Trick your PSP with its own GPS System

Take your PSP to a whole new level with Denniska's method to connect a GPS reciever to your PSP. Dying to replicate the experiment? No problem, we've got the goods:

Necessary Equipment:

• Holux GPSlim236 ($100)
• Intec G6704 PSP remote control ($11).
  
• USB (Mini B) cable ($5-10) (NOT the included USB power cable)
• 1K 1/4watt resistor ($1)
• Electric tape ($2 roll)
• Multimeter (for checking the connector pins)
• Soldering iron
• Razor blade (for cutting and cleaning)

Only those who feel at home with soldering irons and blades my proceed. All you really have to do (after you get all that equipment ready) is cut the USB cable and PSP remote plug and connect em to the right places.

To see if you did things correctly, Deniska thoughtfully included a GPS program viewer to check if you installed it the right way, which could also be downloaded here.
He also included a few words of advice:

The source code is included in the zip...
Note, the program is written to work in kernel mode, so I doubt that it will work on 2+ fw..
Perhaps someone can look in to how to adjust it... Use caution when connecting the wires, make sure all of them are carefully insulated. You don't want to short any of them, since this may brick your PSP or GPS device.
Also, GPSlim 236 spec says that the TXD voltage may range from 3.2 to 5 V, so 1K resistor may not be enough to lower the voltage in some cases. So buy a few resistors: 5k,3k,2k,1k and see if your circuit works with a bigger value resistor first.. So, what's the point you ask? I am planning to plug this in to the upcoming map viewer application, which, of course will be able to point your gps location on a google-like map in real time... and scroll the map as you move along...

read [PSP Updates]

HTC Artemis

According to NaviGadget, HTC's rumored GPS enabled Pocket PC Phone is called the "HTC Artemis". I figure the device is not so aptly named as the Roman goddess Artemis was goddess of the hunt and would frequently roam mountain forests and uncultivated land, not at all analagous to what HTC is doing with this new device - it's a sort of been there, done that idea.

The phone is reported to be featuring GPS, quadband GSM/GPRS/EDGE and a FM radio (which means the device could also support the TMC-service for GPS navigation), W-LAN and a 2 megapixel camera. It's expected to run Windows Mobile 5.0 for Pocket PC Phone Edition and is powered by a TI OMAP CPU at 200 MHz.

Wonder how much it will retail for and what the market for this thing will be like?

Google Genericide

Last month, the Washington Post noted that Google had officially entered Merriam-Webster's Dictionary.

google

One entry found for google.

Main Entry: goo·gle
Pronunciation: 'gü-g&l
Function: transitive verb
Inflected Form(s): goo·gled; goo·gling /-g(&-) li[ng]/
Usage: often capitalized
Etymology: Google, trademark for a search engine
: to use the Google search engine to obtain information about (as a person) on the World Wide Web

You'd think Google would have been proud, in just eight years they've been able to make their own addition into the English language. They've, it seemed, "coined a phrase". Google however, took offense to the Washington Post article that read: "Google, the word, now takes its place alongside the handful of proper nouns that have moved beyond a particular product to become descriptors of an entire sector -- generic trademarks."

Although perturbed Google offers to lend a hand with correct and incorrect usage of the word.

" Appropriate: He ego-surfs on the Google search engine to see if he's listed in the results.

Inappropriate: He googles himself."

" Appr opriate: I ran a Google search to check out that guy from the party.

Inappropriate: I googled that hottie."

Hmm. Wonder how that one managed to slip past Google public relations.

via [Washington Post]

The Zumo 550 - a GPS device for Motorcycles

Garmin is poised to release a GPS device for motorcycles, the Zumo 550. The new Garmin Zumo features built-in Bluetooth for spoken directions via a compatible helmet. Its Bluetooth capability also makes it possible for riders to retrieve and dial numbers using a supported phone's contact list. Its UV resistant, 3.5-inch touch-screen display screams for attention, and Garmin affords it the oppurtunity as it is intended to sit atop the handlebars of your already sexy motorcycle.

New Google Maps Feature: Saved Locations

You've asked for it, and it's finally here. You can now store a list of your personal addresses on Google Maps. How does it work?

1. Sign into your Google Account.
2. Click on "Saved Locations" to see a list of the locations you've searched for (Google automatically saves every location you searched for - autosave can be disabled if necessary).
3. In your Saved Locations folder, you can edit the locations with labels i.e. "home", "mom's house" and etc.
Auto-completion is another new addition e e.g. when you enter an address that's in your saved locations folder Google Maps will offer to auto-complete it for you. This feature is also available when searching for businesses.

If you've labeled the address "1600 Amphitheatre Pky, Mountain View, CA" as "work" (as some Googlers would), when you start typing [pizza near work], we'll offer to auto-complete it as [pizza near 1600 Amphitheatre Pky, Mountain View, CA].

Here’s a tip: When a list of auto-completions is offered, you can hit the Tab key to select the first one.

read [Official Google Blog]

Porsche Is Dominating The Scene

No arguments here the P9611, Porsche's new GPS device is a flipping beauty. It has a 480x272 screen and it's running Navigon Mobile Navigator 6 software on an Intel XScale 520MHz processor.

Porsche designers (teamed with Navgon) have created a GPS system that will be a celebrity must have: if not only for the capabilities but for it's pricetag. For a grand total of $955, you can ride just like the celebs.

[Gizmodo] via [Pocketinfo]

Need a Mac Mapping Application for your Tom Tom?

Have a MAC, a GPS system, but no real/reliable mapping software? Don't despair. Routebuddy is here. Routebuddy is a GPS-enabled mapping solution for Mac computers that enables users to plan their trip at their home or office on their Mac, and transfer the data to their GPS device.

Here are just a few of the many features provided by the RouteBuddy Application:

* Downloading and Uploading Waypoint, Route and Track data
* Searching Map data with FastSearch
* Recording live GPS data and tracking your route
* Connect multiple GPS devices to your Mac
* Open several RouteBuddy Map pages at once
* Viewing and Printing full-screen maps
* Smooth Synching of your data with your GPS device
* Buying Road mapping for Worldwide countries
* Exchanging RouteBuddy map data with other users
* Harnessing the power of Google Earth® and Google Maps® from within RouteBuddy
* Share Geocache and other location data
* Import Geotagged URLs from the major online map services
* Add useful Meta Data to your Maps and Waypoints
* Post RouteBuddy URLs online to share with other users

The application costs $99.50. A fully functional trial version is available from the company.

via [RouteBuddy]