07
May
2007
Navigadget: Here is a good use for that cassette player taking up prime location on your dashboard: just use it to mount your GPS navigation system there. Manufactured by Jijiok, these mounts can hold anything from your sat nav system to your PDA or even just a cell phone.
We’re not sure if these cassette deck mounts will be picked by a western distributor or how much they’ll cost (…).
03
May
2007
Reuters: (…) the cell phone industry has a new target — personal navigation device makers. (…) While a few years ago personal navigation device makers like Dutch TomTom shrugged off possible rivalry from the handset industry, they have now acknowledged the potential risk to their business.
The world’s top handset maker Nokia started to sell its first navigation phone N95 a month ago, and other top vendors are expected to follow shortly, hoping to make 2007 the breakthrough year for cell phone navigation.
The N95, with a 700-euro price tag, is not in reach of the masses despite first reports showing strong sales, but the Finnish firm aims to bring GPS positioning chips to a wide array of its products.
“I believe it will quickly go through almost the whole of our portfolio,” Kai Oistamo, head of Nokia’s Mobile Phones unit, told a recent news conference.
The GPS technology enables handset makers to bypass mobile phone network operators and at least some of the navigation phones can be used for routing when not connected to operators’ networks. (…)
30
Apr
2007
Navigadget: Now you have more than ever reasons to believe you’re being followed. Thanks to a new patent pending technology by BlueSkyPositioning we are one step closer to having a GPS chip inside every cell phone – as long as they take SIM cards.
The key point here is their proprietary antenna design that is embedded in the SIM card itself. Just so you know this is not your regular GPS chip. It is an assisted GPS chip that relies on your cellular network for a faster position fix. (..)
The new startup company is in a great position since all EU countries will soon pass a law that requires network providers to locate the position of handsets in case of emergency calls.
26
Apr
2007
VNUNet.com: Security experts are warning that mischievous hackers could send bogus signals to satellite navigation systems via the radio.
The problem centres on the Radio Data System, which allows FM broadcasters to include data in radio transmissions that many sat nav systems pick up.
The data is commonly used to give traffic or station ID information, but this can now be hijacked, according to researchers.
Andrea Barisani, chief security engineer at consultancy Inverse Path, and Daniele Bianco, a hardware hacker at the same company, built a system that can generate false warnings for drivers using off-the-shelf components.
The messages range from standard traffic alerts to warnings of an “exploding bomb ahead” or that the road is “blocked by a bullfight”.
Almost any programmed message built into the satnav system can be activated because the data stream does not need to be encrypted or authenticated.
The researchers advise drivers not to react instantly if they receive a highly unusual message but to check with the news services before taking action.
24
Apr
2007
TWICE: LG is shipping its first portable GPS devices in an aggressively priced three-model line first announced in January at International CES.
The trio is capped by the LN740 with 4-inch screen and built-in, real-time traffic receiver. It announces street names for upcoming turns and, as all models in the line, offers MP3 playback, a photo viewer and ships with preloaded maps of the United States and Canada on an SD card. It is available at an estimated retail of $449 (around €349).
The step-down model LN735 has a 3.5-inch screen and announces the street names of upcoming turns at $349 (around €256).
The basic model LN730 has a 3.5-inch screen with 1.7 million points of interest at $299 (around €220).
24
Apr
2007
Techdigest: Medion has launched its latest navigation tool, the Medion GoPal S2310, which offers the expected mapping, along with an MP3 player, Bluetooth and a photo viewer.
The GoPal S2310 has a 2.8-inch colour TFT touch screen, splash-proof frame and an integrated touch pad for MP3 player functions. It’s designed for in and out of the car – indeed, if you’re using it out and about, it also comes with Sennheiser headphones for listening to your tunes. (…)
Other features include hands-free calls via Bluetooth with a supported mobile phone or headset, pre-installed Western European mapping, points of interest and the ability to download routes into Google Earth.
The GoPal S2310 will be available in May 2007, price to be confirmed.
23
Apr
2007
ZDNet: That roadblock alert on your navigation system may not be real. Neither may that warning for a “terrorist incident,” an “air raid” or a “bullfight.”Two Italian hackers have figured out how to send fake traffic information to navigation systems that use a data feature of FM radio for real-time traffic information. Using cheap, off-the-shelf hardware, they can broadcast traffic data that will be picked up by cars in about a one-mile radius, the hackers said during a presentation at the CanSecWest event (…).
“We can create queues, bad weather, full car parks, overcrowded service areas, accidents, roadwork and so on,” Andrea Barisani, chief security engineer at Inverse Path, a security company. “Traffic information displayed on satellite navigation systems is trusted by drivers. Normal people do not think that you can do nasty things.” (…)
16
Apr
2007
Business Times (Singapore): TELE Atlas will put a recognisable face to the names of local landmarks in its upcoming GPS maps to help drivers find their way around.
The company, which supplies digital maps to companies like Nokia, Blackberry and a host of other makers of in-car navigational systems, is planning to release a three-dimensional (3D) version of its Asian offering by the end of this year.
GPS units that are available today offer a bird’s eye view of road information, complemented by turn-by-turn voice navigation, to direct users to their desired destinations.
However, Tele Atlas’ upcoming Singapore map will show buildings in 3D detail, so instead of relying in part on guesswork, users can instantly identify their end points.
And instead of a top-down view, 3D GPS navigation will allow for a real-life view as the user drives through the city, much like popular first-person racing games on computers and gaming consoles.
13
Apr
2007
Tamworth Herald: Amid the spate of sat nav thefts from cars in the UK, police in the West Midlands have developed new stickers which can be displayed on car dashboards to warn opportunist thieves that no sat nav is kept in the vehicle.
The initiative has been spearheaded by West Midlands Police and motorists are advised to visit their website for more details.
12
Apr
2007
eMarketer: A quarter of online consumers plan to buy a global positioning system (GPS) device within the next year, according to the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) “GPS — Exploring Ownership and Interest” report. At an average of $410 (around €300) each, that would mean $4.1 billion in 2007 sales. GPS shipment revenues tripled between 2005 and 2006.
A third of future buyers say they would like GPS in their next mobile phones.
12
Apr
2007
Electronista: GPS device creator TomTom this afternoon unveiled the RIDER 2nd Edition, the sequel to its popular mapping system for motorbikes.
As was alluded to in a premature site posting, the revised unit has a new RAM mount that adapts to more handlebars and is more easily adjusted for a clear viewing angle. It also comes bundled with a Cardo scala-rider Bluetooth for making phone calls without the rider first removing their helmet.
A new, free Buddies service also adds an element of social networking with friend tracking and notifications when fellow RIDER owners drift into range.
The second version of the RIDER will be ready first in Europe by the end of May, where it will sell for between £300 and £400 (440 to 590 euro) depending on the choice of region-only maps or those covering all of western Europe. (…)
11
Apr
2007
Navigadget: GPS is not the only global navigation satellite system out there, at least not for long. There are other nations trying to break their dependence from USA’s globally available free service – which can be shut down at will of U.S. military. Not to mention GPS (Navstar) is aging fast and it needs some serious upgrading.
Here’s a review of the playing field:
European Union – Galileo
Initiated in 1999, Galileo is a joint effort of European countries and China, costing around €3 billion. When first started, the U.S. opposed the plans stating that it would end their ability to control positioning satellites in military conflict scenarios. The pressure from the U.S. backfired and as a result the Galileo project was over-funded by European nations who decided it was crucial to be independent of U.S. controlled GPS. The system will be primarily intended for civilians.
China – Beidou
China’s Beidou was first planned to be used for military purposes but Chinese government has already announced it will be free for civilians as well. This would conflict with EU’s Galileo which plans to profit from selling of receivers and subscriptions to benefit from high accuracy signals.
Russia – Glonass
Russia’s Glonass has a long history which goes back to the Cold War. The Glonass system has never been globally available since then, mostly due to instability in Soviet Union and current Russia. India, and possibly China, collaborate with Russia on Glonass. Since 1992 Russia has launched 44 satellites, some of which are no longer in service. Glonass’ civilian signal – which is only available half the time in Russia, and less globally – can provide <100 meters of accuracy. Military signals are better, providing accuracy of <15 meters. Russia has announced that it would make military grade signals available this year.
India – IRNSS
Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System, IRNSS, was recently approved with a budget just over $300 million.
USA – Navstar (GPS)
It is the only fully functional, globally available navigation satellite system so far. It is free for everybody on this planet. The first one of the satellites was launched in 1978 and the system has benn fully operational since 1995. However the satellites get old and need to be replaced and technological advancements require GPS to be upgraded.