metajunk » SatNav http://www.metajunk.net Fri, 29 Jul 2011 00:03:28 +0000 en hourly 1 EU’s Galileo satnav system orbiting way past budget, delayed until 2017 http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/07/eus-galileo-satnav-system-orbiting-way-past-budget-delayed-unt/ http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/07/eus-galileo-satnav-system-orbiting-way-past-budget-delayed-unt/#comments Thu, 07 Oct 2010 10:37:00 +0000 Vlad Savov Up and running by 2014? Try 2017 at the very earliest. Such is the bogus news coming out of the European Commission today, as reported by the German Financial Times. Shockingly enough, the ill-organized Galileo navigation network has suffered from yet more delays, which have pushed it back by a further three years and even deeper into the budgetary red. An additional €1.5b to €1.7b will be required to complete the grand project, while fiscal recalculations now indicate that it's unlikely to ever turn a profit. Again, we are shocked. The total bill for European taxpayers is estimated to amount to somewhere in the region of €20 billion ($27.8b) when development, construction, and operation are all factored in. Ah well, it's a cash drain, but at least it'll divert funds from the EU's suicidal scheme of paying farmers to not farm. Every cloud has a silver lining, right?

EU's Galileo satnav system orbiting way past budget, delayed until 2017 originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 07 Oct 2010 06:37:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink PhysOrg  |  sourceFinancial Times Germany  | Email this | Comments]]> http://www.metajunk.net/2010/10/eus-galileo-satnav-system-orbiting-way-past-budget-delayed-until-2017/feed/ 0 Solar flares set to wreak havoc on GPS signals http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/10/solar-flares-set-to-wreak-havoc-with-gps-signals/ http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/10/solar-flares-set-to-wreak-havoc-with-gps-signals/#comments Wed, 10 Feb 2010 11:02:00 +0000 Vladislav Savov The sun's activity isn't usually a hot topic around these parts, but when it threatens to derail satellite navigation services around the world, it must surely take center stage. UK researchers have corroborated Cornell's 2006 warning that our solar system's main life-giver is about to wake up and head toward a new solar maximum -- a period of elevated surface activity and radiation. It is precisely that radiation, which can be perceived in the form of solar flares, that worries people with respect to GPS signaling, as its effects on the Earth's ionosphere are likely to cause delays in data transmission from satellites to receivers and thereby result in triangulation errors. Still, it's more likely to be "troublesome than dangerous," but inaccuracies of around 10 meters and signal blackouts that could last for hours are being forecast in the absence of any intervening steps being taken. So yes, you now have another reason not to trust your GPS too much.

[Thanks, Mike]

Solar flares set to wreak havoc on GPS signals originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 10 Feb 2010 06:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceBBC News  | Email this | Comments]]> The sun's activity isn't usually a hot topic around these parts, but when it threatens to derail satellite navigation services around the world, it must surely take center stage. UK researchers have corroborated Cornell's 2006 warning that our solar system's main life-giver is about to wake up and head toward a new solar maximum -- a period of elevated surface activity and radiation. It is precisely that radiation, which can be perceived in the form of solar flares, that worries people with respect to GPS signaling, as its effects on the Earth's ionosphere are likely to cause delays in data transmission from satellites to receivers and thereby result in triangulation errors. Still, it's more likely to be "troublesome than dangerous," but inaccuracies of around 10 meters and signal blackouts that could last for hours are being forecast in the absence of any intervening steps being taken. So yes, you now have another reason not to trust your GPS too much.

[Thanks, Mike]

Solar flares set to wreak havoc on GPS signals originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 10 Feb 2010 06:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceBBC News  | Email this | Comments]]> http://www.metajunk.net/2010/02/solar-flares-set-to-wreak-havoc-on-gps-signals/feed/ 0 Galileo sat-nav system back on the map, said to be ‘up and running’ by 2014 http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/10/galileo-sat-nav-system-back-on-the-map-said-to-be-up-and-runni/ http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/10/galileo-sat-nav-system-back-on-the-map-said-to-be-up-and-runni/#comments Sun, 10 Jan 2010 16:03:00 +0000 Ross Miller Remember Galileo, Europe's proposed GPS-like satellite navigation system? It's back in the headlines, and according to the Telegraph, UK-based Surrey Satellite Technology and Germany's OHB System have jointly secured €566 million (that's $815 million in US currency) to build 14 more satellites. The funding continues until 2013, whereby 22 satellites will be order. Full satellite navigation requires 27, and ultimately the European Union wants 32 technological waypointers. Launch date? Apparently 2014 -- we're hopeful, but this road has been wrought with delays before.

Galileo sat-nav system back on the map, said to be 'up and running' by 2014 originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 10 Jan 2010 11:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments]]> Remember Galileo, Europe's proposed GPS-like satellite navigation system? It's back in the headlines, and according to the Telegraph, UK-based Surrey Satellite Technology and Germany's OHB System have jointly secured €566 million (that's $815 million in US currency) to build 14 more satellites. The funding continues until 2013, whereby 22 satellites will be order. Full satellite navigation requires 27, and ultimately the European Union wants 32 technological waypointers. Launch date? Apparently 2014 -- we're hopeful, but this road has been wrought with delays before.

Galileo sat-nav system back on the map, said to be 'up and running' by 2014 originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 10 Jan 2010 11:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments]]> http://www.metajunk.net/2010/01/galileo-sat-nav-system-back-on-the-map-said-to-be-up-and-running-by-2014/feed/ 0 Mio MiBuddy GPS units to trade Windows CE for Android http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/02/mio-mibuddy-gps-units-to-trade-windows-ce-for-android/ http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/02/mio-mibuddy-gps-units-to-trade-windows-ce-for-android/#comments Mon, 02 Nov 2009 14:22:00 +0000 Joshua Topolsky If you're keeping tabs on Mio Technology's GPS happenings, you'll be interested to dip into some facts that PC World has uncovered about the company's upcoming offerings. According to the mag, the next version of the electronics-maker's MiBuddy satnav unit will dash the underlying Windows CE architecture for Google's newer and far more suave Android platform. The new device will be pushing into MID territory, boasting a 4.7-inch touchscreen along with a hardware slider keyboard, the ability to browse the internet, and WiFi and Bluetooth onboard. Call us crazy, but it seems possible that devices like dedicated PNDs running Android could easily adapt Google's new turn-by-turn system as their primary mode of operation. Alternately, you could switch between Mio's proprietary version and Google's variation... or they could axe the big G's altogether, though that awkward situation makes far less sense to us. No word on timing or price just yet, but we'll keep you posted.

[Via NaviGadget]

Update: Seems this is all just a great big mixup, and the whole Android thing is just untrue. Bummer.

Filed under:

Mio MiBuddy GPS units to trade Windows CE for Android originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 02 Nov 2009 09:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> If you're keeping tabs on Mio Technology's GPS happenings, you'll be interested to dip into some facts that PC World has uncovered about the company's upcoming offerings. According to the mag, the next version of the electronics-maker's MiBuddy satnav unit will dash the underlying Windows CE architecture for Google's newer and far more suave Android platform. The new device will be pushing into MID territory, boasting a 4.7-inch touchscreen along with a hardware slider keyboard, the ability to browse the internet, and WiFi and Bluetooth onboard. Call us crazy, but it seems possible that devices like dedicated PNDs running Android could easily adapt Google's new turn-by-turn system as their primary mode of operation. Alternately, you could switch between Mio's proprietary version and Google's variation... or they could axe the big G's altogether, though that awkward situation makes far less sense to us. No word on timing or price just yet, but we'll keep you posted.

[Via NaviGadget]

Update: Seems this is all just a great big mixup, and the whole Android thing is just untrue. Bummer.

Filed under:

Mio MiBuddy GPS units to trade Windows CE for Android originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 02 Nov 2009 09:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> http://www.metajunk.net/2009/11/mio-mibuddy-gps-units-to-trade-windows-ce-for-android/feed/ 0 TomTom Go I-90 integrates into any dashboard, brings radio ‘infotainment’ http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/20/tomtom-go-i-90-integrates-into-any-dashboard-brings-radio-info/ http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/20/tomtom-go-i-90-integrates-into-any-dashboard-brings-radio-info/#comments Tue, 20 Oct 2009 11:04:00 +0000 Vladislav Savov TomTom has been on a mission to keep itself relevant as smartphones increasingly start to overstep on its territory, and the GO I-90 is another move in its counteroffensive plan. Capable of slotting into the double DIN slot usually reserved for in-car radio / music players, its big selling point is that it integrates into your dashboard yet is still capable of being moved around like a discrete nav unit. You wouldn't be left decrying the loss of your radio either, with the GO I-90 sporting FM (with RDS support) and AM reception, USB support for MP3 players including iPods, and a promised compatibility with an "extensive" list of phones for handsfree calling -- unfortunately, the poorly worded PR makes no mention of Bluetooth so we're not sure how they'll pull that off. Throw in a guarantee to receive the latest maps, TomTom's Map Share for crowdsourced routes, and a Help-Me! emergency menu, and you get a pretty comprehensive product. Shame about that €599 (about $893) sticker then. Available in Europe in December.

Filed under:

TomTom Go I-90 integrates into any dashboard, brings radio 'infotainment' originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 20 Oct 2009 06:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> TomTom has been on a mission to keep itself relevant as smartphones increasingly start to overstep on its territory, and the GO I-90 is another move in its counteroffensive plan. Capable of slotting into the double DIN slot usually reserved for in-car radio / music players, its big selling point is that it integrates into your dashboard yet is still capable of being moved around like a discrete nav unit. You wouldn't be left decrying the loss of your radio either, with the GO I-90 sporting FM (with RDS support) and AM reception, USB support for MP3 players including iPods, and a promised compatibility with an "extensive" list of phones for handsfree calling -- unfortunately, the poorly worded PR makes no mention of Bluetooth so we're not sure how they'll pull that off. Throw in a guarantee to receive the latest maps, TomTom's Map Share for crowdsourced routes, and a Help-Me! emergency menu, and you get a pretty comprehensive product. Shame about that €599 (about $893) sticker then. Available in Europe in December.

Filed under:

TomTom Go I-90 integrates into any dashboard, brings radio 'infotainment' originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 20 Oct 2009 06:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> http://www.metajunk.net/2009/10/tomtom-go-i-90-integrates-into-any-dashboard-brings-radio-infotainment/feed/ 0 CSR debuts SiRFstarIV location-aware architecture, kisses slow fixes goodbye http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/28/csr-debuts-sirfstariv-location-aware-architecture-kisses-slow-f/ http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/28/csr-debuts-sirfstariv-location-aware-architecture-kisses-slow-f/#comments Tue, 28 Jul 2009 13:27:00 +0000 Darren Murph
Nary half a year after snapping up SiRF, CSR is already tooting its horn about an all new SiRFstar architecture. The predictably titled SiRFstarIV technology takes quite the leap over its three-pronged predecessor, all but promising to nix those annoyingly long location fixes that are all too common on existing PNDs. The new location-aware, self-assisted, micro-power tech enables devices to be continually aware of location without requiring network aide; furthermore, there's hardly any power drain to speak of, which ought to please smartphone owners who can literally watch their battery meter drop with GPS enabled. CSR's first SiRFstarIV product is the GSD4t receiver, which is optimized for mobile phones and "other space and power-sensitive consumer devices." We're told that samples of the chip are shipping out now, with mass production slated for October and device integration happening shortly thereafter.

Filed under:

CSR debuts SiRFstarIV location-aware architecture, kisses slow fixes goodbye originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 28 Jul 2009 08:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> Nary half a year after snapping up SiRF, CSR is already tooting its horn about an all new SiRFstar architecture. The predictably titled SiRFstarIV technology takes quite the leap over its three-pronged predecessor, all but promising to nix those annoyingly long location fixes that are all too common on existing PNDs. The new location-aware, self-assisted, micro-power tech enables devices to be continually aware of location without requiring network aide; furthermore, there's hardly any power drain to speak of, which ought to please smartphone owners who can literally watch their battery meter drop with GPS enabled. CSR's first SiRFstarIV product is the GSD4t receiver, which is optimized for mobile phones and "other space and power-sensitive consumer devices." We're told that samples of the chip are shipping out now, with mass production slated for October and device integration happening shortly thereafter. Filed under:

CSR debuts SiRFstarIV location-aware architecture, kisses slow fixes goodbye originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 28 Jul 2009 08:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> http://www.metajunk.net/2009/07/csr-debuts-sirfstariv-location-aware-architecture-kisses-slow-fixes-goodbye/feed/ 0