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New European Mio Navman line uses Tom Tom maps, fails to mention Wordy Rappinghood
If you're in Europe, and you like getting from one place to the next as much as we do, you'll undoubtedly be delighted to know that Mio is unveiling three new Navman GPS systems, all of which feature Tom Tom's IQ Routes technology as well as Mio's LearnMe feature. Navman 575 (£149.99, or around $230) offers a 4.7-inch display, while users of the 470 and 475 models ($150) will have to make do with a 4.3-inch screen. Also included in this bonanza of navigation are a free year of real time traffic and safety camera info, Google Send-To-GPS (for sending Maps locations to the unit via USB), SiRFStar InstantFix, and more. Look for these to launch in May.
Mio debuts Freeview-tuning Navman Spirit TV V505 and V735 PNDs
We already knew that Mio was planning a few PNDs for the European market with integrated Freeview tuners, and now the outfit has come clean with the official launch of the Navman Spirit TV V505 and V735. Just as expected, the TV tuning satnav units boast 4.7- and 7-inch displays (respectively), with each also packing an EPG, two available antennas and support for video, photo and music playback. There's also a new slidetouch UI, 3D maps, built-in traffic support (with a lifetime subscription), an FM transmitter and a selection of Travel Books that provide in-depth listings of the best local stops. The new devices should hit UK shelves next month for £229 ($372) and £299 ($487) in order of mention, though we get the feeling a US version may not be in the cards.
Mio Spirit TV spotted in the wild doling out routes, serving soap operas
While we Yanks are stuck with overpriced PNDs that suck down weather forecasts and pretend to alert us of upcoming traffic problems, folks overseas are using their navigators to watch fresh episodes of Top Gear. Navman, better known these days as Mio, has just outed two new satnav devices across the pond, both of which sport a built-in Freeview TV tuner, Bluetooth, Google search, walking mode and loads of POIs. The Spirit TV will arrive in both 4.7- and 7-inch flavors, with expected pricing hovering in the £200 ($306) to £300 ($459) range. For obvious reasons, we aren't expecting this one to head Stateside anytime soon, but those camping out in a Freeview territory should feel free to hit the read link for more hands-on shots.Update: Slashgear got some hands-on video with the device, and considering that the TV tuner is modular, we could feasibly see a US-friendly one installed and shipped here. Yes, please. Thanks, Chris!
Navman intros slimline S100 GPS unit
It looks like those wanting a GPS unit that's a bit more stylish than the usual fare now have a new option to consider from Navman, which has just introduced is IDEO-designed S100 model. In addition to being shiny, this one measures just 13.5-mm thick, and packs a 4.3-inch "super flat" touchscreen, all the usual PMP features, 3D maps, Navman's trademark NavPix photo navigation, and SirfStar's InstaFix II, which promises to deliver a GPS fix five times faster than normal. It also uses Mio's new "Spirit" software with Glide Touch, which provides "simple tap and slide functionality," but apparently not full multi-touch. No word on a release 'round these parts, but folks in the UK will be able to pick this one up in November for $199, or roughly $340.[Via NaviGadget]
Mio springboards Moov GPS lineup at CeBIT
Thanks to a little digging at the FCC, we knew good and well Mio had a few Moovs on the way, and it's really no surprise that it chose CeBIT to make things official. Aside from looking incredibly sexy, the new Moovs all feature MioMore to unearth local gems and points of interests, SiRF GPS chipsets and InstantFixII for acquiring your location in a jiffy. Up first is the Moov 330 Regional (€180; $273) / 330 Europe (€230; $350), which each boast a 4.3-inch display and differ only in the expansiveness of their European maps. Next up is the €280 ($426) Moov 370 Europe, which ups the ante on the previous two by including Bluetooth and traffic information. Lastly, we've got the Moov 200 Regional (€150; $228) / Moov 200 Europe (€180; $273), which look to boast 3.5-inch displays and pack the same features as the 330 series. Mum's the word on availability, but folks situated across the pond aren't apt to miss a design like this.[Via NaviGadget]
Mio Technology and Navman brands merge
The GPS marketplace just whittled off another name. Mio and Navman are merging brands under the Navman Mio nameplate. Mio Navman, however, will continue as a brand in the UK, Spain, Australia, and New Zealand. Both are already subsidiaries of Mitac which acquired Navman back in February. The move is said to merge the hardware competency of Mio with the software expertise of Navman. 'Twas just an inevitability, really.Update: Jeebus, had it backwards. Long live Mio!
Navman rolls out bare-bones F10 GPS unit
Navman looks to be keeping all of its bases covered these days, with the company now following up its recently-introduced S-series devices with the even lower-end F10 unit. This one keeps things about as basic as can be, with nothing but a 3.5-inch touchscreen on the face of the unit, an SD card slot on the side, and a standard SiRF Star III GPS chipset on the inside -- even the software is apparently a light version of Navman's SmartST 2008 package. According to GPSAndCo, at least France will be getting the device, where it'll set you back €149 (or just over $200) , although we assume it'll also be making its way to other parts of the world at a similarly budget-minded price.[Via NaviGadget]
Navman's S-series gets official welcome
Amazon leaking a product? Say it ain't so! 'Course, as we all try to act surprised, Navman has gone and updated its website with the full lineup of S-series navigators, which includes the £299.99 ($610) S90i, £199.99 ($406) S70, £179.99 ($366) S50 and £149.99 ($305) S30. The high-end S90i touts a 4.3-inch widescreen touch panel, European Tele Atlas maps, real-time traffic support (free lifetime subscription bundled in), Bluetooth / handsfree, text-to-speech, 2GB of built-in memory, a 400MHz Samsung CPU, two-megapixel camera, and an SD / MMC slot for good measure. The S70 / S50 models strip away some of the more extravagant features while maintaining the 4.3-inch display, but the S30 scales way back to a 3.5-inch LCD and goes without Bluetooth or optional traffic information. The foursome can be had later this month save for the flagship S90i, which will land on its own in October.[Via Pocket-Lint]
Navman's S70 navigation system surfaces
Judging by a product page over at Amazon, it looks like the S70 from Navman has not only been launched, but it's ready to ship to eager European customers. The 4.3-inch widescreen GPS includes pre-installed maps of Western Europe, integrated Bluetooth, handsfree capabilities, optional traffic information, and the obligatory charging / in-car mounting hardware. Not a bad lookin' navigator for £199.99 ($406), and if you need more proof, click on for one more angle.[Via NaviGadget]
Navman sells business to Mitac
Neither Navman or Mitac are likely to be known to Joe or Jane Consumer here in the US of A, but the astute Engadget reader or the (foreign) GPS enthusiast has surely read both names many a times over the years. Well, say goodbye to Navman as you once knew it, everybody, because they've sold their GPS biz to Mitac for an undisclosed sum. Just thought y'all would like to know why in a few months you're gonna be begging Mitac for map updates, and not the people at Navman's (former) parent company, Brunswick New Technologies.
Navman intros three new F-series GPS units
Not one to leave something on the shelf past its best before date, Navman has busted out a trio of new GPS devices to refresh its F-series line. You'll need to look closely to spot the differences between them though, with all three sporting the same design and the same 3.5-inch touchscreen, Intel PXA 255-200MHz processor, and the always-popular SiRFStar III GPS chipset. The main differences instead come with the bundled attachments, with the low-end Navman F30 starting things off with a T1 Traffic Pack (seen above), which provides real-time traffic information for a number of European countries. Taking one step forward and one step back , the Navman F40 Europe drops the real-time traffic info in favor of a cradle that adds Bluetooth support for some hands free cellphone integration, also adding (as its name suggests) some additional maps of Europe. Rounding out the lineup, the Navman F50 provides, you guessed it, both real-time traffic info and Bluetooth connectivity, as well as an extra SD slot so you can load it up with maps to your heart's content. All three are available now for £199, £229 and £249, respectively, or roughly between $390 and $490.Read - Navman F30Read - Navman F40 EuropeRead - Navman F50[Via Navigadget]
Navman drops four new GPS devices
Navman is bumping the specs and shortening the names of its GPS units, with the F20, N20, N40i and N60i (pictured) set to launch this fall. All four look to be relatively minor updates, with each getting a built-in camera for use with Navman's Navpix service as standard issue, as well as an upgrade to the SiRFstarIII chipset, TeleAtlas 2006 maps, and Navman's latest software interface (as seen on the iCN750 and iCN720). While Navman itself seems to be staying mum on these for now, with not so much as a mention on its website, some European retailers already look to be taking pre-orders for 'em, with prices coming in between €249.99 and €499.99 ($318 and $635).[Via MobileWhack]
Navman iCN 750 GPS navigator with NavPix reviewed
Remember those new Navman GPS units launched back in March featuring integrated digital cameras for the new NavPix system? Well, PocketNow got their hand on the top-end iCN 750 in-car navigation system to see just how useful downloading location-mapped pictures can be. The unit's "pretty GUI" was up and running right out of the box thanks to the US maps coming pre-loaded on the 4GB internal hard drive. Nice, right? Only thing is, data stored on that relatively slow disk drive (instead of flash memory) resulted in "sluggish" screen-to-screen transitions. Still, the highly touted NavPix feature was so useful for navigation that the reviewer claims it will be emulated "much like the iPod clickwheel" soon enough. High praise indeed. In fact, we should expect Navman to start offering guided city tours whereby you can download an itinerary of coordinate-tagged photos for your destination city -- just tap the picture and hit "go" to navigate to a point-of-interest. The iCN 750 would have pulled more than the 4/5 overall rating had it included 4GB of flash memory to speed things along, a non-reflective coating to help out in direct sunlight, and a battery indicator right up front on the main menu. All in all, a pretty sweet setup for the $700 beans required to take this high-end navigator home.
