GPS Gazette - GPS Reviews

Navigon is presenting two brand new navigation systems at the CeBIT this year, the Navigon 7100 and 5100. The first impression is that they have a really stylish design. The main difference of the two models is that the Navigon 7100 has a 4.3-inch display (16:9), while screen of the Navigon 5100 is 3.5″. Some of the other features of the two systems include Bluetooth for hands free calling, free traffic information, 2D or 3D map view and voice input. A new function that we will find in these new Navigon systems is called “Real View” or “Reality View” which if I understood correctly is a new view mode that will display signposts realistically in a way that will help the user navigate more easily.

The Navigon 7100 is expected in Europe sometime this summer with a price of 450 euros for the version with regional maps and 500 euros for the Europea maps version. Finally the Navigon 5100 will cost 350 euros.

Via SlashGear

Viamichelin announced that they will showcase two new GPS systems at the CeBIT this year, the ViaMichelin X-960 (picture on the left) and the ViaMichelin X-970 (picture below). The X-960 will have a 3.5″ touch screen, will be using the SiRFStar III GPS chipset and will be powered by a 300 Mhz Samsung CPU and will be running on Windows CE.net 5.0 with 64 MB of RAM and 128 MB of ROM memory. At first, it will start shipping in Europe like previous ViaMichelin models with a price of 299 € (with maps of 20 European countries). Maps will be provided by TeleAtlas and the navigation that the X-960 (and the X-970T) will be equipped with will be ViaMichelin Navigation Version 7.

The main differences between the ViaMichelin X970T and its little brother is that it will be equipped with a more powerful processor (400 Mhz) and will also have an RDS/TMC (as the name suggests) and also will feature bluetooth capabilities for hands free calling. The European model is expected to cost 399 €.

Via GPSAndCo

There was a rumor posted that Garmin was to going to announce a new line of Nuvis at the 2007 CeBIT this month, the Nuvi 200. After a bit of searching I found that Garmin’s Danish site has already pages for three new GPS Systems, the Nuvi 200, 250 and the Nuvi 270. To be totally honest I can’t seem to find what differences this new line will have from the previous Nuvi systems and autotranslators don’t work that well. If any Danish speaker could help us find out what new features will these new PNDs have, it would be great. Of course we can also wait for the CeBIT that is just around the corner.

Nuvi 200
Nuvi 250
Nuvi 270

Maxtek MNT-7T is one of the most affordable (if not the cheapest) 7″ car GPS System that I have come across. Since the most noteworthy feature is its price let’s start from that, it currently retails at $364.99 from TigerDirect. As we mentioned it features a 7″ Wide LCD TFT screen and some of its other features include, 512 MB of internal NAND Flash memory, turn-by-turn voice guidance available in multiple languages, automatic re-routing, 2D and 3D maps, audio player (MP3, WMA and WAV), photo viewer and an A/V input port that allows users to use the screen as a in-car display to watch you DVDs or play your favorite games. Finally, the Maxtek MNT-7T comes with a DVD that contains US maps. For the price it looks like a really good deal, however I wasn’t able to find any reviews of the unit.

Magellan Maestro, the new line of GPS Systems by Magellan that will include three models, the Maestro 4000, 4040 and 4050 is now official. Although the product information are not live yet on Magellan’s site they issued a press release announcing them with suggested retail prices of $399.99, $499.99 and $699.99 respectively and an expected shipping date of April 1st for the 4000 and 4040 while the Maestro 4050 should start shipping in North America sometime this May. You can Read the press release below:

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XROAD V7 is another impressive GPS/DMB/PMP/HTF/KLP/MNG (please note some acronyms are imaginary) do it all system coming from Korea (although I doubt it will ever come our way). It features a 7″ TFT-LCD touchscreen (800*480 WVGA), a 500MHz processor by AMD (Alchemy Au1200), SiRF III GPS chipset and 128MB RAM (DDR2) 2GB SD card. The unit has also a Picture-in-Picture feature (they call it Navi-in-Picture) that allows users to watch TV while navigating. The fact that the device has a number of multimedia goodies is of course no surprise, V7 supports the playback of DivX, XviD, MPEG-4, and WMV video, as well as music files. Finally it has an FM transmitter and is powered by a 4200mAh battery and probably has a lot more features that I can not read or autotranslate because they decided to post all the information in the form of images and my Korean are a bit rusty.
V7 costs around 630$

Product Page

Another new GPS System by TomTom has leaked through the FCC. This Time it’s the TomTom Go 715 after the TomTom DUO and the TomTom ONE XL. Like it’s predecessor the TomTom GO 710 it sports Bluetooth functionality for hands free calling but what appears to be a new feature is that it has a SIM card slot that will allow users to make calls and send text messages for the 715 itself. By looking at the manual it appears that the 715 is an upgrade mainly targeted at the business market with software that allows the user to receive and manage orders and to communicate with his office about the status of the orders. I guess we will have to wait until the CeBIT to see if these new model will be a replacement of the 710 or just an addition model targeting mostly the business part of the market.

VDO Dayton PN 3000 is a new portable automotive GPS System by Siemens VDO that can also be integrated into the vehicle like a permanently installed system. It features a 4.3″ Touch Screen Display (TFT LCD), 300 MHz CPU, 64 MB Flash ROM and 64 MB SD RAM and a 20-Channel GPS Receiver. Of course like every new GPS System that respects itself, it offers more than just navigation. It sports an MP3 Player and two games Sudoku and Blockbuster.

Other features include:

• European Maps
• Voice Guidance
• Automatic Display Brightness Control
• Stereo Headphone Out
• SD Card Slot
• IR Receiver for Remote Control
• 2D/3D Map view
• Lithium-Ion Battery 2500 mAh for 4h navigation
• Dimensions: 125 mm x 83 mm x 24 mm
• Weight: 259 g
• Freely customizable infobar

Finally the written menus are available in 21 written languages (20 if you consider English UK and US the same :)) and it can also guide you using 24 different voices 24 voices (English UK, English US (3x), Spanish (2x), French (2x), German (2x), Italian (3x), Brasil, Czech, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Slowenian, Swedish, Turkish).

The PN 3000 comes in three versions the basic model, a model with with TMC, and a model with TMC and bluetooth.

The price is not listed on the site but it appears that the retail prices for the three models are 470, 500 and 550 Euros respectively.

Product Page

The first information about an upcoming GPS System by TomTom called TomTom DUO are starting to appear online. First there was a report of an unknown TomTom unit appearing on FCC and later on a post by GPS Review it was mentioned that this brand new unit will be called TomTom Duo. Not a lot of information is available yet but it appears that it will be coming with a docking station equipped with an FM transmitter that will provide navigational directions, as well as music from external players such as the iPod through the car’s sound system, . Other features that have been mentioned include SD, hands free Bluetooth calling and voice SMS and a tweaked interface. More information and the official announcement are expected at the CeBIT.

Another review of the ViaMichelin X-930 has been posted this time by PC Magazine. The review has been added to my ViaMichelin X-930 Reviews where I have compiled a list of all the reviews available for this navigation system. By adding this review the overall average rating from all the reviews has slightly fallen to 62/100. PC Magazine gave the unit a “fair” and the reviewer’s main complaint was the difficult menu system. You can read the review here