GPS

OK, lions aren't manipulating their fuzzy paws to send text messages to the rest of their pride. Rather, scientists in Kenya have outfitted local lions with GPS tracking collars that send automated text message updates to the researchers on their locations.

Every hour, the GPS collars transmit a text message to a server, which eventually sends the data to a satellite map that shows the lions' movements so researchers know when lions come too close to farmers' livestock. In order to protect their own assets, some farmers have resorted to poisoning the lions to prevent their herds from becoming a meal. Conservationists hope by following the lion's movements on the savannah, they can turn dwindling population numbers around.

So far, 10 lions are wearing the collars, which cost $3,000 a piece and were partially funded through Kickstarter.

The Hangover Part II opens in theaters today, and if your fiancé's BFF is planning a weekend to remember like you'd find in the movies, remember one thing: someone always gets lost. Don't let your boys turn out like the Wolf Pack and lose a member of your wedding party — send them on their way knowing you've outfitted them with the latest in GPS tracking technology. It's not spying if it's saving a life . . . or wedding.

• Zoombak Personal GPS Locator — Never lose your guys when they're outfitted with the Zoombak personal GPS device. Initially, these babies were made for your pups to wear so you could always find them when they escape the yard, but the lineup's been expanded to include people and things like backpacks, laptops, anything you want to know the location of. Not recommended for snooping spouses, just concerned brides-to-be.
• PocketFinder — This tiny GPS locator is waterproof and small enough to fit in your shirt pocket, and it can relay GPS coordinates to your home computer, cell phone, or land line.
• Find My Phone — If your man's got an iPhone and gets separated from the party group, tell the guys to log in to his Find My Phone feature. This handy tool locates his device via another linked laptop or iPad, and easily tells them where he (or his phone) can be found. Of course, you'll have to activate the service before the bachelor party in order for this plan to work.

Google is making big moves lately, first with priority inboxes and Instant search, then some new updates to its Android Voice app and the Google Earth website, and now Google Maps on Android is getting updated with a brand-new feature: walking navigation!

Find out what's coming with the latest update (and why you should care) after the jump.

What fun is a sporting event without a little eye candy? He's not leading in Pop's hot Olympian poll (yet!), but while I was busy "researching" photos of my new favorite US Olympian, skier Jake Zamansky, I stumbled across this photo of him in ski goggles.

I'm not a skier, so I don't know all of the technical specs involved in ski gear, but I have spotted a few pieces of high-tech equipment before. Watching the Winter Olympics has snow sports on the top of my mind, so I was excited to see the super high-tech Zeal Optics Transcend ($350) GPS-enabled ski goggles. Besides GPS, they also display time, temperature, distance, altitude, and speed, all on a small LCD screen inside the goggles. Simply to turn your eyes slightly to the side to view the information screen.

It's too bad my Vancouver crush can't rock a pair of these yet — they aren't shipping until October. Though I have to say, he's looking pretty good in his own set of goggles! Don't miss a thing — check out all of the geeky details of this year's Winter games.

This morning in London, Nokia announced Ovi Maps, a free turn-by-turn navigation app that costs nothing and will immediately work with 10 of its GPS-enabled handsets (with more rolling out soon). Coming with high-end voice guidance for drivers and pedestrians alike, the app comes stocked with highly detailed maps for 74 countries, traffic information in 10 countries, and will be available in 46 languages. The best part is that all of the maps are free forever, so you won't have to buy new maps or apps if you're traveling to different countries — it's all included.

Starting in March, new Nokia devices will automatically come preloaded with Ovi Maps, along with Lonely Planet and Michelin travel guides so you'll not only be able to explore new and faroff places, but you can find cool things to do there as well. Check to see if your Nokia handset is compatible, and download Ovi Maps here. To see what Google has to say about Ovi Maps, just read more

If you're headed out to get your Black Friday shop on this week and are in need of some game action, you better check out Target first!

I love my Xbox 360, and my favorite big-box store is offering up their stock of Elite Black Xbox 360s in a few choice bundles. You can pick up the 120GB version with a controller and two games (Pure and Lego Batman) for $300. If you need a bit more for your buck, pick up the Call of Duty bundle which includes the 250GB black Xbox 360, two controllers and your own copy of Call of Duty for $400. Bonus — each bundle comes with a $50 Target gift card!

To see what other Target deals I have my eye on, just read more

Finding your way with your iPhone just got better: TomTom has launched its GPS navigation app for the iPhone today.

The app costs $100, so it's not a capricious download, but it is from a respected name in GPS devices, TomTom, and features turn-by-turn directions.

It's probably a boon for those in the market for a dashboard GPS device for their car, since the price is pretty comparable to a separate device (sans a dock or charger, of course).

I'm all for GPS devices, but I just love the idea of using navigation services on your cell phone, so you don't get stuck carrying around another device. Already compatible with the T-Mobile G1, various BlackBerry phones and the iPhone, the TeleNav GPS Navigator app will soon be available to use on the MyTouch 3G smartphone.

Starting tomorrow, customers will be able to test drive the TeleNav navigation app free for 30 days and then it will be $10 after that. The MyTouch 3G will be able to display full-color traffic conditions, the weather, and accept voice commands.

• Lifehacker rounds up five GPS Device favorites — Lifehacker
• The P2P application site Kazaa is back and is actually legal — CrunchGear
• These 10 high-risk gaming gadgets have the greatest potential for causing pain — Wired
• Alcatel has just debuted a Miss Sixty cell phone — Gizmodiva
• A new Mastercard iPhone app called Priceless Picks is actually pretty cool — TechCrunch
• Log in for your chances to win a new Amazon Kindle — geeksugar