Alpine set to introduce PND-K3 GPS unit

We already caught sight of the new Alpine headunits that leaked out in the company's 2008 catalog, and the folks at Navigadget have now brought our attention to a new GPS unit that made an appearance in the very same PDF. Available in PND-K3 and PND-K3msn versions (the latter of which adds support for MSN Direct), the unit boasts a standard 4.3-inch touchscreen, along with pre-loaded maps of the US and Canada, six million POIs, an SD card slot for expansion, bulit-in Bluetooth for handsfree calling, and an added cradle on the MSN-specific model. Still no word on a price or exact release date, but we'd expect those little details to make themselves known when the unit makes its official debut at CES. [Warning: PDF link]

[Via Navigadget]

[Ipaq3115 @ Jan 2nd 2008 3:52PM]

So wish I could go to CES...

[computer.dude.28 @ Jan 2nd 2008 4:05PM]

Me too, man..

[Carlos @ Jan 2nd 2008 8:11PM]

WOAH! anyone catch on page 3 of that Alpine catalog - iPod 'Tag and Sync'icon and description.

This confirms the HD tagging feature rumored to be coming to iPods.

http://www.floridaspl.com/Alpine_2008.pdf

[Anthony @ Jan 2nd 2008 4:28PM]

All I can say is that if the new Alpine GPS units are anything like the one in my Civic Hybrid- steer clear.

I've used Tomtom, Garmin, even Nokia N95's version. Alpine is the worst.

The navigation is odd- often taking me far out of my way. The menu is confusing at best (definitely short bus). The inability to save or update in any meaningful way is pathetic. The fact that you have to be in either daytime mode when it's "dusk" or raining (where you can't see) when you turn on your headlights is dumb. Have this automatically happen during a specific time of day. How hard is that?

Plus the maps weren't updated for 2 years. 2007 came out this fall for the 08 models. There was no 07 version. Only POIs & maps changed. No nav updates.

[ScOObyDoo @ Jan 2nd 2008 5:14PM]

I'll second that. We had their "blackbird" unit for a few days, and I can honestly say that it was the worst GPS unit I have ever tested. Routing was terrible, GPS reception was terrible, it was slow, POI's were poor and the entire thing just felt unfinished. One can only hope that Alpine learned a lesson here and fixed things enough to make a decent unit. But I'm just not sure there is space in the market for yet another new unit, competing with the likes of TomTom, Garmin, Magellan and Navigon is pretty damn hard.

[Paul @ Jan 2nd 2008 6:35PM]

PDFs aren't that bad if you have Foxit 2.2 for FREE!

[palehorse @ Jan 4th 2008 1:32PM]

any built-in decoders for DAP, USB, or DVD viewing capabilities?