GPS World

Tag: personal navigation

  • Magellan Personal Nav Integrates Cloud, Social Media, Real-Time Location Data

    Magellan has announced the Magellan SmartGPS, a GPS device based on navigation integrated with social, local and mobile content, including Yelp and Foursquare, through Magellan’s cloud-enabled Smart Ecosystem. The Magellan SmartGPS navigation device wirelessly syncs the user’s navigation data, such as favorite places and contacts, with a smartphone or personal computer. The device intelligently delivers stored and dynamic location-based information to the GPS display that is personalized to the driver’s locale.

    “Magellan pioneered the GPS navigation industry, and in today’s socially driven world, we recognize that consumers want and need a much more comprehensive navigation solution that surpasses what traditional GPS devices and smartphones can offer,” said Peggy Fong of MiTAC Digital Corporation. “We engineered our cloud-based Smart Ecosystem and SmartGPS device from the ground up to deliver an innovative SoLoMo experience to consumers who desire discovery, relevance and local awareness combined with navigation. Additionally, the Smart Ecosystem is architected to integrate with automotive infotainment and mobile network service platforms.”

    The Magellan SmartGPS communicates with Magellan’s custom-built Smart Ecosystem, a cloud platform for a database of constantly-updating, location-relevant social media and navigation content that is automatically pushed to the SmartGPS display to create a unique driving experience, the company said.

    Magellan SmartGPS users can simultaneously view maps, navigate, and see reviews, tips and offers from Yelp and Foursquare for nearby restaurants, stores and services, plus navigate to those locations without needing to use an additional device or application. As a vehicle progresses on its route, the SmartGPS accesses the cloud-based Smart Ecosystem to deliver a variety of location-relevant information “squares” that are displayed on the SmartGPS screen and graphically flip between service establishments in the vicinity. When the user taps on a square, detailed profile information is displayed including the address, phone and any available special offers or consumer reviews, plus an icon to navigate to their selected destination. In addition, the SmartGPS delivers current gas prices in the vicinity, weather, traffic events and speed camera warnings.

     

  • GPS Plotter iPhone App Enables Quick Plotting

    GPS Plotter makes it easy to plot longitude and latitude coordinates using iPhone, according to app developer Make It Digital. Using the mobile phone’s in-built GPS system, users can plot their current location at the touch of a button. Multiple sessions can be used to create maps plotting anything, and easy export of longitude and latitude coordinates is made possible by utilizing the universal CSV data format.

    GPS Plotter is designed for:

    • Orienteering
    • Outdoor wayfinding
    • Tracking unmarked trails
    • Detailing longitude and latitude on the move

    The app is available for 69p ($0.99 US) in the App Store and is compatible with iPhone 4, 4S and 5 running iOS 5 or later.

  • Sygic Launches Location Sharing and Family Safety App

    “Family,” a new app by GPS navigation software company Sygic, is designed to help parents keep their children safe and simplify the way families stay in touch. The app is now live on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.

    The app shows the real-time location of all the family members on the map. It allows parents to set up Safe / Unsafe zones and sends automatic notifications when kids enter or leave a zone. Geofence is useful for one-time notification when users enter certain areas. Augmented reality shows family members in the real surroundings — for example, if kids are running around in a park. Navigation to the family member’s location can be launched from within the app. The app also features free family messaging.

    “We wanted to create an app that will help its users in their everyday life,” said Sygic’s CEO Michal Stencl. “As parents we want to raise our children to be self-reliant but we also need to have confidence that they are safe. Family by Sygic gives parents this peace of mind, while kids will appreciate that parents don’t feel the need to call them all the time to check where they are.”

    The app is free until January 31st on Google Play and App Store. Afterward, the price will be 2.99 Euro per year/family.

  • iOnRoad Steers iPhone Navigation Towards Safer Driving

    iOnRoad,  the maker of the iOnRoad app that improves driving in real-time using the power of modern computer vision algorithms and smart-phone cameras, has released its award-winning app on iOS 6 operating systems. iOnRoad, now available for immediate download in the App Store, is taking advantage of the leap in processing power of the iPhone 5 and  new navigation integration offered on iOS 6, the company said.

    iOnRoad’s new iOS 6 features bring about a whole new depth to driving assistance applications. The iOnRoad application’s advanced fusion with iOS 6 navigation allows the driver the benefit of turn-by-turn navigation along with iOnRoad’s augmented driving UI. Furthermore, iOnRoad’s new “black-box” like video recording feature acts as a virtual driving log, archiving users’ driving history. Should an accident occur, drivers may now be given a greater understanding of the events leading up to it.

    “We have serviced hundreds of thousands of mobile users over the past year and are excited to provide iPhone users an enhanced version of iOnRoad,” said Alon Atsmon, CEO of iOnRoad. “In addition, the new in-phone analytics dashboard tells a driver how safe and ‘green’ the drive was and can even estimate gas prices, which is quite useful given the fluctuation in gas prices today.”

    iOnRoad uses the iPhone camera and sensors to detect lanes and vehicles in front of the vehicle, alerting drivers when they are in danger. The app provides a range of personal driving assistance functions including augmented driving, collision warning, speeding alert and safety scoring.

    “We are witnessing a trend in which  systems and features that we used to find in jet-planes such as navigation, collision warnings, HUD and night vision are increasingly finding their way into the driving environment,” says Atsmon. iOnRoad’s innovation and market leadership has been validated by numerous industry awards including the 2012 CTIA E-Tech Award, CES 2012 showcase award, and one of Gartner’s cool vendors in automotive for 2012.

    View a video of iOnRoad in action.

  • Mobile Application Storefronts Distributed 81 Billion Apps through September

    Mobile application storefronts had collectively distributed a cumulative total of 81 billion smartphone and tablet apps as of the end of September 2012, according to a recent market study from ABI Research. Of these, 89 percent were downloaded from native storefronts that come with the device’s operating system.

    “The current status quo is based on storefronts that the operating system vendors provide as part of the OS experience, and there is no evidence that this would change in the future,” said ABI Research senior analyst Aapo Markkanen. “A year ago it still looked like that, for example, mobile operators could find a viable business case in the curation of Android apps, but that opportunity evaporated once Google got its storefront act together. Today, it makes sense for operators to distribute apps only under special circumstances, such as the ones that we’re seeing in China.”

    Similarly, it’s unlikely that the universal, catch-all nature of app distribution would start breaking up into smaller niche storefronts. There is a certain demand for specialist stores, but even then the niche players should position themselves as recommendation channels driving traffic to native storefronts and not actual distributors. Markkanen explains, “Running a user-friendly app distribution channel is expensive. Besides the adequate hosting and billing systems it takes quite a lot of human labor, since successful app discovery requires some form of editorial approach. The opportunity for smaller storefronts built around selected categories is therefore limited.”

    Practically the only exceptions are B2B apps and the consumer categories that the universal storefronts don’t want to be associated with — most notably adult content. Mikandi is a real-life storefront example that has built a business out of the distribution of such outcast apps and content.

    These findings are from ABI Research’s Mobile Application Markets Research Service which focuses on the distribution and the economics of mobile apps, providing data-driven insights on areas such as download volumes, revenues and business models, plus trends within different applications categories.

  • Trimble Launches Elite Membership for Outdoor Enthusiasts

    Trimble introduced today Trimble Outdoors Elite, a comprehensive membership program for outdoor enthusiasts. The Elite membership provides access to more than 2,500 best-in-class topo map bundles that can be stored on smartphones and tablets. In addition, Elite members can view public land boundaries in 46 states, see real-time weather and scout trips with a new online mapping tool.

    “From trip planning to offline digital maps and printed maps, Trimble Outdoors Elite provides a one-stop solution for modern-day outdoor enthusiasts such as hikers, backpackers and off-roaders,” said Rich Rudow, general manager of Trimble Outdoors. “The Elite program brings more powerful map content and tools directly into our mobile apps in the Apple App Store, Google Play and Amazon Appstore.”

    Offline Maps: With the new Digital Map Bundles, Elite members can download topo map bundles by state, county or park — more than 2,500 areas across the U.S. These map files are dragged-and-dropped onto a SD memory card or into an iTunes account then transferred to the phone or tablet.

    Public Lands: Elite members can view public land boundaries for several land areas, including U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. National Parks, and state lands. Public land coverage includes all states except Arkansas, Delaware, Rhode Island, and South Carolina. These color-coded land boundaries can be viewed in Trimble Outdoors apps and at trimbleoutdoors.com.

    Weather Maps: Interactive weather maps allow users to zoom into the exact areas they plan to explore at TrimbleOutdoors.com and in any Trimble Outdoors app to see real-time weather overlays, including Doppler radar, satellite images, wind speed, and temperature.

    Printed Maps: Search-and-rescue experts advise outdoor enthusiasts not to depend solely on electronics in the field. Now, Elite members can print trip maps on a home printer or receive 20 percent discount on any custom printed map order from MyTopo.com.

    Trip Planner: With the new Trip Planner tool, Elite members can view outdoor maps, draw routes and mark waypoints at TrimbleOutdoors.com. Trips planned online can be quickly and wirelessly transferred to any Trimble Outdoors app.

    Trimble Outdoors Elite is available as a monthly ($2.99) or yearly ($29.99) subscription. For more information, visit www.trimbleoutdoors.com/elite.

  • Apple Maps Not Fully to Blame for Outback Mistakes

    Police in Mildura, Australia, have been warning people not to rely on Apple Maps after several people trying to find the town of 30,000 people became hopelessly lost in the bush in scorching temperatures, reported the Guardian. One man was stranded for 24 hours last week in temperatures of up to 115º Fahrenheit. Three more were rescued after following the directions given on Apple’s Maps applications. Apple Maps put Mildura in Murray-Sunset National Park, the second largest park in Australia and 70 kilometers from the town’s actual location.

    The red pin shows the location Apple Maps directs drivers to. The purple pin is the location of the town.

    “Police are extremely concerned as there is no water supply within the Park and temperatures can reach as high as 46 degrees (Celsius, 115º Fahrenheit), making this a potentially life threatening issue,” read a police statement. “Some of the motorists located by police have been stranded for up to 24 hours without food or water and have walked long distances through dangerous terrain to get phone reception.”

    Today, the Guarian reports that Apple wasn’t completely wrong in directing Australians who searched for “Mildura” to the midst of the Murray-Sunset National Park. The Australian government’s official gazetteer includes a location called “Mildura Rural City” at the place where Mildura was previously marked on iPhone maps.

    As reported by The Register, the official gazetteer contains an entry at the precise place to which Apple was directing drivers until making a correction on Monday. The gazetteer contains 36 entries for “Mildura,” including the one for Mildura Rural City, which has “official” status and is listed as a “district” (comprising an “agricultural area, county, district, local government area, parish or region”). Mildura Rural City is an area of 22,000 square kilometers in the northwestern part of Victoria state, but Geoscience Australia located it at a specific point, in this case the middle of the park rather than the town.

    Apple’s mistake was to ignore another entry for Mildura, which the gazetteer records as having the class of “POPL” (population center).

  • CE-Traffic Launches Premium RDS-TMC in Poland

    CE-Traffic, a traffic data provider in Central-Eastern Europe, has extended its portfolio of traffic services in Poland, the country where over last five years the number of vehicles has grown by 50 percent. Drivers in Poland can look forward to more options in receiving real-time traffic information with the launch of the new Premium RDS-TMC service by CE-Traffic, the company said.

    “We looked at TMC solution with all its limitations and asked ourselves: how we can get more out of the technology that has been around for more than a decade so that navigation systems vendors can offer to their customers an easy-to-implement and affordable traffic service of a real value? Our Premium RDS- TMC offers drivers an access to very detailed traffic information without any mobile telecommunication cost and subscription fees,” said Jiri Novobilsky, CEO of CE-Traffic.

    Competitive advantage of CE-Traffic Premium RDS-TMC is based on smart use of TMC components, according to CE-Traffic. Up-to-date traffic flow data and journalistic information are smartly aggregated and regionally filtered. CE- Traffic TISA certified Location Table (LTN 6) offers the best available coverage. It includes not only all major roads and streets but also lower category roads commonly used by drivers like shortcuts or alternative routes. RDS channel with enhanced capacity allows broadcasting high number of traffic messages (over 1,000). The service is available country-wide thanks to partnership with Radio ZET – leading Polish radio station.

    Tomasz Przeździęk, CE-Traffic director for Poland, added: “When looking at overall traffic offering for personal and in-car navigation systems in Poland one can see that expensive connected devices did not achieve the major market acceptance. Proven TMC standard together with high quality CE-Traffic Floating Car Data is an easy to implement alternative to provide drivers with the most accurate and up-to-date traffic information.”

  • China Industry Report: “Amazing Growth” in Mobile Market

    A new China Navigation Map Industry Report, 2012-2014, released by Sino Market Insight, predicts that the revenue of Chinese navigation electronic  map industry will reach RMB 2.1 billion in 2014.

    Started in 2002, the navigation industry in China is still in the  initial stage of development compared with the international market, the report says. China’s car navigation market, PND navigation market and mobile phone navigation market are in the stage of rapid development, while the markets of LBS service, real-time traffic information service and value-added electronic map application services based on mobile communication technology are still in the initial stage of development.

    From 2006 to 2011, the sales volume of car navigation in China maintained high-speed growth, with CAGR hitting 47.5%. However, the penetration rate of car navigation is still low, so China’s car navigation  market still embraces huge space. Meanwhile, the growth speed of GPS mobile phone market in China is amazing, the report says. The sales volume of GPS mobile phone in China approximated 100 thousand sets in 2006, and skyrocketed to more than 50 million sets in 2011. Mobile Internet is an important development direction for the navigation map industry in future.

    According to the report, the global electronic navigation map market presents distinct regional and local characteristics. Major navigation application markets around the world, such as USA, Europe, Japan and South Korea, all have many regional electronic map suppliers which have competitive advantages in diversified segments and possess stable client groups.

    The navigation map market in China is led by AutoNavi and NavInfo. In particular, NavInfo is the pioneer, for it got approved to do navigation map business in the early 21st century. Joining the competition after 2006, AutoNavi captured the high-end brand automobile market quickly by virtue of advanced technologies, and penetrated into the medium-end automobile market thereafter. After 2010, the two companies launched fierce competition in the emerging mobile phone navigation market. In future, the competition in China’s car navigation and mobile phone navigation market will be fiercer, and the collision among navigation map enterprises in different sectors will be more frequent.

    China Navigation Map Industry Report, 2012-2014 covers the following contents:

    • Current status of China navigation map industry;
    • Development of China navigation map market;
    • Market status of navigation map in major regions worldwide;
    • Brief introduction, financial highlight, revenue structure by segment and by region, prospects and performance prediction, clients, etc. of 15 leading navigation map enterprises in China and around the globe.

  • Magellan Introduces Five-Inch RoadMate RV GPS Navigator

    Magellan today announced its first 5-inch RV GPS model, the Magellan RoadMate RV5365T-LMB GPS, designed for RVs with smaller dashboard spaces. Magellan will display its new RoadMate RV5365T-LMB at the RVIA Show (Booth H) this week in Louisville, Kentucky.

    The ideal travel companion for drivers of Class B and Class C RVs and those who tow other recreational vehicles such as fifth-wheel trailers or boats, the Magellan RoadMate RV5365T-LMB helps when planning trips and promotes safety while on-the-road, the company said.

    When preparing for their trips, the Magellan RoadMate RV5365T-LMB makes it easier for RV drivers to set up profile data about their vehicle’s dimensions, vehicle type, hazmat materials, as well as navigational preference so they can customize the best routes.

    The Good Sam Campground Directory and Good Sam discount locations, pre-loaded into the RoadMate RV5365T-LMB, provide RV travel resources featuring comprehensive North America campground information and amenities to facilitate locating available facilities, RV services, pet-friendly campgrounds and parks, tent spaces, Wi-Fi and more.

    During trips, the Magellan RoadMate RV5365T-LMB helps drivers navigate on its 5-inch high-definition touch screen that adjusts color and contrast for the most optimal night visibility. To help drivers keep their eyes on the road, the RoadMate RV5365T-LMB features Spoken Street Name guidance to announce street names and give turn-by-turn directions. The integrated Bluetooth wireless technology enables RV drivers to safely talk hands-free when the GPS is paired with a compatible Bluetooth phone.

    In addition to free lifetime map updates and free lifetime traffic alerts, the Magellan RoadMate RV5365T-LMB GPS navigator includes many of Magellan’s latest high-end features to make navigation safer and easier.

    • Junction View displays a realistic image of the road and highway signs to help guide RV drivers to the correct lane that the vehicle needs to be in for safe merging and exits during their trip.
    • Next Turn visibility prepares drivers with valuable information about which lane to stay in or enter when approaching the next turning location.
    • Landmark Guidance gives RV drivers an easier way to navigate to their destinations by telling them to turn at familiar landmarks such as gas stations, stores or other large, easily-seen places instead of only street names that may be hard to locate and read.
    • The Magellan RoadMate RV5365T-LMB includes one year of free service to ‘Traffic Camera Alerts,’ powered by PhantomALERT, to warn drivers about upcoming red light and speed cameras on their route.
    • OneTouch, another Magellan-exclusive feature, enables drivers to bookmark and assign a button to their favorite destinations or searches for faster access.

    Continuing to enhance the driver safety and peace-of-mind to see behind their RV, the Magellan RoadMate RV5365T-LMB is compatible with Magellan’s award-winning Wireless Back-up Camera ($149.99 MSRP). When the vehicle is in reverse-mode, the RoadMate RV5365T-LMB will automatically switch from navigation mode to become a rear-view monitor that allows the driver to see what is behind the vehicle including children, pets and toys, or for assistance when parking into a tight parking space.

    “Driving an RV or towing any size recreational vehicle can be very challenging on today’s crowded roadways and Magellan is dedicated to giving RV drivers the best navigational tools for the safest journey,” said Stig Pedersen, Associate Vice President of Product Management for Magellan.  “We are pleased to offer the RV community the most innovative navigation features plus a choice of RoadMate RV GPS devices to best fit their needs.”

    Available in January through Magellan’s consumer electronics and online partners including Camping World, Canadian Tire Corp. and Amazon.com, the Magellan RoadMate RV 5365T-LMB is $299.99 (MSRP).

  • Tablets and Cameras to Be Major GPS and LBS Markets by 2017

    Despite relatively stunted growth thus far, the tablet and camera markets are forecast to be the next major market for location-based services and GPS IC penetration.

    ABI Research’s latest Report, “Location Applications for Tablets, eReaders, Digital Cameras & Handheld Gaming,” forecasts the uptake of LBS and how it will affect the adoption of location technologies. The tablet market has largely been dominated by Apple and its GPS/Modem strategy. GPS shipments are forecast to reach 37 million in 2012, yet it is still much less than had been previously anticipated. There has been mixed news of late, with the launch of Google’s Nexus 7 and Apple’s iPad mini. Wi-Fi location is a standard feature across all major tablets and while it is complementary, it does act as a barrier to GPS integration.

    Senior analyst Patrick Connolly said, “When we look at the adoption of applications on tablets, it is forecast to largely mirror that of smartphones, with a focus on local search, social, enterprise, navigation, and ambient intelligence.” Android will lead the way, as ubiquitous location becomes a necessary component.

    The camera market has huge potential, with geotagging a clear driver. With more than 30 GPS-enabled cameras on the market, shipments are expected to break 10 million in 2013, and a second wave of new applications emerging around tracking, maps and points of interest, and dead-reckoning. As an industry, there needs to be a complete overhaul of how cameras are designed, to find a way to leverage the photography revolution occurring on smartphones. ABI Research has forecast that this will open the door to GPS, alternative location, and LBS in future.

    The launch of the Sony Vita was expected to kick-start the location-based gaming (LBG) industry, featuring Wi-Fi location as standard, and an optional GPS/modem module. Practice director Dominique Bonte said, “Irrespective of limited device sales, location-based gaming and community applications still have fundamental barriers concerning critical mass and where and how the device is used. As a result, LBG is expected to initially flourish on smartphones, with GPS forecast to remain subdued on gaming devices.”

    These findings are part of ABI Research’s Location Based Services which includes Research Reports, Market Data, and Insights.

  • Telenav Launches Scout Advertising, Acquires ThinkNear

    By Janice Partyka.

    TeleNav has announced that it has acquired Local Merchant Services, Inc., d.b.a. ThinkNear, a privately held hyper-local mobile advertising company in Los Angeles, California, for consideration of $22.5 million, consisting of approximately $18.5 million in cash, plus restricted stock and assumed options. The acquisition, which closed on October 10, added ThinkNear’s team of 12 employees, including its two co-founders, to Telenav’s mobile local advertising group. Telenav will combine ThinkNear’s targeting technology with the existing Telenav Drive-To Advertising solution to create a new mobile local advertising platform called Scout Advertising.

    ThinkNear states that it helps advertisers reach consumers within 100 meters of any location. ThinkNear’s targeting technology enables situational targeting, which reportedly takes into account where consumers are, what they are doing, and what is happening around them.

    “Real-time location is a nuanced and difficult problem and we have spent almost two years working on the technology to do it right,” said Eli Portnoy, CEO and co-founder of ThinkNear who will be joining the Scout Advertising team. “We have built technology to target mobile consumers based on true location and real-time context across billions of monthly impressions.”

    “Most mobile ad networks struggle with targeting because they are trying to apply online technologies in the mobile space,” said Dariusz Paczuski, vice president of products, marketing, and monetization at Telenav. “This is frustrating for brick and mortar advertisers because, although the growth in mobile Internet use is astounding, the ROI for mobile has been difficult to measure. We now solve that problem by driving more customers at scale with hyper-local targeting and measurable results.”

    “We are extremely excited to combine ThinkNear’s technology and expertise with our own to provide an even more comprehensive solution for advertisers to reach and drive more customers,” stated Paczuski. “This is a platform built from the ground up to leverage the mobile experience. We will help advertisers reach the right people while deploying the right mobile measurement tools. We expect this to change the game for advertisers. We are 100 percent focused on providing them with a clear and remarkable ROI on their mobile advertising spend. The proof will be the increase in customers driving to their front door.”