As we reported from CES, Dash was showing off a very cool GPS unit that uses collective data from its users to send pretty up to date traffic info back to those very users. Back then (and now), Dash was allowing folks to pre-order the units. So those units will ship on Mar 27. Kudos to Dash for keeping their Q1 promise.
The Apple iPhone Update v1.1.3 was delivered earlier this week to iPhones around the country with new features including:
Apparently the “CPS” (Cell Positioning System instead of Global Positioning System) is fairly accurate with Google Maps as reported by BMW Geek:
I got the new iPhone update – holy crap it’s accurate with google maps using the cell tower “gps†they have now. It has me within 100yds of dead center, and I’m definitely in the circle it provides as the estimate area. For cell phones, I think this is better than GPS because of limited line of sight to the sky when in buildings.
NBC Universal, which has a huge presence at this year’s CES, was kind enough to offer us a slot at their live blogging station in Central Hall. As Jonathan Accarino of NBCU put it, their goal here in a nutshell is “consumer, content, connection.” They are also giving away free content, such as TV shows and movies as a way to promote their activities.
We spent the morning in South Hall and found a few noteworthy CE items that have either been announced for release later this year or are already available.
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CES 2008: Digital Media Convergence and Photo Geotagging GizmosRead More »
Garmin’s StreetPilot c340 is the perfect gift for someone who doesn’t want to stop for directions but really should. This GPS unit is powerful yet simple enough to use that even a luddite could use right out of the box.
The StreetPilot helps you make the right turns wherever you are with a easy-to-use touchscreen interface, text-to-speech voice commands, a brilliant display showing the way with 2D or 3D animations and a massive points of interest database.
Suggested Price: $223.39
The second gizmo featured in the GPS category is TomTom’s ONE 3rd Edition. TomTom has an improved user interface with new options to customize the nav screen and more information with easier access to other functions. The MapShare feature allows you to edit maps instantly on your device and report map errors easily using your device with TomTom HOME and the “Help Me!” Main menu option allows users to navigate to and find hospitals, gas stations, etc…
Even though the ONE, 3rd Edition is TomTom’s entry-level portable GPS vehicle navigation device, it remains a complete solution with an incredible range of features.
Suggested Price: $253.41
Welcome to the Geek’s top five picks for the “12 Gizmos of Christmas” countdown. Coming in at the number five spot are GPS units. Last year, GPS units were one of the top sellers of gadgets and that theme will continue this year with GPS units like Garmin’s nüvi 660.
This all-in-one Personal Travel Assistant incorporates a large, 4.3-inch touchscreen, integrated traffic capabilities, FM transmitter, and a super-bright display. The large, touchscreen interface, the nüvi 660 makes it easier than ever to obtain voice-prompted, turn-by-turn directions. You can also get route calculation and automatic rerouting if a motorist strays off course. The traffic receiver will notify the driver of upcoming traffic or road construction delays and the delay’s severity. If the accident or construction delay occurred prior to the user programming the desired destination, the unit will automatically calculate a route around congestion.
Suggested Price: $399.99
According to one blogger‘s inside source at Google, the ‘gPhone‘ (not its actual name), or Google smartphone is for real, and could potentially be out in Q1 2008. Here are some of the features that it’s speculated to have: Google Maps with GPS, Google Talk, VoIP, Gmail, Google Productivity Apps, essentially all of the Google Suite. It’s supposed to be based on a modified Linux kernel (sweet!). I wasn’t crazy about the iPhone, although the touchscreen is really nice, and the browser makes surfing the web on a phone painless. However, hand me a Linux-based device that will be hacked to kingdom come, and I’ll jump at that.
There is (has been) a lot of speculation that Google is/isn’t going to jump into the smartphone business, and my take is that they will. Why not? Considering that something like 90% of their income is from online advertising, what happens if that market drops out from under them? They need to diversify, and what better way to get people seeing their ads than having them be connected to their site and apps all of the time?
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Just 2 days ago, we posted about the Sprint/loopt GPS service to help you find your friends. Just ran across a similar service from an outfit called VITO, called VITO FindMe. It’s a free GPS app that helps you find your friends by sending an SMS. Here’s how it works. You install the FindMe app on your phone, set up a codeword that you give to your friends. When they want to ‘find you’, they send you a special SMS with that codeword, and they’ll get an SMS response with your coordinates. They can punch those coordinates into Google Maps to see where you are.
Definitely a whole lot more involved than the Sprint/loopt service. VITO FindMe only works on Windows Mobile 2003/5.0/6.0 Pocket PC phones with built-in GPS or attached GPS receivers.
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VITO FindMe – Geolocate Your Windows Mobile FriendsRead More »
Sprint Nextel and loopt have teamed up to offer a new GPS service that lets you see where your friends and family are on a map. Also available on the Boost Mobile network, the loopt service also lets you geo-tag places so that it’s easy for you and your friends to find in the future.
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In addition to the laptop gadgets I’m bringing on my extended trip to China, being Chief Gizmateer I simply had to bring some other gadgets as well!
Since this trip will be a trip of a lifetime, I wanted to make sure I properly recorded the trip. For this I have a Canon Digital Elph which takes excellent pictures but is easily small enough to simply slip in your pocket. As far as a camcorder goes I have a Sony HDR-SR1 that stores video and images on an internal hard drive rather than a DVD or tapes and can record in high-definition. I also purchased a light for the camcorder, high capacity battery for the camcorder and some neutral density lenses for use in sunlight.
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