GPS with Complete Coverage Anywhere - U-Blox

u-blox is releasing a new GPS chip which boasts 100% road coverage even in the most challenging GPS signal environments. The TIM-4R has dead reckoning technology which I will explain shortly. The u-blox has a 16 channel ANTARIS 4 positioning engine. It is this engine that ensures uninterrupted positioning where previously this was not possible. To add to this ability, the chips use less power consumption then other GPS chip sets.

Dead Reckoning is a technology that uses additional sensors that can detect the distance travelled with an odometer and gyroscope. This then can be put together with the last good signal (for example you enter a tunnel) and can predict where you
are in the tunnel due to the gyroscope measuring when you turn the vehicle.

Dead reckoning is great for those who need 100% accuracy with GPS such as emergency services as sometimes they need to go through situations where a signal is just not possible.

Hopefully this GPS chipset can live up to it’s standards and deliver what it promises. I have to admit that I am looking forwards to this solution.

Via: u-blox

Sony Camera Recall

Eight models of Sony digital cameras are being recalled due to a defect in the LCD screens on some of the cameras. The problem is to do with an image sensor which has a glitch and causes pictures to not be displayed correctly. Currently there is no indication of how many cameras have this defect. Good news is that if your camera in the range listed below has this problem then you can send it in for repair and they will do this for free.

The recall is for the following cameras… DSC-F88, DSC-M1, DSC-T1, DSC-T11, DSC-T3, DSC-T33, DSC-U40 and DSC-U50.

Via: BBC

Samsung SPH-B5800

The Samsung SPH-B5800 is a multimedia slider phone. It’s camera is a pretty much standard 2 megapixel, it has an LCD display and also a built in DMB TV tuner. The memory can be increased by a microSD card. Jogwheel navigation is included as well as bluetooth. Although the below video does not show an SPH-B5800, it shows what DMB TV is like on a mobile phone.

Via: TechEBlog

Nokia 8800 Lamborghini Special Edition

The Nokia 8800 Sirocco Diamond Edition was recently launched and now there is a new player on the block. The new player is the Nokia and Lamborghini edition of the phone. The lamborghini edition includes a video documentry and has the lamborghini logo etched by laser on to the phone.

To add to the style the slider has some lamborghini designed ball bearings in the slider. It has a 262144 colour TFT screen which is scratch protected. The camera is 2 megapixel but it comes with just 128Mb of internal memory.

Only 500 of these are available from your local Lamborghini dealer.

Via: BornRich

USB Bowling Ball

Loosing a USB flash drive can be seriously annoying and dangerous if you have sensative information on there. Well… this new bowling ball USB drive will not have a chance of being lost because it’s a full sized bowling ball and weighs 16lbs. Unfortunatly it now takes it out of the ultra portable and also out of the carry it around on a regular basis type thing. Still all good though.

The bowling ball is not available to buy as it was custom made by someone who didnt want to loose another USB flash drive.

Via: UberGizmo

Multi Vehicle SWARMS at MIT

The Quad Rotor multi vehicle flight test is running to see if 2 vehicles can fly together and track what is happening on the ground. The UAVs fly around controlled by a ground computer and can detect stationary and moving objects. Once detected they can be set to follow the moving object and if the object moves in to another zone then a different UAV can take over. This project is run by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and they are trying to build a fully automated system for ground surveillance and it seems they are making great headway. The link at the bottom of this article points you in the direction of some demonstrations and you will see that it’s working very well!

Via: MIT

Skype for Nokia

The new X-Series of software for certain phones such as the Nokia N73 is about to go on sale this week on the 1st December. Bundled inside phones such as the N73 is the Skype for Nokia software which allows you to make skype calls over the Three network in the UK. It will use the 3G network and unfortunatly, no pricing yet. However, it does look this this will be an excellent package. Luckily I am on Three and will see what can be done to trial this software. I signed up today. One of the main questions I had in mind was “Would I need to get a new X-Series enabled N73 or can I use my current N73?”. Three’s answer is that you can download the software to your current N73 from the Planet 3 menu. This is good news as I wondered why Three offered me an early upgrade and was worried that they wanted rid of the older N73 models. However, this is not the case.

With the X-Series software the mobile version of Skype is bundled although it’s believed that it will not support SkypeOut/In just yet. Hopefully Skype can get this going soon as it would make a great addition to the N73 being able to make VoIP calls on their 3G highspeed internet connection. Although nothing has been announced about pricing yet, I am sure over the next few days it will be. Pricing may be similar to the broadband prices on Three although they do say unlimited access (with in reason) and say that you will not get any unexpected charges.

One interesting question was raised also on their blog which asked if the x-series could be used as a modem. The answer was that this service is not intended to be used as a modem and a data card would need to be purchased. However, I am sure as demand is there then no doubt in 2007 that we will see all these services be combined in to one nicely priced package.

Via: Three.com

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