Aircard owners can now rejoice in having live GPS with navigation for as low as $20 a year.
Google today released their latest beta of Google Earth 4. Version 4 has been in perpetual beta for months, but the latest release for Windows, Mac, and Linux has added support for NMEA live GPS.
This feature, when combined with wireless service and a GPS device, allows users to have real-time GPS navigation on their laptops. The easiest connectivity option would be an aircard, but Phone-as-Modem solutions also work. These two services when used in-tandem can provide up-to-date driving directions with no monthly fee.
Despite some aircards including GPS support via gpsOne, Google Earth requires a dedicated GPS unit with NMEA output. Google Earth supports Serial, USB, and Bluetooth GPS units. Finally, you must upgrade to Google Earth Plus, which is $20 per year and provides enhanced print imagery and GPS support. Google Earth Free does not support GPS until being upgraded to Google Earth Plus.
