Wiley Publishing, owner and publisher of the popular ?For Dummies? books, has announced the production of a new GPS Navigation system in cooperation with the Maylong Group. I don’t know if this is a good idea or not, but I guess we will have to wait and see the final product to get some kind of conclusion.

In the meanwhile there are already some specifications about the GPS Navigation for Dummies, the portable device will feature a 3.5-inch screen so you can easily see all the information being displayed. The actual navigation functions include the normal text-to-speech feature and turn by turn directions, just like the dummies like it.

It can also play MP3s, work as an eBook reader, contain the complete map of the US and Canada, and last but not least, the system has 2 million points of interest that tell you the best places to go.

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The latest widescreen navigation systems made by Sony, NV-U82 and U-92T have been receiving some praises lately and it seems they are on a good road to be a hit. Among the companies that worship the GPS system we have the popular UK magazine T3, and also a German car magazine called Car & HIFI and Connect.

Anyway, about the navigations systems - both feature a big 4.8-inch touch screen which is suppose to the biggest on the market. Obviously they are easy to use, you can be guided to the desired location with plenty of information just by touching the screen (no need to press buttons) and following the directions. As it usually happens with GPS devices, there is ?what’s coming next? feature to help you out in known and unknown locations.

Both systems were launched earlier in June and have a price tag of ?399 for the NV-U92T, and ?349 for the NV-U82, with the first one having a pan-European map coverage and information about the traffic.

Sony Style

The TomTom PLUS service for your GPS device delivers some very useful information. For example, the weather service gives you current weather or a 5-day forecast with the TomTom application version 6.0 or above. On the TomTom GO910, you even get spoken weather report. Coverage includes Europe, Australia and North America.

The Buddies service allows you to invite your friends, send text messages and share locations with each other and navigate to your buddies wherever they are.

The Voice service makes it a more entertaining drive with celebrity voices or different dialects. Head to TomTom for more details on some interesting services (not all are free).

Garmin welcomed two new widescreen models into the popular nüvi series of GPS navigation devices. The Garmin nüvi 200W and nüvi 250W feature bright displays, and can comfortably be viewed in sunlight. The 200W is an entry-level model featuring maps of US (including Hawaii) and Puerty Rico.

The 4.3″ wide touchscreen on the nuvi 200W offers a resolution of 480×272 pixels. Available in a slimmer package, the personal navigation device comes with over six million points of interest. As usual, you get turn-by-turn voice directions.

For added security, the new devices feature Garmin Lock, which prevents the GPS from functioning until a 4-digit PIN is entered or the unit is taken to a pre-selected location (it’s a GPS after all!). What’s more, you can now supplement the provided maps with info like school and speed-cam zones. That’s plus one for you speedsters.

More details in the extended entry.

Mio Technology revealed its newst DMB navigation system, the 7-inch C517. Features of the device include Mio Map 2007, which is suitable for a worldwide user interface. The device, however, was designed in particular for the Korean mobile TV market. Dimensions of the device are 22mm thick, and a weight of 390g. You can pick one up in Korea for about 400,000(KRW).

Via Aving

Mio Technology revealed its newst DMB navigation system, the 7-inch C517. Features of the device include Mio Map 2007, which is suitable for a worldwide user interface. The device, however, was designed in particular for the Korean mobile TV market. Dimensions of the device are 22mm thick, and a weight of 390g. You can pick one up in Korea for about 400,000(KRW).

Via Aving

MSI’s new GPS receiver would be a great addition to take along on one of your summer road trips to help guide and entertain. The device receives a larger 4″ LCD screen to display the road ahead of you and make viewing easier. With an integrated TMC reciever, the GPS unit can provide real-time traffic information to help avoid traffic jams and automatically create a faster alternative route. Also equipped with the GPS receiver is an SD/MMC expansion slot and a USB port. Not only can the device help guide, it can playback your collection of favorite MP3/WMA songs. Also provided is a photo-viewer for your album of JPEG photos.

Garmin’s new eTrex Summit is specially designed for the outdoor enthusiast. It not only provides GPS, but also an altimeter and electronic compass. The eTrex Summit’s barometric altimeter pinpoints your exact altitude and it’s built-in electronic compass provides the exact direction you are heading to make sure you stay on track to your desintation. The device can additionally receive position corrections from the WAAS (Wide Area Augmentation System) to make its accurate positioning data accurate and more reliable with accuracy within three meters.

Perfect for navigating complicated and unfamilar roads is the Bushnell NAV500 GPS. Installation is easy by simply mounting the device to your vehicle’s dash. It provides voice-prompted turn-by-turn directions and full-color mapping with touch-screen controls. The NAV500 comes with great features including:

* SiRF Star III GPS Receiver
* 3.5″ Color touch-screen QVGA LCD
* Turn-by-turn voice prompts
* MP3 audio player
* Photo display mode
* 1.5 GB SD card pre-loaded with USA, Canada, & PR maps
* Sleek, compact design ( 76 (H) x 143 (W) x 23 (D) )

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Garmin’s new eTrex Summit is specially designed for the outdoor enthusiast. It not only provides GPS, but also an altimeter and electronic compass. The eTrex Summit’s barometric altimeter pinpoints your exact altitude and it’s built-in electronic compass provides the exact direction you are heading to make sure you stay on track to your desintation. The device can additionally receive position corrections from the WAAS (Wide Area Augmentation System) to make its accurate positioning data accurate and more reliable with accuracy within three meters.

Perfect for navigating complicated and unfamilar roads is the Bushnell NAV500 GPS. Installation is easy by simply mounting the device to your vehicle’s dash. It provides voice-prompted turn-by-turn directions and full-color mapping with touch-screen controls. The NAV500 comes with great features including:

* SiRF Star III GPS Receiver
* 3.5″ Color touch-screen QVGA LCD
* Turn-by-turn voice prompts
* MP3 audio player
* Photo display mode
* 1.5 GB SD card pre-loaded with USA, Canada, & PR maps
* Sleek, compact design ( 76 (H) x 143 (W) x 23 (D) )

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TomTom unveiled its latest offering to the US and Canadian markets with the introduction of the new TomTom GO 720. Featuring what the company calls ground-breaking technology for daily map improvements, the GO 720 is packed with safety extras and the ability to record driving instructions.

Available in a slim new packaging and high-quality finish, it can be conveniently carried in your shirt pocket if that’s your fancy. The GO 720 has a big 4.3″ touchscreen display and intuitive user interface. The 3D views and building footprints give the drive a better overview of the surrounding landscape.

With the new TomTom Map Share technology, drivers can improve their own maps. The Map Share users will have the most up-to-date info available. All this is controlled by TomTom HOME, a desktop application. Map Share users contribute and exchange their improvements with other users - including tips and inside info.

Other niceties include an integrated MP3 player, built-in FM transmitter and real-time traffic. Oh, did we forget to mention celebrity voice downloads as well?

Expect the TomTom GO 720 across the US and Canada starting July. No pricing announced yet, but check the specs in the extended entry.

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Harman Kardon unveiled its latest Guide + Play GPS-300, a portable GPS device with integrated media player. The media player can handle MP3/WMA files, and the device offers a largish 4″ wide, touchscreen interface.

The Guide + Play GPS-300 incorporates h/k’s experience in audio products, which means users can look forward to high quality audio playback. The GPS-300 lacks video playback functionality, but at its price I wouldn’t be too disappointed.

The device ensures that navigation information is audible and displayed, even while the music player is being used. A PoI search allows users to get to the nearest coffee shop or gas station. MiniSD memory cards up to 4GB are supported - enough for your next road trip.

At 19.6mm, you can easily fit in the GPS-300 in your pocket. Priced at US $299.99, the Harman Kardon Guide + Play GPS-300 will be available starting June 1, 2007.

Guide + Play

The almighty FCC has given their stamp of approval to a new GPS navigation device, this time the Smart NAVI DOTN-430. It features an SD/MMC memory card slot, speakers, earphone input, AC/DC power port, USB connectivity, and can store custom navigation maps, photos, and multimedia content. It features several power options, and can be powered using its battery or through a car’s cigarette lighter.

This device comes from Smart NAVI out of Korea. No pricing or availability details have yet been unveiled.

The almighty FCC has just approved a new device in Magellan’s CrossoverGPS line, the CrossoverGPS 3150. Right now, all we know is what we can find out from the FCC filing, which indicates that the 3150 model will have Bluetooth capabilities - something the previous model did not have. It’s also rumored that the Magellan CrossoverGPS 3150 might come with a traffic receiver included, rather than as an optional accessory.

So far there’s no word on pricing or release dates, but stay tuned for the latest information.

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Make way for the new widescreen GPS device from Mio. Better still, make room in your car for the new Mio DigiWalker C520 GPS device. With a large 4.3″ split screen display and text-to-speech driving directions, the C520 boasts of Bluetooth.

The large display can show you the desired map in its entirety, or, in the split mode, you can access additional information about upcoming intersections, approaching points of interest, etc. With the text-to-speech feature, you can concentrate on the road ahead while driving.

Thanks to Bluetooth, you can pair the Mio DigiWalker C520 with a variety of compatible wireless devices. The built-in mic and speaker let you answer calls while driving. The device comes with US/Canadian maps, over 6 million POIs and SD/MMC slot.

Priced at US $399.95, the Mio DigiWalker C520 is now available from Circuit City and other retailers.

Mio

Thinkware launched its first 7-inch DMB navigation iNAVI ES in Seoul, Korea. Though there are many 7-inch navigation devices with iNAVI map in the market but this one is the first one to be launched by Thinkware. With this navigation tool you can now enjoy DMB and navigation simultaneously. Featuring an in-built GPS antenna and several multimedia functions like MP3, video player and photo album, iNAVI ES assures entertainment to the user.

Thinkware iNAVI ES comes with PIP (picture in picture) functionality, which can be guided by TPEG, a real time traffic information service. This tool can be connected with two different multimedia devices like rear camera and PMP at the same time by adopting two AV-in inputs. Its 2GB model is expected to be available in 459,000 (KRW), while its 4GB model will be available for 499,000 (KRW).

Via:Aving

Having made its name in Europe and America, car navigation is now introduced in Australia with advancement through Pioneer AVIC-HD3. This built-in HDD to 2DIN size comes with entertainment and navigation functions. It is estimated that this new HDD will take the Australian car Nabi market to a further level. This new device will arrive in market in June 2007.

Main features of Pioneer AVIC-HD3 are:
? 30GB loading capacity for HDD with functional loading music library and advanced navigation and high-level entertainment.
? Australian map recording with 97% population cover ratio.
? 7.0 Adopting type wide touch panel.
? Adapter with Bluetooth function.
? Entertainment functions like music CD, DVD, CD-R/RW, MP3.
? Separately sellable adapter that can correspond to iPod with connection.
? Speed recognition can be loaded while traveling.

Via: Pioneer

Enjoy navigating with the latest Sony NV-U82F and NV-U92T GPS navigators. Guaranteeing you a precise way, these navigators give GPS signals even while passing through tunnels or crossing bridges. NV-U92T comes with Go of memory flash and a cartographic cover of 21 European countries. It manages the data in real time automatically and offers dynamic information on circulation. While NV-U82F lets you download free charts of Italy, Spain and Portugal on the site www.navu.sony-europe.com. Both Sony NV-U82F and NV-U92T GPS come with improved safety measures to ensure safety on unknown roads.

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Get the strong and sensitive two-way radio called Garmin’s New Rinos and enhance your GPS radios. Garmin’s New Rinos: the Strong and Sensitive Type comes with the memory slot and a high sensitivity receiver. Rino 520HCx and Rino 530HCx are the two new Garmin Rhinos integrated with the GPS technology. Launched by Garmin International Inc., a unit of Garmin Ltd., the new Rhinos feature an upgraded processor for a faster map drawing and route calculation. You get up to 14-mile communication range, mini-USB interface and built-in auto routing basemap with Garmin’s New Rhinos.

These waterproof lightweight Rhinos weighs only 10.3 oz can work even after remaining in water for up to 30 minutes in one meter of water. For using the GMRS frequencies on Garmin? New Rhinos in the United States, you require a license from the FCC. For using them outside the United States and Canada, you need to consult applicable regulatory agencies. The new Rhinos are expected to be available in the market from June 2007. All you need to grab them is to shed around $449.99 for Rhino 520HCx and $499.99 for Rhino 530HCx.

Via:Prnewswire