Amazon slashes Dash Express by $100 for the day

The once $600 Dash Express has hit a very nice price point today, and most likely today only. Amazon's Gold Box deal of the dayhas these formidable networked navigators for a mere $200. The units dipped to the $300 mark in June, but this once in a blue moon, $100 off makes this a unheard of deal, definitely worth looking into. And hey, that’s pretty darn good for a 4.3-inch GPS device of any sort, even if those maps are still ugly.
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Seafaring Just Got Easier - Thanks to Garmin

Mariners rejoice, today Garmin announced a newly enhanced GPS receiver to aid in decking out your dinghy this upcoming season. Serving both practical and frivolous purposes, you can pick up this newly announced unit without the guilt associated with buying a device that only serves to entertain… if that kind of guilt affects you.

Garmin is towing the line, with the GPSMAP 640 touchscreen portable. It comes preloaded with comprehensive street and marine charts, but with a major change in the form factor. Garmin was looking to merge the look and usability of their popular Nüvi series with this highly specialized, albeit dated looking, GPSMAP portable.

For this refresh, Gamin has slimmed down the case, ditched the antenna, and beefed up the screen. The end product looks striking similar to every other PND out there, but boasts an intuitive, waterproof, 5.2” touchscreen display, with an 800 x 480 resolution, surrounded by a much thinner beveled case, and tons of tidbits for the sailor.

The docking cradles, that compliment the system, are specific to the application. Dock the unit in the marine cradle and the GPS starts up in marine mode, and vise versa for the car. This certainly beats scouring the menus to change modes.

Data presented on this meticulous monitor could save you some major headaches. Garmin’s BlueCharts has been upgraded to include shaded depth contours, port plans, wrecks, and restricted areas. Upgrade again, to BlueCharts g2 Vision, and get automatic chart plotting.

Seafarers will find endless uses for this detailed navigational information presented on the GPSMAP 640, but add the optional XM radio/weather satellite receiver, and you’ll be good to sail the seven seas endlessly - without incident or running out of tunes.

Press Release
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Pioneer Introduces New GPS Models

Pioneer announced four new in-dash navigation head units; two double-din receivers, the AVIC-HRZ099/88, and two single-din the AVIC-HRV022/11. All of them feature a 40GB HDD, and text-to-speech. The $2495 HRZ099, flaunts an 800x480 pixel count on its 7-inch widescreen, while the others proudly display 480x234 on the same size monitor. To optimize and tailor to each person, the new product line, dubbed carrozzeria for the Japanese market, features “My Set-up” or customizable user preferences. These are stored for quick recall.

Revolutionary networking capabilities have been integrated into Pioneer’s latest latitude and longitude pin pointers. They use... a social network-like “Smart Loop” system; where traffic information can be shared with other device users in a "smart traffic information loop". The high-end model is set-up to provide you with additional information through this network by giving you a “Smart Loop Drive Report”. Information in this report may include which route will be the most fuel efficient, or how safely other drivers are driving.

If that “smart loop” traffic info isn’t cutting it, you can flip on the TV tuner and get a traditional traffic report. TV tuners are present in all but the lowest price model of the line. While on the subject of tuners, every new model uses a signal amplifying radio tuner, for improved reception in those dark, foreboding urban canyons.

The 50W x 4-channel amp provides the top two units with punchy power, while the disc player supports CD, DVD-ROM, DVD-VIDEO, DVD-R/RW, CD-ROM, CD-DA, and CD-R/RW formatted discs. Additional media can be loaded onto the HDD through USB drives (additional equipment maybe required). Supported media file formats are: DVD, WMA, MP3, DivX, WAV, and MPEG-4, units are also iPod ready with video playback.

These are set to drop on the pacific island of their origin by Halloween night. Prices will range for $1795 to $2495. No word on when these beauties will be making landfall in Cali, and consequently blessing the rest of us with possible ownership.

Press Release

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Garmin Says: Get Out There

Some of us fight it - but let’s face it - summertime is best spent outdoors, not mouse clicking. Garmin wants to help us get out there this summer. Their new Oregon series of handheld GPS receiver is specifically designed for some serious trekking and adventurous fun.

Designed to suit the demanding needs of outdoor, marine, and fitness enthusiasts the new Oregon series handhelds retain the rugged engineering of their predecessors, the Colorado series, while adding simplicity of use via a bright responsive touchscreen.

Maybe your buddy has some data on his Colorado or new Oregon you like to grab? Good thing these directionally enlightened devices wirelesses exchange tracks, waypoints, and geocaches between other Oregon units and Colorado models.

The new series has five distinct models to choose from –this way you only pay for the maps and info you’ll use. All model sport an SD card slot for having their mapping data updated. Model breakdown after the break…

“The Oregon 400t gives hikers preloaded U.S. topographic maps in state-of-the-art 3D elevation perspective. The Oregon 400i offers anglers shoreline details, depth contours and boat ramps for U.S. inland lakes and navigable rivers. The Oregon 400c is a saltwater specialist, providing chart coverage for the coastal U.S. and Bahamas. The Oregon 300 features a worldwide basemap with shaded relief. The Oregon 200 provides a basemap that can be easily supplemented with additional mapping or charts for your adventures on land or at sea.”
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GPS Buying Guide

$100 - $200, $200 - $300, $300 - $500, $500 - $1000

The navigationally challenged never need to ask for directions again; if, they have one of these gizmos. GPS navigation devices tell you where you are, help you find destinations of interest, and give you routes to quickly get you where you want to go. They provide real-time information to make our journeys as smooth as possible. A navigation device provides your geographical location, current and average speed, general direction, and elevation.

History

The Global Positioning System is a satellite-based navigation system created by the US Department of Defense to aid the military in coordinating the movement of troops and supplies. The system’s potential for civilian applications was undeniable, and it was later made free and accessible to the public by the Reagan administration, for the common good of the people. Now this system has become an indispensable way to navigate the world.

How a GPS Device Works

GPS receivers function with the help of 31 satellites circling the earth. Of these, at least 24 are in operation at all times; while the others are on standby waiting to step in and replace an unhealthy satellite. The GPS’ maintenance is overseen by the Air Force from five ground stations. Constant corrections, provided by the monitoring stations, bring GPS accuracy to around 3 meters.

The satellites are orbiting in such as way that every point on earth is covered by at least 4 satellites at any given time. A typical GPS receiver calculates its position using the signals from four or more GPS satellites. Since GPS receivers need to communicate with satellites, they work best in areas which are relatively open and not crammed with tall trees or skyscrapers. Once the GPS receiver gains four measurements, given by communications with the satellites, it then turns this data into a more user-friendly form, such as latitude/longitude or a location on a map. The process these receivers use to pinpoint their location is called trilateration or 3D fix. Trilateration, similar to triangulation, uses the known locations of two or more reference points (the GPS satellites), and measures distance between the subject (GPS receiver) and each reference point to define the subject’s location.

The receiver’s position information is overlaid and displayed on the installed maps of your GPS system to graphically indicate your location. GPS devices display real-time information, the GPS receiver’s software is constantly recalculating this data while moving from one location to another. As a result, a unit’s processor speed comes into play when displaying these calculations.

Applications of the GPS

Some of the areas in which GPS technology is used are listed below:

1. Military: Used to help soldiers find objectives in the dark or in unfamiliar territory, coordinate the movement of troops and supplies, track targets, guide missiles or projectiles, search and rescue operations, reconnaissance and map creation, in addition the satellites each have nuclear detonation detectors that can pinpoint in seconds the location of any nuclear detonation, worldwide.

2. Navigation: Travel savvy road warriors are the biggest benefactors of the GPS revolution. Those who work in uncharted regions or off-road drivers find GPS receivers indispensable. GPS also helps harvest our food. Computer controlled combines drive themselves using GPS, and the receivers are mandatory equipment on planes and ships, this also aids in air and sea traffic management.

3. Driving: A GPS receiver installed in your car eases navigation and makes travel by car more enjoyable. They can lead you to major attractions or guiding you through quiet, scenic routes. To prevent driver distraction, most GPS receivers give voiced directions to drivers alerting them of turns and maneuvers ahead. Text to speech is the newest form of this technology; this allows devices to make announcements of full street names, rather than just simple instructions like, “turn right in 20 feet”. Points of Interest (POI) information is stored on board or on SD cards, and vary depending on the manufacture. Information about restaurants, motels, ATM’s, or gas stations ahead is displayed either through icons on the map as it’s drawn or listed as the results from a search. Other information is available based on subscription. You can have instantly updated reports about weather, accidents, traffic jams, and road construction forwarded to your GPS, if equipped with a traffic radio receiver.

4. Geological applications: Accurate readings of stress variations within the earth’s crust can be obtained by comparing changes in the topography of a region to a predetermined reference. Any unusual or sudden changes can be a warning of an earthquake or some other natural calamity.

5.Land surveying: Property boundaries, survey markers, and other legal land dividers can be located using GPS technology.

6. Locating mobile phones: The exact location of mobile phones can be tracked by GPS; this can help first responders find victims lost in the wild or trapped under rubble.

7. Sport: Games like geocaching where players seek “treasure” stashed by other players can be played worldwide using GPS receivers to reach locations marked in the clues. Groups of off-road enthusiasts sometime use GPS coordinates to pick impromptu rendezvous locations.

8. Geotagging: As GPS navigation has been integrated into more and more electronic devices like PDAs, media players, and phones; the practice of geotagging has gained popularity. In this process, the set of global coordinates the GPS is receiving is tagged to create a place marker of that location. Another form of this is placing media in the appropriate place in the world. Photos, video, and messages are often geotagged by being placed in applications like Google earth. This information can be used in many ways, some more practical than others. One of a driver’s most practical uses of geotagging is keeping track of you parking spot in unfamiliar locates.

What’s Available?

In dash Car Systems: The question of whether to go with an installed in-dash system or portable navigation device pretty much comes down to weather or not the ability to tote the thing around outweighs the eye sore created by dangling wires and unwieldy dash mounting apparatus. In-dash systems are more professional looking, but only some come with a removable faceplate. This leaves them more susceptible to theft. If you have a Double DIN slot in your ride the screen won’t tuck away internally, as with some single DIN motorized screens, so your system is exposed for what it is, a smokin’ hot GPS.

The main advantage to an in-dash system is integration into more of the car’s systems. Electronics like rear view cameras, iPod controllers, and Bluetooth can be added to most in-dash system, along with the CD/DVD player, AM/FM radio, and in some cases HD radio tuner that is already included. Also, the in-dash GPS system is your car’s stereo - all audio is routed through the car’s speaker system. This makes voice prompts and Bluetooth calls much more audible than the sound provided by a units internal speaker. Most systems will also automatically lower the music volume to accommodate call and directions. Additionally, these systems can also include voice activated operation. Allowing you to stay focused on the task at hand, getting to where you’re going efficiently and safely. But, when the driving is done, and it’s time to relax the DVD players and larger screens, on these units, come in handy.

Portable Navigation Device (PND): The lower cost of these devices is a big draw with this form of GPS. The portability of these smaller units makes them the perfect travel companion. Whatever your mode of transit, you can bring a PND along: trains, walking, cycling, etc. Some PND manufactures offer country or region travel guides and talking translation dictionaries on SD cards, giving travelers an indispensable resource. Further fun flexibility is added when your unit includes a MP3 player and a picture viewer, and most out do. Some of the newest incarnations of the PND even include WiFi and web browser. The goal with this integration is, of course, reducing the gadget load on the traveler, while providing them with their digital life, on-the-go. If your car stereo has an aux input the, the GPS’ audio can be routed through the car’s stereo system. The PDN would need to have a headphone jack, however. Bluetooth is also offered with some PNDs, and the latest release from Magellan is the world’s first voice activated PND.

GPS Receiver Add On for PDAs, Portable Devices, or Phones: Many smartphones can be equipped with GPS. In-car mounts that include an antenna and map data, expansion port plug-ins, or an additional software upgrade are some of the ways GPS functionality can be added to your phone. With PDAs you buy a kit that includes the maps and plug-in receiver. Even Sony’s portable gaming system, the PSP, can accommodate a GPS receiver. For location specific photography, camera makers offer GPS receivers for geotagging photos in the image’s Meta data.

iPhones and iPod Touchs detect your location using Google maps and your IP address or cell tower triangulation. An interesting way of finding your location, but it can’t track your movement in real time.

These options provide a decent PND for walking around. However, their screens usually lack the appropriate size for navigating on the highway and many of these systems don’t include voice prompts for navigation.

What’s Ahead: One manufacturer has begun to integrate a network of its GPS devices in use, allowing a broader picture to be painted of traffic conditions, from the ground. Right now it is only used to gather traffic data. Normally traffic data is compiled by the individual municipality; leaving it somewhat lacking in less dense areas. This system has the potential to change that paradigm. In the future information such as weather or road conditions can be rely back to a central network hub and then disseminated among all device users in that area, sort of a social network for GPS users.

What to Look For

As with any class of device that is unfamiliar to you, it's always good to get a little background on the technology and have a basic understanding of how it works. It also makes sense to get a better understanding of what you need to look for when going in for a GPS receiver. We have listed several features to look out for when buying a GPS receiver.

1. Screen: Considering that a GPS is a visual device, it’s a good idea to go for the largest screen you can afford. The screen should also have night and day viewing modes, in order to see the display in different lighting conditions. Touch sensitivity is another option worth investing in, because scrolling through numbers and letters to type in an address is way too annoying and time intensive.

2. Number of channels: The accuracy of the GPS reading is directly proportional to the number of channels used to acquire positional data. One channel receives data from one satellite, and as the number of channels increase, the amount of information received also increases. 95% accuracy is obtained by using a GPS receiver with the high number of channels.

3. WAAS-enabled: Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS) is the combination of satellites and ground stations working to enhance the receiver’s signal by carrier out corrective actions to increase the accuracy of location detection. Its European counterpart is European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service (EGNOS). WAAS enabled GPS receivers are said to have around 5 times the accuracy of other receivers.

4. Points of Interest (POI): Gas, food, lodging, museums, parks, etc., POI has become standard on most GPS units, and these will vary somewhat for each manufacture. Many times other useful information, besides the address, like telephone numbers or hours of operation will, also, be provided by this feature. POIs can be updated by purchasing downloads or additional software on SD card.

5. Map detailing and area: Make sure the GPS you’re considering comes preloaded with, at least, the 48 states or, if it will be used in Europe, your country along with several surrounding countries. A GPS receiver with street level maps is ideal and the practice of selling detailed maps has faded, somewhat. More than not, detailed maps of your region are included. But, if you mostly travel on highways it’s not always necessary.

6. Ability to Update via Web: Since maps and POI keep changing, the GPS device should allow you to update maps as well as the gadget’s firmware. Most GPS units have USB connectivity. This way, the latest maps and software can be downloaded to the system to maintain accuracy and easy readability. Even though most GPS receivers have this facility, it’s best to confirm that the device allows map downloads from the Internet. Map downloads for updating purposes, usually involve a fee.

7. Hard Disks and SD card expansion slots: Choose a GPS that fits your driving habits. Long distance drivers should look for a Hard Drive model with extensive street level maps of the entire country, otherwise SD cards will allow you to update only as need, saving you money on the initial purchase.

8. Water resist or weather proof: These are marketed as rugged outdoor use devices, but as with any portable- a little extra protection can go a long way toward improving the life span of the device. Consider were you‘ll be using the device. If the answer is outdoors, as in the great outdoors, or in damp conditions; then adequate water resistance is a definite must.

9. Variable views: Differences in how maps are displayed can become usefully when performing different tasks. 2D maps resemble paper maps, so for first time users this is a more familiar way of displaying maps, also if you are searching maps manually this is the best view to use. 3D maps are useful because they more accurately mimick what you see when you look through the windshield. This allows you to more easily apply what you see on the screen to the world around you. The turn-by-turn directions lists are great for getting a quick overview of the trip ahead. The latest and greatest devices include a 3-D rendering processor which give these mighty map makers the ability to display terrain and building information, a must for aeronautical navigation.

10. Chipset: The heart of the device. The chipset employed effects reception, processor speed, start-up times, and multimedia performance. They are also responsible for Wi-Fi connectivity and affect 3-D and 2-D map rendering speed. Advancements in chipsets have given urban users and those traveling though in dense foliage a much better chance of gaining and keeping a signal. When you travel through a tunnel and emerging out the other end, how quickly the signal is regained is determined by the quality of the chipset on board. SiRF is considered an industry leader, and many manufactures choose chipsets made by this firm.

11. Real time Traffic and Weather: This information is transmitted through satellite or terrestrial radio. Traffic tuner or satellite radio antenna is needed, and subscriptions are required.

12. Voice prompted navigation/Voice recognition: Most systems will speak general directions, such as “right turn in 200ft”, but no street names. Text-to-Voice is a newer option that does announce street names with turn-by-turn navigation. Making it much easier to follow along. Further improving things for the driver navigating solo is the voice recognition, say an address and it routes you to that destination.

Making the right decision

When you have analyzed your requirements and determined your specific application, you should check out the features of different GPS receivers available from www.etronics.com.

Etronics stocks many brands top brands. To help you in your search for the perfect GPS, here we’ve provide an array of links covering all price points: $100 - $200, $200 - $300, $300 - $500, $500 - $1000.

Depending on your preference and lifestyle, you should choose the GPS receiver that is specially designed for you. For example, if you are someone who loves to go on hikes and treks, then you should consider for a handheld GPS receiver or even a miniaturized GPS receiver can also be strapped to your wrist. Cyclist would need a small handlebar mounted GPS, etc. They even make one to help you keep track of old Rover, called the Astro.

Go ahead roam were you want to, with a GPS you’ll always know where your head’s at.

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Clarion MAP780 using iGO My Way 8

Clarion's two newest Personal Navigation Devices the MAP680 & MAP780, from Clarion's German site, reverberated through the vascular system that is the blog-o-sphere by way of Navigadget on Tuesday.

These impressive GPS units, that were announced in April and include iGO 3D mapping software, have also made their there way to Youtube. Showing the device in action, the video demonstrates a no-joke navigator with mad 3D rendering skills provided by iGO's My Way 8 software, a 3D map rendering application designed for portables.

This upgrade gives you access to so much terrain/building mapping data you may never have to look at the road again. Well, there's still that bit concerning other cars and people getting in your way. Although, these units will have you wanting to keep them in front of you.

Clarion has included all the functionality you'd expect from a high-end PND, but they also added some you might not.

These knowledgeable navi's boast SMS (texting) capabilities, and can connect to a streaming audio service. The differences in the units are mainly disc space and what maps are loaded on those flash memories.

The Clarion MAP680 includes regional map information only, the region in this case is Germany so that includes four countries on it's 1GB internal storage. The MAP680's partner in 3D map rendering touts quite a bit more mapping data, 43 European countries are stored on it's 2GB Memory. Both devices can be expanded and accept SD cards.

No word on when Clarion will grace us with an American version of these mapping moguls but the software is available, a manufacturer just needs to bring it to market in the US.

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Car Electronics are on the On Ramp to the Information Superhighway

or Computers to Replace Common Sense

Today Honda announced their newest GPS units will let drivers know if they're about to leave their economically viable ride in an economically challenged area.

The new system alerts drivers if they have picked a less than desirable spot to park, places were the chances of the car coming out unscathed are slim to none.

The GPS’ calculated decisions are made by accessing local police records for any specified area. A crime rating is issued for each area you park in that has a higher than normal level of crimes against cars. Using the law of probability, the GPS alerts you when the chips are stacked against you and your car.

Don’t expect this system in the US anytime soon, on the fly access to local US law enforcement data systems seems like a logistical nightmare. Not to mention the cries of socioeconomic profiling that will be sure to follow.

Implementing this system should prove to be a good incentive to clean up crime ridden areas, especially if people started avoiding certain places based on this new GPS’ recommendations, which they will.

People are very willing to give over thinking to a computer as the folks in Wedmore, England know all too well...International Herald Tribune.

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..via physorg.com..via AFP..
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Archos 605 Becomes the Ultimate Travel Companion

A week from today, Archos plans to announce they'll be adding GPS to their already feature heavy personal media player, the Archos 605.

Unfortunately, for those of us in the New World, the news of this announcement comes from the island nation of Great Britain, via Pocket-lint. So, you shouldn’t expect this GPS functionality stateside until at least the end of the summer; by then the ‘hommes et femmes’ over at Archos should be able to hammer out an agreement with a GPS provider, in the United States, to become their partner in mapping.

Who knows really? We’re talking about a French company after all. They might get too caught up drinking wine and eating baguettes to remember about us silly Americans.

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The Portable Aviation GPS, Fully Realized

Aeronautical GPS navigation just got a booster shot, from none other than Garmin. Garmin unleashed the first aviation GPS portable to combine satellite weather data with color moving maps and terrain alert with the GPSMAP 396.

Now, the newest member of the GPSMAP fold, the GPSMAP 496, comes fully decked out with access to more information than 00 can get their hands on.

SafeTaxi which offers position diagrams for 650 US airports can help you make your taxi less hectic. An airport directory featuring details like the phone numbers of fuel services and ground transportation, as well as information on thousands of airports in the US, Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean give you the tools to meticulously plan your trip or the ability to make it up as you go along.

Quicker, higher resolution graphics and more visual reference information such as terrain, obstacle, and private airports sites serve to provide the aviator with the peace of mind that most emergency can be successfully avoided, and if encountered can be dealt with effectively.

Weather satellite data is collected by the GXM30 antenna which as the name suggests uses XM weather feeds to display weather maps. The antenna can also receive XM radio programming; this entertainment option adds a lighter side to the usually strictly business GPSMAP 496.

Since pilots will be toting around the unit once on the ground, Garmin figured they might as well integrate City Navigator NT and TIS traffic alerts for their earth bound ramblings too. This comprehensive GPS’s highly developed since of direction, and bevy of useful features means it could truly be, “The worlds most highly evolved aviation portable”.

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Nüvifone Set to Topple Apple's iPhone

Garmin’s latest announcement introduces us to the nüvifone, the company’s ambitious first foray into the mobile phone market. Obviously, any phone carrying the Garmin brand will be heavily skewed towards navigation and geo-tagging functions, and the nüvifone delivers, in theory. Success in this realm, for Garmin, will depend on how well they pull off the integration of the GPS enabled functions with the rest of the phone’s capabilities. On paper, the nüvifone meshes internet browsing, navigating, photographing, messaging and actually carrying on a conversation with style and functionality.

The phone is reportedly 3.5G capable, this basically means with the right network support the nüvifone would have the fastest download speeds ever experienced on a phone. At first glance the 3.5” touch screen and similar overall size makes the nüvifone look like a bootleg iPhone. Looks can be deceiving and in this instance they are. As fundamental to the phone’s operation as music playback on the iPhone, the nüvifone takes navigation seriously, while still remembering it’s mostly a toy at heart.

Some geo-tagging options are all fun and games like the automatic picture position tagging. A photo taken with the built-in camera will be appropriately geo-tagged; you could then send the photo to a friend just to let them know where you’re at. If they happen to have a nüvifone as well, they could then navigate directly to the photo’s position. Presumably you’d stay there to meet up with them. This isn't any better than just telling your mates were you’re at, but loads more fun.

Another, more plausible, example of the seamless navigation integration would be going from walking and talking; to driving, navigating, and conversing hands-free. As soon as the phone snaps into the car mount cradle the audio transfers to the speaker phone and the navigation function automatically activates.

Nüvifone also tags your position as soon as you take the phone off the car mount. This promises to make locating that out of the way parking place much easier. Plus, it took you an hour to find an open spot, you don’t want it take that long or longer to find your way back to it.

Garmin has built a huge database of points of interest, but they also realize that many folks use and trust Google to search points of interest. Using Google, the Garmin accesses all the resources of the web, including user generated ratings, to sort points of interest search results. They’ve also geo-positioned landmarks within the POIs database and linked them with sightseeing photographs from Google’s Panoramio, thereby enhancing those travels to unfamiliar destinations.

Added as more of a side note, the phone also plays movies and music, but I wouldn't throw out your iPod just yet.

If Garmin successfully completes this ambitious undertaking, the big question then becomes which carrier would offer this phone? AT&T would do well to keep their bid in front of the Garmin decision makers; having the two most feature-rich phone offerings would certainly boast profits, and maybe bring plan costs down. Well, one can dream, can't one?

<..via press release..

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Casio's Perfect Phone for a Disaster

This phone is marketed as a fitness phone, it has a calorie counter and a pedometer that displays calories burned and distance traveled. It is also sweat/waterproof. I think this disaster preparedness angle would be better, 'guess they don't what to scare us'.

Normally, I’d leave this one alone, we don’t even sell phones anymore, but this standard looking flip is far too impressive to ignore. The big plus of the fetching phone, especially in a survivalist sense, is its disaster coping skills. This Casio could quite literally help save your life.

Disaster preparedness is a real concern for most city dwellers, think less “Escape from New York” and more hurricane induced floods. Unless your private road to Ohio is well under construction you might want to pick up one of these Casio W61CAs if they ever make the jump across the sea from the Asian.

Earthquake alert, which presumably could be modified for region (typhoon, hurricane, volcano, tsunami, etc.), provides you with valuable predictive information. This information alone could help save you, but what’s the good of knowing of an impending disaster if you don’t know where to go?

'Nabi' disaster, Casio W61CA's built-in disaster evacuation tool, aims to keep you up-to-date on evacuation route and traffic conditions via DMB; while directing you, thru GPS, to the quickest route to safety. Now, these systems are all dependent on the quality of information they are given but I’d rather have the Casio W61CA to depend on than my battery operated handheld radio.

A slew of other fine features make this Casio an awesome upgrade from their calculator watch days. ..via Gizmodo..

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Hybrid Devices Able to Handle More Tasks

iriver W7 & Pioneer AVIC-F500BT

Multitasking portable devices aren’t a new concept. Most new GPS units offer the option of media file playback through an SD card slot or some other means of transfer. The option is added as more of a side note to the primary function, so less attention gets paid to things like the interface and sound quality. These two devices, announced at CES, have fully embraced this prevailing wave of device integration while maintaining their individuality. A trick the iPod touch knows well.

Pioneer AVIC-F500BT

Pioneer has realized their hybrid concept by taking the voice-recognition capabilities of and in-dash GPS and combining them with the flexibility of portable navigation. This system, equipped with USB and SD card playback, can act as a standalone media player and portable navigation device or it can connect up to the car audio system via the AUX input. The main advancement here is the inclusion of newer VoiceBox software. This software is designed to recognize more natural, ‘conversational’ commands; rather then systematic commands and controls both phone calls and iPod interface. No working models exist as of today, yet release is set for March at a price that is yet to be determined.

iriver W7

iriver is known for superior sound processing in their media players. So, their version of a hybrid device is skewed towards the Media player side of things; the GPS isn’t built in. The W7 gives you the option of adding a GPS antenna that slides on to the back and also mounts to a cradle. All the add-ons you’d expect from iriver, like an FM tuner, voice recorder, large touchscreen, music, video, text, and photos are included along with an electronic dictionary, SD expansion slot, and Flash games; this makes the iriver W7 one versatile portable navigation device. The release is set in the US for spring of this year…This ship date shouldn’t be a problem considering Koreans have been rockin’ these since November.

Say tuned in to find out more about iRiver W10 with GSM phone built in.

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Magellan's New Lineup, iPhone Inspired?

Magellan Elite 2370
Magellan, seemingly taking a play from the iPhone play book, has announced that a borderless 3.5” touch-panel display will adorn one of their latest PND, the Elite 3270 (not pictured). By removing the traditional beveled plastic case, Magellan hopes that the resulting form will be considered more “elegant and high-tech” by users, thus setting them apart in a crowded PND market.

Along with its new edge to edge flat screen, touch sensitivity is also enhanced. If brought to market today the Elite 3270 would be the industry’s most compact PND standing 3.24” tall and 0.7” thick. The model will ship with all the necessary accessories for easy installation into your vehicle. Alas it’s not out yet. The list price is $499.

Maestro™ Elite 5340 (pictured above)
Improved processor speed and a dedicated graphics accelerator are good reasons to choose the Maestro™. But, if display size is a driving factor in your GPS purchase decisions, than you might be interested in the 5” screen that beautifies this newest flagship model of Magellan GPS.

For the majority of us this alone is not enough to make the sale. So what other goodies does Magellan have up their sleeves?

Besides giving you 35% more viewable area, Maestro™ is a highly customizable device. With the “One touch” interface you can identify and store your favorite destinations, like which chain restaurant you like to eat at or what superstore you like to buy underwear from. Then, with one touch the Maestro™ instantly accesses directions to the nearest store in that chain from your present location. This would be great for traveling through unfamiliar territory. One touch is also touted as a safety feature minimizing driver distraction by streamlining access to destinations and POIs.

Further contributing to driver safety is the SayWhere™ voice command. Simply speak the destination address and Maestro™ calculates the appropriate route in seconds or search POIs with voice commands like, “Nearest Indian Restaurant”. The Maestro is equipped with a dual microphone to decipher your voice, and for Bluetooth® enabled phone calls. After you tire of your selected voice telling you where to go, switch over to the media player with built in FM transmitter to broadcast your MP3s through the car stereo.

Traffic data isn’t over looked either. This subscription based traffic update also makes alternate route calculation based on historical traffic data taking into account the time of day. The smartness of this traffic data system might make it worth continuing the subscription after the three month trial period expires.

General Packet Radio Service (GPRS)
Is too much information every really *too* much information? We don’t think so. Magellan is betting most of their information age demographic feels similarly. To that end, Magellan has partnered with Google to provide their Maestro Elite 5340+GPRS with the uncanny ability to provide overly comprehensive location specific information through Google local search, "simply type in what it is you're looking for and Google displays relevant results around the your current location or a specified location". List price 1,299.

These are said to be scheduled for release sometime in the first quarter of 2008.

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Blackberry Owners Get Even More Spoiled

As if owning one of these objects of an email addict’s desire wasn’t pampering yourself enough, Mapquest has launched their newest application, Navigator 5.0, which turns your GPS enabled BlackBerry into a multi-function personal navigation device. Now, you never have to look up from you phone again. Seriously though, for a small monthly subscription fee you get all the features of a stand alone PND, with one big advantage, no extra device to lug around.

Mapquest Navigator 5.0 enables your Blackberry GPS to track your position on a 3-D map, give voice guided turn-by-turn directions, provide real-time traffic reports, watch gas prices, and bestow city specific restaurant information from AOL. If this concept gets you excited, act fast, if you sign up by the end of the year you get a promotional rate. If you're an owner of a Windows based smartphone don't throw it out just yet, Mapquest will be adding support for other phone models throughout the new year.

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Motorola Ming 2

This new sequel from Motorola is a bit of a mystery. Their machete of mass communications is also a multimedia assassin, rumored to have an impressive array of gadgetry. Ming 2 is a…3.2 MP camera, LED Flashlight (to aid autofocus), GPS, Wi-Fi enabled, talking dictionary, Linux based…phone. These images are mock ups of the proposed phone design. The rendering shows the large screen and clear plastic flip, same as its older sibling. Supposedly, these will hit selves in Asian sometime around February next year.
..gizmodo..
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Blaupunkt TravelPilot Lucca 3.5 (to be 'round' or not to be 'round')

The Germans invented the limited access highway...the Autobahn (a.k.a. the interstate to us in the U.S.). They arguably make the most refined automobiles available anywhere mainly to deal with the speeds at which they are driven. Point being they take their driving pretty seriously. Plus, they’re German; they’re kind of serious all around. So who better than Blaupunkt Travelpilot to tell you how to get where you are going and how fast you should drive to get there.

Blaupunkt TravelPilot Lucca 3.5 Edition GPS is no square. Why did they go round? Well…not being present at the design meeting, one can only speculate, but my opinion is the round design serves to better mesh with the round display features that are present on most cars like the speedometer or tachometer. Also, in the crowded GPS market it stands out, on several blogs people are talking and debating about why it’s round. Simply put, in terms of free press this is a stroke of genius. The practicality of this round design is questionable. It needlessly takes up space.

Enough with the fluff let's get to the nuts and blots of the device. Its specs aren’t groundbreaking 400 MHz processor, 64MB SDRAM, 3.5in screen, 1GB on board memory that is expandable through MMC/SD/SDHC card slot 256MB - 4GB. It has preloaded in the flash memory all major European roads and detailed maps of UK/Ireland. There are some more impressive things about the Blaupunkt. You can use the card slot to play music or view pictures while still getting guided navigation. The device comes with a DVD loaded with detailed maps of 21 European countries (most of the time you have to pay separately for this information). It is also touted for being forgiving to bad spellers when typing in a destination.

The Blaupunkt TravelPilot Lucca 3.5 (round) Edition is a square in the sense that it doesn’t like speeders. It knows the speed limit and will warn you audibly and visually when you foot gets too heavy. One would assume this has got to be an optional feature. It uses TMS for live traffic rerouting even if you’re not using the GPS to calculate your route. So as Blaupunkt points out, “Rest assured: the round TravelPilot will always keep you on the straight and narrow.”

For drooling purposes only not available in the US…yet. We’ll keep you updated.

..Via..Navigadget

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JVC Revisits PND with the KV-PX701/KV-PX501

JVC was turned off to the whole portable GPS thing earlier this year, citing that the market was driven exclusively by price and was over saturated with new manufactures jumping on the GPS bandwagon. JVC, despite this earlier proclamation, is set to drop two new Personal Navigation Devices, the JVC KV-PX701/KV-PX501, in the UK by the end of the month. Apparently, the market stabilized a bit. Their plan back in May, stick with in-dash systems. Not a bad idea. Makes me wonder what market research changed their minds. Integrated in-dash multi-systems would seem to be the way the market is going. Read Death of PND. I mean, who really wants a bunch of wires going every which way, cluttering things, and suction cups that don’t hold well breaking their PND. Not to mention the attentiveness of thieves to cars with left behind units in them. JVC has demonstrated their change of heart by releasing the JVC KV-PX701/KV-PX501 the pricier model, the JVC KV-PX701 is tricked out with a 4.3in screen, 400Mhz Samsung processor, SiRF StarIII chipset (according to the chip maker this chip will “provide location awareness under dense foliage or urban canyons” and uses less power to do it), Traffic Message Channel (TMC), and will run you $565. The lower of the two boasts a 3.5in screen, a MediaTech Chip, same processor and the TMC is built into the car mount. This makes sense since you only need this info while driving; this unit will run you $495. No word on a U.S. release. Via.
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