EGO Drive

EGO Drive

Raytel - the American partner of German Funkwerk - will be showcasing the EGO Drive at CES 2008 next month in Vegas. This GPS navigator has a great design and comes with a remote controller knob that makes sure you keep your eyes on the road the whole time.

EGO Drive offers 3D maps, bluetooth capability for hands free calls, and a sharp 4.3″ touch screen that comes with a stylus. Ego Drive is a high end device and the features offered prove it. The on-board text-to-speech engine reads out your text messages for you, and it even has a light-sensor to adjust the illumination of the screen. It has internal memory - but in addition it supports SD cards up to 2GB.

Here are features offered just for the bluetooth function:

• Voice recognition (speech-to-text, no training required)


• Complies with all hands-free laws


• Integrates and mutes car’s stereo system


• Supports all Bluetooth mobile phone voice commands


• DSP technology for noise and echo suppression


• Reads out text messages (SMS text-to-speech)


• Shows text and picture messages (SMS and MMS)


• Accommodates up to 10 different user profiles


• audio streaming (A2DP and AVRCP)

We have no information on pricing just yet. We’ll keep you posted.

(Via NaviGadget.)

Magellan Maestro 3200

Magellan Maestro 3200

The Magellan Maestro 3200 line is the slimming update to the Maestro 3100 line that has been out for a while. The most obvious change is the super thin, svelte look of the device that is certainly striking.

The Magellan 3200 is the entry level unit in the line with a few nice features like its Quickspell capability to dim the keyboard letters that don't make sense as you are typing in words on the screen; definitely helps speed data entry when looking for an address.

The Maestro 3200 has 1.3 million Points of Interest, which is on the light side of things, but workable. The unit comes preloaded with maps of the 48 US states, plus Hawaii and Puerto Rico. Unlike the 3210, the 3200 does not come with 'AAA' information pre-loaded. The Maestro 3200 gives voice based turn by turn directions, but not Text-to-speech.

(Via GPS Lodge.)

Omnitech 4.3" Widescreen GPS

Omnitech 4.3" Widescreen GPS

A lot of folks are asking about the Omnitech GPS - a widescreen GPS that comes pre-loaded with US and Canadian NAVTEQ maps. The unit comes with a SiRF star III chipset, a 4.3 inch touchscreen, a 12V power cord and an A/C home charger. The unit also comes with Text-to-speech, which is the ability to say road names. Immensely helpful when roads are closely situated, not such a big deal when you are in a more remote situation where the road that you are going to turn onto is the only one for a mile....

The price has been all over the place on the unit, so shop around if you are interested in buying this.

In doing some searches around the internet, I found several resources where users wrote in about the unit freezing up when calculating routes, and that it creates some very odd routes; definitely a bad sign. To be balanced there are some people who rave about the performance and the ease of use. I still go back to the idea that it’s easy to design a GPS, but it’s hard to design a good GPS; I am not yet convinced that this is a good GPS.

\

(Via GPS Lodge.)

Becker Traffic Assist 7827

Becker Traffic Assist 7827

During the San Francisco CTIA, I took a close look at Becker’s GPS devices and I like how they were built with small details that made life a little better. I hope that this 7827 is built with the same principles. The picture above is not a photo, but the Becker 7827 will be shown at CES 2008.

• Maps of the U.S and Canada on a 2GB SD Card


• Points of interest


• 4.3’ display


• Pseudo 3D view


• Media Player functions


• 250 Euros in European countries

(Via UberGizmo, the Gadgets News Blog.)

Delphi NAV300

Delphi NAV300

The Delphi Nav300 is a full-featured portable GPS unit that does everything from directing you to the store to playing MP3s. It’s small enough to be unobtrusive in the car, and does a great job of getting you to your pre-defined destination, as well as finding locations for you such as banks and restaurants. Unfortunately, it’s abysmally slow, difficult to use and the screen is too small to use your fingers to punch in addresses.

(Via Digital Trends.)

Reigncom to launch new navigation 'W7' in Korea

Reigncom to launch new navigation 'W7' in Korea

SEOUL, Korea (AVING) -- Reigncom announced the launch of its new navigation 'W7' in Korea market. The W7 has 76.2mm wide LCD touch screen and features electronic dictionary, flash, CSD viewer, and SRS WOW HD. 'W7 Car Kit' package for navigation is offered as an option with a price tag of 99,000(KRW) and it consists of GPS cradle, power supply, dock, miniSD memory card, mini SD adapter. Suggested price for the main body is 238,000(KRW) for 4GB and 288,000(KRW) for 8GB.

(Via AVING WORLD | English.)

Magellan Maestro 4250 review

Magellan Maestro 4250 review

Magellan Maestro 4250 got 4 out of 5 from the editors of PCMag.com on a recent review. Maestro 4250 really excels in terms of voice control which doesn’t need any training and can easily direct you to the nearest gas station or a coffee shop when not actively in a route.

The maps on Maestro 4250 are quite up-to-date:

The street-level-detail maps showed recently opened roads and a new New Jersey Turnpike exit ramp. The large POI database also came in very handy. I was curious to see whether the database had an entry for my local ‘Zap Lube’ oil change shop, and there it was, as were several other shops I searched for.

Another positive side to Magellan 4250 is its super slim body that measures 3.25 x 4.88 x 0.7 inches making it the thinnest personal navigation device on the market.

The only negative side to the Maestro 4250 is that it didn’t read the contact off the phone when tested and failed to pair up with the phone when returned to the car after an initial setup.

(Via NaviGadget.)

Uniden Packs Radar Detector Inside MapTrax GPS for High-Tech Cop Spotting [GPS]

Uniden Packs Radar Detector Inside MapTrax GPS for High-Tech Cop Spotting [GPS]

Uniden hasn't been long in the GPS game, but its experience in high-end radar detectors goes back years and years. So it's no surprise that, come CES, it will be the first company to introduce a MapTrax GPS navigator with radar detection built in. We don't know much about them yet, like how the radar detection might be represented on a map, or if detection could help mark speed traps on the screen, but damn if it's not a start. People who note the placement of portable GPS navigators have asked me for years about this—'Why can't it have a 'fuzz buster' so I can see where all the cops are?' Well Dad, guess what? You're gonna get your wish.

(Via Gizmodo: GPS.)

HyOn's D5 navigator sports dual-DMB tuner

HyOn's D5 navigator sports dual-DMB tuner

We'll admit, HyOn's D5 sure looks a lot like the Xent X3, but unlike its predecessors, this fancy navigator rocks a dual-DMB tuner. That's right kids, this Korea-only unit sports a single integrated DMB module that supports both T-DMB and S-DMB, and if that wasn't enough to get you in a tizzy, it also features a 800 x 480 resolution LCD, a SiRFstarIII GPS chipset, dual 1.5-watt speakers and an integrated antenna to pull in those DMB waves. Thankfully for those of us pouting about not having a residence in Seoul, this thing costs a whopping ₩490,000 ($520) in 2GB form or ₩530,000 ($563) for 4GB, so it's not like you'd buy one even if you could. Okay, so maybe you would.

(Via Engadget.)

ATP GPS Photo Finder Is Geotagging Made Brainless

ATP GPS Photo Finder Is Geotagging Made Brainless

By Evan Ackerman

Being too poor to actually shell out the cash for a purpose built geotagging gadget (like this), on my last few trips I’ve taken along a regular GPS and synchronized my camera’s clock to it. I’d leave the GPS on while I was taking pics, and then when I got home, spend an unbelievably tedious evening matching the GPS info with my image timestamps. If you don’t have as many free evenings to spend doing unbelievably tedious things as I do, check out the ATP GPS Photo Finder. It does basically the same thing, except faster and better and without a PC. It takes a couple AA batts and works just like a normal GPS device, storing up to 550 hours of location data (updated every 5 seconds) on its 128mb of internal memory. Make sure your camera is synced to the GPS time the Photo Finder displays, and when you’re done shooting, just stick your camera’s SD/MMC/MS card into the Photo Finder and it’ll automatically geotag all your pics. So, it’s a card reader too, and comes with a USB cable to connect to your computer if you want. The current limitation (besides the memory card restriction) is that it only works with JPEGs, so if you’re into RAW, you’re out of luck. The geotagged pics integrate directly into Google Earth and Google Maps (with Picasa), and if you’ve never tried it before, it’s totally cool. Maybe not quite worth the $130 MSRP cool, but cool nonetheless.

(Via OhGizmo!.)

NX-7 GPS navigation system with DMB and more

NX-7 GPS navigation system with DMB and more

NX-7 is a GPS navigation system from Korea with a super slim profile. It utilizes the super sensitive SiRF Star III GPS receiver, and has a 4.3″ touchscreen in 16:9 format. It has an embedded DMB receiver for watching digitally broadcast channels on the go, and has various other multimedia features too. And for DVDs you can always use the video in port.

We have no info on pricing but it’ll be available in 2008; in Korea that is…

(Via NaviGadget.)

BlueNavi N7000 GPS/PMP Impresses

BlueNavi N7000 GPS/PMP Impresses

The BlueNavi N7000 may feel a little uncomfortable in your pocket, but this PMP and GPS system with a 4.3-inch screen is as portable as you can home for such a device. It will be available for Korean market, where such devices are very popular. It uses touch input for UI navigation. There is a USB 2.0 port for audio and movie transfers from your PC or other media devices and an SD card slot. There are not much details available of the BlueNavi N7000, but knowing it’s for the Korean market it will do what it’s promoted to do and even slightly more.

(Via PMP Today.)

Garmin nuvi 770 review

The Garmin nuvi 770 is the nicest of Garmin's transatlantic navigators, with pre-loaded maps of North America and Europe.' As a member of the 700 series, it incorporates a number of features not found on the transatlantic nuvi 670:

• Multi-destination routing



• Automatic sorting of multiple destinations to provide an efficient route



• Tracklog recording



• Speed limit display for many interstates and highways



• The newer internal antenna found on the nuvi 200 series



• Automatic marking of your last position when the unit is turned off (to help you find your car in mega-mall parking lots)



• A 'Where am I' safety feature that gives your current location,
  nearest address, nearest intersection, along with quick access to POIs
  for the nearest hospitals, police stations and gas stations






'...as with the 600s, you'll get a gorgeous widescreen display, text-to-speech functionality that gives spoken directions with real street names, an integrated FM traffic information receiver, an MP3 player, a photo viewer, and an FM transmitter that will play all the nüvi's audio, including voice prompts, MP3s, audio books, and more, directly through your vehicle's stereo system, but that, despite their impressive array of features, the 700s slip easily into a pocket...'








From the official Garmin nuvi 770 web page:





More maps and wide — there's simply more to see with nüvi 770. This
personal travel assistant is packed with preloaded maps for North
America and Europe, not to mention advanced navigation features, a
widescreen display, an FM transmitter, hands-free calling, traffic
alerts and more. Like the rest of the wide nüvi 700-series, its premium
navigation capabilities, like route planning and a handy locator, give
you peace of mind on the go.




See More




With nüvi 770's widescreen display, you'll always get the big
picture. View map detail, driving directions, photos and more in
bright, brilliant color. Its sunlight-readable, 4.3-inch display is
easy to read — from any direction.




Navigate With Ease




nüvi 770 comes ready to go right out of the box with preloaded City
Navigator® NT street maps and millions of points of interest (POIs)
such as hotels, restaurants, fuel stations, ATMs and more. Simply touch
the color screen to enter a destination, and nüvi takes you there with
2D or 3D maps and turn-by-turn voice directions. It even announces the
name of exits and streets so you never have to take your eyes off the
road. In addition, nüvi 770 accepts custom points of interest,
such as school zones and safety cameras and lets you set proximity
alerts to warn you of upcoming POIs. The European version even includes
a preloaded safety camera database containing the location of cameras
for parts of Europe.




Where Am I?




Keep track of yourself and your car with nüvi 770. Just tap "Where
Am I?" to find the closest hospitals, police stations, fuel stations,
nearest address and intersection. Also see your exact latitude and
longitude coordinates. nüvi 770 even remembers where you parked. It
automatically marks your position when you remove it from the
windshield mount, so you can navigate with nüvi on foot and find your
way back to your vehicle. Perfect for unfamiliar spots and crowded lots
such as amusement parks, stadiums and malls.




Plan Ahead




nüvi 770 includes advanced navigational features to take the worry
out of traveling. With route planning you can save 10 routes, specify
via points and preview simulated turns on the 770's wide screen. In
addition, nüvi 770 automatically sorts multiple destinations to provide
an efficient route for errands, deliveries or sales calls. It also
displays speed limits for highways and Interstates. A trip log provides
an electronic bread crumb trail of up to 10,000 points, so you can see
where you've been on the map.




Make Hands-free Calls




Talk about worry-free driving. nüvi 770 integrates Bluetooth®
wireless technology with a built-in microphone and speaker for
hands-free calling. Just pair it with your compatible Bluetooth phone
and talk hands-free through the 770 while staying focused on the road.
Simply dial numbers with nüvi's touchscreen keypad to make a call. To
answer calls, just tap the screen and speak directly into its built-in
microphone.




Avoid Traffic Tie-ups




Steer clear of traffic
with nüvi 770's integrated FM TMC traffic receiver. Receive alerts
about traffic delays and road construction that lie ahead on your
route. Next, simply touch nüvi's screen to view traffic details or
detour around the problem area.




Take It With You




nüvi 770's high-sensitivity internal (non flip-up) antenna gives it
a sleeker, thinner design than the nüvi 600-series, making it easy to
slip in your pocket or purse. Its rechargeable lithium-ion battery
makes it convenient for navigation by car or on foot.




Go Beyond Navigation




Navigation is just the beginning. nüvi 770 includes many ‘must have’
entertainment and travel tools including MP3 player, audio book player
(subscription to Audible.com required), JPEG picture viewer, currency
converters and more. With nüvi 770's wireless FM transmitter¹ you can
hear audio, including voice prompts, MP3s and audio books, through your
vehicle's stereo. It also includes optional MSN® Direct and comes with
Garmin Lock™, an anti-theft feature, and configurable vehicle icons
that let you select car-shaped graphics to show your location on the
map. Optional plug-in SD cards let you add additional features to
enhance your travel experience including language' translation and detailed travel guides. Our SaversGuide® provides information on nearby merchants offering discounts to customize your nüvi whether you’re traveling or close to home.







(Via GPS Tracklog.)

MG-950D

MG-950D

MainNav is getting ready to introduce the new MG-950D at CES 2008. MG-950D is a bluetooth GPS data logger that has a lot functions that make it useful for hiking, biking, driving, and maybe even running.

It is similar to Garmin Edge 305 in terms of form factor but MG-950D also acts as a bluetooth GPS receiver, meaning you can share the GPS data with other devices. It uses a SiRF Star III GPS receiver and can store up to 120,000 waypoints. It can calculate speed and altitude while you workout and store that info so later on you can transfer it to your PC via the USB interface and view on Google Earth.

We have no information on pricing or where/when it will be available but we’ll investigate at CES 2008 for you.

(Via NaviGadget.)

Amcor releases six GPS devices

Amcor releases six GPS devices

Amcor might not be a famous GPS manufacturer, but they certainly have a decent line-up that covers the $150 to $280 segments. I would argue that there are too many models for such a narrow price range, but I noticed two that are interesting:

Amcor 4400 ($180)

• 4.3’ Touch Screen


• 1 GB Flash Memory


• Maps of USA & Canada (Preloaded)


• New 3-D Building, Landmark & Topography Imaging Software


• 1 Million points of interest

(Via UberGizmo, the Gadgets News Blog.)

Dash Navigation - Hands On

Dash Navigation - Hands On

Dash Navigation is planning a launch of their internet connected GPS device in the new year, and I was fortunate enough to take a ride with the unit last week and two folks from Dash, Gina Bender, Director of Communications and Eric Klein, Senior Director of Product Marketing. The newly designed unit is sure to be on display at CES 2008, and I was able to see first hand what's going to be the core offering of Dash. Dash also announced today that they are taking pre-orders for the unit at their website, with delivery happening in the first quarter of the year. The unit will cost $599, and will have a monthly subscription rate as low as $9.99 with 2-year commitment.

Connectedness is the key premise of offering a better user experience, allowing for updated maps, internet connected fuzzy logic search, the ability to 'Send to GPS' addresses from any internet browser that you want. The Dash website has also been updated to provide some online capabilities so that you can configure your unit and save certain data sources and searches at your 'My Dash' page.

Traffic alert and planning features are pretty important next generation offerings that are enabled by the design choices made by Dash. Not only did they pre-load historical speed data from Inrix, but because you are connected, you can receive traffic alerts that
are generated by other Dash users out on the roads. We were driving around Boston today and with about 50 of the 2,000 Beta users (out of 53,000 applicants) on the roads of Boston for the last couple of months, we saw traffic patterns that those units anonymously reported in. Construction near us showed up in red at a local intersection and as we drove around you could see the 'trails' that were reported by those beta users due to other small construction projects. Very cool and amazing.


Finally, when we were looking at the unit, an update came available, and asked us if we wanted to download it. Oh, yea, connected GPS gets updates where ever you are, if you want. You had the option to delay, but it just underscored for me the fact that this thing is going to be up to date and the applications will be tweaked to make certain that they are the best possible experience that you can get. I was assured that this was not a regular enough event that it would be annoying. This asked because we had just turned the unit on, and as it was booting, it checked for an update.

Dash asking for an update - Always up to date software and Maps.....

(Via GPS Lodge.)

zoombak GPS tracking

zoombak GPS tracking

We have a new name in real time GPS tracking: Zoombak. Zoombak uses assisted GPS technology (A-GPS) in their devices which utilizes both satellite and cellular signals for a faster and more accurate location fix. They have two different versions, one for dogs, another model for vehicles or family members.

The dog tracking version costs $200 and currently is only available in the U.S:

Our small, lightweight, water-resistant locator attaches comfortably to your dog’s collar with a durable and secure pouch. You can pinpoint your dog’s location on-demand via Zoombak.com, mobile phone or live customer care. You can also determine your dog’s location in real time using our continuous tracking option

The vehicle tracking Zoombak costs $50 more and offers the exact same services. We’re not sure yet why the extra $50, possibly the extra accessories you get such as the car charger, installation bracket, and the 12 volt DC charger.

The monthly cost is $15/month but if you pay 6 months in advance it’ll come down to $10/month…

(Via NaviGadget.)

Mio C620 now official

Mio C620 now official

Mio C620 and C620t we announced back in August has now been made official by Mio. Both models are the same except that 620t also carries traffic message channel (TMC) on its cradle. 620 series is advertised as 3D mapping devices since the maps contain 3D renderings of certain landmarks (about 1000 them) all of which are in Europe - so don’t get your hopes up just yet for getting your hands on Mio 620 here in the U.S.

Here are some more features:

• Hands-free calling with built-in Bluetooth wireless technology and microphone


• 4.3″ screen


• Speed camera warnings out-of-the box with free updates


• Split screen for info, POI, TMC, Route, MP3 and phone book

(Via NaviGadget.)

Lightning Round: Pharos Drive GPS 250 [GPS]

Lightning Round: Pharos Drive GPS 250 [GPS]

The Gadget: The Drive GPS 250 from Pharos offers text-to-speech functionality, a SiRFStarIII GPS receiver, a 4.3' touchscreen display, 32-bit CPU, NAVTEQ map and automatic night view-switching. Not bad when compared to other mid-range devices released by more mainstream companies.

The Price: $299

The Verdict: The bottom line is that the Pharos Drive GPS 250 will get you from point A to point B. In my experiences, the device grabbed signals quickly and it worked fairly well in most normal situations—including an urban environment amid tall skyscrapers. Voice prompts were easy to follow, route calculations were generally accurate and recalculations were fast. That having been said, the route selections occasionally had me driving on some bizarre paths, the touchscreen functionality and the data input UI were ghetto, and the interpretation of road names often had me laughing my ass off. Still, the Pharos GPS 250 can hold its own amid more well known brands. All-in-all, not a bad choice for the price, and you could always sacrifice a little screen real-estate (3.5' as opposed to 4.3') and pick up the Drive GPS 150 for $200.

(Via Gizmodo: GPS.)

Mio C620 GPS features 3D graphics

Mio C620 GPS features 3D graphics

The stand-alone GPS market is getting incredibly competitive and Mio isn’t resting on their freshly acquired laurels. The Mio C620 will feature limited 3G graphics to display terrain elevation and landmarks, thanks to the new MioMap 2008 software. I can only speculate, but I sense that more buildings will be added… once Mio gets them modeled (it’s a ton of work). Points of interest will show up as ‘sprites’ in the 3D environment.

The overall look of the software is new, and we can only hope that there is a better map upgrade mechanism, this time. Mio website

(Via UberGizmo, the Gadgets News Blog.)

bluenavi N7000

bluenavi N7000

The BlueNavi brand we mentioned more than a year ago apparently has a new model, called N7000. This device also features a 4.3 inch TFT LCD touch screen combining GPS navigation system and a DMB receiver under its hood.

It can also play all sorts of media files, and has Picture-In-Picture capability. You’re very unlikely to see this in the U.S. but we would love to see our readers prove us wrong. Anyone seen this brand around?

Here is a screenshot of its amazing mapping ability:

(Via NaviGadget.)

Garmin Nuvi 260 vs. Garmin Nuvi 350

Garmin Nuvi 260 vs. Garmin Nuvi 350

I have had a lot of people ask about which product they should buy ??? the Nuvi 260 or the Nuvi 350. On the surface both are pretty similar, but they are actually quite different in what they can do for you so, read on and find out what???s right for you.

The Nuvi 350 is a little bit older, launched during 2005, it was a wave of change that changed the market to flat and compact. The Nuvi 260 was launched in 2007, and features the newer more compact design that is across the newer model line, like the Nuvi 200W/250W and Nuvi 750/760/770 series.



First of all what do they BOTH have:

Standard size color touch screen, Maps of North America with 6 Million Points of Interest, Text to Speech, small and flat form factor, easy to use interface, picture viewers, and the same navigation overall.

What???s Different between the Nuvi 260 and the Nuvi 350?

The Nuvi 350???s case and form is a bit different, as it has a slightly thicker case and a swing up patch antenna that needs to be raised to work. The Nuvi 260 is a newer look that is thinner (slightly) and more svelte looking. The Nuvi 350 has a slightly longer battery life ??? up to 8 hours according to Garmin, versus 5 hours for the Nuvi 260. I think that the 5 hours of battery life is fine, and the extra in the Nuvi 350 isn???t a big deal.

Media ??? The Nuvi 350 has an MP3 player, an Audiobook player and a headphone jack, the Nuvi 260 does not.

Traffic ??? The Nuvi 350 has the optional ability to add TMC traffic, the Nuvi 260 does not. This is a big difference and one worth thinking about as it may effect the future of how you use your GPS. This may be worth adding if you drive in commuter traffic every day, and pretty key feature at that. For some people this makes a big difference and that the added traffic feature is a big advantage of a GPS. For others, no big issue. Read more on TMC traffic.

At Amazon - The Garmin Nuvi 260 or the Garmin Nuvi 350


Both appear on my 2007 GPS Holiday Gift Guide; at this writing the Nuvi 260 is about $40+ less than the Nuvi 350.

(Via GPS Lodge.)

Satmap Active 10 review

Satmap Active 10 review

The Satmap GPS handheld which we talked about back in August just got a review from PCW. It received four stars out of five and got praised for its smooth mapping, rugged design, and simple to use interface.

However it didn’t receive good grades in terms of cost since OS maps cost extra on top of the already pricey hardware, and the unreliable battery indicator wasn’t helpful.

(Via NaviGadget.)

Dash finally available

Dash finally available

The Dash GPS navigation system we’ve been waiting is now available! That’s the good news. The bad news is that it is only available for pre-order at the company’s website, expected to ship in mid-to-late February. The price is $600 and broader retail distribution is expected to start in second quarter of 2008.

$600 includes 3 months of Dash service which offers real-time traffic information from the Dash Driver Network, Internet Search, Send2Car and AutoUpdates. Dash service costs somewhere between $10 to $13 per month but it is not necessary for your device to function.

Check out their latest video on YouTube talking about the internet connected search function:

So what do you guys think of the price? Is $600 more or less than what you expected for such a new generation sat nav system?

(Via NaviGadget.)

Open Source locoGPS Module Coming to iPhone [IPhone GPS]

Open Source locoGPS Module Coming to iPhone [IPhone GPS]

Part Foundry are currently working on a dongle that will bring the long-desired GPS feature to the iPhone. Branded as locoGPS, the device promises true GPS backed by open source software, but if the teaser video is any indication, it may not be the GPS experience you're expecting.

The photo you see above is only a concept design. In its current stage of development, the locoGPS is a rough piece of hardware that uses a slightly confusing toggle process to get GPS working on any Jailbroken iPhone (they are also in the testing phases for an iPod touch solution). The early software merely finds your coordinates and plugs them into the Google Maps application. For now, thats it. The beauty of the locoGPS is that it can be improved upon because of it's open source design. If this gets a real time navigational map and a few useful plugins, it could be a popular iPhone add-on.

But for now, the locoGPS raises eyebrows on potential alone. Part Foundry expects the locoGPS to start shipping in February 2008, and they're currently taking pre-orders for the $89 device.

(Via Gizmodo: GPS.)

Viliv X7 GPS navigation and DMB

Viliv X7 GPS navigation and DMB

After Viliv X2 and Viliv P2 we now have Viliv X7 GPS navigation receiver from Korea. This infotainment device features a DMB receiver allowing users to watch digitally broadcast channels in addition GPS navigation with realistic 3D graphics.

It has a 7″ screen with 800x480 resolution, supports touch screen operation, and runs on a 600MHz AU1240 processor. For the suggested price of 500,000 KRW ($540) you’ll get 4GB of storage space, in addition to the standard DVD/DivX port, karaoke capability, multimedia player, and support for a rear view camera.

Unlikely to make it here in the States…

(Via NaviGadget.)

Infinity miPC shows endless promise

Infinity miPC shows endless promise

The Infinity miPC ain’t half bad. It’s a UMPC without a keyboard but doesn’t lack much else. It not only plays music and video but also records it, has a built-in FM tuner, supports DivX and XviD, and functions as a GPS system when its docked. If you need to get work done on the go, the miPC offers a mobile Microsoft Office, it can handle VoIP, Email, browsing and IM. It comes with Tele Atlas navigation software, which includes maps of the US and Canada with text-to-voice directions. It features a 4.3 inch touchscreen, SD slot, 30GB HDD, 128MB of RAM and connectivity via USB 2.0, Bluetooth 2.0 and 802.11b/g Wi-Fi. That’s what we know about it now, price not available yet, though it’s going to release soon.

Link

(Via TechFresh.net - Cell Phones, Laptops, Video Games, iPods, Cameras.)

NAVIGON P9611 - Porsche Designed GPS

NAVIGON P9611 - Porsche Designed GPS

NAVIGON P9611 Navigon Porsche Designed PND employs u-blox ANTARIS(R) 4 SuperSense GPS Technology. This powerful PND weighing just 250 grams delivers high performance. 'We are honored to be the GPS supplier for such a high-end device,' said Karsten Tietz, Vice President Sales EMEA. The flagship model NAVIGON comes with USB cable, SD memory card, car cradle, charging cable and high quality audio player. The GPS also lets users connect their Bluetooth-enabled mobile phones. Users can view digital maps of 37 European countries and get updates on traffic jams via integrated TMC (Traffic Message Channel).

(Via MobileWhack.)

Toshiba 920T 3G Cell Phone With GPS

Toshiba 920T 3G Cell Phone With GPS

Toshiba plans to launch its slide type mobile 3G ‘920T ‘equipped with 1GB memory in Japan market. Supporting up to 5.3 hours recording time, it proposes 1-Seg for mobile 3.24M camera and GPS.

Toshiba 920T visual approaches goodness of 920SH, with a 3-inch WVGA display if the slider form factor is your thing, this puppy is the way to go. 1 GB of storage space is found inside the 920T, so perfect for recording shows off a segment using the tuner DVR-like functionality timed record.

(Via Daily Computer Electronic Cell Phone Digital Camera Review.)

Garmin Colorado 400 BlueChart GPS Device

Garmin Colorado 400 BlueChart GPS Device

Garmin announced the new Colorado 400 BlueChart, a GPS device targeting the marine market. Garmin Colorado 400 BlueChart has a 65k color display, a SD card slot, a ‘Rock ‘N’ Roller’ input wheel and temperature sensor.

..a slew of new features, the biggest of which is the ability to display aerial photos and / or USGS topographical maps. Additionally, the new device (aimed at the marine market) will feature detailed, coastal US marine charts..

(Via iTech News Net.)

Nokia N82 with GPS review

If you are wondering how the A-GPS on N82 performs we have a couple of articles for you to look at:

First off, like we imagined, A-GPS on N82 provides a very fast satellite fix unlike first versions of N95:

Navigation wise the phone has an internal GPS receiver and supports A-GPS, and comes with Nokia Maps installed. Testing the phone, lock on to location in Maps took less than 10 seconds. Very quick, and much quicker than experienced with the N95. The bright, clear QVGA TFT screen supporting up to 16million colours makes navigation very clear and very easy to follow…

The other article mentions the small screen won’t be ideal for following driving directions:

One of the tradeoffs for the N82’s candy bar is its smaller 2.4-inch QVGA display which will now make it even harder to surf the Web or use for GPS directions. (The N95 sports a 2.6-inch screen.)

That’s all we have but we’ll keep you updated as more reviews surface… pic from

(Via NaviGadget.)

iPhone GPS from Tomtom

iPhone GPS from Tomtom

It is all rumors at this point but apparently Dutch GPS navigation system manufacturer TomTom is developing an add-on module for the iPhone. We’ve had many thoughts on getting GPS on iPhone and this one seems to be the closest as far as a real navigation system (unlike the GPS-free version through Navizon or Google Maps soon available on iPhone).

Further rumors suggest this GPS module will be unveiled at MacWorld 2008 next month and the actual product will have maps of the continental U.S. instead of Netherlands and will also work on an actual vehicle dashboard unlike a wooden table as seen in the slightly fake picture.

However, what makes this rumor slightly credible is that TomTom already offers the software to bring GPS navigation to PDA and other mobile devices (TomTom NAVIGATOR 6) and Apple may choose them over other brands because of their experience in the field…

(Via NaviGadget.)

Yukyung viliv X7

Yukyung viliv X7

Ignore the name… The Yukyung viliv X7 comes off as more than tasty with its 800x480 wide-viewing angle and touchscreen display. It comes with a GPS antenna, up to 8GB capacitywith an SDHC card. It runs off an AU1250 600MHz CPU, supports TPEG/DMB service and a multi-tasking function. It comes with a handy DVD/Divx port, karaoke (hey, it’s korean), image/text viewer and rear camera. It’s much more than a GPS, it’s like a GPS and PMP, etc rolled into one delicious treat. Yukyung? mm mm good!

(more…)

(Via TechFresh.net - Cell Phones, Laptops, Video Games, iPods, Cameras.)

OK232 GPS Vehicle Tracking

OK232 GPS Vehicle Tracking

DriveOK just launched a GPS vehicle tracking device called OK232 designed for small fleets and consumers. It is specially suitable for parents who want to track their teen drivers. DriveOK’s goal is to provide the service at an affordable price and currently they’re offering the GPS tracking device for $190 and a monthly plan that is as low as $5.95/month (updates every 30 minutes).

Small fleet owners will know when an employee arrives at a location, when they have finished a job and they can simultaneously view their entire fleet on one page. A GPS vehicle tracking unit will give parents the peace of mind to know where their teen drivers are traveling and if they have car trouble, parents will be able to locate their vehicles quickly and easily.

Here are the other data service plans:

• Fleet Light Monthly - Every 10 minutes $ 9.95


• Fleet Light Annual Prepay - Every 10 minutes $ 95.52


• Consumer Monthly - Every 20 minutes $ 7.95


• Consumer Annual Prepay - Every 20 minutes $ 76.32


• Teen Light Monthly - Every 30 minutes $ 5.95


• Teen Light Annual Prepay - Every 30 minutes $ 57.12


• Fleet Light Monthly (Mexico) - Every 10 minutes $ 11.95


• Fleet Light Annual Prepay (Mexico) - Every 10 minutes $ 114.72


• Consumer Monthly (Mexico) - Every 20 minutes $ 9.95


• Consumer Annual Prepay (Mexico) - Every 20 minutes $ 95.52


• Teen Light Monthly (Mexico) - Every 30 minutes $ 7.95


• Teen Light Annual Prepay (Mexico) - Every 30 minutes $ 76.32

(Via NaviGadget.)

Garmin Colorado 300

Garmin Colorado 300: "

Garmin is getting a release a new handheld navigation device called Colorado 300. All the information we have right now is limited to what we could gather from some forums. Apparently it’ll be out in January 2008, will cost $500+, and probably will focus on marine navigating needs…

(Via NaviGadget.)

XRoad V4150

XRoad V4150

After XRoad V4050 XRoad now has the higher-end V4150 in the pipeline. We’re not sure what the exact differences are but the body seems to be slightly thinner and more streamlined.

V4150 runs on a 400Mhz with 64MB RAM and 64MB ROM. It has a wide, 350cd bright, 4.3″ touch screen with 480 x 272 pixel resolution and a SD card slot for memory expansion. It doesn’t have an integrated TMC receiver but it supports external antenna thanks to its connection port. It also has Bluetooth version 2.0 with EDR. There’s no mention of the on-board GPS receiver but they say it has -80 dBm sensitivity. The 2100mAh Li-Polymer seems to be sufficient for a device with a 4.3″ screen and XRoad also threw in integrated receivers and a microphone for the hands free calling.

(Via NaviGadget.)

Jeep readies rugged GPS RT 300 for January release

Jeep readies rugged GPS RT 300 for January release

It's a Jeep-branded GPS -- did you really expect it to look any less barbaric? 'Course, we're pretty sure those infatuated with the brand won't find anything to kvetch about, and after all, this uber-rugged navigator will withstand more dirt, dust and bumps that your average Garmin. The GPS RT 300 is slated to launch sometime next month for $399, and in exchange for payment you can expect a 3.5-inch LCD touchscreen, an integrated media / text viewer, one million POIs, turn-by-turn voice guidance and loads of off-road credibility. Okay, so that last feature isn't guaranteed, but we feel tougher just looking at it.

(Via Engadget.)

Navi2Go: 3D image navigation on Windows Mobile phones

Navi2Go: 3D image navigation on Windows Mobile phones

[Always On Venture Summit] I met with Isaac Levanon, CEO of 3DVU, and he showed me the Navi2Go technology. It is a 3D navigation software available now in the UK for Windows Mobile devices. It will launch in the U.S in Q2 2008, and Navi2Go will be available for Symbian next year. The rendering is done on the client and it does not require hardware acceleration.

(Via UberGizmo, the Gadgets News Blog.)

Harman Kardon GPS-810 already for sale

Harman Kardon GPS-810 already for sale

The Harman Kardon GPS-810 which was just announced about a month ago is already on sale on Amazon and BestBuy for $600.

The 810 is a high-end sat nav system from Harman Kardon that has a wide 4.3″ touch screen, integrated traffic receiver, bluetooth, and maps of U.S. and Canada with a 12 million point of interests.

One thing to note here is of course the wireless rotary remote controller which would make controlling the GPS navigation system while driving a whole lot easier.

Of course you can also control other functions with the remote such as the movie player which supports WMV9, H.264, MPEG-4, and AVI formats as wells as Windows DRM 10 files and subscriptions; the audio player which supports MP3, M4A, WMV formats, and the image viewer.

Another nice feature is the addition of audio out port so you can connect GPS-810 to your car stereo if need be.

(Via NaviGadget.)

WiBrain B1 has a GPS car cradle

WiBrain B1 has a GPS car cradle

Maybe engineers at WiBrain were being smart when they didn’t integrate a GPS receiver chip into the body of their UMPC - WiBrain B1. Who wants another power consuming chip in their handheld mobile device? Thinking you’d be in your vehicle 99% of the time when you need directions - they put the GPS receiver into the car cradle which now serves three functions: holds your UMPC, charges the battery, provides GPS function. That’s a smart solution.

WiBrain B1 is an all in one UMPC that has a touch screen and a stylus as well as a keyboard, and a touch pad. Use whichever interaface you want. In fact this UMPC has everything your laptop has and probably more. It has bluetooth. No big deal right? It also has 802.11 b/g connectivity, 30GB HDD, and upto 1GB RAM. Still nothing special. But don’t forget this is probably 1/3 the size of your laptop. It doesn’t end here though. WiBrain even has a flip-out webcam; complete with integrated microphone and speakers. We’ve also heard some rumors that it may even have integrated HDSPA or WiMax but we don’t take that so seriously.

The place to pick up WiBrain is Dynamism. The one with 60GB HDD and 1GB RAM will cost $850, and 30GB and 512MB version will cost you $700. The GPS cradle we just talked about is an additional $150.

(Via NaviGadget.)

Medion P4425 with finger print scanner

Medion P4425 with finger print scanner

Medion just introduced world’s first GPS navigation system with a finger print scanner that ensures only intended users can activate the device.

Called GoPal P4425, the device features - in addition to GPS navigation - bluetooth connectivity, voice recognition and text-to-speech, RDS-TMC traffic receiver, and an FM transmitter that lets drivers use their car’s audio system for voice guidance. MEDION’s GoPal P4425 is only available in select European countries and the price is not announced yet.

GoPal P4425 has a 4.3″ screen, a slim body that’s only 17mm in depth, and 3D rendering of maps that even includes some scenery in the horizon.

(Via NaviGadget.)

new GPS tracker from Holux

new GPS tracker from Holux

Holux just unveiled a new GPS tracking device at the Taipei IT month. It will rely on MediaTek GPS receiver chipset and will initially be available in Taiwan for the equivalent of $74.

This GPS tracking device can also function as a GPS receiver but we don’t yet have info whether it’ll have bluetooth to pair up with your mobile devices or just hook up via mini USB. What makes this GPS tracker different from most others is that it includes an LED screen which can be used to display information such as distance and height of a location.

Its shape resembles that of a 35mm photograph film casing - maybe on purpose - since it will be keeping track of your travel routes…

(Via NaviGadget.)

The latest GPS phone from China

The latest GPS phone from ChinaCheck out the latest GPS enabled phone from China. It has a decent design and pretty decent specs as well. Here are the specs.

- built in GPS
- TV out
- 3 inch 16 million color QVGA touchscreen
- microSD support
- built in 87 MB memory
- 3.2 mega pixel camera
- NES/SNES/GB/GBC games emulator
- measures 115x54x17 mm
- weighs 125 grams







Pics from m8cool

(Via Just Another Mobile Phone Blog.)