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

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