New GPS Devices Right Around the Corner
GPS is becoming one of the hottest personal tech sectors this year, with more and more cell phones including location capabilties and portable navigation devices for the car hitting that sweet spot intersection of affordability and packed-to-the-gills features. This last month has seen a plethora of announcements for new GPS devices that will be coming out this autum, so let's take a look at what's coming on the horizon.
While not the household name that Garmin or Magellan is in GPS spheres, the German-based Navigon is trying to establish itself here in the U.S. with its latest round of releases, headed up by the 7200T. This portable 4.3-inch touchscreen-enabled device offers enhanced navigational views, from 3D landmarks to the addition of realistic road signs and guidance on what lane you should be in to make your turns (seen at right). The 7200T and the upcoming 2200T (with a 3.5-inch screen) also provide free real-time traffic updates for the life of the product (i.e., no trial subscription). Traffic update services (which are transmitted over an FM signal) are becoming one of the hottest must-have features for in-car GPS units, and coupled with Navigon's GPS units you'll be able to see upcoming congestion problems and create an alternate routing. The 7200T is currently available for pre-order, and it also features voice commands, Bluetooth connectivity to your cell phone for handsfree calling, and text-to-speech guidance (for audible directions with real street names, not just how many feet till your next turn).
Garmin's also getting in on the lifetime traffic bandwagon with its latest nüvi 7x5 releases (all of which have 4.3-inch touchscreen and include Garmin's HotFix satellite prediction feature for faster location acquisition). The nüvi 755T, 765T, and 775T all provide traffic updates via Navteq (check for coverage) for the life of the product, while the 785T offers connectivity and a three-month trial subscription to MSN Direct for its traffic updates (as well as movie showtimes, gas prices, stock quotes, news headlines, etc., etc.). Garmin's also been ramping up its interface to include lane guidance (seen at left) as well as a Junction view with photo-realistic 3D views upcoming turns including signage. The 765T, 775T, and 785T include Bluetooth connectivity, and the 775T offers both North American and European maps. All models are available for pre-order, with first shipments starting in early October.
Not to be left out of the party, Sony will be coming out with its second generation of portable GPS navigators in October as well, with the Sony NVU94T at the top of the line. It's got a 4.8-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth connectivity, text-to-speech directions, and gesture commands for controlling menu navigation and music playback (though it sounds like you'll have to memorize which movements are associated with a function--for instance, an inverted "V" starts the "take me home" feature). The NVU94T comes with a three-month trial subscription to TMC traffic updates, while its companion NVU84 model offers many of the same features but without traffic. Sony is also offering a more compact 3.5-inch touchscreen model in the NVU44.
Finally, if you're thinking that all these GPS units are starting to look the same, here's a shot of nostalgia for the 80s: Mio's Knight Rider GPS. While it might not have some of the higher end features that the others listed above do, it does come with voice directions provided by William Daniels, the original voice of K.I.T.T. and it includes an active LED voice synthesizer display that moves in sync with the voice. (Check out this video preview of the unit over at AutoBlog.) You can choose to be addressed as Michael (aka, The Hoff), or choose from the list of 300 (sadly, I don't think mine made the cut). It's also available for pre-order.
--Agen G.N. Schmitz
Happydriver on September 10, 2008 at 02:13 PM
I can't wait. K.I.T.T. in my own car, I'm going to have to coolest Ford Tempo about. I already have some cool voices I got from Navtones.com but I think I will have to put my Mr. T and Kim Cattall to rest for a little bit because I need this device. Navtones are providing the voice of K.I.T.T. so you know it’s the real thing. The device looks great too. Like you said in your original post, the voice alone has sold me but Mio have done a great job making it look amazing and work really well. My pre-order is in!
Rich Owings on September 11, 2008 at 04:29 AM
I don't believe the new nuvi lifetime traffic is being delivered via TMC. Like TMC, it is being delivered via RDS, but it's coming from NAVTEQ, not TMC/Clear Channel.
Agen Schmitz on September 11, 2008 at 09:12 AM
Thanks to Rich for pointing out my errant attribution to TMC/Clear Channel for the Garmin traffic reception. It's now been corrected, with a link to Navteq's RDS national coverage.
GIS services on July 07, 2009 at 10:25 PM
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