Sure, everyone loves Google Maps Navigation, it's free, and it comes on every Android handset. However, those wanting a more personal experience from their phone's GPS (and are on the Now Network) should check out TeleNav GPS Navigator 7.1. Among the changes from prior iterations of the app are a new home screen with real-time traffic updates and customizable "Home" and "Work" buttons to show your impending commute times. So you can pick the fastest way home (or the most direct route to happy hour) 7.1 also recommends multiple routes to your chosen destination and provides drive times and traffic conditions for each route. As if that weren't enough, you can also download three widgets to put on your Android home screen: a map showing your current location, a search bar, and a widget that shows your home and work commute times. We enjoy celebrities giving us directions and all, but it's good to see some new functional features coming to the GPS game. Full PR after the break.

Continue reading TeleNav 7.1 for Sprint Android phones: this time it's personal

TeleNav 7.1 for Sprint Android phones: this time it's personal originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 12 Oct 2011 08:19:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Alternative navigational systems aren't exactly new, but the concept shown here just might have wings. HAPMAP was one of a handful of projects selected for demonstration at SIGGRAPH's E-tech event, aiming to keep a human's eye away from the map (and in turn, on whatever's in front of them) by developing a system that guides via haptics. With a handheld device capable of both navigating and vibrating, the interface indicates complex navigation cues that follow the curvature of a road or path -- it's far more detailed than the typical "go straight," and there's also opportunity here to provide handicapped individuals with a method for getting to previously inaccessible locales. By mimicking the operation and interface of sliding handrails (as well as using motion capture cameras), it's particularly useful for the visually impaired, who need these subtle cues to successfully navigate a winding path. Hop on past the break for a couple of demonstration vids.

Continue reading HAPMAP navigational system keeps your eyes on the prize, your hands on the route (video)

HAPMAP navigational system keeps your eyes on the prize, your hands on the route (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 12 Aug 2011 15:47:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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It's tough to read too much into this, but when Apple publishes a couple of job applications hoping to bring on folks who can "radically improve how people interact with maps and location-based services," we can't help but take note. The outfit's currently seeking a pair of full-timers to be labeled as iOS Maps Application Developers, and it's honing in on applicants with "excellent skills in object-oriented software design and programming." We've felt for awhile that Apple's built-in Maps application wasn't even comparable to Google Maps Navigation, but it could be time for that to change. Even now, iOS users need to fork out cash on a legitimate turn-by-turn app if they're hoping to navigate with the iPod touch or iPhone, but we can only hope that these applications are hinting at a more full-fledged internal program for the software's next major iteration.'Course, we're sure TomTom would beg to disagree...

Apple looking to 'radically improve' iOS Maps experience, may look to you for help originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 26 Mar 2011 04:56:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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If there's two things the world needs, it's a complete lack of international roaming charges, and GPS signals that never fade. Oh, and for Slash to not play the last Super Bowl with the Black Eyed Peas -- we suppose that makes three. At any rate, at least we're moving somewhat closer to a reality that solves the middle issue, with TeleNav announcing this week that it'll be implementing "hybrid navigation technology" into its apps (including the new iOS version) in the very near future. Post-implementation, TeleNav software will automatically cache maps and directions for routes you look up, and if you drop your mobile connection or GPS signal en route, you'll still be able to have a look at the original plan. 'Course, any deviations from the prescribed route will lead to endless frustration, but if you (or your 63 year old father) are familiar with following a paper map, you ought to be just fine. The company asserts that the new addition will be rolling out to "select applications" that it develops for carrier partners "in the near future," and you won't be ask to pay a dime more for the added convenience. Sometimes life's just too kind, eh?

Update: TeleNav pinged us to say that its version will actually download full maps to the device (so you'll need a good chunk of free space), so you really won't suffer too much from not having a live connection. Also, the iPhone build is better known as AT&T Navigator v1.8i.

TeleNav bringing hybrid navigation to GPS apps, eases reliance on data connection originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 23 Mar 2011 18:36:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Unsurprisingly, El Goog gifted the Android versions of Latitude and Places with these updates a few weeks back, but now the iOS loyalists are being brought into a similar circle. The search giant has just added check-ins to the iOS version of Google Latitude, with any iDevice using iOS 4 or higher being deemed compatible. In related news, the Applefied build of Google Places is now available in 30 languages, and there's an added 'Saved Places' feature for keeping tabs on your favorite spots. You can check your phone for updates, or if you haven't dug in yet, have a poke around in the App Store.

Google brings check-ins to Google Latitude on iPhone, 30 languages to Places originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 22 Mar 2011 20:16:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SYMPTOMS
EDIT: I believe this is not triggered by data usage as several people with low usage has also been hit by the cap.

I am unsure whether this is triggered by data usage or otherwise but here are the symptoms:

1. The caps appear to be hard caps. There is NO fluctuation in speed, it just appears as if it’s maxed out at 50 kB/sec. Some 4 mbit users report being capped at 200 kB/sec and I have a 512 customer being capped at about 25 kB/sec and saw some 1 mbit customers having the same thing. It does look like an intentional cap as they are in common multiples.

2. No appearance of packet loss

3. Speedtests to local servers except Cyberjaya are fine but speedtest to Singapore/Cyberjaya/any other outside server shows the hard cap speed.

4. This appears to be indiscriminate as it applies to ALL types of international transfers be it http/P2P/FTP.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

Don’t waste your time with TM’s customer support. They are ill-informed and don’t have any idea of this problem.

Best is to go directly to the SKMM and open a complaint there and hopefully with enough genuine complaints, we can force some action out of this hugely unethical and possibly unlawful throttling.

LYN REPORTS:

Many LYN Reports also appear to show the same thing:

badang_1785
MrComot
disket
figure8
myandylai
ericee9
huh?
Hornet

Sample of report of speedtest

I have been experiencing the same problem of connection slowdown for almost 24 hours. ive tested with different ip’s, eg. 60.50, 60.49, 60.52, 60.53, 124.82 all to no avail. ive tested my connection and noticed that ;

a) tm speedometer gave me full normal speed of 1.5 Mbps ;

b) speedtest.net speedometer gave constant 0.5 Mbps to all international servers ive tried ; singapore, UK and US

c) speedtest.net speedometer to Penang, KL and Seri Kembangan gave good, full speed of 1.5 Mbps

d) speedtest.net speedometer to Cyberjaya however gave 0.5 Mbps only

e) ping tests to international websites were around 250ms-350ms

f) a torrent download from ipt with more than 150 seeders got stuck at 0.5 Mbps only with either VPN, bolehroute or direct streamyx connection

g) upload speed to all servers anywhere were around 0.3 Mbps – 0.35 Mbps

ive concluded that something was wrong with tm’s routing so ive called up their support line earlier this evening. opened up a report about this and the technician said *probably* theres something wrong with the routing since she cant event re-set my port connection; the system would not respond. below ive got some example ;

direct connection speedtest to singapore;

direct connection speedtest to UK;

direct connection to US;

direct connection to Penang, KL and Seri Kembangan;

the odd part, speedtest to Cyberjaya;

the above results are the same with other ip ranges as i stated above.

*Credits to Reuben* Taken from http://forum.lowyat.net/topic/1648653

Telekom Malaysia Berhad ™ wishes to announce that there has been a disruption of its Internet services due to circuit faults on the Asian American Gateway (AAG) submarine cable network at Lantau in China and at the domestic international link at Genting Sempah, Pahang, linking Malaysia to the United States (US) and Hong Kong.

Due to this, customers using Internet services may now experience slow browsing while accessing content hosted in the U.S. and Hong Kong. In addition, customers using other IP services such as Virtual Private Network (VPN) and other critical business applications linked to the U.S. and Hong Kong may also experience some service degradation.

To alleviate the problem, some of the links have been rerouted to alternate routes to ease the congestion.

During the restoration process, traffic to Northern America and Hong Kong may experience minor degradation while traffic to other countries is not affected. TM will make further announcements on the progress of the restoration works.

TM wishes to assure its customers that it is undertaking all necessary measures to restore communications services for its customers as soon as possible.

Customers can call TM at 100 and select “Internet Services” or e-mail us at help@tm.com.my for any Internet related problems.

Just a few weeks another cable fault again?  I think the whale is on their mating seasons

Telekom Malaysia Berhad (TM) wishes to announce that its consortium members have detected a cable fault on the South East Asia – Middle East – Western Europe 4 (SMW4) cable network along the Colombo – Mumbai segment that links Malaysia to Europe. The consortium will be carrying out repair works on site on Sunday, 23 May 2010.

During the restoration process, there may be some interruption to the traffic to Europe carried through that cable. TM has taken pro-active steps to minimize disruptions by providing adequate links on other routes and coordinated with other international carriers in order to provide additional bandwidth for our customers. In order to further alleviate the situation, TM will also be diverting traffic to other networks to reduce congestion, thus, minimizing the impact to our users.

However, despite these initiatives, customers using Internet services nationwide may experience some degree of service degradation such as slow browsing while accessing international websites. Nevertheless, customers using Virtual Private Network (VPN) and other critical business applications linked to Europe will be assured minimal degradation of service, if any.

TM will provide necessary updates on the progress of the restoration works.

We apologize for any inconveniences caused by this disruption, whilst at the same time, would like to assure our customers that TM is undertaking all necessary measures to ensure that customers experience minimal service interruption.

TM wishes to thank its customers for their understanding and patience during the affected period. Meanwhile, customers can call TM at 100 and select “Technical Assistance” or email help@tm.com.my for any Internet related problems.?

Here is the recent update for the cable fault. During this outage youtube.com speed has been improving at full speed. Not sure this is just temporarily or permanently. The speed for ftp is improving but no 100% at full speed. Hopefully TM.Net Network Operation Centre realized they still need to tune up the routing because a lot of people still complaining of their slow speed.

Kindly reply here for feedback regarding your speed.

COMPLETION OF CABLE WORKS ON SMW4

Telekom Malaysia Berhad (TM) is pleased to inform its customers that the repair works on the Southeast Asia – Middle East – Western Europe 4 (SMW4) submarine cable network between Palermo (Southern Italy) and Alexandria (Northern Egypt) linking Internet traffic from Malaysia to Europe and the United States (US), have now been fully completed. TM has already recovered its bandwidth capacity for Internet traffic to Europe and the US to-date. TM Internet services have resumed normal operations since Friday, 30 April 2010. Therefore, all international links have been fully restored and our services have resumed back to normal. We would like to thank our customers for their understanding and patience during the affected period. Customers can call TM at 100 or e-mail us at help@tm.com.my for any Internet related problems.

Hi everyone i already detected the issues for the past 3 weeks and TM ignore my complaint and yesterday they put this announcement and even my complaint to their NOC ignored. Hope the routing come back again and they fix it

INTERNET SERVICES DISRUPTION DUE TO CABLE WORKS ON SMW4

Telekom Malaysia Berhad (TM) wishes to announce that its consortium members have detected a cable fault on the Southeast Asia-Middle East-Western Europe 4 (SMW4) submarine cable network between Alexandria in Egypt and Palermo in Italy linking Malaysia to Europe and the United States (US). The consortium will be carrying out repair works on site on Saturday, 24 April 2010 and it is expected to be completed on Sunday, 2 May 2010.During the restoration process, there will be some interruption to the traffic to Europe and the US carried through that cable. TM is taking active steps to minimize disruptions; we have added additional links on other routes and coordinated with other international carriers in order to provide additional bandwidth for our customers. Despite these initiatives, customers using Internet services nationwide may experience some degree of service degradation such as slow browsing while accessing international websites. Customers using Virtual Private Network (VPN) and other critical business applications linked to Europe and the US will be assured minimal degradation of service, if any. TM will provide necessary updates on the progress of the restoration works, and would like to elicit feedback from our customers on the quality of service experienced. We apologize for any inconveniences caused by this disruption, whilst at the same time, would like to assure customers that we are undertaking all necessary measures to ensure that customers experience uninterrupted service. TM wishes to thank its customers for their understanding and patience during the affected period. Meanwhile, customers can call TM at 100 and select “Technical Assistance” or e-mail us at help@tm.com.my for any Internet related problems.