Google have recently released a native version of Google Maps, for Symbian.

Compared to the older Java version of the program, this has lots of advantages, the most obvious being start-up speed and runtime speed. Every animation is smooth, loading times are blazing if you have a good connection.

An added feature would be the GPS support. This is really cool as long as you have an always-on connection, especially when on foot. It’s got all of the search features you know from the online version of Google Maps.

Read on for some hands-on reports and screenshots.

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How many times have you actually went off for a long holiday, snapping gigabytes after gigabytes’ worth of photos only to return home without having a clear memory of exactly where they were taken? With the QSTARZ Super 99 Bluetooth Solar GPS Travel Recorder, you don’t have to worry about suffering from memory lapses ever again, since this dual-powered GPS travel recorder is capable of logging up to 200,000 waypoints on each journey courtesy of the support for Geo Tagging of photos along with the ability to share your current location with friends over Google Earth. You can choose to have it operate using its integrated battery which can be recharged via a nearby power outlet, or using the integrated solar panel instead which is capable of powering the device for up to 48 hours at a stretch after achieving a full charge via natural sunlight.

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It may look like a phaser (well, only vaguely), but it’s the coolest stargazing aid to come out this year. The Meade MySky allows you to explore the heavens simply with a point and shoot. It’s database comes with 30,000 objects in the night sky and also can show cool multimedia astronomy presentations. And thanks to its 12-channel GPS receiver, there’s no complicated alignment either. It’s all automatic, which is something previous attempts at a handheld observatories have been woefully lacking at.

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Anytrack, a real-time GPS tracking device and service provider has just rolled out a couple more devices that target both business and consumer markets. These new releases can track just about anything, including important cargo, vehicles, pets, and even people. The first of the two is the GPS-130 that was specially designed to help shippers, retailers, transportation and logistics providers reduce the incidences of cargo theft while increasing supply chain security. According to the FBI, cargo thefts cost from $12,000 to $3 million per shipment, and totals approximately $15 billion every year, so making sure that everything is in good order is not being paranoid as some might think.

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For today’s troops in the field, Army life is all about being hitech. From night vision goggles to keeping contact with command via radio, to even GPS navigation equipment, video cameras sending live feeds and even a portable PDA that soldiers use in the field, today’s soldier uses a ton of gadgetry in the field that is eating up power in day to day operation. Batteries are heavy and with that kind of gadgetry, you’d need to carry a lot of them, or rely on equipment for recharging that would not necessarily have access to an electrical source. To that end, the Australian government is investing millions to develop an ultra light solar panel that soldiers can use to charge their tech.

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The previous news related to GPS navigation systems had Holux, Asus, and IO Data as the target, but one of the popular GPS manufacturers, also known as Mio, has announced a new device with the following codename: C720t. Obviously, this is an upgrade of previous versions, and the best part of all - it is the first Mio GPS system that comes with a digital camera.

The good thing about the 2 megapixel digital camera is that its functions are not normal, for instance, you can embed GPS coordinates into an image, and navigate back to it as if it were an address.

The other strange feature is associated with the capturing lens, and being able to distinguish business card which are afterwards stored in the contact list. Pretty useful if you ask me - you can lose the business cards, but at least the important information will be in a safe place.
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Here’s a new and advanced UMPC built by the Finnish company Elektrobit (or just EB). It’s called the MIMD or Mobile Internet Media Device, and features a slew of connectivity, media and navigation features.

The form factor might seem familiar, as it’s almost a replica of the Sony Vaio UMPC’s. However, the build is a bit different, there’s other hardware inside and the software is completely another thing.
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Holux GPSmile 55

The latest Holux GPS system doesn’t have anything new in terms of features when comparing to other devices, the design is probably the most unique point, being that all the other specifications are normal to high-end GPS systems.

Anyhow, the GPSmile 55 comes with the familiar 4.3” touch screen, which is a must-have for any GPS system. Other details on the connectivity options include bluetooth so you can get the “hands-free” calling system, and on the memory choices you can use a SD card to expand the storage capacity.

Windows CE 5.0 is the operative system being used on the Holux GPSmile 55, which goes along with the Samsung CPU running at 400Mhz (code-name S3C2440A). The battery life seems too good to be true, 10 hours using a 2600mHa battery. Last but not least, TMC traffic information is also available. Rumors mention a release date on early 2008.
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