How bout a gps widget lol ...it says "you are here"
Sure, no problem... assuming a connected GPS communication and it can report the longitude and latitude info, one could use the Google Maps API to display the map and location.
I could see GPS possitioning and cellular connectivity being added to the iPod. By the way there's been rumors of Apple including GPRS/EDGE wireless technologies in it's next PowerBook right? They're hiring a bunch of Sony Viao engineers that recently built a Viao Laptop with built in EDGE. For those not familiar with EDGE, it's real wireless internet over the cellular network. Not Wi-Fi. There's a huge amount of hype around Wi-Fi and the mobility it offers but it's more hype than substance as a standard Wi-Fi base station still can only cover one's home. Where as EDGE is a more go anywhere solution.
it could be used to track you too....be careful for what you wish for
Yeah so people can track you, that's nothing new. That's something we'll just have to get used to and accept these days because it's unfortunately already easy to do.
The issue should turn to preventing people from abusing those capibilities. Just because people "can" track you does not mean they should be following you around or stealing your identity, etc...
Yeah so people can track you, that's nothing new. That's something we'll just have to get used to and accept these days because it's unfortunately already easy to do.
The issue should turn to preventing people from abusing those capibilities. Just because people "can" track you does not mean they should be following you around or stealing your identity, etc...
Agreed...but in my cell phone for example, it can be turned on for anyone to track, or it can be set so that only 911 can track it. However, it would be relatively simple (I assume) for Apple to restrict tracking to laptop owners only.
I would definitely like to see this as a feature, especially since I'll soon be a college student, and a feature such as this would at least add an extra layer of security.
I would definitely like to see this as a feature, especially since I'll soon be a college student, and a feature such as this would at least add an extra layer of security.
False sense of security, Having a GPS enabled laptop, will not make it harder to steal it. It could make it easier to find after it's been stolen.
I use a Thrane & Thrane Inmarsat receiver. It does display my lat and long and I can use that at their mapping service to find out where I'm at and how to get directions. The truth is that though I travel thousands of miles each year, I usually already know where I am and where I'm going. I used the feature once, just to see what it does. That's it.
Since Apple is probebly going to use Intel wireless chips, that meens the onlything coming down the pipe anytime soon would be WiMax and 802.11n support (once it gets ratified).
Its not cost effective to make dedicated silicon for a non-standard networking system on a mass produced and widely used product like a laptop.
Intel however is working on a chip that could alter antena frequency and reprogram itself on the fly. This could allow it to work on any network in theiory.
Beyond that I have a socket bluetooth GPS. I like it a lot. However I dont think there is any mac software I would trust for detailed GPS based navigation. I use Destinator and its far better then Tom and Route 66.
Since Apple is probebly going to use Intel wireless chips, that meens the onlything coming down the pipe anytime soon would be WiMax and 802.11n support (once it gets ratified).
Its not cost effective to make dedicated silicon for a non-standard networking system on a mass produced and widely used product like a laptop.
Intel however is working on a chip that could alter antena frequency and reprogram itself on the fly. This could allow it to work on any network in theiory.
I gave a lecture on WiMax for a grad class a few months back. Right now WiMax is more Intel hype for investors than it is actual technology nearing the market. There are both political and technological issues preventing WiMax from reaching the market. While this is true of most new technologies, the issues are extremely severe here. For instance there spectrum needed for WiMax is not really clear for use. Additionally cellular phone providers will buy out companies developing WiMax (as if they're going to use/help the technology) only to shut them down. Unless the cell providers offer WiMax themselves (they don't like change) WiMax can threaten their bussiness models. Thus they'll try and stall WiMax at all costs. When you hear about Sprint or any of the others investing in WiMax, their investing in it to control and block it.
I use to use a DeLorme GpsTripmate on a Wallstreet. It was a good unit but I only used it about 20 times in 2 years. When I upgraded to a TI 500 which had no serial connectors I stopped using it. Since then I have used an iWay 500c in a car and the eTrex Legend for outdoor use. Having the big display of a laptop would be great but it is not practical for most car or outdoor use. Also I don't know of any software for a laptop that also provides voice which is something that I now think of a requirement for GPS's. Now if they incorporated it into an iPod with an oversized color screen 8)
Comments
http://www.deluoelectronics.com/cust...&cat=17&page=1
JB
1) GPS USA - National Geographic
http://maps.nationalgeographic.com/topo/gps.cfm
2) Route 66 USA 2004
http://www.66.com/route66/products.p...c=0&prodid=716
Thanks for your input!
Originally posted by mercury7
How bout a gps widget lol ...it says "you are here"
Sure, no problem... assuming a connected GPS communication and it can report the longitude and latitude info, one could use the Google Maps API to display the map and location.
Should be dead simple to implement.
Originally posted by mynamehere
Actually, GPS in laptops, especially high end laptops like the PB could be used to track the laptop in case of theft. That could be really useful.
it could be used to track you too....be careful for what you wish for
Originally posted by mercury7
it could be used to track you too....be careful for what you wish for
Yeah so people can track you, that's nothing new. That's something we'll just have to get used to and accept these days because it's unfortunately already easy to do.
The issue should turn to preventing people from abusing those capibilities. Just because people "can" track you does not mean they should be following you around or stealing your identity, etc...
Originally posted by ngmapple
Yeah so people can track you, that's nothing new. That's something we'll just have to get used to and accept these days because it's unfortunately already easy to do.
The issue should turn to preventing people from abusing those capibilities. Just because people "can" track you does not mean they should be following you around or stealing your identity, etc...
Agreed...but in my cell phone for example, it can be turned on for anyone to track, or it can be set so that only 911 can track it. However, it would be relatively simple (I assume) for Apple to restrict tracking to laptop owners only.
I would definitely like to see this as a feature, especially since I'll soon be a college student, and a feature such as this would at least add an extra layer of security.
Originally posted by mynamehere
I would definitely like to see this as a feature, especially since I'll soon be a college student, and a feature such as this would at least add an extra layer of security.
False sense of security, Having a GPS enabled laptop, will not make it harder to steal it. It could make it easier to find after it's been stolen.
Originally posted by ThinkingDifferent
False sense of security, Having a GPS enabled laptop, will not make it harder to steal it. It could make it easier to find after it's been stolen.
even better since a laptop is so easy to steal.
Its not cost effective to make dedicated silicon for a non-standard networking system on a mass produced and widely used product like a laptop.
Intel however is working on a chip that could alter antena frequency and reprogram itself on the fly. This could allow it to work on any network in theiory.
Beyond that I have a socket bluetooth GPS. I like it a lot. However I dont think there is any mac software I would trust for detailed GPS based navigation. I use Destinator and its far better then Tom and Route 66.
Originally posted by cwestpha
Since Apple is probebly going to use Intel wireless chips, that meens the onlything coming down the pipe anytime soon would be WiMax and 802.11n support (once it gets ratified).
Its not cost effective to make dedicated silicon for a non-standard networking system on a mass produced and widely used product like a laptop.
Intel however is working on a chip that could alter antena frequency and reprogram itself on the fly. This could allow it to work on any network in theiory.
I gave a lecture on WiMax for a grad class a few months back. Right now WiMax is more Intel hype for investors than it is actual technology nearing the market. There are both political and technological issues preventing WiMax from reaching the market. While this is true of most new technologies, the issues are extremely severe here. For instance there spectrum needed for WiMax is not really clear for use. Additionally cellular phone providers will buy out companies developing WiMax (as if they're going to use/help the technology) only to shut them down. Unless the cell providers offer WiMax themselves (they don't like change) WiMax can threaten their bussiness models. Thus they'll try and stall WiMax at all costs. When you hear about Sprint or any of the others investing in WiMax, their investing in it to control and block it.
reg