Hitachi intros GPS-packing W53H cellphone

Hitachi's no stranger to GPS-laden cellphones, and it now looks to be upping the ante even further, with it recently introducing a new phone that seemingly aims to replace your car's GPS entirely. As with its previous W51H model, the new W54H phone (also called the "Wooo") sports a reasonably-sized screen (2.8-inches in this case) that's able to flip around and cover up the keypad, along with 2 megapixel camera, a microSD slot, and a 1seg TV receiver. That mobile TV should look especially good on the phone's OLED screen, as it apparently boasts a 10,000:1 contrast ratio. As you can see, it also comes with a stand to prop it up for easier viewing in your car, and the GPS software boasts voice input so you can keep your hands on the wheel. No word on pricing or availability just yet, but you can no doubt guess where it won't be available.

[Via Navigadget]

[DickHardknocks @ Oct 24th 2007 11:15AM]

A Dashboard mounted Mobile TV/ GPS system, Cellphone???

Its like Hitachi said "lets take all the possible reasons drivers can possibly cause multi-car pileups and combine them into a single, stylish device.

[FK @ Oct 24th 2007 1:00PM]

Dude, if you don't like really cool multi functional gadgets then you really should not be reading Engadget. Go read "Manual Typewriter Blog", "Two Cups Connected By A String Blog", or "Hand Crank Car Blog". I am sure one of them is bound to make you happy.

[DickHardknocks @ Oct 24th 2007 11:19AM]

...don't get me wrong, I like the combination device.

It looks lik Backseat TV through sirius is going to be the next big luxury auto item since GPS (next to hard drive based digtal music storage.

But here, its illegal to have "TELEVISIONS" where a driver can see them.

In my S550 for example, you are forced to electronicaly sign a waiver each time you start the car to claim you will use the GPS system without dissobeying traffic laws.

[Jon @ Oct 24th 2007 11:37AM]

You do realise right that not everyone who drives watch TV when doing so. And that not only car owners will be using this.

[Cactus @ Oct 24th 2007 12:31PM]

This unit is not "also called the Wooo"... Wooo seems to be Hitachi's new brand for its premium products -- to wit: http://av.hitachi.co.jp/

The new ultra-thin LCDs mentioned earlier will also be branded as "Wooo"

[Charly @ Oct 24th 2007 1:36PM]

This phone is indeed called the Wooo... or Woooケータイ according to au's fall/winter line-up website.
http://www.au.kddi.com/seihin/kinobetsu/seihin/wooo/

This looks really sexy. I might stop by an au shop tomorrow to see when it will be available and how much it will cost as an upgrade from my W51S.

[mmh @ Oct 24th 2007 2:05PM]

I was thinking it was more like a Bravia or Aquos branded phone, not the actual name of the model.

[mmh @ Oct 24th 2007 2:07PM]

I was thinking it was more like a Bravia or Aquos branded phone, and not the actual name of the model itself.

[tks. @ Oct 24th 2007 3:12PM]

Is this about the W54H or the W53H as suggested in the header ?

Or are they interchangeable with each other ?

Maybe their marketing department pulled this together...

[DorianGray @ Oct 24th 2007 3:50PM]

A similar swivel-head approach could be used to link an iPhone to the TV/stereo receiver. Or, replace the 1seg antenna with a GPS antenna and integrate it with GoogleMaps.app -- include an SD slot or other form of additional storage for detailed regional maps...

I know, I know, everything is all about iPhones, blahblahblah...