That’s useful for frequent travelers, who can avoid extortionate roaming costs by downloading the maps for their upcoming destinations to the iPhone’s local storage rather than accessing it over a data connection while there. By splitting the core app and the navigation data, Garmin has also streamlined the update process: rather than everything being downloaded each time a new version is pushed out, only the app changes need be delivered.

Meanwhile, there’s a new UI with animated menus and new gesture support, and Garmin has sensibly split the settings options away from the main functionality of the app to keep things easier to use while on the move. 3D map navigation has been simplified too.

“The new Settings menu allows users to easily customize functions and change preferences, for example when to receive speed warnings, while the new Actions menu lets you use functions that are needed while navigating such as points of interest search and social network postings” Garmin

NAVIGON 2.0 for iPhone is available now as a free update to existing users, or as a $39.99 purchase for the North American edition [iTunes link]. In-app purchases will get up to $25 discounts until the end of the month.

The Navigon GPS app for Windows Phone 7.5 Mango will offer several advanced navigation features, including spoken turn-by-turn directions with text-to-speech, live traffic information and visual lane guidance with Lane Assistant Pro, and rerouting options of up to three different routes depending on driving style with MyRoutes.

Additionally, the app features an augmented reality function called Reality Scanner that lets you easily identify nearby landmarks while on foot. It also offers real-time traffic alerts, speed warnings, camera warnings, photo-realistic views of exits, and Google Local Search for POI searches.

The app is available now via the Windows Marketplace, but it’s compatible only with the latest Windows Phone 7.5 Mango operating system. Priced normally at $50, the app is available now until November 11 for a special introductory price of $39.

[via CNET]

Garmin is also happy to be getting its hands on the Navigon iPhone app. Garmin made note in its announcement that the purchase was landing it one of the top-selling navigation apps on the iPhone and Android devices. It would be safe to assume that a big driver for the purchase was the navigation apps that Navigon offers.

Lots of people are going to navigation on their smartphones rather than using the traditional navigation device. The cost of the deal is unknown. Navigon expects to have a new line of wares on the market in time for the holiday season.

[via CNET]

Navigon is based in Germany and is much more popular in the European market, while Garmin is most well known in North America. The acquisition would bring Navigon under Garmin’s wing as a subsidiary and will help accelerate Garmin’s expansion in the automotive OEM navigation space.

It’s believed that the acquisition will cost Garmin roughly $72 million, although no actual numbers have been disclosed. The deal is still subject to regulatory approval and would complete at the earliest by late July.

Press Release:

Garmin® Ltd. Announces Signing of Agreement To Acquire Navigon® AG

Schaffhausen, Switzerland and Hamburg, Germany /June 14, 2011/Business Wire — Garmin Ltd. (Nasdaq: GRMN) and Navigon AG announced today that Garmin Ltd. and the shareholders of Navigon AG have signed an agreement for a subsidiary of Garmin to acquire privately-held navigation provider Navigon AG (“Navigon”).

“This acquisition is a great complement to Garmin’s existing automotive and mobile business. Navigon has invested significantly in the European automotive OEM business, and we feel that we can rapidly expand our automotive OEM footprint and capabilities through this transaction,” said Cliff Pemble, Garmin’s president and COO. “With Navigon, we are also acquiring one of the top-selling navigation applications for the iPhone and Android platforms – something that we expect will help drive revenue for the combined company going forward. Combining Navigon’s and Garmin’s strength also improves our competitiveness and standing particularly in Europe.”

Navigon is headquartered in Germany. In addition to its automotive OEM and navigation application for smartphones, the company has an estimated seven percent share in portable navigation devices (PNDs) in Europe. In regards PNDs, Navigon’s products are known for their compelling design, performance, and innovative software features.

“We look forward to sharing expertise, technologies, and relationships between Navigon and Garmin in order to serve more customers, expand product offerings, and lead the market in hardware and software innovation,” said Egon Minar, CEO of Navigon. “Our two companies each bring complementary strengths to the table, but what we share is a passion for customer satisfaction through innovation.”

Navigon will operate as a subsidiary of Garmin Ltd. The acquisition is subject to regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions. Financial terms of the transaction will not be released.

The new features are an at-a-glance traffic gauge and a new NAVTEQ map. Both of the purchases the prices of the purchases reduced by up to $15 each until April 28. The 1.8 update brings to the existing app a new reality scanner that uses augmented reality to identify destinations up close. The user just points their iPhone at the building and icons will appear on the screen telling the user what the locations are.

The update also adds safety camera locations with red light and speed cameras listed and a new traffic check function. The safety camera listing is also an in-app purchase for $4.99. The new updates sound interesting.

Both of the apps will have similar features and include Navigon’s Reality View Pro on devices that support landscape format. Other features include Lane Assistant Pro, text-to-speech, Speed Assistant, day and night modes, and direct access to navigate to contacts in the smartphones contact list.

The Windows Mobile app will be available in the next week for $89 with maps of North America installed form Navteq. The Android app is expected to hit in the Spring for an undisclosed one-time fee. I would expect the Android version to be prices much like the Windows Mobile version.

There are also POIs (points of interest) that can optionally be displayed along the route, and both portrait and landscape orientations for making best use of the iPhone 3G and 3G S display whether in the car or on-foot.  MobileNavigator integrates with the iPhone’s contacts, offering one-touch directions, and should a call come in during the journey the route will automatically resume once you hang up.

Both a Lite version (with no directions, but browsable maps and POIs) and the full version will go on sale June 17th, through the App Store.  No word on pricing as yet, nor whether there’ll be an optional car kit as with the TomTom system, but hopefully a little competition in the market will encourage each company to keep costs down. 

Press Release:

NAVIGON takes off first: MobileNavigator now also leads the way on the iPhone already in June

To turn the iPhone 3G and the forthcoming iPhone 3G S into an innovative navigator, you only need two “ingredients”: the new Apple OS 3.0 operating system and the MobileNavigator from NAVIGON. By June iPhone users will be able to turn their phones into a handy, convenient navigation device with the professional software from NAVIGON for the first time.

Hamburg, 9th of June 2009 – Lunch break. Time to eat and a chance to send private emails, make phone calls and to relax listening to songs from your own playlist. Now and again checking the status of online bidding, and taking a funny photo of a colleague. One thing is for sure, there’s hardly another smartphone on the market that makes multitasking so much fun as the iPhone. And soon users will be able to have themselves navigated from the office to the new Italian restaurant in town. All that‘s needed is an iPhone running on the new Apple OS 3.0 operating system – and the MobileNavigator from NAVIGON.

Before the end of this month iPhone users will be able to kit out their smartphones with the professional navigation software from App Stores across the globe. “With the new OS 3.0 operating system, Apple has made the use of navigation software on the iPhone possible, and NAVIGON has quickly managed to adapt the MobileNavigator software to the new firmware. The iPhone can now be transformed into a versatile, fully functional navigator”, quotes Egon Minar, CEO of NAVIGON AG.

Alternative in the App Store

When equipped with the MobileNavigator software, the iPhone 3G (with Apple OS 3.0 operating system) and the iPhone 3G S guide their users safely to their destination – with updated map material and intelligent navigation.

The package includes well-known functions such as Reality View Pro, Real Roadsign Pro, Lane Assistant Pro, Speed Assistant, Day & Night Mode, amongst others, as well as the option of displaying POIs along the route. With this range of functions, Mobile Navigator stands out from its competition on the market – also by the fact that the typical user functions of the iPhone have been implemented seamlessly in order to make navigation using the iPhone and NAVIGON software even more enjoyable. If you turn the iPhone 90 degrees, then the display switches automatically from portrait to landscape view. As well as this automatic display adjustment, and the intelligent address entry, there is also the option of navigating directly to an address from saved contacts. If navigation is interrupted by a telephone call then navigation is resumed automatically after the call has ended.

“This allows iPhone users to navigate wherever they are, whenever they want – conveniently and while on the move,” states Egon Minar.

Within this month MobileNavigator will be available in the international AppStore where iPhone users can choose between various options. One option is the LITE Version available for free, with no active route guidance, but with map material and the possibility to display POIs (points of interest) in the vicinity. Another option is the full version, which navigates users quickly and reliably to their destination.

The prices for the full version will be released by the AppStore at the launch.

About NAVIGON:

NAVIGON AG is a world-leading manufacturer of navigation systems. With its own portable navigation systems, and thanks to its partnership with reputable consumer electronics manufacturers, NAVIGON stands for high-quality GPS navigation on pocket PCs, PNDs and mobile phones. NAVIGON also provides professional navigation solutions such as driver-assistance features for the automotive OEM market. NAVIGON was founded in 1991, and employs over 400 workers in locations in Asia, Europe and North America. – NAVIGON. And the world is yours.

Navigon’s North American push will now focus on software solutions, predominantly aimed at getting their PND app loaded on cellphones and smartphones.  The company already has a deal with T-Mobile Germany, and is looking to extend that to the carrier’s North American arm.

Discount pricing during the aggressive Christmas period has been tipped as the biggest reason for Navigon’s demise in the US.  Budget PNDs were joined by brand-name models in a race to the bottom line, and the company’s premium range – such as the 7200T, a feature-packed unit which we reviewed last November - failed to find buyers with an MRSP of $449.

[via Laptopmag]

The Navigon 7300T is undoubtedly the flagship of the trio, with inclusive spoken traffic updates, voice address entry and control, both Panorama View 3D and Landmark View 3D to better illustrate your surroundings and Zagat ratings and reviews.  The Navigon 4300T max drops the standard Zagat info (it’s a $20 option) and has a more homely casing, but there’s still a 4.3-inch widescreen touchscreen and free spoken traffic updates.

All three should go on sale in Q2 2009, with preorders starting March 9th.  The Navigon 7300T has an MRSP of $399.99; the Navigon 4300T max has an MRSP of $279.99; and the Navigon 3300 max has an MRSP of $199.99.

Press Releases:

New NAVIGON 7300T GPS Takes 3D Views, Traffic Updates and Voice Command to a New Level

Device also includes new intelligent NAVIGON MyRoutes™ feature that learns from individual driving habits

CHICAGO, MARCH 2, 2009 — NAVIGON, the leading innovator in the navigation market, today announced the next generation of NAVIGON’s highly acclaimed 7000-series platform, the NAVIGON 7300T. The ultra-stylish personal navigation device (PND) showcases an array of innovative features, including a new level of 3D visualization showing surrounding landscapes and important landmarks, Free Real-Time Spoken Traffic Updates and next-generation Voice Control, helping the user to control the device hands-free by speaking a wide variety of commands.

For the first time, NAVIGON combines its highly praised Panorama View 3D and Landmark View 3D features in one device, the NAVIGON 7300T. This gives the user a real 3D experience showing surrounding landscapes as well as important landmarks. Panorama View 3D brings a true 3D experience to the NAVIGON 7300T’s map using NASA terrain height data to provide geographic guidance complete with rolling hills and digital elevations. Landmark View 3D shows hundreds of richly-textured 3D landmarks across the U.S. and Canada such as the Empire State Building and the White House, as well as sports stadiums from coast to coast.

As an industry-first, the NAVIGON 7300T includes the new intelligent NAVIGON MyRoutes™ feature, taking individualized navigation to a new level and introducing a unique way of intelligent and personal route planning. The feature provides up to three route choices with distance and ETA calculated for all entered destinations, factoring in speed limits, construction and traffic as you’re driving. All routes are clearly displayed on a map with ETA and driving time giving the driver a choice. The system continuously saves the driver’s individual driving data in order to provide the best individual route possible and recommends a route based on the user’s driving habits, the day of week and time of travel.

NAVIGON takes its pioneering tradition in real-time traffic a step further by making it even easier to recognize issues ahead and route around traffic. The new NAVIGON 7300T now speaks traffic updates in addition to presenting them on the display. It also displays an alternative route around traffic on a map including the up-to-date ETA and distance. NAVIGON offers spoken real-time traffic updates for free for the life of the device. No subscriptions or additional hardware needed. Covering 95 markets across the U.S. and Canada, the NAVIGON 7300T will audibly alert you of traffic troubles and provide alternate routes.

The NAVIGON 7300T also boasts an all-new Voice Address Entry and Control feature, that not only makes inputting addresses simple, but also allows the user to control the device hands-free by speaking a wide variety of commands. This means that the driver can use the menu, adjust the volume or answer phone calls simply using his or her voice. Additionally, NAVIGON has designed the new voice-based feature to operate using more casual, less specific, language. For instance, the device volume can be increased by saying a variety of commands in much more casual language, such as “increase volume to eight” or “please make it louder.”

NAVIGON’s 7300T device is the first GPS system on the market to feature Rand McNally Scenic Routes content. Based on Rand McNally’s Best of the Road ® series, the NAVIGON 7300T includes over 250 routes such as Weekend Getaways, Scenic Tours and Regional Trips. These routes show the most beautiful vistas and breathtaking landscapes the U.S. and Canada have to offer. Scenic routes are a perfect option for a unique vacation to enjoy with the whole family or as an alternative to normal highway driving.

Building upon NAVIGON’s tradition of developing products that channel the company’s heritage of fine German engineering and design, the NAVIGON 7300T takes style to a new level with an extra-wide, flat-panel touchscreen enclosed in a sleek, frameless piano black housing. NAVIGON’s design focus goes beyond the exterior of the 7300T. When compared with other GPS devices, NAVIGON’s rich maps and menus provide for a more sophisticated, intuitive interface.

“NAVIGON continues its pioneering tradition of driving more useful and innovative features into every new product we introduce,” said Michael Roach, NAVIGON’s president for the Americas. “The 7300T is the pinnacle of NAVIGON’s vision, combining our uncompromised design focus with a set of unmatched, relevant, next-generation features. The 7300T is truly a stand-out, delivering an experience that adds a greater level of peace of mind, productivity, and adventure than anything else on the market today.”

In addition to a number of new features, the NAVIGON 7300T is equipped with features that have become hallmarks of NAVIGON’s premium navigation experience. Reality View™ Pro and Lane Assistant Pro provide that extra direction when you need it most—so you’ll never miss an exit or a turn again. Advanced text-to-speech technology helps you keep your eyes on the road by providing spoken driving directions and street names. Only NAVIGON can show where to wine, dine, and unwind with a built-in, exclusive ZAGAT guide that includes more than 27,000 listings across the U.S. and Canada spanning hotels, nightclubs, attractions and golf courses. With NAVIGON’s exclusive Exit Guide feature, you can take the guesswork out of highway travel by searching upcoming exits for the restaurant, rest area, hotel or gas station of your choice. DirectHelpSM provides instant access to directions and phone numbers to nearby emergency service providers. A new Clickable POIs feature guides you to destinations shown on the map with one click. The latest generation of NAVIGON software makes entering and finding information fast and simple with fewer clicks.

The NAVIGON 7300T sells for $399.99 (MSRP) and will be available at retailers in Q2 2009. It is compatible with NAVIGON’s optional FreshMaps accessory, which provides up to 8 map updates over two years for $79.99 (MSRP). If the user activates FreshMaps within 30 days after purchasing the device, the price is only $39.99.

For more information and images, please visit www.navigon.com.

The NAVIGON 7300T features include:

NAVIGON MyRoutes™
Free Real-Time Spoken Traffic Updates
Voice Address Entry and Control
Panorama View 3D and Landmark View 3D
Rand McNally Scenic Routes
Clickable POIs
Reality View™ Pro
Lane Assistant Pro
Fast Destination Entry
Bluetooth® Hands-Free
Advanced Text-to-speech
Zagat® Ratings and Reviews
Exit Guide
DirectHelpSM
Speed Assistant
Multi-Destination Trip Planning
Automatic Standby Feature
Favorites as POI
Coordinate Input
Automatic Day/Night Mode
About NAVIGON

NAVIGON Unveils First Intelligent GPS Devices that Learn from Individual Driving Habits

NAVIGON 4300T max and 3300 max units pack NAVIGON MyRoutes™, Spoken Traffic Updates and Clickable POI features into a sleek and slim 4.3 inch design

CHICAGO, MARCH 2, 2009 — NAVIGON, the leading innovator in the navigation market, today announced two new widescreen GPS devices, the NAVIGON 4300T max and 3300 max. These are the first intelligent GPS devices on the market to deliver personalized route recommendations based on individual driving habits.

NAVIGON MyRoutes™
As an industry-first, the NAVIGON 4300T max and 3300 max both include the new intelligent NAVIGON MyRoutes™ feature that takes individualized navigation to a new level and allows a unique way of personal route planning. The feature provides up to three route choices with distance and ETA calculated for all entered destinations, factoring in speed limits, construction and traffic as you’re driving. All routes are clearly displayed on a map with ETA and driving time giving the driver a choice. The system continuously saves the driver’s individual driving data in order to provide the best individual route possible and recommends a route based on the user’s driving habits, the day of week and time of travel.

“Our new NAVIGON MyRoutes feature proves once again that NAVIGON is truly leading innovation in the GPS category by offering the user an intelligent and individualized route recommendation,” said Michael Roach, NAVIGON’s president for the Americas. “While others continue to compete on price at the expense of the user experience, NAVIGON is dedicated to delivering superior features and superior value across our portfolio. Any device can get you from point A to point B, but the real challenge is delivering an experience that helps our customers overcome the challenges they face every day on the road. Both the NAVIGON 4300T max and the 3300 max meet those challenges.”

The NAVIGON 4300T max and 3300 max represent the next generation of portable navigation and carry forward NAVIGON’s uncompromised tradition of innovative and useful features that clearly showcase unparalleled value relative to anything else in the market. The NAVIGON 4300T max is packed with premium features that assist with any challenge you may face on the road – including traffic, construction, phone calls and poorly marked exits. Additionally, the value-oriented NAVIGON 3300 max delivers an exceptional array of stress-busting features that provide more guidance than comparable products.

The NAVIGON 4300T max
The NAVIGON 4300T max delivers a navigation experience unlike any other, offering a unique combination of style and exclusive, useful features. Boasting a wide 4.3″ touchscreen with a chrome-accented, piano-black housing, the NAVIGON 4300T max helps you overcome anything the road throws at you. Real-Time Spoken Traffic Updates automatically notify you of upcoming traffic congestion and re-route you with the touch of a button. Traffic alerts are not only delivered audibly, but are also free for the life of the product. And for the first time on a GPS device, the NAVIGON 4300T max includes valuable Rand McNally navigation content including Best of the Road®, Weekend Getaways, Scenic Tours and Regional Trips. An all-new Bluetooth® hands-free application lets you manage your phone calls while keeping your hands on the wheel.

The NAVIGON 4300T max also showcases many of the trademark premium features that have placed NAVIGON as the leading innovator in the market, such as Reality View ™, Text-to-Speech, Exit Guide and Lane Assistant Pro. With a combination of superior features and style, the NAVIGON 4300T max is the clear choice for those looking for a complete navigation experience.

The NAVIGON 3300 max
The NAVIGON 3300 max provides more for less. The device is fully loaded with more useful and better guidance than any other device in its class offering a superior value that goes well beyond the basics.

Featuring a wide 4.3” touchscreen, the sleek and slim NAVIGON 3300 max packs a host of stress-busting features to get you where to want to go with fewer headaches along the way. Innovative features like Reality View™ for Exits and Lane Assistant Pro provide that extra direction when you need it most—so you never miss an exit or a turn again. Keep your eyes on the road with advanced text-to-speech technology that provides spoken driving directions and street names. With NAVIGON’s exclusive Exit Guide feature, you can take the guesswork out of highway travel by searching upcoming exits for the restaurant, rest area, hotel or gas station of your choice. DirectHelpSM provides instant access to directions and phone numbers to nearby emergency service providers. A new Clickable POIs feature guides you to destinations shown on the map with one click. The latest generation of NAVIGON software, along with NAVIGON’s SmartSpeller feature to help guide through the entry process, makes entering and finding information fast and simple with fewer clicks. Basic yet brilliant, the NAVIGON 3300 max delivers useful features at a greater value to help make your everyday travel less stressful.

The NAVIGON 4300T max and 3300 max devices sell for $279.99 and $199.99 (MSRP) respectively and will be available at retailers in Q2 2009. Pre-orders can be placed at the following retailers starting March 9: Amazon.com, CompUSA.com, Crutchfield.com, JR.com and TigerDirect.com.

NAVIGON offers a variety of additional content and upgrades for both devices. NAVIGON’s optional FreshMaps accessory provides up to 8 map updates over two years for $79.99 (MSRP). If the user activates FreshMaps within 30 days after purchasing the device, the price is only $39.99. Zagat® Ratings and Reviews showing where to wine, dine, and unwind are available as an upgrade for $19.99 (MSRP). The NAVIGON 3300 max is also compatible with NAVIGON’s new Real-Time Spoken Traffic Updates and Rand McNally Scenic Routes accessories, with respective prices of $99.99 and $19.99 (MSRP).

For more information and images, please visit www.navigon.com.

The NAVIGON 4300T max features include:

Free Real-Time Spoken Traffic Updates
Rand McNally Scenic Routes
Bluetooth® Hands-Free
Reality View™ Pro
Both the NAVIGON 4300T max and 3300 max devices feature:

NAVIGON MyRoutes™
Clickable POIs
Lane Assistant Pro
Reality View™ for Exits
Fast Destination Entry
Advanced Text-to-speech
Exit Guide
DirectHelpSM
Speed Assistant
Multi-Destination Trip Planning
Automatic Standby Feature
Favorites as POI
Coordinate Input
Automatic Day/Night Mode

The Cydle T34 is a very clean looking device that incorporates a feature that I have believed should be standard in these types of gadgets for some time now. There is no need to go out and get an HD Radio if you pick this navigation system up, as has one built right in.  There is no word as to if you can simultaneously use both features at one time, but we imagine voice directions and music would clash after a while.

The T43 has a 4.3-inch touchscreen, and integrated Bluetooth support. With a combination of Cydle XE Map, 4Cydle 3D Map and real-time traffic updates this little device should hit the ground running against other famous brands like Garmin. There was no pricing mention, but it is expected to hit Best Buy shelves sometime in the near future.

Google’s Transit site has been offering automatic trip-planning for a while now, but the new feature makes it really easy to determine your route or if there is even an option for you with just a glance at the map.  The map displays just an overlay of the routes with color-coding to distinguish between the available modes of transportation.

The thing that sets these maps apart from the ones provided by major metro lines are that these are geographically correct and provide more than just the transit lines. Google certainly does not give up on a service, they continually add new useful features and great support for all of the content they provide.

Other interesting looking announcements include the Samsung Eternity on AT&T, LG Prada II, and the iRiver wave which, for the moment at least, is stuck in Korea.  Still, they’re trailing in the wake of Apple’s iPhone 3G, which finally edged ahead of the Motorola RAZR to become the best selling mobile handset.  Just the right time for rumors to begin that Costco are planning to sell the Apple device for $149.  Whether or not that pans out, if you plan on using your iPhone 3G as Apple intended it then you’ll be wanting to take a look at our Mophie Juice Pack review for the power-guzzling smartphone.

Slightly larger, but using that space to its best advantage – by packing in the connectivity – comes UMID’s Mobile Internet Device.  Blessed with WiBro, WiMAX, HSDPA, WiFi, Bluetooth and a 4.8-inch touchscreen, it leaves us in the bizarre situation of not only hoping it will make it to our shores, but that we’ll have the wireless networks to sate it.

All too often we see slick gadgets in Korea that we’ll never get a chance to play with ourselves; it was nice, then, to be able to exclusively confirm that Nanovision’s MIMO 7-inch USB LCD monitors are coming to the US, UK, Italy and Japan.  We’ve got review samples winging their way to us right now, so expect full coverage this coming week.

For once, netbooks took a backseat over the past seven days, with the only major news being Dell’s Inspiron Mini 12 getting a confirmed price – from $549 – and release timetable.  You’ll be able to pick up the 12.1-inch budget ultraportable from the second week in December.  In gaming, meanwhile, we found out about Sports Active, EA’s upcoming challenge to the Wii Fit.

You’d think we were entirely unable to read a map here at SlashGear this week, with three separate PND devices in for review.  The Navigon 7200T, Mio’s Knight Rider GPS and Telenav’s Shotgun PND all took their turn ordering us about; thankfully we had the Flip MinoHD to document the ordeal.

Winner of the week has to be Bang & Olufsen, who have already whipped commenters into a frenzy by announcing the terribly expensive BeoSound 5 Digital Music System.  Par for the course for the Danish company, really.  Meanwhile loser of the week is Circuit City, who have voluntarily filed for bankruptcy.  The credit crunch claims another victim, but we suppose that means plenty of stock-clearance bargains this holiday season.

The feature list is long, in fact the only significant thing missing from the 7200T is a mobile data connection for updates. What you do get is “Reality View Pro”, for on-screen lane and sign information, “Landmark View 3D”, for 3D city-scape, voice recognition destination entry, Bluetooth and a lifetime subscription to Clear Channel Total Traffic updates. All that on a 4.3-inch wide-aspect touchscreen.

Build quality is good, with a sleek but sturdy casing. The 7200T fits snugly into its windscreen mount but pops out readily; the edge-to-edge glass on the front is another neat touch. Under the hood there’s a new 600MHz Centrality Titan I processor with 64MB of RAM, and we experienced no slow-down or delays in rendering.

Voice entry is probably the biggest crowd pleaser here. It requires minimal training – reading out loud a single sentence – and after that is triggered by a press of the Voice Entry button. You’re asked to speak the city, the street and the house number in turn, each punctuated by a beep. Accuracy has proved fair, thought the 7200T is quite location specific (move it in the car and you may have to run the training again), and it apparently learns the more you use it.

Navigon have certainly used the 4.3-inch display to its best advantage. The 3D mapping is vivid, assuming you’re in an area with a suitably rendered landmark, but its of limited use unless you really are wondering if that’s the White House on your left. More helpful is the Reality View Pro, along with Lane Assistant Pro, which automatically zooms into intersections and lanes with true-to-life representations of where you should be positioned in the road. The 7200T also shows road signs and actual road geometry; seriously, the only thing more accurate would be if it took into account the time of year and added seasonal flowers.

The rest of the interface is perhaps a little more staid than the rivals from Garmin and TomTom. In fact, Navigon’s PND seems to take everything much more seriously, which isn’t really a bad thing. The SIRF InstantFixII receiver took a little longer than the “matter of seconds” Navigon suggest, but it was still some of the fastest acquisitions we’ve experienced. The text-to-speech road names were also surprisingly accurate, with some of the stranger names still being correctly pronounced.

As well as an unspecified huge amount of Points of Interest (POIs), the 7200T has Zagat ratings and reviews for restaurants, brand icons overlaid onto the maps, and one-click access to DirectHelp which, like on rival systems, shows the nearest hospitals and rescue services together with their contact details. Since browsing through all those POIs while driving is a sure-fire way to require one of those rescue services, the 7200T has six shortcuts – food, gas, lodging, rest areas, auto service and shopping – which, when selected, automatically directs you to the nearest exit.

Like many PNDs, the Navigon 7200T also works as a Bluetooth hands-free. We paired several different devices and had no trouble connecting any of them; the PND also downloads the contacts lists for on-screen dialing. Sound quality was fair, though on the quiet site, and callers reported no great issue with background noise.

Less successful are the traffic updates. The 7200T uses the Clear Channel system, and has a generous lifetime subscription. Problems are quick to update and clearly shown on the map; however, there seems to be a disconnect between that and the direction generation itself. Despite telling us of slow-downs and roadworks ahead, the Navigon still instructed us to keep going rather than offering an alternative route. That’s hopefully something the company can fix with a firmware update, and there’s a mini-USB port to connect the 7200T to a computer and do just that.

Overall, we like the 7200T. While the traffic updates are occasionally frustrating, and the voice recognition not quite 100-percent accurate, it does the essentials – fast navigation with instructive graphics – very well. It’s not a cheap option, at around $449, but if you’re looking for foolproof directions then it’s definitely one to consider.

To support the new 3D mapping Navigon have included a graphics accelerator, making the 8100T probably one of the most visually-capable (or, depending on how you look at it, most extreme examples of PND overkill) units on the market.  Addresses can be entered via spoken prompts or on-screen keyboards with autocorrection.  While driving, meanwhile, there’s photo-realistic junction signs and intersection detail, Lane Assistant Pro for road positioning and text-to-speech.

Of course, all this comes at a price.  The Navigon 8100T will have an MRSP of $599 when it goes on sale later this month.  It’s also available to buy with the Navigon FreshMaps package, which for $79.99 offers up to twelve map updates over three years.

Press Release:

A new dimension in navigation, NAVIGON 8100T revolutionizes map view with
an extra-wide 4.8″ display and stunning Panorama View 3D

CHICAGO, Nov. 10 NAVIGON, the leading innovator in the
navigation market, today announced the launch of its new flagship product,
the NAVIGON 8100T.

With a handsome, brushed-metal housing and an expansive 4.8″ display,
the NAVIGON 8100T is an uber-premium GPS navigator offering an unmatched
feature set for those looking for the best navigation experience available
– a perfect hybrid of style, substance, performance and precision. It is
the first GPS navigator on the market with NAVIGON’s revolutionary Panorama
View 3D. This new feature brings a true 3D experience to the map using NASA
terrain height data to provide geographic guidance complete with rolling
hills and digital elevations. The unit’s extra-large 4.8″ widescreen serves
as the perfect frame for the panoramic 3D views.

The NAVIGON 8100T offers Free Real-Time Traffic Updates for Life –
automatically alerting drivers about traffic issues ahead and rerouting
with the touch of a button. Features like Voice Destination Entry, Reality
View(TM) Pro and Bluetooth(R) Hands-Free make navigating roads easier and
less stressful. Employing NAVIGON’s next-generation software, the 8100T is
a top performer, requiring very few clicks to enter a destination.

“The NAVIGON 8100T raises the bar on innovation and design in the PND
category,” said Michael Roach, NAVIGON’s president for the Americas. “Once
again, NAVIGON is at the forefront of market innovation by introducing real
3D environment views to the market with Panorama View 3D.”

The NAVIGON 8100T sells for $599 (MSRP). It hits online retailers in
November 2008 and is available with NAVIGON’s breakthrough optional
FreshMaps, which provides up to 12 map updates over three years for $79.99
(MSRP).

The NAVIGON 8100T features include:
– Panorama View 3D. True 3D environment views come to the navigation
experience. The road ahead is displayed with surrounding landscapes
and digital elevations. This detailed geographic guidance helps
drivers see what lies ahead. The impressive views are supported by a
built-in graphics accelerator.
– Free Real-Time Traffic Updates for Life. Real-time traffic updates
allow routing around congestion by including traffic flow, incidents
and alternate routes and works for the lifetime of the product right
out of the box without any registration processes, fees or
additional hardware. Across 95 markets in the U.S. and Canada, the
NAVIGON 8100T will alert drivers of traffic troubles and provide
alternate routes.
– Voice Destination Entry. Advanced voice recognition allows drivers
to specify their destination by simply speaking the address.
NAVIGON’s distinctive iconic interface guides the users through the
process.
– Uncompromising Design. The 8100T takes NAVIGON’s love for design to
a new level. The silver brushed-metal housing serves as the ideal
frame for an extra-large 4.8″ widescreen display. The complementary
premium car mount echoes the design of the 8100T, plus it has
additional functionality too. The charger is built-in, users simply
dock the device on the mount and it automatically stays charged.
– Reality View(TM) Pro. Never miss an exit again with the next
generation of Reality View -providing more coverage in more places.
Reality View Pro displays photo-realistic 3D views with actual road
signs and lane guidance for virtually every highway interchange and
exit that drivers will encounter.
– Lane Assistant Pro. Helps drivers prepare to make an upcoming exit
or turn by providing clear visual lane guidance. NAVIGON’s second
generation of Lane Assistant provides a lane map complete with
arrows and actual road geometry.
– Fast Destination Entry. The latest generation of NAVIGON software
makes entering and finding information fast and simple with fewer
clicks. NAVIGON’s SmartSpeller feature helps guiding through the
entry process.
– Bluetooth(R) Hands-Free. The integrated Bluetooth(R) feature helps
keeping both hands on the wheel while still staying connected. The
NAVIGON 8100T acts like a Bluetooth speakerphone to hold
conversations without all the distractions. As an added feature,
Microsoft(R) Outlook contacts can be imported to the NAVIGON 8100T
with NAVIGON Sync.
– Advanced Text-to-speech. Spoken Directions with Street Names lets
drivers keep their hands on the wheel and eyes on the road with
advanced phonetic text-to-speech technology to ensure proper
pronunciation of streets.
– Zagat(R) Ratings and Reviews. Only NAVIGON can show where to wine,
dine, and unwind with a built-in exclusive ZAGAT guide that includes
over 27,000 listings across the U.S. and Canada spanning hotels,
nightclubs, attractions and golf courses. With millions of standard
points-of-interest and branded icons onboard users always have a gas
station, restaurant or golf course at their finger tips.
– Exit Guide. NAVIGON’s Highway Exit Guide enables users to search
upcoming exits for one of six POI categories — food, gas, lodging,
rest areas, auto service or shopping. And, with one click, the
NAVIGON 8100T navigates there.
– DirectHelp(SM). Help is a click away with this DirectHelp, providing
instant driving directions to and contact information for nearby
hospitals, police stations, roadside assistance, and pharmacies.
– Top-Notch Performance. NAVIGON’s new software gets to the right
route in less time. NAVIGON’s new software platform delivers our
most responsive interface to date and supports incredibly fast route
calculation times.

Also with:
– Speed Assistant
– Multi-Destination Trip Planning
– Automatic Standby Feature
– Favorites as POI

Text-to-speech reads out not only directions but road names, while Navigon’s DirectHelp is a database of instant driving directions to, and contact information for, nearby hospitals, police stations, roadside assistance and pharmacies. The company boasts that their address entry system requires fewer taps than any competitor.

The 2200T uses the SIRF InstantFixII Receiver for rapid satellite acquisition and reacquisition, and measures less than 3/4-inch thick. It will be available for $229; Navigon optionally will sell an aftercare package, priced at $79.99, which promises up to twelve map updates over the course of three years.

Press Release:

NAVIGON debuts its NAVIGON 2200T GPS Navigator

At $229 (MSRP), NAVIGON’s new 2200T becomes the first genuine entry-level GPS navigator to feature free Real-Time Traffic Updates for Life

Chicago, Illinois, September 3, 2008 — NAVIGON, one of the world’s leading and fastest growing providers of navigation products and solutions, today unveiled its feature-rich NAVIGON 2200T GPS Navigator. The NAVIGON 2200T offers a best-in-class navigation experience characterized by NAVIGON’s roster of trademark features—including free real-time traffic updates for the life of the product.

The NAVIGON 2200T—“T” for Traffic–is based on NAVIGON’s next generation software which makes route calculation fast and entering a destination easy, requiring fewer clicks than any other GPS product to enter a destination. With high-end features such as Reality View Pro™, Free Real-Time Traffic Updates for Life and text-to-speech, the 3.5” NAVIGON 2200T is the marvel of its price class, selling for $229 (MSRP).

“As competitors try to match the unique features that we first introduced last year we continue to enhance our offering, maintaining our position as the lead innovator in the industry,” says Andreas Hecht, NAVIGON’s president for the America’s. “Our vision for the NAVIGON 2200T was to take the NAVIGON experience to a new level in a stylish, highly portable package. This device delivers a navigation experience that exceeds that of any high-end device on the market today at an attractive price point.”

Features that Set it Apart
Real-time traffic, good for the life of the product, provides traffic updates and flow information that guides users around congestion and shortens the drive time. Reality View Pro™, the next generation of NAVIGON’s exclusive Reality View feature, adds 3D images for highway exits as well as complex interchanges. Lane Assistant Pro™ provides clear lane guidance to help drivers prepare for upcoming turns.

NAVIGON 2200T features include:

Free Real-Time Traffic Updates for Life. Users can easily route around traffic congestion to reach their destinations faster. NAVIGON delivers traffic in a unique way—it’s ready to go, for the life of the product, right out of the box. No subscriptions, trial periods or additional hardware to buy. Using simple color coding, the NAVIGON 2200T will show the severity of congestion, what and where the problem is, and (most importantly) how to get around it. Plus, with coverage in 95 markets in both U.S. and Canada, users are covered wherever their travels take them.

Reality View Pro™. NAVIGON takes its trademark feature one-step further with the second generation of Reality View—Reality View Pro™. Reality View Pro provides 3D images and actual road sign text for virtually every highway interchange and exit you will encounter —so you’ll never miss your exit again.

Lane Assistant Pro™. Helps drivers prepare to make an upcoming exit or turn by providing clear visual lane guidance. NAVIGON’s second generation of Lane Assistant provides a lane map complete with arrows and actual road geometry.

Fast Destination Entry. The latest generation of NAVIGON software makes entering and finding information fast and simple with, on average, fewer clicks than any competitor product. NAVIGON’s SmartSpeller feature helps guiding through the entry process.

Advanced Text-to-speech. Spoken Directions with Street Names lets drivers keep their hands on the wheel and eyes on the road with advanced phonetic text-to-speech technology that ensures proper pronunciation of streets.

DirectHelp™. Help is a click away with DirectHelp, providing instant driving directions to and contact information for nearby hospitals, police stations, roadside assistance, and pharmacies.

High Performance. NAVIGON’s new software platform delivers our most responsive interface to date with dramatically improved route calculation times.

Instant Fix GPS. With NAVIGON’s new Instant Fix GPS receiver (SIRF InstantFixII Receiver), the NAVIGON 2200T triangulates global position in a matter of seconds and is minimally affected by urban canyons and tall trees.

Ultra-thin and portable. Less than ¾” thick, the NAVIGON 2200T is compact enough to take users anywhere whether traveling the world or the local neighborhood.

Favorites as POI: Shows stored addresses with name on the map marked with flags.

NAVIGON FreshMaps: Keep your 2200T as up-to-date in three years as it was on the day you bought it with NAVIGON‘s FreshMaps accessory, providing up to 12 map updates for three years for $79.99 (MSRP).

Also with:
Speed Assistant
Multi-Destination Trip Planning
Automatic Standby Feature
Auto Day/Night Mode

About NAVIGON
NAVIGON INC. is one of the world’s leading providers of navigation products and software solutions. NAVIGON makes its own navigation brand consumer products and creates software solutions for OEM customers operating in personal navigation, wireless, and automotive sectors. Founded in 1991, NAVIGON employs more than 400 people in Europe, North America and Asia. For more information, visit www.navigon.com or www.experiencenavigon.com.

Thanks to the SIRF InstantFixII Receiver, the 7200T can apparently lock onto a signal in seconds rather than minutes. Control is either by voice or the 4.3-inch wide-aspect touchscreen, and under the hood lies a 600MHz Centrality Titan I processor with 64MB of RAM.

Storage includes 2GB of onboard flash and a microSD slot to augment that. The Navigon 7200T will be available in October, priced at around $449.

Press Release:

NAVIGON UNVEILS NEW PREMIUM GPS DEVICE

At the intersection of design and innovation, there’s the NAVIGON 7200T

Chicago, Illinois, AUGUST 26, 2008 — NAVIGON, one of the world’s leading and fastest growing providers of navigation products and solutions, today unveiled its new, high-end NAVIGON 7200T.

A premium portable navigation device for those looking for both style and substance, the NAVIGON 7200T offers features no other GPS system has such as Reality View ProTM, Lane Assistant ProTM and Free Real-Time Traffic Updates for Life. It features a host of next generation features such as Voice Destination Entry, allowing drivers to specify their destination by simply speaking the address, and Landmark View 3D, which brings a new dimension to the map with hundreds of richly-textured 3D landmarks across the U.S. and Canada. The NAVIGON 7200T employs NAVIGON’s next generation software, on average requiring fewer clicks than any other GPS product to enter a destination.

And navigation has never looked so good. Reflecting NAVIGON’s award-winning DNA, the new premium GPS is not only slim and portable, but also elegantly and uniquely designed with its gorgeous Flat-Panel Touchscreen creating a sleek, frameless display. In a word, the NAVIGON 7200T is a stunner and sells for $449 (MSRP) in the U.S. and Canada. It hits stores shelves and online retailers in October 2008.

“The NAVIGON 7200T is for discerning users who are looking for next generation navigation features wrapped in a stunning design,” says Andreas Hecht, NAVIGON’s president for the Americas. “It embodies exactly what NAVIGON represents – smart, useful features backed by elegant design.”

Style and Substance

The NAVIGON 7200T elevates the navigation experience with hallmark features that are thoughtful, relevant, and in many instances, exclusive. It is available with NAVIGON’s breakthrough optional FreshMaps, which provides up to 12 map updates for three years for $79.99 (MSRP).

The NAVIGON 7200T features include:

• Free Real-Time Traffic Updates for Life. Real-time traffic updates allow routing around congestion by including traffic flow, incidents and alternate routes and works for the lifetime of the product out-of-the-box without any registration processes, fees or additional hardware.
• Voice Destination Entry. Advanced voice recognition allows drivers to specify their destination by simply speaking the address. NAVIGON’s distinctive iconic interface guides users through the process.
• Landmark View 3D. The NAVIGON 7200T brings a new dimension to the map with hundreds of richly-textured 3D landmarks across the U.S. and Canada like the Empire State Building and the White House.
• Reality View Pro™. Never miss an exit again with the next generation of Reality View providing more coverage in more places. Reality View Pro displays photo-realistic 3D views with actual road signs and lane guidance for virtually every highway interchange and exit drivers will encounter.
• Lane Assistant Pro™. Helps drivers prepare to make an upcoming exit or turn by providing clear visual lane guidance. NAVIGON’s second generation of Lane Assistant provides a lane map complete with arrows and actual road geometry.
• Flat-Panel Design. NAVIGON is not only committed to designing products that are appealing to the eye, but are also designed to make navigating the device simple and effortless. The NAVIGON 7200T sports an innovative, frameless touchscreen. The responsive Flat-Panel Touchscreen adds to the sleek and elegant exterior of the 7200T.
• Fewer clicks to get you there. The latest generation of NAVIGON software makes entering and finding information fast and simple with, on average, fewer clicks than any competitor product. NAVIGON’s SmartSpeller feature helps guide users through the entry process.
• Go Hands-Free. The integrated Bluetooth® feature helps keep both hands on the wheel while still staying connected. The NAVIGON 7200T acts like a Bluetooth speakerphone to hold conversations without all the distractions, plus your contacts are downloaded automatically for one-touch calling.
• Advanced Text-to-speech. Spoken Directions with Street Names lets drivers keep their hands on the wheel and eyes on the road with advanced phonetic text-to-speech technology to ensure proper pronunciation of streets.
• Zagat® Ratings and Reviews. Shows where to wine, dine, and unwind with a built-in ZAGAT guide for restaurants, hotels, nightclubs, attractions and golf courses. With millions of standard points-of-interest and branded icons, onboard users always have a gas station, restaurant or golf course at their finger tips.
• DirectHelp™. Help is a click away with DirectHelp, providing instant driving directions to and contact information for nearby hospitals, police stations, roadside assistance and pharmacies.
• Exit Guide. NAVIGON’s Exit Guide enables users to search upcoming exits for one of six POI categories – food, gas, lodging, rest areas, auto service or shopping. And, with one click, the NAVIGON 7200T navigates there.
• Faster. Faster. Faster. NAVIGON’s new software gets to the right route in less time. Our new platform delivers our most responsive interface to date with dramatically improved route calculation times to get directions more quickly.
• Instant Fix GPS. With NAVIGON’s new Instant Fix GPS receiver (SIRF InstantFixII Receiver), the NAVIGON 7200T triangulates global position in a matter of seconds and improves performance in urban canyons and areas with tall trees.
• Favorites as POI: Shows stored addresses with name on the map marked with flags.

Also with:

• Speed Assistant
• Multi-Destination Trip Planning
• Automatic Standby Feature
• Auto Day/Night Mode

About NAVIGON
NAVIGON INC. is one of the world’s leading providers of navigation products and software solutions. NAVIGON makes its own navigation brand consumer products and creates software solutions for OEM customers operating in personal navigation, wireless, and automotive sectors. Founded in 1991, NAVIGON employs more than 400 people in Europe, North America and Asia. For more information, visit www.navigon.com or www.experiencenavigon.com.

With the 2100 Max you get Reality View which gives you a 3D photo-realistic view of difficult intersections and things like that. You also get DirectHelp which will give you quick directions to emergency facilities and/or contact numbers for those same agencies, so you can find the police station, hospital, pharmacy, or car service station that is closest to you.

You can also get live traffic information via an accessory for the 2100 Max, on top of that you can sign up to get FreshMaps which are 12 quarterly map pack updates, and ZAGAT Survey Ratings and Reviews for hotels and restauarants, those are the upgradable options and cost $99.99, $79.99, and $39.99 respectively. The Unit itself has an SD card slot which is occupied by the Maps card, a mini USB port which is only used for charging, a car charging cable and a USB charging cable as well as suction cup mounting brackets.

I recently got this unit in for review, and I haven’t had a chance to actually put it to use, but it is extremely small for a GPS unit, not in a bad way, like the screen is unreadable, because it’s not, its 4.3-inches big and the voice reads off any and all directions to you so you don’t really have to look that much. Its small as far as weight and thickness go, I mean it’s about as thick as my Motorola Q9h and no thicker and it’s about as heavy too, it’s extremely easy to hold and use. The best part was that I handed it to someone who I don’t consider tech savvy, nor do they have any experience with GPS units, and it had a charge fresh out of the package and this person was able to use it and navigate the menus with ease, and most importantly without bugging me with a bunch of questions. So, without even having used it for navigation I can already say it’s worth the $300 asking price but I’ll report back with more.