Insta GPS

Sanyo recently unraveled its brand new phone, the SCP-7050. Integrated with GPS-based Java applications, the latest phone is claimed to be the most ruggedzed phone up to now. As maintained by Sanyo, it is the 1st phone that boasts of meeting military standards for dust, shock, and vibration resistance.

In addition, the phone’s dedicated to GPS technology also claims to give support to almost a dozen different mobile GPS apps, plus the addition of incorporated software. Besides, even with the headset switched off, remote location tracking of the device will be easily reached.

To be availed solely via Sprint, integrated battery claims to make available 4.4 hours of nonstop talk time, a wireless support trait, and connection potentials to develop the phone into a USB modem.

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BigRedBee recently rolled out BeeLine GPS, a pocket-sized (1 1/4″ x 3″), autonomous, battery-enabled GPS telemetry device. GPS coordinates are accumulated into an AX.25 packet and relayed over an RF link to a far-flung decoder. The latest device, which has specifically been developed for high-power rocketry and high altitude baloons, boasts of integrating a variety of over ten miles and uses standard amateur radio receivers to decode and show the location of the remote transmitter.

BeeLine GPS is also consisted with non-volatile memory to log coordinates for afterward download and analysis with progams like Google Earth. Other utilizations of BeeLine GPS are UAV’s, RC airplanes, hot air balloons, and many more. So, if you want, then get ready to bring about your amateur radio operator’s license with just $260. And that if you want to check out screenshot of a rocket’s path to 17,000 AGL, go to Google Earth.

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InfoSpace recently launched InfoSpace Find It! for BlackBerry smartphones in North America. With this introduction, users are enabled download and benefit from the GPS-based InfoSpace Find It! for free on a range of BlackBerry smartphones from Research In Motion (RIM) such as the BlackBerry 7130 Series, BlackBerry 8700 Series, BlackBerry Pearl and the latest BlackBerry 8800.

A full catalog of supported models is given below. InfoSpace Find It! is a first-class application that claims to condense millions of listings into six easy categories designed to the on the move user - Dine Out, Go Out, Shop, Travel, Health, and Services. It is also included with eyes-free spoken directions and user-friendly GPS feature with the ease of local search to pinpoint close at hand businesses, people, and events swiftly and simply.

Key features of InfoSpace Find It! for BlackBerry smartphones are:

(1) One-Stop Searching: A single search location for Yellow Pages, White Pages, Maps, Directions, Movie Listings and more.

(2) Local Quick Clicks: Find local business listings and locations with maps and driving directions with minimal clicking.

(3) What’s Nearby: Access details on what’s close with one click, even if the user doesn’t know exactly where they are.

(4) Refreshed Listings: Content is refreshed weekly. Movies and events are up-to-date. Outdated listings are removed to keep the data as relevant and useful as possible.

(5) Find People by Name or Number: Search using only first and last name, or by entering a phone number to find out to whom it belongs.

(6) Spoken Turn-by-Turn Directions: Eyes-free navigation with spoken directions allows users to get where they are going without having to look at the screen.

(7) Expanded Content Library: Now find nearby events, Wi-Fi hotspots, local entertainment, golf courses and more than 15 million other points of interest.

(8) Save to Address Book: One click on a listing saves it to your BlackBerry address book.

(9) Click to Connect: Make phone calls with one click instead of dialing the entire number.

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TruePosition recently introduced the TruePosition Secure User Plane for Location (SUPL) Server for A-GPS, which is claimed to enable carriers to make available high-performance location based services (LBS) but for bringing about any major changes to their infrastructure.

Stephen Stuut, CEO of TruePosition said,

TruePosition’s A-GPS SUPL Server makes carriers available numerous advantages comprising low implementation costs and the capability to simply function along with other positioning technologies. The TruePosition SUPL Server for A-GPS is a significant high-accuracy location technology that wireless operators can set up to allow high- performance location services like local search and navigation, plus bring location capabilities to social networking applications.

The TruePosition SUPL A-GPS server is a completely OMA compliant location solution (OMA SUPL V1.0). The OMA standard utilizes a network’s current IP infrastructure to transfer data between the mobile phone (GPS-ready mobile headsets called SUPL Enabled Terminals or SETs) and an A-GPS server to give support to next-generation location-based services. The user plane concept does not need any changes to an operator’s existing GSM network architecture. SUPL uses again the current data communications and services like Short Message Service (SMS). The TruePosition SUPL server also gives support to both Mobile Station (MS)-Based and MS-Assisted A-GPS Modes.

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Holux recently announced to have come up with a brand new bluetooth GPS receiver in Hannover Germany, known as M1000. What to say of this bluetooth GPS receiver, it seems the manufacturer has brought it out halfheartedly. No good-looking shape or size and even the integrated chipset does not seem to have anything to attract, and rather than making use of SiRF, Holux has opted Mediatek for delivering the GPS receiver.

The M-1000 consists of built-in rechargeable Li-Ion battery with 850mAh capability that too is expected to go for almost 17 hours nothing special about it too. Last but not the least from my side the latest M1000 has been designed to be a budget bluetooth GPS receiver. Yes, mind the mini-USB port, which is just for charging the device. Not linking to your laptop or PDA

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At Sony Media Experience 2007 the Japanese brand showcased a new line of personal navigation devices. Sony’s latest kit of satellite-navigation systems claims to have all the best of breed and avant-garde features to keep you on track all the time and all the go.

So, let’s start having a sneak peek one by one, first up is the NV-U82, which boasts of integrating a large 122mm (diagonally) colour touchscreen, which is claimed to give support to a new system that allows you to translate often utilized destinations into easy line drawings - simply draw the specific shape on the screen and the device is ready to guide you home. The NV-U82 is also included with 512MB of on-board memory and is pre-loaded with individual country maps. You are also provided with the alternative to get Traffic Message Channel (TMC) updates.

Second up is the NV-U92T, which seems like the twin of NV-U82 however is included with 2GB of on-board memory, which keeps all the European maps plus sporting TMC updates.

Third up is the NV-U52, which consists of a complete cradle and suction cup that tucks away smartly in the back, thus making you able to carry it with you where you set off. Likened to the prior two models, this device is claimed to be much smaller, and sports a 89mm (diagonally) colour touchscreen that boasts of making use of the symbol-drawing system mentioned above. The NV-U52 is also included with 512 MB of on-board memory, which claims to keep store of individual country maps.

Last but not the least, if you want maps of all of Europe in the tinier package, grab the NV-U72T, which is claimed to be integrated with 2GB of on-board memory. All of these sat-navs are going to be for sale this summer however prices have not so far been reveal-ed. They will be available to pre-order from the Sony online shop. -AL

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GV-380 is a brand new GPS navigation device from GlobalSat that was launched at the recent CeBIT 2007. No info on pricing or availability was available there, so I am left with inadequate details about its sports and specs for the moment.

The GlobalSat GV-380 is claimed to be integrated with a pretty standard 4.3″ touchscreen display plus a DVB-T receiver inside for the users so that they can watch their favorite shows on the move.

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Mitac International recently said to have finished the acquisition of Brunswick New Technologies’ (BNT) GPS portable navigation device (PND) business unit, comprising the brand Navman and operating assets and liabilities, at a sum of US$16 million.

As stated by industry sources in Taiwan,

Mitac’s acquisition cost is at least NT$150 million (US$4.55 million) lower than BNT’s asking price.

Mitac is at present a leading OEM manufacturer of GPS PNDs for Navman and will turn out to be the standalone subsequent to the amalgamation, hinted by the company. Mitac will take on a dual-brand marketing policy continuing the current Navman to be a foil for its own-brand Mio and looks forward to the two brands simultaneously to get 2nd biggest professions in the European and international markets, pointed out by the company.

With the purchase of Navman, Mitac’s business operation will ever more trust portable units including GPS PNDs, GPS PDAs and smartphones, noted by Mitac.Industry sources pointed out that Mitac’s producing capability for GPS PNDs is bigger than that of Taiwan-located Quanta Computer and Inventec Appliances, two OEM manufacturers for TomTom, and Garmin’s own-production capability. Besides, Mitac has manufacturing capacity for information technology products.

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Texas Instruments Incorporated (TI) recently unveiled a new single-chip device that claims to drive GPS apps into mainstream cell phones. Developed on TI’s avant-garde DRP single-chip technology, the NaviLink 5.0 solution is consisted with a footprint of 25mm2, providing elevated performance with the industry’s smallest possible solution size and lowest bill of materials, making GPS cost-effective to speed up espousal in cell phones.

The latest NaviLink 5.0 GPS receiver architecture also claims to make available quick “time to first fix” (TTFF) during feeble signal conditions common in metropolitan areas and profound indoor surroundings. With GPS built-in many handsets, operators are able to largely install location-enabled services consumers look forward to, as feature-packed 3D mapping and navigation apps.

Apart from that, the NaviLink 5.0 solution claims to give support to both (A-GPS) assisted-GPS plus one-and-only modes of operation. Not like other GPS buildings, the NaviLink 5.0 chip needs least host loading and memory necessities, making available system design litheness and least power use, which are considered the main concerns for phone companies. The chip also goes beyond 3GPP and OMA SUPL performance needs, making possible simplicity of incorporation in cell phones.

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CTIA Wireless 2007: Previously, Garmin International directed us how to get there. Now the Olathe-based maker is coming up with the offering of information on cheap places to stay when we get there. Yes, the giant of GPS devices Garmin recently announced to have come up with a new and best-of-breed version of its wireless phone navigation service, including 3-D mapping and cut-rate hotel room for travelers.

The enhancement to Garmin Mobile, to be availed at present on a few Sprint and Nextel phones, claims to facilitate subscribers to the service to customize their routes and get services all along the way. Garmin Mobile puts forward easy to hear turn-by-turn directions, weather info, traffic info, gas prices and other data via a few Internet-based cell phones.

With the offering this latest services, the subscribers are allowed to make out their route in a 3-D view, like that provided by the company’s portable navigation devices. The upgrading also boasts of providing info on 70,000 hotels and their rates via Hotels.com.Garmin Mobile service comes with the price of just $9.99 a month. A Mobile Lite version, integrated with turn-by-turn instructions rather than traffic, hotel rates and other info, will come with the price tag of only $4.99 a month.

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