Video: Dash Express Web Connected GPS

The days of fumbling over a map while driving a car appear to be a parting memory as GPS systems have grown increasingly popular of the past few years. The iPhone and other mobile devices have adopted GPS for navigating your way through life. Some newer vehicles are adding GPS as a standard option. Portable GPS devices by Garmin, Tom Tom and other have continued to roll out improved devices. But there is a new GPS startup that is taking what Garmin and Tom Tom have been doing well and taking it a step further. 

Dash Navigation, a Sunnyvale, California startup, has launched a product called the Dash Express which not only helps you find your way it also hooks to the Internet for real-time interactivity. This connectivity can be leveraged to offer real-time traffic data based on anomous Dash users. The connection also hooks users up to Yahoo Local search to find local business and other destinations. A new open platform also means that users will be seeing more and functionality and applications offered but some of the notables currently include Twitter which sends your current location to Twitter as well as other applications like WeatherBug which offers real-time weather information based on your current location.

Dash takes a similar syncing approach to that of iTunes and the iPod which enables users to save information and preferences. Dash also offers a Firefox plugin that enables user to find items online and then send locations directly to the Dash in the car saving users time having to find it on the Dash. I recently got a chance to catch up with Chris Butler  who is leading up the Dash open platform developer community and chatted with him on Episode 30 of SOMEWHAT FRANK TV.

You can view a thoroughly walk-through of the Dash Express in the video (below) or subscribe to the video podcast and watch it on the go.