Engadget

Trimble Outdoors app will make an adventurer out of your T-Mobile G1

Donald Melanson — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 02:46:00 EST

Trimble may make plenty of GPS-equipped devices of its own aimed at adventure-minded folks, but its Trimble Outdoors software has also made quite a few cellphones a bit more outdoors-friendly, and it's now finally found its way to the T-Mobile G1. As with on some other phones, the app will let you plan your trip online and sync it up with your G1, and give you the ability to geotag pictures, log your trip and share it with others, take text and audio notes and, of course, simply use it as a full-fledged GPS navigator. That won't come free, of course, but the $19.99 app price sure is a good deal cheaper than a separate outdoors GPS device, and you can grab it right now from Android Market.

Filed under: Cellphones, GPS, Software

Trimble Outdoors app will make an adventurer out of your T-Mobile G1 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 08 Jul 2009 02:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hyundai Provia A7+ GPS unit adds multimedia playback, looks irresistible

Vladislav Savov — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 08:34:00 EST

It's no secret that some of our US editors have been feeling a bit of tech-envy toward our cousins from the far East, who consider 7-inch PNDs commonplace. Doing nothing to allay those emotions, Hyundai has announced the Provia A7+, which is -- you guessed it -- a 7-inch GPS-slash-PMP soon to be available in South Korea. The device comes with an integrated TV tuner (DMB), 800 x 480 resolution, video and audio playback, Navi-in-Picture functionality, and USB and SD connectivity to expand its abilities to match your imagination. If this thing's routing abilities are even half decent, it should sell like hot cakes in the middle of a particularly cold winter.

[Via Navigadget]

Filed under: GPS

Hyundai Provia A7+ GPS unit adds multimedia playback, looks irresistible originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 07 Jul 2009 08:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Magellan Maestro 4700 available for pre-order, hits the street July 15

Joseph L. Flatley — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 11:35:00 EST

We know you all have been eagerly awaiting the good word on that new Magellan GPS ever since it came to our attention (via some cat's diligent FCC carousing) at the end of May. According to an announcement dropped this morning, the Maestro 4700 should be making the scene on July 15 for an MSRP of $299. Among the features sure to thrill and titillate one who is lucky enough to purchase this guy: OneTouch favorites, hands-free Bluetooth calling (with your compatible cellphone), a predictive traffic mode that analyzes past traffic patterns and suggests alternate routes, both standard POI and AAA TourBook databases, "Find Your Car" with pedestrian mode, 3D Landmarks while driving, and our personal favorite -- QuickSpell with Smart City Search. Including a windshield mount and cradle, power adapter, USB cable, and a carrying case, this guy is available for pre-order now. Full PR after the break.

Continue reading Magellan Maestro 4700 available for pre-order, hits the street July 15

Filed under: GPS

Magellan Maestro 4700 available for pre-order, hits the street July 15 originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 06 Jul 2009 11:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BMW kicking Garmin's zumo 660 up a notch with the Motorrad Navigator IV

Ross Miller — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 03:11:00 EST

Sure, Garmin's zumo 660 was designed with the biker in mind, but BMW's taking it one step further with the latest in its branded Motorrad series, the Navigator IV. Based on Garmin's GPS ditty, it's got the same 4.3-inch "glove friendly" touchscreen, voice control, and A2DP support. It can withstand heavy vibration, fuel sprays, UV rays, is waterproof and most importantly, can play your favorite adrenaline-pumping tunes for when those other precautions are being handily tested. Additionally, we've got a four-button motorcycle mount and it comes pre-loaded with a database of BMW dealers, just in case you ever need one in a jiff. Coming third quarter to US and Europe, there's no word on price yet, but as a basis for comparison, the cost of the zumo 660 is about $700.

[Via NaviGadget]

Filed under: GPS, Transportation

BMW kicking Garmin's zumo 660 up a notch with the Motorrad Navigator IV originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 06 Jul 2009 03:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dell's Mini 10 getting GPS / WiFi tracking upgrade next week

Ross Miller — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 20:19:00 EST

Dell's Mini 10 already offers GPS with an integrated 3G chip, but if you're not interested in mobile broadband, starting next week you can opt instead for a wireless 700 location solution, a hybrid of Broadcom's assisted GPS and Skyhook's WiFi positioning technologies. We had a chance to sit down with a few of the product managers working on the device, and even within a brick-laden office building it did a pretty fine job of finding us within 30 meters and integrating with Flickr, Loopt, and Yelp using the Loki plug-in for Internet Explorer / FireFox. Impact on battery life was said to be "immaterial" although a ballpark estimate was about a five percent hit when in use. For $70, it'll come bundled with CoPilot turn by turn navigation software. It requires the $30 HD display upgrade, but even then, an extra Benjamin total for a large-screen navigation device is hard to pass up if you're looking to get a netbook anyway. If you're still not sold, Dell promises it'll be available for other Mini options, with and without the HD upgrade, in the near future. Now how about a few words on the Mini 11, eh Dell?

Filed under: GPS, Laptops

Dell's Mini 10 getting GPS / WiFi tracking upgrade next week originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 30 Jun 2009 20:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Garmin launches Dakota line of handheld GPS units for the great outdoors

Laura June — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 13:27:00 EST

Garmin's already firmly entrenched in the GPS for outdoorspeople game with its Oregon line of handhelds, and now the company's announced a new series, the Dakotas. Two models -- the 10 and 20, respectively -- have been launched. These bad boys supposedly have a 20 hour battery charge life, a 2.6-inch LCD (diagonally), and store up to 200 tracks. The higher-end Dakota 20 boasts a MicroSD slot, an electronic compass, a barometric altimeter, and wireless data transfer between compatible units. They're expected in the 3rd quarter and will run you $299.99 for the Dakota 10 and $349.99 for the 20. Full press release after the break.

[Via GPS Tracklog]

Continue reading Garmin launches Dakota line of handheld GPS units for the great outdoors

Filed under: GPS, Handhelds

Garmin launches Dakota line of handheld GPS units for the great outdoors originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 26 Jun 2009 13:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nextar rolls out 43LT nav unit with free live traffic updates

Donald Melanson — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 11:49:00 EST

This isn't the first time that Nextar has offered free live traffic updates (courtesy of NAVTEQ) on one of its GPS units, but it is the first time that it's put Nav N Go's navigation software into use, which brings with it some easily updateable maps and, of course, some fancy 3D graphics. Otherwise, the device is a fairly standard 4.3-inch number, with it packing 1.6 million points of interest, an SD card slot for expansion, text-to-speech, the usual basic media-playback options, and that bundled live traffic receiver. So, nothing too extraordinary, but the $169.99 MSRP is certainly right, and you can pick this one up right now if you're in a hurry.

Filed under: GPS

Nextar rolls out 43LT nav unit with free live traffic updates originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 26 Jun 2009 11:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Garmin issues patch to exorcise brick from 7x5 series GPS

Ross Miller — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 22:04:00 EST

It didn't take long for Garmin to get into gear, once it acknowledged the firmware update had ultimately brought ruin to its nüvi 7x5 series GPS units. The company's released a new software update that should provide a fix -- it should be available now via its WebUpdater. If you're one of those whose device won't even turn on anymore, there's also a support section online for requesting a return authorization to have it repaired under warranty. Garmin acknowledged a few other devices that may be affected, including 800 series, 8x5 series, zūmo 660, and GPSMAP 620 / 640. Those will all be getting updates "in the near future."

Continue reading Garmin issues patch to exorcise brick from 7x5 series GPS

Filed under: GPS

Garmin issues patch to exorcise brick from 7x5 series GPS originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 24 Jun 2009 22:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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DeLorme kicks out waterproof Earthmate PN-30 GPS device

Darren Murph — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 06:57:00 EST

It was pretty much a year ago to the day when DeLorme released its Earthmate PN-40, and now the outfit is busting out a lower-end unit that could easily be mistaken for the PN-40 from 2008. Indeed, the PN-30 doesn't deviate from its roots, boasting a peanut-shaped waterproof chassis, a 32-channel Cartesio chipset, a daylight readable LCD and maps of the US, Canada and Mexico. It's also sporting a rubberized housing around the edges to keep it safe from minor bumps and bruises; nothing too fancy here, but it ought to bring a smile to the face of all the argonauts in attendance. You can get one headed your way next month for $299.95, and the full release is after the break.

Continue reading DeLorme kicks out waterproof Earthmate PN-30 GPS device

Filed under: GPS

DeLorme kicks out waterproof Earthmate PN-30 GPS device originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 24 Jun 2009 06:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Garmin 7x5 series devices bricked by firmware update?

Donald Melanson — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 14:36:00 EST

Things are still a little early with this one, but a sizable number of reports have cropped up today indicating that there's some seriously wrong with Garmin's 7x5 series GPS units, with a firmware update seemingly the likely culprit. Interestingly, it doesn't look like the firmware update instantly bricked the units when it was installed, but rather caused them all to suddenly seize up at some point on June 22nd. While it's not saying anything official just yet, a number of folks that have spoken with Garmin's customer support say that the company is aware of the problem now that the calls are pouring in, although it's unfortunately not offering much in the way of solutions to the problem just yet (though at least a few customers seem to have been offered a replacement unit). So, has your nuvi left you in the lurch? Let us know in comments.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Update: Garmin is aware of the issue and is working to fix it. Full response is after the break.

Continue reading Garmin 7x5 series devices bricked by firmware update?

Filed under: GPS

Garmin 7x5 series devices bricked by firmware update? originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 23 Jun 2009 14:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mio debuts Freeview-tuning Navman Spirit TV V505 and V735 PNDs

Darren Murph — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 08:21:00 EST

We already knew that Mio was planning a few PNDs for the European market with integrated Freeview tuners, and now the outfit has come clean with the official launch of the Navman Spirit TV V505 and V735. Just as expected, the TV tuning satnav units boast 4.7- and 7-inch displays (respectively), with each also packing an EPG, two available antennas and support for video, photo and music playback. There's also a new slidetouch UI, 3D maps, built-in traffic support (with a lifetime subscription), an FM transmitter and a selection of Travel Books that provide in-depth listings of the best local stops. The new devices should hit UK shelves next month for £229 ($372) and £299 ($487) in order of mention, though we get the feeling a US version may not be in the cards.

Filed under: GPS, Portable Video

Mio debuts Freeview-tuning Navman Spirit TV V505 and V735 PNDs originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 23 Jun 2009 08:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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CATSeye Mk2 tracking device takes the smaller, more waterproof route

Ross Miller — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 02:07:00 EST

Okay, so if you thought the CATSeye matchbox-sized tracking device was a bit too big or cumbersome, the gang is back with something decidedly smaller and more discrete. Introducing the CATS.i, also known as CATSeye Mk2. It's got all the same functionality as its predecessor -- GPS, GSM/GPRS, RF, internet / SMS controls, etc. -- but is now only eight millimeters thick (or twelve if you chose the thinner "folded over" arrangement) and completely waterproof. Power options include a Li-ion battery, solar power, or any number of other ways you can think to run juice. Have an urge to keep track of all your family members and loved ones even more secretly than before? The new devices ship next month.

[Via NaviGadget]

Filed under: GPS, Wearables, Wireless

CATSeye Mk2 tracking device takes the smaller, more waterproof route originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 22 Jun 2009 02:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Finnish mall rats take Nokia's WiFi positioning system for a test drive

Joseph L. Flatley — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 11:46:00 EST

Nokia is currently testing an indoor positioning system at the Kamppi Shopping Center in Helsinki that lets users triangulate their position from a series of WiFi transmitters on their Nokia S60 cellphone. The handset runs an app that allows users to pinpoint their location on a map of the mall, send SMS messages with their location to fellow shoppers, and find the shortest route to the Orange Julius (or its Finnish counterpart). Of course, this isn't the first time we've seen a company try to make GPS-like positioning viable indoors, but it may be the first that's expressly designed to enable your shopping addiction. We'll be keeping an eye out for further developments -- in the meantime, peep the video demonstration after the break.

[Via Switched]

Continue reading Finnish mall rats take Nokia's WiFi positioning system for a test drive

Filed under: GPS, Wireless

Finnish mall rats take Nokia's WiFi positioning system for a test drive originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 17 Jun 2009 11:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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TomTom's Homer Simpson voice skin is just like the real thing, without the Duff's

Joseph L. Flatley — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 10:38:00 EST

Well, let's be frank. The Knight Rider GPS, while brilliant, is a bit of a stretch. Isn't it a little sad to be living out your boyhood fantasies of excitement and danger vicariously, behind the wheel of your '92 Buick Roadmaster station wagon? On the other hand, perhaps you're ready to put away your childhood dreams and hit the road in a manner more befitting your average schlub. The official Homer Simpson voice skin for the TomTom GPS features the voice of the iconic cartoon dad, including such gems as "Take the third right. We might find an ice cream truck! Mmm...ice cream." Psyched? We bet you are. Priced at $12.95 -- check out an audio sample after the break, and then hit the read link to pick it up it for yourself.

[Via Pocket-lint]

Continue reading TomTom's Homer Simpson voice skin is just like the real thing, without the Duff's

Filed under: GPS

TomTom's Homer Simpson voice skin is just like the real thing, without the Duff's originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 16 Jun 2009 10:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Garmin-Asus G60 slated for August launch, will be last non-Android Linux phone for the couple

Tim Stevens — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 08:28:00 EST

What's that, you're still holding your breath waiting for the G60 release? Breathe, child, breathe, it's still going to be a little while before you can get your nav on with this celly. Obviously it didn't make the first half of the year as initially planned, but the Garmin-Asus partnership is now saying that the phone will still arrive at its retail destination before 2010, with some places seeing it in just two months time. Why the delays? Apparently its custom flavor of Linux is at least part of the problem, leading the corporate couple's marriage counselors to suggest a move to Android for all future, non-WinMo handsets -- devices that, contrary to earlier reports, will also launch before the end of the year. So, G60 in August, or potentially even hotter Android nav phone a few months later? Decisions, decisions.

Filed under: Cellphones, GPS

Garmin-Asus G60 slated for August launch, will be last non-Android Linux phone for the couple originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 16 Jun 2009 08:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Garmin's Foretrex 301 and 401 navigators are like pixelated breadcrumbs

Thomas Ricker — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 07:00:00 EST

Get lost easy do ya? Then you'll find Garmin's new Foretrex 301 and Foretrex 401 navigators more handy on the switchbacks than a sack full of Wonder "bread." These wrist-worn GPS navigators feature a rugged, waterproof design and the ability to store up to 500 waypoints and 20 routes that'll help keep you from getting lost in the great outdoors. See, each Foretrex can remember up to 10,000 points of your journey displayed as a dotted trail on the screen. When you've reached your limits, just turn on the TracBak mode and easily double-back to camp or to your vehicle. Both devices are powered by a pair of AAA batteries for about 18-hours of use -- a bit less on the 401 which needs the extra go-juice to power the electronic compass, barometric altimeter, and wireless link back to compatible Garmin devices including heart-rate monitors and cadence sensors. Both incorporate a trip computer, sunrise/sunset and hunting and fishing information with USB tethering to PC or Mac. No word on pricing or release yet but we'll update you when we get it. Foretrex 401 and full press release after the break.

Continue reading Garmin's Foretrex 301 and 401 navigators are like pixelated breadcrumbs

Filed under: GPS, Wearables

Garmin's Foretrex 301 and 401 navigators are like pixelated breadcrumbs originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 16 Jun 2009 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pioneer explodes your dashboard with new AVIC U, X and Z-series in-dash navigation systems

Paul Miller — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 10:06:00 EST

Pioneer isn't going for subtle here: the company just unleashed a flurry of in-dash navigators, with a considerable amount of accoutrements on display. The units range through the flagship AVIC-Z110BT (pictured), "midrange" AVIC-X710BT and X910BT, and the AVIC-U310BT for rich people on a budget. Seriously, with a starting price of $599, none of this is suited for the cheap-and-simple set, but at least Pioneer backs up those pricetags with serious functionality. In the high end, the Z110BT includes an tilt-out XGA 7-inch touchscreen, MSN Direct tuner (for traffic and other live info), 4GB of internal storage, CD and DVD playback, and Bluetooth. Comforts include both voice recognition ("Find the nearest Starbucks") and text-to-speech ("I wouldn't do that, Dave"), along with iPod control and support for optional rear seat monitors and wireless headphones. Of course, all those perks aren't cheap: the device retails for $1,600. The other units include smaller screens and subsets of the specs, on down to the 4.3-inch U310BT.

Gallery: Pioneer explodes your dashboard with new AVIC U, X and Z-series in-dash navigation systems

Read - AVIC-Z110BT
Read - AVIC-X710BT and AVIC-X910BT
Read - AVIC-U310BT

Filed under: GPS

Pioneer explodes your dashboard with new AVIC U, X and Z-series in-dash navigation systems originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 14 Jun 2009 10:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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GPS coordinates lead demolition crew to destroy wrong house

Paul Miller — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 15:38:00 EST

Tired of blaming GPS on petty mishaps like the destruction of cars, a demolition crew in Georgia has managed to accidentally destroy an entirely wrong house based on GPS coordinates. Oddly enough, it wasn't even the first time they'd been by: the man who cuts the grass noticed that the power box was missing from the home and holes were punched into the walls about a month ago -- it was suspected as vandalism, but it now seems that the stealthy, directionless demolition company was to blame. The demolition company says it had "paperwork" authorizing the destruction, complete with the coordinates and a description of the home, which the owner's father had built with his own hands "brick by brick."

[Thanks, Leonard]

Filed under: GPS

GPS coordinates lead demolition crew to destroy wrong house originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 13 Jun 2009 15:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Find My iPhone is live, totally found our iPhone

Paul Miller — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 19:16:00 EST

We wouldn't really say we "have it together" when it comes to remembering where we put our keys / phone / small children, so Apple's announcement of the Find My iPhone service for MobileMe users came as quite a relief. The service just went live, and with a quick toggle of a preference pane in iPhone OS 3.0 the phone is fully prepared for all sorts of lost and found scenarios -- along with acting as an incredibly intuitive (if pricey) stalking mechanism. Find My iPhone works exactly as advertised, giving us a fairly good location estimate from within our lead-lined underground fortress, and sending annoying messages to the phone complete with sound, even when the handset is switched to silent, though unfortunately the sound is a sort of sonar ping that strikes us as incredibly difficult to locate, unless of course our phone is taken by whale. The only other problem is that both the location function and the message service took a couple minutes to track down our iPhone -- not a deal breaker, but we don't know what the hangup could be. After the device is pinged, a confirmation of the event was sent to our MobileMe email address. A live, enthralling video demonstration is after the break.

Gallery: Find My iPhone is live, totally found our iPhone

Continue reading Find My iPhone is live, totally found our iPhone

Filed under: Cellphones, GPS, Handhelds

Find My iPhone is live, totally found our iPhone originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 09 Jun 2009 19:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Magellan intros 4.7-inch RoadMate 1475T PND for $299

Darren Murph — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 09:13:00 EST

Magellan's been on somewhat of a hiatus since being taken away by MiTAC, and while an unassuming FCC find has shown that it's still alive and well, we're thrilled to see the company's second actual product announcement in over half a year. The RoadMate 1475T is, for all intents and purposes, a refreshed RoadMate 1470 with a traffic receiver, though said traffic receiver works without any monthly fees. It features a 4.7-inch WQVGA anti-glare display, AAA TourBook listings, six million POIs, spoken street name guidance, highway lane assist, QuickSpell and NAVTEQ maps of the US, Canada and Puerto Rico. Not too shabby for just $299, wouldn't you say?

Filed under: GPS

Magellan intros 4.7-inch RoadMate 1475T PND for $299 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 09 Jun 2009 09:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iriver's M7 NV Classic navigates the road and your media

Thomas Ricker — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 08:23:00 EST

Mmm mm m, iriver, you sure know a thing or two about industrial design. Meet the M7 or NV Classic if you prefer, an update to the original iRiver NV only without the massive jogwheel wart. As a navigator, this 181 x 120 x 21.5 device features SiRF GRF3i+ GPS, an SDHC slot for maps, a pair of 1.5-watt speakers for turn-by-turn audio, and a biggie 7-inch 800x480 touchscreen TFT LCD to show you the way. As a media device we're looking at DMB digital television, support for MPEG1, MPEG4, WMV9, and XVID video, MP3, WMA, OGG, and WAV audio, JPEG and BMP images, and a bundled 4GB SDHC card for storage. Priced for Korea at KRW329,000 which would be right around $248 if it ever came to the US, which it won't, at least not in this configuration.

[Via Slashgear and Generation MP3]

Gallery: iriver's M7 NV Classic navigates the road and your media

Filed under: GPS, Handhelds

iriver's M7 NV Classic navigates the road and your media originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 09 Jun 2009 08:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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AutoLinQ initiative taps Android for new connected car initiative

Paul Miller — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 16:52:00 EST

This is a bit of a wild one: some very disparate companies are (apparently) teaming up to conquer the car, Microsoft Sync style. Details are a bit slim at the moment, but Continental Auto Group has announced plans to build what they're calling "the connected car." The new hardware and software system "leverages" the Android Marketplace, and encompasses car-friendly APIs, car-specific in-vehicle apps and a touchscreen interface plugged into a system designed to pull data from the web and control internal car systems. On a sketchier front, Phandroid has done some mucking around, and seems to think Google, BMW, T-Mobile, Wind River and SVOX are all on the short list for involvement. It's hard to say exactly how likely that might be, but we're happy to dream electric dreams of an OHA-style Sync killer along with them. Another shot is after the break.

[Via Phandroid]

Continue reading AutoLinQ initiative taps Android for new connected car initiative

Filed under: GPS, Transportation

AutoLinQ initiative taps Android for new connected car initiative originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 08 Jun 2009 16:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony building Android-based Walkman and PND for 2010 launch?

Thomas Ricker — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 03:57:00 EST

We'll admit it, we expected to be knee-deep in Android gear by now. However, it seems like the consumer electronics industry wanted to build more mature products around versions 1.5 and 2.0 of Google's open source OS instead. Regardless, we're in the thick of it now having just witnessed a deluge of Android-based smartbooks / netbooks (expected before October) at Computex and Google's own announcement that at least 18 new Android handsets will launch this year. Building upon Sony Ericsson's plan to launch its first handset based on Android 2.0, we're now hearing that Android will play a prominent role across Sony's portable devices starting with an Android-based Walkman and personal navigation device (PND) launching sometime in 2010. Engadget Japanese says that Sony's affection for Android is an "open secret" in Japan. In fact, an analyst speaking to Japan's Nikkan simply states the development of an Android Walkman and PND as fact. Not that we're too surprised by this; as demonstrated by its XMB interface now extended to a variety of devices other than the PS3, Sony is clearly trying to unify the user experience across its consumer electronics portfolio. And opting for open-source software across the board should keep costs low while increasing speed to market. Oh Android, is there anything you can't do...in Google fanboy theory?

Read -- Android Walkman (Nikkan)
Read -- Android Walkman (Impress)

Filed under: Cellphones, GPS, Handhelds, Portable Audio, Portable Video

Sony building Android-based Walkman and PND for 2010 launch? originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 08 Jun 2009 03:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ask Engadget: What's the best GPS tracker for under $300?

Darren Murph — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 00:28:00 EST

Think fast! You've just stumbled upon this week's episode of Ask Engadget, and just like those "Choose Your Own Adventure" books from yesteryear, you've a few choices here. One is to leave like a coward; another is to really dig in and contribute; and another is to drop some knowledge and send in a question of your own to ask at engadget dawt com. While you ponder which route is best for you, here's Matthew's plea:

"There are so many GPS trackers on the market today to choose from. I'm just looking for basic monitoring abilities and decent battery life, and of course I want one that's as small and discrete as possible. Which is the best one for less than $300?"

No need to confess in comments what you use your own tracker for (trust us, we could narrow it down on our own), but do tell if you've found a winner. Bonus points if your module has landed your scandalous SO on a recent episode of Cheaters.

Filed under: Ask Engadget, GPS

Ask Engadget: What's the best GPS tracker for under $300? originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 05 Jun 2009 00:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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RIM buys Dash Navigation

Nilay Patel — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 15:38:00 EST

Remember Dash? The upstart connected GPS maker who put out the much-loved Dash Express but didn't realize people didn't want to pay a monthly fee for GPS services and eventually folded in on itself? Well yeah -- they've just been snapped up by RIM, presumably meaning we'll see some nifty new online GPS action in future BlackBerrys. Terms of the deal aren't yet known, but we're eager to see how RIM plays with this with its carrier partners, most of whom charge extra fees for GPS features.

[Via Phone Scoop]

Filed under: Cellphones, GPS

RIM buys Dash Navigation originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 04 Jun 2009 15:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Belkin shows first iPhone 3.0 accessory, mashes up GPS and FM data to pick the best TuneCast frequency

Paul Miller — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 14:33:00 EST

After your fourth or fifth time ending up in a ditch or a swimming pool or a tree while attempting to find a good FM frequency to push your iPod tunes to your car stereo, you're likely looking for a better way to live. Lucky for you, Belkin has been hard at work over-engineering the problem to death, and has finally emerged with the new TuneCast Auto Live FM Transmitter. The device is "specifically compatible" with iPhone OS 3.0, and pulls GPS data from the phone to figure out the clearest FM frequency to use based on "geographical" data and on the recommendations of other local users. It's all controllable from the iPhone interface with the free ClearScan Live app, which reduces device juggling, but the unit also works with the iPod touch, iPod classic and iPod nano. It'll be available early this fall for $80.

Filed under: GPS, Peripherals, Portable Audio

Belkin shows first iPhone 3.0 accessory, mashes up GPS and FM data to pick the best TuneCast frequency originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 04 Jun 2009 14:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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TomTom announces special edition "White Pearl" nav system

Donald Melanson — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 06:14:00 EST

Navigation systems don't often get the same special edition treatment given to cellphones and other gadgets, but TomTom looks to be doing its small part to change that, and it's now announced its new "White Pearl" edition nav unit. As you might expect, however, apart from that eye-catching exterior, this one is basically just a re-purposed version of one of TomTom's existing devices -- a TomTom ONE IQ Routes edition, in this case. While the specs no doubt remain the same, TomTom has at least gone so far as to add a new start-up screen that fills out the design, not to mention a few new, totally not obvious special points of interest like "Places to be seen" and "Shop 'til you drop." No word on a release 'round here, but it looks like folks in the UK will be able to pick one up this month for £179.99, or just about $300 even.

Filed under: GPS

TomTom announces special edition "White Pearl" nav system originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 03 Jun 2009 06:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Thinkware's iNAVI ES300 navigator reeks of win

Darren Murph — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 03:34:00 EST

We can't quite figure it out, but it seems the navigation makers in North America just can't muster the courage to develop something such as this for our market. We could very well be wrong here, but seriously, is there no pent-up demand for a TV tuning GPS system with a spacious 7-inch display here in the US / Canada / Mexico? Anywho, the South Koreans are scoring once more with the downright beautiful Thinkware iNAVI ES300, which arrives with a sweet side-panel control system, integrated battery, 2GB / 4GB / 8GB of internal storage, 3D maps and a DMB tuner. Oh, and this is considered "low-end" by its standards. Those in the right places can snag one soon for ₩329,000 ($263), ₩379,000 ($303) or ₩429,000 ($343) from least capacious to most.

[Via NaviGadget]

Filed under: GPS

Thinkware's iNAVI ES300 navigator reeks of win originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 01 Jun 2009 03:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Travel Honey GPS functions as a homing device, photo tagger, party favor

Joseph L. Flatley — Thu, 28 May 2009 22:28:00 EST

The last time we saw a simplified GPS homing device about, we weren't too terribly impressed. Sure, the premise was solid: press one button to lock in the position of your car (or the gold of Dresden), and it will return you to its location after your day at the mall (or after you've successfully evaded capture). But who wants to spend $80 on a glorified key fob? Not us, that's for sure. For a less pricey alternative, you might want to check out a little something called the Travel Honey. Distributed by Chinavasion, this bad boy not only functions as a stand alone unit, lighting up as you zero in on your target, but it can also connect to your PC via USB for use as a full-blown GPS unit (software not included). And if all that weren't enough, it will also log your various locations in a text file (perfect for keeping track of mileage and geotagging photos). Available now for $53.87.

[Via Oh Gizmo!]

Filed under: GPS

Travel Honey GPS functions as a homing device, photo tagger, party favor originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 28 May 2009 22:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ATP PhotoFinder Pro loses the base station, takes us to geotagging nirvana

Tim Stevens — Thu, 28 May 2009 10:18:00 EST

Despite new cameras being riddled with borderline useless features and modes, useful functionality like automatic geotagging is getting little love from the big players. All the more reason for third parties to sneak in and make a few bucks, and ATP certainly seems to be on top of it. We liked the idea of the company's PhotoFinder, but that base station looked like needless desk clutter. The new PhotoFinder Pro does away with it, featuring an integrated SD, Memory Stick, and MMC card reader. Just sync up the clock in the unit with that of your shooter, clip it onto your camera bag for a day of scenic photography, and then pop your card in before downloading the pics that night. It'll automatically add coordinates to each photo's EXIF information, drastically reducing the likelihood of future spousal arguments about the whereabouts of certain Kodak moments. That sounds like a beautiful thing, and at $119 a good deal, too.

Update: Dan commented to point out that, with the help of an external USB card reader, the PhotoFinder Pro can also tag pics on CF, xD, or any other FAT/FAT32 formatted cards you might have sliding around in the bottom of your junk drawer.

[Via Photography Blog]

Filed under: Digital Cameras, GPS

ATP PhotoFinder Pro loses the base station, takes us to geotagging nirvana originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 28 May 2009 10:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sensaris wearable sensor promises to track noise and air quality

Donald Melanson — Tue, 26 May 2009 05:40:00 EST

While it's not too hard to get general information about the air quality in a particular city, it's considerably tougher if you're looking to break things down on a neighborhood by neighborhood basis, or get actual real-time information. The folks at Sensaris seem to think they can change that with this new GPS-equipped wearable sensor of theirs, however, which is not only able to monitor air quality, but noise pollution as well. Of course, that information isn't all that useful on its own, so the device makes use of its built-in Bluetooth to link up with your cellphone and broadcast the data to a central service, which in turn makes it available to the public at large. What's more, while there's no word of it being put into use 'round these parts, it is apparently going to be deployed in Paris, which Sensaris hopes will just be the first of many cities to hop on board.

[Via ReadWriteWeb]

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets, GPS, Wearables

Sensaris wearable sensor promises to track noise and air quality originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 26 May 2009 05:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sanyo intros two new flash-based in-dash navigation systems

Darren Murph — Tue, 26 May 2009 02:56:00 EST

Sanyo was among the first to cram solid state storage into navigation systems when it did so back in May of last year. Nearly 12 months to the day after said introduction, the company is delivering its newest duo, which ups the ante by including "SSDs" (which is likely just a fancy title for flash storage) that are four times as capacious. The NVA-GS1409DT and NVA-GS1609FT systems, which are both in the AV Gorilla family, each boast a QVGA (480 x 240) display, 3D maps, an integrated DVD player, CD ripping functionality and even a digital TV tuner for catching OTA shows whilst parked in Tokyo traffic. There's also a 16GB slab of flash memory, half of which is already claimed by maps and POIs; still, that leaves 8GB of super-speedy storage for hosting your favorite playlists. Unfortunately, such a sweet solution demands quite the premium, with prices on the June-bound units starting at ¥135,000 ($1,423).

[Via Impress]

Gallery: Sanyo packs 16GB SSDs into new in-dash navigation systems

Filed under: GPS, Transportation

Sanyo intros two new flash-based in-dash navigation systems originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 26 May 2009 02:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Maestro 4700 slips by FCC, proves Magellan still has a pulse

Darren Murph — Fri, 22 May 2009 09:44:00 EST

We know things may not be all hunky-dory in the world of PNDs, but seriously Magellan, you owe us an explanation here. After MiTAC snapped up the outfit's consumer products division way back in December of last year (yeah, half a year ago), we've heard absolutely zilch since. Until today, naturally. If documentation found in the always-telling FCC database is to be believed, it looks as if the long standing Maestro line is about to grow another member. The Maestro 4700 user handbook explains that the unit will boast support for voice commands, a OneTouch user interface, Bluetooth, traffic alerts and a presumed 4.7-inch display. We'd expect the company to come clean with an official price and release date in short order. [Warning: PDF read link]

[Via GPSTracklog, thanks Rich]

Filed under: GPS

Maestro 4700 slips by FCC, proves Magellan still has a pulse originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 22 May 2009 09:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Air Force says that GPS situation is 'under control,' urges you to 'chill out'

Joseph L. Flatley — Thu, 21 May 2009 16:32:00 EST

Responding to a Government Accountability Office report that warns of major GPS failures as early as next year, U.S. Air Force Col. Dave Buckman has responded, saying: "No way! As if! The issue is under control." If anything, he said, "there's only a small risk we will not continue to exceed our performance standard." Whew, that's a relief... we don't know what we'd do without our Knight Rider GPS to keep us company on those long, lonely car rides.

[Via Pocket-lint]

Filed under: GPS

Air Force says that GPS situation is 'under control,' urges you to 'chill out' originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 21 May 2009 16:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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TomTom brings costly connected services to mid-range XL LIVE

Darren Murph — Thu, 21 May 2009 11:39:00 EST

In theory, we've no qualms with TomTom's LIVE services. Sure, they're over-hyped, overpriced and generally slow to react, but they're definitely nice extras on an otherwise vanilla PND. That said, we simply can't (and won't, ever) justify the crazy monthly rates for having access to basic information that even a dumb smartphone could find. Nevertheless, TomTom's doing its darnedest to push those very services to the masses by trickling 'em down from the GO 740 LIVE to its popular XL model. Folks across the pond can pick one up next month for €219 ($301) or €249 ($342) depending on whether you need a regional model or one with 42 European nations, but you'll still be asked to shell out €9.95 ($14) per month if you want those LIVE services.

Gallery: TomTom brings costly connected services to mid-range XL LIVE

Filed under: GPS

TomTom brings costly connected services to mid-range XL LIVE originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 21 May 2009 11:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Intel-backed Volkswagen infotainment system gets demonstrated

Darren Murph — Wed, 20 May 2009 18:41:00 EST

Volkswagen has been known to dabble in exotic places when it comes to in-dash entertainment, and while it's latest initiative isn't totally far-fetched, it's still worth a peek. The automaker has recently teamed up with Intel in order to develop a prototype head unit that's completely self-enclosed, meaning that there's no carputer hanging out in the trunk handling the dirty work. The touchscreen-based infotainment center shown in the video past the break is rocking Windows XP underneath and gladly accepts a number of gesture-based inputs. For example, motorists can swipe down to play or pause a track, while swiping left or right anywhere on the panel moves the playlist forward or back. The project manager doesn't bother to say when this stuff will actually hit the showroom floor, but CNET has it that you'll be waiting at least three years -- and that's if you're lucky.

[Via CNET]

Continue reading Video: Intel-backed Volkswagen infotainment system gets demonstrated

Filed under: Displays, GPS, Transportation

Video: Intel-backed Volkswagen infotainment system gets demonstrated originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 20 May 2009 18:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Tele Atlas' photorealistic city models to aid navigation, terrorism

Thomas Ricker — Wed, 20 May 2009 06:34:00 EST

Navigation devices are everywhere and just keep getting better and better thanks to the 3D maps provided by the likes of Tele Atlas (owned by TomTom) and NAVTEQ (owned by Nokia). Now Tele Atlas is announcing its photorealistic "Advanced City Models" destined for in-car and portable navigation systems and mobile devices. In June, Tele Atlas will release 40 maps based on BLOM arial imagery for cities across Europe -- hundreds more cities, including those in North America and Asia, will be available in 2010. Remember, Google already has laid ink to paper to give it rights to Tele Atlas maps for use in Google's mobile, desktop, and on-line offerings. And with Tele Atlas maps loaded on PSPs and navigators from Pioneer, Mio, and of course TomTom, just think of this as a hint of what's to come.

Continue reading Video: Tele Atlas' photorealistic city models to aid navigation, terrorism

Filed under: GPS, Handhelds

Video: Tele Atlas' photorealistic city models to aid navigation, terrorism originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 20 May 2009 06:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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GPS System might begin to fail in 2010, Government Accountability Office warns

Joseph L. Flatley — Tue, 19 May 2009 21:37:00 EST

Get all of your geocache games in while you can, kids... if the Worst Case Scenario(R) goes down, the nation's GPS system could begin to fail sometime next year. According to a Government Accountability Office report, the Global Positioning System has been so mismanaged that when aging equipment starts to fail, there may be no new satellites to take their place. "If the Air Force does not meet its schedule goals for development of GPS IIIA satellites," the report states, "there will be an increased likelihood that... the overall GPS constellation will fall below the number of satellites required to provide the level of GPS service that the U.S. government commits to." All we can say is that between this, Internet Doomsday, and the imminent Robot Apocalypse, it's gonna be a fun couple of years.

[Via Fox News]

Filed under: GPS

GPS System might begin to fail in 2010, Government Accountability Office warns originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 19 May 2009 21:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mio Spirit TV spotted in the wild doling out routes, serving soap operas

Darren Murph — Wed, 13 May 2009 10:33:00 EST

While we Yanks are stuck with overpriced PNDs that suck down weather forecasts and pretend to alert us of upcoming traffic problems, folks overseas are using their navigators to watch fresh episodes of Top Gear. Navman, better known these days as Mio, has just outed two new satnav devices across the pond, both of which sport a built-in Freeview TV tuner, Bluetooth, Google search, walking mode and loads of POIs. The Spirit TV will arrive in both 4.7- and 7-inch flavors, with expected pricing hovering in the £200 ($306) to £300 ($459) range. For obvious reasons, we aren't expecting this one to head Stateside anytime soon, but those camping out in a Freeview territory should feel free to hit the read link for more hands-on shots.

Update: Slashgear got some hands-on video with the device, and considering that the TV tuner is modular, we could feasibly see a US-friendly one installed and shipped here. Yes, please. Thanks, Chris!

Filed under: GPS, Portable Video

Mio Spirit TV spotted in the wild doling out routes, serving soap operas originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 13 May 2009 10:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mio's Moov S501 and S401 finally go legit

Paul Miller — Wed, 13 May 2009 09:47:00 EST

After Mio basically non-confirmed / confirmed these to us in April, letting us know the pricing was off, but saying nothing else about the leak, it was really just a matter of time until the two navigators broke into the realm of officialdom. The Moov S401 and S501 bring 4.3-inch and 4.7-inch displays, respectively, along with a new "Spirit" interface and some new functionality like Google Send-to-GPS, NavPix for pulling location from geo-tagged photos, text-to-speech for spoken street names and MioMore 2 PC software for calculating mileage and fuel economy. The S501 is Mio's thinnest PND ever at 0.64-inches, and includes 12 million POIs, while the S401 is inexplicably thicker at 0.71-inches, with 4 million POIs. They go for $200 and $180, respectively, and will go on sale in June.

Gallery: Mio's Moov S501 and S401 finally go legit

Filed under: GPS

Mio's Moov S501 and S401 finally go legit originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 13 May 2009 09:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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