Insta GPS

Stepping first time into developing its own hardware, Navigon is going to roll out its two brand new navigation systems at the CeBIT this year, the Navigon 7100 & 5100. Though both of the devices have many a similar features but what differs them at the most is that the Navigon 7100 is built-in with a 4.3-inch display (16:9), whilst Navigon 5100 has 3.5- inch display. A few of the other sports of the two systems are Bluetooth for hands free calling, free traffic info, 2D or 3D map view and voice input.

A new feature that is to be found in these latest Navigon systems is called ‘Real View’ or ‘Reality View’ which if I got it correct seems to be a new view mode that boasts of showing signposts realistically in a way that will enable the user to navigate with more ease. The Navigon 7100 is likely to be rolled out in Europe sometime this summer with the price tag of just 450 euros for the version with regional maps and 500 euros for the Europea maps version. To end with the Navigon 5100 will come with the price tag of 350 euros. I don’t have a definite release date for US yet, but will do my best to track it down.

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This new GPS sounds too cool! Obviously, what it gives really makes us free from the worries of the loss of our near and dear one GPS devices. Yes, France-based GPS man-ufacturer called Takara recently announced to have come up with its first GPS navigation system that boasts of being consisted with w/ 1 yr insurance against theft.

Integrated with a touch screen of 3.5 inches, 16.5 million colors, voice guidance and an MP3 player, the latest GP8 can be called a good option with the price tag of just 200€. So, now, you don’t need to worry about the loss of your near and dear GPS device.

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Globalstar Inc recently announced the release of a new GPS-based smaller and lighter satellite data modem called the AXTracker MMT, which is claimed to be completely self- contained satellite data device developed to communicate using the Globalstar satellite simplex data network.

The GPS-based AXTracker MMT boasts of offering cost-efficient and consistent asset tracking and fleet management solutions to customers from far-flung areas. The GPS-based completely wireless device is touted to be integrated with many innovations like the utilization of a smaller and lighter simplex transmitter unit. Besides, the latest GPS-based AXTracker MMT also built-in with long-lasting, simple to modify battery, which claims to give customers up to seven years of battery life.

Since the device is GPS-enabled, it is considered perfect for various maritime or remote asset tracking applications. The GPS-based AXTracker MMT is also capable of being utilized for many remote monitoring and alarm applications, both within and beyond the access of conventional wireless and terrestrial infrastructure.

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Location-based developer uLocate Communications Inc. looks forward to help even the smallest publishers catch attention with a new application from Sprint Nextel Corp. The Framingham, Mass.-based Company, uLocate Communications, recently came up with WHERE, the first mobile GPS widget platform for rapid development and publishing of location-based wireless content and applications.

At present available on select Sprint phones, WHERE Widgets claims to enable consumers to rapidly release a personalized mobile experience that makes use of GPS location to set the people, places and things they try to find at their fingertips. Consumers are enabled to integrate WHERE Widgets to their WHERE handset application by selecting from menus on the handset, or by dragging and dropping them from the Where.com website instantaneously to their cell phones.

For the first time, the similar avant-garde technology that underpins Helio Buddy Beacon and MapQuest Find Me can be availed for free by the developers with the WHERE Developer Program. The WHERE Developer Program develops the industry’s first GPS-based widget platform accessible to third party content owners, offering the capability to bring about and publish WHERE Widgets. Content firms taking before time benefit of the WHERE platform consist of the real estate data and information site Zillow and Eventful, the world’s biggest collection of events.

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I just talked about the next-up range of Garmin nuvi 200, nuvi 250 and nuvi 270, of which there was not more info, but finally I have got it on navigadget.com thanks to it! As I told you earlier the new line of Garmin nuvi 200, nuvi 250 and nuvi 270, had before now made their appearances on Garmin’s Danish site, but since the language of the site was Greek to me, so I was not able to provide you enough info. Don’t worry enjoy reading auto-translation from nuvi 200’s Danish page here:

Many of the functions that have secured the nuvi series their success over the whole world, have been carried on in the model who doesn’t blow up any budgets. With detail- maps of Scandinavia, and the intuitive operating system, one find its way light for the family in Sweden, the hotel in Norway or maybe just just a flying visit for the friends, over on the other hand of the Great Belt. They distinction - installed NavTeq shortly contains thousands of interest points, thus you lightly the nearest petrol finds station or restaurant. That sensitive hill built in an aerial, safe an unsurpassed position’s provision, even under difficult reception, such as dense town-driving or forest. And with built-in battery nuvi is a safe help, if one draws on discovery at a city on foot or on a bicycle. There is space for extra card, at SD short, one has to outside Scandinavia, there are lots of prospects. The extra memory’s place, can be also used to the classic nuvi favorites, 5 the language dictionary, deliveredly some of Oxford Dictionarie and Europe guide, delivered by Marco Polo. Watch the pictures from your digital camera on a large screen and calculate the local currency course, but a small number of pressures on the screen. There are many reasons more that nuvi the series has harvested great praise with the Danish reviewers, and that is what we’ll gladly expand with the newest scion on the tribe.

Remember, all are going to be entry-level navigation devices. I think the translations seems to be a bit witty - however it looks as the nuvi 250 will be consisted with maps of more European nations than the nuvi 200, while nuvi 270 will be integrated with maps of North America.

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Russia’s President Vladimir Putin recently said that the currently developed GLONASS navigation system ought to correspond to the highest quality standards and develop into a rival for the U.S. GPS.

Vesti reported citing Vladimir Putin,

We will be working under the market conditions in this segment of economy and consumers will be able to choose the most qualitative service. For picking out exactly GLONASS, this system should work perfectly and better than GPS, be cheaper and better in quality.

The president laid special stress on GLONASS formation and is sure of the same attitude on behalf of the ministers. GLONAS is boasted of positioning and determining the speed of ground/air/marine objects and people with a meter’s accurateness. The federal budget will furthermore appropriate 1.8 billion rubles for GLONASS this year.

Though the first GLONASS satellite had its launch on October 12, 1982, the navigation system will be stationed nationwide motion merely till the end of 2007 once 18 satellites are sprinting on orbit. Worldwide, the facilities will begin working by late 2009 (24 satellites).

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Obviously, the language of the links provided by gpsgazette.com was Greek to me too, I too tried to go through the write-up, but it was of no use. So, finally I had to comprise with the info by gpsgazette.com. The info provided on the site reveals that there is going a rumor that claims that Garmin is all set to come up with new range of Nuvis at the 2007 CeBIT tomorrow.

The rumor is:

Garmin is expected to unveil its new nuvi 200 PND, the company’s first PND reportedly to be built with GPS chips from Taiwan-based MediTek, at the show. The nuvi 200, which will target the entry-level segment, will gradually replace the company’s C-series PNDs.

Though I have already talked about it in my previous post, but I found the post talking about that Garmin and Tom Tom will outrival each other at the next-up CeBIT, rather than talking about the upcoming products. When I stumbled upon gpsgazette.com, I too became curious to know about the products, and immediately dashed to Danish site, which boasts of already containing pages for three latest next-up GPS Systems, the Nuvi 200, 250 and the Nuvi 270, but here too obviously I could not get anything, so, this time I have no sports or specs of the products, but do not worry, the CeBIT is here to make you acquainted with the next-up GPS systems; the Nuvi 200, 250 and the Nuvi 270. Do check it out tomorrow.

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Here I have got a review from navigadget. com for Magellan’s CrossOverGPS. After going through the review, I got to know why the CrossOverGPS was named so, ide est as is claimed by navigadget. com, the latest CrossOverGPS from Magellan stands for both function in your vehicle as a navigation device plus a GPS device, which is capable of assisting while you are outdoors hiking, boating, camping, and so on.

The review rated it with 3.5 points out of 5:

All of the standard included data resides on a built-in 4GB hard drive. Surprisingly, even with the hard drive, Magellan claims the unit’s battery life to be up to 8 hours-an important consideration if you’re using it in the outdoor mode. In addition, the CrossoverGPS is rated as water-resistant to IPX-4 specifications. In case you’re wondering, as I was, what IPX-4 really specifies, I found that the IP (ingress protection) ratings come from the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) in Geneva. A rating of IPX-4 means that the device won’t be damaged by water splashing on it from any angle. I also found several more specific definitions of IPX, as well. Suffice it to say that the CrossoverGPS is water-resistant as opposed to waterproof.

The CrossOverGPS is available at Amazon.com for just $410, so grab it.

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GPS device manufacturer ViaMichelin recently announced grow its X-series with the integration of two latest GPS devices known as ViaMichelin X-960 and ViaMichelin X-970 at CeBIT 2007. The X-960 will be consisted with a 3.5″ touch screen, makes use of the SiRFStar III GPS chipset and will be power-driven by a 300 Mhz Samsung CPU and will be sprinting on Windows CE.net 5.0 with 64 MB of RAM and 128 MB of ROM memory.

Initially, the latest X-960 will be ushered in Europe similar to the prior ViaMichelin models with the price range of just 299 €. It will be included with the maps of 20 European countries, which will be given by TeleAtlas. Besides both X-series units will make use of version 7 of ViaMichelin’s Navigation System software.

Though both the devices are having the same sports and specs, but there is a main difference between the two, that is; the ViaMichelin X970T will be built-in with a more robust processor (400 Mhz) and will also be integrated with an RDS/TMC, plus there will be bluetooth capabilities for hands free calling. No info of the release dates could be availed so far, but are likely to be shipped in shortly after the formal announcement at CeBIT tomorrow. (...), So, let’s hope for the best and the rest too.

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The primary provider of software platforms and services for the Location-Based Services (LBS) industry, known as deCarta recently made an announcement of the release of a turn-key navigation application to be used in personal navigation devices (PNDs). The latest navigation application boasts of enabling makers of PNDs and smartphones to roll out a custom-branded navigation application to market fast and with least development time.

ABI Research guesstimates that 14 million personal navigation devices were put for sale in 2006, and the market is likely to go up to 24 million units in 2007. The move has been taken considering the cutthroat competition in the market today, which calls for the deliverance of the product with differentiation and within-no-time deliverance of the products. The latest navigation application from deCarta’s boasts of providing makers a featured-packed product, which is claimed to be utilized as delivered, or customized to be a sign of a distinctive look that underlines the makers’ brand identity.

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