Navi -- Engadget

navi posts

Telmap taps NAVTEQ for iPhone GPS solution, understands the inevitable

by Darren Murph posted Oct 30th 2009 at 9:47AM

Man, talk about awful timing. At least TomTom and Navigon were able to sell a few rounds of their pricey iPhone GPS application before Google went and ruined everyone's day (at least in the GPS biz), and now that Google Maps Navigation is but an approval away from hitting iPhone users for free, we've got serious doubts about Telmap's ability to market its newest product. Utilizing NAVTEQ maps and familiar shells like MapQuest Navigation (in the US) and Orange Maps (in France), the company seems quite proud of its newest routing solutions. Oh sure -- there's live traffic, turn-by-turn guidance, in-car and pedestrian modes, etc., but is anyone really doling out cash for a phone-based routing system right now with Google at the wheel? Exactly.

Garmin-Asus nuvifone G60 reviewed at Engadget Mobile!

by Darren Murph posted Oct 13th 2009 at 4:39PM

You've been waiting for this day for nearly two years, but before you go and drop three Benjamins on a phone that you're probably assuming is way out of date by now, you should probably hit up Engadget Mobile's review of the thing. It's the nüvifone G60, and the full, unadulterated critique is waiting for you right here. Have a gander, won't you?

Garmin's connected nuvi 1690 now shipping for $500

by Darren Murph posted Oct 8th 2009 at 10:29AM

Guess what, kiddos? Garmin's minty fresh connected PND is now shipping, and if you plan on getting your home address on one of those labels, you best break out the checkbook. The nüvi 1690 is now moving out from Amazon's warehouses, and just as promised, it's going for a penny under $500. Is real-time access to Google search, white page listings, real-time traffic and flight status updates on your GPS unit really worth all that cheddar? Maybe -- but just wait until those two years of free service expire. Good times.

[Via navigadget]

Garmin-Asus nuvifone G60 unboxing and hands-on

by Darren Murph posted Oct 1st 2009 at 12:08PM

There she is. 20 months and 1 day after its original introduction to the world, the Garmin-Asus nüvifone G60 is at long last in our (admittedly sweaty) palms. The highfalutin' smartphone isn't slated to hit AT&T shelves until this Sunday, but we were able to wrangle a retail unit early in order to bring you a sneak peek at what's to come. Frankly, we've been looking forward to this day for a long (long!) time. We've got a soft spot in our hearts for the Garmin navigation UI, and we have to say, that very same look and feel has been beautifully migrated to the mobile space. Upon unwrapping the phone, we were struck by just how classy the whole thing looks. It's plenty thin for being a GPS-turned-phone, light enough to not weigh you down and sturdy enough to somewhat justify the $299 (on contract) price. We did some brief browsing around, and everything felt satisfactorily snappy. The resistive touchscreen had some expected give, but by and large screen presses did exactly what we wanted 'em to in our limited testing. We're aiming to give this bad boy a serious critiquing over the next few days, but for now, feel free to peruse the absurdly detailed gallery below.

Gallery: Garmin-Asus nuvifone G60 unboxing and hands-on

Garmin nuvifone G60 officially coming to AT&T: October 4th for $299

by Darren Murph posted Sep 29th 2009 at 9:41AM

Can you believe it? No, seriously -- can you believe it? Nearly two full years after its surprise introduction to the world, the nüvifone G60 is finally coming to US shores. In an official press release outed today, the Garmin nüvifone G60 has been blessed with an October 4th launch date on AT&T. Oddly enough, nary a mention of "ASUS" or "Garmin-Asus" is found, but regardless of semantics, you can bet that it'll be looking for buyers this Sunday. The internal GPS chip and 3 megapixel, auto-focusing camera will enable users to geotag photos and emails and navigate using the same heralded user interface that folks rely on today with the company's standalone PNDs. You've already pounded the specifications into your head by now, but the last figures you'll need to know are these: it'll run $299 on a two-year agreement after a $100 mail-in rebate, and if you're hoping to access Premium Connected Services -- which includes traffic updates, white pages, weather, movie, local events and fuel price content -- you'll be forking out $5.99 per month after the 30-day trial expires. So, after all of this, who's in?

TomTom pushes Google services to mid-range XL 340S LIVE

by Darren Murph posted Sep 28th 2009 at 10:41AM

TomTom has already delivered its LIVE services to an array of its higher-end personal navigation devices, but now the company is pushing the Google love onto less expensive siblings. Er, one less expensive sibling. The mid-range XL 340S LIVE has just been launched, complete with Google-powered Local Search, real-time traffic information, real-time fuel prices, local weather and the company's own IQ Routes, which gets you from one point to another via the most efficient route possible. Essentially, this is simply a 4.3-inch (320 x 240 resolution) XL 340S with connected services, and as with Garmin's latest, said services are being provided courtesy of AT&T. Unfortunately, the $299.99 asking price only includes three months of LIVE; after that, you'll be shelling out $9.95 per month and hating every minute of it.

TomTom clears up iPhone car kit slip: £99.99 for the hardware alone, app sold separately

by Darren Murph posted Sep 24th 2009 at 12:27PM

Oh, brother. TomTom just hit us up with the real details on its iPhone car kit slip this morning, and we've got a feeling you won't like what it has to say. It confessed that the posting was indeed a mistake, and thus, the pricing was also incorrect. If you'll recall (c'mon, it wasn't that long ago), the Apple store listing explained that the £99.99 car kit included the iPhone app, when in reality, that price definitely does not include the app. Jump on past the break for TomTom's official statement, which now curiously states that the "iPhone 2G" will be compatible with the car kit, yet doesn't mention the iPod touch at all.

Continue reading TomTom clears up iPhone car kit slip: £99.99 for the hardware alone, app sold separately

Motorola impresses with pre-loaded apps list for CLIQ

by Darren Murph posted Sep 24th 2009 at 11:41AM

October 19th may be under a month away, but that's still an eternity in "waiting years." Thankfully, Motorola has posted up a handy guide that spells out exactly what kind of pre-loaded software comes with the CLIQ, and we've got to say -- the list is fairly impressive. For starters, users will get access to LastFM, an array of Google features, Yahoo! Mail (funny, real funny), Digg, Mint, Facebook, Twitter, Travel Channel, MTV and Amazon's MP3 Store. On top of all that, Moto's throwing in QuickOffice -- a piece that demands $9.99 on the iPhone -- as well as TeleNav Navigator, which has also found itself on a few other Android-based smartphones over the centuries. Hit the read link for the full list, but only if you don't mind the tease.

[Via Phandroid]

iriver NV mini bike edition routes two-wheeled warriors

by Darren Murph posted Sep 21st 2009 at 12:43PM

iriver's NV mini has been out and about for nearly a full year now, so it makes sense to think that some sort of successor was just about ready to pop. Sure enough, a next-gen version (of sorts) has been revealed, with the NV mini bike edition (₩188,000; $156) looking to help those out there who suck it up and bike to work / school / etcetera rather than hailing a cab. The 3.5-inch touchscreen (320 x 240) is unchanged in terms of size, but the UI has been tweaked to provide larger glimpses at what's most important. It's also designed to respond to gloved fingers, and the "exercise" mode keeps track of distance traveled, speed, time traveled and calories burned. Other specs include an SDHC card slot, 3.5 millimeter headphone socket and Windows CE 5.0 underneath, with an on sale date of "right now" in South Korea.

[Via Slashgear]

TomTom intros 5-inch XXL 530S and XXL 540S navigators

by Darren Murph posted Sep 14th 2009 at 10:44AM

TomTom felt the need to out its new GO lineup at IFA earlier this month, but evidently these critters didn't quite make the cut. The new XXL range is comprised of the XXL 530S and XXL 540S (shown above), both of which pack 5-inch touchscreens and the outfit's own IQ Routes technology (which surveys a variety of factors in order to get you from point A to point B in the quickest fashion). Both units also include full maps of the US and Canada, Map Share, a 'Fold and Go' EasyPort mount and a refreshed user menu that we've been badly longing for. The 540S ups the ante with advanced lane guidance, maps of Mexico, a sleeker design and seven million POIs. Both PNDs should splash down next month in the US and Canada for $279.95 and $299.95, respectively.

Gallery: TomTom intros 5-inch XXL 530S and XXL 540S navigators

TomTom's new x50 user interface gets pictured

by Darren Murph posted Sep 4th 2009 at 9:23AM

We'll be honest -- after seeing TomTom's best efforts on its flagship GO 740 LIVE, we couldn't be happier to witness a new user interface for the outfit's PNDs. After taking the wraps off of the GO 950, GO 750 and GO 550 yesterday at IFA, the good folks over at Mobility Minded were able to take a quick peek at some UI improvements that'll ship on the new trio. Aside from just looking entirely more modern, TomTom also added a "Live" tab that gives drivers quick access to upcoming traffic, the cheapest gas nearby and the location of fixed and mobile safety cameras. We'd still like to see a bit more overhauling in the future, but if you're interested in a closer look at what's changing in the immediate, give that read link some love.

TomTom unveils GO 950, GO 750 and GO 550 with IQ Routes at IFA

by Darren Murph posted Sep 3rd 2009 at 7:50AM

Here lately, all of the buzz surrounding TomTom has been focused intently on the outfit's iPhone app and accompanying car kit. But over in Berlin, the company seems entirely more interested in showcasing some new wares that fall into its core product category. Making its debut at IFA, the GO x50 lineup is comprised of the GO 950, GO 750 and GO 550, all of which tout the company's IQ Routes technology to get you from point A to point B in the very least amount of time. The trio promises to calculate routes faster than ever before, and they also include the planet's largest collection of historical speed profiles. Once you're on your way, the units can tap into RDS-TMC services in order to take current road conditions into account and get you from point A to point B in the least amount of time. Also of note, these three now feature voice command and control, and each ships with an active dock with integrated RDS-TMC information. The x50 lineup is scheduled to ship this autumn for undisclosed amounts, with the GO 950 packing maps for the US, Canada and 45 European nations and the GO 750 / GO 550 offering maps in select regions of Europe only.

User manual for Garmin's connected nuvi 1690 reveals "nuinfo" service branding

by Darren Murph posted Aug 17th 2009 at 3:34PM

The connected PND, by most accounts, is a dying breed. Dash couldn't pull it off, TomTom's execution was downright pathetic and no one even remembers that Insignia made one. But considering that Garmin's nüvi range has always delivered, we're going to let the nüvi 1690 ship before passing judgment. Said navigator, which just slipped into the FCC's database a fortnight ago, didn't have too many details attached to it, but a recently discovered user manual reveals that although Garmin's local-data service will be powered by Google, the company has branded it with the virtually-unpronounceable name "nuinfo." Yeah, we have no idea, but we're definitely interested in finding out what the ultimate plan is -- the shots of the device in the manual lead us to believe that local weather information will be on tap in addition to the usual waypoint searching and so forth, but unless Garmin throws these so-called "connected services" in gratis, every smartphone owner on the planet will simply laugh and move on.

[Via GPS Tracklog]

TomTom's iPhone car kit and navigation software priced overseas

by Darren Murph posted Aug 6th 2009 at 4:44AM

TomTom told us that its long-awaited iPhone navigation app and in-car mounting kit would be landing "this summer," and at least on our watch, summertime is quickly drawing to a close. If a pre-order listing over at Handtec is to be believed, it looks as if the outfit is exceedingly close to finally having both the software and hardware ready for shipping. The £113.85 ($194) asking price includes a suction mount for your iPhone as well as the mapping software, though there's no indication of exactly how much the app and hardware will run by themselves. Of course, until the iPhone supports multitasking, using it as a dedicated PND is still a risky move; one stray call during a pivotal moment in your travels and you can consider yourself lost. Oh, and then there's the fact that this thing has a TomTom logo on it -- if the iPhone app functions anything like the company's high-end GO 740 LIVE, we'd say you're better off asking Mr. Gas Station attendant (or buying a different brand).

[Via DaniWeb]

Continue reading TomTom's iPhone car kit and navigation software priced overseas

Alpine's NVE-M300 black box brings navigation to top head units

by Darren Murph posted Jul 15th 2009 at 3:49PM

If you've been putting off that GPS purchase in hopes that Alpine would deliver a sleek, fully compatible solution for the head unit that you already splurged on, your lucky day has finally arrived. The altogether simplistic NVE-M300 GPS Navigation Drive is a simple black box that measures just barely more than 4- x 4- x 1-inches and is designed to interface with the company's top two selling in-dash AV head units: the iXA-W404 (4.3-inch display) and the IVA-W505 (7-inch touchscreen). The device features the outfit's own OnPoint Advanced GPS Positioning, turn-by-turn guidance, a solid-state gyro sensor and accelerometer, text-to-speech and pre-loaded NAVTEQ maps of the US and Canada. Unfortunately, all this beautiful harmony will cost you, and by "cost you," we mean "450 bones."