Sony launches NV-U71T handheld GPS unit
It's not quite as fancy as those new NV-U80 and NV-U81T units that Sony was showing off last month, but their new NV-U71T squeezes all the GPS vitals into 3.5-inch touch screened unit, and should be ready in time for the holidays just like its big brothers. The U71T weighs almost 10 ounces, and has a nifty "Gesture Command" functionality that allows you to operate the device with specially directed finger swipes. There's also a bit of real time traffic info in here, thanks to a 90-day free trial of RDS-TMC and a built-in receiver in the supplied cradle. Otherwise, not a lot to get excited about. A 6 hour battery should do well enough for a quick jaunt out of the cradle, and the 2GB memory should provide plenty of space for the included US and Canadian maps, but there's nothing along the lines of PMP love -- which makes the $500 pricetag a bit hard to justify. No word on an exact release date, but the NV-U71T is available for pre-order now if you've got a thirst that can only be quenched by sexy overpriced Sony gear.
[Via Laptop]
