Navigon Announces its High-end 8100T

Navigon has announced the introduction of its high-end navigation device called the 8100T which comes with next-generation features.
The 8100T joins the new budget-priced 2000S, 2200T with free real-time traffic, and full-featured, wide-screen 7200T. The 8100T builds upon the 7200T's rich feature set with a large 4.8-inch screen, brushed metal bezel, and the introduction of three-dimensional environments. Other standard features include traffic receiver, Bluetooth connectivity, voice recognition for address entry, and next-generation reality view. 

The so-called Panorama View 3D is the key element here, and it may be a feature seen on other units in the future. To transition from the common, elevated two-dimensional perspective to provide contour mapping, Navigon used data from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. 

For public use, rather than government or military applications, the resolution is reduced, though Navigon has worked with the data to create a convincing representation of the world around us. For the 8100T, Navigon constructed a polygon-based topographic map, then overlaid color and texture. To give it graphic relief, a "sun" light source is used to create shadows. 

The 8100T goes on sale mid-November with a retail price of $599. Based on retail pricing, the 8100T commands a $150 premium over the 7200T, though GPS prices tend to move down quickly.