Garmin GPSMAP 696 GPSMAP 695

Garmin GPSMAP 696 GPSMAP 695

Garmin just announced two new portable aviation systems: Garmin GPSMAP 696 and Garmin GPSMAP 695.

Both devices are already available and will cost $2,695 and $3,295 for GPSMAP 695 and 696 respectively. The GPSMAP 696 is the new flagship product from Garmin as far as aviation goes. It is quite similar to GPSMAP 496 but the screen is three times larger and provides extra features such as airways, electronic charts and expanded weather.

GPSMAP 696 and 695 are a tablet-style devices with a 7″ portrait sunlight readable screen that makes it possible to view an entire approach plate on the display; day or night.

GPSMAP 696 comes with a receiver for XM radio and XM WX Satellite Weather (U.S. customers only) that gives next generation radar (NEXRAD), aviation routine weather reports (METARs), terminal aerodrome forecasts (TAFs), temporary flight restrictions (TFRs), lightning, winds aloft, turbulence forecasts, and several other important weather products.

GPSMAP 695 Americas that has similar features to the GPSMAP 696 except that it does not include the GXM 40 smart antenna and does not do XM datalink without an upgrade.

(Via NaviGadget.)

motonav TN30

motonav TN30

The second model from Motorola for their brand new GPS navigation lineup is the MotoNav TN30, one model up from TN20 we just talked about.

Motonav TN30 has a larger 4.3″ screen, pronounces street names (text-to-speech), features bluetooth connectivity that has been tested on 15 different brands of phones, and comes with preloaded maps of the 50 U.S. states, Puerto Rico and Canada.

Just like TN20, MotoNav TN30 will exclusively be available at RadioShack but will cost an extra $100; to bring the price up to $300.

(Via NaviGadget.)

BT-211N GPS navigation system

BT-211N GPS navigation system

I know we’ve mentioned BT-211N on Navigadget before but it looks like there are few design changes and we also have a few details to share with you.

First off we now know they no longer have that SD slot in the front. Secondly, it is going to cost $900. For this price you get a serious bluetooth device with OEM connection cable, iPod connection cable, mic, and mounting stuff. In addition of course you have the GPS navigation system which requires a separate module that can be installed anywhere in your vehicle. The nice thing about this is that it uses an external GPS antenna which can go on top of your vehicle for better signal reception.

BT-211N comes with maps of USA, Canada, and Puerto Rico, with over 12,000 POI’s. It even has text-to-speech feature. It will mute the radio when it is announcing directions. All audibles are from the gps navigation system output through the Hands-free speaker.

(Via NaviGadget.)

NAVist III

NAVist III

NAVist III is a complete car navigation system with many entertainment features backed up by some serious hardware.

NAVist III is powered by dual processors and has an optical drive that can handle DVDs, CDs, and all sorts of media files. If you think optical drives are too 90’s you’ll be pleased to hear that NAVist III comes with a hard disk drive that can hold all your Led Zeppelin collection and a lot more. What’s really cool about NAVist III is that it uses a removable HDD, right next to the SD card slot, all hidden behind a 7″ screen that requires 2DIN space on your dash.

We’re not sure how much it is going to cost yet or when it will be available here yet but they are already showing off NAVist at trade shows looking for a distributor.

(Via NaviGadget.)

motonav TN20

motonav TN20

We would like to welcome to Motorola to the standalone GPS navigation system market! Their first model is called MotoNav TN20 and it will be available at RadioShack for $200.

TN20 is their entry level GPS navigation system with a 3.5″ screen. However it still has text-to-speech feature so you can always keep your eyes on the road. The maps are from Navteq and cover the continental U.S; no Hawaii, Puerto Rico, or Canada.

There’s really nothing else special about the TN20. The hardware is pretty standard too: SD card slot for updating maps, 2.5 hours of battery life, touch screen, and a USB port for charging.

(Via NaviGadget.)

Nextar intros 5-inch SNAP5 / 7-inch SNAP7 GPS units

Nextar intros 5-inch SNAP5 / 7-inch SNAP7 GPS units

Warm on the heels of its T30 PMP, Nextar is getting official with two new GPS units in its ever-expanding SNAP family. Up first is the SNAP5 -- which predictably includes a 5-inch touch panel -- followed by the 7-inch SNAP7. Both devices check in at just 0.7-inches thick and feature stereo speakers, text-to-speech support, US / Canada Tele Atlas maps, an SD card slot, a built-in MP3 player / JPEG viewer, 2D / 3D map viewing modes, a rechargeable Li-ion battery and a magnetic docking station (hence the SNAP moniker -- get it?!). The duo is all set to debut at SEMA 2008 in early November, but they won't go on sale in the US until Spring of 2009; at that point, you can grab the SNAP of your choice for $299.99 / $349.99, respectively.

Gallery: Nextar intros 5-inch SNAP5 / 7-inch SNAP7 GPS units

Continue reading Nextar intros 5-inch SNAP5 / 7-inch SNAP7 GPS units

(Via Engadget.)

NVG-606W 2DIN In-dash Navigation system

NVG-606W 2DIN In-dash Navigation system

Here you’re looking at the brand new 2DIN In-Dash Navigation system from a company called Valor DVD which is expected to show this off at the SEMA 2008 show in Vegas next month.

NVG-606W comes with built-in AM/FM/CD/DVD function and a nice 6.5 inch touch screen with a fixed panel. Another good feature is placed on top of the knob on the left hand side: an SD card reader and a USB port. You even have an Aux-In jack on the front so you have a many many ways of bringing your music to this device.

To top all that you of course have the GPS navigation system.

(Via NaviGadget.)

Reigncom iriver NV mini GPS Device

Reigncom iriver NV mini GPS Device

Reigncom will be making available its new portable navigation device known as the iriver NV mini in Korea, and it will be powered by the Gini map software to help you find your way around Mt. Sorak. Features of the iriver NV mini include :-

• 3.5' touch screen display at 320 x 240 resolution


• GPS navigation support


• Audio and video playback


• Photo viewing capability


• 4GB internal memory


• Expandable memory up to 8GB


• 2.5 hours battery life

You will be able to pick up the iriver NV mini for about $130 after conversion.

(Via UberGizmo, the Gadgets News Blog.)

Valor DVD 2DIN In-Dash Navigation System

Valor DVD 2DIN In-Dash Navigation System

Valor DVD has announced its new in-dash navigation system, the 2DIN which will probably make an appearance at the SEMA 2008 show in Las Vegas this November. Features include :-

• Integrated AM/FM/CD/DVD function


• 6.5' touch screen display


• SD memory card reader


• USB connectivity


• Aux-In jack


• GPS navigation capability

Guess this pretty much helps your passengers stay entertained across long road trips.

(Via UberGizmo, the Gadgets News Blog.)

garmin nuvi 510

garmin nuvi 510

We’ve talked about numerous nuvi’s here at Navigadget but apparently we’ve still missed a few. One of those is the Garmin Nuvi 510 which is made for the European market. Nuvi 510 contains regional maps, one for Benelux, one for Italy and Greece, and another for Spain and Portugal. Its equivalent here would be the Nuvi 500 which costs $500 in States. Expect to pay about 300 € in Europe.

Nuvi 510 has a 3.5″ touch screen, and a battery that can last upto 8 hours but we highly doubt that. It accepts microSD cards, can store 1000 locations, and is FM traffic compatible. However no bluetooth, text-to-speech, or even an MP3 player…

(Via NaviGadget.)

VTN4301 GPS navigation system

VTN4301 GPS navigation system

Vision Tech America has a new GPS navigation system lined up called VTN4301. It has a wide 4.3″ screen with anti-glare coating, and preloaded maps of entire USA and Canada.

It comes with non-replaceable rechargeable 1100mAh Li-Ion battery but we’re not sure how long that would last with a screen this size - even though they claim it would last 4.5 hours.

The GPS receiver is from SiRF which can track upto 20 satellites at once, the maps are from Navteq and the software is from Horizon Nav.

Other features include bluetooth connectivity, SD/MMC slot, and text-to-speech which easily makes this gps navigation system a decent mid-level device.

There is more however such as MP3 support, Picture, and WMV viewer. It does support other languages but some of them may not have text-to-speech configured. Also you get a trip book for multi destination routes and a My POI feature to mark your own favorite locations.

Not sure when this will be available or for how much but we’ll be sure to keep you updated.

(Via NaviGadget.)

Magellan Maestro 4370

Magellan Maestro 4370

Magellan Maestro 4370 which we first mentioned at the beginning of this year has shown up recently on Magellan’s website. It is priced at $600 making it their most expensive GPS navigation unit.

Looking at the features we can’t quite tell why it is so expensive. It has a 4.3″ screen, text-to-speech, bluetooth, FM transmitter, traffic receiver, and maps for the 50 states, Canada, and Puerto Rico, and lane assistance.

I guess thinking about it, it has almost the same features as the Garmin Nuvi 765T which is also priced at $600.

(Via NaviGadget.)

Insignia GPS first impressions

Insignia GPS first impressions

I've been spending the past few days getting to know the Best Buy Insignia NS-CNV10 GPS. This 3.5' model, like its bigger brother, sports text-to-speech, a cellular connection, Google Local search and no connection fees for the first year. The 4.3' model is pictured above, but except for the phone button (Bluetooth is found only on the NS-CNV20) it gives you a good idea of what it looks like.

The Insignia appears to utilize deCarta's Connected Navigation (CNAV) service. So far, the device has been fairly intuitive and has done a good job of navigation, recalculating quickly whenever necessary. And I love having Google Local search at my fingertips. I also like being offered multiple route options, though it sometimes takes a couple of steps to get to them.

Physically, the device is slightly larger than a Garmin nuvi, but much smaller than the bulky Dash Express, the only other GPS on the U.S. market offering built-in cellular connectivity. But the huge antenna array in the Dash seems to make a performance difference. Cellular reception with the Insignia has been spotty so far, though there seems to be some improvement following a firmware upgrade from 1.01 to 1.3.

And while the Insignia is one of the first units to hit the market with this level of connected services, in some ways it is far from state of the art. Consider the following:

• When you tap the top menu bar, it brings up the list of turn-by-turn directions. But regardless of how many turns you have already made, it shows them all, starting with your point of origin. Not very helpful if you're trying to look a few turns ahead.





• Multiple route options are slow to update too, often showing the original routes.





• Hardware-wise, the battery is rated at two hours, and there is a volume lever on the side. While it's nice to have such easy access to the volume controls, it feels a little cheap.





• You cannot view your current speed anywhere on the device.





• Satellite lock was very slow on a rainy day; I got a couple of miles down the road before it locked.





• Local search result lists give the distance to the destination, but not the direction.





• When I upgraded the firmware, all of my data (home, favorites, etc.) was lost.





• The unit doesn't automatically power on or off.





• Though the unit claims to 'Auto Sort Multiple Destinations,' I've seen no evidence of this. Perhaps this means something other than auto-sorted multi-destination routing.

The screenshot above is a sample from deCarta. I haven't seen traffic info yet as I'm not in an area with coverage (NAVTEQ Traffic only covers 50 metro areas), but the multiple route options look exactly like they do on the Insignia.

(Via GPS Tracklog.)

Insignia GPS NS CNV-10 Connected GPS - Unboxing & First Impressions Review

Insignia GPS NS CNV-10 Connected GPS - Unboxing & First Impressions Review

The new Insignia Connected GPS unit is shipping and I thought I would grab a new Insignia GPS NS CNV-10 Connected GPS over the weekend to check out the Best Buy house brand's new connected GPS out. The CNV-10 and CNV-20 units just became available and are the second brand of connected GPS to hit the US market; the first being the Dash Express. The benefits of having a connected GPS can be numerous, but for now, the Insignia is counting on better traffic data, better search results through Google, and the ability to email locations straight to your GPS from websites like Google Maps. The Insignia CNV-10 offers a 3.5-inch screen while the CNV-20 offers the 4.3-inch widescreen.

A quick trip to Best Buy had me walk out with the goods and a few hundred dollars lighter. The box reminds you that you had better like this or else, with its 15% re-stocking fee reminder. Open the box up and you'll find the diminutive unit set in a large cardboard holder, which when removed will reveal the rest of the ingredients that will make up the entire batch of connected GPS goodness.

The Insignia CNV-10 has a 6 pin connection on the bottom that joins it to the mount allowing you to send power through the mount or directly into the unit through a mini-USB power cord. The box contains a spring loaded (not my favorite) coiled power cord for the car as well as a wall charger. The battery is rated for 2 hours according to Insignia.

The left side of the unit has an SD card slot, while the right side of the unit has a volume rocker switch, the USB power input as well as the SIM card door. Yes, the SIM card is loaded in the CNV-10, which allows you to operate the GPS as a stand alone device without the power cord or the mount.

The Insignia CNV-10 comes with the GPS unit, a 12V power Cord, a cam lever mount with a bracket adapter for the back of the GPS, a wall charger/power cord, an instruction manual, and a mini-USB cord.

First Impressions

The interface starts out with a welcome screen that has three options reminiscent of the Garmin interface, offering you a settings button, as well as a 'go To' and a 'Map' button. Garmin has their version as Where To? and View Map...... I will say the similarities end there. There is some good, some bad, but I haven't found any ugly yet.

Windows CE Interface - The unit runs on a Windows CE system that is usually an indicator that the interface is going to be a little rough, and it is. (This is the 'Bad'.) The roads are narrowly drawn and the fonts and writing are a bit awkwardly drawn too making it feel like a slightly newer generation Atari, or that someone drew the interface with a fat crayon.

Integration with Google Maps - I went over to Google Maps and grabbed a location and sent it to the Insignia GPS via the cellular modem that is onboard the CNV-10. A few minutes later I tapped the 'Favorites' button and it let me know that I had a new location, asking me if I wanted to see it. Any address that you send to your device gets put into your Favorites folder.

Google Search - The Google Search replaces the POI listings in a way by searching in realtime for different locations that mirror what a POI listing would do. Because you are being offered Web Results, you can sort by popularity, offering you a new insight into where to go. I found a few basic searches lacking - it missed banks in my hometown, as well as a few gas stations. I like the 'Pamper Me' category where you can find Spas, barbers, health and fitness clubs, etc.

Gas Buddy Fuel Price Search - I love the connected GPS idea for finding cheap gas. Tap on the Gas Prices option and you get to see what the price of regular gas is at gas stations around you - sorted by distance from your current location. Sort it by price and you can find the cheapest gas within a few miles. The distance of the search area is not configurable.

Choosing Routes - The Insignia CNV-10 will offer you a single route if you find a location and tap 'Go'. If you want to see three potential routes that take traffic into account, tap the 'Traffic Routes' button that shows three potential routes with the expected distance and travel times involved. The map has color coded traffic patterns alongside the roads as you consider your three routes, but the colors are hard to see in sunlight.

Navigation - The CNV-10 has a basic, not great text to speech engine that stumbles a bit more than a TomTom or a Garmin, and also sounds a bit more like a computer than I would prefer. It has appropriate warning for turns and offers up reasonable routes for the very simple navigation I had it take me on this weekend. I'll dig more into this as I use the device more.

Overall, a good start so far, but the interface is a drag. the $399 price tag for a connected GPS plus a year's worth of connections is a little steep, but I'll hang in there for now and get back to you in a few weeks.

(Via GPS Lodge.)

new nextar ME

new nextar ME

Nextar just released the news of their new GPS navigation system today. Called Nextar ME, the device features a 3.5″ screen and a slim body measuring only 0.7 inches. The maps on the unit are pre-installed and they are provided by Tele Atlas. There is currently no information on which version of maps they’re using.

The unit is pretty standard. The only ‘fancy’ feature is the ability to pronounce street names (text-to-speech). It also has a stylus just like the Enzym unit we talked about recently.

The new Nextar ME will be on display at the SEMA 2008 trade show.

(Via NaviGadget.)

Polar RS800CX with GPS sensor

Polar RS800CX with GPS sensor

Remember that Polar G3 GPS sensor we talked about more than a year ago?

Amazon is offering the device either on its own for $135 or bundled with one of their watches such as the Polar RS800CX (seen above) for $470 or Polar RS800G3 for $400.

The RS800CX is mostly for runners but they call it a multi sport training watch thanks to its features like the heart rate monitor, speed and distance calculator, altimeter, and the software it comes with: ProTrainer 5. RS800G3 is quite similar but leaves out the altimeter.

(Via NaviGadget.)

Garmin nuvi 7x5 series in stock

Longtime readers know that I'm a big fan of GPS Now, a small operation that manages to get new Garmin models in before just about anyone. It's the little things that impress people -- like same day shipping and even free FedEx overnight delivery on certain units including the nuvi 7x5 series.

They've just received a shipment of the Garmin nuvi 765T, so they now have all of the 7x5 series except for the transatlantic nuvi 775T, which should be in soon. I was very impressed with the nuvi 755T, which I just reviewed.

As is often the case with new models, it looks like Garmin has saddled these with the dreaded minimum resale price, which means
they are being sold for the MSRP.

Orders placed by 5 p.m. Central Time ship today. Here are links and prices:

• 755T - $499.99'



• 765T - $599.99'



• 785T - $699.99
  
  '

Orange iGPS360 Brings GPS to Old iPhones

Orange iGPS360 Brings GPS to Old iPhones

Are you stubbornly holding on to your first gen iPhone, using its energy efficient Wi-Fi triangulation to find your way? Foolishness! The iGPS360 is a $75 dongle that brings full GPS to your jailbroken iPhone or iPod touch. Available for preorder now, there are 1000 units up for grabs and we bet they'd be a ton of fun for various homebrew applications. For some reason the iGPS shop link is currently down, but check Orange's site later if you're interested. Oh, and you can find the iControlPad on there, too.

(Via Gizmodo: GPS.)

Jeep's rugged RT-300 navigator gets rough review

Jeep's rugged RT-300 navigator gets rough review

Hmm, maybe Jeep should stick to scaling mountains and whatnot. To be totally frank, we had all but forgotten that a Jeep-branded navigator was even in the works, let alone closing in on release -- of course, maybe that's because we last heard of this thing in December of 2007. At any rate, the ruggedized RT-300 has finally found its way to the review bench, and unfortunately for those holding out for this critter, it didn't fare too well. At all. For starters, $249.99 is a lot of scratch for a lowly 320 x 240 resolution screen, and the fact that it's not even waterproof didn't help matters either. Worst of all, testers had issues with route calculation (read: its main function), with a certain Cincy-to-Jersey query causing a total freeze three times in a row (and even on a second unit). Bottom line? Steer clear of this one, hard though that may be for the Jeep faithful.

(Via Engadget.)

Asus announces projecting GPS

Asus announces projecting GPS

Tired of having to look over at your GPS when driving? Asus has announced the R710 GPS which uses HUD technology to project directions to your destination onto the windshield in front of you. The idea behind the device is to make you less distracted when driving.  A map on your windshield sounds pretty distracting to us. Other features include Bluetooth, microSD expansion, and a media player. No word yet on pricing or availability.

(Via GearCrave | The Buyers Guide for Men.)

big WorldNav 7100 GPS for truckers

big WorldNav 7100 GPS for truckers

Not a lot of options are out there for truckers who prefer GPS navigation systems with big screens. But Navigadget is here to please everyone so we would like to take this opportunity to present you WorldNav 7100 GPS navigation system from TeleType.

TeleType GPS WorldNav 7100 offers a 7 inch color TFT touch screen, SD Slot for program, map, picture, video, music storage, built-in speaker (1w), and a stereo headphone jack. It even supports a rear view night mode camera.

And if you’re wondering a truck GPS navigation system is more than just a bigger screen. The device insures that routes will follow roads that are suitable for truck travel. It takes into account commercial truck restrictions such as bridge heights and clearances, load limits, one-way road designations, left-hand and dangerous turn restrictions, and allowances.

(Via NaviGadget.)

mio moov 500 series

mio moov 500 series

Mio is unstoppable with their Moov series - well at least in Europe. Just after announcing their affordable GPS navigation system Moov 150 they announced a whole new 500 series with 8 new models. All these models are apparently already available in Europe:

• Moov 500 Regional - €179


• Moov 500 Europe - €199


• Moov 510 Regional - €199


• Moov 510 Europe - €229


• Moov 560 Regional - €199


• Moov 560 Europe - €229


• Moov 580 Europe - €249


• Moov 580 Europe Plus - €279

The new Mio Moov 500 series have a relatively large 4.7″ widescreen, and the latest TeleAtlas map data (V.2008.4). All new models have bluetooth and handsfree calling but they differ in the following features:

• Text to speech: Moov 560 and Moov 580


• Live Local Search via bluetooth: Moov 560 and Moov 580


• Local Search from desktop: Moov 500 and Moov 510


• Real time traffic: Moov 510 and Moov 580


• FM transmitter: Moov 580

Also the Moov 580 Europe plus version contains maps of 33 Western and Eastern EU countries as opposed to 22 Western EU countries in others models.

(Via NaviGadget.)

Wayfinder and Sony Ericsson to bring navigation applications to users

Wayfinder and Sony Ericsson to bring navigation applications to users

Wayfinder announced that it extended its agreement with Sony Ericsson which will enable them to preload navigation applications on a range of current and future Sony Ericsson devices.

Wayfinder Navigator application is trying to bring mobile phone-based navigation to the mass market and it allows consumers to download Tele Atlas-based maps of more than 70 countries and avoid expensive data roaming costs, even when traveling abroad.

Wayfinder Navigator is already on W760 Walkman and C702 Cyber-shot and the upcoming C905 Cyber-shot phone as well as P1i smart phone from Sony Ericsson…

(Via NaviGadget.)

Mio Moov 150

Mio Moov 150

Mio Moov 150 is the newest addition to Mio’s GPS navigation system lineup. It offers only the basics and looks like it will come with regional maps.

Mio Moov 150 has a 3.5″ touch screen, support for real-time traffic information, and maps from TeleAtlas updated recently in April 2008. It uses the SiRFInstantFix II technology for faster satellite signal acquisition and has the ability to warn the driver about radar detectors.

Mio Moov 150 will go for 99 Euros when it comes out in Spain this month…

(Via NaviGadget.)

new Navman S100

new Navman S100

Navman just launched the new S-Series GPS navigation systems and the first new model in the series is the S100. S100 is only 13.5mm thick and has 4.3″ widescreen screen with no bevels. It has a few improved features such as 3D city landmarks, NavPix geo-tagged photo navigation, Local Search via Infobel, and true Pedestrian mode.

The S100 uses the new ‘Spirit’ software, which utilizes a new Glide Touch user-interface.

Users simply tap and slide the touchscreen to open, dock, pan and scroll menus, similar to the latest MP3 players and smartphones.

Navman S100 also European Local Search in partnership with local directory search partner, Infobel. However you’ll have to do your searches on your desktop and download them to your device before taking off.

Here are the full set of features:

• 4.3″ Super flat widescreen


• slim, lightweight design (13.5mm)


• Mio Technology ‘Spirit’ software with Glide Touch


• Infobel local search via NavDesk desktop


• NavPix photo navigation


• Junction Views


• Economical Routing


• MP3 player


• 3D landmarks


• Pre-loaded safety camera data - free trial*


• GPS fix 5 times faster with SiRFInstantFixII


• Latest Regional map data

The Navman S-Series S100 aka (Spirit S100) will be available in November 2008 for £199.

(Via NaviGadget.)

Motorola VC6096

Motorola VC6096

Motorola VC6096 is an in-vehicle/fixed mount mobile computer. Seems like the device is not for end consumers but rather the work force on the roads. Designed for transportation and logistics providers Motorola VC6096 promises to maximize driver productivity, improve safety and vehicle utilization.

As far as connectivity I don’t think anything can beat the VC6096. It’s got Integrated 3.5G GSM HSDPA WWAN as well as 802.11a/b/g WiFi… and when you speak of transportation and logistics you must have someway of telling where your fleet is. Therefore Motorola VC6096 also has a SiRF Star III GPS receiver. Oh yes, there is bluetooth too.

Other hardware specs include SD card slot, five programmable soft keys, mic and speakers; all running on 128MB of RAM, 256MB flash, 624Mhz processor and Windows Mobile 6.1 Pro… thanks

(Via NaviGadget.)

Navigon 5100 max clears FCC

Navigon 5100 max clears FCC

It looks like Navigon is taking a page from Garmin and Magellan's playbook, introducing a multitude of models with varying feature sets and at multiple price points. The next unit slated for roll-out appears to be the Navigon 5100 max, which just cleared the FCC. The feature set isn't entirely clear yet, but we expect to see Bluetooth, a 4.3' screen, text-to-speech, lifetime traffic and Zagat ratings (which we dearly love).

The 5100 max would be the fourth introduction for Navigion this fall.

Hopefully, we'll hear an official announcement in the next few weeks.

(Via GPS Tracklog.)

Best Buy Insignia NS-CNV20

Best Buy Insignia NS-CNV20

NS-CNV20 is the new GPS navigation system that is branded by Insignia and marketed by BestBuy. What immediately catches our attention with NS-CNV20 is that it has two way connectivity; and just like Dash Express it seems to offer 3 different routes for a given destination.

Thanks to its cellular modem Best Buy Insignia NS-CNV20 can provide real time traffic updates and it also lets you do a Google Local Search. Apparently the service is free for the first year during which you can make a search on your PC and have it sent to your device wireless.

In addition the device offers bluetooth connectivity and has a 4.3″ screen.

(Via NaviGadget.)

Garmin GPSMAP 620 and 640 - Boating to Driving

Garmin GPSMAP 620 and 640 - Boating to Driving

Garmin unveiled their new line of marine GPS units - Garmin GPS 620 and 640, two GPS units that are set for sea navigation but can also be used for driving home from the marina. The 600 series has a 5.2-inch screen that offers a large screen size, which is the same size as Garmin's Nuvi 5000 automotive only unit. Of course the unit comes with marine maps, but then flips to a pretty able bodied road navigator with text-to-speech capabilities.

The GPSMAP 620 offers a world marine basic mapset with the options to add in specific detail as needed, while the GPSMAP 640 offers US Coastal maps as well as North American driving maps. An optional XM Satellite antenna would allow you to get XM satellite weather service as well as radio and traffic. Pricing for the 620 is expected to be about $1,000, while the 640 would carry a price tag of about $1,200. Should be available 'soon'.

(Via GPS Lodge.)

Mitsubishi announces NR-HZ001

Mitsubishi announces NR-HZ001

Mitsubishi just announced NR-HZ001, a series of its car navigation systems which feature a built-in hard disk drive. Currently they have two models: one that lets you watch digitally broadcast channels and the other without this feature.

NR-HZ001 will be released on Nov 5 and it is expected to be about ¥250,000 (about $2,353) for the full segment model and ¥200,000 for the 1seg model.

The new series utilizes something new called ‘Multi Relay Operation,’ which standardizes the transition of multiple operation systems such as touch panels, remote control and voice recognition. Mitsubishi promises to recognize about 10 million locations entered by voice…

(Via NaviGadget.)

Pioneer AVIC-MRZ088

Pioneer AVIC-MRZ088

Pioneer AVIC-MRZ088 is latest GPS navigation system from the company to feature a 5.8″ touch screen. It is a 2-DIN system with an SD card slot on the front as well as an optical drive at the top edge.

Also in the carrozzeria series Pioneer AVIC-MRZ088 has an embedded 8GB flash memory unlike the HRZ099 which has a 40GB HDD.

Other features include amazing 3D maps complete with buildings, street lights, and lanes; USB support, 1Seg TV tuner, AM/FM radio, bluetooth, audio jack, and a built-in amplifier (50W x4).

(Via NaviGadget.)

new pioneer gps navigation systems

new pioneer gps navigation systems

Pioneer just introduced four new GPS navigation systems in Japan under the ‘carrozzeria’ model name. The higher end model out of all of these nice systems is the AVIC-HRZ099 which provides a high screen resolution of 800x480 on its 7 inch display.

The other models are named HRZ088, HRV022, and HRV011. These are also quite capable devices but only have a resolution of 480x234 for the same 7″ screen.

Other differences include the 50Wx4ch amplifier which is only available on the HRZ-099 and HRZ088. However they all support DVD/CD/WMA/MP3/AAC/DivX formats for hours of in car entertainment and have a hard disk drive of 40GB as well as a digital TV tuner…

(Via NaviGadget.)