Microsoft MapPoint GPS 2009

MapPoint 2009 with GPS Locator combines powerful data mapping, information analysis, and communication tools with the simplicity of the Microsoft Office System and is available with or without a GPS locator for tracking your location in real-time.
Business Mapping Made Simple
Microsoft MapPoint 2009 gives you the power to visualize business data, communicate insights with instant impact, and integrate maps into the work you do in Microsoft Office. MapPoint 2009 with GPS Locator adds routing and directions to easily plan your trips and track your location in real-time.

MapPoint 2009 makes it easy for organizations to visualize their business in a whole new way:

* Map business data.
Create and view sales territories, analyze trends, and evaluate performance by geography.
* Identify new business opportunities.
Combine business data with included demographics to target potential customers and focus decisions.

MapPoint 2009 helps you streamline your travel:

* Arrive on time.
Detailed directions--voice* and text-prompted--make it easy to follow your route.
* Optimize your trip.
Quickly calculate mileage, drive time, and expenses in advance.
* Easy-to-see navigation.
Track your route in real-time in Full Screen display.* Change to the special Night Map display with a single click.

MapPoint 2009 makes it easy to use maps in combination with your Microsoft Office documents:

* Tell a story, visually.
Insert maps into Word documents and PowerPoint presentations to illustrate everything from sales performance and customer locations to new business opportunities.
* Tap into existing data sources
Create maps from data stored in current versions of Office Excel, Office Access, Office Outlook, Microsoft SQL Server, or other database sources.
* Extend your business.
Take advantage of the extensible MapPoint object model to build custom business solutions such as fleet tracking and business intelligence.
* Map business data.
Create and view sales territories, analyze trends, and evaluate performance by geography.

New and Improved Features

MapPoint 2009 builds upon the success of MapPoint 2006 with:

* Refreshed data.
Use updated geographic and demographic data sets in MapPoint to display trends and illustrate key points on maps.
* Optimize your trip.
Quickly calculate mileage, drive time, and expenses in advance.
* Send to mobile.
Send point-of-interest and "business card" details such as addresses and phone numbers to your mobile device.
* Advanced GPS features.
New full-screen navigation mode with driving guidance tracks your route and provides turn-by-turn directions--including spoken street names.
* Zoom with a view.
Use the new Navigation view option* to see a perspective map road view of your route.
* Enhanced Live Search.
Quickly find listings when online and add them to a route. Use descriptive words such as "coffee" and "restaurant" to find points near your location.
* Updated user interface.
Streamlined redesign simplifies tasks and improves usability while driving.


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TomTom 330S Portable Navigation System

The TomTom XL 330S adds a 4.3” wide screen display and Text-to-Speech routing to the XL 330S Family. At the heart of the TomTom unit is a highly sensitive GPS chipset for fast satellite acquisitions and unsurpassed GPS tracking. The ultra bright, 480 x 272 resolution, 4.3” display offers superb readability and easy operation. The built in lithium-ion battery will provide approximately 2 hours of use away from a power source. TomTom also includes their QuickGPSfix software which allows the XL to acquire a GPS signal super fast.

What is Map Share Technology?
The TomTom XL 330S is pre-loaded with detailed TeleAtlas maps for the United States and Canada, plus millions of points of interest. Because roads change, TomTom has setup the ability for you, the user to edit or change the pre-loaded maps. You are able to mark blocked or unblocked streets, insert the new name of a street, and even reverse the direction of a XL 330S Way street. Changes will immediately take effect in your Tomtom 330S. You are also able to share your changes and capture changes from other Map Share users via the include TomTom HOME software.

Using the touch screen, enter the address or point of interest that you are traveling to and the XL 330S will route you there. TomTom gives you 4 different routing options: quickest, shortest, avoid toll roads and by required arrival time. You can also chose between a traditional overhead view of the map or a 3-D view for a true perspective of what is ahead. Once you are on your way the XL 330S will guide you along with verbal turn-by-turn directions through its powerful built in speaker. If you miss a turn the TomTom XL 330S will recalculate your directions and get you right back on track.


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Gisteq GPS Photo Locator review

Gisteq Corporation is a young company, founded in 2006. Gisteq develops software and solutions to the specifications of manufacturers and other companies. Gisteq's latest product is the PhotoTrackr GPS Photo Locator DPL700. The Gisteq DPL700 allows you to record and review your trip and the exact location where photos were taken with your mobile phone or digital camera during travelling. The PhotoTrackr GPS Photo Locater will show you exactly where you have travelled and the exact location and time of your pictures. In our PhotoTrackr DPL 700 review we have tested the GPS Photo Locator on the Veluwe, a forrest region in the Netherlands.

Gisteq DPL-700 Photo Tracker

The Gisteq PhotoTrackr DPL 700 comes in a square white box with on the top of it an image of the included software. Apart from the Gisteq PhotoTrackr DPL700 we also find in the box; a USB cable, a carabiner, a software CD and an AA battery. You're supposed to attach the carabiner to the PhotoTrackr and then to your trousers so you won't lose the device. The included software is compatible with both Windows XP and Windows Vista.

Gisteq GPS review

The GPS Photo Locator PhotoTrackr DPL700 is a compact device; remarkably easy to carry with you. Configuration of the included software requires putting some effort into but once finished the software is very user-friendly. Adding the correct PhotoTrackr data to the correct pictures happens fast and accurate. The result is beautiful and it offers the ideal solution for people travelling a lot and writing reports on their journeys.

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Microsoft Autoroute 2006 review

Microsoft has been publishing Autoroute for years. It actually started out as a tool for businesses

that Microsoft purchased and turned into a more consumer friendly product. It’s been through a few ups and downs, but for the 2006 edition Microsoft seems to have reinvented Autoroute in an attempt to capture what is becoming a real growth market – GPS based navigation.

You get several applications in the package. The core software is Autoroute 2006 itself, and is for your PC or laptop, but you also get Pocket Streets for both Pocket PC and Windows Mobile Smartphone.

Pocket Streets is not a fully fledged piece of navigation software. It can display a map you export from Autoroute 2006, and your position can be plotted on that map if you attach a GPS antenna to your device. You can find places including points of interest, but you can’t get routing directions between two places. Think of it as a very feature limited supplement to the main Autoroute software, and you’ll be OK. If you are looking for Pocket PC or Windows Smartphone based navigation software

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Streetdeck, Complete Navigation and Entertainment System for the Digital Car

MP3Car has released Streetdeck, a complete navigation and entertainment system for the digital car. The complete StreetDeck system consists of two parts the hardware and the software. The hardware includes a car computer with some really nice specs.

Intel Celeron M processor 1.5 GHz 1Mb cache 400Mhz FSB
Supports up to 2.26GHz, 400MHz/533MHz FSB
One 512 MB DDR2 SDRAM DIMM, max. 1GB memory (1 memory slot)
Onboard 10/100 ethernet port
Intel ® 915GM VGA for CRT / 18-bit dual channel LVDS
2 SATA ports
4 USB 2.0 ports
2x PCI, 1x miniPCI, 1xPCI-E(x1) slots, optional single/dual DVI card
Audio - High end surround sound processing circutiry
Serial Ports - two RS-232 ports
Serial ATA - supports 2 ports
USB (2.0) - supports 4 USB ports
Keyboard and Mouse Connector - PS/2 type
Expansion Slot - 2 PCI, 1 MiniPcI
60GB HD
Vehicle Diagnostics - requires OBD-II connector (not included)
Camera support requires camera purchase and connecting hardware (not included)
FM radio requires FM tuner (not included)
Bluetooth phone integration requires bluetooth chip (not included)(chip in final development)
Satellite Radio required XM direct box and Cable (not included)

The computer is controlled via a 7″ touchscreen with the following specifications:

Screen size: 7 inches, diagonal (16:9)
7-inch digital TFT LCD (new panel)
LCD brightness (cd/m2): 400
Resolution (pixel): 800 RGB x 400
Dot resolution: 2,400 x 480 = 1,152,000 (dots)
Supported resolution: 640 x 480 - 1,600 x 1,200
Master dimensions (W x D x H): 178 x 155 x 50mm
Touch screen interface: USB port (RS232 optional)
Operating voltage: 10.5 to 14V DC
For in-car PC, DVD player, GPS, and various VGA applications
In-dash type, fully motorized TFT LCD
Contrast ratio: 300:1
Diagonal size 16:9 and 4:3 adjustable
4-wire resistive touch screen panel (USB)
Multi-monitor touch screen support
VGA input (15-pin D-sub)
USB interface
Video input system: NTSC/PAL/SECAM auto switching
Three RCA video inputs
Upgraded high-brightness CCFL

Now about some of the features of the StreeDeck system.

The Navigation system provides auto rotating maps with the current direction always up, bird’s eye view, voice guided turn by turn instructions and automating rerouting. You can plan your routes based on address, POI, selection from maps, intersection or coordinates.

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