Acer announced a new addition to its family of personal navigation devices with the introduction of the new Acer p-700 series for use in your vehicle. Acer seems to be in the process of adding new verbs to our vocabulary as well, calling it a plug and drive device. The p-700 series features a standard 4.3″ touchscreen. Two variants are currently available in the series are the p710 and p730. Both come with regional or European maps. In addition, the p730 is equipped with Traffic Message Channel (TMC) functionality for accessing up-to-the-minute traffic info. If you are in France or the UK, the p730 uses Premium TMC services from V-Traffic and ITIS respectively.

For navigation, there’s Copilot 7, offering 2D/3D views. A Driver Safety mode dislays a single yellow arrow indicating the route and next action, without showing you a dozen roads and confusing you. Or, you can do a 180° shift and take advantage of the Map View Maximizer technology that displays all pertinent info in a single glance. Tons of POIs are available as usual. Powered by the latest SiRF Star III 20-channel GPS receiver, it measures 123mm x 96mm x 24mm and weighs in at 240 grams. A bit heavy in your pocket, but that’s life.

There’s also a photo viewer on-board. Voice prompts are available in 16 pre-installed languages. Packaging includes a car-mount kit, charger, PC connectivity cable, AC adapter and DVD plus docs.

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Tags: 2d, 3d navigation, Acer, Europe, france, GPS, GPS, maps, p700, p710, p730, UK

Now, you can take your iPhone anywhere - literally! Mexens Technology today announced the availability of Navizon, its Virtual GPS system, for the iPhone. Now, you are assured of always finding your way, as long as your iPhone is with you.

Based on Navizon’s Wifi and Cellular tower triangulation techniques, this new software will help iPhone users find their way in the world.

Navizon is a positioning system that triangulates signals from Wifi access points and Cellular towers. It is based on a collaborative database where users can contribute wireless beacons’ locations that will let other members of the community simulate a Virtual GPS on their device. This is why Navizon is often referred to as the Peer to Peer positioning system.

In addition to the iPhone, Navizon is also available for Windows XP/Vista, Mac OSX, Windows Mobile, Blackberry, Symbian and UIQ devices as well as some Java phones.

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Tags: Apple, Apple, Cell Phones, GPS, GPS, iPhone, navizon, Phone

The ViaMichelin Navigation X-970 mobile GPS device has been approved by the FCC, allowing it to go on sale in the US and elsewhere. The Navigation X-970 has a claimed battery life of about 3 hours and features a hands-free functionality for making calls from your mobile phone which can further reduce the battery life. The device features a touch-screen interface and comes with a cigarette lighter charging cable. The provided SD card comes with maps of the USA and Canada.

Equipped with an SiRF Star III type GPS chip, you can enter your destination for finding the directions or use it in free-flow mode where it simply displays your current position on a map. There’s also a My ViaMichelin function that allows you to transfer your favorite addresses, routes and POIs from www.ViaMichelin.com onto your X-970.

Packaging includes a USB cable, ViaMichelin Navigation DVD, two car-mounting systems (windshield or dashboard use) and a manual. No info on the pricing yet.

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Tags: Canada, GPS, GPS, maps, navigation, sd, usa, viamichelin, x-970

The HP iPAQ 610 and 614 Business Navigator is a two-in-one 3G technology mobile phone with GPS navigation and personal organizer that will help you run your business single handedly. You can make calls and access the Internet globally via 3G and Quad-band wireless technology. Use HP iPAQ Device Connect to take your notebook or PC online over the high-speed HSDPA data network.1,2 GPS.

With the iPAQ, you are complete with its Mobile Office Outlook that includes Calendar, Contacts, Email, and Tasks. Its camera won’t let you down as it sports the integrated 3 Megapixel camera. You can also use Media Player and watch videos and read ebooks with Windows Media Player 10 Mobile.

A powerful mobile solution goes beyond the device. Whether you’re an IT manager or a mobile professional, you work in a complex environment. Your world—spanning countries and continents, an array of wireless technologies and networks, and powerful applications and communication tools—has a singular purpose: to drive business results.

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Tags: Cell Phones, GPS, GPS, HP, HP, smartphone

For those who love to travel, romp around and get lost just for the adventure, then this watch is definitely for you. The Watch Strap Compass helps you find your way around. The compass is tacked with your watch making it a handy and useful device.

While it does not come with a backlit display of any sort, there are luminous points that make it much easier to navigate through a treacherous path even in the darkest of nights. You can pick up the Watch Strap Compass for £9.89 after taxes.

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Tags: compass, device, GPS, portable, watch

Coolness. That’s what comes to mind when you look at the new Navigon/Porsche Design’s Mobile Navigation P’9611 GPS device. This extremely sleek portable navigation device comes with a pre-installed SD memory card, USB cable, car holder and car charging cable. As is the norm, it comes with a built-in MP3 player. It also features Bluetooth, so you can pair up your Bluetooth-enabled mobile phone and use the P’9611 as a hands-free calling accessory in your car.

In addition, you can also call a selected point-of-interest destination if it has an associated phone number. The GPS device is powered by an Intel PXA270 520 MHz processor, 64 megs of RAM and an equal amount of ROM. It includes a u-blox Antaris 4 SuperSense 3rd gen GPS receiver, and features a 4.3 inch wide touchscreen display (at WQVGA resolution).

Measuring 125mm x 82 mm x 19mm, it weighs just 250 grams. No word on the pricing or availability yet.

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Tags: bluetooth, cool designs, fcc, GPS, handsfree, MP3 Player, navigon, porsche design

Whether you’re on the road for business or pleasure, the HP iPAQ 300 Series Travel Companion provides a wonderfully immersive experience to help you find your way. This advanced, high-resolution 3D navigation system provides you the direction you need to be in your way.

You can confidently follow turn-by-turn directions to the places you need to go, with both spoken and on-screen guidance. Pan and zoom to the level of detail you desire. Quickly
zoom in from 10,000 feet to street level view. On the touch screen display, use your finger to simply slide the map in the direction you want to view. Let your iPAQ Travel Companion guide you to family, friends, and business associates using your Outlook contacts.

Put your travel experience in overdrive. View your route comfortably on the spectacular, high-resolution touch screen display. Find your location fast with the dual-core4 600MHz Titan processor with Autonomy acceleration. Keep your maps and points of interest at hand with 2GB of flash ROM storage. Transfer content quickly and easily from your PC with the high-speed mini-USB 2.0 connector.

While you travel, you can also use your iPAQ 300 Series as a hands-free answering system for your Bluetooth-enabled phone. Then when you arrive, enjoy your digital media library, business multimedia content, or even a challenging video game, on this premium high-resolution entertainment system.

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Tags: device, GPS, HP, HP, mobile, smartphones

The Panasonic Strada CN-GP50N GPS personal navigation device is on its way to the European markets after its launch in Japan and North America. The device featuers a 5 inch wide touchscreen LCD display for superior visibility. With support for as many as 21 languages, this is ideal for driving around in Europe.

The Panasonic CN-GP50N also features Bluetooth support, letting you answer/reject phone calls from a compatible mobile phone. A JPEG image viewer is provided on-board. The GPS device takes in SD memory cards.

Priced at €400, the Panasonic Strada CN-GP50N will be available in Europe starting October 20, 2007.

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Tags: 5 inch, bluetooth, GPS, GPS, jpeg viewer, Panasonic, strada, widescreen

New iPAQs? In this day and age of iPhones, Nokia N95s and what not? Well, that’s what HP is planning to unleash anyway. And it’s not just one new model but a slew of line-ups, including the iPAQ 114, iPAQ 214, iPAQ 314, iPAQ 614 and iPAQ 914. That’s the mug-shot right there, from left to right. As can be guessed, the HP iPAQ 914 is the big gun boasting a 2.46″ touchscreen. It also has a 3 MPx camera, support for A-GPS, Wi-Fi (802.11 b/g) and HSDPA network support for hi-speed data. Apparently will be priced in the range of 5500 Swedish krona or around US $800. It’s targeted for release later this year.

The HP iPAQ 614 runs on Windows Mobile and features GPS navigation capabilities and is in the same price range as the iPAQ 914. It is also a Wi-Fi device and, from the photos at least, looks pretty slim. The HP iPAQ 314 is a GPS device with a big 4.3″ screen offering 800×480 pixel resolution and doubles up as a media player. The iPAQ 214 is a handheld computer with Wi-Fi and features a 4 inch screen at VGA resolution.

Rounding up the rumor is the HP iPAQ 114 handheld computer with a 3.5 inch screen, 64 megs of RAM and Bluetooth. It will ship in October.

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Tags: Cell Phones, GPS, HP, HP, HSDPA, iPaq, large screen, navigation, Portable Devices

Sony is looking to break into the European GPS market with the introduction of their forthcoming nav-u personal navigation devices featuring Bluetooth enabled hands-free calling. While the specs may very slightly amongst the various models, these hot little devices feature a large enough 4.8-inch screen, a good selection of European maps, and live traffic info.

If you’re not into the whole Bluetooth thing, Sony’s also releasing the NV-U73T and NV-U53 nav-u personal navigation devices. Other than lacking Bluetooth, there isn’t much of a different from the Bluetooth enabled models (NV-U93T and NV-U83T) other than its slightly smaller screen size of 4.3-inches.

One of the coolest features of all four models is “Gesture Command”, which allows you to scribble symbols on the screen and then be presented with directions home or to the nearest gas station.

All four models will be available in Europe this November, ranging in price from 249 to 379 Euros.

Tags: GPS

Magellan, the fastest growing GPS brand in North America, announced today a second generation of its Maestro series of portable vehicle navigation devices that will feature the thinnest GPS units in the industry. Designed to be pocket-sized for easier portability, Magellan’s new Maestro 4200 and Maestro 3200 series of GPS navigation devices reflect a wide range of user benefits and price points. The device feature a streamlined look and functionality built into a new, sleeker industrial design. At only 17.8 mm thick and just 82.5 mm tall, the new Maestro packs dozens of advanced mapping features and bright 4.3-inch or 3.5-inch QVGA screens into the industry’s most compact, portable auto navigation units.

The Maestro 4200 and 3200 series provides full navigation capability with built-in maps of the 48 contiguous United States and 1.3 million preprogrammed points of interest. The 4.3″ color touch screen and simple menu make it easy to find virtually any address and navigate to restaurants, gas stations, ATMs and more as you drive locally or across the country.

In addition, the Maestro 4250 and 3250 units deliver Bluetooth hands-free calling. Pre-loaded maps of North America and Puerto Rico and more than 6 million searchable points of interest, including AAA TourBook information, provide drivers with the most detailed mapping information available.

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Tags: device, GPS, GPS, Magellan, portable

Navigon, a leading provider of navigation products and solutions, today unveiled the elegantly designed Navigon 2100 at the IFA 2007. At the world’s largest consumer electronics show the 2100 wowed everybody with its set of features. The NAVIGON 2100, a slim, easy-to-use and affordable personal navigation device for the North American market, surpasses the basics to deliver an intelligent, premium navigation experience in an innovatively designed package.

The NAVIGON 2100 offers stunning 2D and 3D map views, a brilliant, anti-glare 3.5″ touchscreen, simple-to-maneuver menus and spoken turn-by-turn directions and street names via advanced text to speech — one of the only devices in its price tier to do so. Predictive text and city-first or street-first data entry, as well as millions of pre-loaded points of interest, help make destination entry easy.

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Tags: device, GPS, GPS, navigon, portable

TomTom, which jumped to second spot in the US GPS market, unveiled its latest high-end models, the TomTom GO 920 and TomTo GO 920T. With bundled maps of the US, Canada and Europe, the gadgets feature 4GB on-board memory. Curiously, they also feature something called the Enhanced Positioning Technology. One of the neat things about the 920 and 920T is that they handle voice-prompted address entry. Simply speak the address to which you want to drive - including city, street name and address number - and the device will calculate the route.

The 920 and 920T are major updates to the TomTom GO 910/510 devices and feature 4.3 inch touch screen and high quality graphics, including building footprints. Extras include the ability to exchange positions via SMS and recording your driving instructions. Powered by a Lithium-polymer battery, TomTom claims an operational duration of up to 5 hours.

The GO 920 is compatible with RDS-TMC Traffic Receiver for the latest news on traffic in your area. As a bonus, the GO 920T includes the RDS-TMC receiver plus one year subscription to the service. The GO 920 also comes with a Bluetooth remote control for safe operation of the device when driving.

The TomTom GO 920 is priced at US $599.95 and the GO 920T at US $699.95.

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Tags: 2007, 920, 920t, car, GPS, GPS, navigation, upgrades

Garmin has recently presented its new GPS navigation system called nuvi 770, which is one of their most expensive systems with a price tag of $1,000. It features a WQVGA TFT screen with 4.3-inches and a 480×272 resolution.

Besides the usual bluetooth, the nuvi 770 also features MSN direct for the US, and FM radio with traffic information. On the multimedia section, the GPS can play MP3s, it has an audio book player and is able to display images via the picture viewer.

Additional features include 3D map view, the ability to add new POIs (points of interest), providing information to avoid traffic, therefore giving the best route possible, and also a world travel clock + calculator + tools to help with the currency and measurement conversions.

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Tags: GPS

Garmin, now the #1 personal navigation device seller in the US, announced two new devices in its Onto Fitness series for cyclists. The Garmin Edge 705 (left) and Edge 605 (right) both feature a 2.2″ color screen and offer turn-by-turn directions. The usual add-ons include detailed street maps and topography of the region. Both devices can display climb/descent, altitude, speed, distance and time. With the recent Garmin ANT+Sport technology incorporated into the Edge navigation devices, they can seamlessly interface with other fitness devices such as a heart rate monitor or even other Edge units. This lets cyclists share courses, workout data and saved rides.

The Edge 705 improves upon the 605 by incorporating a barometric altimeter to accurately record altitude data, letting cyclists match their altitude profile with their speed/heart rate for a etter post-ride analysis. It also features a heart rate monitor that uses new wireless technology to eliminate cross talk and interference and delivers real-time heart rate data onto the user’s device.

By pairing your Garmin Edge 605 or 705 with Garmin Connect, an online training site, you can network with other cyclists and outdoor enthusiasts, log their workouts and share yours.

The Edge 605 carries a price tag of US $399.99 while the Edge 705 starts from US $499.99. Add on a heart rate monitor and speed/cadence sensor to bring it to US $549.99. Throw in an ANT+Sport bundle for $649.99. Everything will be available in December 2007.

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Tags: 605, 705, cyclist, edge, Garmin, GPS, navigation, turn-by-turn

Pioneer AVIC N4 is not only a GPS navigation system, but also a DVD player with some cool features. The AVIC N4 features a 7-inch display with anti glare coating, which can be “rotated” 50 to 110 degrees to make it easier for you to view the screen.

Besides being able to play normal DVDs or CDs, the new Pioneer GPS system comes with 2 DVDs that have a huge amount of data, including:

- door-to-door navigation of the US and Canada
- 12 million points of interest
- highway lane information about 50 cities
- detailed city maps of 23 cities

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Tags: GPS

In the past week, Max GMBH (German electronics company) announced their new GPS navigation system called Max Mojigo, which will be displayed at IFA. The Max Mojigo is available in 3 different models: Starter, Europe Travel, and Europe Travel TMC.

Some specifications are the same for the three devices, such as the TFT touchscreen that measures 3.5-inches and gives a 320×240 resolution, a SD memory card slot, a SiRF Star III GPS chip, and a 400Mhz processor. The other features that all the GPS systems have is being able to display maps in 2D or 3D, and a multimedia player that supports audio and video files.

In separate, the Max Mojigo Starter comes with a 512MB SD card that contains pre-installed maps of Germany, Austria and Switzerland. The Mojigo Europe Travel has a memory card of 2GB and maps of all Europe. Finally, the Europe Travel TMC is capable of giving information about the traffic thanks to the RDS/TMC receiver.

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Tags: GPS

Nokia is making its presence felt in the personal navigation market and the new Nokia 500 Auto Navigation is another addition to its lineup. 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. Nothing out of the ordinary, it features turn-by-turn voice directions, but as an added bonus, it features text-to-speech for speaking out street and city names. POIs and the like are the usual lot on pre-installed maps, which will be based on the target market.

An interesting and useful feature is the integration between the device’s navigation and communication features allowing you to receive contact details for the POIs that are en route to your destination - this lets you call in advance and make a reservation, for example. The Nokia 500 Auto Navigation also supports Traffic Message Channel service letting you avoid jams. The useful split screen interface on the device gives additional info to aid you in nnavigation.

The device does not fall short on entertainnment, and comes equipped with an integrated FM transmitter. Targeted for a Q4 2007 release in Europe, the Nokia 500 Auto Navigation is expected to retail at € 300 (excluding taxes). It should hit the US and other markets after that - which may mean a holiday season release or an early 2008 release.

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Tags: 4.3 inch, auto navigation, bluetooth, color screen, GPS, GPS, handsfree, nokia 500, portable, text to speech, wide

Harman/Becker’s BE 7928 GPS navigation device just got the green signal from the FCC. The BE 7928 features a touch screen interface, as well as a phone button to answer/reject incoming calls over Bluetooth. A nifty Day/Night button switches between Day view and Night view when using the navigation system. The system takes in SD/MMC memory cards allowing you to store maps, MP3 music and more. It also features a USB device for connecting to your PC.

One of the neat features of the Harman/Becker BE 7928 GPS device is the included FM transmitter. This lets you transmit your MP3 songs onto your car radio. The Bluetooth transceiver on this device allows you to connect only one phone at a time. When a phone is connected, contacts from your SIM card are automatically downloaded onto the BE 7928 so you can dial them directly from it rather than having to fumble with the phone when driving (you don’t do that now, do you?).

No word on the pricing or availability yet, but check back with us soon for those tiny details.

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Tags: fcc, fm transmitter, GPS, GPS, harman/becker, touch screen

Pharos announced an agreement with T-Mobile USA allowing customers to enjoy up to $200 off on purchasing the Pharos GPS Phone 600 and 600e. The catch, of course, is you have to enter into a new T-Mobile contract.

Pharos GPS Phone 600
Offering entertainment, mobile office and even navigation, the GPS Phone 600 is an unlocked, quad-band world phone. It comes bundled with pocket versions of Word, Excel and PowerPoint. Thanks to integrated GPS, you get voice-prompted directions using the Ostia navigation software and pre-loaded maps of US and Canada. There’s an FM radio on-board as well as Windows Media Player Mobile. A 2MPx camera is available as well. Originally priced at US $699.95, it is now available for US $499.95 with a new, 2-year voice and data plan with T-Mobile.

Pharos GPS Phone 600e
An enterprise version of the GPS Phone 600, the 600e is similar to 600 in all respects, except that this does not include pre-loaded navigation software, maps or car kit. Priced at US $599.95, the price for those signing up a 2-year contract with T-Mobile is now $399.95.

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Tags: 2mpx, camera, cell phone, Cell Phones, GPS, GPS, quad-band, T-Mobile