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FineDigital showcases voice-recognizing FineDrive X700 GPS

by Darren Murph, posted Jun 22nd 2008 at 3:16PM


It's been a hot minute since we've seen anything fresh from FineDigital, but the firm has just introduced the slim and seductive FineDrive X700 over in South Korea. Humorously, the company is asserting that this particular unit is the first of its kind to offer voice recognition, but even a light amount of research would help it understand such a statement is far from being true. Nevertheless, the unit does look to offer a spacious screen and a bundled remote, but details beyond that are unfortunately absent.

Is your Pioneer AVIC-F Series navigator acting up?

by Darren Murph, posted Jun 17th 2008 at 3:16AM


We aren't suggesting that these problems are widespread or anything, but a fair number of users over at AVIC411 seem to be having all sorts of issues with their (admittedly pricey) F-Series navigators. According to owners, the issues range from complete lock-ups to distorted voice commands to quirky iPod interactions -- and that's just the tip of the iceberg. Have any of you taken the plunge only to find a litany of problems after installation? Or is your unit humming along just fine? Chime in below and let us know what's up.

TomTom speaks up about iPhone situation

by Darren Murph, posted Jun 13th 2008 at 3:49PM


As if the iPhone 3G launch could really have any more misinformation floating around, we've got yet another tidbit that needs clarification. Shortly after Apple's second iPhone was announced, out flew a report from Reuters suggesting that TomTom already had iPhone navigation software ready to go. French site Mac Generation was able to get ahold of TomTom spokesperson Yann Lafargue, and here's the gist of what he had to say. First off, the aforementioned Reuters statement was said to be inaccurate, though he did affirm that an iPhone version of the software was running in the labs and working "pretty well." Unfortunately, the question of "will you guys ship this for the iPhone?" was answered with a "We don't know" style response, but he did clarify that the questionable SDK verbiage we saw wasn't an obstacle at all. Check out the full interview in the read link below -- hope you're fluent in French and / or machine translation!

TomTom already has iPhone navigation software ready to roll

by Darren Murph, posted Jun 9th 2008 at 5:27PM


That sound you hear is the not-yet-released nüvifone trembling in fear, as TomTom has just announced that an iPhone-ready version of its famed navigation software is practically ready to rock 'n roll. More specifically, a TomTom spokesman was quoted as saying that its "navigation system runs on the iPhone already," and he made the statement hot on the heels of the iPhone 3G announcement. Sadly, he wouldn't disclose an estimated release date for the software, but it's safe to say that the TomTom touch could make Apple's darling a formidable nüvifone opponent.

[Via GPSReview]

Video: Fujitsu's NaviRobo smells beer, tells you where to find more

by Thomas Ricker, posted Jun 5th 2008 at 7:20AM


It's been a few years since we checked in on Navirobo. The iXs developed bot is now fully grown and fettered to Fujitsu and Kawasaki on a Japanese press tour. The bot features an impressive bag of tricks including an accelerometer ("ooo, it's bumpy"), light sensor ("don't forget to turn on the lights"), and voice guided navigation with the ability to point the way and describe nearby points of interest (read: honey pots). It'll even detect alcohol on your breath and presumably take a swipe at your jugular in just retribution. See for yourself in the videos over at Impress or check the few posted after the break.

Continue reading Video: Fujitsu's NaviRobo smells beer, tells you where to find more

NemeriX scores patent for single-chip GPS, GLONASS, Galileo receiver

by Donald Melanson, posted May 28th 2008 at 3:56PM

It looks like NemeriX is doing its part to bridge the GPS, GLONASS, Galileo divide, with it proudly announcing today that it's received a patent for a single-chip RF receiver technology that'll accommodate all three satellite navigation systems (China's Compass will apparently have to go it alone). Among other things, the single-chip solution will allow for manufacturers to reduce the size of their navigation devices by not having to include three parallel receivers, as well as allow them to market the same device to various markets around the world. Of course, there are scant few details about when we can actually expect to see the technology put to use, but NemeriX sees no shortage of potential applications, with it boasting that it'll provide customers with a "future-proof platform" that'll increase the availability and accuracy of "emerging location based services such as pedestrian navigation and mobile social-based networking."

Sanyo crams SSDs into new duo of in-car navigation systems

by Darren Murph, posted May 24th 2008 at 3:01PM


If you've ran smack into any flavor of foreign object while waiting impatiently for your navigator to "recalculate," you'll likely be salivating for Sanyo's latest duo. The NVA-MS1280DT and NVA-MS1180DT each feature a 4GB SSD drive (though the former adds a 4GB SD card and DVD support), a 7-inch QVGA display, 43-watt x 4 internal amplifier, MP3 / WMA / AAC playback, a 1-seg TV tuner, 3D maps, FM tuner and iPod support. In all seriousness, the SSD is bundled in not so much for its speed, but for its reliability -- either way, we can't help but be enamored. Both units are slated to land in June for ¥181,650 ($1,761) and ¥155,400 ($1,506), respectively, so it's fairly easy to see those solid state discs aren't being thrown in gratis.

[Via NaviGadget]

Nokia Maps 2.0 goes gold, lost pedestrians rejoice

by Chris Ziegler, posted May 22nd 2008 at 6:37PM


After a pleasingly brief public beta, Nokia's glazing its Maps 2.0 navigation app with a thick coating of gold and sending it off into a waiting world of S60-toting fiends to fend for itself. The new version underpins the GPS receivers in Nokia's 2008 smartphones but is also available as a free download for a variety of existing devices, offering key improvements that make it a totally viable nav system -- satellite view, traffic data, and a significantly retooled UI, most importantly, plus the addition of a dedicated pedestrian mode for those times when geographical confusion strikes while on foot. Optional packs add goodies like city guides and the all-important voice guided car navigation and ultimately make Maps 2.0 a non-free venture, but really, no full-featured nav system is -- and the initial download does quite a bit out of the box. Hit the read link to kick off the download.

[Via All About Symbian]

Panasonic reveals duo of HDD-based Strada in-dash navigators

by Darren Murph, posted May 15th 2008 at 7:58AM


Just two days shy of their one-year birthday, Panasonic is introducing a couple of successors in the Strada F-Class line. Announced in Japan, the June-bound CN-HX1000D and CN-HW1000D are both destined for gaping holes in dashes and possess a 7-inch 800 x 480 resolution display, built-in Bluetooth, iPod compatibility, AM / FM tuners, digital terrestrial TV tuner, DVD / CD player and an internal hard drive for storing map data and Sade jams. The only noticeable difference is the physical size; the former is a single-DIN unit while the latter touts a double-DIN frame. These two also allow for home control, so you can lock your doors, turn the heat down and flip off the porch light from the driver's seat. Sure sounds pleasant, if only they weren't ¥354,900 ($3,388) apiece.

[Via AkihabaraNews]

Dash opens platform up for third-party developers

by Darren Murph, posted May 14th 2008 at 6:05PM


No need worrying that as much as you'd like to change the Dash Express, you can't. Because you can, savvy? Announced today, Dash Navigation has cracked its platform open for third-party developers and simultaneously launched the industry's first dynamic API program at O'Reilly's Where 2.0 Conference. Dash is hoping that eager devs will spend time crafting DashApps, which would theoretically provide web-based content to consumers while still in the car. The outfit also took the wraps off of the first five partner-created applications, which give Express owners Coldwell Banker Home Search, myFUNAMBOL Calendar, BakTrax Radio, Trapster and MyWeatherBug buttons. Unfortunately, details beyond that were slim, but you certainly tag the read link to learn more about the aforesaid few that are already created.

Pioneer launches Air Navi AVIC-T10 in Japan: don't call it a PND

by Darren Murph, posted May 10th 2008 at 2:57AM


It's times like these when holding our fingers back from buying that one-way ticket to Tokyo is so incredibly difficult. Just today, Pioneer has introduced the Air Navi AVIC-T10, a portable car navigation system that "supports communications modules and provides drivers with new communications services for the Japanese market." According to the release, this bad boy is "clearly distinguished from conventional PNDs," provides oodles of information about traffic, weather, local events, gas station prices, etc. and packs a pretty impressive list of specs. We're talking a 5.8-inch WVGA display, 1-seg TV tuner, 4GB of flash memory, integrated gyro sensor and built-in Bluetooth to boot. Those lucky enough to be in the right nation can snatch this gem next month for a currently undisclosed price.

[Via AkihabaraNews]

Clarion intros MAP680 and MAP780 navigators for Europe

by Darren Murph, posted May 7th 2008 at 9:50AM


Check it, Europeans -- Clarion has just dumped a new duo of PNDs on the market, and they're both geared up to route you all over your humble lands. It appears that the only major difference between the MAP680 and MAP780 are the actual maps loaded in; the former is available in four regional versions, while the latter features a full 43 European countries. Specs wise, we're lookin' at a 4.3-inch widescreen display, text-to-speech, built-in TMC tuner, 3D display of buildings / POIs, lane assistant, Bluetooth (with phone book transfer and audio streaming), a 400MHz CPU, multimedia player and 2GB (MAP780) / 1GB (MAP680) of internal memory. No word on a price or any of that good stuff just yet, but feel free to get more acquainted with the pair in the gallery below.

[Via NaviGadget]

Navigon's 81xx GPS unit lands on FCC's doorstep

by Darren Murph, posted Apr 24th 2008 at 10:11AM


Now, we're not certain whether the 81xx actually arrived in a basket wrapped in old linens, but whatever the case, the FCC was kind enough to take Navigon's forthcoming PND in and put it through the necessary paces. After doing a little 2 + 2, we're going ahead and assuming that this unit is the 3D map-lovin' 8110 that we played around with briefly at CeBIT. As you'd expect from an FCC filing, there's no mention of when this thing will be freed for selling here in the US, but we don't expect it to lag behind the 2100 Max for too awfully long.

TomTom RIDER 2nd Edition gets updated with new features

by Darren Murph, posted Apr 24th 2008 at 9:49AM


With prime motorcycling weather nearly here, TomTom has prepped an update to bring a handful of new features to its RIDER 2nd Edition. Aside from including Map Share technology and the "Help Me" menu, the enhanced 2nd Edition GPS will also provide a latest map guarantee, trip statistics and itinerary planning. Reportedly, the upgraded unit will go on sale early next month for £349.99 ($691) / £399.99 ($790) depending on whether you're picking up UK / Ireland maps or all of Europe, but existing 1st Edition / 2nd Edition owners can snag the update gratis via TomTom HOME. No word on a North American release just yet.

Navigon's 2100 Max and 2120 Max GPS units now shipping

by Darren Murph, posted Apr 16th 2008 at 5:38PM


Aw yeah, Navigon's latest widescreen navigators are finally being assigned tracking numbers, meaning that you can get your roadtrip on for just $299 (US-based 2100 Max) or $329 CAD (Canada-only 2120 Max). For those needing a refresher, you can look forward to 4.3-inches of turn-by-turn guidance, optional FreshMaps service, branded icons, a speed assistant, 2D / 3D imagery and an integrated logbook to keep tabs on your joyrides. Take a peek at the read link for more detailed specifications, and head on down to your favorite retailer if it suits you just fine.

[Via I4U News]
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