Blaupunkt TravelPilot 700 and 500 overlay nav info on realtime video

Blaupunkt's TravelPilot nav units have never really stood out from the pack, but it looks like that's about to change -- the new TravelPilot 700 and 500 feature an integrated camera that displays realtime video with nav overlays on their 16:9 screens. That's definitely a novel and intriguing feature, but there's not a lot of information on how it works or what kind of hardware is under the hood to keep it running smoothly -- with the 700's estimated list price of $740, we're guessing it's pretty beefy. Both units also feature voice control, DVB-T traffic, live traffic, Bluetooth, and the usual PMP features, and the 700 also has a browser, email app, and VoIP client that work over Bluetooth tethering with your phone. Yeah, definitely intriguing -- hopefully we'll see this thing make it Stateside soon. Video after the break.

[Via Navigadget; thanks, Khattab]

[phanbouy @ Aug 29th 2008 2:33PM]

Blaupunkt: Herr Ashton Kutcher not included

[konshuss @ Aug 29th 2008 3:44PM]

er. why don't you sit the next couple of plays out, champ.

[tuna @ Aug 29th 2008 2:34PM]

This would work if map data is accurate. With my TomTom I've been on some roads where according to the screen, I was a quarter mile parallel of the road.

[alexicov @ Aug 29th 2008 2:34PM]

Speed camera warnings?
Just what I needed!

[Mycroft @ Aug 29th 2008 2:38PM]

Will it tell you not to run over the pedestrians?

[nathan.wong @ Aug 29th 2008 2:42PM]

This is really cool concept. This can be applied to other manufacturer gps's that are installed on the dashboard or the windshield since all there would need to be is a small video camera (easy for me to say). At night it would just need to revert back to the maps we're used to seeing today. It's almost like overlaying data over real life via the HUDs in fighter jets.

[Johan S @ Aug 29th 2008 2:46PM]

Interesting that it looks like the arrow in the picture above wants the driver to turn into the sidewalk.

[Khattab @ Aug 29th 2008 3:21PM]

Yeah - in 50 meters. Read the fu**ing display. ;)

[morcheeba @ Aug 29th 2008 3:58PM]

khattab, Johan has a point. I thought this was going to overlay the arrow on exactly the road you need to be going on, but instead it's just putting some video behind a normal display. What's the use of the overlay if you still have to interpret the number on the left? You lose the map view, which often helps evaluate the upcoming intersection. I guess seeing the video is supposed to be a safety thing, but I'd prefer a quick glance at a full-screen icon instead.

[Khattab @ Aug 29th 2008 4:13PM]

When do you want to be informed that you have to turn left? 50 meters before, or in the exact moment you drive across the sidewalk?

;)


All navigation system have to work like this.

[morcheeba @ Aug 29th 2008 7:32PM]

What about being informed about the road as soon as I can see it? This video idea has potential to do it (and change the rules for how all navigation systems work), but we're not there yet. (p.s. laughed at your sidewalk comment, thanks!)

[Richard @ Aug 29th 2008 2:49PM]

Can it apply labels to people on the street? Such as the guy on the corner, if it were to label him as a "douche" I would be highly entertained.

[Bill @ Aug 29th 2008 2:56PM]

Mmm...I just love to weltneuheit....

[StalematE @ Aug 29th 2008 3:03PM]

this thing would have to be nearly perfect, no shakiness, no lagging or pixelation at all for it to be even tolerable to navigate with.

[konshuss @ Aug 29th 2008 3:49PM]

guess you should check out the video then huh?

and i think the purpose of this, regardless of whether or not your car makes the camera shake/it has any anti shake technology is that it simply provides you with a window to the road for a couple of seconds while you check your directions.

that said, i would not want to be in the car with someone who thinks it needs to be flawless and perfect because they're probably the ones who will foolishly be staring into the screen the majority of their drive... but as you can probably figure out, if an artifact pops up or the screen jars slightly, unless you're a blithering idiot it's not about to send you careening into a tree.

[Tim @ Aug 29th 2008 3:04PM]

"Alter Wall" . . . into a tunnel, proceed to drive through.

[Khattab @ Aug 29th 2008 3:19PM]

Tech Specs (translated via google):

http://translate.google.de/translate?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.blaupunkt.com%2Fde%2F7612201660_detail.html&sl=de&tl=en&hl=de&ie=UTF-8


Interesting facts:

Flash Memory (internal): 8 GB
CPU: ARM9 μ P (500 MHz)
Coprozessor: DSP (266 MHz)
Wireless LAN: IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g
Playback formats: DivX, H.264, MPEG-2, QuickTime, WMV, XviD
Playback formats: AAC, MP2, MP3, OGG, WMA
Supported version: Bluetooth 2.0 + EDR
Internet & Communication: browser, e-mail, Internet telephony (VoIP), podcasts, radio
Business & Office: Word Reader, PowerPoint reader, Excel Reader, PDF reader, image processing


That thing is a monster!

[konshuss @ Aug 29th 2008 3:37PM]

Sweet, Grand Theft Auto comes to GPS!

[phanbouy @ Aug 29th 2008 3:51PM]

hey there, i'm taking comedy notes from you since you're the expert. how did you get such a witty concise joke like that?

[konshuss @ Aug 29th 2008 4:03PM]

you can start by resigning as captain of the failboat.

[phanbouy @ Aug 29th 2008 4:12PM]

hahaha failboat! oh the wordsmithuss from konshuss tickles the humorous!

ok ya got me, no more sailing for me. i'm a landlubber, i am. from now on, i will try to be a decidedly non hypocritical ROADS scholar like you

[Richard @ Aug 29th 2008 4:43PM]

Catfight!

[Carl M @ Aug 29th 2008 4:46PM]

So now you can drive without all that bothersome "looking out the windows"?

[ScotterOtter @ Aug 29th 2008 4:57PM]

Looks magnificent!!! (as long as there are no cars/buses/trucks in front of you)

[Samuel Wat @ Aug 30th 2008 4:35PM]

That idea is dumb smart compared to already stored videos that can be outdated.