GPS - what to buy - GSM32 guide - Part I

Posted in: GPS |

Summer is here and the holiday vacation is getting closer and closer.

If you want to go at seaside, in the mountains, or just visit your friend - if is by car, you’ll need a GPS.
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Built-in your car, a standalone GPS or a PDA - 80% of drivers have such a device.

But, there are always the questions :
Which GPS is better ?
Which GPS is faster ?
Which GPS suits my needs ?
Which GPS is easier to use ?
Which GPS features more gadgets ?
Which GPS has an easier software ?
-=- WHICH GPS SUITS ME ? -=-

Here at GSM32.com we have a member without a GPS and an entire continent to drive.

Next we’ll present his story, in parts, from the beginning to the end of the trip.

Starting with : INTRODUCTION
GPS history lesson ( science mambo-jambo)

Basically a GPS is a radio system similar to LORAN or Decca Navigator which were invented in the early ‘40. During the second world war, USA launched the Sputnik in 1957 to spy and listen radio transmissions. They also discovered that because the Doppler effect, the frequency of the signal was getting stronger or weaker due to distance. (wikipedia and google for Doppler and duuuuh the signal is stronger if you are closer to the source) . They saw that a position of the satellite can be determined by that Doppler distortion. The first navigation system was functional in 1960 with generosity of US Marine, with 5 satellites and named Tranist was able to offer the exact positioning once an hour. In 1970 Omega Navigation System was the first navigation system in the world.

These days there are 24 satellites (+ 7 for more precise data ) in the sky based on the same technology from the ‘60

GPS stands from Global Positioning System.

GPS : How does this s^&* work ?

A GPS device just takes the signals from space emitted by the 31 satellites, and translates them. Basically you need 4 satellites to get a good reading of the position.

Why 4 satellites ? :

  1. longitude
  2. latitude
  3. altitude
  4. time

You have in space 31 satellites - 6 x 4 (in all world places) and 7 more to help you for the best information. The GPS receives the signal and data, calculates them and there you go, it shows where you are.

In GPS there are 3 variables :

  1. satellites
  2. control
  3. you

1: and 2: Satellites&control (Scientific mambo-jumbo)

There are currently 31 satellites in a way that there are at least 6 of them available for you wherever you are. Thy are at an altitude of 20200km and in one day they complete 2 cycles around the world. The trajectories are followed by USA Airforce and NGA (National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency) and the satellites are controlled by them. (a fine job they are doing, must admit)

3: User (aka You)

You “have” a GPS device that is tuned to “listen” to those satellites, an antenna, a receiver (SiRF Star III), a processor, stable watch (most of the times crystal based oscillator) and software. The GPS connects to the satellites in channels - remember 4 are enough, but now you find 12 channels (most of GPS and PDA’s) and even 20 channels.

HINT -=- some of the most awarded GPS devices are Asus R700 and from PDA’s Asus 696. Most of the PDA’s have also a GPS receiver. Now your mobile phone also might have GPS (if you are a Nokia Fan, ex: 6111 Navigator, N95, N82, so on…. some of them include also A-GPS - aka Assisted GPS)

What if Microsoft would make iPhone ?

Posted in: Apple, YouTube fun |

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Ever wondered if Microsoft would make some iPhones, how the applications would look like ?
Here’s a hint, video after the break.
(more…)

The new iPhone 3G home made video call camera

Posted in: Apple |

If you want to make a videocall, and your iPhone 3G doesn’t have a secondary camera (like other do), than you might need a do-it-yoursself video call camera.

Here is the brief scheme you need to pull this off.

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The component you need to make a secondary camera for iPhone 3G are :

1 Videoconference iPhone 3G Kit
2 iPhone 3G
3 Yourself

The Dark Knight aka Nokia 6205

Posted in: GSM News |

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He’s coming, he’s coming, he’s here have no fear… dark man is back, Dark Knight is here.
With the release of latest Batman movie - aka fancy name : Dark Knight, Nokia is going to sell a limited edition of 6205. The phone will feature a 1,3Mp camera, microSD card support, Bluetooth and Dark Knight wallpapers, voice tones, live screensavers and a full trailer (like you aren’t good enough to youtube it). All this at just $70 with 2 years contract from Verizon.
What you are not a fan of batman ? Ok, than don’t buy it :)

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Via 2dayblog

It’s a Wii, It’s a phone - no it’s F305 from SonyEricsson

Posted in: GSM News |

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Wii we say, because it has a built in accelerometer with motion sensing and Wii-like games (just look at the bowling picture).
The Sony Ericsson F305 is more like a Wiimote with sensors, gaming buttons, stereo speakers and vibrations. But it also features a cell phone with 2″ inch color display and WiFi.
Oh well, if C902 is a 8,2 Mp digital camera phone and F305 is a Wiimote-like phone we are safe to say that Sony Ericsson is running out of design ideas and getting desperate.

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Via 2dayblog

Sony Ericsson C905 - Official

Posted in: GSM News |

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OK, we’ve heard about the 8Mp camera phone from Sony Ericsson, yes ? no ?
What is this C905 camera phone is going to bring us ?

More, after the break.
(more…)

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