensive capabilities, but its simplicity would suit everybody’s needs.

Tested by Garmin test centers

The unit has been tested by 10 skiing chalet operators in the Alps which form the official Garmin Test Centers and also offer guests to test-drive the latest GPS units. The enthusiasts upload the day’s data tracklogs to Garmin Connect web-based application to archive and review their statistics including speed range, total descent/ascent,  elevation rich and total distance.

Winter resorts use GPS tracking for children safety

Garmin Foretrex 401

Garmin Foretrex 401 is already available to buy in the most of GPS online stores for about USD300.

Features of the Nokia’s Ovi Maps/Turn-By-Turn Navigation:

• GPS Maps are stored on the phone device to used offline later without needs to be continuously connected
• Traffic status information for 10 countries
• Lane assistance and speed trap warnings
• Pedestrian mode includes shortcuts only possible on foot
• Lonely Planet and Michelin travel guides for free use

Events app monitors nearby shows and community events and mark them with the pins on the map. The name of the events also appear in the left-hand section of the interface and the user can scroll through them with the ability to sort events by popularity or date. It is also possible to filter events by dates or date range. The user pp also can narrow events search by categories such as food & dining, sports, music, arts, fairs, festivals etc.

Destination Maps app lets users create customized maps for use when planning an event. The app helps to create a customized and stylized map (ranging from a “back of the napkin” to a “treasure map” styles) which could be very useful and funny for party invites or directions. Destination  Maps will make the directions more easier by showing mainly the route and major roads along the way.