MyAthlete is the latest offering of track tools - this one aimed at endurance athletes such a marathons and triathletes. You carry the device and anyone with Web access (via cell say) can track you on a map. The device will be used by Team Hoyt at Monday's Boston Marathon. (Dad Dick pushes son Rick in a specially- made wheelchair.) The interesting thing about this device - you can rent it and return it after a race.

- press release

Editors Joe Francica and Adena Schutzberg explore the technology of indoor location tracking and real-time locating systems (RTLS) . From asset tracking to location-based marketing, radio frequency technology is fast evolving for use in confined spaces such as grocery stores, hospitals and manufacturing plants. This technology will be in place for attendees and exhibitors to experience at Directions Media's Location Intelligence Conference in Santa Clara, April 28-30.

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C|net's IphoneAtlas blog highlights location tracking in the beta of the Iphone OS 2.0. It provides location (cell tower based, per a comment) on a "persistently updating basis" making it "more like a real GPS." How does it work? "At this point the function (along with the entirety of iPhone OS 2.0) is somewhat flaky and slow, but promising."

Yes, it's all very CSI, but it's real. In fact the article from researchers at the University of Utah published the article in The Proceedings of the National Academy of Science. The bottom line, the amount of hydrogen and oxygen isotopes in your hair reflect where you've been. So, after analysis in a mass spectrometer the "fingerprint" of your hair is matched to a map that shows, regionally, where you've been. Mostly, the impact comes on differences in the water you drink, though there are other factors. And, since hair is a record of your diet, the longer the hair, the further back in time your location can be traced.

- Tech Review (lots of maps)

I noted Domino's offering for pizza tracking last week: basically, you know what stage your pie is at in the process, not where it is. Papa John's is going with another technology, at least one 11 store group in Huntsville. (Joe will need to test this!)

The group is using technology from Trackmypizza a startup built by "two telemetry scientists who spent 10 years tracking defense missiles for the U.S. government." They use GPS enabled phones that travel with the drivers.

About 18% of all orders (phone and Internet) in the last 60 days are using the service and amazingly, online orders are up 100%. Part of the return on investment seems to be getting more folks to order online - they order more because they can see the whole menu.

Another tidbit - the tracking seems to use TIGER data: "TrackMyPizza itself relies on a mapping engine built by Randy Younger, the company's chief operating officer, and Ken Blankshain, its CTO, using geo data available from the U.S. government." The site is funded by Papa Johns and ads. And, the maps are pretty basic.

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InformationWeek

Garmin has, as some expected, launched its first phone, which focuses on navigation. It's called the nuviphone. Garmin doesn't yet have any information on its website, but there's plenty of coverage elsewhere, including at Engadget and the Kansas City Star.

Also, word from Dominos you can now track your pizza order to your door - at least from 3,200 outlets. But, it's really a "what step is it at" tracking, there's no geo involved. From the PR:

Once customers place an order, they can go to www.dominos.com and click on the Pizza Tracker icon. They will see a horizontal bar that lights up red as each step in the process is completed. Customers will see confirmation of their order being received by the store; when it's being prepared; when it's been placed in the oven; when it's been boxed and placed in the Domino's HeatWave(TM) bag; and finally, when it's on its way for delivery.

Still, Dominos has applied for a patent on the technology.