Navigon launches 5100 max / 2090S GPS units at RadioShack

We had a respectable hunch that Navigon's 5100 max would be hitting US shelves in short order, but we weren't aware that it'd be launching alongside a friend. As for the 5100 max, you'll find a 4.3-inch touchscreen, Reality View Pro / Lane Assistant Pro technology, handsfree Bluetooth support, text-to-speech, an Exit Guide and free real-time traffic updates for life. The little sibling (dubbed 2090S) checks in with a 3.5-inch touch panel and most of the same internal niceties already mentioned save for Bluetooth. Look for the cute couple right now exclusively at RadioShack (or RadioShack.com) for $299.99 / $199.99, respectively. Full release after the break.

NAVIGON Launches NAVIGON 5100 max and NAVIGON 2090S GPS Navigators

New NAVIGON 5100 max and NAVIGON 2090S Personal Navigation Devices and accessories available exclusively at RadioShack stores and online at RadioShack.com

CHICAGO, November 3, 2008 - NAVIGON, the leading innovator in the navigation market, and RadioShack, one of the nation's most experienced consumer electronics specialty retailers, today announced that the new NAVIGON 5100 max and NAVIGON 2090S GPS devices will be sold exclusively at RadioShack stores and through RadioShack.com. Both products offer a list of advanced and exclusive features, are based on NAVIGON's newest generation of fast and easy to use software, and offer regular map updates with NAVIGON FreshMaps.

The elegantly designed NAVIGON 5100 max features an extra-wide 4.3" touchscreen display and Free Real-Time Traffic Updates for Life. Based on NAVIGON's newest generation of fast and easy-to-use software, both the NAVIGON 5100 max and NAVIGON 2090S come with Reality View™ Pro, Lane Assistant Pro, Advanced Text-to-Speech guidance announcing directions and street names, and DirectHelpSM which provides directions to nearby emergency service providers including hospitals, pharmacies and road-side help - all at the touch of a button. Both provide up to eight regular map updates with NAVIGON FreshMaps, over a $50 value if purchased alone.

"NAVIGON's 5100 max and 2090S units offer the unmatched navigation experience and unique feature set that has come to be associated with NAVIGON products," said Michael Roach, NAVIGON's President for the Americas. "We are proud to work with RadioShack on this exclusive partnership and commend RadioShack's dedication to offering its customers the latest technology and innovation."

The NAVIGON 2090S and NAVIGON 5100 max are available exclusively at RadioShack stores and online at www.radioshack.com. The products retail for $199.99 and $299.99, respectively.

The NAVIGON 5100 max features include:

• Free Real-Time Traffic Updates for Life. Real-time traffic updates allow routing around congestion by including traffic flow, incidents and alternate routes and works for the lifetime of the product out-of-the-box without any fees or additional hardware.

• NAVIGON FreshMaps: Keeps your NAVIGON 5100 max as up-to-date as it was on the day you bought it with up to eight quarterly map updates spanning two years.

• Extra-wide 4.3" touchscreen display with 16:9 aspect ratio

• Reality View™ Pro. Never miss an exit again with the next generation of Reality View providing more coverage in more places. Reality View Pro displays 3D views with road sign text and lane guidance for virtually every highway interchange and exit.

• Lane Assistant Pro. Helps drivers prepare to make an upcoming exit or turn by providing clear visual lane guidance. NAVIGON's second generation of Lane Assistant provides a lane map complete with arrows and actual road geometry.

• Bluetooth® Hands-Free. The integrated Bluetooth® feature helps keep both hands on the wheel while still staying connected. The NAVIGON 5100 max acts like a Bluetooth speakerphone to hold hands-free conversations. Contacts are easily downloaded for one-touch calling.

• Advanced Text-to-speech. Lets drivers keep their hands on the wheel and eyes on the road with advanced phonetic text-to-speech technology to ensure proper pronunciation of streets.

• Fast Destination Entry. The latest generation of NAVIGON software makes entering and finding information fast and simple. NAVIGON's SmartSpeller feature helps guiding through the entry process.

• Exit Guide. NAVIGON's Exit Guide enables users to search upcoming exits for one of six POI categories – food, gas, lodging, rest areas, auto service or shopping. And, with one click, the NAVIGON 5100 max navigates there.

• Top-Notch Performance. NAVIGON's new software gets to the right route in less time. Our new platform delivers our most responsive interface to date with dramatically improved route calculation times to get directions more quickly.

The NAVIGON 2090S features include:


• Reality View™ Pro

• Advanced Text-to-speech

• NAVIGON FreshMaps

• Lane Assistant Pro

• Fast Destination Entry with latest generation of software

• DirectHelpSM

• 3.5" touchscreen display

[Zach @ Nov 3rd 2008 8:06AM]

Hopefully this time they got it right. No pauses, freezes, and hopefully the maps are completely up to date and the voice doesn't sound like a robot. Last Black Friday I bought both a Navigon 2100 and TomTom One v3 and it was such a tough toss up on which one to take back. The Navigon really almost had me with free traffic and brighter screen, but the horrid GUI made me finally go with the TomTom which I been happy with ever since.

[Alareth @ Nov 3rd 2008 9:43AM]

I picked up the 2100 back in April and Navigon had a patch out the eliminated all the puses and freezing. It was a completely different unit afterwards.

[y3k.nik @ Nov 3rd 2008 8:47AM]

Why no QWERTY? I dislike keyboards that are not it anymore.

[AR @ Nov 3rd 2008 10:43AM]

I also have the 2100. It is a decent little TTS unit for under 100 bills but the interface (which is pasted on top of WinCE) is slow slow slow. You press a button and wait up to a second for the thing to respond. I hope they have improved the frustrating input delay.

[Christopher @ Nov 3rd 2008 11:24AM]

@y3k.nik
Hopefully, this will have an option to change between QWERTY & ABC
My cheap-o nextar S3 has such an option (it was $100 at newegg).


I like the fact that these come with 8 map updates for free, that's rather nice.

@AR
Alareth says that Navigon put out a patch that eliminated the freezing, did you download it? That may help you, and I'd be interested to see if that does indeed help.

[Bruno @ Nov 3rd 2008 12:51PM]

I've got the 2100 with most recent software. It's fast, snappy, nice graphics and soft voice. However despite it's traffic jam receiver, option set to avoid jams and alternative routes available it keeps on driving straight into the traffic jam.

[Matthew @ Nov 3rd 2008 1:46PM]

They have the user manual for this online:
http://navigonusa.com/support/index.php/userguides

Looks to be close to the 7100 in specs, but missing the Landmark View 3D and the ZAGAT reviews.

Not yet up on radioshack.com. Wonder if it will be a Black Friday special?

Matt

[peter @ Nov 3rd 2008 7:18PM]

ohh thats tought if you want to go to Mississippi....(see picture)