Navigon is a relative newcomer on the portable GPS scene, which is already crowded with dominant players such as Garmin and TomTom. But breakthrough innovations don't always come from the largest companies. And while Navigon portable GPS navigators have only recently appeared on the consumer market, the company has been designing in-dash navigators and GPS map software for the automotive industry many for years.
The new Navigon 7200T and smaller Navigon 2200T portable GPS navigators have been generating quite a buzz for its combination of low price and rich set of features. More on that in a minute, but first a little background. Read the rest of this entry
Garmin updates maps
Since Garmin came out with its latest GPS update package in April there's been a lot of discussion on the various GPS user forums. Here I'll try to provide a condensed summary of some of the issues raised, and questions asked and answered, regarding the 2009 Garmin City Navigator North America map update. Read the rest of this entry
An article on PCMAG.com today reports one of the latest GPS update from TomTom. In the Netherlands, the company is experimenting with a new system that allows drivers to monitor traffic flow patterns in (almost) real time.
Other GPS devices provide traffic information over radio networks, and some even gather data on traffic rate and flow patterns from traffic cameras and sensors. But with a new technology update TomTom may have found a better way to detect where traffic is moving and where it’s not: by monitoring driver’s mobile phones. Read the rest of this entry
“I bought an expensive GPS navigator. Why is it always wrong?” New GPS owners are sometimes perplexed when their high-tech gadget gives them bad information, or can’t locate the street or business they are trying to find. In almost all cases the problem is not with the GPS, which is doing exactly what it’s supposed to do. More likely the problem is with the preloaded GPS maps, which can quickly become out of date.
GPS Update Required
GPS systems triangulate satellite signals to determine the receiver’s location with pinpoint accuracy. What many people don’t understand about GPS, however, is that the maps and various additional layers of information needed to make the positional signal useful come from a very different source. Forget satellites—information for every GPS update is collected on the ground, by people actually driving the road network and recording information. In other words, it's a much slower process. Read the rest of this entry
Even new devices may need a GPS update
Global Positioning System (GPS) technology has taken off in recent years, with new models and features being introduced every month. Portable and dashboard-mounted GPS navigators are now almost standard in many cars and trucks. However a common source of frustration for many drivers who rely on GPS has been the limited availability of good GPS map updates.
GPS can pinpoint your exact position in space using signals from military satellites, but for drivers that information is of little use if it doesn’t interface with an accurate, up-to-date road map. Without periodic map updates, drivers using GPS navigators may not be much better off than those using old paper street maps. The street grid in downtown Manhattan probably isn’t going to change anytime soon, but roads in many fast-growing cities and rural areas are changing all the time. In addition, GPS mapping software can contain information on the location of hotels, restaurants, and other businesses. That kind of information can change almost overnight, and requires regular updating. Read the rest of this entry
