Google adds EV charging locations to Google Maps

EV charging station locations near Mountain View CA.

One of the big advantages of driving fossil fuel-powered vehicles is that it's easy to find a place to fill up. In the more than a century since the world's first purpose-built gas station was built in St. Louis, Missouri in 1905, a massive worldwide infrastructure has emerged to keep our vehicles running. As automakers make the move to electric vehicles, early adopters are faced with a lack of infrastructure to keep batteries charged, however, the number of public EV charging stations is steadily growing and Google is now doing its bit to help make tracking them down easier by adding EV charging station location information to Google Maps.

Using data primarily from the U.S. Department of Energy's (DoE) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), users can now search a database of nearly 7,000 alternative fueling stations in the U.S., including 600 Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE) locations and have the results displayed within Google Maps. For example, searching on Google Maps for "ev charging station near los angeles ca" returns a map of the area with nearby stations highlighted.

EV charging station locations near Los Angeles CA.

To help develop a more detailed and accurate database of EV charging stations and ensure the database stays up to date, the NREL has launched the GeoEVSE (Geo Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment) Forum. The forum was formed by the DoE's Alternative Fuels and Advanced Vehicles Data Center (AFDC) to provide EVSE manufacturers, distributors, installers and other stakeholders with a central, recognized repository for public EVSE location data.

As information is added to the NREL – and other – databases, Google will add the charging station locations to Google Maps.

Source

Cobra SL3 GPS finds traffic cameras, is blind to radar

At first glance the Cobra SL3 looks like a normal radar detector, but it’s really a GPS-enabled speed camera locator. The SL3 features a built-in, updateable database of speed camera and red-light camera locations. Its LED indicators and alert tones warn you when you approach a camera location so you have time to slow down.

The Cobra SL3 does not detect police radar; it is a camera locator only. The SL3 uses a GPS receiver to determine when you approach one of the camera locations stored in its AURA database. In addition to speed cameras and red-light cameras, the AURA database also includes driving hazards such as dangerous intersections and as many as 1000 user-defined locations.

Cobra says the AURA database is updated every 12 hours and customers can access updates 24/7. Simply connect your SL3 to your PC using a USB connection and download the latest location information.

Speed trap databases are nothing new. Many navigation GPSs offer this feature, and point-of-interest (POI) packages of camera locations can be downloaded from the Web. There are even combination GPS/radar detectors on the market. On the other hand, radar detectors are illegal in some jurisdictions whereas the Cobra unit is legal. So is the Cobra SL3 for you? It depends on how many gadgets you already have on your dashboard, but for US$99 the SL3 may be worth a look.

Read the full press release or visit the Cobra website (but tread carefully as we've had some warnings about malware on the site).

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Escort integrates GPS and radar technology in one device

Escort has integrated ticket avoidance technology and GPS navigation into one unit, the Passport IQ

Automotive radar and laser detector manufacturer Escort has announced the release of Passport IQ, which combines GPS navigation and radar detection technology in one handy unit. As well as getting you safely from A to B, the new driving accessory is said to be the first that also protects you from annoying and costly tickets by providing information on red light and fixed position speed cameras, known speed traps, speed limit information and more.

Based on Escort's Passport 9500ix GPS-enabled radar and laser detector, the Passport IQ sports a 5-inch, 480 x 272 resolution touchscreen color display. The navigation software provides voice-guided turn-by-turn directions, lane assist and visual 3D mapping powered by Navteq or detector mode. In either mode, the device is said to offer drivers protection from ticketing threats by overlaying red light and speed camera notifications, speed limit information and high risk speed trap warnings on the navigation screen.

The radar screens of the Passport IQ

The device benefits from Superheterodyne, Varactor-Tuned VCO, Scanning Frequency Discriminator and Digital Signal Processing (DSP) radar and Quantum Limited Video Receiver and Multiple Laser Sensor Diodes laser detection. It operates on all radar bands, including X, K, Superwide Ka, Ku, and instant-on Pop modes. Multiple front and rear laser sensors are said to offer 360-degree protection, and an AutoLearn feature "automatically learns and rejects false radar sources based on exact location and frequency."

Escort says that its intelligent system can "determine which threats are real and automatically locks out those that are false, including automatic door openers, motion sensors, and other sources that cause competitor radar detectors to constantly false alert when no real threats actually exist." The Passport IQ unit can also be connected to the Internet for updates from the company's Defender Database, which users can subscribe to for the latest safety camera and speed trap locations.

As well as giving turn-by-turn navigation instructions, the Passport IQ also indicates the current speed limit, location of known speed traps and points out where speed cameras are situated

The Passport IQ radar/laser detector with GPS navigation is available now for US$649.95, which includes a free 90-day subscription to the Defender Database.

Escort has also revealed plans to bring Bluetooth and live traffic information to the Passport IQ platform in a version of the device which will allow drivers to connect to a mobile phone for hands-free calling.

The display shows a known speed trap, the current speed limit

Source

EV Profiler compares your driving needs to an EV's capabilities

The EV Profiler is a driving data recorder, that lets users know how specific electric vehicles would be able to meet their present driving needs

You may have heard people saying that most electric vehicles have plenty of range for an average driver's daily needs, but ... how does that apply to you? It would definitely be disappointing to purchase an EV, only to discover that your driving habits are significantly more taxing that what is considered "average." What would be good is if there was some sort of device that you could attach to your existing car, that would observe your driving habits, then tell you how a certain make and model of EV would stand up to those demands. That device, it turns out, exists in the form of the EV Profiler driving data recorder.

Instead of having to buy a Profiler, the idea is that prospective buyers of electric cars will rent one either from the EV Profiler company itself, or from a local auto dealer.

The gadget itself mounts with a suction cup to the inside of the windshield, and plugs into the vehicle's power port. Utilizing a variety of internal sensors, it then proceeds to log how far you drive, how fast you accelerate and cruise, the amount of time you spend going up- and downhill, how much you stop-and-go, and other factors that would influence the range of an EV. It actually started out as an app, but it was found that the sensors in smartphones were insufficient for its purposes.

The Profiler uploads the logged information to the company's servers every night, where an online profile is maintained for each user. Along with daily reports, at the end of a predetermined test period (typically about a week), you will receive an emailed final report outlining how the EV of your choice would be able to handle your driving needs.

Not only would that report tell you much juice the battery would have left after your daily drive, but you could also use it to determine how often you would need to charge the battery, what strength of charger you would require, how varying factors such as traffic might affect your range, how much money you would save on fuel, and how other models of EV would compare.

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Ca-Fi: Android-based car infotainment system

Innotrends has unveiled its Ca-Fi Android 2.3-based infotainment multimedia system powered by 1.2GHz Cortex A8 CPU

Hong-Kong-based Innotrends has unveiled its Ca-Fi Android 2.3-based infotainment system for in-car use. Tailored for 2-DIN dashboards and running on a 1.2GHz Cortex A8 CPU and 512MB of RAM, Ca-Fi features 6.2-inch 800 x 480 (resistive) touchscreen, a 3G modem to surf the web, GPS to handle in-car navigation apps, Bluetooth support for hands-free calling and 4x45W audio output.

Ca-Fi infotainment system features a custom graphical user interface (GUI)

Featuring a custom graphical user interface (GUI), the unit comes with 8GB of built-in storage, music streaming capability, two SD card slots and USB input, DVD playback availability and an FM radio. Ca-Fi can be operated via controls on the steering wheel.

Most new cars these days come with specifically tailored multimedia equipment but some car owners might be tempted by an Android unit, as long as their vehicles' dashboards come equipped with a 2-DIN connection. Here's Innotrends' list of compatible vehicles.

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The Rydeen GCOM701 tablet/GPS navigation hybrid device

Although manufacturers of dedicated car navigation systems have been hit hard by the surge in popularity of apps that give a smartphone all the navigational bells and whistles like turn-by-turn directions and voice guidance, dedicated systems still have their advantages – most obviously a larger screen size. But even that advantage could now be under fire from tablet computers that boast equal or larger screen sizes, along with wider functionality such as multimedia and Internet browsing capabilities. Recognizing this, car navigation systems company, Rydeen Mobile Electronics has teamed up with Marvell to produce the Rydeen GCOM701 – an Android powered 7-inch tablet that is being marketed as a tablet/GPS navigation device hybrid.

The GCOM701 features built-in Wi-Fi, GPS, Bluetooth, a front-facing camera and an internal microphone and speaker, enabling the use of Internet-based communications services such as Skype. Users can surf the web, read e-books and view photos or videos on the device’s 7-inch, 800 x 480 resolution TFT touch panel then, for navigation duties on the road the unit is preloaded with four million points of interest courtesy of Navteq.

"Consumers today expect their personal mobile connected devices to combine seamless connectivity, broad business functionality, a diverse communications suite and an enthralling multimedia experience in a convenient and elegant form factor," said Weili Dai, Marvell's Co-founder and Vice President and General Manager of the Consumer and Computing Business Unit of Marvell Semiconductor, Inc. "By integrating Marvell's ARMADA application processor technology into Rydeen's new portable navigation device, we are now able to create a compelling navigational experience unmatched in the industry" said Phil Maeda, President of Rydeen.

The GCOM701 will be available from November and will feature two color options, black or white. The price is yet to be announced.

Technical Specifications:

Dimensions: 205.04 x 110.92 x13mm

CPU/Operating System: Marvell ARMADA 166- 800MHz; Android OS

Screen: 7-inch TFT resistive-type touch panel; 800x480 pixel resolution

Memory: Internal: 2Gbit DDR2 SDRAM, External: MicroSD (removable) up to 32GB

Connectivity: GPS: High-Sensitivity GPS Receiver (NXP GNS7560) Bluetooth: Marvell 8688

WiFi: 802.11 b/g (Marvell 8688)

Playback Sources: Audio: MIDI, MP3, WMA, AAC, WAV, PCM

Video: H.264, H.263, MPEG-4, RM, RMVB, AVI, FIV

Photo: JPG, TIFF, PNG Flash: Adobe Flash Lite 4

Power: 7.4V 2400mAh Li battery (internal) providing up to six hours of operation at full power mode and up to eight hours under normal usage conditions

Ports: Audio: 3.5mm Stereo Headphone Jack

Data: USB and Mini USB (2.0)

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TomTom GPS navigator for bikers

TomTom's navigation solution for motorbikes features a ruggedized waterproof housing, a 3.5" touchscreen with large, "glove friendly" icons, a secure universal mounting system and comes bundled with a Cardo scala-rider® Bluetooth® headset for in-helmet spoken instructions and hands-free phone calls.

The Rider 2 includes access to the company's online map update and personalization service (TomTom Map Share™), pre-installed Tele Atlas maps of Western & Eastern Europe, a safety ‘Help Me’ menu that gives access to emergency services and roadside assistance, itinerary planning, plus trip statistics such as maximum speeds per journey, total miles travelled and distance from home. The rechargeable Lithium-ion battery is good for around five hours or can be wired into a 12 volt motorcycle battery. there's also an optional car mount kit for when you decide to swap two wheels for four.

Specifications: 3.5” 320 x 240 full TFT colour LCD touchscreen (64k colors)
High sensitivity GPS chipset
Waterproof: IPX7
SD card with maps of Europe pre-loaded
Operating Temperature: -10° to + 55 °C
Bluetooth® for hands-free calling and data connection
Internal lithium-ion battery (5 hours operation)
Power source: 12V DC battery, 110V AC charger
Dimensions: 113.2mm x 96.2mm x 52.9mm
Weight: 310 grams
Price (Europe Edition): GBP 399.99

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TomTom Go Live Top Gear edition brings Clarkson onboard as navigator, Stig speechless

We'd assume a sizable share of fans may consider themselves God's gift to road navigation, but that hasn't stopped TomTom launching a special edition Top Gear flavor of its GPS device. Navigation is narrated by the voice of Top Gear, Jeremy Clarkson, directing clueless drivers "with the aid of 32 satellites... and me." The in-car navigation unit is priced at $269.95, including a one-year subscription to traffic updates and incident reports from TomTom. Alongside Clarkson's familiar tones are some extra Top Gear car icons and Stig mode, where the GPS will remain entirely silent. It'll also point out race tracks featured in the show, plus any nearby speed cameras. With its main man behind you, how could you possibly lose your way?

Source

TomTom extends Live service and HD Traffic to Canada with Go Live 1535M nav unit

By Lydia Leavitt

Satisfying your poutine craving just got easier as TomTom extends its internet-enabled Live service and HD Traffic to nav systems up north. Using the Go Live 1535M portable GPS unit, Canadian drivers can now access the company's signature HD Traffic feature to get real-time routing based on current congestion. Another perk of being connected is the suite of apps that gives adventurers access to Yelp, TripAdvisor, Expedia, Twitter and local search from the dash -- making it easy to find that perfectly crafted caribou jerky and brag about it on social networks. Starting in October, Canucks can cop the system for around $269 with a free 12-month starter subscription to Live offerings. Check out the full PR after the break.

Press Release

TomTom Introduces LIVE Services and HD Traffic Service to Canada

TomTom Connected Portable Navigation Device Features the Most Accurate, Comprehensive and Up-to-Date Traffic Information Available

CONCORD, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--TomTom today announced the launch of LIVE services for the Canadian market with the introduction of the connected GO LIVE 1535 M. The GO LIVE 1535 M combines the most comprehensive road and traffic information from TomTom HD Traffic with access to real-time information through travel-related apps. These new features will give people in cars the information they need on a dedicated device designed to offer the best navigation experience.

As a connected device, the new TomTom GO LIVE saves people time on their commute, money on gas and helps alleviates stress by continuously monitoring and rerouting drivers based on current traffic conditions. TomTom HD Traffic provides the most accurate reporting available by capturing more of the actual traffic jams than ever before. Additionally, TomTom HD Traffic processes traffic conditions for all major and secondary roads within the Canadian road network and proactively delivers real-time traffic updates to devices every two minutes.

"We are excited to introduce our connected navigation solutions to Canadian drivers," said Tim Roper, President, TomTom, Inc. "By giving people the most up-to-date traffic details as well as relevant local content provided by travel apps, TomTom is bringing a new level of connectivity to drivers by providing information in the most effective platform available."

Using TomTom's connected LIVE travel apps, individuals can access Yelp®, TripAdvisor®, Expedia® and Twitter for the information they need while on the road. With these apps, users can read restaurant reviews, find hotel availability or automatically tweet their arrival time without ever leaving the car. Additionally, they'll have access to weather forecasts and Google Local Search.

Features Overview

* Intuitive Voice Recognition with one-step address entry

* Bluetooth Hands-Free Calling*
* Integrated Mount with flip-screen
* Crisp, sharp graphics and intuitive user menus
* Expanded driving view on 5" touch screens
* Spoken Street Names
* Advanced Lane Guidance
* Maps of US, CAN and MEX
* Lifetime Map Updates** (varies by model)
* TomTom LIVE Services bundle, including TomTom HD Traffic (available in country of purchase)
* Branded Travel apps from Yelp, TripAdvisor, Expedia, Twitter and Google
* Other TomTom Apps like Weather Forecasts

Availability and Pricing

The TomTom GO LIVE 1535 M will be available at retail stores and from online retailers in October 2011. Pricing starts at $269 CAD MSRP. A free 12-month subscription*** of LIVE services will be available with each purchase.

The new GO devices will be available at Best Buy, Future Shop, Rogers Stores and other retailers nationwide.

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Keychain Bluetooth GPS Receiver: lebih aman dan fleksibel untuk digunakan

Produk Bluetooth GPS Receiver memang sudah banyak beredar tetapi yang satu ini kami yakin lebih menarik untuk dimiliki.

Keychain Bluetooth GPS Receiver adalah alat yang akan mengubah ponsel atau notebook anda menjadi sebuah GPS melalui koneksi Bluetooth tetapi dengan bentuk sebagai gantungan kunci akan membuat kita mudah untuk membawa kemanapun dan juga tidak kuatir akan ketinggalan, apalagi hilang.

Dibandingkan dengan GPS Bluetooth Receiver lainnya, alat ini jauh lebih aman dari kehilangan karena anda tidak perlu meninggalkannya di dalam mobil.

Dengan menggunakan baterai isi ulang (rechargeable battery), alat ini bisa bertahan sampai 10 jam dan dijual dengan harga US$ 199.00 (sedikit lebih mahal dibandingkan yang lainnya).

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Garmin eTrex to follow GLONASS satellites

The satellite tracking system GLONASS developed by the Russians will now be used by the new Garmin eTrex series (eTrex 10, eTrex 20, and eTrex 30). The new eTrex models will be able to track both GPS and GLONASS satellites at the same time. What this means for you is that you’ll be able to get a satellite position fix about 20% faster than you were to use GPS alone. Since there are 24 GLONASS satellites so far this gives your device more options to use and listen for the strongest signal. The only downside of activating both technologies is the reduced battery life. There’s always a trade off.

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IBM Patents a Mapping Algorithm To Re-Route Drivers Along Retail-Heavy Roads

Which Way To Go? mroach via Flickr

With connectivity and smarter planning, intelligent cars promise to cut congestion, make roads safer and generally improve the whole experience of getting behind the wheel. But nobody said it was all altruistic.

IBM has apparently patented a couple ideas for earning fees by monitoring driver activity. One plan would encourage drivers to take different routes that bring them past certain retail establishments — if, that is, the retail establishments want to pay for it. And another plan discusses charging bad drivers a toll for behavior like tailgating.

IBM’s Smarter Traffic division has a few research programs devoted to planning driving routes depending on congestion and other factors. One such app, which we discussed this summer, uses GPS to monitor a driver’s habits and road sensors to check traffic, and recommends the best route. But this patent application suggests that someday, it may not actually be the best route for you, unless you’re actually craving Starbucks when your car just happens to reroute you past one.

“Conventional route planning systems determine optimal routes based on different preferred conditions, including minimizing travel time or minimizing the distance traveled,” the patent application explains. “By focusing on optimal route determination, the known route planning systems fail to consider non-optimal routes whose presentation to travelers may have value to other parties.”

The system would work by collecting fees from retailers, which would then be used to assign a preferential weight for certain way points along a given route. IBM software would figure out a new route that incorporates that way point, and present it to the driver as the “recommended route.” This sub-optimal route couldn’t be too inconvenient — the patent application discusses limiting how far out of the way a recommended route could go — but it might not be the most direct route, nor the fastest. If the driver does actually take the fee-inspired route, then IBM could levy an additional fee for this successful misdirection.

As of Tuesday morning, IBM had not responded to a request to discuss the patent application. A reader at Slashdot noticed the application Monday. It was filed nearly two years ago, but became public earlier this year.

Another application filed by the same team, which includes IBM inventors in Colorado, Michigan, New York and Virginia, also involves fees depending on driver behavior, but this time for drivers themselves, not retailers. It would use proximity sensors to determine the distance between your car and another, and it would monitor how many times you get too close, accounting for things like gridlock. It would also monitor your braking and acceleration habits and average speed. The system could even retrieve your driving history, and use all this data to calculate whether to charge you a toll for your driving behavior. Good drivers could get a rebate.

“Charging the variable toll provides an incentive to the driver to encourage driving that does not include tailgating or a disincentive to the driver to deter tailgating,” the application says.

Of course, these are just ideas at this point. Programs that could do all of this would require the cooperation of many companies beyond IBM, from GPS device makers to the automakers themselves, so they’re likely a long way from reality. But it’s an interesting reminder that increasingly intelligent cars could have some drawbacks as well as benefits.

Source

Escort integrates GPS and radar technology in one device

Automotive radar and laser detector manufacturer Escort has announced the release of Passport IQ, which combines GPS navigation and radar detection technology in one handy unit. As well as getting you safely from A to B, the new driving accessory is said to be the first that also protects you from annoying and costly tickets by providing information on red light and fixed position speed cameras, known speed traps, speed limit information and more.

Based on Escort's Passport 9500ix GPS-enabled radar and laser detector, the Passport IQ sports a 5-inch, 480 x 272 resolution touchscreen color display. The navigation software provides voice-guided turn-by-turn directions, lane assist and visual 3D mapping powered by Navteq or detector mode. In either mode, the device is said to offer drivers protection from ticketing threats by overlaying red light and speed camera notifications, speed limit information and high risk speed trap warnings on the navigation screen.

The device benefits from Superheterodyne, Varactor-Tuned VCO, Scanning Frequency Discriminator and Digital Signal Processing (DSP) radar and Quantum Limited Video Receiver and Multiple Laser Sensor Diodes laser detection. It operates on all radar bands, including X, K, Superwide Ka, Ku, and instant-on Pop modes. Multiple front and rear laser sensors are said to offer 360-degree protection, and an AutoLearn feature "automatically learns and rejects false radar sources based on exact location and frequency."

Escort says that its intelligent system can "determine which threats are real and automatically locks out those that are false, including automatic door openers, motion sensors, and other sources that cause competitor radar detectors to constantly false alert when no real threats actually exist." The Passport IQ unit can also be connected to the Internet for updates from the company's Defender Database, which users can subscribe to for the latest safety camera and speed trap locations.

The Passport IQ radar/laser detector with GPS navigation is available now for US$649.95, which includes a free 90-day subscription to the Defender Database.

Escort has also revealed plans to bring Bluetooth and live traffic information to the Passport IQ platform in a version of the device which will allow drivers to connect to a mobile phone for hands-free calling.

Source

Navteq Hadirkan Teknologi 3D di Indonesia

TRIBUNNEWS.COM, JAKARTA - Dua tahun terakhir beroperasi di Indonesia, perkembangan layanan NAVTEQ tergolong fantastis. Bagaimana tidak, dalam 24 bulan, mereka sudah mampu menambah layanan lebih dari 200 atribut terbaru. Selain itu, perusahaan yang berbasis di AS ini sudah menambah 300 persen dari data satelit terakhir khusus untuk wilayah Indonesia.

Dari 200 atribut tersebut, NAVTEQ menghadirkan peta dari suatu negara dan menggunakan analis geografis lokal guna memverifikasi keakurasiannya. Beberapa atribut jalan yang termasuk dalam peta NAVTEQ antara lain arah perjalanan, jumlah jalur, batas kecepatan dan peraturan ketika berbelok.

Sebagai tambahan terhadap atribut perjalanan, peta Indonesia yang terdapat di NAVTEQ memiliki lebih dari 330,000 tempat tujuanyang terbagi dalam 100 kategori untuk memudahkan pengguna memilih tempat tujuan mereka.

Hebatnya, memasuki semester kedua tahun 2011, NAVTEQ melakukan terobosan dengan menyediakan peta Indonesia berupa bangunan landmark 3D. Untuk kawasan Jakarta milsanya, tersedia gambar 3D Monas dan sekitarnya serta Wisma BNI 46 dan sekitarnya.

Konten visual ini dirancang untuk meningkatkan orientasi pengendara dan memberikan rasa nyaman dengan mereplikasi apa yang pengendara lihat keluar kaca sama dengan apa yang mereka lihat di layar navigasi.

“Saya harap, terobosan terbaru kami bisa meningkatkan layanan, sekaligus memberi modal besar bagi perusahaan untuk terus melakukan penetrasi di pasaran. Indonesia adalah pasar yang sangat strategis bagi NAVTEQ. Saya menjamin kualitas peta kami sudah terbukti menjadi instrumen pendorong keberhasilan dari solusi navigasi modern,” terang Ogi Redzic, Wakil presiden NAVTEQ Asia Pasifik, di Jakarta, Kamis (28/7/2011).

NAVTEQ sendiri adalah penyedia layanan untuk peta, lalu lintas, dan data lokasi yang memungkinan terciptanya navigasi, pelayanan berbasis lokasi dan iklan mobile. Cakupan mereka adalah seluruh dunia, dan menyediakan konten lokasi yang akurat dan komprehensif untuk mendukung sistem navigasi otomotif, perangkat portabel dan nirkabel, aplikasi pemetaan berbasis internet serta solusi bagi pemerintah dan solusi bisnis. Saat ini, perusahaan yang berbasis di Chicago ini memiliki 5.600 karyawan yang tersebar di 213 kantor di 50 negara.

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Navteq Bawa Iklan ke GPS

SAN FRANSISCO - Penyedia layanan peta dan navigasi digital, Navteq, akan memperluas platform mobile advertising setelah melakukan kesepakatan dengan RIM dan Samsung.

Dilansir melalui Cellular News, Rabu (23/2/2011), layanan iklan di GPS itu bernama Navteq LocationPoint, yaitu jaringan mobile advertising berbasis lokasi yang menawarkan iklan ke pengguna smartphone yang kebetulan sedang berada dekat dengan merchant yang beriklan.

Layanan iklan berbasis lokasi ini akan memandu pengguna smartphone untuk melangkah ke lokasi yang dimaksud. Panduan yang diberikan baik tidak hanya berupa arah jalan untuk sampai ke lokasi yang dimaksud tapi juga informasi yang diberikan secara bertahap hingga pengguna sampai ke lokasi merchant yang dituju.

"Layanan berbasis lokasi merupakan era baru di dunia iklan, didukung juga dengan beberapa perusahaan yang telah tergabung dalam jaringan LocationPoint kami," ujar EVP Sales Navteq, Jeff Mize.

Menurut Mize, karena layanan ini memberikan lokasi yang relevan dan menawarkan pengalaman yang elegan kepada pengguna, iklan di Navteq LocationPoint akan sesuai dengan konsumen, menawarkan pengembalian investasi yang cepat kepada pengiklan, dan memberikan kesempatan yang luas kepada para penerbit.

Sebelumnya, Navteq juga telah menyediakan layanan iklan mobile ke perusahaan induknya, Nokia. Bahkan Nokia juga bergabung dengan jaringan penyedia aplikasi iklan berbasis lokasi besutan Navteq LocationPoint, seperti Apello, CoPilot Live, Navigon, Ndrive, Poynt, dan Telmap. (srn)

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Sebulan, iMobili Raih 10.652 Download

 

Honda Imobili (foto: Veelabs)

SETELAH diluncurkan 12 Agustus silam, aplikasi interaktif Honda iMobili (Honda Inteligent Mobillity System in-Hand) berhasil menjadi salah satu top download di BlackBerryApp World dengan total download sebanyak 10.652 (terhitung sejak 6 September 2010).

Tidak hanya itu, aplikasi Honda iMobili pun menjadi salah satu featured items di home page Blackberry App World dan Top 5 di kategori sales & service.

"Kami bangga bahwa aplikasi buatan Indonesia ini diterima dengan sangat baik oleh pengguna BlackBerry, khususnya oleh konsumen Honda," beber Jonfis Fandy, Marketing & After Sales Service Director PT HPM.

Dengan berbagai fitur yang interaktif dan informatif, lanjut Jonfis, iMobili merupakan aplikasi yang sangat berguna bagi konsumen Honda, tidak hanya pada masa mudik dan Lebaran.

"Ke depannya, kami akan terus mengembangkan dan melengkapi aplikasi ini agar semakin memberikan manfaat bagi konsumen," ungkap Jonfis lagi.

Honda iMobili dilengkapi dengan berbagai fitur. Seperti informasi terbaru dengan sistem push mail, reminder system yang interaktif, hingga sistem navigasi GPS untuk menemukan lokasi dealer-dealer Honda di seluruh Indonesia. Khusus menyambut musim mudik dan lebaran, iMobili juga menghadirkan fitur Honda Emergency Service, yang berisi informasi lokasi seluruh bengkel dan posko siaga Honda dengan navigasi GPS. Juga, jadwal imsakiah dengan fitur reminder. Aplikasi ini merupakan pertama di Indonesia yang dikembangkan oleh ATPM.

Aplikasi yang bisa diunduh langsung secara Over The Air (OTA) dari handset BlackBerry pengguna ini berisi informasi terbaru mengenai produk, aktifitas, serta layanan Honda dalam bentuk yang interaktif dan fun. Untuk mengunduhnya, pengguna tinggal mengarahkan browser BlackBerrynya ke http://iMobili.hondaisme. com atau ww.hondaisme.com. iMobili sebenarnya bukanlah aplikasi BlackBerry pertama Honda. Pada 11 April silam,PT HPM sudah meluncurkan aplikasi Honda Safety Driving yang bertujuan mengajak pengguna BlackBerry menjadi pengemudi yang bertanggung jawab.

Ketika diaktifkan, secara otomatis aplikasi tersebut mereject telepon yang masuk dan mengirim SMS balasan kepada si penelpon, atau menghubungkan penelpon ke voice mail untuk meninggalkan pesan suara. Saat ini, Honda Safety Driving bisa diunduh di BlackBerry App World secara gratis atau masuk ke situs www.Hondaisme. com/SafetyDriving. (srn)

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Cari Bengkel Lebih Mudah Lewat Honda iMobili

Honda Jazz (gresnews)

JAKARTA - Dalam menyambut mudik Lebaran, PT Honda Prospect Motor (HPM) selain menyediakan 69 bengkel siaga di jalur mudik, juga menyediakan aplikasi Honda iMobili.

Aplikasi ini para pemudik Honda akan lebih mudah mengetahui informasi dimana lokasi bengkel dan posko siaga Honda. 

“Aplikasi “Honda iMobili” ini merupakan aplikasi interaktif yang khusus dikembangkan Honda untuk konsumen Honda yang menggunakan ponsel Blackberry. Dan aplikasi ini juga bisa di download di http://hondaisme.imobili.com,” terang Marketing & Aftersales Director PT Honda Prospect Motor, Jonfis Fandy, Senin (15/8/2011).

Sambung dia, di dalam aplikasi ini konsumen dapat menemukan lokasi setiap bengkel dan posko siaga Honda dengan mode active map melalui navigasi GPS maupun memilih bengkel siaga yang berdasarkan lokasi.

Selain itu, aplikasi ini juga dilengkapi dengan jadwal sholat yang diintegrasikan dengan reminder sistem untuk memberikan notifikasi saat sahur dan berbuka.

“Kami harap aplikasi iMobili ini dapat mendukung program Bengkel Siaga Honda dan dapat mempermudah konsumen dalam mendapatkan layanan kami selama berada diperjalanan,” tambah Jonfis. (zwr)

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Rand McNally Launches Combined Communication/Navigation Device for Trucks

Rand McNally has developed an in-cab electronic on-board recorder (EOBR) that combines navigation with a mobile communication system. The Rand McNally TND 760, Fleet Edition, integrates into a truck’s on-board computer and sends and receives information via both Wi-Fi and cellular. The TND 760 is designed to be set up in less than 30 minutes and does not require the installation of a separate “black box” monitoring unit like traditional mobile communication systems do.

The TND 760 features fleet communications via e-mail, driver and vehicle performance monitoring, electronic hours of service (HOS) compliance, and truck-specific navigation. Information on fleet activity is managed via Rand McNally’s significantly enhanced FleetWatcher web-based portal.

The TND 760 is the result of the 10-month business partnership between Rand McNally and DriverTech of Salt Lake City. In September 2010, Rand McNally took an investment stake in DriverTech and acquired an exclusive license to DriverTech’s technology in the trucking space. Since then the development teams at both companies have been working closely together to port DriverTech’s software over to Rand McNally’s hardware platform.

“This product is one of the main reasons we did the deal with DriverTech,” said Dave Muscatel, CEO of Rand McNally. “We thought if we could port their software over to our hardware platform, we could create a product that leverages the best of both companies while at the same time fundamentally altering the cost paradigm in this space. The new TND 760 accomplishes that goal and provides 90 percent of the functionality of higher end mobile communication systems for less than half the price."

Mark Haslam, founder and CEO of DriverTech, explained further: “Two months before we announced our business partnership, Dave and I plotted this concept out on a white board. The TND 760 is truly the next generation of mobile communication products and we here at DriverTech are very excited about it.”

Jim Rodi, who heads up Rand McNally’s Commercial Transportation group, pointed out that Rand McNally has been sensitive to evolving EOBR regulations, developing a solution that is affordable for fleets and potentially owner operators.

Key features of the TND 760 include:

GPS with instant fix and wide area augmentation (WAAS)

• 395.15 compliant

• Automated Hours of Service

• HOS alerts and warnings for drivers

• Simplified log certification and correction

• Real-time access to HOS data via FleetWatcher portal

• Wi-Fi and cellular communication

• Over-the-air programmability

• Rand McNally Workflow

• Text and form-based messages

• Text-to-speech email playback and verbal turn-by-turn route guidance

• Truck-specific routing based on loads and other metrics, powered by Rand McNally’s IntelliRoute TND navigation

• Detailed mapping and vehicle proximity search

• More than 200 distinct vehicle-specific metrics

• Comprehensive fuel- and driver-performance reporting

• Visibility to engine diagnostics

Source

Ilmuwan Ingatkan Bahaya Sistem Navigasi Satelit

LONDON - Para ahli mengingatkan, perangkat navigasi satelit berisiko menimbulkan kecelakaan pada para pengemudi kendaraan bermotor.

Data terbaru menyebutkan, sekira 78 persen kecelakaan diakibatkan oleh kecerobohan pengemudi. Ahli psikologi di Lancaster University and Royal Holloway, University of London melakukan eksperimen untuk menguji efek bahaya navigasi satelit pada sistem navigasi mobil.

Menggunakan ponsel sambil mengemudi sangat dilarang di Inggris juga beberapa negara lain. Hal ini dikarenakan penggunaan ponsel dapat mengalihkan konsentrasi pengemudi dan mengakibatkan kecelakaan.

Kini, para peneliti ingin menguji faktor lain yang bisa menimbulkan kecelakaan mobil, termasuk sistem navigasi satelit yang kian populer digunakan akhir-akhir ini.

Dalam studi ini, ilmuwan menganalisa bagaimana pengendara menangani informasi yang mereka terima dari sistem satelit navigasi dan bagaimana mereka meresponsnya.

"Di akhir eksperimen, kami melihat dengan jelas bahwa penggunaan sistem navigasi pada mobil berpotensi mengganggu daya ingat, konsentrasi dan perhatian serta mempengaruhi kinerja kendaraan," kata salah satu peneliti Polly Dalton, seperti dikutip dari Telegraph, Senin (28/12/2009).

Diperkirakan ada sekira 14 juta pengemudi yang menggunakan sistem navigasi satelit. Berdasarkan data tahun 2008, survei yang dilakukan terhadap 2.000 pengendara memberikan kesimpulan bahwa sistem navigasi satelit membuat satu dari lima orang mengalami kendaraan tersendat saat berada di jalanan yang ramai. Sistem navigasi satelit juga bertanggung jawab atas kondisi kendaraan yang tiba-tiba dapat berbelok sendiri. (rah)

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GPS Akan Mampu Melacak Emosi Pengendara

Istimewa

CAMBRIDGE - Para peneliti di Cambridge University sedang mengerjakan sebuah sistem komputer pelacak lokasi yang juga dapat membaca emosi penggunanya.

"Saya menyukai gadget seperti GPS sistem navigasi satelit. Namun terus terang, saya sangat sulit menggunakannya. Masalahnya sistem komputer itu tidak bisa mengetahui perasaan saya, apakah saya senang atau tidak. Oleh karena itu saya membuat sebuah sistem komputer yang mampu membaca pikiran dan tahu apa yang saya pikirkan," ujar Peter Robinson, salah satu ilmuwan komputer dari universitas tersebut.

Dikatakan Robinson, dilansir melalui Big News Network, Sabtu (1/1/2011), sistem komputer sejatinya merupakan perangkat yang canggih dan bisa mengerti apa yang diketik atau dikatakan seseorang. Tapi Robinson menginginkan agar komputer tidak hanya mengerti apa yang dikatakannya tapi juga bagaimana mereka bisa mengatakannya.

Lalu bagaimana sistem ini bisa mengenali emosi seseorang? Robinson memaparkan jika sistem ini akan melacak ekspresi wajah seseorang, gerak tangan, dan bahkan nada suara yang dikeluarkan oleh seseorang, dengan menggunakan sensor.

Setelah itu, sistem komputer akan langsung membacanya dan memasukkan semua hasilnya dalam kategori emosi yang telah dibuat.

"Sistem ini bisa memilah, apa yang sedang dirasakan dan difokuskan oleh pengendara. Jika pengendara mengalami stres maka perangkat GPS akan mengeluarkan bunyi, mematikan sinyal radio dan berhenti memberikan instruksi hingga pengendara bugar kembali," papar Robinson. (srn)

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