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Our friend YourNAV has an interesting write-up about a new, yet-to-be-announced, TomTom ultra-slim device. According to the article, TomTom will release the new, ultra-slim unit in March of 2007. According to the article, the unit will have a 2.7-inch touch screen display, and even slimmer than the (already small) TomTom ONE. Check out the full article on YourNAV
Need help planning your next vacation? The Rand McNally GPS Navigator may be the product for you.
Rand McNally is one of the oldest names in mapping -- over 150 years old! McNally is making its first forey into GPS navigation with the $499 priced "Rand McNally GPS Navigator". Apart from the uninspired name, the specs look pretty decent:
Not surprisingly, the "Rand McNally GPS Navigator" uses Rand McNally maps. The unit includes coverage for the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands, and ships with Rand McNally paper maps as well. The unit includes the Rand McNally Points of Interest (POI) database, and can suggest vacation itineraries, restaurants, tourist-friendly attractions, and shops selected by Rand McNally's editorial staff.
The Rand McNally GPS Navigator is available for purchase via Rand McNally's website.
Comparison testing of Garmin StreetPilot C550, TomTom GO 910 and Magellan RoadMate 6000T
We will also point out some basic system limitations, along with certain features that these systems offer that is not listed anywhere else on the Internet. This comparison report is not an endorsement of any kind, we only offer our test results for our readers to evaluate and choose which products would best suit their needs. |
This week I had the opportunity to speak with TomTom VP of Marketing, Anne Louise Hanstad and ask her some of the most pressing questions I've received from GPS Magazine readers:
Continue reading "Eight Questions with TomTom’s VP of Marketing, Anne Louise Hanstad" »
Really, really want to keep track of your stuff? Or prevent your friends from "borrowing" you spanking new GPS without asking? British-based company Covert Asset Tracking Systems (CATSeye) believes it may have the answer. The company manufacturers matchbook sized transmitters that can be tracked via GPS, GSM, or radio frequency.
The company demonstrated the technology at CTIA last week in Los Angeles, and claimed to be able to track items down to 1-inch accuracy (hmmm...sounds suspect to me). The company says the devices will likely be used in electronics that are common targets for thieves, such as laptops, GPS units, and desktop computers. The transmitters are mainly tracked via GPS, but can fail over to GSM cellular service or radio if no GPS signal is available. Looks like you need to connect the device to a power source, so this may not be the product for those of you looking to snoop on a girlfriend's whereabouts (not that we'd ever advocate such a thing).
CATSeye transmitters can be located via a web browser, and location information stored for future reference. Using the web interface, you can locate the device down to a specific address. The company is also selling TomTom devices with the tracking device pre-installed (privacy advocates will just love this pairing of technologies)...
What's most interesting is that even when 2 online services use the same mapping data, they may not render the map the same way. Read the article HERE
Remember all that belly-aching I did about the problematic TomTom GO 910 windshield mount a few months ago? Well, looks like TomTom has heard the customer feedback, improved the mount, and is offering all GO 910 and 510 owners the new improved mount for free! (that's right, you don't even have to send in your existing mount). Takes a few weeks to get the new mount, one per registered device.
TomTom says that even though a relatively small number of customers actually experienced issues with the original mount (I know I did), they're offering the new mount to all GO 910/510 customers for free because they want customers to know that TomTom takes any customer issues seriously, and wants to do the right thing as soon as they become aware of an issue.
An interesting side-note: according to TomTom, turns out that the failure rate of the original mount during the winter was relatively small, but the increased heat of summer caused the original mounts to fail in greater numbers, prompting TomTom to take corrective action.
TomTom gets points for stepping up and taking corrective action in relatively short order. Nice to see a company standing behind its products.
So head on over to TomTom's site (https://www.tomtom.com/newdock/) and pickup your FREE new mount!
"Based on consumer feedback, there is strong interest in reasonably priced GPS navigation systems on mobile devices," said Jim Greiner, VP and GM of MapQuest.
The service uses Sprint's existing location based services and GPS enabled phones to acquire wireless device location information. Since the maps are downloaded from MapQuest to the phone at the start of each journey, you never have to update the mapping information. The mobility of a cell phone means users can use the service not just in the car, but on foot, bicycle, unicycle, roller-skate...you get the idea. What else do you get?
MapQuest Navigator uses mapping data provided by Telmap.
I'm currently in the process of reviewing a similar service from mobile GPS leader TeleNav, and will be able to compare the mobile phone based navigation experience to true in-car GPS navigation soon.
First I see Acura's new TV ad promoting traffic aware navigation, and now this: BMW has announced that select 2007 models (the 3-series, 5-, and 6-series models, as well as the X5, M5, and M6) will include real-time traffic information in their navigation systems. More proof that GPS navigation and real-time traffic are showing up on consumers' radar.
Traffic data will be provided by Clear Channel's Total Traffic Network, with coverage in 44 major US cities. Already own a fancy-pants BMW ride with the navigation package (you extravagant bastard!)? The traffic service update will be free to you for the next four years.
More details available via ClearChannel's website