Hasta La Gadget!

It’s been a while since we’ve heard anything about the NaviSurfer II, but for those patiently awaiting the update of this commuter computer, VIC Ltd. has just given the thing a pretty hefty overhaul. The new NaviSurfer II UBU-3G runs on an auto-specific Ubuntu 10.10 and sports a 7-inch touchscreen, 250GB hard drive, 2GB DDR2 RAM, 3G HSDPA modem, and three USB 2.0 ports. Possibly the most useful upgrade of all, however, is the inclusion of a built-in GPS receiver, rocking a Navit navigation system. Unfortunately for those lacking in the dashboard department, this sucker’s Double DIN, or about twice the size of the standard car radio, but if you’ve got room for the thing, the NaviSurfer runs €300 (about $400).

Update: The VIC Ltd website is currently down — looks like someone might be throwing a little too much traffic their way.

VIC Ltd NaviSurfer II UBU-3G in-car PC gets built-in GPS — finally originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 22 Feb 2011 13:05:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ditching school used to be a lot easier. A California based school district wants to stop all hooky playing. Anaheim Union High School District will being giving students who have missed four unexcused days in a school year a GPS tracking device.

The GPS device will be a size of a cellphone and force kids to “check in” a couple of times of a day. That way the school district will know where the students are at any given time. The real kicker here is that both the student and parents have to agree to use the device. No word about what will happen if neither party agrees to use it.

I have heard about these ideas before, but this one is less invasive idea than other proposals. My only issue here is that the kid could leave it at one location, and thus make the device pointless. Either way, the school district could lose on this. What are your thoughts about schools using GPS devices to track students?

Via Hot Hardware

Considering how far we’ve come with in-flight connectivity, internet for the automobile hasn’t gained an awful lot of traction. With the introduction of the 3G-connected Comodo console, Israeli start-up Iway Mobile and cellphone provider Cellcom are hoping to change that. The Comodo — for all intents and purposes — looks like an iPhone on a stick, and sports a 4.3-inch touchscreen, rear camera for easy reversing, GPS antenna and a cellular modem for consistent connections. Predictably, there’s also 3D navigation, an MP3 player, and functionality in 30 different languages. Drivers can access 80 total apps and receive, but not send e-mail — video functions are accessible only when the car is stationary. Comodo’s website features the device mysteriously shrouded in black satin, and provides no evidence of a spec sheet. According to Cellcom, the console costs 109 shekels (or $23.50) a month for 36 months and hits Israel in February. No word on when Comodo will make its US debut, but honestly, we’d be content to just strap our smart phone in and go to town.

Comodo console brings internet to Israeli autos, dares you to keep your eyes on the road originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 25 Jan 2011 05:44:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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There are a couple of ways to get my attention with a press release. First, you can quote The Big Lebowski in the subject line. You can also give your product a truly bizarre name. Congratulations, Brick House Security, the “Nobody F’s With the Jesus” e-mail you sent out for your GPS Jesus Program got my attention.

GPS Jesus is the name of a program aimed at protecting nativity scenes. Brick House is donating GPS devices for communities to place in baby Jesuses to help curb stolen nativity scenes.

The company worked with 30 communities in the program last year and will be expanding out to 100 for 2010. “There’s been no attempt of theft since we announced that we’re tracking our Jesus,” Alan Czyewski of St. Ambrose Church, Old Bridge, N.J. is quoted as saying in the aforementioned press release. “This is our third year, and we love this. People are now well aware of our GPS Jesus, so they leave it alone.”

The Christian messiah abides.