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Solar road technology comes to Route 66
Solar Roadways' dreams of sunlight-gathering paths are one step closer to taking shape. Missouri's Department of Transportation is aiming to install a test version of the startup's solar road tiles in a sidewalk at the Historic Route 66 Welcome Center in Conway. Okay, it won't be on Route 66 just yet, but that's not the point -- the goal is to see whether or not the technology is viable enough that it could safely be used on regular streets. You should see it in action toward the end of the year.
Route 66 Maps + Navigation now available for Android users, augmented realists
It's been a long and winding road, but Route 66 Maps + Navigation has finally arrived on the Android Market, no less than eight months after launching for iOS. Available on handsets and tablets running Android 2.0 or above, this app brings Route 66's "Follow Me" augmented reality navigation to your windshield, superimposing upon your surroundings an animated lead car to act as your guide. It's available on a free, 30-day trial at the source link below -- after that, you'll have to shell out $65 for a lifetime worldwide license, or $40 for a US license. Steer past the break for more information, in the full press release.
Route 66 Maps + Navigation brings AR to the road, keeps drivers' eyes on their phones (video)
It's been a good four years since we reported anything on Route 66, but with a new collaboration with TomTom on the horizon, these bearers of PNDs have once again sparked our interest. At the heart of the partnership is a new Android app, appropriately titled Route 66 Maps + Navigation, that brings augmented reality to GPS navigation -- specifically, a feature called Follow Me that allows real drivers to follow virtual cars turn for turn. Follow Me uses your smartphone or tablet's camera to display real-time video of the road ahead, and places a virtual 3D car directly in front of you on your route -- the car's rear lights indicate when to turn right or left. Maps + Navigation also includes simultaneous voice directions in 57 languages, up-to-date TomTom maps of 100 countries with 3D graphics, and multitouch gesture control. You can get your hands on the app via Android Market soon, or check out the rather cheesy demo video after the jump.
Route 66 unveils MINI / MAXI navigators for Europe
It's been a hot minute since we've seen anything noteworthy from Route 66, but the firm is using IFA as a launchpad for four new Euro-only navigators. The MINI * EUROPE, MINI * REGIONAL, MAXI * EUROPE, and MAXI * REGIONAL devices touts ultrathin designs, traffic / safety camera alerts, free map updates until 2008, and a built-in media player. The MINI comes with a 3.5-inch screen, while the MAXI packs a 4.3-inch widescreen display, and both units include an integrated TMC traffic receiver and the ability to support handsfree calling when paired up with the Wireless Car Kit accessory. Currently, no pricing information has been loosed, but all of the aforementioned systems should be widely available in Europe this October.[Thanks, Gene S.]
Adapt intros TomTom Go clone for Europe
As if we needed another Europe-only GPS device that brings nothing new to the table, Adapt is busting out their all-in-one navigation system which sports a few PMP features and an SD slot, but looks just as bulky as the rest of the similarly-specced devices on the market -- with a particular TomTom Go flavor. The 279 Euro ($354 US) unit sports a 3.5-inch touchscreen display, and is powered by a 400MHz processor from Samsung, along with that ubiquitos SiRF Star III chip and software courtesy of Route 66. There's 64MB of built-in storage, and some sort of music / photo / movie/ eBook playback ability, but we're not sure about formats or codecs. No word on the release date for this little guy either, but we're sure it and five other West Europe-only units will make it to market in the time it takes us to get a single one onto our lowly shores.
Route 66 enters car GPS market with Chicago series
It seems that yet another mobile electronics outfit is diving head first into the GPS arena, and this time its Route 66. The company's Chicago series GPS units is its first venture into automobile navigation, and although they manage to include a dash of unmistakable Americana in both the company and device's name, these units are strangely and ironically restricted to our pals across the pond. The Euro-only Chicago series sports a 4.3-inch touchscreen display, SD / MMC slot, MP3 player, integrated speaker, 4.5 hour battery life, and a variety of European maps depending on model. The low-end 6000 (€299.95; $384) and 7000 (€349.95; $448) units are tailored for the "regional traveler," and pack mostly major highways, while the 8000 (€399.95; $512) and 9000 (€449.95; $576) flavors house broader, more descriptive NAVTEQ maps. The 6000 / 7000 versions can be upgraded to match their more continental siblings via the Route 66 "Map of Europe" DVD (€79.95; $102), and the 7000 and 9000 units support free traffic information thanks to the integrated RDS-TMC receiver. The foursome also comes with automobile hookups and a (presumably) ho hum carry case, and are slated to hit stores far, far away from Chicagoland in November.[Via GPSLodge]
Nokia CK-20W Car Kit promises to bundle talk, tunes, and nav
In what seems to be a brilliant marketing maneuver, Nokia is hyping its new CK-20W Car Kit as the "first integrated hands-free solution to combine high-quality communication, music, navigation and push-to-talk in the car," when all you're really getting is a dash-mounted dock and a remote. According to Nokia, you need to supply your own GPS Bluetooth receiver if you want navigation functionality (they suggest the forthcoming Nokia LD-2 Navigation Pack), although music streaming and hands-free chatting are achievable right out of the box. The kit is compatible with most Nokia phones and even standalone MP3 players if all you want are some tunes, but adding the nav pack requires you to own a S60-powered device to run the Route 66 mapping software. Prices have not been announced yet, but both the car kit and GPS receiver are expected to be available next quarter.[Via Wired Blogs]
