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Garmin has entered the mobile phone race as of tonight, with the release of the Nuvi Phone, a touchscreen phone that of course includes a GPS and navigation. I guess the rumors of them working on a phone from last April were true...The Nuviphone will use 3.5G technology, and creates what Garmin is calling its future. The new phone will help them answer the marketplace trend that has more and more phones becoming the navigation vehicle of choice.
It will be interesting to see how the details on the phone look.
Press release below....
Mio and Qualcomm announced that they are teaming up to work on a new Mio connected GPS capability. Mio has been talking about connected GPS and now has the partnership to be able to do it in fairly short order I would imagine. The connectivity will allow for higher bandwidth traffic updates and better search abilities. The interface challenge becomes more substantial when you add these items because you need to make this a "60 MPH" interface, and not a web browser that can be read at your leisure.
So, just a few months ago, it looked like Dash Navigation, the pioneers in cellular connected GPS, looked line the lone horse, now Magellan, TomTom and Mio have weighed into the fight. I would imagine that Garmin will have something either at CeBit this March or late this summer for a Holiday launch.
A lot of readers write in and ask "When will the Price drop on this GPS?". Well the answer might just lie in looking back at the price trends over the last 12+ months. I've been doing this GPS blog long enough to know that there are a couple of key periods when prices will drop on existing models so that you can grab them at the right time.
If you can wait a month or so, another buying opportunity might just be around the corner in March. Now, just like any consumer electronics business, there are great sales that blow the following logic out of the water, but I am looking at a general trend.
Overall, there are three times when significant price drops happen.
1) New models hit the shelves ahead of the summer driving season - Older models tend to drop in price as a result. This happened last year in March, as the CES 2007 models hit the store shelves as CeBit show units were announced. This is all in preparation for the summer driving season which is a big GPS time of year. In the image above you can see that prices took a dive in March and that prices stay fairly steady through the summer driving season.
2) Holiday shopping season - Crazy time of year, and there is the other big price drop opportunity. The drops come in staggering jolts and at some outlets, not all, but generally it is a time of amazing discounting.
3) Just After a New Model's Launch - This isn't shown on this chart above because the Nuvi 350 was well established in the market by the time this data was collected, but usually new models launch at a pretty high price and then within 6 - 12 weeks, drop down to more normal pricing. This is just the way electronics are. For those who remember, the Nuvi 350, just known as the "Nuvi" back in September 2005, was launched and priced close to $1,000. The flat GPS market was born and the rest is history....
It is interesting to note that the prices through the summer driving season are essentially flat on this established model. It was not the case for newly introduced models as they dropped in price across the summer. Likewise, on models that compete with those new models dropped in price. So last summer, the Nuvi 200 was introduced and its price dropped across the summer; the TomTom ONE also kept pace to make sure it was competitive.
The data above was grabbed off of my Steals and Deals posts where I highlight the best deals out there on any given week. The prices reflect Amazon pricing, not always the lowest, but always close and from my reader feedback, a place that they trust. The prices are for the Garmin Nuvi 350, a unit that has been in the market for a long time and has defined high quality and high appeal for almost the entire time it's been on the market. It's been the most popular GPS on the US market for months, and at times when these big price drops happen, it's the #1 seller in all of Amazon's Electronics stores, outselling digital cameras and iPods.
Hope this helps.
The Mio C720T is Mio's is the new top of the line Mio that combines the great features of the Mio C520 with a new TMC traffic cradle to offer what is finally becoming an important and more popular feature for those weary commuters who deal with traffic congestion on a daily basis. The widescreen unit features not only traffic alert and re-routing capabilities but Mio's split screen capability with a tabbed interface that puts a lot of information at your fingertips while comfortably navigating along with the map displayed. The Mio C720T also includes a 2 Mega Pixel camera that allows you to grab pictures of things along the way. Hey if your cell phone has a camera, why can't your GPS?
With Text-to-speech and Bluetooth handsfree capability the Mio C720T sits firmly in the premium segment, but like all Mios, the price is more comfortable than other units on the shelf.
GE is coming out with with a new GPS equipped camera that will allow you to geotag all of your photos. The new camera, the E1050 will automatically goe-encode your pictures with location information as long as it is able to grab a GPS signal, which will cover most outdoor situations and if my experience with GPS receivers using high sensitivity chips, many indoor situations too (single floor woodframe houses). The camera will also come equipped with a couple of other cool features:
It's a 10 MP camera and it's going to be available this spring for about $250 list price.
Via Yahoo! Tech
Big news on Inrix today for those weary drivers who drive I-95 and a core part of the east coast on a regular basis. The WSJ is reporting that the I-95 Coalition will announce today that they are working with Inrix to provide traffic data along the east coast including 2,500-mile continuous stretch of I-95 from New Jersey to North Carolina. The move lends some credibility to the Inrix model that relies not only on road sensors but on anonymous GPS probe vehicles (think GPS equipped trucks, and fleet vehicles) to assess traffic speed.
This particular deal will have the Departments of Transportation receiving Inrix data, and displaying the information about incidents and more importantly traffic flow on their own internet sites, and road signage. The coalition will also be getting historical speed data too, which may help them plan differently giving related firms the intelligence to send out trucks when traffic is expected to be better, relieving congestion for the rest of us.
Inrix data will be collected and can be sent to you through the Clear Channel network to numerous GPS units using the TMC network, or the TomTom PLUS system using mobile phones as a data feed. Inrix data can also be had on TeleNav phone services.
The WSJ also reports that traffic jams cost Americans $78 billion in lost time and wasted gasoline. Think about that; it's half of the proposed amount for those economy boosting checks that we hope will start showing up from the government this spring.
The article appears on page D5 today of the WSJ. Thanks Jim for sending this in.
Press Release Follows...
The newest Nuvi to the Nuvi 700 series is the Nuvi 780, which comes with the MSN Direct receiver and a trial subscription to the service.
Announced just a few weeks ago at the CES 2008 show, the unit if full featured with a widescreen (4.3-inch), text to speech, and the expanded MSN Direct Version 2 which expands the services to include News, Stocks local events and "Send to GPS" capability from MSN Live Maps.
This Send to GPS feature can be especially helpful when doing searches on the internet and with a few clicks of the mouse, you can elect to send the location to your GPS. Go jump in the car and the location will show up under the "Web Favorites" button.
GPSNow is shipping the Garmin Nuvi 780 and had plenty in stock when I last checked.
At Amazon - Nuvi 780 with MSN Direct 2
According to NPD, market share of the GPS market moved around a bit in the last three months of the year. The same big names were there, but the percentages moved. Sure the big loser in share is Garmin - they had the market share to lose.
Unit Share Oct - Dec 2007
Garmin - 37%
TomTom - 27%
Magellan - 19%
Dollar Share Oct - Dec 2007
Garmin - 45%
TomTom - 24%
Magellan - 15%
So What?
Since Garmin's dollar share is higher than its unit share, that says that they held higher average prices across the holidays. TomTom with their low prices on the TomTom ONE ($129 - $149) had temporary price reductions to gain market share during the quarter. Pretty shrewd. Garmin on the other hand discounted steadily, but now can afford a lower priced option (the Nuvi 200) that is selling online for about $185. Clearly their fuller high end sold well also.
Magellan was in a similar place to TomTom, discounts and lower priced units going through the sales channel.
The big deal for TomTom is that once they have the consumers in their brand, they may just see their consumers trade up to more expensive devices down the road, as they stay competitive with new innovations and smart marketing.
In the end, the earnings are coming out later in February; we'll see how the strategies paid off in terms of near-term profits. Did the expanding market lead to better profits for all? Long-term, the market will just get more competitive and better prices for better units.... stay tuned.
From 2006 - the numbers were a little different...
Dollar Share Oct - Dec 2006
Garmin - 57%
TomTom - 15%
Magellan - 12%
Unit Share Oct - Dec 2006
Garmin - 51%
TomTom - 14%
File this under total speculation and wishful thinking, but with the new Garmin Colorado handheld series hitting the store shelves, you have to hope that a new RINO upgrade will be coming that is based on the Colorado platform. The new Colorado has an improved interface, with a high resolution display for new better quality maps.
When I reviewed the RINO 530 CSx last year, I loved the functionality and thought that communicating with others in your party was great. Being aware of where you are and where others are, can make a big difference when enjoying the outdoors.
So if the Rino 530 CSx is based on the previous high end handheld, the GPSMap 60 CSx, why not have a RINO with the newest features available on the new Garmin high end handheld, the Colorado series?
My admittedly bad photo-shopping of the image will give you the general idea....
The new Garmin Colorado 300, 400i, 400c, 400t are now available at various outlets, marking the step change in Garmin's line-up for handheld GPS models. The new Colorado series offers a big screen and the ability to see high resolution maps (including some beautiful shaded relief maps), share routes and waypoints wirelessly, and optionally add on cadence and heart rate monitors if you choose to use the unit as an uber-fitness model. I have used my Garmin eTrex Vista C as my bike computer for a long time; works great and get me a lot more usable information about my rides than regular bike computers. Avid hikers might like to add the heart rate monitor to collect more data as they hike through hills and mountains allowing them to chart elevation versus their heart rate.
INRIX in partnership with TomTom today announced an agreement to provide INRIX traffic and fuel pricing services for TomTom portable navigation devices via TomTom PLUS in the US. TomTom previously announced this month its TomTom Fuel Prices Services, provided by OPIS via INRIX, and will be available in Q1 2008 for $14.95 per year for TomTom GO 920 and GO 920T users.
Got word today that there is a new company launching a GPS line into the market; Empower. They will be selling these under the brand name "PowerPlay"
All three new models feature a large 4.3" widescreen LCD touch panel:
The P2800 model is designed for safety-conscious drivers, enabling drivers to see behind their vehicle when backing up. The menu displayed on the P2800's large LCD display also makes iPod song selection a breeze.
Empower will also sell the three models under its own "PowerPlay" brand through its consumer sales channels. OEM manufacturers and retailers have already expressed interest in these products.
The P2000 will be available for delivery in March. The P2200 and P2800 is slated for delivery in second quarter of this year. The suggested retail prices are: P2000 - $299, P2200 - $399 and P2800 - $499.
More at their website - Empower
Navigon has seemed to get quite a bit of attention n the market this holiday season, and so I thought I would pass along a video of their recent TV ad.
Just before Black Friday I posted my review of the Navigon 2100 GPS system; overall, not the best unit, but has certain aspects that are attractive, and several that are not. Check out my Full Review of the Navigon 2100.
Disney is working again with a GPS based system for use in their parks, this time using a Nintendo DS game console. Recall they were using specially programmed mobile phones for a Kim Possible location based game last year. The idea is that you can use the DS as an interactive map that is location aware; not positive if it actually has GPS capabilities, but it certainly pinpoints your whereabouts. Once you have the map and your location you can also tap into a whole lot of information:
You can click on the individual lands in the park and see instantly all the wait times. Let's use Liberty Square as an example. When you click on Liberty Square it will bring the land into full view. You can click on the Haunted Mansion and instantly see that it's wait time is twenty minutes. Click on the Liberty Tree Tavern and you can get a summary of their menu. From Around WDW News
You can click on the individual lands in the park and see instantly all the wait times. Let's use Liberty Square as an example. When you click on Liberty Square it will bring the land into full view. You can click on the Haunted Mansion and instantly see that it's wait time is twenty minutes. Click on the Liberty Tree Tavern and you can get a summary of their menu. From Around WDW News
Hummmm, so if they can tell you the menu do they tell you the outrageous prices on the menu too?
Via Tech Radar
TeleNav, the mobile handset navigation software company, is expanding in the UK as they have announced a partnership with T-Mobile there. The software is available for download to your mobile handset allowing you to create routes and get turn by turn navigation. Not only can you create routes on the handheld, but you can also create routes online and then send those routes to your handheld.
"There is no reason that anyone needs to invest in an expensive, in-car navigation system or a separate navigation device anymore," said Ian Tredgett, business director for TeleNav's European operations. "TeleNav GPS Navigator offers T-Mobile customers the same peace of mind and even more features. We developed our solution to exceed customer expectations, and we look forward to delighting T-Mobile customers with our commitment to service and satisfaction."
While you're reading up on TeleNav, you should stop by their blog and enter to win $200 in Free Gas.
More at TeleNav
Add this one to the growing number of connected GPS units; the Dreevo PND. This from France, has some decent stats, and a yet to be proven capability. The unit has connected real-time speed camera positioning which is a pretty big feature for Europe, email messaging, and the all important traffic information. Its 4 inch widescreen formatted touch screen is the pathway to controlling this SiRF star III powered GPS. The Dreevo stays connected through a GSM/GPRS modem.
Thanks Jim for sending this in.
Dreevo Product Page
It seems that in Georgia a thief used a forklift to steal an ATM, and when bank officials informed the Police that the GPS tracking device was turned on, and working, the tracking device led them to a pick-up truck driving down I-85. The pick-up wouldn't pull over, and eventually took one corner too quickly, resulting in the heavy ATM shifting in the bed of the truck, and the truck turning over. The driver was not hurt and taken into custody.
Word out of Europe says that Via Michelin is going to quit the GPS markets there. No word on the status of the small offering here in the US. Via Michelin, known for their tires and to some extent in this country their travel guides, tried to make a go of it i navigation devices by offering their content on GPS navigation systems. It does not appear that they were able to get as far as they wanted with the markets.
Magellan has taken a different track, by incorporating AAA (American Automobile Association) travel guide information in their navigation systems. So, while the AAA content is a nice ad-on, it's not the basis for its own GPS. Maybe Michelin will follow this strategy in Europe where their travel guides are well known and sell the content to another navigation device company. On the other hand, maybe connected GPS devices, makes this single source supply of travel information obsolete.
And so, Via Michelin joins a growing number of companies that have tried to either get into the GPS market or have launched and failed, including Philips, JVC, and Cobra.
With all of the new year's resolutions going on to get in shape, the Garmin Forerunner 305 is getting pretty popular. In fact it's one of the most popular GPS devices selling on Amazon. The Forerunner 305 offers an advanced design with a SiRF star III chipset inside to lock onto and hold onto satellites while running. The unit also comes with a heart rate monitor that can help you stay within specific conditioning zones. The unit easily downloads location, speed and heart rate information to your computer for record keeping and analysis. On top of this, you can also check out Garmin Connect, an online community that allows you to do further analysis and join the online community to share routes, and results.
With the recent announcement of the Garmin Forerunner 405, which has a more watch like look, the Garmin Forerunner 305 is selling at a pretty good price.
At Amazon - The Garmin Forerunner 305
Thought I would pass this along. Costco is selling the Nuvi 200W for $199 after a $50 price cut. Pretty good deal considering the Nuvi 200W is $224 on Amazon.
The Nuvi 200W is a good entry level widescreen unit that comes equipped with continental US maps, spoken directions (but not Text to Speech - it doesn't say street names), and an easy interface that makes using a GPS a breeze.
Check out my Full Review of the Nuvi 200W/250W.
OK - so you have your new GPS, and you want to keep it. You may not know that they are also hot items for thieves. So while lots of people are realizing that GPS units are very helpful for navigation, thieves are realizing that a quick smash and grab makes for an easy to sell unit that can net a few hundred dollars without much work. The Boston Globe recently announced that GPS thefts in the city of Boston went up ~5X versus 2006. You need to protect yourself.
Four Easy Tips to Avoid GPS Theft:
1) Take the GPS and its mount off the windshield/dash and stow it.
2) Take the GPS with you when you leave the car for an extra level of precaution.
3) Consider wiping the suction cup marks off the windshield with a soft cloth – they can tip off thieves that there's something valuable in the car.
4) Instead of mounting on the windshield, consider using a friction mount on the dash to avoid the suction cup marks on the windshield altogether.
Garmin is slowly creating a bigger web presence with new GPS launches. All of this is a little interesting as the world of the GPS experience continues to move online and give Garmin a little slice of the online pie. It's not about the GPS for some of these it's about the GPS as the tool to enjoy a better experience or explore a bigger world. For some it's another revenue stream. Games on a GPS, and Garmin Connect give the GPS Giant a small stream that supplements the money that they earn on the device. With the GPS become the "Razor" and the ads, subscriptions and other revenue streams that area associated with the GPS become the "Blades"? Who knows.
Garmin announced that it has expanded its suite of Mac compatible applications to include waypoint, track, and route management. As with other Garmin applications, this new trip planning application is compatible with Mac OS X on Intel- and PPC-based Macs and may be used in conjunction with all Garmin USB devices. Maybe not as cool as a MacBook Air, but still good news for Mac folks.
It's pretty good to see more and more applications coming for the Mac from Garmin. It was just 2 years ago when they announced that they were going to launch Mac compatible programs and devices. Since then we've seen a steady stream of news that they've converted one more application. It started with fitness based items first, and continues to the management of their main navigation device lines.
Thanks to this new application, Mac users will now be able to transfer waypoints, tracks, and routes between their Mac and Garmin device and manage their data using Garmin's rich catalog of map products.
Garmin announced today that they will be working with Panasonic on projects to equip new cars with Panasonic navigations systems with "Garmin Inside" credentials. With the move to get more and more navigation systems on-board, it sounds like Panasonic is recognizing what I always say, it's easy to make a GPS system but it's hard to make a good GPS system.
No news on who will take the new OEM effort, but they also added that they will also continue to work on their own products independently.
Press Release Follows
There is always a lot happening at CES, and this year is no different, but in looking at the models that came out of CES and where the GPS world has changed I think that it can boil it down to four things:
1) Connected GPS - With Dash going pre-sale recently, TomTom launching TomTom HD in the Netherlands, and now Magellan getting on the connected bandwagon, there is a strong move to the connected GPS. Now it remains to be seen if the market will develop for a unit that is at the high end of the market in terms of price and comes with a monthly fee. See my post on Connected GPS: The Next Generation.
2) BIGGER SCREENS - A lot of GPS makers must have been at the same focus group. While Garmin had the StreetPilot 7200 out a while ago with a 7 inch screen, these new units are coming out with a nice in-between size of 4.8 - 5.2 inches. Noticeably larger than the widescreen units on the market today. The Garmin Nuvi 5000 is the biggie in their line now. With all that screen real estate, I wonder how the battery life will be driving all of those beautiful pixels.
3) Better traffic with Historical Average Speeds - the capability to jam down a database of historical average speeds onto a GPS has been there for a while now, but has not debuted. With the advent of higher bandwidth connections and Historical Average Speeds, traffic solutions will take a big jump; combine that with a connected GPS model where other drivers act as traffic probes, and you;ve got a step change over the TMC solution on the market today. Magellan Maestro Elite 5340 + GPRS has Historical Average Speeds as a feature. Also Navteq announced that they are working with Intellinav to put historical average speeds on devices..... that's two makers with historical average speeds supplied by Navteq, the map maker for Garmin; their entry must be on the way.
4) 3-D Mapping - Forgot to mention this in the original version, but three dimensional maps with renderings of buildings and terrain are coming to the US, and hopefully soon. TeleAtlas is collecting info on what buildings look like, and is including it in Maps of the US. NavnGo demo'd the capability at CES; they currently supply several GPS makers with software. They also use TeleAtlas maps. It is expected that true 3-D with renderings of buildings will make for an easier navigation experience through urban areas.
Via Garmin Blog
More after the jump...
Don't know if you happen to watch the stock markets, but Wednesday, Garmin had a rocky day as an Analyst downgraded their stock. At one point the Garmin stock was trading below $68 after closing the previous day around $80. Might not matter if you don't own their stock, but the reason for the downgrade is significant to all consumers.
Apparently this analyst was making their rounds at the CES 2008 show and in talking to the different companies, they got the feeling that TomTom was going to be aggressive in their pricing and markdowns this year to acquire market share, more so than Garmin. I am not going to get into a debate about the semantics of who will be more aggressive, but the bottom line is that the GPS market is getting more competitive, more brands are hitting the marketplace trying to differentiate themselves versus some strong competition, and setting a lower price is a way to get noticed.
Pretty safe bet that the prices will continue to spiral down, and that fierce competition ahead will keep the bottom end of the market very volatile - in other words, better prices for me and you.
I am definitely looking forward to the next generation of connected units with the Historical Average speeds.
Press Release after the jump...
Chet over at Garmin Blog is letting a little news out that they will be announcing something at the MacWorld conference coming up here in a week. Any you thought that the whole wad was shot at the CES show?
Garmin made a solid Mac commitment, and has steadily moved towards making everything available in a mac compatible way. Any guesses? Probably not a GPS, but something in the fitness area might be cool... "Bobcat"; a small nimble forest runner? Apple wouldn't want to kill its deal with Nike+, but the Forerunner 405 is a pretty cool unit as is. Is it something that might run on the iPhone? Garmin Mobile adapted for the iPhone? If that is true, would it need to have a bluetooth GPS receiver, or is Apple stepping up and announcing a real GPS chip for the iPhone 2?
Re real potential is just that Garmin has adapted the Garmin Mobile PC applicaiton for the Mac; Garmin Mobile Mac anyone?
What's your guess?
NAVIGON announced the spring 2008 availability of NAVIGON Fresh in North America. This free, downloadable software application will provide all NAVIGON users with access to exclusive content and services, and support NAVIGON's user community with up-to-date product information and customer service support. NAVIGON Fresh automatically synchronizes home computers with NAVIGON GPS products via a USB connection, providing an easy-to-use platform to update and augment content.
This will be good as it offers a more consistent signal that they are going to support their units. Recall that there was a mis-step in the launch of the current crop of units and we are awaiting a patch update. Looking forward to the Fresh launch.
NAVTEQ announced that Netropa is ready to put out its latest Intellinav models with both NAVTEQ(R) maps and NAVTEQ TRAFFIC PATTERNS. The new addition to the Intellinav line is the first PND to utilize NAVTEQ TRAFFIC PATTERNS, a rich database of historic traffic information. Finally, Historical Average Speeds appear ready to hit the market in the coming year.
You know, NAVTEQ, the Map supplier to Garmin? That's why this is significant. Don't get me wrong, I would love to use the Intellinav device, but to me this signals that the capability to launch a more sophisticated traffic unit by Garmin and other major providers of GPS systems.
More on IntelliNav after the jump...
Setting the stage for what may become the year of the Smart GPS, traffic updates are finally looking like they are going to take the steps we have talked about for some time to jump into a new generation of higher bandwidth and more useful alters and data.
Navteq has announced that they are ready to provide traffic information, weather and other location based information via an HD Radio stream. There was a trial of this capability last June, and one had to think that this was coming sooner than later. Using the HD Radio stream, allows them to send a lot more data to the units, meaning richer flow data (color coded roads, slow, medium fast flow), and more reason codes than the standard number offered on the RDS system.
In related news, NAVTEQ announced that they will offer a new application that will deliver traffic updates, over mobile phones. The product is being demoed at CES.
Nav n Go, makers of the iGo software platform are bringing the 3-D experience to the US with their announcement at CES. The high quality 3-D views of buildings and terrain is now available to manufacturers to include in their devices. A lot of device manufacturers use the Nav n Go software, like Mio, although the future of that is a little clouded with their references to quality NavMan software in their recent announcement of merging the two brands.
The software also come bundled with games and an MP3 player. The video below should give you an idea of the capabilities.
Via Mobile Magazine
Avis and Garmin announced that they are putting out an upgraded Where2 GPS for rental locations across the US. The unit is based on the Garmin Nuvi 780; a high end unit that is also equipped with MSN Direct services that will help business travelers get things done with traffic, weather and stock/news updates.
In an interesting move, Avis is rolling out the ability to pre-program an SD chip using their website and when you pick up your Where2 GPS, you drop the card in it and you can now navigate to those pre-planned locations.
Good news if you are a TomTom user, especially if you are one of the many thousands of new customers who might need a little help after getting a TomTom over the holidays. TomTom announced that it has been recognized for call center customer satisfaction excellence under the J.D. Power and Associates Certified Call Center Program. This distinction, the first of its kind in the portable GPS industry, acknowledges a strong commitment by TomTom's US call center operations to provide "An Outstanding Customer Service Experience". According to J.D. Power and Associates, TomTom has surpassed the rigorous standards of the certification process, exhibiting a solid commitment to customer satisfaction.
Magellan introduced the Maestro Elite 3270, which features the first state-of-the-art, flat-panel touch-screen display in the portable vehicle navigation industry. This essentially eliminates the plastic frame around the GPS and makes for a sleek new look.
The compact 3.5-inch Maestro Elite 3270 unit features a seamless touch-panel that integrates the newest display technology for a highly responsive screen and an elegant, high-tech look. Even a light touch will instantly get users to the next screen with its high-sensitivity display. Magellan is the first GPS manufacturer to eliminate the plastic bezel housing common to portable navigation devices. The result is an edge-to-edge, completely flat touch display that gives the Maestro Elite 3270 a state-of-the-art, seamless surface with sensitivity and performance superior to anything else on the market today.
Press Release Follows.....
Magellan has announced their large screen line for CES, a 5 inch screen base entry unit that packs a lot into its thin unit with their AAA TourBook information, 6 million Points of Interest, and it pairs with a desktop companion that allows people to manage their maps and other information at their desktop.
Magellan is targeting babyboomers who may want (need?) a larger screen and help navigating their way across town or across country in the big ol' Winnie. The Maestro 5310 will be available in Q2 for $699.
Press Release Follows...
Magellan is launching a new line of Roadmates that are sure to get a few looks. The 1200 series is a standard screen (3.5-inch) line that adds a stronger line-up at the low end with a base and then extended features as you climb up the line. It parallels the Magellan 1400 series line-up which is the wider screen version of the 1200 series.
Mio just announced that they are going to absorb the NavMan name in the US after buying the Navman company last February.
"With the merger of the Mio and Navman brands, two complementary organizations have been brought together with a shared passion for delivering consumers the best navigation experience," said Samuel Wang, president, Mio Technology Corporation. "Mio Technology brings core competencies in hardware to the table, while Navman brings expertise in software and content, creating a new brand that is better able to create unique, innovative products and services."
Either way, I'll be happy to bring you news and review of NavMan and/or Mio products going forward.
Despite the merger, the Navman brand will continue to exist in select markets, including the United Kingdom, Spain, Australia and New Zealand.
Zoombak has announced a new GPS Dog Tag and retrieval service to locate your dog once s/he is lost. The relatively small device fits in a pouch on the dog's collar and through the cellular system it gives you alerts and tracking of your pet through the internet.
They also launched their car tracking device that in a similar way can track the vehicle and report back its whereabouts via mobile phone text alerts.
Press release follows
More at the ZoomBak website
Sony is launching another Nav-U pair into the US market, the latest being models NV-U73T and NV-U83T. These models are being launched behind safety of the user. One of the features touted, isn't even the GPS unit, it's the suction cup mount. The suction cup makes what they call a virtually unmovable attachment due to the fact that it's made with a flexible non adhesive gel that allows you to position the unit where it's convenient.
The Nav-U83T has another wider than widescreen size of 4.8 inches (4.3-inches on the Nav-U73T), that has a nice anti-glare coating to make it visible in most conditions. The unit also has a split screen design that shows upcoming intersections and detail about the next turn.
A little sophistication on the chipset design front, as the Nav-U 83T has not only a SiRF star III GPS chip, but a pressure sensor, gyro and acceleration sensor to keep the GPS unit tracking while in tunnels and in urban canyons where even the SiRF chip might get lost (Not available on the Nav-U73T). Finally, the units feature a gesture control capability to help make frequent tasks as easy as a flick of the finger.
The units will also have text-to-speech, branded icons, 5 million points of interest, and maps of US & Canada. The Nav-U83T will also have Bluetooth Handsfree calling capability.
Pre-orders for the nav-u portable navigation devices are now being accepted at www.sonystyle.com/navu. The devices are expected to be available in early spring direct at www.sonystyle.com, at Sony Style retail stores nationwide, at military base exchanges, and at authorized dealers around the country. The NV-U73T and NV-U83T models are expected to sell for about $350 and $500, respectively.
Finally, Sony has decided to bring the GPS peripheral for the PSP to the US. It has been on the Japanese market for some time now. According to the Sony CES website, they say, "Your PSP will provide 2D/3D locations, driving directions, POI's, and even downloadable city guides. With an easy search feature and customizable settings, GPS on PSP is the easiest way to navigate new areas and new cities."
So the software will be available through the UMD.
With the recent announcement of Magellan joining the ranks of connected GPS makers with their announcement of the Magellan Maestro Elite 5340 + GPRS, I thought it was time to take a step back and look at what's going on in the next generation of the GPS market and see how things are shaking out.
There are four main benefits of having a connected GPS:
1. Map Updates can be gathered from and sent down to the fleet of GPS units.
2. Operating system updates can be sent down to the unit
3. Traffic reporting is enhanced due primarily to the increased bandwidth and flexibility of the cellular network, and the fact that you are now a "traffic condition probe", collecting data for others to use.
4. Connected search and interactivity of the unit to the internet to provide a more intelligent device.
Where did it all start and what's the product map look like?
Another GPS is dropping here around CES, the Pioneer AVIC-F500BT, with a pretty big 5.8-inch screen and speech recognition. The unit is a standard GPS with come nice audio features built in. The USB port allows you to plug in an iPod, or other MP3 device. It has Bluetooth handsfree capabilities to boot. The voice recognition is apparently for the Audio integration and not the navigation control. Oh, well.
Cobra is expected to unveil their Cobra NavOne 5000 at CES, which was curiously pre-announced last year at CES 2007. The NavOne is an interesting unit with a larger 5.0-inch screen - super sized, and it also comes with a verified red light and speed camera database. With the extra size screen comes some extra sized maps and some larger fonts so that people who mount their GPS units farther away, will be able to see it better.
It comes with TeleAtlas Maps of the US and Canada, as well as Text to Speech, 7.6 million POI and the option to show any of the about 600 branded icons on the screen as you drive down the road. The unit also has an optional traffic receiver and the ability to offer you two alternate routes should you hit traffic.
At Amazon - The Cobra NavOne 5000
Magellan is working with Google for their launch of a cellular networked (GPRS) GPS, that will be announced at CES 2008. The announcement is key and sets them up for taking part in the next generation of connected GPS units. This connectivity will allow you to search while on the road in databases other than the included listing of Points of Interest. Expect it to hit shelves in March.
Dash navigation broke the news on this type of connected device over a year ago, and their unit is able to integrate with an online "My Dash" webpage where you are able to do certain searches, and send results to your GPS over the cellular network. While on the road, you are able to search Yahoo Local for results in typical search patterns (i.e. Sushi), and not just search for places by their business name. Magellan is expected to follow with their own web tool to send results to your GPS.
No word on advanced traffic capabilities, but I fully expect them to have the advanced capabilities that Dash offers. In my mind this is the big reason Dash will be attractive. These capabilities include historical average speeds and a higher bandwidth for pumping down current traffic conditions including traffic flow data.
Why would this traffic inclusion be significant?
Dash is working with TeleAtlas, who is working with Inrix for their historical traffic data. However, Magellan works with NAVTEQ, who bought Traffic.com, and the inclusion of historical traffic data would signal to me that this capability is also open to the other key user of NAVTEQ maps; Garmin.
Look for more news on Connected GPS in the coming days.
Goodyear tire has lent their brand for use on a line of fairly advanced GPS units being announced at CES 2008. The line-up looks pretty sophisticated with MSN direct capabilities in the higher end. The new line of eight GPS units will go from the small keychain unit (GY100K) up to the GY540 a 4.3 inch widescreen unit that has a lot of bells and whistles. The design elements on these is interesting and appears from the renderings that they will have a multi-textured exterior with some having a design element of tire tread.... humm, is that an all season tread or a summer only deal? The units are going to be available in Q2 2008.
People familiar with Mio and other manufacturers will recognize the iGo interface on the unit, a software company that has been manufacturing navigation software for a while now. I think that it's one of the better interfaces, but this is the first time I have seen it integrate MSN Direct features.
Engadget is reporting on the featuresets of the line (after the jump).
We're happy to announced that Woody from Olympia Washington is the winner of our Garmin Nuvi 260 Holiday Giveaway. Woody says that he's pretty happy to add one of the latest Garmin GPS units, the Nuvi 260, to his collection of Garmin GPS units. A Garmin man through and through.
He says that he stops by GPS Lodge to check in on news and reviews on GPS units.
Well, as we come into CES 2008, there's a lot to follow, so you should all come back and check out GPS Lodge daily, and subscribe to our mailing list, because you never know when we might be giving away another GPS and so you can get GPS information delivered to your inbox every Monday morning.
The GiveGive $100 off TomTom sale ends Saturday 1/5, so if you are interested in a new TomTom, grab the deals now. The $100 off sale is driving the TomTom ONE 3rd edition to #1 in sales at Amazon. The $100 off deal extends across other models too.
At Amazon
Check out our Comparison post on the TomTom Line
BikeGPSTracking™, a leading provider of GPS tracking and theft recovery products today announced the availability of the first low cost GPS tracking unit for motorcycles, off road vehicles, and ATV's. This GPS tracking unit offers many customer requested features at a fraction of the cost of comparable tracking solutions.
"The launch of our MC242 GPS Motorcycle Tracking Unit gives motorcycle and ATV owners the peace of mind in knowing their property is protected at a very affordable price," said Mark Wells, President & CEO of BikeGPSTracking. "With the average price of GPS motorcycle tracking units being well over $500, we are able to leverage our technology leadership and bring the hardware cost down to $349."
BikeGPSTracking is also offering 2 optional accessories, a tether switch or panic button and a vibration sensor. If a rider is thrown from their bike the tether switch will send an emergency alert via SMS (text message) or an email message to specified recipients. Pressing the panic button will also generate a similar emergency alert. The vibration sensor alerts when a motorcycle is moved more than 100 yards while the ignition is off making theft recovery much faster.
The MC242 Motorcycle Tracking Unit offers the following features:
* Alerts when the ignition is turned on or off
* Tether switch if rider is thrown from motorcycle
* Vibration sensor if a motorcycle is moved
* Unlimited, continuous GPS tracking throughout the USA and Canada
* Ability to set Geofence and speed alerts
BikeGPSTracking is also offering low cost service plans as low as $5.95 per month and offer an additional 20% discount for annual pre-payment. The MC242 GPS Motorcycle Tracking Unit is available at www.bikegpstracking.com.
UPDATE: MSN Direct will stop service January 1, 2012 - buyer beware that the traffic and other information services will not work after that date.
Garmin announced the new nuvi 880, a premium portable navigation device with cutting-edge speech recognition, dynamic MSN Direct content, and an impressive array of other convenience and safety features. Big stuff.
Garmin also offers the Nuvi 850, which offers speech recognition capabilities but without MSN Direct services or Bluetooth wireless technology.
More below...
Now You can also get Local events like festivals in the area, News and Stocks, and Send to GPS capability which allows you to plan trips from your computer and send the information to your Nuvi 780.
Garmin announced the nuvi 260W, a simple-to-use widescreen personal navigation device (PND) that speaks street names. It's not a big surprise that since Garmin introduced the Nuvi 200/250 line and then the 200W and the 250W line, that the Nuvi 260 would be follow-up by a widescreen version too. (Um, where's the Nuvi 270W with Euro Maps?) What is too bad is that this wasn't in the mix for the Holiday 2007 season, as a lot of people are turning onto the benefits of Text to Speech and would have loved to have had this as a product to consider.
We gave away a Garmin Nuvi 260 as part of our holiday festivities, and I think that the value line with TTS is a great product entry from a trustworthy name like Garmin.
Garmin announced a new series of nuvi navigators designed specifically for those seeking premium navigation features on a large, 5.2-inch touchscreen display. Those premium features include a choice of MSN Direct data feeds or TMC Traffic feeds, Video input for back-up cameras, MP3/Audiobook player, and route optimization. Not bad, but no THX Certified Surround Sound?
Garmin announced the Forerunner 405 -- the latest in Garmin's popular line of GPS-enabled fitness devices, packing powerful functions and innovative features into a compact size like none other. The smaller form factor, based on the Garmin Forerunner 50, a watch style form factor, allows for a lot of capability in a small easy to use shape. Unlike the Forerunner 50, the unit does contain a GPS chipset, and unlike any other GPS the Forerunner 405 interacts with a touchscreen, reminiscent of the iPhone. Gestures and swirls control the interface and give you the ability to create new workouts or access their workout history. Very cool.
Below is a video from Garmin Blogs....
Garmin introduced the Colorado series of handheld GPS devices for outdoor, marine and fitness enthusiasts. With the addition of Garmin's revolutionary Rock 'n Roller(TM) wheel, you really can operate its many features with just one hand -- most with just one thumb. The devices were announced in preparation for the 2008 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. This confirms the rumors posted here back in December.
400T - ("?Topo") Geared towards the Hiker with 3D mapping perspective. - $599
400i - (Inland Water) Shows lake and river contour lines. - $599
400C - (Coastal) Coverage of the coastal waters for US and Bahamas. - $599
300 - Shows a world map with shaded relief maps. - $499
Drivers wanting to keep track of their previous route can utilize the track log feature and see an electronic bread crumb trail that shows exactly where they traveled. Garmin Mobile PC also includes a trip computer automatically records trip data.
SiRF announced some news this morning that will make using a GPS a lot better, and it involves limiting that acquisition time to get a satellite fix, known as Time to First Fix, to as little as five seconds. The new capabilities, SiRFInstantFixII, will be included on SIRF Star III chipsets and allows the chipset to model where the satellites will be in the sky for up to three days into the future.
A little basic info here: The GPS' job is a pretty tough one, with satellites sending out time stamped signals once every 30 seconds, the GPS has to lock onto a signal from at least three, preferably four or more satellites figuring out what the time lag is on that signal, and as a result calculating the distance from the GPS to that satellite. Without something like Instant Fix, the GPS has to search the entire sky noticing signals and checking time lags. With Instant Fix, it will know that the certain satellite will be in a specific position so it will only look there instead of everywhere.... speeds the process way up. TomTom and others have this type of service, but it requires you plugging the GPS into a computer and downloading those satellite location predictions every week or so.
The press release below has a quite from Mio's President, so I would look for Mio units at CES to include the new chipsets.
Press release follows...
The PND-K3 is the same model, without the MSN Direct features. I would imagine that we'll see more at CES 2008 in a few days.
Via Gizmodo
The new DeLorme Topo USA 7.0 software is out and it's packed with new features, making it a great tool for trip planning and general interest use. I have personally used both DeLorme Street Atlas and DeLorme Topo a lot for planning hiking trips and road trips on both bike and by car for a long time. I have seen them packed with capability that is hard to beat, and just when you think that you couldn't learn any more about its power, there's another twist to be discovered.
Available with or through download the new Topo USA 7.0 has six types of maps/charts, including aerial imagery, NOAA nautical charts and USGS high resolution surveys and imagery, which is in addition to the previously available USGS 1:24,000 quads, USGS b&w aerial imagery, and 10-meter color satellite imagery. You get $100 worth of download credits when you buy the map package.
Handheld GPS users will be happy to display their GPS tracks and routes on the maps as an overlay. From the Topo USA 7.0 you can create routes, waypoints and tracks that can be uploaded to your NMEA GPS, which means not only the DeLorme PN-20, but Garmin and Magellan handhelds too. Going the other way, routes, tracks and waypoints can then be taken off the GPS and turned into routable roads or trails within Topo USA 7.0.
Topo USA 7.0 is a geotagging tool also, with the ability to match up the time stamp on the camera and your handheld GPS to display photos on the map where you took them. Makes for a fun way to create a very useful tool to both enjoy your trip and document key features of areas that you visit.
The Topo USA capabilities are improved here too, as they can not only import gpx and loc files, but you can now you can import full Geocache descriptions with the hints preserved.
There's more than I can write about here. The TOPO USA 7.0 comes alone or bundled with the DeLorme PN-20 handheld GPS that can also display downloaded maps and aerial imagery.
For more information on the TOPO USA 7.0 software or the PN-20 handheld GPS, see the Delorme.com website.
Also at Amazon - DeLorme TOPO USA 7.0
Motley Fool has a pretty interesting quick look at why they believe that Garmin is "the" leader in the GPS world; strongest margins, best growth rates, biggest share, etc. I am only a casual markets person, but from what I see those numbers are pretty impressive.
What I found impressive thinking back is the growth rate that has been sustained on Garmin (and other's) sales for the last few years (Check out some old Earnings Announcements); essentially ever since I started this blog. So while some think that the GPS market has just exploded in recent quarters, their growth rates were still high previously. What are the numbers going to look like once GPS firms report on the 4th quarter of 2007? A year ago it was 100% profit growth on 92% earnings growth.
I can't tell you if Garmin is a good stock to buy, but see the Motley Fool on why they think that Garmin is "The" World Leader in GPS Technology.


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Johannesburg - The Somali government on Monday called on South Africa to protect Somali nationals living in the country after a spate of attacks on foreigners.
Residents in a township near Johannesburg rioted against the Somali community last week, while tensions have also flared in Port Elizabeth in the east of the country.
The unrest in Diepsloot township came after a Somali shop owner allegedly shot dead two Zimbabweans last week. Somali shop owners in Port Elizabeth have also been targeted.
Police have arrested dozens of people and the government in Pretoria has condemned the attacks, which are reminiscent of the wave of xenophobic violence that left at least 60 foreigners dead in 2008.
"I appeal to the Government of the Republic of South Africa as a matter of urgency to intervene and contain this unnecessary and unfortunate violence against Somali business communities to preserve peace and stability," Somali Prime Minister Abdi Farah Shirdon said in an open letter to South African President Jacob Zuma.


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For all you would-be chicken tenders
You've probably noticed that there's a dizzying amount of chicken literature out there. So we've taken
it upon ourselves to do a little research for you. After careful review of the possible choices, here are our recommendations for every stage you may find yourself in, from chicken collector to chicken novice to mere chicken sympathizer. With the right selection, you'll be able to decide if you are ready to be a chicken tender…or were just craving one.
For the Newbie Chicken Tender
Chickens in your Backyard:A Beginner's Guide/Rick and Gail Luttmann
If you're deciding whether to purchase your first flock, Chickens in
your Backyard is the ultimate beginner's guide. It's straightforward,
engaging and practical. The Luttmanns give an honest and personal account of
chicken husbandry that details both the ugly (chicken lice and mites) and the
delicious (eggs Benedict, you say?). Having made most beginners' mistakes themselves,
they'll navigate the first year in the hen house for you.
For the Poultry Optimist
Chickens! Tending Small Flocks in Cities, Suburbs, and Other Small Spaces/Barbara Kilarski
If you've got your heart set on chickens and are sick of hearing about all the little things that can go
astray (cannibalism sure is depressing), read Keep Chickens! Not only does the book make it seem like chicken tending is easy as pie, it also makes you crave pie. The scrumptious recipes at the end of the book will get you pumped up and planning your new egg-centric diet for weeks to come. However, you'll have to invest in a more thorough troubleshooting handbook once you get live animals and are face to face with
the more unsavory bits.
For the Hopeless Anthropomorphizer
Hen and the Art of Chicken Maintenance/Martin Gurdon
Hen and the Art of Chicken Maintenance is pure soap opera. With a cast that includes Wimpy chicken, Bossy chicken, and Psycho chicken (Wimpy when she finally snaps), this book will have you spellbound by the seemingly endless expressiveness of chickens. It's an exposé on the vicious pecking order that is sometimes humorous, sometimes mildly tragic. For those of you who might find the book's chicken-on-chicken abuse appalling, stick with it for the touching love stories and daring rescue missions. These chicks were made for show business.
For the Chicken Collector
Guide to Raising Chickens/Gail Damerow
You started with a few chickens and somehow they've multiplied. Maybe you decided to keep that amorous
rooster or maybe you have a raging chicken-rescuing complex. Don't worry, hero: Storey's Guide to Raising Chickens has your back. Put the feel-good stories aside and study the details that will
help your birds thrive, however large your flock grows. It may be an intimidating
amount of information for a Newbie Chicken Tender but it will equip you for the
very non-human challenges that chickens face.
NOT for those with a weak stomach
Chicken Health Handbook/Gail Damerow
The Chicken Health Handbook is the horror story otherwise known as "everything
that could possibly go wrong with your chicken." At least it offers helpful
advice after scaring you. It's a troubleshooting book, a no-nonsense guide to
combating disease, infection, and all the freaky accidents that can befall
unsuspecting birds. If one of your chickens gets sick, you'll feel comfortable
knowing you have this book to turn to for detailed (sometimes illustrated)
By Paulina Lopez, Sunset editorial intern


text: Individuals and families suffering from serious personal injury or struck with the tragedy of wrongful death have the right to seek realistic compensation for their pain, suffering and loss. At Transportation Injury Law Group, pllc, we dedicate our services specifically to representing people faced with such tragedies. It is the only work we do. Based in our nation's capital, we are the center of a greater network of services. We represent clients and litigate cases throughout the United States and abroad. We can serve you wherever you are. [ read more ]


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ANGRY Gwynedd residents have launched a campaign against plans to collect refuse bins once every three weeks.
Llwyngwril resident Roger Lott has started an online petition calling on Gwynedd Council's cabinet to reverse its decision.
Household recycling, food waste and garden waste collections will not be changed.
In an online message, Gwynedd cllr Nigel Pickavance said he was "angry and bemused at the process " that lead to the change.
He said: "It is obvious to see that every corner of Gwynedd disagrees with this decision.
"As a county councillor I have spoken to many constituents during the consultation period.
He added: "Every one was against it and having spoken to many fellow councillors they say that their constituents felt the same."
Gwynedd Council's cabinet this week unanimously agreed the change from fortnightly collections in a bid to save £350,000 and help meet Welsh Government recycling targets.
However Councillor Chris O'Neal, of Marchog ward in Bangor, feared the move could lead to problems, such as rat infestations.
He said: "Three weeks for your bins to be emptied - next they will be asking you to throw them in the back of the bin wagon yourself to save money.
"Why not make cuts to those services that are not compulsory services, like economic development?
"After all, what do they develop?"
Cllr Gareth Williams, Gwynedd Council's economic cabinet member, said the Welsh Government expected the authority to recycle or compost a minimum of 52 per cent of all the refuse it collects from homes.
Cllr Williams added the authority narrowly avoided a £123,000 fine in 2012/13 after only just making the target.
Cllr Williams said: "Despite the fact that three different approaches were used - a Citizen's Panel survey, an open public survey and various workshop sessions - the results were strikingly similar and include clear messages about the issues that we will need to tackle going forward.
A Gwynedd Council public survey revealed 56 per cent (1,038), and 45 per cent (308) Citizen's Panel survey respondents, said collecting residual waste every three weeks rather than every fortnight would cause problems for their households.
However, the consultations revealed respondents broadly agreed the council should encourage more people to recycle and compost their waste in order to avoid Welsh Government fines.
"In response to the comments received, we have already identified arrangements which will allow us to collect nappies every fortnight, to make special arrangements for disabled residents and to provide larger residual waste bins for households with more than six residents."
Cllr Williams said Gwynedd Council "must now take steps" to persuade residents who continue to throw waste that can be recycled or composted to use the correct services.
He added Gwynedd Council was working on ways to way solve concerns over issues, like smells and bin sbeing too heavy, identified in their consultations.
The changes will be introduced to Dwyfor from October and to Arfon and Meirionydd next year.
Mr Lott posted his petition, entitled "Stop the change to a 3 weekly bin emptying service." to www.change,org.


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White Sox promote fast-riser Dan Hudson to majors
The White Sox promoted 22-year old Dan Hudson to the major leagues Thursday, capping off what has been a whirlwind season for the right-hander.
Hudson reaches his fifth level in two years — fourth this year alone — with the move after absolutely dominating the competition since being drafted in the fifth round of the 2008 draft. If you recall, their first-round pick was shortstop Gordon Beckham, who is turning heads as a possible Rookie of the Year candidate for Chicago, manning third base.
Hudson had to wait a little longer to join Beckham in the bigs.
In 2008, Hudson made 14 starts for the Rookie club, posting a 3.36 ERA in 69.2 innings, striking out 90 and walking 22. It was a harbinger of things to come.
Hudson kicked off 2009 in Single-A Kannapolis, annihilating the competition in four starts (1.23 ERA, 22 IP, 30 K, 2 BB) before batters in the league were finally granted a reprieve. For Single-A Advanced Winston-Salem, his ERA wasn't as good — 3.40 — but his 0.98 WHIP showed that he was more than comfortable against the competition. In his final three starts for the club, Hudson posted a 2.14 ERA, with just three walks after his first five starts totaled 10 walks. Following that eight-start stretch, he was sent to Double-A Birmingham, his first true test.
People have long said the adjustment to Double-A from lower levels is far more significant than that of Double-A to Triple-A, or even Triple-A to the bigs. Hudson blew that notion out of the water, posting a 1.60 ERA in nine starts in Birmingham. That ERA came along with what is fast becoming typical gaudy numbers for Hudson: 56.1 IP, 63 K, 10 BB. The White Sox couldn't hold him back any longer, so sent him to Triple-A Charlotte.
Hudson slipped big time. He posted a 3.00 ERA in 24 innings, walking nine and whiffing 24 for a 1.29 WHIP — the highest WHIP of his career to date. I'm surprised the ChiSox didn't cut him right then and there.
All kidding aside, Hudson's total 14-5 mark with a 2.32 ERA in 26 starts in 2009 was very impressive. In 217 career innings, Hudson has sat batters down by way of the K 256 times. Can't argue with that
Hudson throws a fastball that tops out around 93 miles per hour, but Triple-A pitching coach Richard Dotson said the fastball seems harder, given Hudson's "closed-off" delivery. Hudson mixes in a slider and changeup to keep batters honest. I can't really see Hudson dominating in the majors with just three pitches. And it's great that his delivery is "closed-off" but he needs three above-average pitches to succeed at the major league level. I'm not sure he has that repertoire yet.
FutureSox.com ran a comparison of Hudson to other Chicago pitchers that skyrocketed through the ranks. His results:
Hudson (Low-A, High-A, AA, AAA): 2.26 ERA, 9.9 K/9, 1.9 BB/9
Jon Rauch (High-A, AA): 2.66 ERA, 10.1 K/9, 2.7 BB/9
Brandon McCarthy (Low-A, High-A, AA): 2.67 ERA, 10.6 K/9, 1.6 BB/9
Gio Gonzalez (Low-A, High-A): 2.82 ERA, 11.2 K/9, 3.2 BB/9
Fautino De Los Santos (Low-A, High-A): 2.65 ERA, 11.3 K/9, 3.2 BB/9
Interestingly enough, Hudson posted the best ERA despite the lowest K/9 ratio. However, he paired that low ratio with a 1.9 BB/9, better than anyone save Brandon McCarthy. McCarthy is currently with the Texas Rangers, posting a 4.61 ERA in 12 starts on the year. His K/BB ratio is 1.64, a far cry from the 2.82 he put up as a rookie with the White Sox in 2005. Injuries have robbed him of his effectiveness, although he could still bounce back. Gonzalez is bouncing up and down between Triple-A and Oakland, trying to establish himself. Rauch is a career middle reliever who turned in a couple stellar years in Washington. He just got traded to Minnesota from Arizona. De Los Santos has been injury-riddled the last two years, having rarely pitched in that time span.
Hudson's rise certainly has been remarkable, but as that list above shows you, it's not a recipe for success.
Hudson will probably contribute out of the bullpen and could grab a couple spot starts here and there. If the White Sox are smart, they'll shut him down once he's gotten about 20 innings at the major league level, then look for him to compete for a big-league spot out of spring training.
The White Sox may have had a disappointing 2009 campaign, but they've set themselves up well to compete in 2010 and beyond: most of their fat contracts are coming off the books — which was a motivating factor in acquiring Jake Peavy and Alex Rios — and with a couple shrewd trades and signings in the offseason, could be the favorite to capture the AL Central crown next year.
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I suspect there are two kinds of novelists. Those who have a point of view and have something to say and then write a novel in order to say that thing, and those of us who write the book in order to find out what we think about that thing.
Neil Gaiman


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Enutil's illustrated FML
Hello, you groovy playas and leaf-blowing haters, it's illustration time! Yeah, girl you know it's true. Anyway, before we get totally side-tracked by 80s pop music, let's get down to business and present our artist of the day. He's a guy who lives in France and goes by the AKA Enutil, which sort of means "Useless", almost. Oh yes, because this week we're crossing over again with the dudes from VDM, our French sister website, forgot to mention it.
He doesn't work as an illustrator but is so pretty damn good at it that he should be. In fact, he says he wishes he had more time to draw.
His current projects include maybe finishing off something he'd started working on with a friend called "2 Spacymen" but for now he's mainly focusing on his blog, on which he's launched two series: Jean-Paul Parfait (John-Paul Perfect), "the story of a man who wants to do things right, but that always end up badly ; the other being the Al Killer series, "the story of an asshole killer. The problem with this one is that I know where I want to go with it, but I don't how to go about it."
So, what else can we say about Enutil? He's more into cats than dogs, even though he finds them a bit snooty: "they're arrogant, selfish assholes, but when they mess things up we forgive them because they're so cuuuuute." He doesn't check out many blogs, because, "I like stories that are built from A to Z. Blogs don't allow that, they're things in which people shove everything randomly. I like to appreciate an author through his work, not a work through an author." Well put.
His main passion in life is movies, and when he's not drawing, he spends time with friends and family. Or making up puns, much to everyone's annoyance!
His final statement to us was this. We asked him to ask himself a question that he would've been liked to have been asked, and then answer it himself. He went for this:
Q: These days, do you think that if the character in your drawing for FML had been a woman or black, some people would've called you sexist or racist?
A: No. People aren't that stupid!
To see Enutil's illustrated FML, click here!
So there you have it. Another week, another illustration. Keep 'em coming folks, we love 'em all. It's always interesting to see creative minds take over the stories we publish to see what they come up with. The more distorted and funny, the better. Anyway, time to sign off for now. We'll leave you with a few videos, arbitrarily chosen by the person writing this article who has decided that 1- it's Joy Division day, so here's a fantastic live version of 'Disorder', and 2- Doug Stanhope is a fine American.
Take care and be excellent to each other.
If you want to be the next published artist, send an email to alice [at] fmylife.com including a link to your website/blog/DeviantArt. But DON'T send your illustration right away! You need first to get in touch with me, and I'll tell you what you have to do!


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My friend had MOHs surgery about 5 weeks ago on the side of his nose. He now has severe swelling inside that nostral to the point that he says it's clogged. Is this something to be concerned about since it's been over a month?
5 Wks After MOHs Surgery, Severe Swelling/Clogged?
Doctor Answers 2
What to Do: Severe Swelling One Month After Mohs Surgery on Nose
Best option is to contact the doctor who performed the reconstruction and have them examine you.
If this swelling has been present since the time of surgery, it may be that the reconstruction caused some impairment of the internal or external nasal valve. This is something that can improve with time or might need a second surgery to improve. Other options could be hypertrophic scarring, collection of blood or an infection. Have the surgeon evaluate your symptoms to determine the cause and provide some relief. Good luck.
Learn more: http://www.emohs.com
Swelling from Mohs
There can be a tremendous amount of swelling after Mohs because there is an extreme amount of cutting, pressing, suturing, and tightening of the skin. However, if your friend is at all concerned, any physician would want to see him for a follow-up just to evaluate the situation. I'm sure it's okay, but it's always best to be checked out.
These answers are for educational purposes and should not be relied upon as a substitute for medical advice you may receive from your physician. If you have a medical emergency, please call 911. These answers do not constitute or initiate a patient/doctor relationship.


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Watch 'Voir Marlolo...' for its fine script, directionTNN | Aug 20, 2012, 01.27 AM IST
Roseferns' drama 'Voir Marlolo Fator' brings to the fore the atrocities and injustice against women in modern society.
Nikita (Antonette de Maina) is in love with Evlon (Ulhas Tari). He proceeds to Hyderabad with a promise of uniting in marriage after his return. But an anxious wait leaves Nikita depressed, prompting her to take a drastic step in life.
Joshua (Victor), who loved Nikita during her college days, encounters her in the garden and decides to extend prompt help in her distress. He volunteers to tie the knot, despite the fact that she is carrying Evlon's unborn child.
When Nikita enters her husband's house, she meets her strict father-in-law, a retired professor (Roseferns) and sister-in-law Divya (Bushka). Relations in the house sail on rough weather.
Unexpectedly, Evlon too makes his appearance there, forcing Nikita to extend her support to her ex-lover. This gesture upsets Divya and Evlon is set to take revenge.
How does Evlon take advantage of Divya and where? What steps does he take to tarnish her image and ruin her future? Does he succeed in his mission? Who steps in to provide justice to the rape victim? How does he tackle the entire situation? How is the accused trapped?
Roseferns scores for his fine script and sleek direction. Twists and turns in the entire plot make viewing more interesting.
Roseferns as a strict disciplinarian has good stage presence with prompt dialogue delivery. Bushka, Antonette de Maina, Willy Sequeira and Victor have played their respective roles well. Ulhas Tari in a negative role is worth watching, while Rosario de Benaulim as the police inspector and Anthony Caiado as the home minister have extended good support to the entire cast. Selvy, Anita, Richard and Costy pair well to provide laughter among the spectators.
Some of the songs rendered by Francis de Tuem, Jr Nelson, Anthony Caiado, Andrew are appealing. But the trio 'Bailanchi Vhoddvik' by Ulhas Tari/Rosario de Benaulim/Richard and another entitled 'Models' by Andrew/Francis de Tuem/Jr Nelson are entertaining.
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Designers: Bill Stumpf and Don Chadwick
It's the most well-known ergonomic office chair ever made. With good reason. As the first office chair to replace fabric and foam with a breathable, woven suspension membrane—the innovative Pellicle seat and back—the classic Aeron Chair distributes your weight appropriately, eliminating pressure points and heat buildup. The Kinemat Tilt lets you recline fluidly, and PostureFit puts back support where you need it most while seated—at the base of your spine.
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Functionality shows through in the design of the classic Aeron, creating a distinctive look that invites you to sit and experience the chair for yourself. From the transparency of the Pellicle suspension material to the chair's curvilinear lines, Bill Stumpf and Don Chadwick designed their groundbreaking office chair around people, creating an aesthetic all their own, and starting a revolution in ergonomics.
With its aeration, inclusive sizing, support for the natural ways the human body moves when seated, and responsive design, the chair challenged practically every convention about office chairs. Every material, every mechanism advanced the art and science of seating.
"We wanted a totally new kind of chair."Bill Stumpf and Don Chadwick View Design Story
The classic Aeron is available in three different sizes to fit just about anyone. Easy-to-make adjustments let you fine-tune the fit for your body.
PostureFit properly supports the base of your spine, or sacral region, to help your pelvis maintain a natural forward tilt, thus keeping your spine fully aligned.
The patented Kinematic Tilt mimics the body's natural pivot points—the hips, knees, and ankles—so the chair works with, not against, your body, and you recline fluidly.
Much more than a mesh, the Pellicle suspension on the classic Aeron features elliptically shaped elastomeric threads woven together to create a topographically neutral surface. It conforms to each person who sits in the chair and distributes weight appropriately, eliminating pressure points and heat buildup.
The high, wide, contoured back takes the pressure off your lower spine. Armrests slope slightly down in the back for the most natural and comfortable support. The "waterfall" front edge of the seat takes the pressure off your thighs, so your blood keeps circulating and you stay alert and focused.
With an aesthetic all its own, it's no wonder the classic Aeron was added to the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art even before the first one was sold. A selection of sophisticated materials and a choice of three Pellicle weave patterns make classic Aeron well-suited to a variety of tastes and surroundings.
"Designs of the Decade" Gold Winner in Office Furniture from the Industrial Designers Society of America & Business Week magazine
International Plastics Consumer Product Design Award from the Society of Plastics Engineers
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