Video: Pioneer's AVIC-F Series of in-car navigators to take on Sync

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Video: Pioneer's AVIC-F Series of in-car navigators to take on Sync



Look out Microsoft, Pioneer's Linc series of in-dash and 'on-dash' systems have their sights set on your voice controlled Sync. The first thing you'll notice is Pioneer's pixy-dusted UI which easily trumps the Sync's rather staid presentation. The videos show off Pioneer's real-time data feeds and natural speech recognition with the help of some smarmy actor-slash-models who'll probably be serving you lunch today if you live in LA. But we digress. Videos after the break... which, let's be honest, is the best we can do until the DivX-happy, SD-friendly AVIC-F900BT, F700BT, and F500BT (pictured) are released in June.

Continue reading Video: Pioneer's AVIC-F Series of in-car navigators to take on Sync



(Via Engadget.)

Columbus reveals pocket-sized V-900 GPS data logger

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Columbus reveals pocket-sized V-900 GPS data logger



Compared to those bulky alternatives out there, Columbus' V-900 looks like a real gem. This diminutive GPS data logger appears to feature built-in Bluetooth, a microSD slot and bundled software that helps you map out those coordinates once you return home from that howling backpacking trip across Europe. Your guess is as good as ours when it comes to pricing / availability, but be sure and hit the read link if you're interested in a few more glamor shots.

(Via Engadget.)

Homecast to launch its slim navigation PMP device 'Tvus HM960'

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Homecast to launch its slim navigation PMP device 'Tvus HM960'

SEOUL, Korea (AVING) -- Homecast(www.homecast.net) announced the launch of its slim navigation PMP device 'Tvus HM960' in Korea market.



Adopting a 4.3-inch wide touch screen and M&Soft's Mappy software, the Tvus HM960 supports T-DMB, video playback and electronic dictionary function.



Featuring 16.5mm thickness and 195g weight, the HM960 is equipped with NAND flash memory instead of a hard disk.



It comes in the choice of 8GB or 16GB, and suggested price is 389,000(KRW) and 419,000(KRW) respectively.



(Via AVING WORLD | English.)

Review: Garmin Edge 705 GPS Offers Maps and Metrics for Data-Happy Cyclists

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Review: Garmin Edge 705 GPS Offers Maps and Metrics for Data-Happy Cyclists

Garminedge705001

Garmin Edge 705 GPS



Type-A training tweakers, metrics maniacs, peripatetic two-wheeled geo-cachers and the geographically challenged now have something to collectively rally around: the Garmin Edge 705. This latest fitness offering from the GPS giant has more than a little somethin' somethin' for the can't stay put, always get lost, urban treasure hunting, serious bike training, and it's-the-journey-until-you-can't-find-the-destination types. The Edge 705 combines (take a deep breath) GPS maps and navigation, heart rate, cadence and power output into a palm of your hand wireless unit. It can display up to 16 separate metrics during the ride and combined with the included software and web-based apps it becomes an incredible tool for social networking, exploration and serious training analysis.



From a gander at the spec sheet, it seems setup and orientation would take awhile, but it turned out to be a breeze straight out of the box. You don't even have to calculate your wheel dimensions; it figures that out for you. Despite having to decipher some thick cyclist jargon, I was rolling in less than an hour -- map telling me my location and plotting a course to the trailhead while spitting out vitals all along the way.



That was just the appetizer because data readout, collection and save-your-ass navigation are just part of the equation. Connected to your Mac or PC back at the lodge, the Edge 705 offers a myriad of ways to breakdown cycling actions that you've done. The included software (called Garmin Training Center) is very serviceable and helps you track courses, training regimes, and the mass of recorded data. And if you want to know what others around the globe are up to, Garmin's recent acquisition, Motion Based, is definitely for you.

Garminedge705003a
Hatched back in 2003 by outdoor data junkies Clark Weber and Aaron Roller, Motion Based
is a two-tiered site that combines the number crunching capabilities of
Garmin Training Center with a global community of GPS aficionados who
want to share their adventurous exploits. Users can easily upload their
data to the Motion Based site and share activities. So let's say you're
heading for France and want to get your Lance Armstrong on at the
fabled L'Alpe d'Huez. No problem, just pick one of the many L'Alpe d'Huez rides uploaded by users on the site, click on 'download to
device' and you’ve got the whole course on your unit with turn-by-turn
directions. The opportunities for fun and exploration are endless.
Think of a destination, search the more than 3 million activities in the
database, download your choices to the Edge 705 and off you go on a
magical tour sans mystery. Presently a separate web
application, Motion Based will be folded into the Garmin Connect site
by September with a more robust and feature-laden platform.' '



For the power-hounds out there, Garmin has embraced the open source
ANT+Sport wireless standard. This 2.4 GHz frequency is a low power,
totally locked-in to your device protocol that like Bluetooth, seems to
be taking some time to get traction. It makes sense that the powermeter
providers -- SRM, PowerTap, Ergomo, iBike and Quarq among them -- are
taking their time since the Garmin co-opts their proprietary hardware,
but it seems sensible and inevitable because the Edge 705 is a unifying
device, and from our experience, is best of its breed. If you want the
whole shootin' match right now, SRM is the best choice and the most
expensive. Quarq's Cinq-O crank-based bolt-on should be on the market
by the time you're reading this, although with limited crank
compatibility. I wasn’t able to test the Edge with a powermeter, but
that’s coming, so keep an eye out on wired.com for a power update.



Over the course of a couple weeks I've put in more than 40 hours on the
road and trail with the 705 and I found it to be incredibly accurate,
even in close quarters with other bike-borne wireless electronics. It's
righted my course a few times and has become an invaluable training
tool, enabling me to analyze ride and race data over a couple months
and realize marked improvements. At the end of the ride, the Garmin
Edge 705 seems to be the Holy Grail for cycling enthusiasts. It tells
you where you are, points the way to a destination, gets you home and
provides every bit of data you need to become a fitter cyclists -- if
that's your thing. And in 20 years of reviewing god knows how many
gadgets, this is one of the dozen or so for which I'd gladly plunk down
my own dough. So if you see me tooling through the trees or on some
deserted twisty with it aboard my Specialized, you'll know I put my
money where my gob-smacked mouth was.' —Jackson Lynch



WIRED Detailed maps and directions are spot-on. GPS reception
is excellent even in heavily wooded areas. Software and web app integration are a boon to digit crunchers.



TIRED Needs capability for more than three bikes. CD-ROM user
manual needs more detail. Should come with a glare-free screen skin.
Must run the battery all the way down before the first charge or you'll
only get about three hours of use.



$650 as tested, garmin.com







9 out of 10




(Via Gadget Lab.)

new Becker Z101 and Z200

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new Becker Z101 and Z200



German brand Becker just introduced a new range of sat nav systems called Z with two new models: Z101 and Z200.


Becker also introduced a new GPS navigation software which can split the screen in two to show small graphics representing your next turn and a general view of your route.


The hardware also got some upgrades which now uses SiRF Star III with InstantFixII which tries to predict the location of satellites to shorten fix times.


Both Z101 and Z200 follow the design of Becker Traffic Asist 7977 and 7827. They have a 4.3″ screen, maps of 40 European countries from Navteq on a 2GB SD card and RDS/TMC traffic receiver.


The navigation software actually comes from Navigon and it really excels when it comes to providing lane guidance with RealityView as well as 3D renderings of certain buildings.


Compared to Z101, Z200 has the extra Bluetooth kit for handsfree calling and a multimedia manager for reading video and audio files.


Z101 will be available mid-July for 229 Euros whereas Z200 is on sale starting from mid-June, for 349 Euros…

(Via NaviGadget.)

Magellan Maestro 4350, 4345

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Magellan Maestro 4350, 4345



Magellan Maestro 4350 and 4345 just got their FCC approval meaning they’ll be hitting the stores very soon. They’re still not talked about at Magellan’s website but we had already mentioned Maestro 4350 back in January. What we didn’t know about up until now was Maestro 4345 which probably is the exact same device but has a different set of maps.


We’re still unsure about the price but some of the features and specs are as follows:



  • voice commands

  • tex-to-speech

  • AAA Tour-Book pre-loaded

  • bluetooth to make hands-free calls

  • ability to create multi-destination trips

  • ability to get directions to intersections by selecting streets

  • live traffic updates via FM antenna

  • 2200mAh battery

  • Centrality GPS receiver




(Via NaviGadget.)

GS-200 GPS Tracker

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GS-200 GPS Tracker: "



GS-200 is a GPS data logger that offers various information of location in real time. It can record, review, check, and analyze your pictures that you have taken while traveling with your GPS tracker.


As far as hardware GS-200 has a 20 channel all-in-view SiRF Star III GPS receiver, rechargeable 1000mAh Li-Polymer battery, internal USB, audio and mass storage engine which can record data that is worth 8 months of traveling.


We are not sure if you’d ever see this in the western hemisphere…

(Via NaviGadget.)

new Sanyo sat nav systems comes with SSD

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new Sanyo sat nav systems comes with SSD



Sanyo just introduced two brand new in-dash GPS navigation systems with solid state drives instead of the usual DVD based or hard drive based systems. The advantage with SSD will mainly be in terms of speed since reading the maps without having to spin things is a lot faster. The other advantage with SSD is the resistant to vibration, heat, and other environmental factors.


The two new models are NVA-MS1280DT and NVA-MS1180DT. The former comes with a 4GB SD card plus a 4GB solid state drive while MS1180DT only features a 4GB SSD. The other difference is that NVA-MS1280DT has a DVD player and can also record audio onto the SD card.


Other features on these new devices in addition to GPS navigation is the ability to play multiple media formats, FM receiver for traffic information, and support for iPod and iPod video.


Both devices will be out in June and will cost $1750 and $1500…

(Via NaviGadget.)

kenwood dnx 7120

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kenwood dnx 7120



Kenwood is now showing a new GPS navigation system on their website called DNX7120 and the older 7100 is no longer there.


The DNX7120 has a 6.95″ (they’re honest about not being 7″ ) LCD touchscreen and has the same GUI as Garmin. The maps include United States, Canada and Puerto Rico and as far as entertainment you’ve the ability to control your iPod or other portable music player. You can get the additional KCA-iP300 cable and for fastest control of iPod audio and video files. In addition DNX7120 even includes two relay control outputs for touchscreen control of external devices like garage doors, security gates, trunk release, and more.


Other features include text to speech, XM Traffic and Weather support, satellite radio support, and it comes with a remote control.




(Via NaviGadget.)

More info on GPS with Sony PSP

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More info on GPS with Sony PSP

More info on GPS with Sony PSP


So the Sony PSP not only plays games, surfs the Internet, doubles up as a (hefty) portable media player, and acts as a Skype device, it will most probably function as a GPS navigation device in the future. Apparently this GPS feature is rumored to hit the US within the coming year, with maps provided by TeleAtlas. Certain cities will be blessed with 3D buildings, and chances are these won't be backwater states. The GPS software can run straight off an UMD or Memory Stick and will be priced between $100 and $200. Well, if you aren't too hard up for a GPS device, I suppose you can wait for another year or so.






(Via UberGizmo, the Gadgets News Blog.)

AL Tech AnyDrive X2HD

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AL Tech AnyDrive X2HD



The Koreans have outdone themselves once again and designed a sat nav system + portable media player that docks with a Mediagate MG-250HD which can playback full HD (1920x1080) video, or any kind of media you can think of, and has plenty of space thanks to the 2.5″ SATA HDD.


Named AL Tech AnyDrive X2HD, this portable navigation system and media player has an ARM11 processor at 600Mhz, 128MB DDR, and a 7″ TFT LCD screen with 800x480 resolution. The GPS receiver is a 32 channel SiRF chip and the battery has 800mAh capacity… But you better keep it plugged in to your car charger since the Koreans didn’t really have endurance in mind when they integrated this sat nav system with a media HDD.


Other specs include SD card slot, audio out and AV in ports, DMB channel receiver, integrated speakers, and support for a rear view camera…

(Via NaviGadget.)

Toshiba G710

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Toshiba G710



Toshiba G710, the smartPhone with GPS and 2.5G will be delivered with the optional navigation software CoPilot Live 7 from ALK, according to our French source.


Without subscription and the navigation software, Toshiba G710 will cost 250 € and with regional maps and the sat nav software installed it will go for 300 €. The maps will come on a 512MB microSD card and a version for maps of all of Europe is also expected.


Here are the rest of the specs for Toshiba G710.



  • Quad-band GSM (850/900/1800/1900 MHz), GPRS Class 10 and EDGE

  • Integrated SiRF Star III GPS receiver

  • 2.4″ TFT LCD screen with 320x240 pixel resolution

  • OMAP TI processor at 266 MHz

  • 2MP digital camera with 8x digital zoom

  • 64 MB of RAM and 128 MB of ROM

  • Bluetooth 1.2 compatible A2DP (stereo)

  • microSD card slot

  • MiniUSB 1.1

  • 1,050 mAh lithium-ion battery with 200 hours of endurance stand-by and 3 hour in communication

  • Windows Mobile 6.0 Standard




(Via NaviGadget.)

Nextar Q4-01 Full Review

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Nextar Q4-01 Full Review
NextarQ4RoutingImage.jpg

The Nextar Q4-01 was recently released into a competitive market where more consumers are deciding to move to the widescreen instead of the standard 3.5-inch screens that so many people know. The Nextar Q4 has the 4.3-inch screen which is based on a new user interface. The interface update is a welcome one, as the last Nextar interface was not much to talk about. I reviewed the Nextar C-3 last year and definitely saw room for improvement in the interface and the mount. The Nextar Q4 packs some decent stats into the package along with the redesign including text-to-speech, maps of the 50 states from NAVTEQ, and a light 1.6 million Points of interest. The unit also features an MP3 player and a photo viewer.

So can the Nextar Q4 with its widescreen and new user interface compete for your dollars in the GPS market?



Design


NextarQ4Mounted.jpg

The Nextar Q-4 is a very thin widescreen unit with a look a lot like the Navigon units that blew out onto the market this past holiday season. The power button is on the top, while the SD card slot, headphone jack and the mini-USB/power plug. The back offers a power lock button, the speaker, and a slot for the stylus. The mount is a similar mount to the C-3 that was such a pain to use. The cam lever is easy to use to get on and off the windshield, which attaches to a svelte cradle. The cradle slides into the mount through a couple of slots and then attaches to the Nextar Q-4. The mount snaps into a slot in the back of the Nextar Q-4, that is solid once you lock it in. With the power plug coming out the side, you can snug the unit right down onto the dash if you want to. The nut to tighten the swivel is a bit tough to get to if the unit is on the windshield, so make sure things are set before you slap it on the glass or on the adhesive disk stuck to your dash.



Like many Windows CE based GPS units, the Nextar Q-4 has a main software interface level where you can see the programs like Navigation, Picture Viewer, MP3 player, and Settings. You will need to go into Settings, then the Brightness icon to set the brightness, and more importantly, the 'sleep' mode (see the setting with the little moon icon). The unit has the ability to go to sleep and shut off after a set number of seconds, which is not what you want for a GPS while driving down the road. Keep this set to '--' and not a number. I couldn't figure out why this kept shutting down on me, thinking that the battery was drained, until figured this out.




Navigation

The Nextar Q-4 has a few 'buttons' on the main map screen to help things along. In the upper right you get a compass that includes the time display below it. By tapping it, you can rotate through the 3-D, 2-D North Up and 2-D in the direction of travel. On the left side, there is a '+' and a '-' to zoom in and out. The Menu button is on the lower left, which allows you to get to the good stuff, but if you want to directly head to a 'Destination' you can get there by tapping the 'Go To' button in the lower right. The Menu has 'Destination', 'History', 'POI', 'Go Home', 'Save as Favorite' and 'Setting'. I have to say that the icon choice for these buttons is a bit odd, as you get what looks like a Mini Cooper for the 'Destination' and a hard drive for 'Save as Favorite'; makes intuitive sense, but funny to see the had drive icon on a GPS. One thing I like is a prominent 'Cancel Route' choice that replaces 'POI' when you are navigating on a route. The if you haven't added a home location, the icon will show 'Set Home Location'; straight forward to understand.



NextarQ4DesinationSelectio.jpg

The Addressing dialog is a new approach, offering a bunch of options all accessed through four Category buttons that line the top and bottom of the screen. As you hit those button, the choices in the middle change. The Address button brings up 'Start with City', Street near you, of a City Center. The POI category has POI by City, POI by name, POI near vehicle, and POI near destination. The Crossroad category allows you to choose to 'Start with a City' of a street nearby. Finally the Favorites category gives you 'Route to a favorite', 'Set Home as a favorite', 'Rename Favorite', and Delete Favorite.



The 'Go To' button interface sounds crazy, but once you get used to it, it's really not a bad way to offer a lot of choices without having to scroll through a whole bunch of menu screens.




Addressing

When you get into typing in the address, things do get a little odd. First of all, the unit does not have a state based hierarchy, meaning you can't choose what state you want to go before typing in the town. A lot of towns in New England are called 'XXXXX, Town Of' for some reason, so when I wanted to go to Waltham, MA, I typed in the name of the town and hit 'Waltham, Town of', only to find that I didn't get it right; I guess the 'Waltham' in Massachusetts is listed only as 'Waltham' without the extra 'Town of'. After 'X'-ing out of the screen, I had to go back to the beginning, re-type the whole thing and guess again. OK, it's a pet peeve of mine, but it will be a frustration that will slow you down.



NextarQ4NameEntry.jpg

The name entry starts out with a nice feature that thinks ahead to offer only the letters that can logically follow. This can speed up the spelling in many cases, but gets weird fast. When you get down to the last few letters with only a few options, the letters move out of the 'ABC' keyboard and into some sort of a tight circle which should be easy to choose from, but when you are expecting the letters in one place and they are in another, it throws you for a bit. So on the right I was typing B-O-S-T-O-N, but the unit is smart enough to figure out that after B-O-S, there are only a few letters that can come next, and they all jump to the middle of the screen. So just as you are ready to hit the 'T', it's GONE. Odd implementation of the type ahead capability. This is definitely a low point for the otherwise much improved interface.




Routing

When you do get your destination set, the Nextar Q-4 will do a good job of routing you to it. The screen display changes to give you relevant information about routing like a next turn arrow, distance to the next turn and estimated time of arrival. As you drive, the voice prompts are accurate and clear. The smallish speaker gets a little taxed when set to full volume. Another concern pops up here though. The unit does not offer any auto-zoom, which I didn't realize how important it is to have it. As you drive, most GPS units will zoom out when you are driving on a larger road, at higher speeds without a turn near, but as you slow for a turn, the map zooms in. This is lacking here in the Nextar Q-4, and as a result the unit stays at a constant zoom level. As I went from state roads onto side streets, those side streets didn't show up on the screen, as they were too small to show on the map until I manually zoom in.



Review Summary

The Nextar Q-4 is a player in the next tier of GPS units, and sells for a discount at stores online. The unit certainly is a good start, and the interface, speed of satellite acquisition, and design is much improved over what I saw last year in the Nextar C-3, which had a sluggish interface, an older design and tough mount. The improvements don't come without a few issues that I mentioned above, including an odd addressing routine with letters that jump around as you type the final letters of a name, and the lack of an auto-zoom that has you driving across space without a road underneath you.




(Via GPS Lodge.)

OQO now offering customized GPS unit

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OQO now offering customized GPS unit


The OQO 02 has always seemed like the perfect match for purpose-built GPS unit. Thanks to Garmin, that dream is now a reality. The two companies have combined forces to bring a special OQO-edition Garmin GPS unit. The bundle includes a Garmin Mobile PC adapter, RAM car mount, and a car/airplane power adapter. Garmin apparently customized the user interface to match the OQO UI. We haven’t had a chance to test it yet, but we’re pretty confident that both companies are capable of pulling this off successfully. It’s available now for $237. Hit the link for more info!




(Via The Boy Genius Report.)

Medion GoPal E3215 Glamour Edition

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Medion GoPal E3215 Glamour Edition

Medion GoPal E3215 Glamour Edition

Turn on the bling with Medion's GoPal E3215 Glamour Edition. This portable navigation device comes in a purse-friendly pearlescent pink design, along with the following features :-



  • 3.5' full color TFT touch screen display

  • Pre-loaded maps of Western Europe

  • 2D, 3D or Arrow displays

  • TMC traffic updates

  • Auto-adjust for night use

  • Speed camera database
Sounds like a bargain at £149.99 when it hits retail stores this June. Definitely a piece of travel bling tech to carry around and be proud of!






(Via UberGizmo, the Gadgets News Blog.)

qStarz BT-Q1200 Ultra

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qStarz BT-Q1200 Ultra

qStarz this week introduced a new travel recorder and bluetooth GPS receiver with a solar panel big enough to extend its life upto 48 hours. Also called Travel Recorder Solar Ultra version, BT-Q1200 Ultra can pair with your PDA or smartphone to add GPS navigation functionality to these devices.


qStarz BT-Q1200 Ultra has enough memory to record 200,000 waypoints and it also boasts an enhanced GPS antenna to provide higher sensitivity and accuracy.


Other features are as follows:



  • Track split and track edit

  • Flicker and Google Earth integration

  • Photo Preview & Slide Show function

  • Analyze speed and altitude


qStarz BT-Q1200 Ultra is expected to hit the market today and sell for $120.




(Via NaviGadget.)

Panasonic GPS Strada CN-HX1000D and CN-HW1000D

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Panasonic GPS Strada CN-HX1000D and CN-HW1000D



CN-HX1000D and CN-HW1000D are the two additions to Panasonic’s Strada GPS navigation system lineup.


What’s special about these two new Strada’s is that they can be setup to control various things around the house. However as an intermediary device you’ll need your Bluetooth capable phone with a data plan with SoftBank, Docomo, and Au, so you can access all your devices from the internet - which will give you control over your door lock, DVR and TV, and many other things.



Strada CN-HX1000D and CN-HW1000D does provide other functions in addition GPS navigation and home control of course; such as the TV receiver, optical drive, hard disk drive, support for numerous media files, all on a sharp 7″ screen.


Expect to see this in Japan soon…

(Via NaviGadget.)

THP2 Personal Training System with GPS

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THP2 Personal Training System with GPS


THP2 Personal Training System from Nury Tech of Korea is just what the name suggest it is. A digital and wireless personal training system. It contains a GPS pod, and a chest strap to measure your performance during your workout, and a even body fat scale to see how you’re doing in general. All the components talk wireless to each other and reports to a watch which then can transfer all the information to PC where the analysis happens.


The THP2 Personal Training System is expected to arrive to US later this year. Expect to pay around $180…

(Via NaviGadget.)

Asus P560

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Asus P560



In addition to P320 and ZX1 Asus seems to have another PDA phone up their sleeves. The new P560.


Asus P560 should be marketed next June for approximately 500 €. It will be shipped with the GPS navigation kit including the mounts, car charger, and the iGO 6 navigation software with regional European maps preloaded on a 512MB memory card.


P560 will use Windows Mobile 6.1 as well as the new touch screen interface.


Main features of Asus P560:



  • A-GPS compatible SiRF Star III receiver

  • 2.8″ TFT LCD touch screen with 320x240 pixels resolution (QVGA)

  • Processor TI Omap 2430 at 450 MHz

  • Quadband GSM, GPRS, EDGE, 3G dualband and HSDPA with 3.6 Mbps

  • 256 MB ROM

  • 128 MB RAM

  • Wi-Fi 802.11b/g

  • Bluetooth 2.0 + EDR

  • 3.2 MP camera on the back

  • 0.3 MP camera in front

  • MicroSD HC Port

  • 1150 mAh battery

  • Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional

  • iGO 6 navigation software with maps from Tele Atlas




(Via NaviGadget.)

MultiFunction GPS Mirror has everything but the kitchen sink

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MultiFunction GPS Mirror has everything but the kitchen sink

GPS Mirror


It’s a mirror. It’s an mp3 player. It’s a video player. And it shows you where you’re at and where you’ve been so you can’t get lost. That is some rearview mirror.


The Multifunction GPS Bluetooth Rearview Mirror System provides complete 12 satellite GPS navigation, with voice prompting for directions and also has a reverse sensor to monitor backing up. It incorporates an SD card expansion slot and can play both mp3s as well as video formats for Windows Media Player and Quicktime MPEG4 with built in speakers giving the viewer a stereo experience. The mirror also reads JPEG pictures which turns the mirror into a photo album and you can even read eBooks through it!


And as if that wasn’t enough, the Multifunction GPS Bluetooth Rearview Mirror System also has five built in games and a stylus to navigate the interactive menu screens. It’s 3.5 inch touchscreen LCD is battery powered by a rechargeable lithium-ion battery.

Now if they’d also toss in a subscription to OnStar, DirecTV and provide hands free cell communication, it’s be the perfect package. But for $145 US, this Rearview Mirror may be an ideal add-on to bring any classic into the twenty first century.




(Via Coolest Gadgets.)

Pioneer launches Air Navi AVIC-T10 in Japan: don't call it a PND

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Pioneer launches Air Navi AVIC-T10 in Japan: don't call it a PND



It's times like these when holding our fingers back from buying that one-way ticket to Tokyo is so incredibly difficult. Just today, Pioneer has introduced the Air Navi AVIC-T10, a portable car navigation system that 'supports communications modules and provides drivers with new communications services for the Japanese market.' According to the release, this bad boy is 'clearly distinguished from conventional PNDs,' provides oodles of information about traffic, weather, local events, gas station prices, etc. and packs a pretty impressive list of specs. We're talking a 5.8-inch WVGA display, 1-seg TV tuner, 4GB of flash memory, integrated gyro sensor and built-in Bluetooth to boot. Those lucky enough to be in the right nation can snatch this gem next month for a currently undisclosed price.

(Via Engadget.)

navigon 2100 max review

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navigon 2100 max review


General


I was excited to evaluate the Navigon 2100 Max GPS Navigator. When I received the unit I was impressed by the sleek and simple casing. I have always been apprehensive to put a GPS unit in my Acura MDX because I was afraid that adding a separate GPS would look strange with the nicely integrated console. However, the Navigon 2100 + Cam-action suction cup mount integrated itself well. The mount is easy to use, move and adjust; The Navigon unit can be easily seated and removed.


Let’s take a look at the specs and features of the Navigon 2100 Max:



  • Samsung 400MHz processor

  • 4.3″ touchscreen display with 16:9 aspect ratio

  • Fully integrated SiRF StarIII GPS chip

  • SD Card

  • 512 MB RAM/64 MB Flash ROM

  • 3 hour 1200 mAh lithium ion battery

  • Measures 4.8″ x 3.0″ x 0.75″

  • Weights approx. 6.3 oz

  • Up to 12 map updates when you accessorize with FreshMaps

  • Real World Sign Text (see picture)

  • Extra guidance with exclusive 3D Reality View

  • Text-to-Speech Technology

  • Intuitive touch-screen menus and stunning 2D and 3D maps

  • Mini-USB power port


As I had mentioned before I was impressed with the sleek packaging offered by Navigon. It is not as small as the Pocket LOOX N100 but still compact enough to carry around in your pocket if you wanted. I’m a big fan of the smooth casing with no protruding buttons. The Mini-USB power input provides a nice standard interface whereby you can charge the unit with the provided charges or a standard USB cable connected to your computer or even possibly your mobile phone charger if it has the same connector.


The screen on the Navigon 2100 was the most impressive feature. The 2D & 3D maps were crisp and clear. The screen is capable of high-color but most of the navigation screens use different shades of grey and don’t really utilize the screens full potential.


The Navigon 2100 has 2 display modes; 2D & 3D Reality View. The 3D mode is my preferred mode of operation and with that you also get Real World Sign Text (see picture above). With this mode you get a cool picture of highway street signs, pretty close to how they would appear as you are driving on the highway. One piece of negative feedback no the view modes is that switching between 2D & 3D takes two actions (taps on the screen) I would have preferred having a toggle button on the main display instead of requiring selecting the mode on a separate menu window.


I very much like the speed limit information posted on the top left corner (when the information is available) and an audio warning can be set to warn the driver if they are exceeding the speed limit by a tunable amount (5 ,10, or 15mph over).


In either 2D or 3D view, Points of Interests (POI) can be set to be displayed which is a nice feature. For example little McDonald’s or Burger King Icons show up if they are in the vicinity. I find that the onscreen icons (battery, mute, etc) in the upper right corner are too small and the zoom-in & zoom-out features are not the most intuitive or user friendly.


Hardware


-Sound-


The Navigon 2100 offers Text-to-Speech Technology. So while driving the unit will tell you a change in direction is approaching and what street or exit to turn on. This is a great feature and requires less reliance on the Turn-by-Turn feature which is also available. The volume on the unit is good but I find that as the volume goes above 50% it is less clear and harder to understand. The unit has a mode that will increase the volume amplification as the car accelerates. This is a cool feature that some radios have built-in as well but also the feature that introduced me to the poor sound quality at the higher volume levels


-Interface-

Interaction with the Navigon 2100 is entirely through the touch screen. This works fairly well but in certain menus where you have to type out a destination or address the keyboard has small letters. In my opinion I don’t have fat fingers but I definitely struggled to type out an address correctly the first time with the small keyboard. The keyboard is 1½ inches wide with each key being 3/8 of an inch wide. It would be a nice enhancement to be able to expand the keyboard the full width of the unit in addition to the vertical configuration offered. Much as the iPhone allows users to do.




When using the unit up close this size works but if the unit is mounted almost an arm length away a lot of mistakes can easily be made. Especially if (heaven forbid) you try to enter in a destination while driving.


The interface on the Navigon 2100 is simple and easy to navigate but there are some bugs and much more to be desired. I’ve encountered problems where I’ve entered in a restaurant name and the Navigon finds it but the Start Navigation button is unavailable. I’ve had to exit out of the menu and try again, performing the exact same steps and then finally being able to select my destination. Likewise if the unit doesn’t know your POI there isn’t much of an alternative to finding your destination. Having the ability to enter in cross streets would be useful. Also when searching for a location under All categories can severely slow down the unit and cause a 5-8 second delay per tap so it is necessary to specify if you’re looking for a gas station, or restaurant etc.


Saving a destination is not as intuitive as I would have hoped. When at a location you have to hit the magnifying glass on the bottom right corner, which will then allow you to click on green check mark that will let you save the current destination. I think putting the save feature would make sense in an area like the options menu rather than the zoom menu.


Conclusion

In conclusion the Navigon 2100 is a good sized unit with a great display and good hardware features but in need of a software upgrade to work out some of the bugs and user-friendliness.


The first few days were frustrating and trying my patience but as I used the unit more I figured out what the Navigon 2100 wanted from me and we had a more working relationship.




(Via NaviGadget.)

Clarion intros MAP680 and MAP780 navigators for Europe

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Clarion intros MAP680 and MAP780 navigators for Europe



Check it, Europeans -- Clarion has just dumped a new duo of PNDs on the market, and they're both geared up to route you all over your humble lands. It appears that the only major difference between the MAP680 and MAP780 are the actual maps loaded in; the former is available in four regional versions, while the latter features a full 43 European countries. Specs wise, we're lookin' at a 4.3-inch widescreen display, text-to-speech, built-in TMC tuner, 3D display of buildings / POIs, lane assistant, Bluetooth (with phone book transfer and audio streaming), a 400MHz CPU, multimedia player and 2GB (MAP780) / 1GB (MAP680) of internal memory. No word on a price or any of that good stuff just yet, but feel free to get more acquainted with the pair in the gallery below.

[Via NaviGadget]




(Via Engadget.)

QStarz launch BT-Q818 eXtreme: world’s most powerful Bluetooth GPS

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QStarz launch BT-Q818 eXtreme: world’s most powerful Bluetooth GPS

GPS manufacturer QStarz have announced what they’re calling the world’s most powerful Bluetooth GPS receiver.  The BT-Q818 eXtreme uses the 51-channel MTK GPS Module, and boasts adjustable position update rates from between 1 and 5Hz (e.g. between 1 and 5 updates per second).  That makes it particularly useful for high-speed applications in which position changes are rapid.


QStarz BT-Q818 eXtreme GPS



QStarz BT-Q818 eXtreme GPS


Battery life is also impressive, with QStarz quoting up to 32hrs of navigation time from a full 3hr charge.  This can be increased by use of the auto-on/off which shuts the receiver off when it’s not moving.  Both Bluetooth and direct USB connection are supported, and QStarz suggest cold start, warm start and hot start acquisition times of 36, 33 and 1 second respectively.


The BT-Q818 measures 72.2 x 46.5 x 20mm.  There’s no detail on release date or estimated price, unfortunately.




(Via SlashGear.)

ProLink ProStar GPS at Brickyard Crossing Golf Course

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ProLink ProStar GPS at Brickyard Crossing Golf Course

prolink-prostar.jpgProLink Solutions announced that its Brickyard Crossing Golf Course located at Indianapolis, Ind. will now feature the ProLink Solutions ProStar GPS system which has to date, seen action at many of the world’s most famous golf courses. This is one nifty way a GPS system will be able to help folks out in everyday life instead of just offering you the best route to and from work. After all, having a GPS system with you on the golf course will greatly aid your game and help save time in the long run, as you know exactly where to walk to - I’d just make sure my maps were updated before I head out to the greens though.


According to Jeff Schroeder, Brickyard Crossing head professional, ‘Players at Brickyard Crossing rely heavily on ProLink GPS to help them negotiate the hazards and place the ball in proper spots. We consider ProLink not only a great amenity, but a necessity when it comes to keeping up pace of play, managing our carts, and handling large tournaments. It also helps the course maximize revenue through food-and-beverage functions, pro shop promotions and the advertising program.’


Brickyard Crossing did feature ProLink’s GameStar GPS system previously, and is part of the nearly 90% of courses who renewed their lease with ProLink last year. After all, golfers in a sense do enjoy the finer things in life, and ProLink won’t let them down with a patented 10.4″ high resolution colors display which is incidentally one of the largest in the industry. Features include easy-to-read graphics comprising distances to the pin and hazards, pro tips, pace-of-play timer and radial arc for cart-path-only holes. Golfers at Brickyard Crossing can also use the ProLink device to order food and drinks at the touch of a button without having to trudge all the way back to the cafeteria. Do leave a comment at the bottom of this post if you, being a golfer, have seen how GPS technology change your golfing life.



(Via Coolest Gadgets.)

TomTom GO x30 Series hits the UK

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TomTom GO x30 Series hits the UK

TomTom GO x30 Series hits the UK


TomTom has just released its GO x30 series in the UK, bringing the following specifications to the table.



  • 4.3' widescreen 16:9 format LCD (WQVGA, 480 x 272 pixels) display

  • 400MHz processor

  • TomTom GO 930 Traffic: 4GB internal flash memory

  • TomTom GO 530/730 and GO 530/730 Traffic: 1-2GB internal flash memory

  • SD card slot

  • High sensitivity GPS receiver

  • Bluetooth connectivity

  • Battery lithium-polymer (up to 5 hours operation)

  • Dimensions: 118mm x 83mm x 24mm

  • Weight: 220 grams
The TomTom GO 930 Traffic, TomTom GO 730, TomTom GO 730 Traffic, TomTom GO 530, and TomTom GO 530 Traffic will retail for £399.99, £299.99, £329.99, £249.99, and £279.99, respectively.




(Via UberGizmo, the Gadgets News Blog.)

XRoad to launch V7 in Korea

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XRoad to launch V7 in Korea

XRoad to launch V7 in Korea


Koreans will be getting the third iteration of the XRoad V7 GPS navigation system pretty soon, bringing the following features with you wherever you go :-



  • 7' 800 x 480 resolution display

  • Integrated FM radio

  • DMB tuner

  • Picture-in-Picture capability

  • 4GB flash memory

  • AU 1250 600Mhz Alchemy processor

  • 128MB RAM
Guess this is one model that won't make it to the US just like its predecessors.





(Via UberGizmo, the Gadgets News Blog.)

Becker Traffic Assist 7977

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Becker Traffic Assist 7977



Becker Traffic Assist 7977 was unveiled couple of months ago but it wasn’t until recently that it appeared on their own website.


The new Traffic Assist 7977 is their top of the line GPS navigation system with a 4.3″ touch screen display, live traffic information, lane assistance, and maps for all of Europe.


Becker 7977 takes SD cards, and can even access media on USB drives making easier to access images and audio files. It has bluetooth interface too; so you can connect your bluetooth enabled phone and take and receive calls directly on your sat nav system. In addition Becker has reality view that comes up when you are approaching freeway junctions, something very similar to Navigon’s Reality View.


Becker Traffic Assist 7977 is already making appearances at retailers across Europe but still no news on when it would be available in the U.S.




(Via NaviGadget.)

Altina A850 3D

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Altina A850 3D



Altina just announced a new GPS navigation system for the Chinese market called A850 3D. As you can tell from the name it can render almost realistic images of roads; complete with buildings in 3D and can split the screen in half to also display a traditional 2D map.


The new Altina A850 3D uses a SiRF Star III GPS receiver and runs Windows CE.Net 5.0 in the background. The screen measures 4.3″, and the 1350mAh battery can last upto 4 hours on a single charge. You also have your SD/MMC slot for playing some basic multimedia files.


Not planned to be released in the U.S. unfortunately.




(Via NaviGadget.)