Mac + GPS: HoudahGeo 1.0 finally released

Houdah Software recently announced the release of its Macintosh geocoding application called HoudahGeo, which claims to incorporate latitude, longitude and altitude info to the Exif header of an image, thus bringing the geocoding application for Mac out of the beta stage. So, now geocoding data is able to be read as of a GPS device’s log or incorporated manually using the program’s addition with Google Maps. HoudahGeo is afterwards able to send out the info to Exif tags and Google Earth KML files. With HoudahGeo you can ‘pin’ photos to the locations where they were taken. Thus generated info could be exported to EXIF tags plus to Google Earth KMZ files. Such a file lets you browse your photos within Google Earth. EXIF tagged files are understood by many apps and web services. Such as Panoramio, Flickr. The company also offers an initial price of $24.95, with a 5$ boost thought for the offering of version 1.1 and a $34.95 price for 1.2 while available. Read

 

Fine Digital intro’s Finedrive M760, a thin 7-inch PMP with GPS navigation

Fine Digital recently surprised everyone with the introduction of its latest Finedrive M760 navigator with real-time TPEG traffic alerts for S.Korea. Well,everybody, in the blogsphere, reacted with hey, oh like exclamatory words, but I would present it in simple and sober manner, after all this is also one of the innovation of the state-of-the-art GPS technology. Any way let’s talk about the product now. The latest Finedrive M760 navigator is claimed to be the thinnest GPS navigator with a 7-inch, 480 x 234, LED-backlit LCD display, plus a few DMB television has also been slapped in to up the distraction factor. More to the points, this is also featured with a tiny NIP (Navigation In Picture) not letting you take pain at looking the road again. The 25-mm (1-inch) slab is also built-in with an SD card and 800mA battery to take your MPEG-4, DivX, WMV video and MP3, WMA, and WAV audio with you once you reach your destination. If you reach your destination. You will have to cough up ₩440,000–almost $483–for the delight coming next month. Read

Mio steps in Middle East with its popular GPS products

Mio Technology is said to be gearing up to capture new customers in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and the UAE after a contract with Almasa. The vendor is at present packing Mio’s products with Route 66 navigation software with the aim of alluring resellers operating in those markets. Sonia Chan, regional sales head at Mio Technology, said that their regional launch of GPS PDA and PND products is a leading landmark for the firm’s Middle East business. Frank Sheu, CEO at Almasa believes the GCC map solution developed by Route 66 will prove a hit with Mio buyers, We saw months of extensive user testing and ongoing development in which engineers and technicians from Mio Technology, ROUTE 66 and Almasa had been involved. The result is an accurate, reliable and user friendly GCC map solution based on the most current data available for those countries. Subsequent to Mio’s deliverance to the region, Almasa is making out plans to present the similar bundles in Oman, Qatar and Bahrain in the Q2 of 2007. Mio’s products, the Mio A700, DigiWalker GPS PDA and Personal Navigation Device products will be availed in a package with Route 66′s Navigate 7 map solution. The software sports the most up-to-date maps, driving guidelines augmented with next-up exit signs and nonstop directions while GPS reception does not work for the time being via Route 66′s latest Extrapolated GPS technology. Read

Discover celestial bodies with AstroNavigator II, a GPS application

VITO Technology recently announced the availability of VITO AstroNavigator II, the GPS app, boasting of showing the sky map above your head in accordance with your present position, time and direction of movement. With avant-garde VITO AstroNavigator II, you are enabled to literally stretch out and lay a hand on the sky. You just have to slide a finger to turn around the screen, and to your surprise here comes a star, a planet, or a constellation. Tap one of them to find out the hidden treasure of any celestial body. Isn’t it interesting and amazing. Screen tapping is got to a fully new-fangled level in the latest best-of-the-breed and state-of-the-art VITO AstroNavigator II. You will have a feeling of that laying a hand on the sky could be true enjoyment. Just slide the screen and you can do everything. VITO AstroNavigator II is a program for amusement and relax. Just think of yourself lying on the seashore taking pleasure in the vision of the clear night sky and finding all you’ve ever thought of being familiar with about these things above your head. Read

Discover celestial bodies with AstroNavigator II, a GPS application

VITO Technology recently announced the availability of VITO AstroNavigator II, the GPS app, boasting of showing the sky map above your head in accordance with your present position, time and direction of movement. With avant-garde VITO AstroNavigator II, you are enabled to literally stretch out and lay a hand on the sky. You just have to slide a finger to turn around the screen, and to your surprise here comes a star, a planet, or a constellation. Tap one of them to find out the hidden treasure of any celestial body. Isn’t it interesting and amazing. Screen tapping is got to a fully new-fangled level in the latest best-of-the-breed and state-of-the-art VITO AstroNavigator II. You will have a feeling of that laying a hand on the sky could be true enjoyment. Just slide the screen and you can do everything. VITO AstroNavigator II is a program for amusement and relax. Just think of yourself lying on the seashore taking pleasure in the vision of the clear night sky and finding all you’ve ever thought of being familiar with about these things above your head. Read

China launches fifth GPS satellite

Recently a Chinese rocket positioned a navigation satellite in orbit as part of an attempt to put up a (GPS) global positioning system. The media report stated that the Long March 3-A rocket was blasted off from the Xichang launching center in southwestern China and the satellite, for a while after, was maneuvered into orbit, 13,300 miles above the earth. The satellite was the 5th such vehicle placed into space as part of China’s indigenous global satellite positioning system. The system is claimed to make available navigation and positioning services in transportation, meteorology, petroleum prospecting, forest fire monitoring, disaster forecast, telecommunications and public security among others. With more to be set off in next years, the system is expected to cover China and neighboring nations by 2008, before being expanded into a global network China, a decade back got anxious about dependence on the U.S. satellite Global Positioning System network, the foremost positioning system, and started developing alternatives. In addition to the Compass system, China will make investment in the (EU) European Union’s Galileo satellite navigation system and is on the talk to take part in Russia’s GLONASS. Read

How To Select The Best GPS Devices

The market today is flooded with plethora of GPS products but the onus lies on you to find the one which is right for you. Some prefers a unit that is installed in the vehicle or you may opt for a more portable one. If you need the GPS device for one vehicle then it makes sense to get the device installed in it but if you need for multiple purposes then you can go for the portable one.

Types of GPS devices

The GPS unit that you buy should have a clear display and easy to read. If the screen is too small then it will not be easy for you to decipher the directions. Moreover, the unit must show all necessary information on the screen. Go for one that has a fairly large screen, with colors. The unit must be very simple and easy to understand so that you do not have to waste time in studying when you need directions.

Garmin is one of the leading manufacturers of GPS systems and you don’t have to burn a hole in your pocket to get one of those systems. If you spend around $100 you can buy the Garmin nuvi255W. Though the price is low the product has won very good reviews. It has many mind-blowing features like spoken directions which tells you when and where to take a turn.

GPS products are also used by runners and athletes. There are GPS units which can tell you the distance you have ran and even your heart rate. One such device is the Garmin Forerunner 305 GPS Receiver. It is equipped with a heart rate monitor and it can effectively become a part of your exercise or training program.When you have this device you can plan your workouts more efficiently and effectively.

GPS tracking without a warrant is a crime

GPS is a technology that has been in the hands of military only till now. But this technology has now moved from military to society and since the time the common man has been introduced to the Global Positioning System extravaganza, companies and developers have shown the world the exact potential of a GPS unit. This brilliant technology is very useful and can be used in various fields.

4th Amendment

However, if a technology of such magnitude is moving freely around the globe, there need to be laws imposed on its regulations otherwise it wont take time for it to turn from a boon to a curse. Hence there has been a bill which has come into existence which defines the parameters in which a GPS unit can be used and the permissions and formalities required for it to be used. This bill states that if a GPS is used to track somebody, this search falls under the category of the 4th amendment. This means that a person cannot track someone without a proper warrant and permissions. This bill was executed in the wake of a wide number of cases wherein people used a GPS device to track the other person. A GPS device comes in different sizes and shapes. Generally ex partners or jealous partners use this device to be attached to a person’s vehicle and then trace that person’s daily routines. This was not accepted well by the society and many people took these cases to the court. A domestic fight is always about what “he said” and what “she said” which is quite deceiving at times.

Use wisely

So to avoid all these situations, a bill has been issued which monitors the usage of a GPS device and makes sure that the device is being put to a meaningful and resourceful use.

Things to consider before buying a GPS device

GPS (Global Positioning System) is really helpful while exploring untravelled roads and regions. This device contains maps, graphics and directions for your guidance. It also depicts various landmarks across the suggested path. So, it is really necessary to know about these devices before purchasing them. There are various companies in the market which manufacture these devices. It is important to know a few basic things about its performance before finalizing the product.

Know your GPS device

The device should be cost effective and also superior in functionality. If you are paying high amount of money for it, it should give you reliable and satisfactory output. The basic function of a GPS device is to determine one’s exact position on the earth. GPS device can perform this with the help of numerous GPS satellites in the space. To determine the exact location, it is mandatory that a GPS device should intercept signals from at least three GPS satellites. So, it is necessary for you to know how to determine following things before using a GPS device:

1. The position of three GPS satellites in order to receive signals from them.

2. The distance between each satellite and receiver.

GPS satellites send radio signals which are in encoded format. GPS device decodes that signal in order to get proper inputs.

Accuracy of GPS device

Accuracy of GPS device depends on various factors. These are as follows:

1. Visibility of satellites in the GPS device. As mentioned above, at least 3 satellites should be on radar for accurate positioning.

2. The delay in radio emission signals from satellite can affect the accuracy.

3. Wrong clock timings at the receiver end can hamper the accuracy of the GPS device.

4. Linear positioning of GPS satellite is considered in order to catch radio signals.

These things are really necessary for you to know before going for any high end costly device. Proper usage and practice can improve your knowledge and skills in this subject.

Bill regulating use of GPS tracking devices sent to House

A bill to lay a disciplined GPS usage

Global Positioning System

Global Positioning System or a GPS unit is not a fantasy. It is a part of reality that people are living on a daily basis and putting it to all sorts of use as per their need. However, with a technology that holds such a big potential, there comes a point when people need to come together to start making rules and regulations for its fair usage. A radical movement of such a powerful technology can become a nuisance for the society.

A bill to manage technology

This is what even Del. Joe T. May, R-Loudoun had in his mind when he insisted on passing a bill which monitors the usage of a GPS device.This bill makes tracking a person a 4th amendment search activity, which means that people and police require warrant to start their tracking extravaganza. This is only in the case of intentional tracking of somebody’s movements without the person’s consent. Legislation also talks about a variety of Global Positioning Devices which come in a wide variety of sizes. They are as small as a cigarette pack and can be attached to the subject of tracking quite easily. May started working on this bill almost two years ago when he was approached by a man who was going through his divorce. The person mentioned that he realized he was being tracked by his ex wife when he took his car to the garage for repairs.

GPS: a boon or curse

The bill faced objection from one person who insisted that people would want to track their cars and we should not restrict them from doing that. However, May promptly said that people do not care about vehicles as they do not move on their own.