TerraGuru.com

Dash (www.Dash.net) is a new GPS device/service that boasts a connection to the web and other cars… not to browse news, but to report and exchange traffic flow data. It can steer you around traffic that slows other Dash users, rerouting you around it. Your speed and route are shared with other users, so if you have low traffic, others will follow you.

They even have several years worth of traffic history for major cities by day, to help predict movement even if there are no other Dash users nearby. Interesting stuff. Here’s a graphical overview of how it works.

They also feature the abillity to email addresses to your GPS from any standard email application. It seems they also use some fancy matching (menu items in this case) and metadata info via the web to help match you with local searches. The example they use is that you can type in “fajitas” and it can match you with restaraunts that serve them, if it’s not in the name. Interesting, I wonder how much of a shop’s merchandise it will search? Like if it will work for most all of the menu or just the featured items? What about “diapers” or “BBQ grills?”

I signed up for Dash’s Beta Program, they recruited over 2,000 users to test out the internet connected GPS for their pre-launch beta program. I didn’t get in, but it’s a great way to get the word out and build some buzz for their new products.

I’m looking forward to how this will smooth traffic negotiation for many in high-traffic cities. Do you have one? Drop us a line, we’d love to hear about it!

Newly released HoudahGPS is a freeware front end to the open source command line tool GPSBabel.

HoudahGPS allows you to transfer track log and waypoint data from your Garmin, Magellan or Wintec GPS devices. It connects via USB to the Garmin and Magellan devices. It interfaces with the Wintec WBT-100, WBT-101 and WBT-201 devices using Bluetooth.

HoudahGPS may also be used to convert between the GPX, NMEA and KML log file formats. The Sony GPS-CS1 track logger uses a special variant of the NMEA format which may also be read.

You can create backup copies of track log files for later use with HoudahGeo. You can also convert track logs to KML for visualization in Google Earth.

“Where” has launched and recently upgraded their mobile phone GPS widget application/service. It enables a user (currently only select Sprint phones) to download a widget app for $2.99 and get all their ever-increasing functionality.

With WHERE™ GPS widgets, you drag widgets like your local weather forecast, earthquake reports, roadside assistance, local ski reports, store finders and more from the web to your handset, or discover them directly on your phone. And if you can’t find the widget you want today, not to worry, we’re always adding more.

Some of their current widgets are expected/common, some are quite kool, (vinyard and brewery finders!):

• local — search locally for points of interest around you
• directions — get directions and maps from where you are to where you want to go… or from anywhere
• saved places — save your favorite places to easily access them in the future and share them with friends
• location notes — write notes about the places you’ve been for others to find, or keep them private if you don’t share well
• weather — get the local weather for your location
• ski report — local ski reports
• earthquake! — find the most recent earthquakes by proximity
• world largest — a fairly comprehensive list of America’s huge roadside attractions
• fore! — golf course finder
• roadside help — towing service and repair shops
• state parks – enjoy your local state parks
• winery finder — take a wine tour at your local wineries
• rent a car – you know you want to
• brewery finder — get to know your local breweries
• nexrad radar — see your local nexrad radar

Let us know if you’ve tried it out… Once it comes to AT&T phones, we’ll try it and give you an update.