Logitech has updated its line of PlayGear Pocket game cases for the current generation of Sony and Nintendo portable gaming rigs. The PlayGear Pocket Slim is a version of the original PlayGear Pocket that has been slightly downsized to more snugly accommodate the current, skinnier version of the Sony PSP. » Read the rest of the entry..

We're waiting to get our hands on the new Rock Band 2 hardware Tuesday afternoon, but in the meantime, Harmonix has released the entire set list for the game (or at least the songs that will ship on the game disc--many more will no doubt be released as online downloads).

The game will be available for the Xbox 360 in September and the PS3 and Wii later in the year. » Read the rest of the entry..

Approximately 36 hours after the release of the iPhone 2.0 firmware, existing iPhone customers still can't download it. iTunes says it's unavailable. Apple should have done better.

We already know that on Friday, there were severe activation problems with the iPhone 3G. This isn't exactly a surprise, perhaps, after the new in-store activation procedures and AT&T's dismal performance last year. » Read the rest of the entry..

Loopt was one of the first companies to strut its stuff in an onstage demo at Apple's World Wide Developer Conference in June, and Sam Altman, the CEO of the location-aware social networking app, said the iPhone version is "the best version of Loopt we've ever created."

Thanks to an early release of iTunes 7.7 (for Mac and Windows) and the App Store, that version of Loopt is available--for free--for anyone willing to risk the unofficial firmware upgrade today or the official Friday upgrade.

I've done the former, and Loopt's friend-tracking application works as seamlessly and as powerfully as promised. The application integrates with iPhone's GPS and touch-screen camera technology in a rich, immensely usable native application that makes finding friends and nearby businesses easy. Loopt also supplies mapping, directions, and restaurant reviews using Microsoft Virtual Earth and Yelp. Directions are instantaneously mapped on Google. » Read the rest of the entry..

Today, Dash Navigation set free a wireless software update that brings a number of new features and fixes to its Dash Express GPS device. The June08 update will be delivered over the air to Dash owners, so there's no need to connect to a PC or purchase software DVDs; you'll simply receive a notification when you next start your device. But what exactly are you getting? In short, smarter routing options and hopefully, better performance. Here's the breakdown of features:

FasterFind: This should let the Dash Express get a faster GPS fix by using over-the-air GPS satellite position information powered by SiRFInstantFix technology. FasterFind will also help to pick up your position faster, even when you're driving through heavily wooded areas or in urban canyons with skyscrapers, which often cause portable navigation systems to lose a GPS fix. » Read the rest of the entry..

If the question "Where am I?" is a recurring issue for you, Ricoh has added a feature to its GPS-ready digital camera that you may want to check out.

The Ricoh 500SE GPS camera now includes something called an SE-3 GPS module, a three-axis compass developed by Honeywell that nails down the position and direction (azimuth), then displays it on the camera's LCD.

The data, in the form of point coordinates, is embedded into an image as it is captured.

This gives the user a 3D "cones-of-view" perspective, indicating the direction the camera was facing. It comes ready to use with mapping applications such as Google Earth and ESRI's ArcGIS (PDF.) » Read the rest of the entry..

As consumers are deluged with GPS products, manufacturers are continually looking for ways to expand the market--and that includes non-humans. Tracking technologies for pets (and kids) are hardly new, but Garmin is trying to stay ahead of the pack, literally, with more powerful devices. » Read the rest of the entry..

ArchPort Shoes offers a hideaway wallet feature tucked into the sole of its "radically innovative" patented sandals and athletic shoes, with space for cell phones, GPS transceivers, wireless MP3 players, batteries, heaters, and other gadgets soon to follow.

Company founder Matt Potts came up with the idea back in 1989 while playing tennis. "It's just not comfortable to carry stuff in your pockets, especially a wallet," Potts told GPS Daily. » Read the rest of the entry..

Hi everyone. Starting this week, I will be answering reader questions about all things GPS right here on Miss Direction and Crave. If you need product recommendations, have questions about the technology, or ever wondered if a GPS can actually tell you to drive into water, this is the place to be. I'll be posting these Ask the Editor blogs every other week so don't be shy, send in those questions, and I'll do my best to answer them all. So without further ado, on with the show.

Q: Can you help me? I am looking for a GPS that also has hands-free functionality. I live in California and as of July 2008, you cannot use a cell phone that is not hands free. Is there a GPS that has voice function? --Allen, via e-mail A: Hi Allen. You're in luck. There are quite a few portable navigation devices (PNDs) with integrated Bluetooth, which allows you to wirelessly connect a Bluetooth-enabled cell phone or smartphone to the GPS and use it as a hands-free speaker system. Some Bluetooth-equipped PNDs include the TomTom GO 930, Garmin Nuvi 660, and the Mio C520. Having reviewed a number of these devices, I'd have to say that Garmin and TomTom offer the easiest setup and best user interface for this, but you can also find more options in our roundup here. » Read the rest of the entry..

Of the growing number of smartphones with integrated GPS, you can now add the Motorola Ming to the list. Yes, you can now wheel and deal with the new Motorola Ming A1600 and the Motorola Ming A1800, which were just announced this week. The next-gen models of the Motorola Ming A1200 both feature a 2.4-inch QVGA touch screen, Bluetooth (with support for the A2DP profile), a microSD expansion slot that accepts up to 4GB cards, and a 3-megapixel camera. » Read the rest of the entry..