navigation

Former Microsoft spin-off Inrix on Tuesday will launch a new, nationwide traffic-prediction platform.

A new routing service combined with traffic data available for more than 800,000 miles of U.S. roads and location-based information is all part of the Connected Services platform Inrix hopes Web and mobile application developers, gadget makers, and car companies will be driven to adopt.

Inrix CEO Bryan Mistele says he thinks the new platform will lower the barrier to entry for developers and device makers.

"By wrapping it all together, this can do for telematics and navigation what YouTube did for video," … Read more

Dash, which makes the very cool Dash Express GPS gizmo for cars (review), has opened up an API so developers can build new apps for the unit. On announcement, according to a company press release, several apps will be available: a homes-for-sale app from Coldwell Banker, a calendar app that can read appointments from Outlook, Google and automatically route you to them, a weather app from WeatherBug, a speed trap app from Trapster, and Mediaguide, which can display the songs that just played on local radio stations.

I want the Trapster app. Not only is this the most useful of … Read more

Most of the GPS receivers I spotlight are of the low-end, tiny-screen variety. Not so the TomTom GO 510, which features a 4-inch widescreen, a hands-free Bluetooth speakerphone, a built-in light sensor (which automatically dims the screen when it's dark out), optional real-time traffic and road conditions (you get a free one-month trial), support for TomTom's PLUS services (like downloadable voices and map updates)--shall I go on? In short, it's a pretty sweet GPS, and eCost has manufacturer-recertified models on sale for $138 (after a $49 mail-in rebate).

Like any good bargain shopper, you'll no … Read more

The European Union on Sunday launched Giove-B, the second (and last) test satellite in its $5.3 billion Galileo project, according to Reuters.

The first test satellite, Giove-A, was launched in December 2005. Giove-B will test the program's high-precision atomic clock and signal transmission, Reuters reported.

Galileo is Europe's upcoming satellite radio navigation system, and it's the EU's largest space program. Galileo will eventually become an ultraprecise system of 30 satellites, but it has hit a few bumps along the way.

The project's launch date has been pushed back several times, from the original goal … Read more

Pioneer's AVIC Z-Series has set the standard for in-dash navigation devices over the past couple of years, and so the release of a new line of a new family of products in the AVIC series is big news for car tech fans. The line-up starts with the entry-level AVIC-F700BT, which features a single CD/CD-R/RW playback mechanism, followed by the AVIC-F900BT and the AVIC-F90BT, which are both capable of reading MP3, WMA, iTunes AAC, and WAV audio formats as well as DVD, DivX, and MPEG4 video files.

Unveiled this week, all of the F-Series include flash-memory-based navigation and … Read more

The AVN6620 is the latest in a steady stream of all-in-one in-car GPS and media devices from Eclipse. With a built-in Navteq-based navigation system with optional Sirius real-time traffic, and support for iPod, MP3s, CDs, and DVD video, the AVN6620 is a one-stop car tech device. Check out our full review right here.

Remember the TomTom One 3rd Edition GPS from a couple weeks ago? It was a sweet deal at $119.99, but now it's even sweeter: Buy.com has refurbished Ones on sale for $99.99 (after a $20 mail-in rebate). Shipping is on the house.

I won't reinvent the wheel, here--check out my original post if you want to read more about this well-regarded navigator. I will say that it's rare to find a big-name GPS for under $100; most models in that price range are off brands. The rebate deal ends April 20, so if you … Read more

It's been almost two years since Dash Navigation first announced its Dash Express portable navigation system, and we're happy to say that you can now finally get your hands on this device. The Dash Express is unlike any other portable navigation system on the market today because it offers two-way connectivity (cellular and Wi-Fi), giving drivers access to a whole new world of information via the Internet and the network of other Dash-connected users. You can conduct live (and more relevant) Web searches via Yahoo Local search; get real-time traffic data; wireless send addresses to the system; and … Read more

The TomTom One 3rd Edition GPS may not have Bluetooth, text-to-speech, or a widescreen, but it's still a solid navigation system with some compelling features. Office Depot has new units in stock for $119.99 (after a $50 mail-in rebate). Shipping is free, though you may have to pay sales tax.

In addition to the usual navigation goodies--preloaded maps of the U.S. and Canada, millions of points of interest, etc.--the One includes a HelpMe feature that guides you to the nearest police station, hospital, or other emergency service. Its Map Share feature lets you download map updates … Read more