Technology Briefs - May 27 - June 2

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The Latest Headlines:

• XM, Sirius Gaining Subscribers, Investors
• Pilotless Planes May Be Used to Track Traffic
• G-Log Unveils New Version of Software

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XM, Sirius Gaining Subscribers, Investors

As design advances shrink the tuners and their prices, XM Satellite Radio Holdings Inc. and Sirius Satellite Radio Inc. have both seen an increase in subscribers and investors, the Associated Press reported Monday.

Satellite radio has been heavily marketed to over-the-road truckers because of its long-range broadcast capability.

Not long ago both companies were facing cash shortages, AP said. However, Sirius said it expected to have 300,000 subscribers by this December, while XM expected 1.2 million.

XM radios are now available in 2,100 Wal-Mart stores, AP said, and would be optional in at least 70 car models this fall. Sirius radios would be optional in 65 auto models. Transport Topics

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Pilotless Planes May Be Used to Track Traffic

The pilotless planes the U.S. military used in combat missions in Iraq and Afghanistan are expected be tested in Ohio to see whether they can help unclog traffic jams, the Associated Press reported.

Transportation officials believe unmanned aerial vehicles, called drones, can be used to track traffic patterns or find the best routes for emergency vehicles.

Aerial monitoring could give much more detailed information than the current system of stationary cameras and detectors embedded in the pavement, AP said. Some of drones have "sniffers" that could let police know if a truck has spilled gasoline or ammonia.

A test flight could take place within six months, AP said. Transport Topics

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G-Log Unveils New Version of Software

G-Log, a provider of global logistics and transportation software, said Thursday it had enhanced its G-Log Global Command and Control Center software.

Included in new version 4.0 is the ability to track inventory at rest, expanded platform support, and optimized graphical interfaces, the company said in a release.

The company said users of the software can easily track inbound shipments, on-hand inventory, dispatched inventory to manufacturing and inventory consumed by manufacturing. Transport Topics

(Click here for the full press release.)

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