Miss Direction

Eeeesssshhhh. So, umm, it's been a while since my last post and for that, I offer you my sincerest apologies. You see, it's been a little cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs for me these past several months. For those of you who don't know, I also cover smartphones for CNET, and with the holiday shopping season fast approaching, the cell phone manufacturers are unleashing a storm of new products--all at once. Guh. Seriously, my cube is a fire hazard with all the phones I have plugged into the power strip. Anyway, amid the rush to get through all those reviews, I've neglected my blog BUT not that I'm using that as an excuse. I just wanted to let you know that I'm getting back on track and will do a better job of keeping you informed of GPS trends, news, and more, so I'll be talking to you soon.

Mio DigiWalker C720t

(Credit: Mio )

It seems like there's a new company hopping on the GPS bandwagon every week, trying to loosen the grip that big boys Garmin, TomTom, and Magellan have on the market. Truth be told, these three companies have been in the industry for a while, and they know what they're doing, so these newcomers have a tough task ahead of them. However, we've been pretty impressed with one company in particular: Mio Technology. With the exception of the Mio C220, which had a horrible screen, it has consistently churned out some solid portable navigation systems and always packs in a good value for the price. Today, Mio continues that tradition with the announcement of three new products: the Mio DigiWalker C230, the Mio DigiWalker C320, and the subject of this blog, the Mio DigiWalker C720t.

There a number of cool things about the Mio C720t. First, it has a really sleek design similar to the Mio C520 and boasts a 4.3-inch touch screen. It also has a built-in 2-megapixel camera with zoom, so you can take pictures and geotag them with location coordinates. You can then use them as photo points of interest (POI) or share them with others. We've seen this feature before on the Navman iCN 750, but the C720t takes the cake with a better lens and slimmer form factor. That said, we have yet to test out this feature so we'll stop with the praises there. The unit also ships with a vehicle mount that has an integrated Traffic Message Channel receiver, and you get three months of free traffic service from Clear Channel. Other highlights include Bluetooth, maps of Mexico, text-to-speech functionality, and 12 million POI. The Mio DigiWalker C720t should be in stores by early October and will retail for about $599.

HP iPaq 310 Travel Companion

(Credit: HP )

Last year, HP introduced its HP iPaq rx5900 Travel Companion, a sleek gadget that combined the powers of a PDA and a portable navigation system into one solution. It was the first GPS device for the company, and based on user opinions, it was a pretty successful product. Now, HP has decided to embark on its first GPS-only venture with the new HP iPaq 310 Travel Companion. I got a sneak preview a couple of weeks ago, and I must say, I'm pretty impressed. Unlike the rx5900, which used TomTom software, HP created its own interface for the iPaq 310, and it was pretty intuitive to use from the brief time I had with the product. Maps looked nice and sharp on the 4.3-inch, 480x800 pixel resolution touch screen, and I was really digging the 3D building renderings. Everything else is pretty standard; the system comes preloaded with maps of North America and features text-to-speech functionality, integrated Bluetooth for hands-free calling, and an online trip planning site. The HP iPaq 310 Travel Companion will be available in late September and will go for somewhere in the $399 to $499 price range--not too shabby.

Garmin Nuvi 760

(Credit: Garmin)

Far be it from Garmin to let TomTom have all the spotlight today. Yes, Garmin had some news of its own as it introduced the Garmin Nuvi 700 series of portable navigation systems. The family includes three models--the Garmin Nuvi 750, Nuvi 760, and Nuvi 770--and features an enhanced user interface that makes these systems simpler to use. For example, you can now choose between a QWERTY or alphabetical keyboard. I know, it may not seem like such a huge deal but after struggling to enter addresses on an alphabetical keyboard, I'm pretty excited about this new functionality. Each model also has Bluetooth for hands-free calling, a built-in FM transmitter so you can hear directions, phone calls and MP3s though your car's stereo, and up-to-date traffic alerts (with a lifetime subscription to traffic services!). In addition, they have nice 4.3-inch wide-screen displays and text-to-speech functionality. The bad news is that you're going to pay for all these goodies. The Nuvi 750 will cost $624.85, while the 760 and 770 will go for $857.13 and $1071.42, respectively. All three will be available in Q4, so start saving your pennies now.

TomTom GO 920

(Credit: TomTom)

Today, TomTom took the wraps off of its latest portable navigation systems, adding three new products to the portfolio: the TomTom One 3rd Edition, TomTom GO 920, and the TomTom GO 920T. So without further ado, here's your friendly little breakdown of each.

TomTom One 3rd Edition: This entry-level GPS device is similar to the TomTom One but adds the Map Share technology and "Help Me" safety feature that was first introduced in the TomTom GO 720. Map Share allows you to make adjustments to your maps (such as noting blocked roads, updating points of interest, adding new streets, and so on) and then share the information with other drivers. You can make the changes right on your device, save them, and then upload and share them with other users via the TomTom HOME desktop companion. Meanwhile, the Help Me safety function tells you where you can find the nearest police station, hospital, or car service center, based on your current location. As a basic system, you don't get text-to-speech functionality, but you do get the standard text- and voice-guided turn-by-turn directions as well as a 3.5-inch touch screen. Perhaps the greatest feature, though, is its price tag. The TomTom One 3rd Edition will go for a wallet-friendly $249 when it hits store shelves next month.

(Credit: TomTom)

TomTom GO 920/920T: From the low-end to the high-end. The TomTom GO 920 comes preloaded with maps of not just North America but also 41 countries in Western and Central Europe. And get this...you can enter addresses by voice! Just speak the city, street name, and address number, and if all goes right, the GO 920 will automatically go about calculating your route. In addition, you get a 4.3-inch touch screen, text-to-speech functionality, integrated Bluetooth, a built-in FM transmitter, and the Map Share and Help Me features--pretty much all the bells and whistles. The TomTom GO 920T includes a RDS-TMC Traffic Receiver in the box and a year subscription to TomTom's traffic service. You can also purchase the traffic kit separately for other TomTom GO and One devices; price is $129.95 and $24.95 for yearly service subscription. The TomTom GO 920 will cost $599.95 while the GO 920T will retail at $699.95. Both systems are expected to ship in Q4.

Me, the TomTom GO 720, and the open road

(Credit: TomTom)

So I've decided to take my Labor Day Weekend trip a week earlier, and I'm hitting the road tomorrow to head down to Carlsbad, California. My friend Kristen just moved there with her fiance Mike, so I'm going to visit their new crib and hit the waves at Tamarack and Moonlight Beach (you've been warned San Diego surfers; steer clear of the girl with the yellow surfboard). I'm looking forward to paddling out in warmer waters, enjoying the sunshine, and good times with friends.

I'm also looking forward to the drive down there itself. I love taking road trips, but since becoming a "responsible adult" (whatever), I haven't been able to get out as much, so this is a nice treat. And guess what happened to arrive on my desk this week? The TomTom GO 720. Talk about perfect timing. Yes, the latest in-car GPS device from TomTom is coming with me as my navigator so I can test out the new features and performance. I'll be keeping a diary of my trip so you can check in and read about my experiences with the system. But before I hit the road, anyone have any recommendations as to fun or offbeat towns or sights I should peep while on my journey? I figure I'll take I-5 this time around; as much as I love taking Highway 1 down the coast, it's just a short weekend jaunt so I want to maximize my time. Anyway, feel free to share your thoughts below.

Beware of where you leave your GPS

(Credit: CNET Networks)

The Baltimore Sun has a story today about the increasing theft of portable navigation systems, as well as satellite radios and other portable electronics, from people's cars. In Anne Arundel County, Maryland, police found 33 stolen GPS units in local pawn shops, citing that these $200-to-$1,000 tech gadgets are good for a quick $150. The thefts are occurring nationwide, and police say it's not enough to hide your device in the glove compartment. Windshield and dashboard mounts are dead giveaways that you have such electronics in the car. I'm curious; for all the GPS owners out there, what do you do with your portable nav system when you leave the car?

Magellan Triton 2000

(Credit: Magellan)

Magellan must be one happy camper, as the veteran GPS manufacturer has teamed up with National Geographic for its new line of outdoor handheld GPS devices. The Magellan Triton series includes five models--the Triton 300, 400, 500, 1500, and 2000--and are compatible with National Geographic's topographic maps. Prior to this, you could only download waypoints and routes to the company's other handheld GPS devices, but now you can get full-color maps. Just be aware that these are sold separately by National Geographic, though the Triton quintet comes preloaded with Magellan's topographic maps. Other highlights include touch-screen controls, an electric compass, built-in LED flashlight, and the ability to record and attach audio to waypoint files. The flagship model, the Magellan Triton 2000, even has a built-in 2-megapixel camera. Ooo-la-la...fancy! The Triton series will be available starting in September.

Road trip! Kids, don't try this at home

Hi, everyone, and welcome to my new personal blog, Miss Direction. I'm actually not here to misdirect you, rather quite the opposite. I started covering Global Positioning Systems (GPS) for CNET in 2005, and back then, I was lucky if I got one or two portable navigation devices to review a month. Now? Now, my desk is overrun by these navigation aids and I'm clocking in some serious time behind the wheel of my trusty ol' 2000 Honda Accord. It's pretty amazing how fast this category has grown, and there are new companies throwing their hat into the GPS ring every day. It's all exciting, but I also know it can get a bit confusing. Thus, Miss Direction was born.

In this blog, I'll answer your questions about all things GPS, discuss industry trends, rant and rave about the technology, and tell you about the hottest (and not so hot) products coming to market. I'll also share any stories and misadventures from the field, because I love to take road trips. And I would love to hear your stories as well. As much as I want this to be a resource for you, I also want this to be an open forum for discussing GPS. I mean, is it me, or do the multimedia features on a portable nav system seem useless? And I'm dying to know...how many California and Minnesota residents actually get ticketed for using a windshield mount in their car, because although they're supposed to be illegal, I see them all time here in San Francisco. These are the burning questions that keep me up at night.

In all seriousness, I'm really looking forward to this new adventure and hope you'll join me for the ride. Oh, and this blog isn't limited to just in-car devices. I know there are plenty more uses for GPS out there--geocaching, hiking, boating--so we'll take a look at those topics as well. So let's get started and have some fun, shall we?

[By the way, I've got to give a big shout-out to CNET.com copy editor Jeff Sparkman for coming up with the clever title of this blog. Thanks, Jeff!]