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MSI rolling out new portable navigators at CES
MSI is making sure it doesn't miss out on all the fun here in Vegas, as it's apparently gearing up to unveil a slew of portable navigation devices (one is presumably pictured above) at the show. Although details are admittedly scant, we do know to expect a range of units available in 3.5-, 4.3- and 5-inch sizes. Furthermore, these navigators will cater to the outdoorsy set, entertainment-minded folk and those who adore routing around traffic jams. On another note, the firm is also cranking out its MS-5618 portable media center, which reportedly includes a DVB-T / ATSC tuner and MP3 playback, but yet again we're left to wonder about the specifics.[Via MobileWhack]
Hands-on with the Blusens G01 satellite imagery GPS
We were pretty stoked about the Blusens G-series PMPs that overlay guidance information on Google Maps satellite imagery when we first heard about them in October, and now Spanish site Xataka has a hands-on video with the G01, which appears to be just as impressive as we'd hoped. The satellite maps automatically appear when available for the area you're in, and Xataka says the unit itself is quite fast. Sadly, there isn't a ton more detail in the review, but those of you aching for some shaky camera work and cheesy country-rock tunes can check out the vid after the break.
Mio releases its C620 and C620t PNDs with 3D maps
Mio's been generating some buzz with its new C620 series of personal navigation devices, thanks to their innovative digital elevation mapping and preloaded landmarks which allow for a 3D experience that trumps most other products on the market. Well the 4.3-inch C620 and TMC-equipped C620t are finally available for purchase, although pricing wasn't set in the announcement, probably because these split-screen Bluetooth units are being sold in a number of European countries but not where we want them most, right here in the good old US of A. [Via Slippery Brick]
Sony's NV-U73T and NV-U83T GPS units hit the FCC
We'd already seen Sony's newest nav-u GPS units pop up in Europe, but from the looks of the FCC's all-knowing database, the NV-U73T and 83T are coming Stateside soon. New specs in the filing are hard to come by, but everything we already knew is there -- baby-brother U73T sports a 4.3-inch display, while the U83T gets a 4.8-inch screen, Bluetooth, and an accelerometer to allow the unit to keep the guidance going even when the GPS signal fades. No word on pricing or availability, but you know we just love the pretty pictures anyways.
Vector dis 590 PND makes FCC appearance
Nothing too spectacular here, but those looking for a bare-bones GPS from a little-known manufacturer could soon be able to get their fix in the form of the Vector dis 590, which just made its all-important trek through the FCC. According to the manual, this one (which appears to be a rebadge of the Royaltek RNS-3200) boasts a 4-inch touchscreen, along with maps courtesy of NAVTEQ, an SD card slot for expansion, the usual array PMP functions, and built-in Bluetooth for some hands-free calling. You'll also apparently be able to get optional RDS-TMC traffic data, and optional "FM radios," which we assume means an FM transmitter. Of course, there's no word on pricing or availability, so you'll just have to contain your excitement until this one gets official.
Pharos drops a pair on America: Drive GPS 250 and 150
We've got two new SatNavs from Pharos for you: the Drive GPS 250 (pictured) and 150. The 250 lists for $300 and features a 4.3-inch touch-screen display and North American NAVTEQ map pre-load (on 1GB SD card) riding atop a WinCE OS, SiRFStarIII GPS receiver, and 7-hour battery. Expect the the Drive GPS 250 and $200 entry-level 150 to pop at the usual retail locations in "the coming weeks" ahead.
Panasonic gets official with US-bound Strada CN-GP50U navigator
Just when you thought that no company in its right mind would bother entering the (way) over-saturated portable navigation market in the US now, along comes Panasonic to prove you wrong. The Strada CN-GP50U has already completed a European tour of duty, and now it's officially heading stateside and bringing along a five-inch touchscreen, 1.8 million POIs, NAVTEQ maps of the US, Canada, Puerto Rico and Mexico, USB connectivity, an SD expansion slot and an integrated photo viewer. Furthermore, the device will support handsfree calling via Bluetooth, and the Voice Command / speed limit warning functions should thoroughly please, too. We sincerely hope you weren't banking on Panny just giving these away, though, as folks opting to snap one up this December will be laying down a hefty $499.95 for the privilege.
XROAD V4050 GPS coming stateside
The cool kids might cruise in their cars on Friday nights, but you know we kick it old-school and troll the FCC database for hot new gadgets -- which is how this Capoint XROAD V4050 GPS turned up in our sights. The 4.3-inch touchscreen PND -- a rebrand of the Takara GP43, according to Navigadget -- comes with a 2GB SD card preloaded with US and Canadian map data and features the oh-so-popular SiRFStar III chip, a 400MHz Samsung CPU, Bluetooth, and MP3 and AVI support. No word on pricing or availability, but that Takara unit sold in Europe for €500 ($719).[Via NaviGadget]
Garmin nuvi 760 reviewed
The nuvi line has proven to be a big seller for Garmin -- we know half a dozen people who own a 300-series alone -- so expectations are obviously pretty high for the newest flagship device in the family, the 760. Luckily for nuvi diehards, the company has done just about everything right here, according to GPS Review, packing the 4.3-inch widescreen unit with nearly every bell and whistle you could possibly want in a PND while still maintaining the ease-of-use Garmins are known for. Specifically, you're getting pre-installed maps of North America, cellphone integration via Bluetooth, FM transmitter, text-to-speech, MP3 playback, and a cleverly designed traffic antenna built into the power cord that's capable of connecting to Clear Channel's Total Traffic Network. Apparently the biggest improvements over the 600-series are screen brightness, a "last position" feature to figure out where you parked, and a new routing function that lets you plot out a multi-stop trip or determine the best order in which to hit multiple destinations. Quibbles here are relatively minor -- wonky re-routing, too-late voice prompts -- and it seems the biggest barrier to purchase with the 760 is its price: at between $700 and $800, it costs quite a bit more than other models with nearly the same feature set.
Panasonic Strada CN-GP50U GPS finds the FCC
We've spent some quality time with Panasonic's previously-Europe only Strada CN-GP50N GPS unit at IFA, but a quick peek in the FCC's secret-ruining database shows that Panny's about to bring the 5-inch QVGA unit Stateside as the CN-GP50U, with all the same features and "kinda fugly" interface we talked ourselves into getting with in Berlin: text-to-speech, voice commands, speed camera information, and Bluetooth handsfree calling. No big reveals in the FCC docs, but we're certain those of you who get hot for RF interference specs are already well past the read link by now.
Dash Express hits the FCC
Well, would you look at that -- the Dash Express has navigated itself into the FCC's tell-all database. Not much here you didn't already know -- 4.3-inch display, WiFi, cell, and GPS radios, two-way traffic updates and travel-time estimation, and slightly redesigned casing -- but it looks like there's a 400MHz Samsung processor under the hood running a custom Linux build in 128MB of RAM, with 3GB of flash for maps. Hit the read link to nerd it up with some hot RF interference documentation.
Asus' R300 navigator surfaces, gets spec'd
Nearly a month ago to the day we were taking a peek at leaked information regarding two upcoming Asus navigators, and now it seems that we've got more concrete data on the smaller of the two. Reportedly, the R300 will be packin' a 3.5-inch touchscreen with a 320 x 240 resolution, SiRFstarIII GPS chipset, an FM transmitter, Bluetooth 2.0, handsfree capabilities, a 400MHz Samsung 2440 processor, 64MB of SDRAM, a microSD expansion slot and a rechargeable Li-ion for taking things off-road. Additionally, it'll be available in silver or white and boast USB connectivity, Windows CE.net 5.0, an integrated music / video player and maps covering France. We're still hearing that it'll ship next month for a currently undisclosed price, but check out one more shot of the unit posted after the break.[Via NaviGadget]
JVC storms back with KV-PX701 / KV-PX501 navigators
Aw JVC, we knew you couldn't keep your feet out of the overcrowded GPS biz for too long, and while you certainly tried to assure us that you were callin' it quits earlier this year, we suppose the two new navigators you've got on the horizon act as proof to the contrary. Apparently, the outfit will soon be launching the KV-PX701 and KV-PX501, which are both slated to utilize NAVTEQ maps and a 400MHz Samsung processor. The former boasts a 4.3-inch touchscreen, a SiRFstarIII chipset and integrated RDS-TMC capability, while the latter packs a 3.5-inch touch panel, a Media Tec GPS receiver and has its RDS-TMC module built into the car mount. The duo is expected to ship later this month for €399 ($565) and €349 ($495), respectively, but we've no idea if either will be headed to America.
Sony launches NV-U2 nav system in Japan
Like most manufacturers whose names are not Garmin or TomTom, Sony's had some trouble gaining a foothold in the already well-established GPS market, but that isn't stopping the jack of all trades from releasing yet another unit for the Japanese market. The NV-U2 is a 4.8-inch in-car PND with a 480 x 272 pixel touchscreen and MPEG-4 support, and improves upon the older NV-U1 by including the so-called "G Position Plus" chipset and shaving several precious millimeters off the depth. Pricing isn't immediately available, but unless your pocket is stuffed with yen, that probably doesn't matter much anyway.
Mio unveils the C720t GPS at DigitalLife
Mio's not shy about pumping out the GPS devices, and the company tooks the wraps off its latest model, the C720t, at DigitalLife this week. The 4.3-inch widescreen PND hits all the major bases for $599, with a geotagging 2 megapixel camera, Bluetooth handsfree capability, a Traffic Message Channel receiver (that'll cost you $65 / year, ouch), and some pretty extensive media-playback options. We played with one for a minute at DigitalLife and were impressed: the slick, fast interface was nice, as was the quality of the camera's photos. Check it all out in the gallery.%Gallery-7871%
TomTom to provide embedded PND for Toyota's Yaris
While we've certainly heard quite a lot about Toyota and its purported partnerships of late, the most recent one looks to be fairly set in stone. Reportedly, TomTom announced at the Frankfurt auto show that "the latest Toyota Yaris will come with the option to include a TomTom portable navigation device (PND) as part of the vehicle's built-in radio system." Apparently, the device will be "embedded into the radio system" itself and will provide "full radio integration with the car's speakers." Not a bad option for a low-end ride, we say.[Via Stuff]
Route 66 unveils MINI / MAXI navigators for Europe
It's been a hot minute since we've seen anything noteworthy from Route 66, but the firm is using IFA as a launchpad for four new Euro-only navigators. The MINI * EUROPE, MINI * REGIONAL, MAXI * EUROPE, and MAXI * REGIONAL devices touts ultrathin designs, traffic / safety camera alerts, free map updates until 2008, and a built-in media player. The MINI comes with a 3.5-inch screen, while the MAXI packs a 4.3-inch widescreen display, and both units include an integrated TMC traffic receiver and the ability to support handsfree calling when paired up with the Wireless Car Kit accessory. Currently, no pricing information has been loosed, but all of the aforementioned systems should be widely available in Europe this October.[Thanks, Gene S.]
Becker readying Traffic Assist 7927 PND?
Closely following the Traffic Assist Highspeed 7934 GPS, it looks like Becker may be readying yet another PND for release at IFA. The so-called Traffic Assist 7927 will reportedly boast a 3.5-inch touchscreen display, SIRFstarIII GPS chipset, RDS-TMC support, a 400MHz processor, 128MB of RAM, European maps on a 2GB memory card, USB connectivity, and a built-in media player for good measure. Beyond that, we've simply got to wait and see what details await us at IFA, but feel free to peep a few more angles after the break.[Via NaviGadget]
Mio's C620 / C620t navigation units to offer '3D maps'
As if Mio didn't have enough new kit coming down the pipeline, now we've learned that the outfit is reportedly readying another duo of portable navigation devices. The C620 and C620t seem to only differ in the traffic functionality built into the latter, as each will sport a 4.3-inch touchscreen display, the MioMap 2008 software with redesigned GUI and split-screen capabilities, an integrated media player, and a contact book for good measure. More importantly, however, are the new TeleAtlas maps, which purportedly boast "3D models of certain buildings, landmarks, and more." No news just yet on pricing or availability, but word on the street has these two showing up at this month's IFA expo.[Via NaviGadget]
Leadtek cranks out LR9750 / LR9752 GPS systems
It's been a good while since Leadtek caught our eye, and considering that just about everyone who's anyone these days has at least one GPS system with their name on it, we're not shocked by the latest developments. Yes, even Leadtek is storming back with a pair of rather capable navigation devices, each of which sport the SIRFstarIII GPS module, a built-in media player, an oh-so-shiny scroll wheel to navigate the menus, text-to-speech support, an image viewer, and RDS-TMC functionality. Those opting for the LR9752 will also be graced with handsfree calling via integrated Bluetooth, and while it'd be awfully nice to know exactly when these forgettable units would be headed for store shelves, Leadtek's not divulging any of that information just yet.[Via NaviGadget]
