Last night I received an email from the Dash Express folks that they are updating my new GPS with software to enable historical traffic prediction. This compensates those of us in areas where enough other users aren’t sharing traffic flow data. The email also indicated that toward the end of next month they’ll include some performance and stability fixes. My advice: Avoid the Dash Express until more users have it and they put this beast on a diet (it’s WAY too big for most dashboards). Check out my original review which has pictures showing the size - and the all to frequent system crashes.

Link: Dash Express GPS Review: Three Words- Bulky, Buggy, Beta

Just in time for summer vacation, Walmart.com has got the Garmin c550 Auto GPS w/ Bluetooth Capability for Handsfree Calling on sale for $198.86. This is the same one that Dell is still selling for $360, and Staples has for $449.99, which in retrospect seems just nutty.

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The Dash Express Two-Way Internet-Connected Portable GPS Navigator exploded overnight onto many online blogs - prompting blogger Jason Calacanis to proclaim it “Best Product of 2008“. In case you missed the hoopla around this release, the Dash Express is your typical automative GPS guidance system with two innovative features. First, it includes a WIFI and GPRS cellular transmitter for moving data onto and off your device (think updates and real time exchange of traffic flow). Second, it talks to Yahoo Local Search for real time searches (when in a data coverage area). It’s marketed exclusively through Amazon for $399 and using the data transmitting features requires a subscription that starts at $10 per month when prepaid. My testing tempered my enthusiasm for this device. Read about my experiences on the next page.

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According to the New York Times and several other news outlets, Microsoft is slated to improve their online mapping service with a new feature called ClearFlow. This artificial intelligence is promoted as taking overall traffic flow into consideration when making recommendations on whether to stay on your current route or make a detour.

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When I bought my new car in September 2007 I knew I would be keeping it for a few years, so I decided that I was going to take the plunge, and build a Car PC like those that I had read about on the MP3Car.com forums. The computer would replace the standard audio system, and add MP3 playback, video, GPS, GPS tracking and internet access to my car

After months of dreaming about such a setup my Car PC is finally installed. I’ve had the computer on my desk for over 3 mths now but time and money kinda pushed it WAY forward to this day. Since my dad was off work for the Australia Day holiday, we decided it was time to tackle it.

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The first time that I ever used a Global Positioning System (GPS) unit was back in 1996-97 while in Denver, Colorado. For $10.00 extra, I upgraded to the optional GPS feature in my Hertz rental car, which turned out to be a fun experience that got me from point A to B in a new city even if I missed the turns.

Before GPS, I can recall exhibiting high frustration levels of being unable to find my way to a destination, especially at night. With bad eyesight, unmarked streets, winding roads and no sense of direction along with male pride, I was destined to waste valuable time behind the wheel.

Navigon has introduced a lineup of portable navigation systems with advanced features such as Bluetooth and traffic services to an entry-level model that I am reviewing – the NAVIGON 2100.

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While my little 1.5 x 2.0 x 0.7″ Bluetooth GPS amazes me with how compact it is, but this new product takes it to a whole new level. This new Bluetooth GPS is small enough to fit on a key ring, yet boasts a 20 channel receiver, 10hrs battery life and Bluetooth 2.0.

For anyone using their Pocket PC or Smartphone device as a navigation system, a tiny Bluetooth GPS is a great way to do it. With it attached to your keys, you can always be sure to have it on hand

For now I will just stick to having a 4GB USB on my keyring

[via Engadget]

I just read this hilarious story linked from Engadget of a university student in the UK who followed her satellite navigation system right into the path of a speeding train.

If maybe I had been more aware of the situation, I wouldn’t have had the accident.

Um, you think?

Surprisingly she had the good sense not to get back in her car when she saw the train coming towards her, instead standing back to watch the train destroy her car.

They really need to start equipping GPS systems with cameras for those who drive while looking at the GPS screen. They obviously don’t have turn-by-turn voice instructions.

Jack Cook, of Mobility Site and Experience Mobility fame, has posted two new reviews that I would like to bring to your attention…

The first is on the Scottevest Performance Polo, which was just recently released. We’ll have our own reviews up soon, but in the meantime you can enjoy Jack’s video review and comments.

[youtube]21Y3MUrUbBA&[/youtube]

May I just say that I love watching video reviews that friends have done? It’s the next best thing to hanging out with them.

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Ever wanted to spy or follow someone without their knowledge like they do in TV shows? All you need is a WM Phone with GPS and a data connection! Plant this in their car and you can follow their every move�

GPSGate is a small piece of software that you install on your Windows Mobile device, preferably a phone edition for the always-on data capabilities, that multiplexes a single GPS signal to work with several applications as once, can share an internal GPS receiver over Bluetooth, and also throws in some GPS tracking into the mix.

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