Miss Direction

Alpine PND-K3msn

(Credit: Alpine Electronics)

On Tuesday, Alpine Electronics announced that it is now shipping its latest in-car GPS, the Alpine PND-K3msn. The device offers a lot of the same navigation features as the Alpine PND-K3, including text-to-speech functionality, integrated Bluetooth, and highway junction view. The main difference between the two models is the addition of MSN Direct services.

MSN Direct brings real-time information to the PND-K3msn, such as real-time traffic, weather forecasts, gas prices, and movie times. There's also a "Send to GPS" feature that lets you find addresses and businesses from your PC on Live Search maps and then send them wirelessly to your GPS.

With the purchase of the PND-K3msn ($299.95), you get a three-month complimentary subscription to the MSN Direct services, but after that you will have to pay $49.95 per year or a one-time fee of $129.95. Also, be sure to check out the coverage map to make sure you can get the services in your area.

(Credit: Garmin)

Mio isn't the only one making GPS news at CeBIT 2009. Garmin also got in on the action and introduced its new Nuvi 1200 and 1300 series of portable navigation devices on Tuesday. The new products sport thinner designs and are the first to offer the option of enhanced pedestrian navigation through CityXplorer maps.

Realizing that portable navigation devices are no longer restricted to just the car and hoping to reach new customers, Garmin wanted to provide an option for those exploring new cities by foot. Slimming down the size of the GPS was one solution and CityXplorer was another.

CityXplorer maps will be available as an optional download to users, ranging from $9.99 to $14.99, and provides information for select cities that allows users to plan and use routes that include public transit options, such as buses and subways. Garmin has not yet released a list of supported cities but plans to publish them (for both North America and Europe) on its Web site in Q2.

Even if you don't opt for the CityXplorer route, the new GPS offer plenty of other navigation features and for reasonable prices. For example, all models in the Nuvi 1300 series, which include the Nuvi 1300, 1350, 1350T, 1370T, and 1390T, have 4.3-inch touch screens and text-to-speech functionality. The Nuvi 1370T and Nuvi 1390T also provide free traffic updates for life. Meanwhile, the Nuvi 1200 series, which consists of the Nuvi 1200, 1250, and 1260T, has 3.5-inch touch screens and text-to-speech functionality. The Nuvi

The Nuvi 1200 and 1300 product lines are expected to ship in Q2; for full details and pricing of each model, check out Garmin's Web site.

Mio Explora K70

(Credit: Mio)

Back at GSMA 2009, I spotted a mysterious Mio GPS Phone (pictured below) at the Microsoft booth but couldn't find much information on the device other than what was printed on the spec card. Well, it looks the mystery smartphone had its official coming-out party on the opening day of the CeBIT 2009.

On Tuesday, Mio Technology took the wraps off its Mio Explora K70 GPS Phone, a Windows Mobile 6.1 smartphone with an integrated Qualcomm gpsOne chipset. The handset offers turn-by-turn navigation and quad-band connectivity (GSM 850/900/1800/1900) with 3.5G support (HSDPA/HSUPDA 850/1900/2100). The Explora K70 also has Bluetooth and Wi-Fi.

The slim device (4.5 inches high by 2.4 inches wide by 0.5 inch thick; 4 ounces) features a 3.5-inch touch screen with a 400x240 pixel resolution and a customizable Mio Menu for quick access to contacts, applications, and more. The K70 also has a 3-megapixel camera with photo geo-tagging abilities.

Pricing and availability date were not released at this time. I talked to my contact at Mio, and he said there are no set plans to bring the Mio Explora K70 to the States in the near future, though it may be a possibility down the road since the company is trying to expand its portfolio beyond in-car GPS.

Mio GPS Phone at GSMA

(Credit: Bonnie Cha/CNET)

Of course, just because the smartphone won't be offered by a U.S. carrier doesn't mean you're completely out of luck. You can always buy the Mio Explora K70 unlocked whenever it becomes available. We'll keep you updated on the release details and hopefully, we can get our hands on one to test out.

(Source: GSMArena via Engadget Mobile)

Navigon 7300T

(Credit: Navigon)

Navigon on Monday introduced three portable navigation devices: the Navigon 3300 Max, the Navigon 4300T, and the Navigon 7300T. The trio also includes a new feature called Navigon MyRoutes, which aims to provide personalized route recommendations based on your driving habits.

MyRoutes works by recording and analyzing your driving habits, along with other data, such as day of the week and time of travel, to come up with the best route based on that information. The feature will provide up to three route recommendations, and gives you the distance and estimated time of arrival to your destination, also taking traffic, speed limits, and constructions into consideration. MyRoutes will display this information on a map to give you a visual overview of your options.

In addition to MyRoutes, all three GPS devices offer other new features. Here is a breakdown of each model.

Navigon 3300 Max: The aim of the Navigon 3300 Max is to offer more for less, and on paper, it certainly looks like the PND matches the description. For $199.99, you get a 4.3-inch touch screen, text-to-speech functionality, and advanced land guidance. The latter, which includes Reality View for exits and Lane Assistant Pro, is definitely a bonus at this price, since these high-end features are typically seen in more expensive models. The system comes preloaded with maps of the 48 contiguous United States, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Navigon 3300 Max

(Credit: Navigon)

Navigon 4300T Max: The Navigon 4300T Max adds on to the 3300 Max with integrated Bluetooth for hands-free calling and real-time spoken traffic updates for life. The GPS also includes Rand McNally content, such as Best of the Road Weekend Getaways, Scenic Tours, and Regional Trips. The 4300T Max has a suggested retail price of $279.99.

Navigon 7300T: Last but not least, the Navigon 7300T brings together the Panorama View 3D feature, which we saw in the Navigon 8100T, and the Landmark View 3D functionality of the Navigon 7200T. It also offers voice address entry and commands, so not only can you input destinations with the sound of your voice, you'll also be able to perform various tasks, such as increase system volume and answer calls, by speaking to the GPS. The 7300T costs $399.99 and includes all the features previously mentioned, as well as Zagat ratings and reviews for certain points of interest.

All three Navigon models are expected to ship in the second quarter, and you can preorder the Navigon 3300 Max and 4300T Max on March 9 through various online retailers, including Amazon.com, Crutchfield, and CompUSA. We'll, of course, give all three a road test when we get them.

The new features certainly pique our interest, but we're just wondering if Navigon has done anything to improve its devices' GPS performance, since we haven't always been impressed by it.

(Credit: Engadget Mobile)

Hey, remember the Garmin Nuvifone? Yeah, I barely remember it either, but it's still kicking around and, in fact, the GPS-enabled smartphone just got FCC approval, bringing it one step closer to release.

According to FCC documents, the Nuvifone (strangely tagged as the "Calf" from Asus) will support North American 850/1900MHz 3G bands, which means AT&T customers would be feeling the HSDPA love on the Nuvifone and not T-Mobile, whose 3G network runs on the 1700/2100MHz bands.

The Nuvifone, which was announced almost a year ago, is the first smartphone for GPS manufacturer Garmin, and originally had a release date of sometime in the Q4 of 2008. However, the company later delayed its release to the first half of 2009. Perhaps with the FCC approval, we might see the Nuvifone sooner rather than later, but we won't hold our breath.

(Via: Engadget Mobile, FCC)

Navigon 8100T

(Credit: Navigon)

On Monday, Navigon introduced its most ambitious portable navigation device (PND) to date, the Navigon 8100T. The highlight of the device is something called Panorama View 3D, which brings a "true 3D" map experience.

Basically, the system uses NASA terrain data and provides digital elevations, so you'll see surrounding landscapes like rolling hills and so forth. While we've seen 3D building renderings in other GPS before (a la HP iPaq 310 Travel Companion) as well as 3D views of complicated intersections, the 8100T is the first to offer a full 3D view of your surrounding environment, giving you a better idea of what lies ahead. To build on the experience, the Navigon 8100T also has a built-in graphics accelerator and a large 4.8-inch touch screen.

Other visual aids on the 8100T include Lane Assistant Pro for lane guidance and Reality View Pro, which presents a photorealistic 3D view of complex highway interchanges. The rest of the PND's features are similar to the Navigon 7200T. You get free real-time traffic for life; address entry via voice; text-to-speech functionality; integrated Bluetooth; and Zagat ratings and reviews for certain points of interest. The Navigon 8100T will be available later this month for $599.

Magellan Maestro 4350

(Credit: Magellan )

It's been a little while since we've seen anything from Magellan, but on Thursday, the GPS manufacturer revealed its latest in-car GPS, the Magellan Maestro 4350 series. Consisting of the Maestro 4350 and the Maestro 4370, both portable navigation devices feature a new user interface called OneTouch that gives you quick one-click access to your favorite destinations.

Basically, you preselect your favorite businesses (restaurants, banks, gas stations, and so forth) and addresses and then the GPS will provide a single page where you can just tap on the appropriate icon to navigate to the destination from your current location. There's no need to go through several menus or manually enter addresses since they're all in one place. You can also add applications, such as Bluetooth or multimedia to the OneTouch interface.

Shared features on both PNDs include text-to-speech functionality, integrated traffic receivers, Bluetooth, and lane guidance. The difference between the Maestro 4350 and the Maestro 4370 is that the latter has a higher-resolution touch screen and is available only at Best Buy. Both models cost $499.99, though Best Buy is having a sale on the Maestro 4370 where you can get it for $399. We should be getting our model next week, so check back soon for a full review.

Navigon 2200T

(Credit: Navigon)

Just a week after announcing the Navigon 7200T, the GPS manufacturer announced a second in-car GPS on Wednesday: the Navigon 2200T. Though it's billed as an entry-level portable navigation device, the 2200T offers plenty of advanced navigation features that set it apart from similarly priced competitors.

For an affordable $229, you get text-to-speech functionality, lane assistance, and 3D renderings of highway interchanges. In addition, the Navigon 2200T offers free real-time traffic updates for life. That's right: free for life. The traffic capabilities are available right out of the box without a subscription and will show you areas of congestion on the maps, the type of incident, and alternate routes.

As for the rest, the Navigon 2200T comes preloaded with Navteq maps of the lower 48 states and features a 3.5-inch touch screen. Other navigation highlights include multidestination trip planning, DirectHelp for locating the nearest roadside assistance and other emergency services, and support for Navigon FreshMaps. The Navigon 2200T should be available later this fall.

Navigon 7200T

(Credit: Navigon)

Having to compete with the likes of Garmin and TomTom is no easy task, but Navigon is hoping to woo some new customers with its latest portable navigation system. Today, the GPS manufacturer announced its new Navigon 7200T, a high-end in-car GPS that's out to win you with style and substance.

The Navigon 7200T is certainly a stunner as far as design. It largely keeps in line with the company's previous models, such as the Navigon 2100 Max, with its slim profile and black lacquered chassis. On the front, there's now a 4.3-inch, flat-panel touch screen and in addition to the standard 2D and 3D map views, you get 3D landmark views. The feature is similar to the 3D building renderings found on the HP iPaq 310 Travel Companion, but brings them to landmarks, such as the Empire State Building and Golden Gate Bridge. You also get the Reality View Pro and Lane Assistant Pro capabilities that provide a "photorealistic" 3D view of complicated intersections that show you which lane you should be in and what direction you will be turning.

Moving beyond appearances, the Navigon 7200T comes preloaded with maps of the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands and offers Zagat ratings and reviews of various points of interest. You get a number of advanced features, including text-to-speech functionality, a voice recognition system for address entry and more, free lifetime traffic alerts, and integrated Bluetooth.

Now, while the Navigon 7200T certainly looks good on paper, we're a little reluctant to get our hopes up since we haven't had the best real-world experiences with the company's GPS. The user interface isn't the most intuitive and there's been problems with sluggish performance. However, the 7200T is sporting a faster processor and new software, so perhaps this time will be different? Fingers crossed. The Navigon 7200t is expected to hit store shelves in October with a price tag of $499. We'll, of course, publish a hands-on review as soon as we can get a unit, so stay tuned.