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GPS

Navigon FreshMaps keeps you in the know

Having the most current maps on your portable navigation device is an important feature, and while all GPS manufacturers release map and software updates, the method and frequency in which you receive them differs by company. For Navigon, it's important to make the entire process as easy as possible for its customers so the company has launched a service called Navigon Fresh, which includes Navigon FreshMaps.

Navigon Fresh is a free application you can download from the company's Web site to your PC and allows you to update and manage content, access software updates for your device, and … Read more

GPS for Europe: Ask the Editors

Q: I will be going to Italy next month, and I am being told that the Budget Rental Car does not have a GPS option. I am very nervous about not having help on the Italian roads. Can you recommend the right mapping system for Italy? Does the Magellan Maestro 4040 work in Italy? Any help would be appreciated. I only have a very limited budget to purchase a device, and don't need anything fancy. --Michael, via e-mail

A: Hi Michael. Driving in a completely new territory, especially in a foreign country, can definitely be nerve-wracking so I think … Read more

Off track: Garmin Nuvifone delayed till 2009

If you've been waiting for the Garmin Nuvifone, you're going to have to wait a while longer or perhaps start looking at some alternatives. Wednesday, the GPS manufacturer announced that its first smartphone will be delayed till the first half of 2009, though it was expected in Q4 2008. According to Garmin, the delay is because of "carrier specific requirements" that makes it necessary for the company to go back and make changes to the handset. An official carrier has not been named, but many believe that it will be AT&T.

Even with this … Read more

Camera with GPS logger could help collect crash data

Needless to say, automobile accidents aren't pleasurable experience. Often, the ordeal devolves into finger-pointing, pitting one person's word against another. By providing in-car video evidence, Voyager hopes to help drivers deal with the situation.

The just released Voyager Pro car camera with GPS logger packs an accelerometer that can detect fender benders and triggers a video recording of the 10 seconds leading up to and 20 seconds following an accident. The video is then stored on a removable 1GB SD card.

Additionally, the product lets drivers pinpoint the location of the accident by logging the GPS coordinates for … Read more

Garmin Nuvi 500 has multiple personalities

For those movers and shakers who cruise on four wheels, two wheels, by sea, and even hit the pavement with their own two feet, we've got a do-it-all GPS unit for you. The new Garmin Nuvi 500 series, which consists of the Nuvi 500 and the Nuvi 550, has multiple modes that let you use the portable navigation device (PND) in the car, on a boat, on foot, or strapped to a bicycle. Both models feature a rugged design, waterproof casing, and accept different types of map via an SD expansion slot, including topographic maps and Blue Chart cartography … Read more

AT&T Navigator goes global

Today, AT&T announced that it's expanding its AT&T Navigator location-based service overseas, making it the first U.S. carrier to offer international navigation capabilities. Dubbed AT&T Navigator Global Edition, the service is available now and works in 20 countries, including North America, the U.S. Caribbean, and most countries in Western Europe. It will also work in six cities in China--Beijing, Shanghai, Qingdao, Shenyang, Tianjin, and Qinhuangdao--all of which will host Beijing Summer Olympics events. (AT&T is an official sponsor of the U.S. Olympic Team.)

Like the domestic version, AT&… Read more

GPS with multidestination planning--Ask the Editors

With all the iPhone hysteria, I missed last week's Q&A--shame on me. Fortunately, the dust has mostly settled, so I'm getting back on track. And believe it or not, this week's question isn't about the iPhone 3G and its GPS capabilities--mostly because I haven't had the opportunity to try it out yet--but I could also use the iBreak. So let's get on with it, shall we?

Q: I need a unit that I can plug 10 to 15 addresses into and it will map out a route hitting all the addresses in … Read more

Review: Garmin Nuvi 880

Ever since the Garmin Nuvi 880 was announced at CES 2008, we've been excited to get out hands on this portable navigation system. Given the good track record of the other Nuvi series devices, we expected more of the same, solid feature list and good performance. However, we were most looking forward to taking its speech recognition capabilities out for a test drive. To be honest, we were a little weary since we've tried other such-equipped GPS devices, including the Magellan Maestro 4250 and the TomTom GO 930, and while they worked, there weren't the most accurate … Read more

Dash Express releases software update

Today, Dash Navigation set free a wireless software update that brings a number of new features and fixes to its Dash Express GPS device. The June08 update will be delivered over the air to Dash owners, so there's no need to connect to a PC or purchase software DVDs; you'll simply receive a notification when you next start your device. But what exactly are you getting? In short, smarter routing options and hopefully, better performance. Here's the breakdown of features:

FasterFind: This should let the Dash Express get a faster GPS fix by using over-the-air GPS satellite … Read more