March 19th, 2010
It might be becoming a part of our lives slowly and steadily but that does not stop us from taking a light-hearted poke at GPS and its foibles
“Hi! All set for the trip?”
“You bet. I am looking forward to loads of fun – just the two of us, the road and the trusty, if rusty, automobile. What is that rolled up thing you are carrying?”
“The road map. We will get lost without it.”
“Are you from the age of Columbus? We live in the era of hi-tech, the time of GPS. All we need is this handy little gizmo – the Drive, Walk and Talk Navigator, the device that shows you the way.”
“Don’t you think we should take the maps along, just as a back-up?”
“ And perhaps we could even add a magnetic compass for good measure. Grow up!”
“Oh all right then! Shall we start?”
“Not just now. Let the device get a fix on the satellites first. It might take a few minutes.”
“Can’t we just get moving? Your device can lock on to its blessed satellites as we go along.”
“Patience. There, it’s got a lock now. Let me just enter our destination and there you are – the best route to the place. On a map. Complete with voice and text controls. Cool, eh? Let’s hit the road!”
“Excellent! I was just wondering if we should follow the regular path or be a bit adventurous. I could turn here…”
“Stop!”
“Why? Did I hit something?”
“No, no. I just need to tell the (more…)
Categories: Humour, Wireless Gadgets |
Tags: does gps really work, fun, funny, gps, gps fail, gps fun, Humour | 1 Comment
January 21st, 2010
When Google launched its turn-by-turn maps navigation for Android, it made the Droid a whole lot powerful with a superb GPS software. Having the Google search for GPS was amazing. And today Nokia has went free with navigation services via its own Ovi Maps. Coming to 10 S60 handsets to begin with the Ovi Maps navigation would also be brought to Maemo and S40 series models along with being preloaded on Nokia devices from March 2010.
This is certainly a bold move by Nokia and increases its competitiveness in the smartphone race. While the free Google navigation is available only in the US for now, the Nokia Ovi will give you worldwide access (detailed maps for more than 180 countries). Not just that, the Nokia Maps can be downloaded and loaded on to your handset for a Internet free navigation. This is unlike Google Navigation that requires an active data connection on your smartphone to do (more…)
Categories: Google, Softwares, nokia, smartphones |
Tags: free gps navigation, gps, gps maps, maps, navigation, ovi maps | 3 Comments
August 28th, 2009
AR (or Augmented Reality) is a technology for the Android platform that is set to revolutionize GPS use with real-time traffic images beamed directly to mobiles of Android users. Augmented Traffic, as the application is called, will use the AR technology to show a list of all available traffic cameras in the direction of travel. The Android user just needs to tap on the desired camera to check the traffic status and live videos at a particular spot. The software can also show live pictures of the traffic and estimated travel time using the predictive traffic mode. Video of the app is available after the jump. (more…)
Categories: Android, Cameras, Videos, mobile app, smartphones |
Tags: Android, app, AR, augmented, augmented reality, Canada, free, gps, gps navigation, live video, navigation, reality, traffic, video | No Comments
August 27th, 2009
This is a GPS device set in a bulky watch to keep you on your track always. The watch can keep track of your footsteps and route via Google Maps. So if you happen to walk off while in deep thought and get lost, this watch will help you retrace your steps.
The GPS Watch has (more…)
Categories: Accessories, USB gadgets |
Tags: gadget, google maps, gp watch, gps, gps watch, usb drive, watch | No Comments
August 25th, 2009
For the ones who keep getting lost and love to enjoy music while doing so, Nokia is bringing the Nokia 5800 Navigation Edition. The Nokia 5800 Navigation Edition cannot be exactly called as the successor of the Nokia 5800 XpresMusic, but it definitely is an upgraded variant of the same.
The Navigation Edition comes bundled with a lifetime Drive and Walk navigation license, a car stand and a car charger for converting the your phone into a fully functional GPS device. The navigation license will be valid only for the region of purchase. The phone would come equipped with the latest version of the Ovi Maps and a new Chrome and Black color styling.
The Navigation Edition would be available in three different types, dependent mostly on the availability of the type of networks in the area. While all three would be Quad-band GSM phones, only two of them would be available with WLAN and dual-band 3G with HSDPA.
The Nokia 5800 Navigation Edition is expected to roll out in Q4 and would be available for 285 Euro before any subsidies or taxes. Hit the jump for the promotional video of 5800 Navigation Edition.
via [GSMArena]
(more…)
Categories: First look, nokia, smartphones |
Tags: 5800 navigator edition, gps, navigator, nokia 5800, nokia touchscreen | 1 Comment
August 18th, 2009
When the mobile phones are replacing the PDF readers, Internet devices, Electronic Business diaries and others; then why not the GPS devices too. Talking of GPS and mobile phones, what better to think of then iPhone and Tom Tom. TomTom, the company known for its user-friendly portable GPS devices, has come up with an iPhone application.
The turn-by-turn navigation tool launched by Tom Tom is now available for sale on iTunes. The mobile application is compatible with iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS and is currently available for Europe, UK and Ireland maps only. The application costs around £60 / $99.
“With TomTom for iPhone, millions of iPhone users can now benefit from the same easy-to-use and intuitive interface, turn-by-turn spoken navigation and unique routing technology that our 30 million portable navigation device users rely on every day,” said Corinne Vigreux, Managing Director of TomTom.
“As the world’s leading provider of navigation solutions and digital maps, TomTom is the most natural fit for an advanced navigation application on the iPhone.”
The application would also include some popular Tom Tom tools like IQ Routes and safety camera position. The application would soon be available for iPod Touch and other iPhone models.
via [TechRadar]
Categories: Apple, iphone, mobile app |
Tags: app store app, gps, iphone app, tom tom, tom tom iphone | 2 Comments
April 18th, 2009
Is technology bad or good? Read this short incident and then decide
This young man just decided to booze out with his friends on a dark night. He didn’t want to drink and drive so the dude decided to go on a bicycle. While returning from the party, the guy got lost and slept near the Mississippi River. After finding himself all muddy and still lost in the morning, he called up the Police. The tech-savy police located this guy using the GPS chip built inside his cellphone. The 21 yr old must really be thanking the moment when he bought that GPS mobile, but we are unsure if he was booked by the Police under something or not…
So, technology bad or good? Let us know in the comments.
Via TechCult
Categories: Concept / Educative, Weird or not?, Wireless Gadgets |
Tags: gps, lost and found by gps, police gps, weird tech news, weird use of gps | 2 Comments
August 1st, 2007
Sony Ericsson has unveiled its newest pocket-sized smart phone, the P1i.
Based on Symbian OS (v9.1), the P1i has a 2.6-inch touch screen and a 3.2 megapixel auto-focus camera. P1i is the successor to the SE P990i which didn’t live upto the expectations of its fans.
However this totally business class phone is set to show up the other business phone out there. It’s a 3G enabled with Wi-Fi, support for Blackberry connect, Pre-loaded Exchange ActiveSync with hi-speed UMTS. It’s also equipped with a 3.2 megapixel auto-focus camera.
Among its many other features it also supports GPS and VOIP. It has a QWERTY keypad and supports handwriting recognition. The P1i is equipped with a large 2.6 inch touch screen with a Transflective Display.
It also has support for Memory Stick Micro (M2) besides having an internal phone memory of 160MB.
Listed below are the specifications of the Sony Ericsson P1i Smartphone:
# Screen: 262,144 color touchscreen
240?320 pixels
# Memory: Memory Stick Micro (M2) support
Phone memory 160MB
# Networks: GSM 900
GSM 1800
GSM 1900
UMTS 2100
# Available colors: Silver Black
# Size: 4.1 x 2.1 x 0.7 inches
# Weight: 124 g
The Sony Ericsson business class P1i smartphone carries a price tag of Rs.24,000.
Categories: Launch Pad, sony ericsson |
Tags: 3g, blackberry, gps, launch, P1i, qwerty, SE P990i, sony ericsson, symbian, voip, Wi-Fi | 1 Comment
July 31st, 2007
The Global Positioning System (GPS) is currently the only fully functional Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS). Utilizing a constellation of at least 24 medium Earth orbit satellites that transmit precise microwave signals, the system enables a GPS receiver to determine its location, speed and direction.
Developed by the United States Department of Defense, it is officially named NAVSTAR GPS. The satellite constellation is managed by the United States Air Force 50th Space Wing. The cost of maintaining the system is approximately US$750 million per year,[2] including the replacement of aging satellites, and research and development. Despite this fact, GPS is free for civilian use as a public good.
GPS satellites circle the earth twice a day in a very precise orbit and transmit signal information to earth. GPS receivers take this information and use triangulation to calculate the user’s exact location. Essentially, the GPS receiver compares the time a signal was transmitted by a satellite with the time it was received. The time difference tells the GPS receiver how far away the satellite is. Now, with distance measurements from a few more satellites, the receiver can determine the user’s position and display it on the unit’s electronic map.
Here are some other interesting facts about the GPS satellites
* The first GPS satellite was launched in 1978.
* A full constellation of 24 satellites was achieved in 1994.
* Each satellite is built to last about 10 years. Replacements are constantly being built and launched into orbit.
* A GPS satellite weighs approximately 2,000 pounds and is about 17 feet across with the solar panels extended.
* Transmitter power is only 50 watts or less.
Read more at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_Positioning_System
Categories: Concept / Educative |
Tags: Global Navigation Satellite System, Global Positioning System, GNSS, gps, NAVSTAR, satellites | No Comments
July 15th, 2007
Bharti Airtel announced the launch of GPS based Navigation Application on Mobile handsets in collaboration with Wayfinder Systems AB of Sweden. The application turns the compatible mobile phone into a complete GPS-based navigation system with detailed maps and Points-of-Interest of a number of cities in India.
The navigation system provides all users with continuously updated, real-time content and geographical data via the wireless network using EDGE/GPRS. To start with, the application shall be available on BlackBerry 8800.
Sanjay Gupta, chief marketing officer, Mobile Services, Bharti Airtel said, “As market leaders, we are at the forefront of bringing pioneering solutions that delivers greater value and enhances the communication experience of all Airtel users. We are now introducing in India, a state of the art GPS based navigation system that will largely benefit all frequent travelers using compatible mobile handsets like BlackBerry 8800.”
Bharti Airtel is offering a six month free trial for all its Airtel BlackBerry 8800 users. The customer won’t have to pay any subscription charges on the application during this period. However, data download charges will apply as per the subscriber’s BlackBerry plan.
http://www.moneycontrol.com/india/news/pressmarket/airtel-introduces-gps-based-navigationmobile-handsets/14/40/291963
Categories: Concept / Educative |
Tags: airtel, BlackBerry 8800, EDGE, GPRS, gps, launch, Navigation Application | No Comments
