We’re not really sure if the tablet boom can be attributed to Apple’s iPad, but here’s another touchscreen device that comes with enough portable functions to make for an alternative. GPS-maker Mio has just unveiled the Moov V780, a slim 7-inch device that’s not just a navigator.
In a sea of iPhones and Android-based devices, here’s a smartphone with a different twist: Garmin-Asus officially announced the partnership’s latest handheld, the M10, a full-featured Windows Mobile-based smartphone that comes with Garmin’s satellite navigation services.
Nokia might have found a way to keep the iPhone and Droid-crazy mobile market interested in the brand by offering a new version of Ovi Maps. How is that a big deal? Well, they dropped the subscription fees for the service, which means that the Ovi Maps software update now offers turn-by-turn navigation (for pedestrians and drivers) for free. That means you can now explore or get lost without having to think about the cost of a mobile navigation service.
Garmin has just announced the zūmo 220, a compact navigator designed specifically for bikers. What makes it biker-ready? It’s built with a 3.5-inch screen and a clip that allows it to mount on handlebars. It also features touchscreen controls that can be operated with gloves on for ease of use, although the thought of having bikers fiddle with a touchscreen makes us a bit uncomfortable.
Pioneer’s new navigation system, the AVIC-X920BT, comes with the usual (albeit high-end) features that include a touchscreen interface and speech recognition, plus a handful of entertainment features—like DVD playback and Internet Radio connectivity to make for a sweet, complete in-car kit.
Garmin will be ending the year with two new compact GPS mappers designed for rugged use. Tagged as the Oregon 450 and 450t, the two new GPS devices feature a 3-inch touchscreen display that’s listed to be able to display clear, high color, high-res images under direct sunlight, and a shell that’s built to withstand the elements and rough handling.
After launching everywhere else, Nokia has finally announced that the 5800 Navigation Edition has started shipping to the US. The touchscreen phone is physically similar to the 5800 XpressMusic, but remodeled to focus on GPS navigation with the addition of an A-GPS receiver, turn-by-turn navigation, and lifetime voice-guided navigation for North American maps with Ovi Maps.
Nokia looks to bring GPS navigation to the masses with the 2710 Navigation Edition: a low-end candybar phone that runs on a (non-smartphone) Series 40 interface and features a GPS receiver and Nokia Maps.
TomTom has recently come out with a new international edition of the TomTom XXL 540S navigator called the World Traveler Edition. The new model simply adds maps for Europe (as well as maps for US and Canada) for people who routinely travel across the pond, while the existing 540S comes with North American maps. Aside from that, it’s still pretty much the same navigator that comes with a 5-inch screen and software features that include Advanced Lane Guidance, Points of Interest and Routing apps. The World Traveler Edition will be released in early December for $350.
Dual Electronics Corp has introduced the XGPS300, a “GPS Navigation & Battery Cradle for the iPod touch”—or basically an accessory that gives the iPod touch a GPS receiver.