Jackson Parker

625 posts
Garmin Launches First Touchscreen GPS Watch and Heart Monitor

This week Garmin launched an all-new touchscreen navigation GPS watch and heart rate monitor, the Forerunner 610. This GPS navigation device is the first of its kind. Designed mainly for runners, the Garmin Forerunner 610 will bring GPS to the masses in a way like never before.

The Garmin navigation device uses GPS and an integrated heartbeat monitor to record every aspect of your run, including pace, distance, heart rate and calories burned. Once your workout is finished, the device can upload your info to Garmin’s Connect website for further analysis and training program optimization.

Often times, it’s Murphy’s Law, that when you really need your GPS navigation, you realize you left it at home or your cel phone GPS tracking system isn’t getting reception. But with the Garmin Forerunner 610, since it is a watch, it will be with you all the time. It has a rechargeable battery that will last up to eight hours in training mode.

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IBM’s Smarter Traveler Aims to Save Drivers From Traffic

No one likes wasting time and money sitting in traffic. Did you know that due to traffic congestion in the US, most people waste an average of a week’s worth of time, 28 gallons of gas and $808 over the course of a year? With IBM’s new Smarter Traveler Research Initiative, wasting time and gas sitting in traffic may become a thing of the past.

Yesterday IBM (NYSE: IBM) announced a joint initiative with the California Department of Transportation and the California Center for Innovative Transportation, to develop an intelligent transportation solution that will help commuters avoid congestion and enable transportation agencies to better understand, predict and manage traffic flow.

Even with advances in GPS system navigation, real-time traffic alerts and mapping, daily commute times are often unreliable, and relevant updates on how to avoid congestion often reach drivers when they are already stuck in traffic and it is too late to change course. This problem is what led IBM researchers to develop their new project, called Smarter Traveler. The Smarter Traveler system is going to collect and analyze traffic data from over 1,000 sensors already embedded in the cement at toll booths, bridges, roads and intersections in the San Francisco Bay area.

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Gas Prices Expected to Break 2008 Record Highs

Gas prices have increased for the past 24 consecutive days and no one knows exactly how high they will go this year. Gas prices have risen 81 cents since the beginning of this year. Several experts are predicting that gas prices will break the highest ever recorded prices, set in 2008.

According to the AAA Fuel Gauge Report, the highest ever recorded average price in the US for gallon of unleaded regular gas is $4.11. For diesel gas, the record high is $4.84 per gallon. Both records were set on July 17, 2008.

In some areas, gas prices have already surpassed those levels. According to Gasbuddy.com, the highest prices are in Honolulu, where the average is $4.38. San Francisco is averaging $4.23. In Los Angeles, gas is averaging $4.20 a gallon. In Chicago and San Diego, it’s averaging $4.17. In Gary, IN and Long Island, NY, gas prices are averaging $4.01. In Miami, gas is at $3.87. The lowest gas prices are in Tucson, where gas is averaging $3.50.

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GPS Devices to be Deployed After FBI Busts Building Inspectors

Recently the FBI caught two building inspectors in Los Angeles County taking bribes in exchange for signing off on construction work. Now LA County says they want to start using GPS tracking devices to monitor all of their building inspectors.

According to FBI documents filed last week, the FBI bust involved an undercover informant and two building inspectors caught on videotape taking bribes in exchange for the approval of construction work. In some instances inspections were not even conducted. The informant paid over 40 bribes to the shady building inspectors. Bribes included cash, free building materials, free labor and, a free vacation.

Building and Safety spokesman David Lara told the LA Times that his department sent a series of recommendations to LA Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, including a move to use GPS tracking devices for all building inspectors in the future. “For us, it’s mostly about making sure our inspectors are where they’re supposed to be,” Lara said. “With the latest turn of events, it’s too bad that we’ve had to take that type of measure. But we feel in the long run it would provide better control for our supervisors.”

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North Korea Caught Jamming GPS System Signals in South Korea

GPS systems are very reliable, but they are vulnerable to jamming. North Korea was recently busted taking advantage of this fact. According to several news outlets and the top US military commander in Korea, Walter Sharp, North Korea has been jamming global-positioning-satellite (GPS system) signals used in South Korea for military and commercial purposes. Sneaky! Sharp was the first U.S. official to publicly confirm allegations of jamming made by South Koreans.

The GPS system jamming signals are interfering with both military and civilian GPS system signals. North Korea has been trying to jam mobile phones in the Seoul area, as well as GPS tracking devices used by South Korean military forces. Because of the jamming, some mobile phones both used by civilians and soldiers have not been working properly. Additionally, certain military equipment has been affected and has not been working properly, such as distance measurement devices used by artillery units.

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Gas Prices Currently Up 33% From 2010 Prices

he national average price for a gallon of regular gasoline is $3.79, up about 33% from $2.86 last year, according to the EIA. Don’t expect any relief soon, as more price increases are on the horizon as we head into the peak summer driving season. The EIA has predicted gas prices will continue increasing throughout the year and will top $5 a gallon in a few US states such as California.

Yesterday average gas prices across the US ranged from:

* Boston $3.490
* Chicago $3.756
* Cleveland $ 3.552
* Denver $ 3.393
* Houston $ 3.467
* Los Angeles $ 4.060
* Miami $ 3.701
* NYC $ 3.605
* San Francisco $ 4.044
* Seattle $ 3.775

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Gas Prices Expected to Top $5 a Gallon This Summer

Gas prices are incredibly high right now and there is no relief in sight. Gas prices are expected to rise 40% for the peak summer driving season compared with 2010, according to an estimate released yesterday from the US Energy Information Administration (EIA). Most experts agree with the federal prediction, and are saying that consumers and businesses should prepare as gas prices are expected to continue increasing over the next several months.

These predictions are saying that the average price for gas in the US will top $4 per gallon. According to the EIA, the current average price in the US for a gallon of unleaded regular gas is $3.79. One year ago, gas prices were at $2.86, an increase of 93 cents. In California, Hawaii and Alaska, gas prices are expected to reach over $5 per gallon. The average price for a gallon of unleaded regular gas in California is currently $4.02.

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Pandora Music App Under Fed’l Investigation for Leaking User Info

All people who are using the Pandora music app on their iPhone or Android smartphones should be aware. The Pandora app is revealing your personal information to third party advertisers without your knowledge or consent, according to the application security company Veracode. The information can be used to determine your gender, birth date, zip code, and your location using GPS system coordinates.

Pandora recently announced the company has been served a subpoena as part of a federal grand-jury investigation regarding this matter. Pandora must now produce documents about its data collection practices. Although results from the Federal investigation results of the investigation aren’t in yet, Internet security firm Veracode decided to conduct its own research.

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Ryder Expands Green Fleet of Natural Gas Hybrid Trucks

Ryder is working hard to expand its Green Fleet. The company recently announced it has ordered over 200 trucks powered by compressed natural gas. Ryder’s all-new fleet of hybrid trucks will help the company and its customers to maximize fuel efficiency while minimizing costs, and reduce vehicle emissions – a win-win for the environment and the bottom line.

When traveling at low speeds, the hybrid electric motor supplies power to the truck, resulting in reduced fuel consumption and emissions. According to Ryder, natural gas is a domestic resource and it is 25 percent cleaner than the cleanest diesel. When your company commits to going Green, you demonstrate corporate and environmental responsibility and business savvy.

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Gas Prices Up 12 Cents in One Week, Diesel Up 6 Cents

The average price for a gallon of unleaded regular gas in the US on April 8, 2011 is $3.73, according to the AAA Fuel Gauge Report. Gas prices have risen 12 cents in the past week. One week ago the average gas price was $3.61. Gas prices have risen 21 cents in the past month. One month ago gas prices were at $3.52.

Typically Hawaii and Alaska have the highest gas prices in the US, but today California gas prices are higher than in Alaska. In California, the average price for a gallon of regular unleaded gas is $4.12, the highest price in the continental US. Only Hawaii has higher prices at $4.38 a gallon. In Alaska, gas is averaging $4.11.

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Microsoft and Toyota Team Up for Cloud Based Vehicle Telematics System

The world’s largest automaker, Toyota (TM), and the world’s largest software company, Microsoft (MSFT), recently announced they are teaming up to bring a cloud computing telematics system to vehicles in the US. The goal of the new partnership is to complete a global cloud platform by 2015, combining groundbreaking technology with an affordable telematics system for Toyota drivers.

The new system isn’t an entertainment package, but rather a means of sending content and information to and from vehicles, computers and mobile devices. The new telematics-based system will give vehicles access to streaming music, telecommunications information, GPS navigation and energy management. The idea is to connect vehicles to servers around the world, eliminating the need for a lot of hardware and software in the vehicle.

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Rapist Caught Red-Handed with GPS Tracking Device

Back in 2008, FairFax County Police were investigating a slew of sexual assaults, when David L. Foltz Jr., a registered sex offender, became a person of interest in the case. Detectives then covertly placed a GPS tracking system on a vehicle that Foltz was driving for work, without first obtaining a warrant.

After placing the GPS tracking device on the suspect’s vehicle, the data revealed that the suspect was in fact near the scene of another sexual assault. With this knowledge, officers began trailing Foltz.

While he was being followed by police, Foltz attempted to sexually assault a woman. The trailing officers intervened and stopped the act. They caught Foltz forcefully trying to unbutton the victim’s pants.

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AAA Says Driving Costs Up Due to Gas, Tire Prices

The cost of owning and operating a vehicle in the US is increasing, according to a AAA Driving Costs Report released this week. Anyone who has filled up their gas tank recently will not find the data in this report a big surprise. The Driving Costs Report said the cost to own and operate a sedan in the U.S. has risen 3.4 percent the past 12 months to 58.6 cents a mile for a small sedan, 73.9 cents a mile for a medium sedan and 96.4 cents a mile for a large sedan, assuming 10,000 miles driven per year.

It is important to note that gas prices were much lower at the time this report was being put together. Today the costs to own and operate a vehicle are actually much higher than the AAA Report indicates.

The AAA Driving Costs Report also says drivers are paying 1.9 percent more than last year to keep their cars on the road. The average yearly price tag is now up to $8,776, which works out to 58.5 cents per mile based on a 15,000 miles per year average. AAA calculates the cost of a year of ownership at 58.5 cents per mile for 15,000 miles. Owning a small car costs an estimated $6,758, while owning a large sedan costs $10,982. A mid-size sport utility vehicle costs an estimated $11,239.

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FieldLogix Launches the “Lite” Entry-Level GPS Tracking Solution

FieldLogix today announced the launch of a new version of its GPS fleet management system called FieldLogix Lite, an entry-level, real-time GPS vehicle tracking system. You can track one vehicle or manage your entire fleet with FieldLogix Lite at a lower monthly cost than the standard plan.

FieldLogix Lite is an entry-level GPS fleet tracking system that offers a perfect set of features for those who just want basic GPS tracking information at a lower cost. FieldLogix Lite has a basic set of GPS fleet tracking features for companies that want to experience FieldLogix, but are not ready to commit to the full-featured offering. Best of all, FieldLogix Lite users can upgrade the more advanced versions of FieldLogix without having to replace the GPS vehicle tracking devices.

The Lite plan includes:
– Google maps with real-time traffic and satellite views
– A closest vehicle to address search tool for improved dispatching
– Breadcrumb history report
– Stop details report
– Start-end report
– Mileage report
– Idling report
– Restricted zone (geo-fence) alerts
– Device tampering alerts

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Major Fleets Join Obama’s Clean Fleet Partnership

AT&T (NYSE: T), FedEx (NYSE: FDX), PepsiCo (NYSE: PEP), UPS (NYSE: UPS) and Verizon (NYSE: VZ) are the charter members of the US National Clean Fleet Partnership, announces last week by Obama. The US National Clean Fleet Partnership (CFP) is a public-private partnership between the US Government and several of the nation’s largest fleets.

The primary goal of the Clean Fleet Partnership is to assist large companies in reducing their diesel and gasoline use by utilizing electric vehicles, alternative fuels, and fuel-saving measures into their daily operations. President Obama said the Clean Fleet Partnership includes a number of measures to help the US shift to a clean energy economy, reducing our dependence on oil, protecting our planet, and spurring economic growth through cleaner and more efficient, cars, and trucks.

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Gas Prices Rise For 8th Consecutive Week

Gas prices have increased 6 cents in the last 7 days. This is the 8th consecutive week of gas price increases. The average price for a gallon of unleaded regular gas in the US is $3.66, according to the AAA Fuel Gauge Report and Oil Price Information Service, in cooperation with Wright Express on April 4, 2011. One week ago, the national average was $3. 58. One year ago the average price for a gallon of unleaded regular gas in the US was $2.82, which is 84 cents less than today’s price.

The US average for a gallon of diesel gas is currently at $3.98, a 2.5 cent increase from one week ago.

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DHL Launches Eco-Friendly Vehicles in New York

DHL, a global leader in logistics, is launching a green fleet of commercial delivery vehicles in Manhattan this year to help reduce its impact on the city’s environment. DHL’s all-new green fleet of commercial vehicles will reduce carbon dioxide emissions by more than 50 percent each year in comparison to conventional vehicles, according to DHL’s website.

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GPS Fleet Management Expert Appointed to CA Emergency Medical Services

GPS fleet tracking and fleet management solutions expert Aaron Hamilton was recently appointed by California Governor Jerry Brown to the California Emergency Medical Services Authority (EMSA). Mr. Hamilton was chosen by the Governor to enhance EMSA’s ability to utilize emerging communications and GPS tracking technology to respond to serious emergencies and potential terrorist threats, according to a press release.

This is a very important appointment by the Governor, as it recognizes Aaron as a leader in GPS fleet tracking. According to the Governor’s office, ” Aaron very may well be the foremost expert in GPS-based fleet deployment and management technologies.”

Hamilton is CEO of GPS Logic, a California-based GPS software technology company. In this role, Mr. Hamilton is the lead technology engineer responsible for all GPS fleet management and mobile data communications architecture and software. Through GPS Logic, Hamilton’s software systems have been recognized by nationally known leaders from government and business for their cutting edge innovations and advancements in GPS tracking, web and mobile gateway technologies.

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