Hasta La Gadget!

With GPS interference issues now resolved, LightSquared’s going back to the farm to reassure rural America it means no harm. The wholesale-only 4G LTE service that already signed up a plethora of partners is turning to Sen. Byron Dorgan and Reps. George Nethercutt and Charlie Stenholm to oversee its newly-created Empower Rural America Initiative. The plan calls for oversight of the service’s bucolic deployment, promising its filtering tech will keep GPS-dependent precision agriculture on-point and pesticides away from your country home. Also under the proposed guidelines are plans to assist emergency first responders with network access in the event existing communication systems get knocked out. It’s a comforting pat on the rustic back that should shore up “broadband adoption gap” issues currently plaguing underserved areas. But while it may look like the farmer and the technologist can be friends, we have a sneaking suspicion there are more self-serving motivations at play here. Hit the break for LightSquared’s pastorally empowering PR.

Continue reading LightSquared creates rural America initiative, promises to be more help than hindrance

LightSquared creates rural America initiative, promises to be more help than hindrance originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 07 Jul 2011 22:07:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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DeLorme’s GPS unit lets you send short messages without cellphone coverage

Delorme’s InReach GPS Communicator lets you send text messages, even when you are in the wilderness and far away from cellphone coverage.

As befits a GPS device, it’s all done with satellites. Delorme has teamed up with Iridium, the satellite phone people, to offer a $10-per-month messaging package.

It works in two ways. First of all, you can set three messages before you head out and then “send” any of them direct from the device. If you send an SOS message to search and rescue, you will receive confirmation of its receipt via a color-change in the unit’s SOS LED.

And if you have an Android phone, you can pair the two and tether the connection to send SMS messages (or short 160-character emails). These too will receive a confirmation when they are read. Using this conduit, you can even update Twitter.

The InReach also uses Delorme’s library of maps to give you various topographical, nautical and aerial data.

Clearly the best use of this tech is to pair it with a phone, but even without it’s a cheap and lightweight way to make sure you can get help at any time. The price of the unit, along with the launch date, have yet to be announced.

DeLorme inReach—two-way satellite communication [DeLorme via Werd]

See Also:

• Nike SportWatch GPS Eyes Fitness Fanatics
• Pentax GPS Unit Sees Stars — Literally
• Garmin Reveals Touchscreen GPS Watch, the Forerunner 610

Continue reading Topcon’s IP-S2 Lite creates panoramic maps in 3D, spots every bump in the road (video)

Topcon’s IP-S2 Lite creates panoramic maps in 3D, spots every bump in the road (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 28 Jun 2011 09:53:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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For better or worse, it seems that GPS services are rapidly approaching their mid-life crisis. After rampaging through a host of makeovers (see more: here and here) that would make even the most ADD-popstar dizzy, the phoenix of the navigation industry is now trying its hand at a new augmented mobile reality. Sitting pretty at $2.99 in the App Store, Lustancia’s TapNav app swaps the virtual maps for a real-time AR overlay via your iPhone’s camera. It’s not a killer feature by any means, but if you’ve ever found yourself wondering just which turn your PND is indicating, then this is for you. Sexy robot-voice assistance and routing stay free, but you’ll have to pony up for that turn-by-turn navigation after the sixty day paid trial. Astonishingly brief press release after the break.

Continue reading Lustancia’s TapNav app takes your iPhone for an AR-assisted spin

Lustancia’s TapNav app takes your iPhone for an AR-assisted spin originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 24 Jun 2011 10:36:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We knew Pioneer’s AppRadio car stereo was coming to cozy up with our iPhones, but we didn’t know how much its iOS integration capabilities would cost, until now. Turns out 400 bucks buys you one, and it’s picked up some new capabilities since we got handsy with the device last month. In addition to letting you listen to tunes stored on your iPhone, access Google Maps, and make calls, the AppRadio now has access to your iPhone’s contacts, calendar, videos, and photos as well. Unfortunately, there’s still only four other apps (Rdio, Pandora, MotionX-GPS Drive, and INRIX) available, though Pioneer says more are coming. With a name like AppRadio they ought to get here soon, as in immediately. Peep the PR after the break for the full monty.

Continue reading Pioneer’s AppRadio delivers iPhone integration, automotive and audio bliss for $400

Pioneer’s AppRadio delivers iPhone integration, automotive and audio bliss for $400 originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Jun 2011 07:18:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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