... And then it got complicated October 2007 By: Jeff Chappell

GPS Maniac puts on its thinking cap--scary as that might be, but then it is Halloween--and breaks down what the Garmin/TomTom tug-o'-war over map supplier Tele Atlas means for us consumers of GPS gizmos and related services.

Blastoff! Latest GPS bird flies into orbit October 2007 By: Jeff Chappell

The latest GPS Block IIR satellite, designated GPS IIR-17M, lifted off successfully from Cape Canaveral down in Florida. The launch brings us one satellite closer to significantly improved accuracy for civilian satellite navigation.

And then there were ... October 2007 By: Jeff Chappell

... not many. End users of GPS gizmos probably won't notice any difference in the immediate future. But with Tele Atlas going to TomTom and Navteq going to Nokia, what does this mean for digital mapping and PNDs in the long run?

Will GPS lead to robot cars? September 2007 By: Jeff Chappell

The Stanford University professor who, along with his students, successfully created a self-controlled car discusses the next step, and what might happen if we could get GPS accuracy down from a couple of meters to a couple of centimeters.

No bumps in GPS ground control upgrade September 2007 By: Jeff Chappell

Ground control to Major Tom: the upgrade went off without a hitch; no dead circuits here. The U.S. Air Force tells us that the migration from the old '70s-era mainframe computer to the new mod server-based system went as planned.

Selective Availability goes bye bye September 2007 By: Jeff Chappell

While the intentional degradation of the civil GPS signal has been turned off since 2000, the White House said today it's doing away with it for good. So it will be good to know we won't have to sweat the possibility of SA coming back in the future.

TomTom for ToyToyota buyers September 2007 By: Jeff Chappell

Now you can get the best of both navigation worlds from the dealer. We've seen after-market car stereo systems that feature integrated portable navigation devices, now Toyota offers the option on the new Yaris, its entry-level vehicle.

Sprint sprinting ahead in LBS? September 2007 By: Jeff Chappell

Location-based services offered through GPS-enabled phones are just getting started; it's been a particularly slow market to develop in the U.S. But market researchers believe it is poised to bloom, and Sprint has brought the watering can and fertilizer, one analysis suggests.

GPS: ready for its closeup, Mr. DeMille August 2007 By: Jeff Chappell

Run! Run for your lives! But DON'T GO TO THOSE COORDINATES! GPS technology and geocaching gets a starring role in the indie thriller flick GPS: The Movie. Next thing you know GPS will be partying on Sunset Boulevard with Paris Hilton.