The Nav-U, Sony's new portable GPS navigation unit
By Peter Rojas 
posted Jul 11th 2005 10:51AM
posted Jul 11th 2005 10:51AM
It isn't the fanciest model on the block (by far), but Sony's rolling out what we think may well be their very first
portable GPS navigation device (they've already introduced at least one
Bluetooth GPS module, not mention their hot, hot, hot
NV-XYZ777 in-dash multimedia GPS system for cars). The
Nav-U, which has a built-in 2GB hard drive for storing maps and location data, should be out in Europe sometime next
month.
[Via Tech Digest]
They put a hard drive on a GPS device and not on their PSP? What the hell. The PSP could have been a major PMP if it had a hard drive built in.
The PSP already eats through batteries without a second spinning mechanism. It would have been nice to have some internal memory in the PSP though, like at least 128 or 256MB.
BTW, the title reads GBS, not GPS...
I remember some mail order operation selling Sony handheld GPS devices about fifteen years ago. It was aimed at a higher-priced market than most units found today (I saw it in a airplane pilot supply catalog) and required larger hands than most, but it was handheld. As I recall, it split in half, allowing you to orient the antenna for better reception.
Sony actually had the Pyxis, the first handheld consumer gps back around 1990-91. It looked like a Game Boy with an antenna the size and shape of a tuna fish can stuck on top. Gave you lat & long, but that was about it. Very cool for the time.
Whoah! That UI (and the specs) look identical to the Navman 650 unit.
2GB HDD? Check.
UI identical to Navman software? Check.
ID has buttons in same places? Check.
Hmmm.
See http://www.navman.com/land/products/icn650/index.html for Navman's pictures.
I saw something like this at CES in January only it DID have multimedia capability. I say hold off for Gen.2
Why isn't this on the PSP?!?
WOW that really does look exactly like the Navman unit. Sony is probably just using the software then? Or they rebranded the Navman unit with some minor button changes?? Hrmmm....
Kinda off-topic, but is there a GPS system that has a handheld GPS unit that can be docked into a car cradle that then provides a larger display? Such a thing would be really nice.
thanks!
One thing I've learned by owning a Cadillac EXT with GPS and Onstar is that GPS/Navigation devices work far better when the screen is large and crisply animated. Furthermore, the button layout has to be as dummed down as possible if your goal is to get it to be purchased by the mainstream audience.
I don't see the point of this device being a handheld, as it would see better use on the dashboard of a car. I am not happy with the devices size and interface either.
Frankly, SONY should have designed an attachment to add to the back of the SONY PSP and just released UMD's with stored Points of Interest and Map Data for $30 a piece in the different regions of the world. this way they could not only make money selling it as an accessory to the PSP (which in itself is already a very desireable item), but they would pretty much secure the portable, mountable GPS system market.
An XM satellite radio accessory for PSP wouldn't be a bad idea either.
i have heard rumors that Sony IS planning to make a GPS for the PSP, as well as a mouse and keyboard. so who knows