Navman has a few GPS devices that are popular for the good features and cheap price, one of them is the F50 that was released in 2007, but their latest system is the S100 which is also the first model in the fresh S-Series.

Boasting a super flat 4.3-inch widescreen, the S100 makes use of the Spirit software and their UI named Glide Touch. The system has improved a couple of features when compared to previous models, like the inclusion of Local Search made via Infobel, 3D landmarks, and the NacPix photo navigation with geo-tagging functionalities.

As it always happens on GPS navigation systems, there is an economical routing to save some gas, a MP3 player, and junction views.

The Navman S-Series S100 is priced at £200 ($340) and will become available next month, in November 2008.
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Tags: auto navigation, GPS, GPS, navman, Portable Devices, s100

Remember the Nokia 500 GPS that we saw a few days ago? The portable navigation device from Nokia has cleared the FCC’s testing requirements, so it should be on its way into the world markets soon. I have been waiting to buy a GPS device for my personal use, I just might wait a tad longer to see how this one is. Of course, the GPS is on target for its Q4 2007 release in Europe, but there seems to be no indication of a US release, unfortunately.

With its “definitive agreement” to acquire Navteq, could Nokia be the next juggernaut in the field of personal navigation? We’ll wait and watch. The Nokia 500 supports SDHC (SD High Capacity) memory cards up to 16GB, which is nice. It can read cards formatted with FAT or FAT32 filesystems. Obviously, the GPS comes with a touch-screen (4.3 inch) interface. The video player software available on it can handle 3GP, MPEG-4 and WMV video formats.

Priced at €300 (excluding tax), the Nokia 500 Auto Navigation is on its way. Soon.

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Tags: 500, approvals, auto navigation, fcc, GPS, Nokia

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