motonav
Latest
Motorola's Motonav TN765 navigator gets reviewed: a widescreen PND done right
Motorola doesn't exactly have a huge foothold in the portable navigation market, but it's not like the TomToms and Garmins of the world really need to keep on keepin' on sans any legitimate competition. Originally revealed at CES (and once again at MWC), the Motonav TN765 is one of the most bizarrely designed GPS units we've ever seen, taking on a Philips 21:9 Cinema type of layout in order to provide an ultra-widescreen view that can't easily be found elsewhere. Now, the 5.1-inch device is on sale in the US for around $270, and we've collected a number of reviews from those who've had the ability to whiz around town with one adhered to the windshield. For the most part, critics were duly impressed with the wide variety of features (Bluetooth handsfree calling, text-to-speech, voice dialing, auto map zooming and a litany of live data reports informing you of the local weather forecast, gas prices, etc.). Previously, Motorola's PND efforts weren't exactly lauded, but this guy's different -- most everyone found the robust feature set and stunning user interface to be more than satisfactory, with the main detraction being the intermittent MotoExtras service and dodgy reception in dense, urban areas. Hit up the links below before pulling the trigger (or switching on the safety, as it were).
MOTONAV GC550 GPS device found in FCC filing, nowhere else on the internet
Here's an interesting case. A new Motorola GPS unit, the MOTONAV GC550, has popped up in a filing to the FCC. It's got external photos, a full manual, all the relevant tests, the works -- and yet, somehow as of this writing, it seems to have never been mentioned anywhere on the internet, at least as far as Google, Bing, and Twitter are concerned. From what we can glean from the manual, the touchscreen device sports 3D mapping, voice commands, Bluetooth pairing with your phone for hands-free use, a microSD slot (presumably for updates like the previous models), Google local search, and information on weather, traffic, and flights. Not contained in these unearthed documents, unfortunately, is price or release date. Come on, Moto, don't keep us waiting long.
Motorola introduces MOTONAV TN20 / TN30 GPS devices
While not packing nearly the pizazz offered in the AURA, Motorola's two freshest navigators don't look half bad. Up first is the dead-simple MOTONAV TN20, which provides spoken street names and turn-by-turn directions, NAVTEQ 2D / 3D maps of the continental US and a 3.5-inch touch panel. The slightly more sophisticated MOTONAV TN30 picks up where the TN20 left off and adds in maps of Puerto Rico and Canada, four million searchable points of interest, a 4.3-inch touchscreen and Bluetooth handsfree support. Both systems include a SD slot for updating maps, a mini USB port for charging, speed limit display with warnings and the obligatory on-screen speed, distance, arrival time, elevation, and distance traveled tidbits. If you're into either, you'll have to scoot over to the RadioShack most convenient to you and plop down $199.99 / $299.99, respectively.
