Garmin’s “Known Map Errors” Page

I never would have expected to see Garmin put up a Known Map Errors page.

Sometimes, we are notified of errors in our map providers’ data that could present safety concerns. Because your safety is important to us, we have listed all known map errors below.

They certainly don’t expect people to review the list before going out on a drive, so the only angle here must be PR. When the monthly “GPS made me do it” articles come out in the media they can point to this page in response.

TomTom Q1 2012 Results– a play on words

I find reporting on most financial results fairly annoying– people have become good at spinning any piece of data however they would like. So I decided to take a different “look” at TomTom’s Q1 2012 results. I built a little word cloud.

I threw out common words you would expect to find in financial results like amounted, business, compared, mainly, and previous. Interpret as you will. What I see is a company becoming more focused in the automotive division and their traffic service and focusing less on PNDs. Also notable was the nearly absent discussion of the smartphone app market.

Is TomTom favoring Google over their own POIs?

When the newest version of the TomTom app for iPhone came out recently I noticed some of the items in the navigation menu had been rearranged. The menu order for the ‘Navigate To…’ menu used to look like this:

Home –>
Favorite –>
Address –>
Recent Destination –>
Point of Interest –>
Point on Map –>

Continue–> Is TomTom favoring Google over their own POIs?

Is that a Google MotoNav Headed Down the Road?

There has long been speculation that Google might someday build their own GPS to suction to your own windshield. That speculation was fueled as they started to build their own maps and ditch Tele Atlas and then again when Google released Google Navigation for Android phones. With today’s announcement that Google intends to scoop up Motorola Mobility that will be more fuel for the fire. You might recall that Motorola Mobility at one time had their own PND… the Motorola MotoNav. Continue–> Is that a Google MotoNav Headed Down the Road?

Apple’s Version of LineDrive Maps?

As discovered by AppleInsider, a recent patent application from Apple shows they are interested in changing how information is presented on maps. Check out the image below, but doesn’t sound like the same concept as LineDrive Line Maps? Check out that link for details. Don’t get me started on the pitfalls of the US Patent system… Continue–> Apple’s Version of LineDrive Maps?

Men and Women React Differently to Traffic

In a study released today TomTom tells us something we already knew… traffic increases stress. But they also told us something you might not know, men and women react differently to traffic.

… “while women experienced an 8.7% increase in stress from driving in traffic, men suffered a significant 60% increase in stress” …

Garmin Accessory Maps – No Junction View or Lane Assist

According to a post over in our forums, if you purchase an accessory map (rather than update) from Garmin, those maps don’t include Junction View or Lane Assist.

“Please note, these full-version maps DO NOT contain premium content such as Lane Assist and Junction View. These features only are available on the preloaded maps within your device or through a specific update for the mapping region of your device.”

I didn’t know that.

Garmin Outdoor Product Hints

Garmin recently announced a new line of handheld GPS devices, the Montana series. These models feature a four inch screen, slightly bigger than the older three inch models on devices like the Oregon. But what has us pondering more is the hints at other new products Garmin dropped on their site. I’ll take the bait and speculate on what might be coming. Continue–> Garmin Outdoor Product Hints

INRIX App – Comparative Traffic

A couple of years ago in my post ‘Painting the Traffic Picture‘, I argued that for many hard-core commuters, they care not about what the traffic speed is, but how it differs from “normal”. They know what normal traffic conditions are, they know which roads will likely be slow, so it is more useful for them to know what might be different from typical.

Today, INRIX updated their Traffic app to version 3.0 and added a feature that does just that…. “Comparative Traffic – see what’s abnormal”. Glad to see that they too thought this would be a valuable change. Also added are the ability to submit a report if you find traffic conditions different than represented and a way to see traffic in areas not near your current location.

Coalition to Save GPS Created

Back in January the FCC granted a conditional waiver to LightSquared, allowing them to “expansion of terrestrial use of the satellite spectrum immediately neighboring that of GPS” according to the new coalition. LightSquared is building up to 40,000 ground stations which will transmit broadband signals up to one billion times more powerful than the GPS satellites as measured from earth and could produce dead spots for GPS receivers surrounding those ground stations. Continue–> Coalition to Save GPS Created