Pharos unveiled its Pharos Smart Navigation

While they're mostly a maker of standalone GPS devices, Pharos has had a line of smartphones for a while.
The latest models are the Traveler 117 and 127. Both models are unlocked GSM/EDGE/HSDPA phones that run on T-Mobile's EDGE network or AT&T's 3G HSDPA network. They run Microsoft Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional with 400 Mhz processors, which we consider the minimum for Windows Mobile to perform well. They have 2-megapixel cameras, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth, and weigh 4.8 ounces.
The main difference between the two units is that the Traveler 117 has a 2.8" 640x480 touch screen and no keyboard, and the Traveler 127 has a 2.5", 320x240 screen and a keyboard. The Traveler 127 actually looks a lot like a BlackBerry 8800, if the BlackBerry ran Windows Mobile.

The real draw of these phones, of course, is Pharos' navigation software, which will come with each device. Pharos' new Smart Navigator product has some interesting features, such as the ability for families to follow the locations of each others' devices on a map or through the Net - good for caravanning. Pharos POI hosts approximately twelve million POIs including national parks, beaches, forests, earthquake faults, and other natural and historical features from the U.S. Geologic Survey.
Smart Navigator users can instantly access maps of the United States, Canada, or other countries and use them with intelligent route calculation and turn-by-turn route guidance via graphic and text instructions as well as voice prompts, according to Pharos. It will navigate using maps resident on a device or download maps on demand wirelessly from Pharos. Its routing calculation can occur either on the phone or on Pharos' server.

The Traveler 117 and 127 will be available on December 1 at Amazon.com and Newegg.com, for $529.95.

High Precision Mio C310 Now Out

Mitac has released a new high precision navigation device branded the Mio C310. It comes with a bright 3.5" screen and extra large iconsdisplay is generally easy to follow.It's easy to see which way to go, where to turn and the audio instructions are clear.
Physically, on the right there are power, menu and volume buttons, while at the top there's an SD/MMC card slot for additional maps (and MP3s) and an external antennae socket. At the bottom is a mini USB port and a headphone jack. The latter helps with the MP3 player function — virtually as pointless as the contacts feature. What matters is mapping.
This pocket-sized GPS Navigation Device will offer voice-guidance to over 5 million points of interest, and stores your favorite location for easy recall. You can select which POIs to display on a map but only their group icon will be displayed: you've got to tap the screen to see what type of shop you're viewing. It's all very good once you're used to it but the itinerary system that costs it an award.
he C310 supports English, French, and Spanish languages with both voice and text prompts and provides clear turn-by-turn voice navigation. C310 is the stylish choice for portable navigation.

Nokia 330 Auto Navigation

The GPS navigation market is hotting up, with many companies keen to get a slice of the pie. Finnish mobile phone giants Nokia are just one of them, releasing the 330 Auto Navigation; their first ever stand-alone GPS unit. Combining a 3.5in touch screen, a 512GB SD card with maps, as well as multimedia playback for photos, videos and music, the 330 is a solid, but not outstanding navigation unit.
The 330 has a straightforward, simple interface with clearly labelled icons and the 3.5in, 320 x 240 pixel LCD makes it fairly easy to navigate through the unit. The screen is quite good for navigation, as sunlight glare wasn't an issue. The 330 is a decent sized unit, measuring 119mm x 83mm x 24mm and weighing 205g.
The 330 Auto Navigation is one of the feww GPS unit that uses Route 66's Navigate 7 software. The mapping data is provided by Navteq, one of the worlds largest providers of digital map data. Navteq is particularly popular in North America and Europe, but the 330 is one of the first units to use their data in Australia.
The 330 uses the popular SiRF Star III GPS chipset seen in many other units currently on the market. It took between 30 seconds and a minute to find and maintain a solid GPS signal and we didn't experience any drop outs. Re-routing times were quite impressive as well, taking just a couple of seconds in most instances.
The 330 is marketed as an auto navigation device, but it's not limited to navigation. While the multimedia features are a nice touch, none of them do an outstanding job. There aren't any major issues, but if you are looking for a portable multimedia player first and foremost, then there are better options on the market. The 330 comes with a 512MB miniSD card and a miniSD card adaptor, but since the software and maps are stored on this too, there isn't much room left for multimedia. Users wishing to use the 330 for multimedia would be best advised to purchase an extra SD card, but keep in mind that swapping the cards means you won't have access to navigation.
At $499, the Nokia 330 is not bad at all.

Spirent Announces GSS8000 Supports for Japanese QZSS

Spirent Communications plc the provider of navigation and positioning test solutions, announces the world's first RF constellation simulator that supports the Japanese Quasi Zenith Satellite System (QZSS). Spirent GSS8000 now supports QZSS system in addition to GPS, Galileo, GLONASS and SBAS.

The QZSS system, currently under development, plans to offer three navigation satellites in high-altitude orbits to improve navigation performance in areas of Japan that prove difficult with GPS alone. Spirent will initially provides support for L1 C/A code and L1 SAIF QZSS signals and add other QZSS signals as the market develops. For the first time, developers of QZSS systems based receivers, systems and applications have a solution that provides controlled, repeatable test signals, essential for accurate testing.

"This announcement demonstrates Spirent's commitment to continue to invest in support of the evolving test needs of the GNSS community", commented John Pottle, marketing director at Spirent's positioning technology division. "The first QZSS satellite is planned for launch in 2009. Our customers can now test receivers, systems and applications that will use the QZSS signals. In addition, Spirent's systems will combine QZSS with GPS and, if required, Galileo and GLONASS to provide a complete GNSS test bed".

Only laboratory simulation can ensure controlled repeatable testing that explores both nominal and off-design conditions. By following a structured test approach, our customers can test multi-GNSS receivers, systems and applications resulting in shorter development times and improved performance. The Spirent GSS8000 simulation system design allows for a wide variety of configurations from GPS L1 right up to comprehensive multi-RF output and/or multi-constellation test systems.

Fujitsu America Announces bAvailability of 65nm GPS RF Design Kits

Fujitsu Microelectronics America, Inc. (FMA) today announced the availability of 65nm RF CMOS manufacturing services with the introduction of an advanced Process Design Kit (PDK) to enable first-pass silicon success. The RF CMOS platforms from Fujitsu are now available to customers in 90nm and 65nm nodes.

The RF CMOS PDKs are ideal for developing high-performance, low-power SoCs that integrate RF functions for Bluetooth, GPS, cellular, wireless audio/video, wireless LAN and optical communications. The highly accurate transistor models include both advanced PSP and traditional BSIM models. The PDK's superior model accuracy and improved ease of use enable engineers to design challenging mixed-signal and RF ICs easily.

Based on the Fujitsu low leakage 90nm and 65nm analog/RF CMOS process technologies, the PDKs include a comprehensive set of parameterized cells and toolkits for active and passive devices. The flexible inductor synthesis toolkit automatically generates precise and scalable inductor layout and models for high-speed analog and RF circuits. The sophisticated statistical simulation environment is a powerful tool for yield analysis, process sensitivity and design space exploration. The result for customers is reduced development time and rapid time-to-market.

"Our platforms ensure that our customers achieve first-pass functional silicon at the 90- and 65-nanometer process nodes for high-performance, low-power RF CMOS IC designs, avoiding costly re-spins and low yields," said Steve Della Rocchetta, vice president of the Semiconductor Manufacturing Services business group at Fujitsu Microelectronics America.

"The main advantage of the Fujitsu RF CMOS processes is the ability to integrate complex logic, analog and RF circuits into single chip," said Tatsuya Yamazaki, vice president, in charge of the ASIC/COT business for Fujitsu Microelectronics Limited in Japan. "Built on the Fujitsu advanced process technologies, accurate device models, and comprehensive IP portfolios, the Fujitsu low-power RF CMOS technology platforms are exceptional choices for next-generation, high-volume wireless applications."

Both the 90nm CS100A-LL and 65nm CS200L PDKs are available now. Customers are using the design kits for their leading-edge, high-precision analog and high-speed RF applications.

Fujitsu has issued a new white paper entitled "Motivation for RF Integration," which discusses the many opportunities for the semiconductor industry that have been created by the proliferation of wireless applications, ranging from cellular phones to wireless audio/video products. Although major components in traditional wireless systems have long been fabricated in a variety of CMOS and compound semiconductor process technologies, recent advances in RF CMOS have made it the technology of choice for these applications. RF CMOS is contributing significantly to the success of wireless products in the marketplace.

Nokia Annouces its Auto Navigation Device, The Nokia 500

Nokia is making its presence felt in the personal navigation market and the new Nokia 500 Auto Navigation is another addition to its lineup. as the first handsfree PND from Nokia, it is geared towards in-car navigation and communication. The navigation device doubles up as your Bluetooth handsfree kit for compatible mobile phones.The Nokia 500 Auto Navigation features a 4.3" wide color screen, which is convenient to view not only maps but also your contacts. Navigating couldn't be easier - equipped with high-sensitivity GPS and Nokia Maps navigation software, the Nokia 500 Auto Navigation gives clear spoken and visual directions (turn-by-turn, including street and city names).It comes with pre-installed regional maps, and detailed travel information, including points of interest such as hotels, petrol stations and tourist sites.
With the device's Traffic Message Channel Service you can avoid all those tiresome traffic jams, and get to your destination more quickly. The device also has an intuitive Nokia interface, featuring a split screen which displays additional information alongside the main screen to help with your navigation. This split screen features essential guidance information such as details on your next turn, estimated time of arrival and distance remaining, ensuring these details are always accessible. For longer journeys, keep yourself and your passengers amused with the Nokia 500 Auto Navigation's advanced entertainment features. Listen to music from the integrated music player, or for those down-times on the road, view photographs or watch videos, making any roadtrip a fun trip! The Nokia 500 Auto Navigation device also plays music through your car's FM radio using the built-in FM Transmitter. The Nokia 500 Auto Navigation is available now through online retailers and at Nokia flagship stores for $499.95.

Magellan's Colorfull eXplorist 500

Magellan has announced the release of its colorfull handheld GPS that is outfitted with a 16-color display.The device is rugged and lightweight, with a waterproof, impact-resistant plastic housing that stands up to almost every adventure, including whitewater rafting and hiking. At the same time, its pocket-sized chassis, which measures a mere 2.2 by 4.7 by 1.3 inches (W x H x D), is loaded with convenient features, such as detailed, built-in maps of North American roads, parks, waterways, and airports; the ability to save five track log files, 20 routes, and 500 points of interest; and an area calculator that determines the distance between saved points of interest--an ideal function when mapping out hiking trails. Other cool and convenient add-ons include a fish/hunt function that mentions the best fishing and hunting times for a specific coordinate and a similar tool that displays the rising and setting times for the sun and moon.
It has 8 MB of built-in maps. You can save 5 track log files, 20 routes and 500 points of interest to the 8 MB of additional internal memory, but store as many as you want on optional SD cards. Additional features include multilingual communication (choose from English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Swedish, Finnish, Portuguese, Dutch, or Norwegian); four navigation screens for viewing speed, direction, distance to destination, and more; and a rechargeable lithium ion battery pack that keeps the eXplorist 500 working for up to 17 hours. Conveniently, users needn't remove the battery to charge it; simply plug the charger directly into the receiver and it renews itself. Compared to other handheld GPS receivers on the market, it is midpriced at around $290.

Research Firms Predicts Growth in Mobile Nav Users

A European research firm has predicted that there is bound to be increase in the number of subscribers who use their mobile phones to download navigation routes. This is based on the recent trend of interest shown by users who possess GPS enabled mobile phones. According to the firm,the number will grow from 16 million users in 2008 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 27.9 percent to reach 70 million users in 2014, all things being equal. The firm also offered that revenue from subscriptions and advertisements will reach €597 million ($747.8 million) by 2014 from €177 million ($221.7 million) in 2008, a CAGR of 22.4 percent. According to the report several important drivers are finally about to bring a breakthrough for LBS in Europe. With mobile penetration reaching saturation, intensified competition and regulations driving call prices down, mobile network operators increasingly seek new ways of maintaining revenue growth. Increased focus on delivering value added services, including various location-based services, is one means of achieving this. The performance of new handsets is gradually improving, with a growing share of handsets featuring larger displays with higher resolution.
In a statement made available by André Malm, telecom analyst, Berg Insight "The mobile industry is now starting to reap the benefits from the introduction of GPS enabled handsets. However, most mobile navigation users only use the service during a free trial period. The key challenge will be to convert these test-users into paying subscribers." In the meantime, he U.S. market has continued to grow to a level of 6 million active subscribers of mobile navigation services in the second quarter of 2008. The anticipated launch of GPS enabled handsets by GSM operators AT&T and T-Mobile USA will drive further growth in 2009.

Holux Showcases GPSmile 62 GPS at CES

Holux recently announced its latest GPSmile 62 GPS navigation and it happens to be among the few GPS in that range that offer such functionalitiy.

The new sat nav device features a 5″ WQVGA screen with 16:9 ratio and has a multimedia player so you can watch videos and listen to music on those long road trips.

Also worth mentioning is that the screen is 'edge-free' so dragging maps around is easier and smoother than ever. GPSmile 62 supports SD cards upto 4GB, uses a GPS receiver that can track 32 satellites at once and a has a removable rechargeable battery as well as integrated speakers.

Blutooth on board allows you to pair it up with your phone so your hands are always free for things like driving, fixing your makeup etc, and the TMC antenna shows you where traffic jams are so you can look for alternate routes.

If any sellers tries to bring these to the U.S. we'll be sure to let you know.

Telenav Announces its latest PND-The Shotgun

If you've used TeleNav GPS Navigator, you already know the benefits of having a wireless connection. It means you get access to updated maps and business listings - you don't have to worry about downloading anything. You also get real-time information including traffic-alerts/rerouting and daily gas price listings.

With TeleNav Shotgun, you get all of this plus a large 4.3″ touch screen. The company is throwing in three free months of TeleNav Connected Service with the purchase of the device. It claims that the device is different than any other PND on the market.

First off it has real-time traffic which looks for trouble spots along your route every five minutes, internet connected search with an initial database of 11 million entries, quarterly updates maps and business listings, ability to send addresses to your device wirelessly from any computer, and the ability to upgrade with new features and applications.

Telenav Shotgun costs $300 but of course that are a monthly fee involved, $12/month, or $129/year, or $240/2 years (but first 3 months is free).

Novogo A30 Satellite Navigation System is the Latest Drivers’ Companion

With Novogo A30 Satellite navigation system, drivers have every reason to make their journey worthwhile. It is indeed drivers' friend because it helps them to identify the fastest or shortest routes to the destination point by making least use of motorways amidst other useful applications.

The Novogo A30 has a dimension of 10.3cm x 3.4cm x 11.5cm and weigh only 250g. It has a built-in-display. The colour LCD touch screen shows all necessary information. The 3.5″ screen has the resolution of 320 x 240 pixels. In addition to the display you also get crystal clear voice guidance, which maintains extra detailed navigation.

The multi media card, which can be, installed increases memory capacity. The map storage medium is on board memory card. Novogo A30 Sat Nav Unit offers 6 hour(s) runtime with Lithium Ion internal battery.

The map of the world is made available in your palm. Just plug in, explore, and enjoy. With this user-friendly device you get Car power adapter, mounting bracket, SD Card, USB cable and stylus as accessories.

For the best performance, it can receive 20 channels. It supports SiRF Star III GPS chipset brand.

No details is available about the pricing.

Trumpion Releases in-dash GPS navigation

Trumpion from the UK has just released an in-dash GPS navigation unit known as the TR-D05 Satellite Navigator.

It comes with the usual 7″ touch screen with a 480×234 pixels resolution, accepts AUX signal inputs and can be configured to use a parking sensor.

TR-D05 comes with Route 66 maps of Europe and UK, can do postal code search, provide voice instructions, and just like most other in-dash systems supports various multimedia formats such as VCD, CD, MPEG4 (DIVX), WMA and JPEG.

The Bluetooth capability lets users make hands-free calls too, while driving therefore affording them the chance to drive and speak over phone and still remain on the right side of the law. This mobile navigator has an automatic mute feature as well, to mute the sounds when you are answering a call.

Another unique feature that this device offers is a slim infrared remote controller, that allows operating the unit from anywhere in the car.

 

GlobalSat GV-590 is Travelers' Delight

GV-590 is the new GPS automative navigation system from GlobalSat with a DVB-T built-in antenna so you can watch digitally broadcast channels, there is also an option for external antenna. It promises to give travelers more functions they ever desire from a typical GPS.

It has a 5″ bright touch screen with 480x272 resolution is definitely big enough to watch TV on, and internal built-in speakers in addition to the earphone jack. The Li-Ion battery with 2200mAh capacity can last up to 5 hours but we're not sure if that's based on navigating or watching TV.

GTV-380 runs WinCE.NET 5.0 on a Samsung processor, uses SiRFStarIII GPS receiver, comes with 64MB RAM but has an SD/MMC slot for maps and memory expansion.

The device is also bluetooth capable for hands free calls, and has support for various multimedia files and these include the capability of putting jpg, wmv, and mpeg1 files on it, with play back features for your music. There is an option to download phone book using the Bluetooth technology.

It is not clear if this is available in North America yet but it were to come here with the right software and UI it would be good competitor to big brand names.

GPS, A Necessity Device for all!

That GPS device is more than a luxury but a necessity that must be acquired by all is not an overstatement. The device has become one of the useful electronic gadgets in this jet age that almost every household desire to own one. Becoming even more ubiquitous, GPS navigation is starting to show up also as a mobile phone feature, with technology from vendors such as TeleNav.

GPS combines a handful of elements that couldn't be better timed for an economic downturn. The technology cuts fuel, maintenance and staffing costs, helps users go green by reducing their use of paper and fuel, and improves productivity and customer service.

As such, GPS offers an attractive service opportunity for IT solution providers.

Distributor Tech Data sells GPS systems to its solution providers, who market them to end-user customers as part of service packages to run their businesses more efficiently and cost-effectively.

One Tech Data solution provider, for instance, installed GPS for a non-profit organization that relies on the technology for navigation and tracking when working in remote areas out of reach of Wi-Fi and cell service. Another solution provider customized a system for cable technicians servicing out-of-sight service towers with instructions to find the elusive towers. Instructions might include something like, "The tower is located in the bell tower of this church. There's a door around back. If locked, call Father Joe."

Tech Data sells the Pharos, Tom Tom, Becker and Garmin lines, which offer packages that include ruggedized units, extended warranties and free software updates, says Wendy Linsky, Tech Data vice president of peripherals product marketing. Solution providers have the ability to customize maps and add features for their customers' specific needs, she says.

Linsky believes GPS services, which also help advance ecologically minded companies' efforts to go green, are going to become more common for solution providers as more of them get wise to how the technology can help their end-user customers.

"There's a lot more runway ahead as we continue to educate the solution providers," she says.

Sumair Dutta, strategic service management research analyst at Aberdeen, says end users are seeing a host of benefits from GPS technology. The obvious one, of course, is to save fuel by cutting travel time through better-planned routes.

Aberdeen found through a recent survey of companies that rely on auto fleets or mobile workers to deliver services that they save an average of 13.2 percent on fuel and 12.8 percent on maintenance after adopting GPS technology

Vehicle fleet utilization improved by 27.4 percent and workforce utilization, by 26.1 percent, according to the study. That means companies are able to better manage their driver's and service technician's schedules.

Because companies have the ability to track their drivers, dispatchers can make sure drivers are taking the best routes. Managers also spot time-wasting trends and habits that they can work to change, says Dutta.

Ultimately, says Dutta, in addition to cutting expenses, companies also improve customer service through the use of GPS. Think about the cable company giving you a one- or two-hour time window for repairs, rather than the four- or five-hour windows that cause so much frustration with customers.

Aberdeen found that as many as 84 percent of companies using GPS have on-time arrivals when their technicians go to customer sites, and they see a 16 percent improvement in service profitability.

TeleNav's Dhanani says that GPS navigation empowers companies to improve the way they do business in multiple ways. While it's easy to see how plotting the fastest route to a destination is beneficial, he points out that dispatchers also are able to make decision on the fly that would be more difficult without GPS.

 

 

GlobalSat Releases GTV-380 Digital TV Navigator

The GTV-380 is the latest contribution by GloalSat to the digital TV navigator world. The device comes loaded with features that users will find very desirable.
With a bright touch screen of about 4.3 inches and a resolution of  480×272, the GTV-380 is big enough to watch TV on.
It comes with a DVB-T antenna, internal built-in speakers in addition to the earphone jack. that afford its users the opportunity to watch digitally broadcast channels clearly and audibly well.
It also features Bluetooth for hands-free calls and supports a wide range of multimedia files.

The device runs WinCE.NET 5.0 and has a Samsung processor and 64MB RAM. It uses SiRFStarIII GPS receiver and has a SD/MMC slot to increase the storage.
here is no word on pricing or availability but Globalsat exports its products in Europe and North America. So if you live in those areas it might show up in stores.

Subscribe and Win Promotion

We at GPS Navigation Watch are delighted to announce a Subscribe and Win Promotion for our readers. Everybody that subscribe to GPS navigation Watch e-mail feed will be automatically entered for a monthly draw to win a brand new Garmin nüvi® 760 GPS Navigatior worth $500 dollars. You must confirm your subscription to be entered for the draw. Winner will be announced in a post on the 30th of every month and also be contacted by e-mail. Readers that have already subscribed to our feed can still participate by visiting GPS Navigation Watch from their regular e-mail updates. Their e-mail will be entered for the draw each time they visit from their e-mail. Their is no limit to the number of times a subscriber can participate. Obviously, the more you visit from your e-mail the more your chances of winning. We are committed to providing you with the best GPS Information you can get anywhere on the web. Always contact us for any question, suggestion or criticisms and we will respond accordingly. Wishing all readers good luck.

GPS Tracking Device for Law Enforcement Agencies from GPSit

Ever wonder how law enforcement agencies uses GPS? Well, let’s hope you are not on the wrong end of this technical surveillance solution. GPS tracking company GPSit provides law enforcement agencies with a covert tracking solution that enables them to safely track suspected felons via the use of small battery operated AGPS tracking devices. GPSit solutions incorporate advanced patented Qualcomm CDMA gpsOne™ technology, enabling accurate location capability, even in impaired environments – such as inside semi-trailers, underneath autos and within closed packages. GPSit’s FS1 gps + AGPS device is an enhanced version of the Sendum PT-200 battery operated asset tracker, for which GPSit developed sophisticated packaging and accessories that enable advanced covert tracking operations with long battery life. The FS1 operates over the Sprint CDMA network for tracking in North America and over the IUSACELL CDMA network in Mexico. For law enforcement agents, GPSit’s TrackFusion software provides near real time location updates for their covert tracking initiatives and a proven means of protecting officer safety.

Kenworth T2000 now Available with Additional Functionalities including GPS Navigation system and Driver information center

According to Kenworth Truck Company (the manufacturer of The World's Best(R) heavy and medium duty trucks and an industry leader in providing fuel-saving technology solutions that help increase fuel efficiency and reduce emissions) Kenworth T2000 is now available with a driver information center, GPS navigation system, and multiplex instrumentation system for enhanced performance and serviceability.
Kenworth indicates that the standard driver information center provides the driver with instant access to current trip data, including miles-per-gallon, engine and idle hours, idle percentage, and optimum RPM range for the engine. A sweet spot indicator offers visual cues when the optimum RPM is reached, and a bar graph displays current MPG against trip average MPG. The GPS navigation system is intended to aid fleet and driver productivity by helping to reduce costly out-of-route miles, states Kenworth. The system, which is standard with the Kenworth Diamond cab interior, and optional on the Splendor cab interior, has been designed to easily locate delivery addresses, multiple drop routes, Kenworth dealers, truck stops and other points of interest. Functions include routing, multiple route and waypoint selection, and turn-by-turn voice commands, which are played through Kenworth's premium AM/FM/CD radio sound system. The Kenworth GPS system includes an MP3 player with five gigabytes of memory for music storage.

A Look at the Magellan RoadMate 760

As the first GPS unit to feature text-to-speech functionality, the Magellan RoadMate 760 jumps ahead of its in-car GPS competition. This full-featured in-car navigation device builds on the success of its predecessor, the RoadMate 700. It comes with a 2.25-by-3.0-inch screen which is exceptionally bright and crisp. A small light sensor on the front of the unit allows the 760 to automatically adjust brightness and contrast depending on ambient light levels. It's a nice touch that helps you keep your eyes on the road instead of focused on fiddling with screen settings during your journey. The unit's controls are logically laid out, except, perhaps, for the volume and repeat controls. The volume dial is an awkward little thing that is placed inconveniently on top of the unit. Fortunately, this is mostly rectified by the 760's automatic volume system, which turns up the sound when your vehicle cruises above 45 mph. Meanwhile, the repeat button, which resides next to the volume dial and repeats the last voice command when pressed, is quite small and easy to miss, especially when you're driving. It would be nice if such an important control were more prominent. It also comes with a reasonably easy-to-use points of interest manager PC application. The software lets you add POI's to the unit's existing database and then upload them to the 760 via USB.

Ride the Highways with Mio Knight Rider GPS

Ride the highways and byways guided by the voice of K.I.T.T.--the most iconic TV car of all time with Mio's Knight Rider portable GPS navigation unit. You'll enjoy an authentic Knight Rider experience wherever you roam with red LED light accents and voice guidance and turn-by-turn directions provided by the original voice of K.I.T.Tto help you get out of any jams (traffic or otherwise). Boasting fast and accurate GPS reception, top-notch mapping, and a comprehensive POI (Points of Interest) database in addition to a 4.3-inch widescreen LCD and memory card expansion, all that's missing is Michael Knight and his patent leather jacket.
The device's integrated randomized greetings and custom names will welcome you to your navigation experience. You can be Michael if you're a purist, or choose from one of the list of 300 names. The Knight Rider GPS features an active LED voice synthesizer display that in sync with the voice, just as it did on K.I.T.T.'s dash, which provide a clear representation of all audio commands as they occur. The unit can even be programmed to advise you of speed limit infractions just in case you're applying too much turbo boost. The highly sensitive SiRFInstantFixIII GPS receiver provides a rapid time-to-first-fix positioning, is WAAS enabled, and can acquire a signal even in urban canyons and under dense foliage. With pre-loaded maps of the U.S. and Canada, the Knight Rider GPS is ready to operate in minutes with no computer set-up required. Containing over 4-million POIs such as restaurants, hotels, gas stations and more, you are never more than a few keystrokes away from your destination. Simply select the category of your desired location, make your choice from the provided list, and you are ready to find just about anything you are looking for, giving you a local expert as a traveling companion.

Blaupunkt Partners with U-box to supply GPS and GALILEO Positioning Systems

Blaupunkt, a leading supplier of automotive systems, has signed a quot;frame" agreement with u-blox to supply GPS and Galileo receiver technology for navigation, driver-assistance, and related in-vehicle systems. The agreement with Blaupunkt, announced November 11, covers a variety of receiver chip and module products and includes a comprehensive quality assurance contract. According to the companies, the relationship will also support the development of new products for in respond to demand for mobile GNSS-related services. "[The agreement] marks a milestone in our history," said Karsten Tietz, u-blox's vice-president of sales for Europe, Middle East, and Africa. "Blaupunkt is not only a valuable customer but also an important trigger for future product developments and innovations within the automotive area."

Garmin Showcases its Nuvi 850

Garmin just announced the Garmin nuvi 850 to add to its 800 series and it its among the few nuvis to feature speech recognition. The super-bright, 4.3-inch (diagonal) touchscreen display gives is anti-glare for ease of viewing during the day and automatically changes its color profile for easy viewing at night or in dim light. It offers 2d or 3D perspective views. The widescreen format gives you 70% more actual screen area than a 3.5-inch screen. Primarily this translates into a better view of the area through which you are driving. This is especially useful in showing you what parks, restaurants, ATM, gas stations, etc. are nearby, or in letting you know whether a detour is a good idea. Also, the device itself is larger, meaning controls on the screen are more widely spaced and somewhat easier to push. In keeping with Garmin's heritage of elegant user interface design, the nuvi 800 series' speech recognition technology sets the new industry standard for simple and intuitive use. Users mount a push-to-talk wireless remote to their steering wheel, which is used to activate voice commands -- no additional setup or "training" is required. Once activated, the user can effortlessly manipulate controls by speaking the words that correspond to buttons that are on the touchscreen display, so that almost any common task can be performed without ever touching the unit. With an optional receiver, you can access enhanced dynamic content from the MSN Direct service. Check the weather, avoid traffic backups, compare local gas prices, get enhanced movie listings, stock information, news and local events when you travel with your unit. Even plan trips from the convenience of your computer, via Windows Live Local, and wirelessly send custom to your nüvi. It also has the multi-destination routing that lets you enter several spots into the device (day care - supermarket-cleaners - office - day care, for example) and it will plot the fastest route. And once you've found the best router, the "Route Planning" feature lets you save up to 10 different routes, Garmin touts the feature for providing, "the most efficient route for errands, deliveries and sales calls." The feature also makes this an instant essential accessory for anyone who shops garage sales. The nüvi comes ready to go right out of the box with preloaded City Navigator NT street maps, including a hefty POI database with hotels, restaurants, fuel, 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. Garmin gets its map data from NAVTEQ, a world leader in premium-quality mapping. In addition, nüvi accepts custom points of interest (POIs), such as school zones and safety cameras and lets you set proximity alerts to
warn you of upcoming POIs. Garmin says that this fairly potent device will be up for grabs in Q2 for upwards of $800.

Integrate Garmin GVN 53 with your Vehicle Audio/Video Entertainment Systems

International is pleased to announce the GVN 53, a "black-box" GPS navigation system. This high sensitivity GPS solution is designed to be integrated with vehicle audio/video entertainment system. With dimensions of 1.06" H x 4.75" W x 4.63" L. and weighing 6 oz, this device is small enough to fit under your car seat for easy installation. It has composite video output for compatible displays and comes with a built-in 12 channel WAAS receiver for increased signal, preloaded mapping, and turn-by-turn guidance.
The GVN 53 is preloaded with City Navigator North America NT and can connect with the GXM 30, GTM 10 or GTM 12 for Real-Time Traffic and/or XM NavTraffic capabilities. The 53 also comes packed with tons of Point's of Interest (POI's) such as – restaurants, hotels, gas stations, retail shops, ATM's and much more. An SD slot was built into the side that allows you to add your own POI's from industry standard CSV files. The 53 gives you the ability to get verbal/visual guidance and has the Text-to-Speech feature that will direct you using the actual street names in 2D and 3D viewing. The GVN 53 comes with a RF wireless alphanumeric remote control that is used for operation. If the 53 is connected to a touch screen display, the remote may still be required in order to operate. Garmin has a serial interface in the GVN-53 that will work with some touch screen displays. What you will find inside the package are Package includes: GVN 53 preloaded with City Navigator North America NT maps, GPS antenna, wire
harness, GPS antenna, speaker talk box, RF remote control, installation hardware, installation guide and owner's manual.

Garmin Announces VIB 11 (Vehicle Integration Box)

Garmin is happy to announce the VIB 11 a Vehicle Integration Box that offers great navigation experience with its functional rich features. It comes with a dimension of 4.5"W x 1.25"H x 3.75"D and weight of 6.4 ounces. It has an imtegrated FM TMC traffic receiver broadcast over the FM Radio Data System. This ensures that you get first hand information about traffic. However to be able to enjoy this feature, the power cable must must be plugged into the GPS navigator to receive traffic date. With VIB 11, you can listen to your own CDs, favorite radio stations or other music through your car's stereo, while receiving c550 navigation voice prompts and hands-free calls through the audio system. Your music is automatically muted as these prompts or calls come through, so you'll never miss a turn or conversation. You can also play MP3s from your c550 with stereo quality. Music is muted when voice prompts, traffic alerts and calls come through. Hands-free calling requires a compatible Bluetooth phone. The VIB 11 connects directly to the car audio system and is mounted out of sight. The VIB 11 can be obtained for a retail price of $199.95 only.

BMW Motorrad Navigator III- Garmin Exclusive GPS for Motorcycle

Building upon the success of its revolutionary Navigator, Navigator II and Navigator Plus GPS systems, BMW Motorrad has raised the benchmark in motorcycle navigation equipment yet again with the introduction of the Navigator III. Numerous new and unique features make it technologically superior to its predecessors and light years ahead of recently launched competitors' products in the GPS market. This GPS features Bluetooth connectivity that will allow simultaneous connections to both a helmet with integrated Bluetooth audio as well as a cellular phone to offer hands-free communication. The reception power of the Navigator III's satellite receiver has increased and now provides optimal position location even under difficult reception conditions, such as in a sea of high-rise buildings or in forest areas, where a direct 'view' to the satellite is impaired. There are new software functions and a new user interface, completely revised and distinctly easier to operate. The new 3D map display also contributes to a safe navigation as the road to travel is displayed from the rider's perspective. Also includes Traffic updates to warn you of any problems in the traffic flow and many more capabilities. The pre-installed map data corresponds to the latest MapSource City Navigator North America version 8.0. As well as being preinstalled, the complete MapSource software is included with the unit to allow convenient route preparation on a PC. Voice prompts are available in all major European languages from the BMW Motorrad Navigator III. A major improvement is the Text-to-Speech(TTS) voices of the BMW Motorrad Navigator III that announce street and road names when giving voice directions. TTS offers a great advantage in usability when navigating and significantly reduces the need to look at the display! The BMW Motorrad Navigator III supports audio connections that enable use with high fidelity BMW VOICE and COM communication managers.

Nokia Offers Free Real Time Traffic Information to Users with GPS-enabled Mobile Devices

Drivers with GPS-enabled mobile phones can soon tap into new technology that promises to transform traffic monitoring. This was announced by researchers from the University of California, Berkeley, and it is a joint effort with Nokia Research Center. All is now set to publicly release the pilot software that turns cellular devices into mobile traffic probes providing real-time information on traffic flow and travel times.
As part of this Mobile Millennium project, anyone can download the free software at traffic.berkeley.edu. It will work on most GPS-enabled cell phones operating on GSM networks - such as AT&T and T-mobile - that are capable of installing and running Java applications. The Web site will be continually updated with a list of specific Nokia and non-Nokia phone models compatible with the software. Because of the large amount of data transmitted by the system, researchers recommend that participants have an unlimited data plan.
As vehicles pass through the system's virtual trip lines - geographic markers defined by GPS coordinates - the phones will send anonymous speed and location readings to servers. The data will be integrated into traffic models that produce an estimate of traffic flow, then relayed back to the mobile phones and posted online at traffic.berkeley.edu.
Speaking on the ocassion, Henry Tirri, vice president and head of Nokia Research Center, said "Traffic is very common problem anywhere in the world and it affects issues such as energy consumption and carbon footprint. We want to show what you can do with pervasive sensing of the environment through millions of phones that people carry every day." 
The first phase of the Mobile Millennium system launch will include traffic data for highways, which includes major commuter corridors within and between the San Francisco Bay Area and Sacramento. As more users come online, the researchers expect to have sufficient data to produce information on some arterial routes in the Bay Area and Sacramento.
During the first month of the pilot, software downloads will be limited to manage capacity. Additional information about supported GPS-enabled mobile phones will be posted. By April 2009, the researchers expect to reach the estimated pilot system capacity of 10,000 users.

Fujitsu Introduces Mini-Tablet PC with Built-in Personal Navigation

With a global positioning system that provides turn-by-turn and voice-prompted street directions, the LifeBook U820 from Fujisu proves itself to be an upgraded version of that nifty little PC in an ultra-pint-sized package.
It comes with a 5.6-inch LCD with a tablet screen, plus a pointing stick located above the keyboard with mouse buttons on the opposite size -- for browsing with two thumbs and it measures 6 by 6.7 by 1 inch. With a resolution of 1,280-by-800, you can view photos, videos, and movies, text is practically although not quite big enough.
The U820 is a convertible tablet, functioning as both a clamshell laptop and a tablet PC. As a tablet, the screen rotates 180 degrees and is laid flat against the keyboard. The screen is also equipped with a touch panel, so you can navigate it with your fingers or use the included stylus that slides out from the top of the screen. The stylus is too small to do any serious writing; it's best used for tapping to navigate the screen.
Fujitsu has increased the resolution of the 5.6-inch LED widescreen to from 1,200-by-600. Although this improves the way you view photos, videos, and movies, text is practically unreadable. A zoom utility is included, but it isn't very intuitive to use, and lowering the resolution in the display settings doesn't seem to help. Even with perfect vision, your eyes will become strained very quickly.
The U820 includes a built-in Garmin receiver and is preloaded with maps of the U.S. and Canada. It works well, and if you find you need a better signal, you can plug an external antenna into the standard microphone jack.
It is powered by the Intel(R) Centrino(R) Atom(TM) Z-series processor which supports lower power consumption, fewer chips, VT Technology and integrated support for 1080p HD video decode.
Priced starting at $1,049(1) for a base configuration. Users can choose from a recommended configuration, or they can customize their LifeBook U820 mini notebook using the Fujitsu Configure To Order (CTO) program. Available immediately through the Fujitsu website and select retailers/e-tailers(2).

NCC Launches Goodyear-branded Commercial Vehicle GPS Navigation System

The NCC has announced their new line of officially-licensed Goodyear-branded GPS navigation units at the upcoming SEMA automotive trade show in Las Vegas. There are four different models wichi are diiferentiated by their cost and these are GY130 & GY135 which are at the low end and are quite affordable, and the mid-range GY140 & GY145, will utilize such industry-leading features as NAVTEQ maps, turn-by-turn navigation, text to speech (GY135 and GY145 only), and an exclusive "LookAhead Button" feature to make entering an address faster than on competing units. 
According to Barry Rosenstock, VP of Operations for The NCC
"One of our most exciting new features is the LookAhead Button, which makes address entry a breeze. As I type, the system knows to show me the most likely options based on city or street popularity and size. Bottom line - I can enter a street or city in two or three screen taps instead of ten." 
He also said that "Today's GPS systems realize when you miss a turn, but then make you wait while a progress bar shows 'rerouting' or 'recalculating. In the meantime, you could miss your next turn and not even know it. Our system doesn't DO recalculations. When you miss a turn, it's already prepared with an alternate route, without missing a beat -- or an exit." 
There is also a feature called INSTANT Rerouting, which utilizes a constant, proactive analysis of all possible routes within a one mile radius to instantly calculate new directions when a user changes their route. This feature, which will be exclusive to Goodyear GPS products, prevents the system from having to "recalculate" when a turn is missed. 
Although no deatils about the pricing is availablr, from all indications the device will be competitively priced and will be made available in anticipation of the holiday shopping season. 
 

Azentek SmartMirror SM-450 Released at 2008 SEMA

Since the GPS navigation devices market is a highly competitive one, the only chance for a startup company to actually hit it big is to come up with a design and features few others offer. And that's exactly what the people over at Azentek seem to have achieved, since their SmartMirror is capable of doing no less than three things at a time: display the road ahead (GPS routing), the road behind (rear-view mirror) and even take calls, via the built-in Bluetooth module.
The SM-450 is accompanied by 64MB of internal memory, which are used for running the Windows CE .NET 4.2 embedded OS and the Navigon Mobile Navigator 6.5 navigation software. Storage is provided by a 2GB SD card, while the maps are displayed on the built-in 4-inch touchscreen TFT LCD.
The device also sports a 16-channel GPS receiver and offers a host of very useful navigation options, such as Lane Assistant and Reality View for extra guidance, spoken street names via text-to-speech, intuitive menus and 2D and 3D maps as well as easy-to-read map views that adapt to the driver's needs. Plus, it doubles as a Bluetooth speakerphone (via the built-in Bluetooth module), displays the incoming calls on the screen and supports Manual/Auto call answering.
It has a MSRP of around 800 US dollars, which is way above the average price range for the PNDs offering the same specs and functions.

Microsoft Streets & Trips 2009 now Available

Microsoft Streets & Trips 2009 with GPS Locator is a comprehensive trip planning software which makes route planning a snap across the U.S. and Canada. Getting you where you want to go quickly, easily, and without the guesswork. 
Make trip planning easy with Microsoft Streets & Trips . Get accurate driving directions to just about anywhere in the United States and Canada. Streets & Trips with GPS Locator combines Streets & Trips with a sleek Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver that plugs into the USB port on your laptop PC.
Combined with a GPS locator, Streets & Trips can tell you exactly where you are and where you're headed while you drive. Provides spoken street names, directions and automatic re-routing if you make a wrong turn. Includes a sleek GPS receiver and USB cable.
You can use Streets & Trips to track your position and progress on the road. With the GPS receiver connected to your laptop, Streets & Trips can display your speed, location, direction, altitude and position.
With the GPS receiver, Street & Trips can provide spoken directions and street names as you drive. It can also put you back on track if you make a wrong turn!

Telenav Storms GPS Market with its PND

TeleNav Inc., noted for its GPS navigation service for mobile phones in the United States , has jumped into the connected portable navigation device (PND) market with the TeleNav Shotgun. 
TeleNav's entry comes along at an interesting time. While some market researchers claim that a real-time data connection is the most desired feature among PND users – TeleNav cites one such study from JD Power – others suggest the market hasn't developed enough, and that many consumers don't want to pay additional monthly fees for the services a connected PND offers; this would seem to be born out by PND makers that have begun to offer free real-time traffic data service. Market researchers in this latter camp further suggest users who desire a connected PND would be more likely to use their existing cell phone to connect their PND via Bluetooth on an as-needed basis, given the opportunity.
As for the ShotGun hardware, it has what have become the de-facto standard for current model PNDs, with a 4.3-inch screen with a 16:9 aspect ratio and 480 x 272 pixel resolutions. The device has a slim form factor measuring 4.9 x 3.1 x 0.75 inches, or 12.5 x 8 1.9 centimeters. It weighs in at 0.27 pounds, or 124 grams.
Through TeleNav Connected Service, TeleNav Shotgun monitors traffic conditions along drivers' routes and searches for congestion or incidents, according to the company. Users will be alerted to traffic delays, both audibly and on-screen, and can choose an alternative route to their location. Users can also access specific incident information and determine the traffic speed/flow of major highways along their route, TeleNav says. Shotgun also displays an updated estimated time of arrival based on traffic, speeds and distance.
TeleNav Connected Service also keeps maps (provided by Tele Atlas) and local search data up-to-date, according to the company. The Shotgun comes with 11 million points of interest (POIs); categories include restaurants, hotels, airports, Wi-Fi hot spots, and regular gas price updates. A customer can also type in the name of a specific business, TeleNav says; business listings include phone numbers.
Users can also preplan trips, save addresses and manage accounts online, saving locations to a favorite's folder, which is automatically downloaded to their device next time it is turned on. TeleNav also has a browser plug-in for Internet Explorer, Firefox, and Google toolbars so users can send addresses to their TeleNav Shotgun from any web page, according to the company.

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. 

Analyst Predicts Downfall in GPS Sales

Owning to the current economic crisis that is rocking the global system, analysts have predicted short demands in some of the electronics that are regarded as not too essential including the GPS.
According to a statement made available by Stephen Baker, an analyst for research firm NPD, popular item as recently as last year, GPS may fall by the wayside, since they can be pricey and not viewed as essential.
He said that "GPS may have some demand issues. If you are looking at necessity versus discretionary, that is a category that is not very well-penetrated, which is in its favor. But the negative part is people saying: 'Do I really need this'? 
This would definitely slow down the pace of GPS sales and some manufacturers are already planning on how best to deal with the situation. A recent national survey says the dubious distinction of least desirable holiday gift belongs to Bluetooth Headsets, those thumb-sized devices beloved by some for their convenience and ridiculed by others as odd looking.
Baker also revealed that the online survey conducted last month on behalf of auction site eBay Inc also found that only 5 percent of those who wanted personal electronics desired a Blu-ray disc player. Even so-called "retro video game" systems and one game in particular—"Dance Dance Revolution Hottest Party II"—got the thumbs-down. 
Digital picture frames, the sleek devices that can scroll dozens of pictures and even update remotely via an Internet link, may feel the pinch if shoppers' budgets force them to decide on one electronic product or another, he concluded.

Drivers can now Navigate the Fastest way out of Traffic Using their Cell Phones

 Researchers have rolled out new software that can be downloaded for free onto cell phones and used to get quicker and more accurate traffic information to plan driving routes. This software turns cell phones into mobile traffic investigations.
This was the effort of UC Berkeley and Nokia phone company researchers who have devoted so much time to ensuring that the project became a success. Researchers said the system -- the first of its kind -- has promise to make traffic monitoring more effective worldwide, saving time, fuel and exasperation.
"This can give better information to drivers to improve their travel planning," Alexandre Bayen, a UC Berkeley assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering and co-leader of the project, said at a Monday morning media briefing on campus. "As we have entered the era of the mobile Internet, cellular devices are providing us with ubiquitous sensing capabilities that will rapidly revolutionize location-based services."
As a motorist drives along, his mobile phone will automatically transmit information about his driving speed, direction and location. Centralized computers will collect and organize the data from him and other drivers, then send back traffic updates to cell phones to show motorists where to avoid gridlock and where to find flowing lanes.
The accuracy of the traffic information will improve as more people sign up over time, project managers said. They have a goal of getting 10,000 cell phones enrolled by April, but expect to hit that milestone earlier in the tech-savvy Bay Area.

Keep Track of Your Valuables Using the Zoomback Universal

Zoomback today announced that its versatile tracking product, the Universal A-GPS Locator is now available in the market and it comes with great features that enable users to track their belongings effectively.
With this product, users can monitor, track and/or locate virtually anything of value from cars, motorcycles and other vehicles to luggage, backpacks, sports equipment, and even pets. Through Zoombak's interactive Web site, users can set up custom safety zones around virtually any location including homes, parks, malls and schools.
 When the Universal A-GPS Locator crosses one of the virtual boundaries, a text message or email alert promptly notifies users where the device is currently located. Consumers can also pinpoint their Zoombak's location at any time on-demand from either their mobile phone or zoombak.com.
On store shelves in time for the 2008 holiday shopping season, the Zoombak Universal A-GPS Locator is affordably priced at $199 plus a low-cost monthly service plan.

HumanWare Partners with Leader Dogs for the Blind to launch GPS for Visualy Impaired People

By partnering with HumanWare for its GPS, Leader Dogs for the Blind becomes the first dog guide school in the United States to permanently integrate a talking GPS navigational tool into dog guide classes for people who are blind and visually impaired. 
According to the CEO of Leader Dogs for the Blind, the inclusion of a talking navigational device in training is revolutionizing the art of dog guide training. He said "One of the overriding themes we hear from our students is the anxiety and apprehension of travel in a new environment. For many, the first time using a dog guide combined with travel in a new city creates a situation that makes learning difficult and stressful. We believe we can really enhance the way we provide services by placing a GPS device in every student's hand while in our training program."
The company has mapped out plans on how to go about the training, each student will be trained in the use of the device during their 24-day stay at Leader Dogs for the Blind. The Trekker Breeze is an audible device that will give step-by step directions for a programmed route and notify the user of upcoming streets and landmarks, among other functions. 
After the students complete the 24-day training at Leader Dogs for the Blind, 14 of the American students will return home with the Trekker Breeze. These students have been selected to participate in an ongoing study to determine the long-term usability and assess the functionality of the GPS device in their home environment.
Passing his own comment, Gilles Pepin, CEO of HumanWare said that they are pleased to partner with Leader Dogs for the Blind in this initiative that will bring GPS technology benefits to an even wider portion of the visually impaired population. Combining the renowned expertise of Leader Dogs for the Blind and the Trekker Breeze will significantly enhance the traveling experience of the students. This program is a new chapter of this success story.
Leader Dogs for the Blind is known throughout the world for its forward thinking and innovation in the dog guide field. In fact, Leader Dogs for the Blind is the only dog guide school in North America to hold a dedicated program to train dog guides for people who are deaf and blind. Leader Dogs for the Blind is also the only dog guide school to offer an entire continuum of learning for people who are blind and visually impaired, including: classes on learning to travel safely with a white cane, classes on how to use a GPS talking navigational tool, and classes on using a computer with a screen reader. 

Pharos GPS Phone 600e Integrates GPS

In a single, powerful handset, Pharos 600e has packed multiple wireless options designed to ensure that users are always in touch via digital voice and data communications. The GPS Phone features quad-band Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) cellular mode, Global Packet Radio Service (GPRS), EDGE, WiFi and Bluetooth – all in a lightweight, slim smartphone running the Microsoft Windows Mobile 5.0 Pocket PC platform.

Built to be an essential tool on the job or off, the GPS Phone features a two mega-pixel camera with flash that records and plays back pictures and video. The multi-purpose device also includes an FM radio and Windows Media Player 10 Mobile. Its large, 2.8-inch, touch-screen, color display makes it easy to appreciate high-resolution video, watch TV, and access music files.

Just like on their dedicated units, GPS reception is handled by a SiRF star III receiver. This lets you track your location anywhere, even in the middle of a big city. On the off chance you don't have a cellular signal you can surf the web at a local hotspot with the 802.11b/g WiFi capability. Get there safe and keep in touch when you get there with Pharos.

As mentioned earlier, the 600e combines Pharos' exceptional GPS technology with a quad-band GSM smartphone. It runs on the Microsoft Windows Mobile platform. This comes with pocket versions of Word, Excel, Outlook, Media Player and IE. Now you can check your email from anywhere and work on documents as they come in.

GlobalSat Launches a New GPS-Watch

GlobalSat has launched a new wrist watch sport GPS which is suitable for outdoor athletic activities such as running, hiking, cycling, parachuting, skiing, snowboarding and all the other related sporting activities.

Branded the GH-615, this watch has the looks and the size of an ordinary watch, just a bit bigger. It is equipped with the SiRF Star III high performance GPS chipset (supports WAAS and EGNOS), and offers tracking, positioning, and time alert functions.

It has a built-in patch antenna and a black and white LCD screen. The size of the screen is 24.9 x 39.88mm with a resolution of 80 x 120 pixels. A very big improvement on the GH-601, the most noticeable change the new model has is the quality of the LCD display. The data recorded can be downloaded to a PC and can be shared and displayed using Google Earth.

Obviously since this gadget is aimed for outdoors use it just makes sense to be waterproof (Waterproof standard: IPX7). Users will be able to track their routes using tracking points (60000 tracking points maximum). The watch can be connected via USB to double as a GPS receiver for laptops and other mapping applications, and it's pre-programmed to record the user's route by marking and saving tracking points as you go.

No information is available yet about pricing and availability.

Enjoy Precise Navigation with Maestro 3140

The Magellan Maestro 3140 is the only portable auto GPS system with a compact, 3.5-inch touch screen, and built-in AAA TourBook travel information and member roadside assistance details. Compact, powerful, and re-engineered for easy use, this device combines advanced features and a simple design to make driving more pleasurable and less stressful.

The most intuitive graphical 3.5" touch-screen interface available makes navigation easy. Enter virtually any destination and get turn-by-turn voice guidance to anywhere in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico. 4.5 million Pre-programmed points of interest help you find your destination even when you don't know the address. Smart-touchicons and Magellan's unique QuickSpell function enable error-free spelling, minimizing steps, so you get a customized route to your destination with just a few touches of the screen.

With built-in AAA travel information, the Maestro 3140 gives you instant access to the most trusted source for trip planning, searchable AAA TourBook listings, Show Your Card & Save locations for member discounts, approved auto repair facilities, attractions, events, and more.

The Maestro 3140's Bluetooth wireless technology lets you make hands-free phone calls with your Bluetooth-enabled phone. You can also store or sync numbers and contact information through the Maestro 3140's touch screen.

Lowrance iWAY 600c GPS

The Lowrance iWay 600c features a 5″ touch screen display, 30 GB hard drive (5 GB remaining), MP3 player, and an FM transmitter to deliver sound to a stereo. What is new about the device is that it offers both street maps and marine charts in one device, and it will allow you to view high resolution satellite imagery while navigating.

The iWay 600c comes with a 12 channel (parallel) receiver which is WAAS enabled. There are preloaded street maps from NAVTEQ as well as 5.5 million POIs. On the marine side the 600c comes with MapCreate shoreline detail as well as over 3,000 US lake maps. The lake maps come with depth contours tidal data and marine navaids.

One really interesting note is that the specifications claim compatibility with not just Windows, but also Mac OS X. The Lowrance iWay 600c is also watertight to prevent corrosion during marine use.

What is also interesting to note is that Lowrance has partnered with DigitalGlobe to provide satellite imagery on the 600c. For those of you who might be wondering where you have seen the name DigitalGlobe before, you can often find their name in the copyright information at the bottom of Google Earth and Google Maps satellite views.

Lowrance reports that they are the first auto GPS to provide these high resolution images on a GPS device. They also indicate that they have an exclusive deal for the imagery on a PND.

Garmin nüvi 360 Sets to Revolutionize Navigation

Garmin is set to revolutionize the navigation system with its features packed nuvi 360. It is simple in design and offers a pretty small footprint while still offering a good 3.5-inch screen.

Nuvi 360 comes ready to go right out of the box with preloaded City Navigator® NT street maps, including hefty points of interest database with hotels, restaurants, fuel, ATMs and more. Simply touch the color sunlight-readable screen to enter a destination, and nuvi takes you there with 2-D or 3-D 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, nuvi 360 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 safety cameras for parts of Europe.

Avoid traffic jams with the addition of an optional FM TMC traffic receiver and traffic services. By adding these to your nuvi, you are notified of accidents or road construction ahead on your route. Simply touch the screen to view traffic details or recalculate your route to avoid traffic. Select nuvi 360 models also include an integrated traffic receiver and services.

It has a Bluetooth wireless technology with a built-in microphone and speaker, so you can pair it with your compatible Bluetooth phone. Then talk hands-free through the 360 while staying focused on the road. Simply dial numbers with nuvi's touch screen keypad to make a call. To answer calls, just tap nuvi's screen and speak directly into its built-in microphone. You can also easily look up and dial numbers from your personalized phone book or from your phone's call history log.

Garmin Nüvi 350 Comes with Outstanding Features

Garmin International breaks new ground with its Garmin Nüvi 350. This ultraportable device aims to be the ultimate travel companion, acting as a GPS navigator, a personal traveling assistant, and a digital entertainment center.

No bigger than a deck of cards (3.8 by 2.0 by 0.8 inches; 5.1 ounces), the Garmin Nüvi 350 is small and light enough to fit comfortably in your pocket. The unit's centerpiece is a bright 3.5-inch color touch screen, framed by a thin silver bezel. The 320x240-resolution screen is daylight readable and has five backlight-timer settings.

This device is based on the SiRFstarIII GPS chip, which boasts fast satellite-acquisition times and improved GPS-signal reception in areas where the view of the sky may be partially blocked by dense foliage or tall buildings. In addition to voice-guided, turn-by-turn driving directions, the Nüvi offers all the usual features we've come to expect from today's crop of in-car navigation systems, including automatic routing, the ability to save your favorite locations, a detour function that recalculates your route when you veer off course, and 2D and 3D map views. It also has text-to-speech directions through which the actual street name is spoken, and you can hook up an optional FM traffic receiver to obtain real-time traffic alerts.

The Garmin StreetPilot comes with an expensive price tag of $964.27.

Garmin Launches StreetPilot 7200

Garmin StreetPilot 7200 is the latest navigation system to be specifically made for in large vehicles such as buses, RVs, and semis. Unlike previous models in the series, the Garmin StreetPilot 7200 is fairly hefty, measuring 7.5 by 4.5 by 2.2 inches and weighing 1.4 pounds.

The unit's centerpiece, a massive 7-inch WQVGA touch-screen display, has a resolution of 480x234 pixels, a wide-screen (16:9) aspect ratio, and an autodimming backlight. The daylight-readable screen is bright and easy to read even in the most glaring sunlight, and map colors are rich and vibrant.

It is designed to work with XM Radio's XM NavTraffic in order to display traffic and weather information on the maps and uses internal memory to store the preloaded City Navigator North America NT mapping program, which includes routable street-level maps and more than 6 million points of interest (POI) for the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico. Standard navigation features include voice- and text-guided turn-by-turn driving directions, automatic route calculations, quick rerouting when you wander off course, 2D and 3D map views, and text-to-speech technology, which enables the unit to speak actual street names when giving directions.

The Garmin StreetPilot 7200 box contains MapSource City Navigator NT North America maps, integrated FM wireless transmitter, alphanumeric remote control, 12-volt adapter cable, USB interface cable, A/C power adapter, quick-release dash mount, quick reference guide, and owners' manual.

Garmin Quest 2, a Powerful GPS Companion

The Garmin Quest 2 is a perfect travel companion, whether you're behind the wheel or hoofing it. At 4.5 by 2.2 by 0.9 inches and 5.5 ounces, the Garmin Quest 2 is roughly the size of a PDA. The device has a solid construction and is comfortable in the hand, but since you can view maps only in landscape mode, you must hold the unit horizontally when traveling on foot.

The Quest 2's face has a 2.2-by-1.5-inch screen that displays 256 colors at a 240-by-160-pixel resolution. It's not the sharpest or brightest screen we've seen, and it's certainly not the largest. Fortunately, the system supports voice-guided directions (via the included 12-volt power/speaker adapter on the windshield mount), so you don't have to rely solely on text directions while driving.

 Also on the upside, the screen is readable in direct sunlight. Because the Quest 2 doesn't have a touch screen, all functions are handled through the nine rubberized controls to the right of display: power on/off, find, zoom in, zoom out, menu, speak, OK, page, and a four-way navigation toggle. (A keyboard appears onscreen whenever a text entry is required.) Though the buttons are tactile, the menus and interface aren't all that intuitive and require a number of extra steps just to accomplish one task.

Quest 2 comes ready to go right out of the box with preloaded, highly detailed City Navigator NT maps and nearly 6 million points of interest (POIs), including hotels, restaurants, ATMs and more. Plus, there's 35 MB of extra map storage for downloading data from a variety of Map Source software, allowing you to customize it for your off-road and marine excursions. At $750it's a bit pricey.

Features Packed Garmin Nuvi 660

The Garmin Nuvi 660 is an excellent navigation device that is packed full of extremely useful extra features. With nüvi 660'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.

Like the rest of the nüvi series, nüvi 660 sports a sleek, slim design and slips comfortably in your pocket or purse with a dimension of 4.9x2.9by0.9 inches and 6.2 ounces weight. And because of the touchscreen there is no need for extra space for buttons so the widescreen covers almost the entire front of the device.

The touchscreen on the Nuvi 660 makes inputting a destination while driving very easy. The voice directions with the large colour-coded, detailed map make navigating while driving very easy as well. Directions are given visually on the map with arrows, written at the bottom of the screen using distance, direction, and street name, and audibly with a voice reading it out. The voice can be played through your car audio with the FM transmitter so it is louder. The map can be displayed in either a 2D or 3D mode. The Nuvi 660 can also estimate the time it will take to get to your destination and it is quite accurate.

The MP3 player included with the Nuvi 660 is very high quality with the FM transmitter broadcasting it for your radio to pick up and play through your car audio. The screen contains volume, skip forward, and skip backwards, play/pause, repeat, shuffle, browse, and audible book buttons. The browse button lists all your songs to look through and the audible book button takes you to any audible books you have put onto the unit.

nüvi 660 GPS navigation system, preloaded City Navigator North, America NT data, vehicle suction cup mount, A/C charger, carrying case, FM traffic receiver/12-volt adapter with 3-month free trial subscription, dashboard disk, USB interface cable, sample language guide content (preloaded), sample travel guide, sample MP3s (preloaded), sample audio books (preloaded), owner's manual, and a quick reference guide.

The Garmin Nuvi 660 is a little bit on the high end with a price of $1,076.91.

The StreetPilot c580 GPS Navigator with Dynamic Contents

There are a lot of new players in the world of the portable navigation systems but one company that has been a constant in the industry is Garmin. The new entry in the company's list is the Garmin StreetPilot c580, a high-end GPS device that offers accurate directions, Bluetooth integration, text-to-speech functionality, and multimedia capabilities.

Measuring 4.4 inches wide by 3.2 inches high by 2.2 inches deep and weighing 9.0 ounces, it's easily transportable for multiple vehicle use and comes with an easy-to-install windshield mount. It has a 3.5-inch-diagonal responsive touch screen with an excellent antiglare display that has a sharp 320x240-pixel resolution and bright colors, and it's even readable in bright sunlight.

There's a volume dial, a USB port, and a power button on the right. On the left side, you'll find an SD expansion slot and an external antenna port, while the power connector and the mic-in and audio-out ports are located on the back. The Garmin StreetPilot c580 It's powered by a WAAS-enabled 12-channel receiver, and all maps of North America with 2D and 3D map perspectives are preloaded onto the device. You get text- and voice-guided turn-by-turn directions, as well as text-to-speech functionality, automatic recalculation, and a comprehensive points-of-interest (POI) database.

The service is easy to access, as the MSN Direct receiver is integrated right into the car charger and you get a complimentary year-long subscription to the service. Also, the service isn't available in all areas, so make sure your city is covered before taking the plunge. The Garmin StreetPilot c580 will be available this month for $799.99.

Garmin StreetPilot c550 Comes with Great Improvement

The Garmin StreetPilot c550 GPS Vehicle Navigator represents the ultimate in GPS performance and simplicity. This portable navigator comes ready to go right out of the box with preloaded maps and a wealth of options.

With dimensions of 4.4 x 3.2 x 2.2-inches (WxHxD), and at about nine ounces in weight, the StreetPilot c550 features a streamlined design that will fit easily on any dashboard with the included vehicle suction mount. The screen is an automotive-grade, sunlight-readable, 2.8 x 2.1-inches (WxH) anti-glare TFT LCD touch-screen display that offers easy readability.

The c550 integrates Bluetooth wireless technology with a built-in microphone and speaker, so you can pair it with your compatible Bluetooth phone and talk hands-free through the c550 while staying focused on the road. Now there's no more fumbling with your phone's handset to answer a call or dial a number — just tap the c550's screen and you're connected. With 1-touch dialing for POIs, you can conveniently call ahead for reservations or information.

Another feature unique to the c550 is its integrated traffic capabilities. The c550 includes the GTM 20, an integrated FM TMC traffic receiver with a free three-month trial subscription (for U.S. customers only). The GTM 20 notifies you of traffic conditions, construction and weather delays, and automatically suggests alternative routes. The navigator also comes with preloaded maps of North America and includes automatic routing, 2D or 3D map perspective, and turn-by-turn voice directions that speak street names -- making navigation as easy as it gets. An included MP3 player lets you enjoy music from your digital collection while you drive, and an included SD memory card expansion slot means that you can load optional software, such as language and travel guides -- making travel even easier and more entertaining than ever.

At $857.13, the c550is a little above average price but considering the features and the respective functions it is worthwhile.

Tele Atlas Launches MultiNav Digital Map Database

Tele Atlas has announced Tele Atlas MultiNav(TM), the company's newest digital map platform that is designed to allow navigation application developers even greater speed and flexibility for building next generation mapping applications.

Released in October, MultiNet version 2008.10 incorporates community input provided by TomTom users in Europe and North America that strengthened Tele Atlas' map change detection and validation process. MultiNet version 2008.10 also features an initial delivery of major specification upgrades including improved navigation, visualization and search capabilities.

Developed with Tele Atlas' comprehensive and advanced data collection processes, MultiNav is available immediately to offer partners broad, comprehensive worldwide coverage. Developers can leverage the MultiNav platform in concert with Tele Atlas's suite of digital map content and enhancements products, including millions of points of interest (POIs), Tele Atlas(R) Digital Elevation Models, Tele Atlas(R) 3D Landmarks and Tele Atlas(R) Voice Maps. Tele Atlas plans to incorporate additional innovative functionality and content into the new MultiNav platform, including map data enriched with qualified community content.

Additionally, MultiNet 2008.10 offers extended availability of the locality index, which provides advanced address search capabilities through expanded multi-language support of place names. For example, an English-speaking tourist in Portugal can search for the city name "Lisbon" instead of using the Portuguese name "Lisboa." New advanced navigation features available via licensing for coverage in Canada and the United States include geometry accurate to 1-5 meters that supports enhanced ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems) slope and curvature products.

The 2008.10 marks the initial release of many of these advanced features; regionally availability varies currently and is scheduled to expand in future releases.