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).

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