GPS Gazette - GPS Reviews

Navigon 7100 and 5100

Dimitris — Wed, 14 Mar 2007 21:23:14 +0000

Navigon is presenting two brand new navigation systems at the CeBIT this year, the Navigon 7100 and 5100. The first impression is that they have a really stylish design. The main difference of the two models is that the Navigon 7100 has a 4.3-inch display (16:9), while screen of the Navigon 5100 is 3.5″. Some of the other features of the two systems include Bluetooth for hands free calling, free traffic information, 2D or 3D map view and voice input. A new function that we will find in these new Navigon systems is called “Real View” or “Reality View” which if I understood correctly is a new view mode that will display signposts realistically in a way that will help the user navigate more easily.

The Navigon 7100 is expected in Europe sometime this summer with a price of 450 euros for the version with regional maps and 500 euros for the Europea maps version. Finally the Navigon 5100 will cost 350 euros.

Via SlashGear

ViaMichelin X-960 and X-970T

Dimitris — Tue, 13 Mar 2007 12:24:29 +0000

Viamichelin announced that they will showcase two new GPS systems at the CeBIT this year, the ViaMichelin X-960 (picture on the left) and the ViaMichelin X-970 (picture below). The X-960 will have a 3.5″ touch screen, will be using the SiRFStar III GPS chipset and will be powered by a 300 Mhz Samsung CPU and will be running on Windows CE.net 5.0 with 64 MB of RAM and 128 MB of ROM memory. At first, it will start shipping in Europe like previous ViaMichelin models with a price of 299 € (with maps of 20 European countries). Maps will be provided by TeleAtlas and the navigation that the X-960 (and the X-970T) will be equipped with will be ViaMichelin Navigation Version 7.

The main differences between the ViaMichelin X970T and its little brother is that it will be equipped with a more powerful processor (400 Mhz) and will also have an RDS/TMC (as the name suggests) and also will feature bluetooth capabilities for hands free calling. The European model is expected to cost 399 €.

Via GPSAndCo

Garmin Nuvi 200, 250 270

Dimitris — Tue, 13 Mar 2007 08:30:53 +0000

There was a rumor posted that Garmin was to going to announce a new line of Nuvis at the 2007 CeBIT this month, the Nuvi 200. After a bit of searching I found that Garmin’s Danish site has already pages for three new GPS Systems, the Nuvi 200, 250 and the Nuvi 270. To be totally honest I can’t seem to find what differences this new line will have from the previous Nuvi systems and autotranslators don’t work that well. If any Danish speaker could help us find out what new features will these new PNDs have, it would be great. Of course we can also wait for the CeBIT that is just around the corner.

Nuvi 200
Nuvi 250
Nuvi 270

Maxtek MNT-7T : Affordable 7″ GPS System

Dimitris — Sun, 11 Mar 2007 22:02:11 +0000

Maxtek MNT-7T is one of the most affordable (if not the cheapest) 7″ car GPS System that I have come across. Since the most noteworthy feature is its price let’s start from that, it currently retails at $364.99 from TigerDirect. As we mentioned it features a 7″ Wide LCD TFT screen and some of its other features include, 512 MB of internal NAND Flash memory, turn-by-turn voice guidance available in multiple languages, automatic re-routing, 2D and 3D maps, audio player (MP3, WMA and WAV), photo viewer and an A/V input port that allows users to use the screen as a in-car display to watch you DVDs or play your favorite games. Finally, the Maxtek MNT-7T comes with a DVD that contains US maps. For the price it looks like a really good deal, however I wasn’t able to find any reviews of the unit.

Magellan Maestro is Now Official

Dimitris — Wed, 07 Mar 2007 20:05:38 +0000

Magellan Maestro, the new line of GPS Systems by Magellan that will include three models, the Maestro 4000, 4040 and 4050 is now official. Although the product information are not live yet on Magellan’s site they issued a press release announcing them with suggested retail prices of $399.99, $499.99 and $699.99 respectively and an expected shipping date of April 1st for the 4000 and 4040 while the Maestro 4050 should start shipping in North America sometime this May. You can Read the press release below:

Magellan, creators of the Hertz® NeverLost® and a leading global innovator of outdoor and vehicle navigation solutions, announced today the introduction of the Maestro series of three new portable vehicle navigation devices offering drivers the best design and navigation experience available. As a result of a partnership with AAA, (American Automobile Association), the new Magellan Maestro 4000, Maestro 4040 and Maestro 4050 are the only car navigation solutions to offer the North American public access to integrated AAA TourBook® travel information and member roadside assistance details. In addition, the Maestro 4050 is the first portable vehicle navigation device to offer drivers the convenience of voice command capabilities. The new Maestro series offers enhanced functions and features — from a newly designed user interface and a 4.3” WQVGA touch screen for better ease of use and visibility, to Bluetooth hands-free calling capabilities to minimize driver distractions and real-time traffic services to help drivers reach their destination faster — so every driver will find a solution that best meets their navigation needs.

To provide customers with the best portable navigation experience, Magellan’s latest generation of turn-by-turn, voice-prompted portable vehicle navigation devices are newly designed inside and out to usher in a thin, sleek style with a 4.3” WQVGA full-color, anti-glare touch screen plus refined functionality that’s destined to set a new standard. The Maestro 4000, 4040 and 4050 offer the most simplified, intuitive user interface designed to require minimal key strokes. The clutter-free menu and map screens feature stylish icons and map graphics that are clear, crisp and easy for drivers to see in all lighting, with Menu icons that are prioritized so drivers have faster access to the features they use most.

Offering customers the benefit of Magellan’s superior navigation expertise combined with AAA’s premium content and services is another significant step toward further differentiating Magellan navigation devices and increasing the company’s future success in the fast-growing GPS market.

“The success of personal navigation solutions will continue to grow in 2007, but companies must focus on adding new functionality and valuable content to avoid market commoditization,” says Thilo Koslowski, Vice President and Lead Automotive Analyst at Gartner. “Successful navigation solutions in the future must provide a flawless navigation experience and at the same time offer compelling content and services that provide daily relevance to users.”

“The Magellan Maestro devices are more than reliable tools for drivers, they are the portable car navigation solutions that drivers really want,” said Christian Bubenheim, vice president of product marketing for Magellan. “We’re building on superior utility with a new design and appeal that extends to broader markets. The Maestro series is fast, easy and intuitive. And thanks to the AAA partnership, the Maestro series also makes trip planning and traveling easier, less stressful and possibly more affordable, while also providing unique AAA member benefits.”

AAA TourBook® Travel Information, Roadside Assistance Details, Show Your Card & Save® Locations and More

Drivers gain access to North America’s most trusted source for trip planning information through searchable AAA TourBook® listings, including AAA Diamond Rated Restaurants and Accommodations, Show Your Card & Save® Locations for member discounts, Approved Auto Repair Facilities, Attractions, Events, Campgrounds, Cities and AAA Branch Office locations. The Maestro series also provides AAA member roadside assistance details that show your exact location and provides the AAA member toll-free help number. Bluetooth-enabled Maestro devices will connect the driver’s Bluetooth-enabled cell phone directly to AAA for immediate help when AAA members need it most.

Maestro 4050 – First Voice-Command GPS, Real-Time Traffic, Bluetooth, Advanced Voice Routing and AAA TourBook® Travel Information

Available only in North America this May at US $699.99, the Maestro 4050 delivers the newest advancements in voice recognition capabilities so drivers can control the device and route to their destination using voice commands. It also provides real-time traffic alerts, Bluetooth hands-free phone calling capabilities and advanced voiced routing directions via Magellan’s SayWhere™ text-to-speech function, which audibly announces street names so drivers can be confident in preparing for upcoming maneuvers.

The Maestro 4050 includes a free three-month trial subscription for real-time traffic services with the included Magellan TrafficKit™, the first completely integrated, portable real-time traffic solution with a no-fuss, wire-free design for neat and easy installation. The receiver attaches as a cradle with a simple click to help drivers avoid traffic delays with incident alerts and rerouting.

Ready to use out of the box, the Maestro 4050 is preloaded with full coverage maps of the 50 United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. It also contains AAA TourBook® travel information and member roadside assistance details plus a database of millions of additional points of interest (POI) like ATMs, gas stations and more to help drivers find what they need wherever they are, even in unfamiliar areas. The Maestro 4050’s Bluetooth capabilities make it possible for drivers to be connected to a business from the POI listings with a hands-free phone call once the POI is selected.

Maestro 4040 – Combines AAA TourBook® Travel Information, Bluetooth, Text-to-Speech and Upgrade Options

Available in North America April 1st at just $499.99 US, the Magellan Maestro 4040 features Bluetooth hands-free phone calling functionality with advanced SayWhere™ text-to-speech voiced routing directions. The Maestro 4040 also provides preloaded maps of the 50 United States, Canada and Puerto Rico, AAA TourBook® travel information and member roadside assistance details, plus an expanded POI database containing millions of business and service listings. Upgrade options will allow drivers to add real-time traffic services.

The Maestro 4000 – AAA TourBook® Travel Information, Roadside Assistance Details and More

Available April 1st in North America at US $399.99, the Maestro 4000 provides voice-guided, turn-by-turn directions with preloaded maps of the 48 contiguous United States, AAA TourBook® travel information and member roadside assistance details, plus an additional database of nearly two million points of interest.

All new Maestro 4000 series models feature:

* SiRF Star III GPS chips for fast position fix and reliable satellite acquisition
* Integrated antenna and battery for added portability and cord-free operation in or away from the car
* SmartDetour™ feature to help drivers route around freeway traffic
* QuickSpell® for fast data entry by reducing keystrokes as it checks spelling
* Searchable points of interest (POI) database for finding and routing to businesses and services like gas stations, ATMs, hotels, restaurants, airports and more. Listings include a phone number, address and the travel distance.
* Exit POIs conveniently list gas stations, lodging and restaurants at exits so drivers can plan stops in advance.
* Trip Planning provides multi-destination routing when drivers need to make several stops – up to 20 destinations

Each of the new Maestro products ship with a windshield mount and cradle, a cigarette lighter adapter, protective pouch, A/C power adapter, USB data cable and an adhesive disk for dash mounting. For additional accessories, including cases, pouches and additional mounting options, visit www.magellanGPS.com.

XROAD V7 GPS/DMB

Dimitris — Wed, 07 Mar 2007 11:19:41 +0000

XROAD V7 is another impressive GPS/DMB/PMP/HTF/KLP/MNG (please note some acronyms are imaginary) do it all system coming from Korea (although I doubt it will ever come our way). It features a 7″ TFT-LCD touchscreen (800*480 WVGA), a 500MHz processor by AMD (Alchemy Au1200), SiRF III GPS chipset and 128MB RAM (DDR2) 2GB SD card. The unit has also a Picture-in-Picture feature (they call it Navi-in-Picture) that allows users to watch TV while navigating. The fact that the device has a number of multimedia goodies is of course no surprise, V7 supports the playback of DivX, XviD, MPEG-4, and WMV video, as well as music files. Finally it has an FM transmitter and is powered by a 4200mAh battery and probably has a lot more features that I can not read or autotranslate because they decided to post all the information in the form of images and my Korean are a bit rusty.
V7 costs around 630$

Product Page

TomTom Go 715

Dimitris — Mon, 05 Mar 2007 09:05:46 +0000

Another new GPS System by TomTom has leaked through the FCC. This Time it’s the TomTom Go 715 after the TomTom DUO and the TomTom ONE XL. Like it’s predecessor the TomTom GO 710 it sports Bluetooth functionality for hands free calling but what appears to be a new feature is that it has a SIM card slot that will allow users to make calls and send text messages for the 715 itself. By looking at the manual it appears that the 715 is an upgrade mainly targeted at the business market with software that allows the user to receive and manage orders and to communicate with his office about the status of the orders. I guess we will have to wait until the CeBIT to see if these new model will be a replacement of the 710 or just an addition model targeting mostly the business part of the market.

VDO Dayton PN 3000

Dimitris — Sun, 04 Mar 2007 20:17:11 +0000

VDO Dayton PN 3000 is a new portable automotive GPS System by Siemens VDO that can also be integrated into the vehicle like a permanently installed system. It features a 4.3″ Touch Screen Display (TFT LCD), 300 MHz CPU, 64 MB Flash ROM and 64 MB SD RAM and a 20-Channel GPS Receiver. Of course like every new GPS System that respects itself, it offers more than just navigation. It sports an MP3 Player and two games Sudoku and Blockbuster.

Other features include:

European Maps
Voice Guidance
Automatic Display Brightness Control
Stereo Headphone Out
SD Card Slot
IR Receiver for Remote Control
2D/3D Map view
Lithium-Ion Battery 2500 mAh for 4h navigation
Dimensions: 125 mm x 83 mm x 24 mm
Weight: 259 g
Freely customizable infobar

Finally the written menus are available in 21 written languages (20 if you consider English UK and US the same ) and it can also guide you using 24 different voices 24 voices (English UK, English US (3x), Spanish (2x), French (2x), German (2x), Italian (3x), Brasil, Czech, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Slowenian, Swedish, Turkish).

The PN 3000 comes in three versions the basic model, a model with with TMC, and a model with TMC and bluetooth.

The price is not listed on the site but it appears that the retail prices for the three models are 470, 500 and 550 Euros respectively.

Product Page

TomTom DUO

Dimitris — Wed, 28 Feb 2007 18:31:44 +0000

The first information about an upcoming GPS System by TomTom called TomTom DUO are starting to appear online. First there was a report of an unknown TomTom unit appearing on FCC and later on a post by GPS Review it was mentioned that this brand new unit will be called TomTom Duo. Not a lot of information is available yet but it appears that it will be coming with a docking station equipped with an FM transmitter that will provide navigational directions, as well as music from external players such as the iPod through the car’s sound system, . Other features that have been mentioned include SD, hands free Bluetooth calling and voice SMS and a tweaked interface. More information and the official announcement are expected at the CeBIT.

Another ViaMichelin X-930 Navigation Review

Dimitris — Sun, 25 Feb 2007 21:48:25 +0000

Another review of the ViaMichelin X-930 has been posted this time by PC Magazine. The review has been added to my ViaMichelin X-930 Reviews where I have compiled a list of all the reviews available for this navigation system. By adding this review the overall average rating from all the reviews has slightly fallen to 62/100. PC Magazine gave the unit a “fair” and the reviewer’s main complaint was the difficult menu system. You can read the review here