The folks at TrackingTheWorld have already proven themselves to be pretty capable at tracking letters using GPS, but they’ve now moved up to some considerably more demanding tasks with their new WorldTracker Enduro device, which promises to track anything it’s paired with through frigid temperatures, sweltering heat, and other harsh conditions. Of course, it’ll also do that with all the accuracy you’d expect, with it making use of both standard GPS and aGPS to avoid any dropouts, and employing a a full range of cellular connectivity options to ensure that it always stays in touch. Better still, you can also pair it with an optional 8-cell lithium ion battery (pictured above), which not only provides some added protection, but lets the tracker operate for up to six months on a single charge. As with the letter tracker, however, this one apparently won’t be available to the general public, but those with a fleet behind ‘em can get in touch with TrackingTheWorld to talk pricing.

Filed under: GPS

WorldTracker Enduro offers GPS tracking in even the harshest conditions originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 31 Mar 2009 05:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Well, that was fast — just a month after Microsoft set the open-source world on fire by claiming that TomTom’s use of Linux violated its FAT filesystem patents, the two companies have settled, with TomTom paying the always-popular “undisclosed amount” and letting MS license four of its navigation patents for free. What’s more, TomTom has also agreed to remove certain functionality from its PNDs within two years. That’s huge — not only did TomTom’s attorneys calculate that the total cost of this settlement was less than the cost of a trial and a potential loss, the overwhelmingly one-way nature of the deal implies they felt they were holding a bad position. Since we don’t know if that was more to do with the navigation patents or the FAT patents, we can’t really say what’s going to happen next, but Microsoft’s made no bones about the fact that it thinks Linux violates all sorts of its IP, and cruising to an easy settlement in a month like this just might encourage its legal department to go digging for gold in troubled economic times. We’ll see.

Filed under: GPS

Microsoft and TomTom settle Linux patent suit, Linux not necessarily in the clear originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 30 Mar 2009 16:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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It’s a meme that never gets old, wouldn’t you agree? As the world gathers ’round again to chuckle at an all-too-faithful GPS user in the UK, we’re looking this time at a man who literally drove his BMW to the brink of disaster while following his sat nav down a skinny, steep lane on the way to imminent death Todmorden. As the story goes, his navigation system apparently told him to drive directly into a fence just before the road fell off of a cliff, and considering that the 43 year old bloke uses the GPS for his job, you’d think he would have the whole “follow the leader” thing down pat. At any rate, the poor fellow did manage to survive, though he won’t soon shake the “driving without due care and attention” charge. Nor the embarrassment.

[Via Switched, thanks Alan]

Filed under: GPS

Another UK driver nearly dies from following GPS instructions originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 26 Mar 2009 02:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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This one’s pretty light on specifics at the moment, but it looks like manufacturing giant ITT Corp is none too happy with Verizon and a whole host of cellphone manufacturers including the likes of Motorola, Nokia, LG, and Kyocera, and it’s now gone so far as to sue the whole lot over alleged patent infringement. Apparently, ITT thinks that the group of companies all violated one of its GPS patents that relates to position information being transmitted in urban areas with line-of-sight obstructions. As a result of that alleged wrong doing, ITT says it has been “irreparably harmed,” and that it “has suffered, and will continue to suffer substantial damages.” To remedy that situation, ITT is asking for a jury trial, unspecified royalties, and a permanent injunction against all of the defendants, although it is being kind enough to allow for an exemption for any activities necessary to support 911 emergency functions.

[Thanks, Joel]

Filed under: Cellphones, GPS

ITT sues Verizon, phone makers aplenty over GPS patent originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 25 Mar 2009 15:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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So, what’s a flagging cellular operator to do once it has succumbed to the grim realization that no one wants to sign up for your service and you’ve already collected the dough from selling off nearly all of your towers? Go wholesale, of course! Unbeknownst to most, all of the Kindle downloads on Amazon’s white-hot e-reader go through Sprint’s network, and given just how successful that little venture has been, the carrier is hoping to expand its revenues from wholesaling bandwidth (which currently sits at just 3 percent of its total) by inking similar deals with connected gadget makers. From internet-connected vehicles to GPS systems to cameras, the options are darn near limitless, and with so much free capacity on Sprint’s network, it might as well find companies to use it. ‘Course, it’s not like Sprint’s the only one out there trying to carve these kinds of deals into stone, but it’s definitely the one that needs to do it most immediately.

Filed under: Cellphones, GPS

Sprint looking to wholesale bandwidth to connected gadget makers originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Mar 2009 16:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Call it coincidence or call it fate, but nary a month after Microsoft filed a patent lawsuit against TomTom over Linux-based GPS systems, TomTom has just been taken into the warm, loving arms of the Open Invention Network. Said company, which was formed to “enable and protect Linux,” has just extended the Linux ecosystem with the signing of TomTom as a licensee. What this means is that TomTom is now cleared to leverage the benefits of Linux and all patents owned by OIN; the only catch is that TomTom cannot “assert its patents against the Linux System.” ‘Course, TomTom has been friends with Linux for quite some time now, but this deal could lead to faster development and enhanced innovation compared to what we’ve seen in the past. Color us intrigued.

Filed under: GPS

TomTom becomes Linux licensee, minds are filled with wonder originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 23 Mar 2009 10:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Not that sneaky, minuscule GPS trackers are impossible to come by, but with kids growing more and more mischievous, outraged parents are demanding more options. At least that’s the word passed on by Lightning GPS’ Jason Lazarus, who has just recently decided to make its ridiculously small Spark Nano available to the public. You see, this here company has generally thrived on providing covert GPS trackers to military and law enforcement, but now even civilians are being allowed in on the fun. The device, which is obviously used to track whatever or whomever you wish, is about the size of a 9-volt battery and can easily withstand bumps, bruises and the occasional drink spill. Users who implant one can track the subject via the web (shown after the break) or phone, and you can count on five solid days of continuous tracking when the rechargeable battery is topped off. It’s shipping now from BrickHouse Security for $299.95.

Continue reading Diminutive Spark Nano GPS tracker gives suspicious parents real answers

Filed under: GPS

Diminutive Spark Nano GPS tracker gives suspicious parents real answers originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 18 Mar 2009 17:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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If you love MSN Direct, and if you have a thing for the in-car GPS, you are going to go wild for this next item! Alpine has just announced its newest, the PND-K3msn. This is the MSN-ified version of the PND-K3, sporting text-to-speech functionality, an SD slot, MP3 support, Bluetooth, 3D map view, highway junction view, and a slew of services from MSN Direct (including real-time traffic, weather, gas prices, and movie times). A three month subscription comes with the $299.95 purchase price, after which the service will run you $49.95 / year or $129.95 for a lifetime membership.

[Via CNet]

Filed under: GPS

Alpine’s PND-K3msn GPS adds a little MSN Direct to your road trips originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 18 Mar 2009 11:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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If we have one word of advice for folks looking to get into the tech game (that is, besides “why bother?”) it would probably be “set the bar low.” Don’t try to change the world with an unlocked 3G Android handset until you’ve mastered the basics, like maybe a netbook or, better yet, a watch. Of course, it would be a bit much to expect a true visionary to stop short of a humble timepiece. To this end, Kogan’s rebranding that old Mainnav chronometer, the one that packs Bluetooth, a GPS receiver, a temperature sensor, speedometer, pedometer, altimeter, and Google Earth functionality into a package that most of us would probably rather not be seen wearing in public. Available for AUS $129 (about US $85).

[Via SlashGear]

Filed under: GPS, Wearables

Kogan’s Bluetooth GPS watch is not for the fashion forward originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 16 Mar 2009 09:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Looks like the latest Garmin Oregon nav unit is following in family footsteps by leaking out a little early — listings for an Oregon 500 and Oregon 500t appear in the latest REI catalog. The pair are basically the same as the Oregon 400 / 400t, with the addition of a built-in digital camera that’ll enable you to take instantly-geotagged features. Definitely a neat idea, but convenience won’t come cheap: the 500 lists for $549, and the 500t is $599. No hints at a release date, but we’d guess it’s coming soon.

Filed under: GPS

Garmin Oregon 500 series with built-in camera leaks out originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 15 Mar 2009 23:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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