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Einstein 1, GPS 0

Thu, 23 Feb 2012 15:07:55 GMT

It seems that neutrinos got a bad rep. They after all behaved well within the rules - and did not travel faster the speed of light. Phew! On the one hand we don't need new textbooks just yet. On the other hand, this was exciting - and it would have been cool to have some major shuffle in physics. We still have to figure out laws that work consistently at both large and small scales. But Einstein's speed limit stands for now!

Here is the story from Science. It seems that there was a communication error between the GPS unit and the computer. Khaaaaaaaahn! Oh I mean - GPPPPPPS! What? Too soon for a Star Trek joke?

It appears that the faster-than-light neutrino results, announced last September by the OPERA collaboration in Italy, was due to a mistake after all. A bad connection between a GPS unit and a computer may be to blame.

Physicists had detected neutrinos travelling from the CERN laboratory in Geneva to the Gran Sasso laboratory near L'Aquila that appeared to make the trip in about 60 nanoseconds less than light speed. Many other physicists suspected that the result was due to some kind of error, given that it seems at odds with Einstein's special theory of relativity, which says nothing can travel faster than the speed of light. That theory has been vindicated by many experiments over the decades.

According to sources familiar with the experiment, the 60 nanoseconds discrepancy appears to come from a bad connection between a fiber optic cable that connects to the GPS receiver used to correct the timing of the neutrinos' flight and an electronic card in a computer. After tightening the connection and then measuring the time it takes data to travel the length of the fiber, researchers found that the data arrive 60 nanoseconds earlier than assumed. Since this time is subtracted from the overall time of flight, it appears to explain the early arrival of the neutrinos. New data, however, will be needed to confirm this hypothesis.

Garmin reveals 2012 GPS navigator line-up: Nuvi 30/40/50, Nuvi 2405/2505, Nuvi 3400

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 14:49:08 GMT

Garmin today announced its 2012 car navigation devices, well ahead of the approaching holiday season. The new GPS navigators fall into basic, mid-priced, and premium categories, and they introduce a next-generation software engine and advanced traffic services.

The basic line is broken into the Nuvi 30 ($110), Nuvi 40 ($120), and Nuvi 50 ($150), with each designation defined by screen size. The Nuvi 30 has a 3.5-inch display; Nuvi 40 has a 4.3-inch display; and the Nuvi 50 has a large 5-inch display.

As trends have shown in years past, up-level features quickly trickle down to the basic units. Here, we see spoken street names, speed limit indicator, lane assist, and reality view are included across the affordable Nuvi 30/40/50 series. The 40LM ($160) and 50LM ($180) variants include lifetime maps, though none of these so-called “Essential” models offers traffic information.

Free traffic data is included with the Nuvi 2405/2505 series, starting at $170 for the Nuvi 2455LT with a 4.3-inch screen and $190 for the Nuvi 2555LT with a 5-inch display. This series uses “Guidance 2.0” navigation software that has a split-screen reality view to represent major junctions, while still showing a traditional map. With this update, Garmin cites there are 25 times more junctions represented than with previous Nuvi models. Further, this software promises faster route calculations and displays. The subscription-free traffic service is termed “3D” describing the increased resolution, or detail, over traffic info found on more basic Garmin devices. The 3D traffic combines historic traffic data with information from other GPS devices, cell phones, news stations, and traffic sensors. Higher-level models in this series add features such as Bluetooth connectivity and voice recognition, for hands-free GPS operation, and versions are available that include lifetime map updates.

At the top of the range, the Nuvi 3400 series starts at $330 and spans to $400. These devices are packaged in a slim, 9mm case that is more reminiscent of an Apple iPhone than a traditional navigator. Aping smart phones, these devices have multi-touch glass displays that allow users to “pinch” the screen to zoom in.

The software on the Nuvi 3400 series is termed “Guidance 3.0” and it builds upon the “Guidance 2.0” features by adding the ability to learn favorite routes taken by the driver and even predict destinations. Reality view is expanded with the addition of an overhead perspective. Traffic detail is improved with information received via HD Radio, giving more insight into secondary streets. Garmin says Guidance 3.0 traffic information is updated every 30 seconds—much more often than the typical 10 minutes. Another notable feature is Safe Texting, which allows the driver to receive text messages that the device can read aloud. There is no stated provision for outgoing text messages.

These new navigators are listed at garmin.com for pre-order and go on sale in October 2011. Once available, we will buy units for testing and report on how they compare. In the meantime, we will soon post a GPS ratings update, adding recent units from Garmin and TomTom.

Note: Bargain hunters will no-doubt find the current Garmin models discounted in the fall when these new devices reach the market.

Best Handheld GPS Devices for Hikers and Climbers

Mon, 20 Feb 2012 14:35:57 GMT

Whether you’re planning on going on a hiking vacation or a new climbing adventure, if it’s too a new destination you’ll surely want to follow a specified route to ensure that you don’t get lost. Whilst maps and compasses are great (and have been known to help extreme sporters out of the most difficult of situations), if you want to make your life a whole lot easier you might want to opt for a handheld GPS device. Below are our top 5 picks for handheld GPS devices that are sure to make your expedition that little bit more luxurious.

Garmin GPSMAP 60CSx
This high-end GPS device includes a sunlight-readable color TFT display, mapping designed for both marine and hiking use and an installed 64 MB microSD card for adding unique or special maps to the device. The device is shaped like a walkie-talkie and features full topographic data and a USB interface for syncing with the computer. Also included are applications such as an alarm, clock, calendar, barometer and pre-installed points of interest. This Garmin unit is perfect for the professional hiker or climber and currently is in the $350-400 price range.

Garmin eTrex Summit HC
The eTrex Summit HC is a high-sensitivity WAAS-enabled GPS receiver that can supply hikers and climbers with “peak” performance regardless of situation. The built-in basemap shows you lakes, rivers, cities, interstates, highways, railroads, coastlines and altitude. The screen of the device measures 1.7” x 1.3” and features 24 MB of internal memory for map storage. Celestial tables are included for those who also like to hunt and fish while exploring nature and the device is backed by a one-year warranty. Currently, the Summit HC can be procured for approximately $125 and makes a great investment for those new to extreme sports.

Garmin Foretrex 401
A hands-free solution to having your GPS always in your reach, the Garmin Foretrex 401 comes with a wrist-wrap that keeps it attached without it being an inconvenience. With this unit, you can create custom trails and upload them to the device for use outdoors. The battery life on the device is approximately 17 hours and provides all the information any hiker will need. The device is compatible with sensors (such as heart rate monitor and cadence sensor) and can share data with other Foretrex 401s wirelessly. At present, the Garmin Foretrex 401 is available for $175 at most major retailers.

DeLorme Earthmate PN-40
This high-sensitivity GPS device gives you access to the latest data available, including NOAA nautical charts. Included are high-resolution topographic map sets for the entire United States and you have plenty of room to add more; the device supports memory cards up to 32 GB in size. The refined barometric altimeter gives the most accurate readouts available and the device is completely waterproof, meaning no worries if you get caught in a rain shower or forget to take it out of your pocket before swimming. The Earthmate PN-40 is a solid contender and can be found online and in stores for just $300.

Garmin Dakota 10
With a large 2.6” color touchscreen, the Garmin Dakota 10 is a great hand-held unit that feels like a full-fledged computer. With a wide array of topographic, marine and road maps available for download and an 850 MB internal memory capacity, you can get all the data you need in one location and be ready for whatever climbing experience awaits. Included with the device is a bike mount in the event you want to get on the road, while thousands of included caches are available and waiting for you to discover. Currently, the Dakota 10 can be picked up for $180 as a standalone unit or $210 for the “Bike & Hike Bundle”.

FCC aims to kill LightSquared wireless network

Fri, 17 Feb 2012 10:44:56 GMT

Federal officials plan to kill a proposal to build a new national high-speed wireless network after concluding that it would in some cases jam personal-navigation and other GPS devices.

The Federal Communications Commission sought comments Wednesday on revoking LightSquared's permit after an agency that coordinates wireless signals, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, concluded that there was no way to eliminate the risk of interference with GPS devices.

Reston, Va.-based LightSquared chastised the FCC for withdrawing approval after the company had already spent nearly $4 billion. "There can be no more devastating blow to private industry and confidence in the consistency of the FCC's decision-making process," LightSquared Chief Executive Sanjiv Ahuja said in a statement.

Ahuja said the company still believed that it could find a working solution "if all the parties have that same level of commitment."The FCC had seen LightSquared's proposal as a way to make more airwaves available to feed consumers' appetites for movies, music and games on a variety of mobile devices.

Makers of GPS devices and those who rely on them feared that GPS signals would suffer the way a radio station can get drowned out by a stronger broadcast in a nearby channel. Sensitive GPS receivers, designed to pick up relatively weak signals from space, could be overwhelmed by high-power signals from as many as 40,000 LightSquared transmitters on the ground. LightSquared planned to transmit on a frequency adjacent to that used by GPS.

When the FCC gave LightSquared tentative approval last year to build the network, it said the company wouldn't be allowed to start operations until the government was satisfied that any problems were addressed. LightSquared and the FCC had insisted the new network could coexist with GPS systems.

After government and industry groups conducted tests, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration said Tuesday that it found interference with dozens of personal-navigation devices and aircraft-control systems that rely on GPS.

The agency said new technology in the future might mitigate the problems, but it would take time and money to replace GPS equipment already used extensively in the U.S. The NTIA, a branch of the Commerce Department, also said adjustments to LightSquared's network could cost billions and might not solve all the problems.

The FCC said it was accepting public comments on its revocation plans until March 1. LightSquared had hoped to compete nationally with super-fast, fourth-generation wireless services being rolled out by AT&T, Verizon Wireless and others. It hadn't planned to sell directly to consumers. Rather, it would have provided network access to companies including Leap Wireless, parent of the Cricket phone service, and Best Buy, which planned to rebrand the service under its own name.

Gps device Tracking as well as your Organization Improving Fleet Procedures

Thu, 16 Feb 2012 11:25:25 GMT

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To respond to quite a few issues, about how to manage the workforce inside a corporation, the global positioning system unit is here like a great asset. For that newcomers, this power software was implemented to monitor the positioning as someone, and was applied to permit a single learn about their location. Because software of these a software application application, grew to be redesigned and rised, it grew to be an excellent software to individuals, who wished it for a benefit.

Call Following Attribute :
Test receiving a checking unit providing you with message notifications by way of written text or mail. In this way you’ll know instantly if something is wrong. You also track utilizing a live internet interface comparable to what police officers use to be aware of in which your teenager is on course using the monitoring unit.

The also makes it simplallows you to communicate with the employees on the terrain. Some projects for instance giving and getting information through the site are incredibly very portable out. The professionals can supervise enough time that was utilized on a certain project and whether or not the objective is done or impending.

The keeping track of gizmos will comw with with some popular capabilities like bundled Wireless technology, greater details bases of factors of interests, extensive maps, play music and audiobook viewers and actual time site visitors and weather. Distinct companies have improvements how they combine into their devices. These improvements are near situations unfavorable to assist a gps tracking device buyer pick the sort of course-plotting method one particular requires. Garmin by way of example has one that does respond to style directions even though Jeff Tom may be active attempting to generate an individual developed database of sights. It is important as users can file modifications much faster compared to the company.

GPS tracking: U.S. Supreme Court lays foundation for future Fourth Amendment cases

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 10:50:55 GMT

The U.S. Supreme Court recently limited police authority to use Global Positioning Systems (GPS) when tracking individuals. Perhaps what makes the decision a “landmark” case is not the decision itself, but the issues left open in this digital age.

In U.S. v. Jones, 565 U.S. __ (2012), the Court unanimously ruled that officers of an FBI and D.C. Police task force violated the Fourth Amendment when they attached a GPS device to defendant Antoine Jones’ car and collected data on his whereabouts for 28 days.

Jones, a nightclub owner in D.C., was under suspicion of trafficking and conspiracy to traffic cocaine. Police attached the GPS to Jones’ vehicle in a public parking garage. Police had a warrant to attach the GPS, but it expired before installation, and they attached it in a jurisdiction not covered by the warrant. Thus, police installed the GPS device without a warrant.

Jones filed a motion to suppress the evidence obtained through the GPS device. The federal district court only suppressed data obtained while Jones’s car was parked at home.

The other GPS data, which implicated him in the crimes charged, was admissible, the district court concluded, because “[a] person traveling in an automobile on public thoroughfares has no reasonable expectation of privacy in his movements from one place to another.”1

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit overturned the conviction, concluding the police’s use of the GPS device violated Jones’ Fourth Amendment protection against unreasonable searches and seizures, and thus the evidence obtained from the GPS was inadmissible.

The Supreme Court unanimously agreed that police violated the Fourth Amendment. But the majority left the door open for future issues relating to a person’s expectation of privacy in a highly digital world, including whether a warrant is always required in GPS cases.

Installation of GPS device was a “search”The Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution protects “persons, houses, papers, and effects,” from unreasonable searches and seizures.

The U.S. Supreme Court majority – Justice Alito (author), Chief Justice Roberts, Justice Kennedy, Justice Thomas, and Justice Sotomayor – decided that physically installing a GPS device on someone’s car and using it to monitor movements is considered a “search.”

According to Dean Strang, a criminal defense attorney at Hurley Burish & Stanton S.C., Madison, the Jones decision means police will always need probable cause to install a GPS device.

“When there is no ‘search’ within the meaning of the Fourth Amendment, there is no probable cause requirement for police intrusion,” said Strang, who represented the defendant in the GPS case of State v. Sveum, 2010 WI 92 (July 20, 2010), decided by the Wisconsin Supreme Court.

Whether installing a GPS device on someone’s car in a public place is considered a “search” was a question left open by Sveum. In that case, police had a warrant. Jones forecloses any future argument that attaching a GPS to a car is not a search protected by the Fourth Amendment.

In Jones, the majority focused on the “physical intrusion” that took place. “It is important to be clear about what occurred in this case: The Government physically occupied private property for the purpose of obtaining information,” wrote Justice Antonin Scalia.

The majority rejected the government’s argument that a vehicle’s exterior is somehow not protected when “thrust into the public eye,” noting the officers did more than inspect the vehicle. “By attaching the device to the Jeep, officers encroached on a protected area.”

In focusing on the physical intrusion aspect, the majority departed from a line of cases determining that the Fourth Amendment protects a person’s “reasonable expectation of privacy.” This departure results in a narrow ruling based on property rights.

It is this narrow property-based ruling that irked concurring justices. In a concurring opinion by Justice Alito – joined by Justices Ginsberg, Breyer, and Kagan – a minority agreed that police violated Jones’s Fourth Amendment rights, but disagreed on the correct analysis.

“[T]he Court’s reliance on the law of trespass will present particularly vexing problems in cases involving surveillance that is carried out by making electronic, as opposed to physical, contact with the item to be tracked,” Justice Alito wrote.

Is a warrant necessary in all GPS cases?

The Jones court did not decide whether the 28-day “search” was reasonable – despite the absence of a warrant – because the government did not previously raise the issue. That is, the government forfeited the right to argue that “probable cause” and “reasonable suspicion” were enough, under the circumstances, to make a physical intrusion reasonable without a warrant.

That means the Court left open the question of whether a warrant is actually required to install a GPS monitoring device on a target’s vehicle, if the search is otherwise reasonable.

Even warrantless “searches” can be remedied with exceptions, according to Strang and Wisconsin Assistant District Attorney Dan O’Brien, who represented the state in Sveum.

“The police will either need a search warrant from a judicial officer or an applicable exception to the Fourth Amendment’s warrant preference,” Strang said.

For instance, is it still a “search” under the Fourth Amendment if police enlist a target’s cell phone provider, without a warrant, in order to track a suspect through cell site location technology? That’s an issue currently pending before the Wisconsin appeals court in State v. Subdiaz-Osorio, 2010A3016.

The Jones decision, which focused on the physical intrusion, does not seem to prohibit the state from arguing the defendant did not have a reasonable expectation of privacy in the movement of his car on public highways, or that “exigent circumstances” provide an exception to the warrant requirement. In Subdiaz-Osorio, police believed the murder suspect was trying to flee the country, and wanted to obtain his location quickly.

“I do not believe that Jones would prohibit warrantless ‘exigent circumstances’ searches,” said O’Brien, who is representing that state in Subdiaz-Osorio and has filed an appellate brief.

What if you take away the physical intrusion?

The majority’s opinion in Jones suggests that future cases involving intrusions that are not physical in nature will be subject to the “reasonable expectation of privacy” test.

“Situations involving merely the transmission of electronic signals without trespass would remain subject to Katz analysis,” wrote Justice Scalia, referring to Katz v. United States, 389 U.S. 347 (1967), which recognized that the Fourth Amendment protects a person’s “reasonable expectation of privacy,” regardless of whether a physical intrusion has occurred.

“The outcome of such a future GPS tracking case seems to me very uncertain, and I would not bet all my chips on either the law enforcement side or the individual privacy side,” Strang said.

Using a reasonable expectation test, the Jones majority suggests, may produce a different result, because police do not generally violate the constitution when performing traditional surveillance to acquire information that is cheaper to acquire using a GPS device.

“It may be that achieving the same result through electronic means, without any accompanying trespass, is an unconstitutional invasion of privacy, but the present case does not require us to answer that question,” Justice Scalia wrote.

Advancing technology and the Fourth Amendment

Sotomayor, along with Justice Alito’s concurrence, foreshadow the types of issues that will arise in future cases that do not involve a physical intrusion, like Subdiaz-Osorio, such as cases where police access GPS tracking devices that are already installed in vehicles or in Smartphones.

Justice Sotomayor agreed with the majority that a physical intrusion upon property, at a minimum, rises to the level of a “search” under the Fourth Amendment. And she agreed that Katz’s “reasonable expectation of privacy test” merely augmented, but did not displace, those cases that find Fourth Amendment violations based on a “trespass” to property.

But Sotomayor noted that future cases may involve GPS surveillance with no physical intrusion at all. “In cases of electronic or other novel modes of surveillance that do not depend upon a physical invasion on property, the majority opinion’s trespassory test may provide little guidance,” she wrote.

Meanwhile, four justices (through Alito’s concurrence) would abandon the trespassory test altogether in cases of physical intrusion and focus on an individual’s reasonable expectation of privacy. Under that test, police still violated Jones’s Fourth Amendment rights, they argued.

Thus, in cases where police have not used a “physical intrusion” to install a GPS device, one’s “reasonable expectation of privacy” may depend on the length of surveillance. And it may depend on the wealth of data that police can acquire through GPS monitoring.

“I would ask whether people reasonably expect that their movements will be recorded and aggregated in a manner that enables the Government to ascertain, more or less at will, their political and religious beliefs, sexual habits, and so on,” Justice Sotomayor wrote.

Four justices agreed that police violated Jones’s Fourth Amendment rights, not because of a physical intrusion, but because the monitoring went on too long.

Alito’s concurrence noted that the line was surely crossed before the four-week mark, but other cases may be different. “[S]hort term monitoring of a person’s movements on public streets accords with expectations of privacy that our society has recognized as reasonable,” Alito wrote, suggesting that warrantless GPS monitoring may be reasonable in certain cases.

However, Alito’s concurrence also suggests that Congress may be better suited to decide privacy issues related to rapid technological changes. “In circumstances involving dramatic technological change, the best solution to privacy concerns may be legislative,” he wrote.

He noted that Congress and most states do not have GPS tracking legislation as it relates to law enforcement. Wisconsin does not statutorily regulate GPS monitoring by police.

Garmin intros top of the line nuvi 3500 series

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 11:24:25 GMT

Garmin announced today the release of the nuvi 3500 series - Garmin's newest flagship GPS. The nuvi 3500 will feature the same ultra-thin form factor of the previous nuvi 3400-series, but will sport a larger 5-inch display, and will include more or less every feature Garmin has to offer:

All nuvi 3500 models will have:

5-inch display
Guidance 3.0 navigation engine (which provides a faster, more intuitive user interface to enhance the speed and accuracy of searches and routing)

Lane Assist with photoReal junction view realistically displays road signs and junctions along the route with photographic detail to clearly mark the correct lane to be in for interchanges and exits (Garmin claims the nuvi 3500 will have 25-times more photo realistic junction views in the US & Canada)
the ability for the nüvi to automatically remember frequent favorite route destinations and predict the destination without the user needing to activate a route
The nuvi 3590LMT ($399.99) will include free lifetime map updates, Bluetooth, digital 3D traffic, voice activated navigation, as well as compatibility with Garmin's new Smartphone Link - an Android App that provides live services to the PND.

The nuvi 3550LM ($369.99) lacks the Bluetooth and traffic features. Both units are expected to be available in February 2012.

Goodyear GPS navigation system

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 11:01:31 GMT

Goodyear, the most trusted name in tires for over a century, has entered into a trademark license agreement with The NCC. The NCC will be launching its first line of Goodyear branded, driver-focused GPS navigation systems at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, January 7-10. The eight Goodyear GPS models will have features never seen before on a mobile navigation system, including a remote control to access hands-free communication, with a single quick-touch button to answer and hang up incoming calls.

“Managing your cell phone by remote control is an entirely new concept in GPS,” said Barry Rosenstock, VP of Operations for the The NCC. “But it speaks to consumer demand for driver safety and convenience, which is what these devices aspire to provide.” The officially licensed Goodyear GPS will employ Bluetooth capabilities for easy access to incoming and outgoing phone calls, and prevents drivers from taking their eyes off the road. The remote control can be fastened to the driver’s side visor, placed near the gear shift, or stuck anywhere within reach.

Certain models will also feature MSN Direct service, for live traffic updates, local gas prices, weather reports, and even local movie times. “The Goodyear name has always stood for Innovation and Technology,” said Rosenstock. “The GPS systems are a giant step forward in terms of safety and show the company’s continued passion to get drivers where they need to go.”

Goodyear GY100K - Bluetooth MicroGPS receiver
MicroGPS Receiver (world’s smallest Bluetooth MicroGPS Receiver connects to Blackberry’s, Laptops, etc.) This powerful GPS receiver comes with the latest in GPS technology, the SiRF Star III works from your pocket, hand bag or briefcase. Works with all the popular mapping software currently available. The Goodyear Bluetooth MicroGPS Receiver is currently the world’s most compact and neatest GPS receiver available, and is capable of connecting simultaneously to up to 20 satellite channels, as well as having a solid working time of 10hrs.

Goodyear GY540 - MSN direct service
With Remote In addition to Bluetooth capabilities, MSN Direct service, and the new safety devices, the GY540 systems feature 4.3” LCD touch screens, speaker-quality sound, High Sensitivity receivers, text-to-speech navigation for spoken street names, millions of points of interest (POI’s), MP3 and video playback, A/V inputs for MP3 players, TV tuners, or DVD players, 2GB of internal and removable SD storage, and more all encased in Goodyear’s customary design: protective rubber. The remote controls the ‘phone connect’ system, so you don’t have to take your eyes off the road to answer calls. This is the top-of-the-line model with most every feature.

Goodyear GY130 - 1GB SD memory card slot
The most basic model of the new line should retail very affordably. It’s still a fully compatible multimedia device a 1GB SD slot and turn-by-turn spoken directions. It has a working time of over 6 hours when charged.

Goodyear navigation system - Bluetooth
In addition to Bluetooth capabilities, MSN Direct service, and the new safety devices, officially licensed Goodyear GPS systems feature 4.3” LCD touch screens, speaker-quality sound, High Sensitivity receivers, text-to-speech navigation for spoken street names, millions of points of interest (POI’s), MP3 and video playback, A/V inputs for MP3 players, TV tuners, or DVD players, 2GB of internal and removable SD storage, and more - all encased in Goodyear’s customary design: protective rubber. “It’s the perfect navigation system combined with a versatile multimedia player, not to mention stereo speakers to enjoy it all,” concluded Rosenstock.

Virginia Bill To Ban Unauthorized GPS Tracking Advances

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 11:02:28 GMT

RICHMOND, Va. - The problem encountered by Del. Joe May's constituent seemed simple enough to solve. The citizen had taken his car in for service and was shocked when the mechanic found a GPS device attached to the undercarriage. The car owner learned that the tracking device had been surreptitiously placed there by a private investigator hired by his estranged wife. He went to the police and the local prosecutor and was told that what happened was not illegal. It should be, the man concluded, so he turned to his legislator. May, R-Loudoun, agreed. "I honestly believe that's an invasion of privacy," said May, whose bill was endorsed 14-1 Wednesday by the House Science and Technology Committee.

The legislation has been in the works for two years as May sought to address the concerns of various individuals and groups, some of them claiming legitimate reasons for electronically tracking someone without permission. In 2010, the bill was deferred for further study and last year it was killed by a Senate committee.

The version headed to the House floor for a vote early next week carves out exemptions for law enforcement officials, parents tracking their kids, any legally authorized representative of an incapacitated adult, owners of fleet vehicles and electronic communications providers like OnStar and cell phone companies.

May acknowledged that a consensus was not easy to reach. "It's a pretty simple concept, but it's such new ground. We don't have 400 years of precedent and case law," May said. "Approaching things cautiously is the Virginia way."The American Civil Liberties Union raised concerns about May's bill after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled last month that police cannot use GPS devices to track a person without a warrant. However, May said his bill complies with that ruling because it allows electronic tracking by police only "in accordance with other state or federal law." The ACLU did not oppose May's bill in committee. Not everyone is happy with the legislation, however. Nicole Bocra of Infinity Investigative represented private investigators in many of the negotiations on the legislation over the last two years, and she said she opposes the measure.

"My objections are the fact that the bill is very closed-minded," she said in a telephone interview. "It doesn't take into account what private investigators do."She said that in addition to the kind of cases that brought the matter to May's attention, private investigators work on insurance fraud, embezzlement and other white collar crimes. "We play a vital role in this system," she said, and unlike police, private investigators cannot obtain a warrant. She also said that under May's bill, a domestic abuse victim could not use GPS to keep tabs on her abuser.

Del. Scott Surovell, D-Fairfax, voted against the bill after the committee rejected his proposal to allow a car owner to use GPS to track his own vehicle. Surovell had told the committee at a previous meeting that he and his wife have an au pair who sometimes drives their car, and if they wanted to track where she was going they should be allowed to do so. Surovell was not swayed by committee members who suggested his scenario would be covered by the "fleet vehicle" exemption since the au pair is an employee.

Pentax Optio WG2 & WG2-GPS

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 12:34:46 GMT

The Pentax Optio WG2 and WG2-GPS are two new waterproof, dustproof and shock-resistant compact cameras. Both models can be used at a depth of up to 12 metres and can withstand a drop of 1.5 metres, cold to -10°C and a weight up to 100kg. The WG2 and WG2-GPS also feature a 16 megapixel back-illuminated CMOS image sensor, Full HD movie recording, 5x optical zoom lens with 28mm wide-angle coverage, 3 inch high-resolution LCD monitor with 16:9 dimensions and 460,000 dots, and six built-in LED macro lights. The Optio WG2-GPS additionally comes equipped with an upgraded GPS module.

The Pentax WG2 and WG2-GPS will be available from March 2012 for £299.99 and £349.99 respectively.

Pentax UK Press Release

PENTAX Optio WG2 and Optio WG2-GPS

The Ultimate Rugged Outdoor Camera

PENTAX RICOH IMAGING COMPANY LTD. is pleased to announce the launch of the PENTAX Optio WG2 and PENTAX Optio WG2-GPS digital compact cameras. The waterproof, dustproof and shock-resistant build of these two new cameras, offer users a heavy-duty camera that is ideal for shooting outdoors.

Equipped with the latest back-illuminated CMOS image sensor and a state-of-the-art imaging engine, the Optio WG2 and Optio WG2-GPS are ideal for shooting in poor light, delivering clearer and sharper images with minimised noise.

The cameras are packed with a range of features including 16 megapixels and high-resolution Full HD movie recording (1920 x 1080 pixels). Built with a new wide, high-resolution LCD monitor images are easy to view, even in bright sunlight. Additionally, the cameras offer outstanding underwater shooting capability at a depth of up to 12 metres and perform superbly in demanding outdoor conditions as they can withstand a drop of 1.5 metres, cold to -10°C and a weight up to 100kgf.

The PENTAX Optio WG2-GPS comes equipped with a newly designed GPS module that offers some crucial improvements over its predecessor.

The OPTIO WG2 and WG2-GPS will be available from March 2012 at RRPS of £299.99 and £349.99 respectively.

Major Features

1. Heavy-duty construction for underwater shooting up to a depth of 12 metres
By further enhancing the water tightness of the camera body, PENTAX has upgraded the underwater performance of the Optio WG2 and Optio WG2-GPS to 12 metres, for up to two hours of continuous operation (equivalent to IPX8 or JIS Class 8 waterproof performance). These cameras are also designed to be highly shock-resistant (from a height of 1.5 metres) *, dustproof**, cold-resistant (down to -10°C)***, and crushproof (with a weight up to 100 kgf)****. All these features make the Optio WG2 and Optio WG2-GPS the ideal imaging partners in challenging outdoor shooting conditions.

2. New back-illuminated CMOS image sensor for high-quality images
The Optio WG2 and Optio WG2-GPS are equipped with the latest back-illuminated CMOS image sensor, which offers much lower noise even when the camera is set to higher sensitivities. With the combination of a top sensitivity of ISO 6400, 16 megapixels, and a new imaging engine, they deliver super-high resolution images every time. The Optio WG2 and WG2-GPS also feature the new Handheld Night Snap mode, which allows users to capture four images of the same scene in one push of a button, which automatically produces a single blur-free, composite image.

3. Full HD movie recording
The Optio WG2 and Optio WG2-GPS offer Full HD movie recording with the H.264 recording format, allowing users to capture high-quality, extended movie clips (1920 x 1080 pixels) at a frame rate of 30 frames per second. They also feature a high-speed camera function***** for slow-motion playback of captured movie clips, and an interval movie function to simplify advanced movie-recording techniques. A micro-HDMI terminal (Type D) is also provided on the camera body allowing output of Full HD movie clips and sound to external devices.

4. Extra-large, high-resolution 3.0-inch LCD monitor
The new Optio WG2 and Optio WG2-GPS feature a new extra-large, high-resolution 3-inch LCD monitor with 16:9 dimensions and 460,000 dots. The AR (Anti-Reflection) coating minimises glare and reflections to deliver a sharp, clear on-screen image even in bright sunshine, while the wide-view design offers a clear view of the monitor from approximately 170 degrees horizontally and vertically, making it particularly useful in low and high angle shooting.

5. Digital Microscope mode with six LED macro lights
By positioning six LED macro lights around the circumference of the lens barrel, the Optio WG2 and Optio WG2-GPS provide brighter illumination for macro shooting when the Digital Microscope mode is selected.****** The macro lights provide the user with a clear and magnified view on the LCD monitor. The instant illumination enhance function, which automatically raises the illumination level of the LED Macro Lights at the moment of the shutter release, has also been upgraded to minimise camera shake. Additionally, the macro lights provide a Self-Portrait Assist mode to ensure the subject’s face is safely captured within the picture frame using the blink of an LED lamp, and a new LED lighting mode which allows users to use the Macro Lights as a torch in the dark.

6. Advanced GPS function (available with the Optio WG2-GPS only)
The Optio WG2-GPS comes equipped with an upgraded GPS module. Not only does it shorten the time lag before the start of GPS operation, but it also greatly extends the operating life of the function. This automatically creates log data and stores it as a KML-format file onto an SD memory card. The Optio WG2-GPS allows the user to record their position data when shooting still images. They can also take advantage of various GPS-compatible applications and services provided by the included software******* and such websites as Google Maps™. The GPS function also corrects the built-in clock automatically to match the local time of the shooting location. Thanks to the GPS function, the user can keep an accurate record of their movement during outdoor shooting and display it later on the computer using various online services such as Google Earth™.

7. 5X optical zoom lens with 28mm wide-angle coverage
The new Optio WG2 and Optio WG2-GPS feature a high-performance 5X optical zoom lens covering focal lengths equivalent to 28mm wide angle to 140mm telephoto in the 35mm format. Thanks to this versatile zoom lens, the cameras can capture beautiful pictures, from spectacular landscapes to family/group shots in a confined space.

8. Other features
1   Carabiner strap included
2   Protector neoprene case (available as an optional accessory) to protect the camera body from scratches and dirt
3   Comes with two remote-control receptors which allow the user to send the remote signal either from the front or back of the camera
4   A Macro Stand is also included to make extended observation effortless even at a minimum distance of one centimetre away from the subject
5   High-speed Face Detection function to capture up to 32 faces in approx. 0.03 seconds, and Smile Capture function
6   Instant startup with the playback mode by pressing and holding the playback button
7   Auto Picture mode to automatically select the most appropriate shooting mode from 16 different scene modes
8   12 digital filters
9   Digital Wide mode to compose an extra-wide-angle picture (equivalent to 21mm wide angle in the 35mm format) from two separate images
10   Image viewing, editing and filing software included: MediaImpression 3.5 for PENTAX (Windows version compatible with Windows 7) and MediaImpression 2.1 for PENTAX (Macintosh version compatible with Mac OS X 10.7)
11   Compatibility with Eye-Fi wireless LAN SD memory cards

* Measured under PENTAX-original testing standards (from a height of 1.5 meters, onto a surface of 5cm-thick plywood), conforming to the Method 516.5-Shock of the MIL-Standard 810F, to show the stable operations.
** Measured under PENTAX-original testing standards, equivalent to IPX6 or JIS Class 6.
*** Measured under PENTAX-original testing standards, with which the camera is proven to withstand temperatures as low as -10°C to show the stable operations.
**** Measured under PENTAX-original testing standards, in which the camera is put under a pressure of up to 100 kgf, or kilogram-force to show the stable operations.
***** When this function is selected, the recorded size is fixed at VGA (640 x 480 pixels).
****** When the Digital Microscope mode is selected, the recorded size is fixed at 2 MP (at 16:9 proportions).
******* This function is available with the Windows version only.

Windows is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and other countries.

This product supports PRINT Image Matching III. PRINT Image Matching enabled digital still cameras, printers and software help photographers to produce images more faithful to their intentions. Some functions are not available on printers that are not PRINT Image Matching III compliant.
Copyright 2001 Seiko Epson Corporation. All Rights Reserved.
Print Image Matching is a trademark of Seiko Epson Corporation.
The PRINT Image Matching logo is a trademark of Seiko Epson Corporation.

Mac OS is a trademark of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. HDMI, the HDMI logo and High-Definition Multimedia Interface are trademarks or registered trademarks of HDMI Licensing LLC. Google, Google Earth, Google map, and logo are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Google Inc. All other brands or product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies. Design and Specifications are subject to change without notice.