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

Mio has a couple of new GPS devices out in the markets. The first is the Mio DigiWalker C520 GPS that was introduced at the CES 2007. This widescreen navigation device boasts a 4.3″ display in a slim form factor. Bluetooth is available as well, making it easier to make/receive calls while driving. Running the show is a 20-channel SiRFstarIII GPS receiver chip. It offers SD and MMC (whoa!) memory card slots too.

The display on the Mio C520 is a 480×272 pixels QVGA touchscreen. The device is compatible with USB 2.0. Measuring 0.8″ x 3.2″ x 5quot;, it weighs in at 6.7 oz (190 grams), and can be conveniently carried in your pocket. It runs on Win CE .Net 5.0 and comes bundled with MioMap navigation software.

The second device to hit the market is another widescreen device, the Mio DigiWalker C720t GPS (in pic). On top of what the C520 offers, this one comes with a 2MPx camera, business card scanner and the ability to import contact info and photo geotagging. This also sports an SD/MMC memory slot, and thanks to its TMC support, you can get real-time info on accidents, weather and more.

No word on the pricing.

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Tags: 2mpx, camera, digitalker, geotagging, GPS, GPS, mio, navigation, widescreen

Aside from the C230 that Mio recently released, they also introduced the C620 and C620t which are GPS navigation systems that utilize MioMap 2008. These devices use the new version of the navigation software including the latest digital maps of TeleAtlas, with 3D models of certain buildings, landmarks, and more.

C620 and C620t will come equipped with a 4.3? touch screen and MioMap 2008 software which is equipped with a new user interface and a completely renewed main menu. The new software will also be able to split the screen in two to provide more information on the route, and will also let you control other functions of the device such as the MP3 player, and the contact book to let you scroll through your contacts. C620 and C620t will also let users plan their trip before departure but the details of this feature are unclear.

Different from C620, C620t will provide live traffic information. We have no info on availability or pricing just yet. Details should be more clear after IFA 2008 electronics show in Berlin which start on August 31st.

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Tags: C620, C620t, GPS, GPS, mio

Magellan unveiled its newest model in the handheld GPS device series. The Magellan Triton GPS is targeted at outdoor enthusiasts and comes in a rugged form factor with a new UI flow and easy screen graphics. Six units are offered in the Triton series. The units come with full-color touch screen controls and the useful ability to record and attach audio to waypoint files.

The Triton series is also one of the first few handheld GPS devices to incorporate a 2 megapixel camera. On-board, there’s also a digital compass, a barometer and LED flashlight. The units carry an IPX-7 rating and is waterproof. Thanks to a recent alliance between Magellan and National Geographic, the maps also offer users with NG topographic maps - for the first time ever on a handheld GPS device.

Triton 2000: Available in North America in September and in Europe in October, it features a 2.7 inch QVGA touch screen, SD card slot, speaker/mic and flashlight. It is priced at US $499. Triton 1500: It is similar to the Triton 2000 minus the camera, and will retail at US $399.

Other models (all featuring a 2.2 inch QVGA color screen, built-in base maps and IPX-7 rating):
Triton 500: US $249
Triton 400: US $199
Triton 300: US $149
Triton 200: US $129

Triton allows you to download maps and waypoints from TOPO! and National Geographic’s new Weekend Explorer 3D, featuring 21 titles for major urban centers and surrounding recreational areas.

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Tags: color screen, GPS, GPS, handheld, Magellan, maps, national geographic, outdoors, QVGA, sd card

Garmin unveiled a much-needed affordable GPS device in the nuvi 200 series. The new Garmin nuvi 260 is capable of calling out street names instead of giving never-really-approximate distances. For example, instead of saying “turn right in 100 feet” you get to hear the street name instead. While this feature is already available in several premium GPS devices, the nuvi 260 appears to be the only budget GPS device to offer this useful feature.

The Garmin nuvi 260 comes in a thinner form factor and is apparently easier to mount on the car. As usual, the home screen lets you enter a destination or search a category. If you miss a turn, the nuvi 260 recalculates an alternate route - again telling you the street names. With over six million points of interest and maps of the US, Canada and Puerto Rico, the 260 is a useful addition. Other goodies on-board this GPS device include an image viewer, calculator, currency converter, world clock and unit converter.

The nuvi 260 also comes with the Garmin Lock, a theft prevention system for the GPS. A 4-digit PIN controls the functionality. In addition, you can also use preloaded maps with customized POIs, including school zones and areas with safety cameras. The GPS comes with a 3.5″ touchscreen. For additional memory, it supports SD memory cards.

Expected in August 2007, the Garmin nuvi 260 retails for US $499.99. Packaging includes a vehicle suctino cup mount, power cable, dashboard disk and manual.

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Tags: Auto, entrylevel, Garmin, GPS, GPS, nuvi, street names

German positioning products manufacturer Navilock will be using a u-blox developed GPS receiver to build the new Navilock BT-451 Bluetooth GPS Mouse. The Navilock BT-451 doubles up as an external Bluetooth receiver that connects to your mobile phone, PDA, UMPC or laptop - and it connects only when positioning functionality is required. This saves up the battery on the GPS mouse and the device connecting to it. Thanks to its powerful internal antenna, the manufacturers claim that it offers excellent tracking performance.

Small enough to carry around in your pocket, the Navilock BT-451 GPS mouse depends on the u-blox ATR0635 high-sensitivity GPS chip that features SuperSense indoor GPS functionality, making it easier to for tracking outdoors as well as indoors.

While there’s no news of the GPS entering the US market, it iwll be available in Europe. Priced at €79.00.

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Tags: GPS, Portable Devices

Harman/Becker Automative Systems unveiled its latest GPS device called the Traffic Assist Highspeed 7934. Weird numbering apart, the new navigation device will be available exclusively across Office Depot stores across the US. The Traffic Assist Highspeed 7934 comes bundled with maps of the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico.

The Traffic Assist Highspeed 7934 features a 3.5″ touch screen with a day/night display option for clear viewing at all times. The GPS device runs on a 400MHz processor which helps in faster re-routing. Thanks to dual speakers, you get clear sound even in noisy environments. For those who like speeding - well, the Traffic Assist Highspeed 7934 has a legal speed limit display and there’s even a voice (not your conscience) warning you in case you are speeding.

As is the norm, Traffic Assist Highspeed 7934 comes with an integrated MP3/WMA player that you can listen to either on the integrated speakers or headphones. Another fitment is the rudimentary JPEG/photo viewer. The Traffic Assist Highspeed 7934 Harman/Becker mobile GPS device is now available in the USA. No word on the pricing yet, but it will be available at retail stores.

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Tags: GPS, GPS, harman/becker, mp3 wma player, office depot, speed limit warning

Vodafone, one of the largest mobile telecommunications network company in the world, and Research in Motion (RIM) introduced the new BlackBerry Curve 8310 smartphone in Germany. It has built-in GPS navigation and advanced multimedia functionality.

The new 8310 smartphone features integrated GPS functionality which also works with the Vodafone Navigator software installed into the unit. This allows mobile users to know exactly where they are and where they are going. It displays the user’s precise location on a local map. Thanks to this new innovation, customers can avoid traffic problems caused by bad weather, traffic jams or road closures as known problems are automatically taken into account when the route is planned. The Vodafone Navigator is an off-board navigation system, which downloads route planning information from an up-to-date central server.

Aside from this, the 8310 is also an excellent phone for users with its rich features for use in both their work and personal lives. A built-in 2 megapixel camera with 5x digital zoom and LED flash delivers sharp images on the BlackBerry Curve 8310. Photos can be sent immediately via MMS, email or BlackBerry® Messenger. The push-based BlackBerry email system allows incoming emails to be displayed immediately and enables easy remote management of the user’s inbox.

It also has an advanced set of multimedia features starting with its state of the art media player. It is definitely perfect for watching videos in full screen layout and listening to MP3 music files. The smartphone’s microSD memory card is extendable and can store up to 4 gigabytes worth of videos, images, music and files. As an added benefit, Vodafone Germany will provide the first 5,000 customers with a 1 gigabyte microSD memory card with the current 100 top chart songs pre-installed as MP3s.

The BlackBerry Curve 8310 is available now from Vodafone in Germany for 99,90 Euro in combination with a Vodafone Business Kombipaket Zuhause 240.

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Tags: BlackBerry, Cell Phones, GPS, GPS, Mobile News, MP3 Players, smartphone

Delphi has just announced its newest addition to technology, the Nav300. The Nav300 is a GPS device that integrates the latest cutting-edge hardware and software into a lightweight, portable package with an easy, intuitive interface at an extremely compelling price point.

The Nav300 features a a wide array of functions that makes it one of the best in the market. It has a 2 GB SD card preloaded with maps of the U.S. (including Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico) and Canada, bluetooth connectivity coupled with the integrated microphone that allows users to answer calls and access contacts via your phone’s voice commands, and it also find points of interest using reviews from the prestigious ZAGATSurvey guide - the world’s leading provider of consumer survey-based dining, travel and leisure information.

Furthermore, the Nav300 is not just for navigation. It has text-to-speech (TTS) functionality that takes navigation one step further. TTS announces street names and gives turn-by-turn directions as you navigate the road. And, as an added measure, it sports a full suite of popular entertainment features. This allows users to Watch movies and listen to music MP3s downloaded from your computer onto an additional SD card (sold separately). Additional convenient features include picture viewer, calculator and game.

The Nav300 is currently available at an MSRP of $399.

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Tags: Delphi, GPS, GPS, Mobile News, Nav300, Reviews

The almighty FCC has blessed Nokia’s Bluetooth GPS Module LD-4W. This is pretty cool! Those of you who’ve been looking for a GPS add-on to your Bluetooth enabled smartphones or Nokia 770 can now dig into Nokia’s latest gizmo get directions on the phone.

Of course, if you really wanted GPS on your phone, you would’ve gone for the Nokia N95 but that’s way too expensive.

Anyway, tons of confidentiality requests in place but somehow one photo got through. No word on the pricing yet, but the Nokia LD-4W Bluetooth GPS Module should be out in the market soon.

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Tags: GPS

Leadtek has a couple of new GPS systems coming out of their stables, called the Leadtek LR9750 and LR9752 GPS. Both will be equipped with industry-standard SiRF starIII GPS module, integrated media player (which GPS doesn’t sport a PMP? Anyone?) and interestingly, a scroll wheel for navigation - I’m guessing this is similar to the iPod but I could be way off the mark here.

There’s also a rudimentary image viewer and the obvious TTS. The LR9752 (remember, larger number means better - but not always) comes will all of these plus Bluetooth so you can use it as a wireless speakerphone if you wish. No info on pricing or availability.

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Tags: GPS

Ah, here’s something that’s going to be really useful for those of you with a Nokia N95 cell phone: Nokia announced an Assisted GPS (A-GPS) service that helps Nokia Maps users to find their location faster.

The service reduces the Time To First Fix or TTFF (ah, I love this industry and its acronyms) for most geographical locations worldwide, which basically enhances the usability of your N95 or Nokia 6110 Navigator.

Download it from http://www.nokia.com/softwareupdate, to update the firmware on the device to the latest version. Of course, it’s interesting to note that the A-GPS service uses your data network, so although the framework is free from Nokia, your provider may still decide that you need special privileges (i.e., paid) to use it.

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Tags: GPS, Nokia

Thinkware has presented their 7-inch GPS navigation system named iNAVI G1. The device has adopted some cool technologies such as a G-sensor - geomagnetic sensor - that makes life easier for GPS users when the signal is too weak like it usually happens on tunnels and between tall buildings.

Other cool features of the iNAVI G1 include T-DMB (Terrestrial Digital Multimedia Broadcasting) so you can be watching television and using the navigation system at the same time. It also comes with a MP3 and video player, a photo viewer, a karaoke system and a couple of games. There is still the PIP (picture in picture) function, as well as NIP (navigation in picture) and the TPEG service.

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Tags: GPS

In case you have been looking at some GPS navigation devices for your car, and for some reason think that all the products are a bit expensive, that is because you haven’t seen the Invion with a 5-inch wide touch screen that is presently on sale at Amazon for $230.

The Invion features a 400Mhz processor, a SiRF Star III antenna, and it has a player that is compatible with MP3s and MP4s. Additionally, it comes with bluetooth and traffic information provided by RDS/TMC.

Other features include the 5-inch LCD screen that provides a 480×272 resolution, a 1GB SD memory card that comes preloaded with mapping function for US and Canda, and over 3 million POIs - points of interest.

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Tags: GPS

Fusionsoft unveiled its new GPS/portable media player, the oddly named odd-i P480, targeted at the Korean market. Powered by an SiRF Star III GPS chip, the unit is equipped with Samsung’s 4.8″ WQVGA widescreen LCD display.

The odd-i P480 comes with an integrated hard drive (up to 60GB in capacity), support for S-DMB and TV in/out ports - ideal for recording TV programs that you can later catch up on the road.

An interesting feature about the P480 GPS is that it employs a DaVinci chip, allowing users to view video files without encoding.

Available starting 20 July, it carries a price tag of KRW 458,000 (US $500).

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Tags: GPS

Canadian manufacturer Mobile Knowledge Corp has a new mobile data terminal called the Series 9000 MDT. The MDT was approved by the FCC, and documents reveal an SDK available for developers, including all the gory details you would want to develop embedded applications.

The Series 9000 MDT is equipped with a large 5.7″ VGA display and resistive touch screen. Running the show is an embedded Intel 200 MHz processor, with Windows CE.Net operating system. The MDT comes with a built-in GPS, USB port and CF/MMC ports.

In addition it has integrated Wi-Fi and lets you insert a GSM SIM card and access the net over GPRS. Grab your copy of the Microsoft eMbedded Visual C++ 4.0 compiler, ActiveSync 3.8 and the Series 9000 MDT SDK and get started on those cool apps.

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Tags: Cell Phones, GPS, Portable Devices

Atlantis X-350 has received a drastic hit in the price at Amazon, the GPS navigation system has seen its price being reduced by almost 65% and now costs a mere sum of $206.

As expected, this is a basic GPS system therefore the features are also basic ones. On the few information that is available, we know that the Atlantis X-350 features a 3.5-inch touchscreen, and a 1GB memory SD card.

Additionally, there is a simple media player for your favorite songs, 3D map rendering, and last but not least, 18 different languages are supported in the door to door navigation function.

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Tags: GPS

Trimble has released 7 new GPS devices, including GPS receivers and Smart GPS Antennas that are suppose to be used on construction areas. All the devices use the RTK engine made by Trimble that offers a faster way to work with less downtimes. The receivers have opted to go green and follow the rules made by the EU for the ROHS (Reduction of Hazardous Substances) initiative.

The GPS Modular Receivers are the following: Trimble SPS551, SPS551H, SPS651, SPS751 and SPS851. The first two were made for marine construction applications and display a decimeter-level position; while the following - SPS651 - targets the marine vessels and offer accuracy levels of 10cm on horizontal, and 2cm on vertical mode. The final two, SPS751 and 851 have construction sites and vehicles in mind.

By integrating the radio and GPS receiver in a single housing, the valuable components of a contractor’s GPS fleet can be protected from the elements and theft by securing them inside a site trailer, vehicle or carrying case, while only the antennas are left outside. Antennas can be mounted high and away from obstructions to allow a clearer, less noisy GPS signal, as well as maximizing radio coverage.

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Tags: GPS

Netropa Corporation of California unleashed its new Intellinav GPS navigation device with updated models for 2007. The new all-in-one Intellinav 2 and 3 will both feature a 3.5-inch display while the Intellinav 4 and 5 will feature a bigger 4.3-inch display.

Much more than basic PNDs, the Intellinav series boast a range of features from text-to-speech to parked car locator, fatigue alarm, fog assist, school zone and speed alert. All useful for the average driver.

The extended POI database now has over 6 million points of interest. The PNDs come pre-loaded with a 2GB SD card filled with maps of USA, Canada, Puerto Rico and US Virgin Islands, and plenty of room to spare for your photos and music.

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Tags: GPS