TomTom and Sony revealed a collaboration that will bring TomTom’s expertise in the field of navigation and services technology to Sony’s new Xplod AV Navigation Systems. The device initially only available in France, Germany, The Netherlands, Spain, Italy, Portugal and the United Kingdom.

“We are delighted that Sony has selected TomTom as their navigation services supplier in Europe”, says Giles Shrimpton, Managing Director, TomTom Automotive. “This endorses our position as the leading location and navigation solutions provider. Combining the audio and video know-how of Sony with our navigational expertise has resulted in an excellent product range. Moreover, as the technology incorporates a flexible hardware design based on standard interfaces, it allows for easy updates in the future – a huge advantage in the automotive industry.”

Priced at 60 Euros, Go! Hiking GPS is able to store up to 256 waypoints and keeps them in a GPX format. Available in Spain this Outdoor GPS is a model from the Go! Zipy brand specializing in products designed for sports.

Read

The TomTom XXL 540TM Portable GPS Navigator is the bestselling TomTom GPS at Amazon.com. Preloaded with maps of the US, Canada and Mexico with Lifetime Map Updates, the device also features Lifetime Traffic Updates, more than 7 million points of interest in over 60 destination categories, IQ Routes Technology, and Advanced Lane Guidance. Price: $179.95.

Shop Amazon.com

On May 27, 2010 Los Angeles attorney, Thomas Kirschbaum was found dead in the water off of Long Beach. The 57-year-old man was wearing a life jacket when the Long Beach police found him. With no signs of injury the cause of death is still a mystery, and police continue to investigate the strange incident. What Thomas Kirschbaum didn’t know when he set out for a day of boating off the coast was that he could have protected himself in advance with a GPS Tracker. Since no one knew where he was there was no way they could have known that he was in trouble. If his location was known his death could have been avoided.

Nearly 4,000 people drown every year in the US. Whether it is a child on a deserted beach, a solo fisherman on a rough lake, or an old man walking on a slippery pier, these people all have one thing in common: no one knew where they were when they went missing. As in the case of Thomas Kirschbaum, these unfortunate deaths, in many cases, could have been avoided if the seaman’s location were not a mystery. Someone likely could have found him in time for a rescue.

What if there was a way to consistently track a person’s location at sea? How many lives could be saved? Innovations in GPS technology have progressed greatly in recent years, even to the point where they can be used on the ocean. Boats can sport these GPS Tracker systems, making their location retrievable at any time. In addition, individuals may also wear the GPS trackers so that their personal location can be discovered in the event that they are tossed from their vessel.

Maybe you do not own a boat. Maybe you just enjoy spending time with you family at the beach. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to have the peace of mind knowing that your family members are safe? Using GPS Trackers you can constantly know the location of your loved ones. If 2-year-old Tommy goes missing you can find him within minutes – before he goes toddling into the choppy serf.

No one wants to hear that their loved one has become a casualty. You can take action today. Install a GPS Tracker on your boat, or have your family members wear one for safety when spending time around the water. Life is valuable – don’t waste it.

Suitable for cycling, running, and for vehicle use, the Holux’s GPSport 245 outdor GPS boasts IPX-6 water proof. Highlights: Display position coordinates, speed, altitude, time, distance & calorie; Supports speed meter, track log, finder; Synchronize track logs and geo-tagged photos with map; Save log data and 200,000 waypoints; Low power consumption; operate up to 18/28 hours (backlight off/on); Back light support; Convenient for both day and night use; Support Multi-languages.

Read

Many have legitimately raised privacy concerns about government use of GPS tracking devices to investigate and prosecute various offenses. While laws in most states have not evolved to reflect the rapidly advancing technology on the market today, judges are nonetheless forced to apply legal principles to the use of GPS trackers on private citizens. However, many state and local governments are discovering the benefits of keeping tabs on their own employees with GPS trackers. Here are two recent instances where this level of high-tech accountability proved very useful.

Two city workers in Atlanta were fired after their supervisors used GPS trackers to investigate whether they were misusing government vehicles. The two workers were code compliance officers who were tasked with inspecting various buildings and businesses in the city to ensure that government regulations were met.

However, after they filed an unusual amount of unsubstantiated paperwork and engaged in other suspicious activity, their supervisors became justifiably suspicious. Since the vehicles used by the inspectors were government-owned, their supervisors were allowed to install GPS trackers and monitor the data without a warrant.

The results confirmed the supervisors’ suspicions. The two inspectors were not following their assigned routes or even going to many of their assigned areas. Instead, they were driving the vehicles around Atlanta during the days and evenings, likely for personal use. The paperwork they filed was bogus, and many inspections were not performed.

Similarly, two police officers in Cleveland were placed on a six-month, unpaid suspension after the GPS trackers on their vehicle revealed that they did not adequately respond to the report of a dead body along I-90. Someone had called the police on April 5th, claiming he had seen a body near the road, and dispatchers sent the two officers to investigate. The officers reported back later, saying the body was only a deer.

But GPS tracking data later showed that the police vehicle driven by the officers never actually slowed down near the site of the body. They had simply driven by without investigating. Most of the rest of the evening was spent near a quiet cemetery, where the officers idled instead of patrolling their assigned route.

The body later turned out to belong to a murder victim, and the officers were brought up on departmental charges, to which they pled no contest. The GPS tracker data was the primary evidence used in the hearing.

As courts continue to debate the legality of the use of GPS trackers on private citizens, the benefits of providing accountability to government workers are obvious.

Magellan GPS launched the ToughCase protective case for iPhone and iPod touch. The ToughCase delivers waterproof capabilities, ideal for outdoor enthusiasts and outdoor professionals. Available worldwide, featuring built-in GPS, ToughCase enhances the accuracy of location-based and GPS applications for iPhone 3G and iPod touch, while protecting the device and providing unmatched accessibility to all iPhone and iPod touch features.

“The ToughCase is the ideal solution for all outdoor users. From kayakers to golfers, mountain bikers to construction workers, it provides a level of protection and performance previously unavailable in other cases,” said Justin Doucette, Director of Product Marketing for Magellan GPS. “The ToughCase protects against harmful elements such as dust, rain, mud, water and snow.”

Read

It’s easy to look at nearly any particular industry and see how deeply GPS tracking devices have impacted workers and managers the world over. The automobile industry, law enforcement, researchers, manufacturers—nearly every industry that must stay on the edge of the technological curve has used GPS tracking to be safer and more efficient. The agricultural community is of course no exception, and indeed, large farms present one of the greatest opportunities for GPS tracking to show its worth. Here are just a few ways farmers are using GPS tracking to improve their work and way of life.

Livestock tracking. The days of tracking by brand are over. Now a simple GPS tracking device can keep tabs on individual or even herds of cattle. Not only does this prevent theft, but GPS also gives farmers an idea of where their cattle prefer to graze, and how they might be guided to greener and more sustainable pastures. Researchers at the University of New England are now studying how farmers could best use GPS tracking technology to manage their grazing operations responsibly.

Crop mapping. Farmers can also use GPS tracking technology to map out their fields, thereby improving fertilization, crop dusting, and other treatments. Some farms in Texas are already employing an advanced tractor-mounted mapping technology that tests electrical conductivity in the soil and records data onto a map via GPS. Farmers can then fertilize their crops according—putting extra over fields needing more treatment and putting less over those areas that require less attention.

The same technology can also aid in targeted crop dusting. Farmers have long been wary of using excess weed or insect killers, as some chemicals can have harmful effects over time as they build up. Using GPS tracking technology, farmers can scout their fields and note particular areas most affected by unwanted visitors. The location data can then guide crop dusters in targeting specific trouble spots—and not too much else.

Security. Farmers are often forced to deal with high incidences of theft—whether of equipment or supplies—and GPS tracking can help lower the risk, or at least raise the chance of recovery. Many farmers view their GPS trackers as a bit of low-cost theft insurance, and if they ever discover some of their machinery stolen, the technology will certainly seem like a worthwhile investment.

Like nearly every other industry, agriculture has greatly benefitted from thoughtful and innovative applications of GPS tracking technology.

In Computex Taipei 2010, Vunex launched one of the latest personal guiding system, the X-Guider. The X-Guider is an outdoor hand held device made for sports / recreational use. It incorporates the GPS technology to the most simple application: Record your position, guide you to a position, record a trip, and calculate the speed etc. The main use is to help users to find their ways while enjoying outdoor activities. It can be a standalone product without a PC, but it can also plan ahead before heading out, and/or record a trip/points and navigated on PC.

Planning and Guiding is as simple as 1 – 2 – 3 >> 1 mark your position; 2 leave it; 3 Guide you back, max 30 locations can be recorded. Meanwhile, X-Guider also includes many useful functions in its compact palm size body, includes speed meter, compass, calorie computer, satellite clock and trip data recorder. Good for biking, hiking, skiing and all outdoor activities, the variety of application and fun can go as far as your creativity.

Read