Finding Naturist Areas and other LBS News

MapMuse today announced the 2012 release of its Nude Beach and Naturist Maps, a series of web maps and an accompanying iPhone app that plot the locations of nude beaches, nude resorts, nudist clubs, nudist colonies, and nude runs around the world.

- press release

Glassmap, an app (Android/iOS, Facebook log-in) to passively share your location with friends, has lauched. It started at Standord, where 10% of students use it and has launched at 10 other schools. The big improvement ovr other apps like this (Google Latitiude, Loopt)? It uses an order of magnitude less battery.

- ReadWriteWeb

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on Thursday proposed voluntary guidelines for [auto] manufacturers, including a recommendation that they design dashboards so that distracting devices are automatically disabled unless the vehicle is stopped and the transmission is in park.

Thankfully, backers understand that sometimes a passenger keys in an address to the in-car GPS or of course driver could use a phone not integrated into the dashboard for navigation. Maybe that's why this is voluntary.

- AP

Groupon has acquired Hyperpublic, a small company that develops location-based technology that can be integrated into other applications.

- PC World

Google has added "leaderboards" to Google Latititude, something many suggest means its going after Foursquare in a big way. You earn points for checking in and data is shared on Google +. So far the feature is only on the latest Google Maps for Android.

- PC Mag

TomTom to Cut 10% of Workforce, Restructure R&D

TomTom NV announced Thursday a plan to cut 10% of its global workforce (457 jobs, 255 of which are redundant) and reorganize its research and development program. R&D activities will be organized into 10 product units to improve ROI, and increase the control its salesforce has over what's being developed based on customer feedback, and speed time to market.

The company will take a EUR14 million charge in the fourth quarter, mainly related to the job cuts. The big loser for TomTom is the PND arena, which saw a 19% decline in sales on an annual basis in the third quarter.

- WSJ

TomTom Cuts Ahead, Including Jobs

TomTom, the Dutch navigation equipment and digital map maker, said it will cut 50 million euros ($69.7 million) in costs, including jobs, to help improve profitability as it posted a dip in quarterly sales on lower demand and falling prices.

An increase of 50% in net revenue over Q3 last year was mostly due to currency exchange rates and lower interest rates as debt declines; sales were in fact down 10%.

“We have started a restructuring program which will focus our organization on the areas where we see the greatest potential for growth, of which Automotive and Content & Services are clear examples,” said Chief Executive Harold Goddijn in a statement.

He did not details exactly where job cuts would be.

- Reuters

- WSJ

LBS Tidbits - 6/14/11

EarthSearch (ECDC), and integrator of RFID and GPS solutions, is currently exploring the development of a number of social networking and mobile applications, under a new division, with a specific focus on GPS utilization.

Very late to the game and nothing in the article suggests anything new.

- Wall Street Newscast

Navigon announced new POI datasets sourced from OpenStreetMap for Europe. The five layers (health, food and drink, etc.) run a few Euros each or all can be had for 9.99 Euros.

- GPS Biz News

Days after Google announced it has started its effort to introduce 3-D 'walk through' maps for Indian cities, it's biggest competitor in India - MapmyIndia.com - has opened up its fine-grained map to the public for free.

- Real Time News India