GPS - SlashGear

‘GPS’ Stories

Beidou satnav system promises free SMS messaging and location data worldwide by 2020

Chris Burns, Dec 27th 2011 Discuss [18]

You read that right, folks, the representatives speaking for the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation said this week that their Beidou satellite navigation system is currently operational and will have free, global coverage in place by the year 2020. This system Beidou, otherwise known as Big Dipper, will be providing both location data and SMS messaging to any device that can utilize it for free. Beidu is working right this minute mainly in China and the group says that global coverage is in the works for full working operation inside 8 years. Read The Full Story

LightSquared petitions FCC affirm GPS has no right to protection

Chris Burns, Dec 20th 2011 Discuss [26]

This past month the folks at LightSuared have had less than an awesome time dealing with the idea that their network had been accused of interfering with GPS receivers of all kinds, and this week after already having sent word out to the world that the whole thing was just a simple misunderstanding, they've petitioned the FCC directly to have them affirm their spectrum rights. LightSquared is currently looking into building a new national LTE network using frequencies that sit next to those generally devoted to GPS, and as their petition for declaratory ruling notes this week, they're living in peace, not bashing each other around. On the other hand, specifically what they're asking is that the FCC affirm that their rights to use the spectrum outweighs the fact that because GPS receivers are not licensed and do not operate inside service rules, they are not entitled to interference protection. Read The Full Story

Qualcomm announces Snapdragon S2 and S3 support for GPS and GLONASS

Shane McGlaun, Dec 16th 2011 Discuss [0]

The number of apps and services in smartphones today that use GPS for locations and more is staggering. We take GPS location for granted until our devices can't get a fix thanks to trees or location. Qualcomm has announced new support for GPS and Russian GLONASS navigation satellites for its Snapdragon S2 and S3 processors. Read The Full Story

LightSquared CEO denies GPS disruption, touts job creation with US government

Chris Burns, Dec 15th 2011 Discuss [2]

Earlier this week week there were some pretty harsh accusations passed down regarding LightSquared and their GPS disruption in government tests - what we're hearing from the CEO of LightSquared today is that they're both baffled by the accusations and have done nothing but nice things for bunnies and kitties since they were born, basically. What mister Sanjiv Ahuja, CEO of LightSquared, notes today is that not only have they had the legal and regulatory right to use their spectrum "for eight years over two administrations," they've found that the testing mentioned in the reports from earlier this month did not come from their own spectrum, but from from GPS devices looking into spectrum also licensed to LightSquared. Read The Full Story

TeleNav GPS HTML5 browser-based navigation announced, world’s first

Chris Burns, Dec 14th 2011 Discuss [2]

When it comes to mapping out the earth for mobile devices, there are only a few choices options you should really be deciding between - TeleNav being on of them - and this week they've upped the ante with the world's first HTML browser-based, voice-guided, turn-by-turn navigation service. What this service will do is amp up TeleNav into the all-access world of mobile, giving essentially anyone with access to a web browser on their handheld device access to GPS in a way that's never quite been accomplished before now. In addition, developers of mobile websites and apps with local content will now be able to add one simple line of code to their product to have easy to use navigation at a glance! Read The Full Story

Block III GPS satellite prototype starts testing

Shane McGlaun, Dec 13th 2011 Discuss [3]

The use of GPS is so prevalent all around the world that a lot of people never stop to think about the satellites in orbit that make it all work. The US is set to start testing of a new generation of GPS satellites with the first of the Block III GPS satellites showing up in Colorado for its first tests in an extensive series to ensure that the tech will work. Read The Full Story

ip.access AFC portable femtocell offloads 3G/4G to WiFi

Chris Davies, Dec 5th 2011 Discuss [0]

An iPhone-sized portable femtocell could make creating a private bubble of cellphone coverage straightforward in homes, offices, hotel rooms and public spaces, offloading smartphones and other mobile devices onto WiFi. The ip.access Advanced Femtocell Concept (AFC) works as existing products, like the AT&T 3G Microcell and Vodafone SureSignal, but can hook up to the internet via either a wired ethernet connection or WiFi. Read The Full Story

Google Maps goes indoors

Chris Burns, Nov 29th 2011 Discuss [4]

Though the final frontier may be space, and according to some the ocean of water that surrounds us here on Earth, Google has decided that it’s inside buildings – and that’s exactly where it’s going with it all-encompassing Google Maps environment. You’ll be able to work indoors with Google Maps 6.0 for Android, for example, using “My Location”, which will soon show you as a blue dot on a map of the location you’re at, including both outdoor AND indoors. No longer will you have to act as a car to get to where you need to be should you simply have a pair of shoes. Nothing but fun ahead!

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NAVIGON 2.0 adds offline maps to iPhone

Chris Davies, Nov 17th 2011 Discuss [5]

Garmin has launched a new version of its NAVIGON navigation app for iPhone, with v2.0 adding the option to download maps for offline access as well as introducing quarterly map updates. NAVIGON 2.0 for iPhone follows Nokia Maps' offline mapping with state-by-state downloads in the US (those using the app outside the US will likely get country-by-country download options) so that you can navigate while your data connection is turned off. Read The Full Story

Featured

Motorolo MOTOACTV takes on iPod nano

Rue Liu, Oct 18th 2011 Discuss [8]

Motorola has unveiled its own interpretation of the smartwatch PMP, the MOTOACTV, a 1.6-inch touchscreen Android gadget that packs GPS and up to 4,000 of your songs. Intended to track your fitness in a similar way to Nike+, the MOTOACTV is sweat resistant and includes both an FM radio and an integrated audio coach that tells you how fast you’re going and how far you’ve run.

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Trimble offers iPad Backpacker Map Maker app for iPad

Shane McGlaun, Oct 14th 2011 Discuss [0]

Trimble is a name that many outdoors enthusiasts will know. Trimble makes a bunch of different handheld GPS devices to help you navigate in the woods or on the trials. The company has a new app for the iPad that is called the Backpacker Map Maker app and is specifically for the iPad. The touch interface of the app allows the hiker or backpacker to find just where they want to go using seamless topographical maps. Read The Full Story

Find My Friends app released for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch

Chris Davies, Oct 12th 2011 Discuss [1]

Apple's Find My Friends app - announced alongside iOS 5 last week - has arrived in the App Store, though you'll need the new version of the platform in order to actually install it. The free app, which uses GPS to locate your friends and family and, if the privacy settings mash correctly, display them on a map in real-time, can be found here [iTunes link]. Read The Full Story