MiTAC has unveiled four tablets that will run Android and break cover next month. The tablets include the 7-inch Valar 7 and 10-inch Valar 10. These tablets are both said to run Android 2.3, support 1080p video, and have HDMI output along with GPS. The Ulmo is a 7-inch screen tablet that is rugged and has a waterproof body.

The other tablet is called the Zeus and is said to be the first dual GPS receiver tablet. The dual receivers aim to give the tablet enhanced features for navigation. The Zeus tablet has a 6-inch screen and is 11.6mm thick.

Via Android Community

Video demos after the cut 

The Spirit S300 is the entry-level model, with a 3.5-inch 320 x 240 touchscreen, while the Spirit S500 and Flat models each have a 4.7-inch 480 x 272 screen which, in the latter’s case, has a zero-profile flat bezel.  All models support kinetic scrolling – which Mio call “Slide Touch” – and new, streamlined mapping, as well as 3D junctions and lane guidance.  They also have pedestrian modes and support Mio’s new desktop route planning software (which also allows journeys to be pulled out into Excel, which should be handy for making mileage claims).

The Spirit S500 and Flat add Bluetooth, for hands-free speakerphone use, as well as Google Local Search via your cellphone’s data connection.  They also include Wcities travel books, which offer guidance on landmarks and activities.  To make accessing POIs easier on all three models, Mio have developed “Explore Mode”, which allows you to tap anywhere on the map and see what POIs – such as ATMs, petrol stations and restaurants – are nearby, with phone numbers and, in some cases, reviews.

As for the larger, 7-inch PND, that – and a 4.7-inch version – will launch in June or July, with integrated digital TV tuners for the UK market.  US versions are unconfirmed, but since the TV tuner is modular there’s no reason to suspect that it couldn’t be swapped out for a US alternative.  Mio expect the 7-inch model to retail for under £350 ($534) while the 4.7-inch would come in closer to £200-£250 ($305-$382).

As for the Mio Navman Spirit S300, S500 and Flat, they’ll land this month priced at £129.99, £179.99 and roughly £200 respectively ($198, $275 and $305).

Press Release:

Mio injects Spirit into new Navman sat nav range

Three new Navman Spirit products launch with break-through technology and Google partnership to transform the driving experience

London, 12 May 2009: Leading sat nav maker Mio today announces the availability of its new Navman Spirit range. The range, the first one launched following Mio’s merger with Navman, offers ground-breaking sat nav functionality and fantastic content from Google and wCities to enable drivers to explore more on the road.

The Navman Spirit range takes a fresh, exciting approach to navigation, with three models across two design options – the palm-sized 3.5-inch screen to the sharp, bright 4.7-inch widescreen and a stunning 4.7-inch super flat widescreen. Ergonomically designed with soft-curve edges and a stylish, compact exterior, the Navman Spirit range represents some of the slimmest, most lightweight sat nav devices ever seen.

Spirit software and new slidetouch™ screen

The ‘Spirit’ part of the name refers to the new software that powers the range. Redesigned from the ground up, Spirit uses a simple and colourful menu system that takes users to all of the features within a couple of ‘taps’. The new slidetouch™ screen brings up windows that glide on and off to help find what you are looking for quickly and easily, without needing to go back to the main menu unless you want to.

TruMap™ Views, Junction Views and lane guidance make navigation easy

Basic sat nav functions, such as finding your destination easily, avoiding traffic, being aware of road speeds and safety cameras and helping the driver negotiate difficult junctions are all catered for, with some important additions. To improve map clarity, Mio has added new TruMap™ Views that strip away clutter for a cleaner, much easier to read map display. New Junction Views have also been added, giving drivers an accurate representation of motorway signs in 3D as they approach an exit. Intelligent text-to-speech provides spoken next turn road names and directions, enabling drivers to keep their eyes on the road, and spoken navigation is now louder and clearer with Navman Spirit’s built-in FM transmitter, allowing users to tune the device into their car speakers via the radio.

Go further with Explore Mode, Google Local™ and Wcities Travel Books

The Navman Spirit range also includes a suite of innovative new features that sets it apart from other sat nav devices, and helps drivers get a lot more out of their journeys.

First up is Explore Mode, an ingenious POI (Point of Interest) feature that really comes into its own when exploring new places. From any location in Europe, touching the map makes a cluster of icons ‘grow’ from that point. Users can immediately see what’s available in or near that location, from cash machines to hotels, museums and local attractions, car parks, restaurants and more. Zooming in on the map gives more location detail, while zooming out shows a wider choice of POIs. Touching any icon brings up a name and address, then by clicking ‘Go’ Navman will navigate there. Explore Mode works on the go, or can be used before drivers set off so they can plan POIs in advance.

Navman Spirit also debuts an improved version of Mio’s Local Search. Mio has partnered with Google™ for local directory information at your fingertips, via a Bluetooth® connection to a mobile phone while on the go. Whatever the location, simply typing in a generic request such as ‘coffee’, ‘pizza’ or ‘pharmacy’ brings up a list of local options. It can also find specific businesses if they are located nearby. Mio’s Local Search and Explore Mode make a powerful combination, taking Sat Nav into exciting new territory.

Mio takes the idea of exploring even further with Travel Books from Wcities. Pre-loaded into every new Navman Spirit is a selection of Travel Books, featuring in-depth listings of places to eat, stay and visit, combined with facts and photos. There are hundreds more to choose from which can easily be downloaded onto the new devices.

Pedestrian mode – take shortcuts that your car can’t

Featuring the world’s most accurate walking mode, Navman Spirit also helps users explore more on foot. With built-in 2D city maps specially designed to work out of the car at walking pace, creating a seamless navigation experience. With details of footpaths and building outlines, Navman Spirit works with the user to cut travel times.

Find your way with geo-tagged NavpixTM pictures

The Navman Spirit range also includes the market-leading NavPixTM geo-tagged photo navigation feature, pioneered by Mio in its previous Navman devices. With the built-in photo album, users can browse through a huge variety of pictures such as tourist sites, hideaway beaches, hotels and restaurants. As geo-tagging becomes more popular, and with over a million tagged photos free on NavPix and Flickr® websites, this feature really starts to come into its own.

“The Navman Spirit range represents a major shift in Sat Nav evolution,” said Huw Bush, Head of UK Marketing, Mio. “Each model performs its navigational tasks with ease and accuracy and also creates a far richer, safer and more enjoyable travel experience, wherever you choose to explore. We’re confident that with Navman Spirit, Mio has broken new ground in both navigational technology and additional features that really benefit drivers.”

The Navman Spirit range is available in UK stores in May. For more information please visit www.mio.com.

Mio Navman Spirit Product specifications:

Navman Spirit 300 Traffic

3.5” screen
Pioneering ‘Spirit’ software with Slide Touch
TruMap views
3D Junction views and lane guidance
Local Search via MioMore™ desktop 2
Explore mode
Wcities Travel Books
Walking mode
Smart economical routing
NavPix photo navigation
Pre-loaded safety camera data – free trial*
Text to Speech
High speed GPS fix with SiRFInstantFixII™
Road speed limit data
Built-in Traffic information**
Latest regional / European map data

* For a limited period of 12 months. A subscription is available separately.
** Subscription may be required, see www.mio.com for details.

Navman Spirit 500 Traffic
Also available with Western European maps and Hands-free options.

4.7” widescreen
Ultra slim, lightweight design (less than 14mm thin)
Pioneering ‘Spirit’ software with Slide Touch
TruMap™ views
3D Junction views and lane guidance
Google Local Search via Bluetooth*
Explore mode
Wcities Travel Books
Walking mode
Smart economical routing
NavPix™ photo navigation
Capture button
Bluetooth Hands-free calling*
Roadside assistance*
AccuWeather® weather info*
Pre-loaded safety camera data – free trial**
Text to Speech
High speed GPS fix with SiRFInstantFixII™
Road speed limit data
Built-in Traffic information†
Latest regional / European map data

* Navman Spirit 500 Hands-free only. A compatible Bluetooth mobile phone is required

for Bluetooth Local Search, network charges may vary.
** For a limited period of 12 months.
† Subscription may be required, see www.mio.com for details.

Navman Spirit Flat.

4.7” super-flat widescreen
Ultra slim, lightweight design (14.5mm thin)
Pioneering ‘Spirit’ software with Slide Touch
TruMap views with 3D landmarks
3D Junction views and lane guidance
Google Local Search via Bluetooth®*
Explore mode
Wcities Travel Books
Walking mode with 2D city maps
Smart economical routing
NavPix™ photo navigation
Capture button
Hands-free calling
Roadside assistance
AccuWeather® weather info
FM Transmitter
MP3 player / Video player
Pre-loaded safety camera data – free trial**
Text to Speech
High speed GPS fix with SiRFInstantFixII™
Road speed limit data
Built-in Traffic information with lifetime subscription
Latest Western and Eastern European map data

* A compatible mobile Bluetooth mobile phone is required, network charges may vary.
** For a limited period of 12 months.

MSI’s model is expected to slot into the X-Slim X340 range and is codenamed the MS-135X.  It has a 13.4-inch display and uses the Celeron 723 processor and GS40 chipset; integrated WiMAX will be an option, and shipments are expected in June.  Clevo will also use the Celeron 723 and GS40 in their two models: the W8x0V has a choice of 13.3-inch or 14-inch display, while the R130x has a 13.3-inch panel, and production will begin in August and June, respectively.

Meanwhile ECS will use the Celeron 723/GS40 pairing for its 13.3-inch ECS 130 model, hitting mass production in August, and the 1.6Ghz Core 2 Duo SU9600 and GS45 chipset in their T30, production of which kicks off in June.  Compal will have their own 13.3-inch ultraportable, codenamed NTUCO, about which little is known aside from the production schedule, which begins in September.

Pegatron have already demonstrated their CULV notebooks, the 13.3-inch DC3e, RX8 and DC2, as have Mitac with their 13.3-inch 9213 and 12-inch 9212 (which both use the SU9400 CPU and GS45 chipset).  However Mitac will follow that in June with the 13.3-inch 9223, which has the SU2700 processor and GS40 chipset.

MiTAC are the parent company of subsidiaries Mio and GETAC, both known for their GPS products.  It’s possible that the Magellan product range could be integrated with the Mio range, or it could continue until end-of-life under the Magellan brand which would then be retired.

Earlier this month, Panasonic announced it would be withdrawing from the European satnav market, faced with dramatically falling prices.  The standalone GPS market has suffered from the rise in mobile handsets with integrated GPS and data connectivity, with the market becoming saturated and buyers unwilling to spend on premium devices.

Press Release:

Magellan Enters into Definitive Agreement to Sell the Magellan Consumer Products Division to MiTAC International Corporation

SANTA CLARA, Calif., Dec. 15 — Magellan Navigation, Inc. today announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to sell the Magellan consumer products division to MiTAC International Corp. Closing of the transaction is anticipated in January of 2009. Financial terms are not disclosed.

Recognized as an industry innovator, the Magellan consumer products division is the creator of the award-winning Magellan(R) RoadMate(R) and Maestro(TM) series portable car navigation systems, and the Magellan Triton(R) outdoor handheld navigation devices. The company is recognized worldwide through its Magellan brand.

About Magellan

Magellan allows people to travel, work and play their way with leading portable navigation and positioning solutions across multiple consumer markets. Recognized as an industry innovator, the company is the creator of the award-winning Magellan RoadMate, and Maestro series portable car navigation systems, as well as the CrossoverGPS(TM) and Magellan Triton outdoor handheld navigation devices. Magellan is privately held and headquartered in Santa Clara, Calif. For more information on Magellan, visit http://www.magellangps.com.

About MiTAC International Corp.

MiTAC International is a global ITC (information technology & consumer electronics) company headquartered in Taiwan and publicly listed on the Taiwan Stock Exchange. Its business spans three major areas — mobile communications (personal navigation devices, GPS smart phones and mobile Internet devices), enterprise systems (workstations, servers, and storage equipment) and client systems (personal computers and digital home entertainment products). MiTAC International has large vertically integrated manufacturing sites in China, as well as extensive R&D facilities in US, China, Taiwan and New Zealand. MiTAC International also has marketing operations in the U.S., West Europe, Central East Europe, APAC, China, Japan, Australia and rest of the world. The company is recognized by the industry for its innovative product design capability as well as its integrated design-and-delivery system. For more information about Mitac, please go to: http://www.mitac.com 

[via GPSTracklog; thanks Rich!]

Storage is via SD/MMC card, plus there’s a mini USB connector and 3.5mm headphone socket.  As well as GPS and WiFi there’s also Bluetooth and unspecified cellular radio bands.  The handset will use the TacLink GPS user interface.

No word on availability or pricing, but this is unlikely to be a mainstream device.  You can read the full user manual here, in pdf format.

[via NaviGadget]

gOS has not really been seen on netbook systems since the Everex Cloudbook, which was criticised for not being able to fully display some of the OS’ menus on its relatively low-resolution, 7-inch display.  Since then the software has been updated, while the larger and higher resolution screen of the MiStation should be more accommodating.

No pricing details nor exact availability have been revealed about the MiTAC netbook, but it’s expected later on in 2008.  It’s assumed that the usual bevy of ports and connectivity will be included: three USB 2.0 ports, VGA output, audio in/out and a memory card reader.

[via Notebook Italia]