JVC Multimedia units:

KW-AV50 ($379.95; available now) – Detachable 6.1-inch QVGA touchscreen, SiriusXM read and iPhone/iPod connection support. Powered USB port plus 4.0V line and subwoofer pre-output level; USB PMP/drive media playback of WAV/MP3/WMA files. 50W x 4 plus 3 pre-out terminals.

KW-AV60 ($429.95; January) – DVD/CD/USB receiver with detachable 6.1-inch WVGA display. App link mode support, plus Satellite and HD Radio ready; same WAV/MP3/WMA compatibility and connectivity.

KW-ADV64BT ($489.95; January) – DVD/CD/USB receiver with detachable 6.1-inch WVGA display and integrated Bluetooth. Powered rear USB port with 2-way iPod control plus App Link Mode. Satellite Radio and HD Radio ready, plus Dolby Digital support; same connectivity and WAV/MP3/WMA support as AV60.

KW-AV70BT ($579.95; February) – 7-inch WVGA motorized widescreen touchscreen with proximity sensor and detachable face. Integrated Bluetooth for phonebook sync, hands-free, audio streaming, voice recognition dialing and phonebook search. USB 2.0 port for 2-way iPod/iPhone control; powered USB supply with drive-change mode for smartphones. App Link Mode, Satellite Radio and HD Radio support, plus WAV/MP3/WMA compatibility. MOS-FET 50 watts x 4, three sets of 4V pre-outs, line input terminals, plus a front SDHC/SD slot and dual zone/dual play.

JVC Navigation units:

KW-NT300 ($899.95; March) – DVD/CD/USB/SD Navigation receiver with 6.1-inch touchscreen. Bluetooth, powered rear USB port, 30,000 control backlight color options. Mapping supports Junction View, Off-Axis View, 3D Viewing with 3-D Footprint, 360 degree rotation and built-in color 3D landmark icons in most major cities. Voice guidance, turn-by-turn instructions.

KW-NT500HDT ($999.95; March) – As NT300, but adds built-in HD Radio audio and data tuners. Free lifetime subscription to Total Traffic HD+/Total Traffic Connect with on-screen news, sports, weather, and real-time traffic updates

KW-NT700 ($1,099.95; March) – As NT300, but with 7-inch motorized faceplate with five positions of forward tilt and one reverse tilt.

KW-NT800HDT ($1,299.95; March) As NT700, but with built-in HD Radio audio and data tuners. Free lifetime subscription to Total Traffic HD+/Total Traffic Connect

Bluetooth and Apps

The JVC KS-BTA100 Bluetooth add-on module ($79.95) adds phone book access/phone book transfer, hands-free calling, audio streaming with remote control and text message alerts to 2012 head units without integrated wireless. There’s also support for Pandora and other streaming from Android and BlackBerry phones.

As for apps, App Link mode pulls across data from iPhone/iPod touch software onto the head-unit display. Functionality depends on the app itself, but can include text-to-speech of RSS feeds, weather and traffic updates, streaming media, video recording and more.

Guidance 3.0 uses nearly 60,000 junction views in the U.S. and Canada to show photographic details of signs and lanes, while the the nuvi 3590LMT pairs that with subscription-free Digital 3D Traffic information pumping out updates as to condition of the road ahead as often as every 30s. 3D landmarks, Bird’s Eye views at junctions and boosted search speed are also included.

There’s also Bluetooth on the nuvi 3490LMT and above, for hands-free phone use, and those higher-end models also have voice-activated navigation.

As for Smartphone Link, that pairs on-PND information services, like weather and speed cameras, with your smartphone, using a Bluetooth connection. The app also helps you find your way from your parking spot to your final destination, and then find your car again.

The Garmin nuvi 3500 series will go on sale in February, priced from $329.99. The Smartphone Link app is a free download, with live weather information and myGarmin messaging also free to use; however Live Traffic ($19.99 per year), photoLive traffic cameras ($9.99 per year), Fuel Prices ($9.99 per year) and Advanced Weather ($4.99 per year) are all premium services. It works with all Bluetooth enabled 2012 Garmin PNDs, the nüvi 2475LT, 2495LMT, 2595LMT, 3490LMT and the 3590LMT.

There’s also an integrated 4x45W MOSFET amp, hands-free calling and a pair of line-out connections, along with an included remote control.

The Parrot Asteroid Nav has a larger, 5-inch touchscreen and comes preloaded with navigation software, real-time map updates and various geo-location services and apps. There’s also hands-free calling, the same connectivity options for music sources as the Asteroid CK, voice navifation and automatic phonebook sync. USB or Bluetooth tethering can get the Asteroid Nav online, or alternatively there’s WiFi. A steering wheel mounted remote is included.

Finally, the Parrot Asteroid 2DIN has a 6.2-inch TFT multitouch touchscreen and does all of what the Asteroid Nav can, adding in reverse camera support, the ability to broadcast video to separate rear-seat displays, and packs more choice for inputs and outputs. There’s a video output and a video input, twin audio outputs and a subwoofer output, a line-in and two line-out, along with a remote control.

Parrot is yet to confirm pricing and availability.

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.

Tipster JOE tells SlashGear that AT&T has decided against ranging the Searay, and will instead push the Sabre – among the upcoming Mango handsets leaked by Microsoft Canada – with a mid-2012 release in the US. Specifications are said to be midrange, though it’s notable that the T-Mobile Germany partial spec sheet suggests at least one Nokia handset will have a 3.7-inch AMOLED display. Considering we’re expecting the Searay to have a 3.9-inch AMOLED, just like the N9, that might indicate the Nokia Sabre has the smaller panel.

As for the mapping system, that sounds like a port of Nokia Drive – as announced for the N9 earlier this year – but with the addition of voice control rather than just voice guidance prompts. Microsoft is pushing ahead with voice control functionality in Windows Phone, so the addition would make sense. Whether, as was initially suggested, Nokia’s enhancements will be carried over to other Windows Phone OEMs remains to be seen.

Well, I’m not so sure. Pilon makes some interesting suggestions about why you should ditch your laptop, your MP3 player, your GPS device, your home phone, digital camera, and eBook reader. I can’t say I completely disagree. A good tablet can take the place of all of these things. However, there still might be a reason to stick with the multiple gadget plan.

Computer

Okay, Pilon’s suggestion here is something of a cop-out. If you have a laptop, he suggests ditching it for a desktop and a tablet. I can definitely see his logic, but that’s the exact opposite of what he’s claiming to suggest. That’s more gadgets, not less. Personally, I have both. Frankly, I have quite a few tablets, but that’s part of my job. I’ve traveled on business with just tablets, no laptop, and it didn’t work out. For short, fun trips, the tablet can suffice, but I still need the professional power and variety of input methods available on a laptop.

Pilon makes a good point about a desktop acting as a media server. My next PC will probably be an HTPC or mini computer with a ton of storage and a dearth of processing power. But I’ll still need my laptop. I’ll just keep it for an extra few years.

MP3 Player

This seems like the most controversial suggestion, right? Keep your old MP3 player? Well, yes, actually. I use my phone for music all the time. For streaming services like Spotify and Rdio, you need a connected device. But sometimes I want something smaller. Much, much smaller. Something tiny, with a clip or a necklace, that I can wear and forget. It won’t fall out of my pocket. I won’t snag the cord on the arms of the elliptical machine. If I drop it, I won’t worry too much. For working out or walking around, an MP3 player might be best. Sure, you’ll lose the ability to be interrupted by phone calls, but, um, that might not be such a bad thing.

Sometimes, I also want something bigger. I have a moderately-sized music collection; just under 90GB worth of tunes. A device like an iPod classic, with its 120GB hard drive, is a perfect solution for me when I’m on long haul trips. Like, a month away. It also makes a handy backup device for my media. Oh, and I can use that extra 30GB of storage as a spare hard drive for transferring files. I don’t usually need every song I own with me at all times, but if the urge strikes to be extra prepared with just the right tune, a larger device with a small, spinning hard drive still offers the best storage to cost ratio.

GPS

Location-based services on cell phones and connected devices are the next big thing. But I could still see a good argument for keeping a dedicated GPS device in your car. For one thing, there is room for a much larger, more powerful antenna. An antenna that is always exposed to the sky, instead of stuffed in your pocket or your bag.

Most good mapping apps today let you download and cache your maps so that navigation works even when you’re offline. But with a standalone GPS, at least you know you’ll never need a connection. Plus, a built-in GPS device doesn’t hog the power socket in your car, so you can charge your phone and use GPS.

If you need to make a call while driving, and I advise using a hands free device, of course, it is much easier when you are not also using your phone to navigate. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been talking to one of the chattier people in my life and missed an important turn. Having a dedicated GPS unit as a back-up, at least, cuts a half a distraction from your driving. Just make sure to be safe, and tell your mother you’ll call her back when you arrive.

Home Phone

I gave up my home phone for a long time, and I lived just fine without it. But there are benefits to a home phone that you cannot match with a cell phone. For one thing, you always know where to find a home phone. In fact, you always know where to find a few home phones, if you put one in every room. Sure, you can lose the cordless, but they all come with beeping homing devices these days, so they are easier to find. If you lose your cell phone, you can call it to hear it ring, but only if you have another phone on you.

Your home phone will not run out of battery, at least if you have a wired backup. I always do. In case of blackouts, the phone service still usually works (unless, of course, you have a VoIP line). But even when the power is on, I’ve still made the mistake of forgetting to charge my phone for a couple days, and it’s dead when I need it most. If somebody were trying to call, I would have missed them if I did not have a home number.

I also like the idea that a home phone number is a way to call a place, and not a person. When you call a cell phone, you are calling wherever that phone, and hopefully its owner, happen to be at the time. This just feels limiting. I miss being able to call an apartment where a few friends live, and talking to whoever picks up the phone first. I miss talking to my friends’ parents for a few minutes, just some catching up and small talk, before getting through. There is no device more personal than a cell phone, and yet, skipping the home phone may remove some significant interpersonal relationships.

Digital Camera

Cameras on cell phones today are amazing. You can truly leave the point and shoot camera at home for most applications. However, there are still limitations in the technology. For 90% of your shooting, these may not matter, but if you are serious about image quality and you want shots that are future-proof, there are a few things to consider.

There is no zoom on your phone. I’ve seen a couple phones with optical zoom, but most rely on digital. Digital zoom is the same as cropping. You don’t actually get closer to your subject, you just see less of your photo. Optical zoom actually magnifies light to get a closer image.

Standalone cameras have larger sensors. While the high-megapixel sensors on camera phones means you’ll see an undeniably larger and perhaps sharper image, the true measure of image quality is sensor ratio. That is, the number of pixels per inch of sensor real estate. Larger pixels are better. Standalone pictures also have more features than most camera phones. Don’t get me wrong, my phone can handle face detection, panorama stitching, and even some macro work with aplomb. But you’ll find more nuanced controls, like aperture control and better shutter speed selection, on a dedicated camera.

Besides, the same battery argument applies to both GPS devices and camera. While your phone may make a great camera for most shots, if you’re spending a day taking constant pictures, you will drain your battery much faster. Better to use a point and shoot, and keep your phone charged longer. Or even better, use a DSLR, which sips battery power and can last for hundreds of shots on a single charge.

eBook Reader

I don’t currently own an eBook reader, but it is high on my list. I’m currently using my tablet for eBooks. Happily, books I buy for my tablet are compatible with the eBook reader I’ll be buying. And, I don’t see myself giving up reading on my tablet or, occasionally, my smartphone. I have a digital version of a field guide for my Nikon DSLR, and it’s great to have the complete manual with pictures available on all my portable, connected devices.

So why am I getting an eBook reader? Easy. E-Ink. For reading, E-Ink is better. It’s sharper. It has better contrast than even the best sAMOLED+ screens on the market, at least for pure black and white. Even more important, though, I can read it on the beach. I would not take my tablet to the beach. Between the sun and the sand, a tablet is not a good match for beach use. But a smaller e-reader, with its e-ink screen, is a fine option, if you’re careful around the natural elements.

Plus, there is again the battery issue. EBook reading probably drains less battery than any other task you’ll perform on a smartphone or tablet, aside from music listening, perhaps. But even so, a dedicated eBook reader can last a month on a single charge, if not longer. I will keep using my tablet to read, in the dark and out in the field. But when I’m reading for the long haul, I can’t wait to get my hands on a real e-ink device.

So, there you have it. Buy more gadgets. Keep your cell phone, and use if for all of these tasks. Your phone does a fine job at any of these, and technology is improving quickly, so it will keep getting better. But there are plenty of benefits to finding the right device for the job, and carrying around so many devices that you’re sure to have enough technology on hand.

Text-to-speech voice recognition for entering addresses on the move is supported, along with other voice commands. QuickGPSfix is apparently capable of grabbing satellites in mere seconds, and there’s an orientation sensor inside that can automatically flip the display between portrait and landscape orientation depending on how you sit the PND on the bundled mounting dish.

The TomTom GO LIVE 820 regional model costs €199 ($280) while the European version costs €229 ($322). As for the TomTom GO LIVE 825, the regional version costs €229 and the European version costs €249 ($350). They’re available in Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom, though not all services are operational in each country; more details in the press release below.

Press Release:

Introducing the TomTom GO LIVE 800 series – smart, easy, connected navigation

New connected device makes LIVE Services more accessible and helps more drivers to break free from traffic jams

Amsterdam, 24 May 2011 – Today, TomTom makes connected navigation even more accessible with the launch of the TomTom GO LIVE 800 series. This stylish new addition to the TomTom GO portfolio comes with a whole year of LIVE Services– including TomTom’s market leading HD Traffic service.
The launch of the TomTom GO LIVE 800 series is part of a complete refresh of the TomTom product lineup. This sees TomTom’s whole range simplified and split into the non-connected Start and Via ranges – designed for those drivers seeking convenience and comfort – and the connected GO LIVE range, for drivers who want to benefit from real-time traffic and route information on their journey.
“The TomTom GO LIVE 800 series is designed to help everyone reap the benefits of connected navigation,” says Corinne Vigreux, Managing Director, Consumer at TomTom. “Its smart design puts powerful TomTom LIVE Services like HD Traffic into a great value package – helping drivers everywhere to break free from jams.”
All GO LIVE 800 devices bring one year of TomTom’s market-leading LIVE Services straight to their device. The flagship service is TomTom HD Traffic, which delivers accurate traffic information every two minutes – that’s up to seven times more frequently than any other provider. With coverage across more roads and more countries than any other traffic service, HD Traffic gives drivers detailed incident reports, length of and reason for delays, accurate travel and arrival times – even alternative route proposals.
The LIVE Services bundle also includes the Speed Cameras service, providing mobile and fixed speed camera alerts, while Local Search helps to pinpoint shops and businesses in the area. QuickGPSfix, meanwhile, helps drivers to start navigating in seconds. And they don’t need to worry that the weather will spoil their plans – the TomTom GO LIVE 800 range also gives drivers local and five-day forecasts courtesy of TomTom Weather.
Drivers can also use their voice to enter addresses, while hands-free calling via Bluetooth® lets them make and answer phone calls safely whilst on the move, so it’s easier than ever to stay in touch and in control.
All devices in the GO LIVE 800 series are based on TomTom’s award-winning IF product design, where stylish looks meet clever functionality. The intelligent orientation sensor within GO LIVE 800 series devices, for example – coupled with the fully integrated flip screen mount – lets drivers mount their device to their dashboard, automatically rotating the screen 180 degrees. All drivers need to add is a dashboard mounting disc.
Just like every other device in the TomTom lineup, TomTom GO LIVE 800 series devices come with a bigger screen, for an even clearer and more comfortable view. Drivers simply have to choose whether they want the GO LIVE 820 with its 4.3″ touch screen, or the GO LIVE 825 with the larger, 5″ touch screen.
Vigreux concludes: “The new GO LIVE 800 will make TomTom HD Traffic available to more people, providing them with the very best traffic information available. This is something we committed to in our Traffic Manifesto last year, giving drivers who use TomTom HD Traffic more control by keeping them fully informed of the exact traffic situation. These drivers will spend less time stuck in traffic, arriving less stressed and on time, with quicker alternative routes offered to them as soon as they are available.”
Availability and pricing
● ● ● ●
The TomTom GO LIVE 820 (regional version) costs €199. The TomTom GO LIVE 820 Europe costs €229. The TomTom GO LIVE 825 (regional version) costs €229. The TomTom GO LIVE 825 Europe costs €249.
All TomTom GO LIVE 800 series devices are available to buy now in the following countries: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom.
Notes for Editors Key features of the TomTom GO LIVE 800 series
● LIVE Services 1 year Avoid surprises on the road ahead with LIVE information like HD Traffic delivered direct to your device 1 year for free
● Hands-free calling Hands-free calling via Bluetooth®● Integrated mounting with flip screen Integrated mounting with flip screen, automatically rotates the screen 180 degrees ● Richer maps Richer, more detailed maps than ever ? In 4.3″ and 5″ touch screen See more and drive easy ● Voice Control Use your voice to plan your route and give other commands to your device. Only available in selected

countries: IT, CH, FR, NL, BE, PT, ES, DE, UK, IE, AT, SA ● Built-in Micro SD slot Access even richer content in the future – enabled via a software update in summer 2011
Coverage of LIVE Services varies per country as follows:
● HD Traffic in 16 countries*: AT, BE, CH, DE, DK, ES, FI, FR, IE, IT, LU, NL, NO, PT, SE, UK ● Local Search with GoogleTM in 17 countries*: AT, BE, CH, CZ, DE, DK, ES, FI, FR, UK, IE, IT, NL, NO, PL, PT, SE ● Speed Cameras in 18 countries: AT, BE, CZ, DE, DK, ES, FI, FR, GR, IE, IT, LU, NL, NO, PL, PT SE, UK ● Weather and QuickGPSfix in 33 countries: AT, BE, BG, CH, CY, CZ, DE, DK, EE, ES, FI, FR, UK, GR, HU, IE, IT, LI, LT,
LU, LV, MC, MT, NL, NO, PL, PT, RO, SE, SK, SL, SM, VA *Quality may differ per country.

Footage can be reviewed instantly on the PND itself, or copied over to a computer for archiving. As well as GPS position there’s speed and direction data, which could be handy if you’re in an accident. Garmin has also packed in its usual feature set, so you get text-to-speech, Bluetooth use as a handsfree kit, speed camera warnings, optional real-time traffic updates, various preloaded POIs and space for up to 100 saved routes and 1,000 user POIs.

Right now the Garmin nuvi 2565RT is only available in Taiwan, but the plan is to roll it out in Japan, South Korea and Southeast Asia. If it’s a sales success there, it’ll get a US and European release. No word on pricing at this stage.

Meanwhile, the GO 2535 has a 5-inch display, along with Bluetooth support. Both come in four different versions, the basic model, the 2435/2535T (with lifetime traffic updates), the 2435/2535M (with lifetime map updates) and the 2435/2535TM (with both lifetime maps and traffic updates).

There’s also the GO 2535TM WTE (World Traveler Edition) which adds European mapping data to the standard US, Canada and Mexico maps. Finally, a TomTom GO 2535M LIVE version throws in TomTom HD Traffic and a year’s access to the company’s connected services. No word on pricing at this stage.

[via GPSTrackLog]

As you’d expect, it also supports Apple’s iOS multitasking system, so that navigation isn’t shut down even if you switch to a different app. Address Book integration allows for easier route planning, too. The new Garmin StreetPilot for iPhone app is available now, priced at $39.99.

Press Release:

Garmin® Brings Turn-by-Turn Navigation to iPhone with New StreetPilot App

Garmin rolls out new smartphone application lineup at 2011 Consumer Electronics Show

OLATHE, Kan./January 4, 2011/Business Wire — Garmin International Inc., a unit of Garmin Ltd. (NASDAQ: GRMN), the global leader in satellite navigation, today announced its first turn-by-turn navigation app for iPhone, StreetPilot, as well as its full lineup of new smartphone applications for both iPhone and Android. Garmin’s new mobile applications — including StreetPilot for iPhone, Garmin Tracker, myMechanic, and My-Cast Lite — will be on display in the Garmin booth (South Hall #35831) at the 2011 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.

“Providing consumers with mobile applications is yet another way they can experience the benefits of Garmin – be it our navigation expertise or bringing the capabilities of our niche market products to a smartphone. GPS is an extremely helpful tool, but we recognize it’s not a one-size-fits-all solution. We decided to introduce a new line of smartphone applications so that we can give customers a quality Garmin experience in the format of their choosing,” said Dan Bartel, Garmin’s vice president of worldwide sales.

The StreetPilot® App: Designed specifically for iPhone, the StreetPilot App gives iPhone owners unlimited use of Garmin’s industry-leading navigation with traffic alerts. The intuitive interface greets users with two simple options: “Where to?” and “View Map.” Customers can easily look up addresses and services and get voice-prompted, turn-by-turn directions that speak street names to their destination.
The StreetPilot App includes many of the same high-end features available on Garmin’s standalone automotive GPS devices like free traffic alerts that enable drivers to steer clear of traffic accidents, road closures and construction; lane assist with junction view that directs drivers to the preferred lane and displays realistic images of upcoming complex junctions; and speed limit indicators that display speed limits for most major roads. It is an off-board navigation system so that customers always have the advantage of the most up-to-date mapping information available.

The StreetPilot App also integrates with a driver’s iTunes music library so they can access and control their music while on the move; integrates with their address book so they can navigate directly from their contact list; and uses the multitasking ability of iOS 4 to allow them to take a phone call while the navigation continues to work in the background.

The StreetPilot App is available now for $39.99 from the App Store on iPhone or at www.itunes.com/appstore.

Garmin Tracker: Available soon for iPhone and Android, the free Garmin Tracker App works in conjunction with the Garmin GTU 10 tracking devices (also announced at CES 2011) allowing users to track the things that mean the most to them – a child, pet, boat, car and more – and see its location from the convenience of their smartphone.

myMechanic: Auto aficionados can now know their car’s specific performance metrics including horsepower, torque, G-force, and more. Available for download from the Android Marketplace beginning in February 2011, myMechanic’s information is available when paired via Bluetooth with Garmin’s ecoRoute™ HD module.

My-Cast® Lite: In addition to the lineup of My-Cast apps currently available for iPhone, a new, free My-Cast Lite application is available now for Android users which provides radar, current conditions, hourly and extended forecasts and more.

Since its inception in 1989, Garmin has delivered 72 million GPS enabled devices – far more than any other navigation provider. Garmin’s market breadth in the GPS industry is second to none, having developed innovative products and established a leadership position in each of the markets it serves, including automotive, aviation, marine, fitness, outdoor recreation, tracking, and wireless applications.

The nüvi 2460LMT and nüvi 2460LMT each have lifetime traffic subscriptions, and all four models support user-rating of POIs which can then be synchronized with other Garmin PND owners. The UI itself is also customizable, allowing you to pull commonly-accessed features to the front.

Pricing is expected to range from $249.99 to $349.99 when the nüvi 2400 Series goes on sale in Q1 2011. The LM-models also get lifetime mapping updates.

Press Release:

Garmin® Debuts nüvi® 2400 Series: Large Format Navigators With Advanced Features

OLATHE, Kan./January 4, 2011/Business Wire — Garmin International Inc., a unit of Garmin Ltd. (NASDAQ: GRMN), the global leader in satellite navigation, announced today the nüvi 2400 series of personal navigation devices, featuring a large five-inch display and a new range of optional features like voice-activated navigation, lifetime traffic and map updates, and advanced route planning and calculation with Garmin’s nüRoute technology. The nüvi 2400 series will be showcased in the Garmin booth (South Hall #35831) at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show.

“The nüvi 2400 series offers drivers some of the most sophisticated and sought-after features available on the market today,” said Dan Bartel, Garmin’s vice president of worldwide sales. “The large five-inch diagonal display is easy on the eyes, and options like voice activation, traffic alerts, and enhanced route calculation make traveling across town or cross-country easier than ever. And never before have these features been available at such an economical price.”

The nüvi 2400 series is comprised of four models: the nüvi 2460LMT, nüvi 2460LT, nüvi 2450LM, and the nüvi 2450. Models featuring voice activated navigation let users control nüvi by voice, so they can keep their eyes on the road and hands on the wheel. Simply wake up nüvi with a customizable voice command and begin speaking menu options that are displayed on the screen. Bluetooth connectivity lets users make and receive phone calls when paired with a compatible Bluetooth-enabled phone. Lifetime traffic-enabled models help notify drivers of traffic delays and road construction and suggest detours around them. Units featuring lifetime map updates let users download the most up-to-date maps and points of interest up to four times a year.

All models feature nüRoute with trafficTrends™ and myTrends™ predictive routing. With trafficTrends, nüvi automatically learns traffic flow trends to improve route calculation and better predict the estimated time of arrival based on time of day and day of week. With myTrends, nüvi will, over time, begin to anticipate a route to favorite destinations as soon as the device is powered up.

The nüvi 2400 series lets consumers customize their unit in new ways as well. Users can give a one- to five-star rating to any point of interest. When the unit is connected to a myGarmin account, they can submit their ratings and receive an updated community database of ratings from other users. Owners can also customize their device’s main menu to display their most-used icons for quick navigation.

Priced from $249.99 to $349.99, the nüvi 2400 family is expected to be available in the first quarter of 2011. Visit www.garmin.com for more information and pricing.

Since its inception in 1989, Garmin has delivered 72 million GPS enabled devices – far more than any other navigation provider. Garmin’s market breadth in the GPS industry is second to none, having developed innovative products and established a leadership position in each of the markets it serves, including automotive, aviation, marine, fitness, outdoor recreation, tracking, and wireless applications.

Ford’s predictive systems take into account real-time speed, accident and incident information for all highways, interstates, arterials and city streets in 126 metropolitan areas across North America, and then use that to pick what the system reckons is the best route for your journey. So far, so good, but it then throws in local school schedules, sports games and concerts as well.

If you want to use the app – which is available in the App Store and Android Market, and is promised for BlackBerry devices soon – you’ll need a 2010-2011 SYNC-equipped, TDI-capable Ford and an account at syncmyride.com.

Press Release:

NEW FORD SYNC DESTINATIONS APP OFFERS ‘ON THE GO’ NAVIGATION; PREDICTS BEST DEPARTURE TIMES

• SYNC® Destinations is a free smartphone app that gives SYNC Traffic, Directions and Information (TDI) users mobile access to search for and save destinations to their cloud-based SYNC Services account for easy access when back in the car

• App includes Predictive Traffic, powered by Ford’s best-in-class traffic information supplier INRIX, providing users with recommended departure time, travel time and ETA based on current and expected traffic conditions along their route

• Free SYNC Destinations app is available today for Apple iPhone, Apple iPad and Android-based devices and can be downloaded through the Apple App Store and Android Market

• SYNC Destinations is available to owners of 2010-2011 SYNC-equipped, TDI-capable vehicles who have a registered and active TDI services account on www.syncmyride.com

DEARBORN, Mich., Dec. 29, 2010 – Owners of 2010 and 2011 Ford SYNC-equipped vehicles that are Traffic, Directions and Information (TDI)-capable can now download a free smartphone app designed to help get them where they need to go with less hassle.

Ford launched the SYNC Destinations mobile app today for Apple iPhone, Apple iPad and Android-based devices, with BlackBerry smartphones coming soon. Available at no cost, the app gives users of TDI services mobile access to a host of navigation and traffic information specifically designed to make any trip easier.

“SYNC Destinations leverages the power of your smartphone to manage a user’s SYNC Services account and to plan ahead, sending destination locations to your car, and knowing what’s happening on the road ahead of you before you even get behind the wheel,” said Dave Gersabeck, SYNC TDI product manager.

With the SYNC Destinations app, TDI users have an exclusive on-the-go link to their cloud-based SYNC Services account on www.syncmyride.com, where they can add, save and manage “Saved Points” or addresses. A maximum of 25 Saved Points can be accessed through the app. Locations added via SYNC Destinations are immediately accessible through SYNC Services once in the vehicle, with turn-by-turn directions delivered to the car only a few simple voice commands away.

“With SYNC Destinations, you can be standing in line for a coffee, making impromptu plans with a friend or sitting at the ballgame, and conveniently add a new address to your Saved Points – without ever stopping to log into your account at a personal computer,” adds Gersabeck.

With SYNC Destinations, SYNC TDI users can also better plan the when and where of their commutes, accessing real-time traffic information, reliable traffic forecasts and other time-saving features powered by INRIX, a leading provider of traffic information and driver services. Key benefits include:

• Traffic maps with real-time speed, accident and incident information for all highways, interstates, arterials and city streets in 126 metropolitan areas across North America

• Reliable traffic forecasts that predict how travel times are expected to change over time, based on sophisticated analysis of current traffic conditions, day of the week, season, holidays and related days, current and forecast weather, accidents and road construction, as well as other unique local events such as school schedules, sports games and concerts

• Fastest routes based on current and expected traffic conditions as well as recommended departure times, expected travel times and ETAs that make navigating to daily destinations, whether across town or cross-country, easier than ever

• Easy look-up of addresses for new destinations through local business search and address book integration

“SYNC Destinations is an easy-to-use mobile tool that gives busy, on-the-go SYNC users the flexibility to search and save locations for quick access in the car, plus, with features such as predictive traffic, users can take some of the guesswork out of their daily trips by preplanning the best estimated time of departure to get around town quickly and easily,” said Gersabeck.

Also specific to SYNC Destinations is a 5 mph lockout feature, which automatically halts the app from running on a smartphone once it is detected to be traveling in excess of 5 mph, helping drivers stay focused on the task of driving.

Ford, Lincoln and Mercury owners of 2010 and 2011 SYNC-equipped, TDI-capable vehicles can download the SYNC Destinations app for free from the Apple App Store and Android Market. To activate it, the user has to enter his or her www.syncmyride.com login credentials. Once those credentials are submitted, the app confirms the user’s TDI subscription status, and is then unlocked and ready for use.

Ford will feature demos of SYNC Destinations at the Pepcom Digital Experience media event in Las Vegas on Jan. 5, 2011, and then at the 2011 International CES consumer technology trade show in Las Vegas between Jan. 6 and Jan. 9, 2011.

Video demo after the cut

Unfortunately there are no technical details beyond what you see demonstrated in the video below, and we can’t find much information on developers Merio either. It’s also not clear whether the mapping data is locally stored, cached, or accessed over what would have to be a very fast wireless connection.

Meanwhile, Notion Ink has revealed that 3G-enabled Adam tablets will be able to receive remote commands via SMS message, though it’s unclear if the functionality will be utilized when the slate is first released. The company recently demonstrated the Adam browser and HDMI connectivity.

Video demo after the cut

However, automotive is just one angle the HUD system is being fettled for. Pioneer is apparently planning to use PicoP-based display engines in other consumer and after-market automotive products, though exact details of what we can expect – a Pioneer PMP, perhaps? – are unknown.

Rather than being a standalone system, Pioneer’s Network Vision tech paired via Bluetooth or WiFi with a smartphone running your choice of PND app. The company suggests that by keeping notifications and GPS directions on the screen and at the regular eye-line level rather than on a dashboard display, driver safety will be improved.

[via PicoProjector-Info]

Press Release:

MicroVision and Pioneer to Jointly Commercialize Innovative Laser Display Products

MicroVision, Inc. (NASDAQ: MVIS), a leader in innovative ultra-miniature laser display technology, announced today that it has entered into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Pioneer Corporation, one of the top original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) of high-performance audio, video and computer equipment for the home, car and business markets, to develop, manufacture and distribute display engines and display engine subsystems for consumer and in-vehicle head-up displays (HUDs) using the MicroVision PicoP(R) laser display technology.

Earlier this year, the two companies executed a joint development agreement to develop two critical components of the PicoP display engine: a laser light source module using direct red, blue, and green lasers and a separate display engine subsystem based on MicroVision’s patented PicoP laser scanning technology. Both are key pieces of the next-generation PicoP display engine that will offer OEMs significant commercial advantages in price, size, power, and performance for embedded solutions ranging from cell phones and eyewear, to airplanes and automobiles.

The MOU establishes the framework of a future manufacturing and commercial distribution agreement for PicoP-based display engines to be used in consumer, after-market and embedded automotive products. Pioneer has announced it is targeting commercial introduction of an in-vehicle HUD using PicoP technology into the consumer market in 2012.

“Pioneer has a strong history of bringing cutting edge technologies to mass markets,” stated Alexander Tokman, president and CEO of MicroVision. “We believe that by combining our respective market and product development capabilities, and leveraging best practices in manufacturing, MicroVision and Pioneer can accelerate introducing next-generation laser display products while reducing the total cost for both companies in getting there.”

Both Pioneer and MicroVision were recently recognized as finalists for the CEATEC Innovation Awards for 2010. Pioneer was recognized in the Automotive category for its demonstration of a HUD using laser scanning technology provided by MicroVision, and MicroVision was recognized in the Components category for its SHOWWX(TM) laser pico projector, powered by the PicoP display engine.

The deal will see ASUS the only Android phones to use the apps, and will mean that the Garmin brand will be silk-screened onto handsets from the company.  Meanwhile Garmin will be free to release its apps on other platforms, with free PND downloads in the iOS App Store and BlackBerry App World tipped.

[via Android Community]

Battery life is a whopping year, and the battery itself can be easily replaced.  In that time it will also count up how many people have accessed the coordinates.  It’s available now.

Press Release:

Garmin® chirp™ Brings Geocachers Even More Creativity, Connectivity

OLATHE, Kan./October 15, 2010/Business Wire — Garmin International Inc., a unit of Garmin Ltd. (NASDAQ: GRMN), the global leader in satellite navigation, today announced chirp, a unique wireless beacon designed specifically for the outdoor adventures of geocaching. Affordable, durable and waterproof, chirp can communicate with, and be programmed by, any compatible wireless-enabled Garmin handheld for a more interactive and enjoyable geocaching experience. Cache creators and seekers alike will enjoy the benefits as chirp stores hints, transmits multicache coordinates, counts visitors and confirms the cache is nearby.

“With chirp, geocachers have a new tool to enhance the joys of creating and finding caches around the globe,” said Dan Bartel, Garmin’s vice president of worldwide sales. “In listening to and participating in the vibrant geocaching community, Garmin created a one-of-a-kind device that builds on popular innovations such as paperless geocaching and downloading cache details directly to the device.”

Geocaching is a high-tech version of hide-and-seek where participants of all ages explore the outdoors in search of hidden treasure and adventure, and chirp’s wireless interactivity introduces a world of possibilities for creative caches. Experienced cachers will embrace the countless options now available in creating cutting-edge caches, and beginners will appreciate chirp’s features that make those caches easier to find. Simple to use and password-protected, chirp can be programmed by any compatible wireless-enabled Garmin handheld to store geocaching hints and other information. When other geocachers arrive near your cache, they’ll be alerted that the cache is nearby, and then they’ll be able to access the hints you’ve loaded into chirp. And when you return, chirp will tell you how many visitors have been to your cache.

With chirp, setting up and maintaining a multicache has never been easier. Using your compatible Garmin handheld device (such as Oregon, Dakota and the recently announced GPSMAP handhelds), chirp automatically transmits program coordinates so other cachers can find each stage of your multicache. Or if you’re on a multicache, chirp lets you download coordinates. So there’s no need to manually enter numerous sets of complex coordinates – there’s just one simple touch and you’re on your way to the next stage.

Designed and tested by geocachers, chirp is built to take the rigors of the outdoors. And because chirp is password protected, the owner is the only one with programming powers. With a battery life of up to a year and a battery that’s easy to replace, chirp is long-lasting and user-friendly. Measuring 1.3” by 0.9” (slightly bigger than a quarter) and weighing less than an ounce, chirp is small enough to incorporate easily into your favorite caches – whether they’re already placed or still being planned.

The helpful hints provided by chirp are brought to life through paperless geocaching, which allows geocachers to help the environment and be more efficient by having cache information downloaded and displayed directly on the device. Compatible Garmin models store and display details such as location, terrain, difficulty, hints and description, so that you don’t have to carry around printouts. Learn about geocaching, getting started and going paperless at www.garmin.com/geocaching.

Available now for a suggested retail price of $22.99, chirp represents the latest breakthrough from Garmin, which has spent more than 20 years developing technologies and innovations to enhance users’ lives, making Garmin a household name in the automotive, aviation, marine, wireless, outdoor and fitness industries. For more about features and product compatibility, as well as information about Garmin’s other products and services, go to www.garmin.com, www.garmin.blogs.com and http://twitter.com/garmin.

Instead, the new WP7 handsets will follow on after Garmin-Asus’ latest batch of Android devices; according to DigiTimes, the Microsoft smartphones will drop in Q1 2011.  Garmin-Asus was named as an initial hardware partner for Windows Phone 7, but whereas other companies in the same position have targeted the 2010 holidays for their first releases, they have instead waited until they can polish the GPS/PND experience:

“We want to be more focused, so we do a lot of integration in terms of the software and maps. This kind of integration takes time, so we won’t launch a lot of models like other competitors. We want to be focused and provide the best location-based services for our customers” Fei Yen, Garmin-Asus

Using Garmin’s Custom Maps software, owners can manage their own topographical data or load on preconfigured packages, such as City Navigator maps, stored on a microSD card.  The Edge 800 also supports satellite imagery, and requires no calibration if moved between bikes: the company says you can simply twist it off the mount and snap it onto a different cycle.

Battery life is up to 15hrs of standalone use, and you can share trails and other information via Garmin’s Connect web forum.  No word on pricing or availability at this stage.

Press Release:

Touchscreen Edge® 800 from Garmin® Blends Best of All Worlds

Streamlined Data, Route Planning and Color Mapping

OLATHE, Kan./August 26, 2010/Business Wire — Garmin International Inc., a unit of Garmin Ltd. (NASDAQ: GRMN), the global leader in satellite navigation, today announced the feature-packed touchscreen Edge 800 for cyclists who want accuracy and simplicity when tracking their statistics and location for racing and recreation. Edge 800 seamlessly combines the most popular aspects of the industry-leading Edge 500 and Edge 705 while adding an intuitive touchscreen interface. New mapping options such as Garmin’s BaseCamp route planning and BirdsEye™ Satellite Imagery make it perfect for training, touring and riding on the trail. Edge 800 will debut at Interbike (Booth 2631) and Eurobike (Booth A5-201), where it won the coveted Eurobike Award for electronic components.

“Whether you’re on the road, in the mountains or around the city, Garmin’s touchscreen Edge 800 puts the most important information of your ride at your fingertips,” said Dan Bartel, Garmin’s vice president of worldwide sales. “Thanks to its simple mounting system, improved mapping and route-planning capabilities, and the GPS-based features that make wires and calibration obsolete, we can easily say that one Edge fits all.”

Building on its popular predecessors, Edge 800 is smaller and sleeker than the Edge 705, yet features a larger 2.6” display with a simple touchscreen interface. And while Edge 800 gets its streamlined design from the ultralight Edge 500, the color display and versatile mapping options make exploration more enjoyable and efficient than ever. The latest version of Garmin’s free BaseCamp software (www.garmin.com/basecamp) gives users an easy tool to survey the terrain and plan routes. BaseCamp lets users plan and preview routes – along with viewing elevation changes – and then send those routes to Edge 800, Edge 705 and Edge 605 as courses to follow.

In its third year as title sponsor of the Pro Tour cyclists of Team Garmin-Transitions, Garmin has worked closely with the sport’s top athletes in developing Edge products that can be appreciated by cyclists around the world using a cycling computer to get their fastest time – or for the first time.

“At Garmin-Transitions, we’re going to be on the cutting edge of technology, in everything we do,” said Team Garmin sprinting sensation Tyler Farrar. “Edge 800 can track all of our performance data, and it also keeps things interesting on training rides because we can use it anywhere in the world to plan and follow new routes – on and off road – and always find our way back to the start.”

Cyclists can view Team Garmin’s featured rides – or download, analyze and share rides of their own – at Garmin Connect™ (http://garminconnect.com), the free-to-join online community of more than 30 million activities from around the world. Garmin Connect displays metrics such as time, distance, speed, elevation and heart rate through charts and a variety of map representations, including street, satellite, topographic, and elevation maps. Garmin Connect users can search for activities in their area and try them by uploading the data to Edge 800, which will guide the way.

“I can come back and do even more on the computer when I download it,” said Team Garmin’s Christian Vande Velde of combining Garmin Connect with the Edge products he used in consecutive top-8 finishes at the Tour de France. “It takes all the guessing out of everything in my training.”

Using information directly from GPS satellites, Edge 800 accurately tracks speed, distance, time, GPS position, elevation, calories burned, climb and descent. For even more real-time data on display, Edge 800 syncs wirelessly through ANT+™ technology with compatible third-party power meters as well as Garmin heart rate monitors and speed/cadence sensors. For extra-precise climb and descent data, Edge 800 incorporates a barometric altimeter to pinpoint changes in elevation.

Because Edge 800 requires no calibration, it can be switched quickly between bikes thanks to a low-profile, quarter-turn mount that fits easily on the stem or handlebars with tight-gripping rubber rings. Boasting a high-sensitivity GPS receiver with HotFix that quickly acquires and maintains satellite reception, Edge 800 displays temperature readings, changes time zones automatically, lasts up to 15 hours on one charge and alerts riders if they’re moving but the timer has not been started.

As powerful as it is for performance cyclists and speed specialists, various mapping options make Edge 800 an ideal device for singletrack exploration, everyday errands and casual commuting.

On the trails, using a separate TOPO U.S. 24K DVD or microSD card brings you the highest level of topographic detail available, with maps comparable to 1:24,000 scale USGS maps, featuring terrain contours, topo elevations, summits, routable roads and trails, parks, coastlines, rivers, lakes and geographical points. In town, optional City Navigator mapping provides detailed street maps, millions of preloaded points of interest and onscreen turn-by-turn directions to your destination.

Subscribers to BirdsEye Satellite Imagery can quickly transfer high-resolution satellite images to Edge 800 and seamlessly integrate those images into the onscreen maps to get a true representation of the surroundings. And Garmin’s Custom Maps can bring the details, labels and landmarks of your existing paper or electronic map to Edge 800 in just a few simple steps.

Edge 800 is the latest breakthrough from Garmin, which has spent more than 20 years developing technologies and innovations to enhance users’ lives, making Garmin a household name in the automotive, aviation, marine, wireless, outdoor and fitness industries. For more about pricing and availability, as well as information about Garmin’s other products, go to www.garmin.com and www.garmin.blogs.com. For more about Team Garmin, visit www.garmin.com/teamgarmin.

According to Garmin, there have been fewer than ten incidents of overheating nuvi units, resulting in no significant property damage and no injuries.  In fact, they’re describing the recall as “an abundance of caution”, probably to the chagrin of the third-party battery company who have agreed to help foot the bill.

Press Release:

Garmin® Announces Limited Recall of Certain nüvi® Personal Navigation Devices

Garmin Ltd. (NASDAQ: GRMN), the global leader in satellite navigation, announced today that it is voluntarily recalling approximately 1.25 million nüvi personal navigation devices (of which approximately 796,000 units were sold in the United States) that contain batteries manufactured by a third-party supplier within a defined date code range and that have a specific printed circuit board (PCB) design. Garmin has identified potential overheating issues when the third party supplier’s batteries manufactured within this limited date code range are used in certain Garmin devices with the PCB design. It appears that the interaction of these factors can, in rare circumstances, increase the possibility of overheating, which may lead to a fire hazard.

This issue has been identified in less than ten cases in total involving certain nüvi models. None of the reported incidents has caused significant property damage and no injuries have occurred. Nevertheless, given Garmin’s longstanding commitment to safety and customer satisfaction, Garmin is proactively recalling nüvi units with the specific PCB design and with batteries from the specific date code range out of an abundance of caution. Garmin strongly urges customers to go online to determine if their nüvi device is one of the few nüvi models affected by this recall and, if so, to participate in the program. Only the 200W, 250W, 260W, 7xx and 7xxT (where xx is a two-digit number) model numbers may be affected. These units were sold worldwide.

To determine if a unit is affected, customers can visit www.garmin.com/nuvibatterypcbrecall. They will be asked to enter their nüvi’s serial number, and if their unit has the specific PCB design and contains a battery from the specific date range, they will be given instructions on how to return their nüvi at no charge. Garmin will replace the battery and insert a spacer on top of the battery next to the PCB before returning the nüvi to affected customers free of charge. If customers are unable to access the website, they may contact Garmin through one of the phone numbers below:

• In the United States and Canada, call (866) 957-1981
• In North America and South America outside the U.S. or Canada call +913 397-8200
• In Europe, Middle East, and Africa, call +44 870 850 1242
• In Asia, call 886/2.2642.9199
• In Australia, call 1800 113 738; and in New Zealand call 0800 427 652

Owners should not attempt to remove or service the battery on their own. To ensure that the unit’s battery is replaced as part of this recall, please return any affected unit directly to a Garmin-authorized facility, using the procedure outlined above.

Garmin is making every effort to cooperate with customers, dealers, and regulatory agencies worldwide, and the company apologizes for the inconvenience that this issue may cause.

Garmin does not expect this recall to have a material adverse effect on its results of operations, financial position or cash flows. The battery supplier has agreed to share the cost of replacement battery packs and all other costs of the recall program.

The device itself is 7-inches, and it has features like Hours-of-Service logs, Junction View with Lane Assist, and State Mileage Tracker, all embedded inside the little guy. Which, hopefully, will go a long way to make your driving, and job, easier. Cobra is also calling out all other PNDs, saying that their new member of the Platinum line-up has the best last-mile routing, as well as superior road coverage on secondary highways. Bold words, if you ask us, but hopefully the company’s new gadget can back up the claims.

If you’ve noticed that your current navigation unit gets kind of dim during the day, then the 7750 is for you. Cobra made it so that during the day, the graphics and menu options actually enhance, making them easier to say even in the sunniest parts of the country. And Junction View? That’s a 3D view of upcoming interstate and highway junctions, making it easier to navigate your path while removing that second-guessing. If you’re in Dallas, Texas between August 26th and 28th, then you can check out the 7750 at Cobra’s booth at the Great American Trucking Show. As for price, the 7750 will run you a cool $499.95 when it hits travel shops all over the country here in the near future.

Press Release

New 7750 Platinum debuts at the 2010 Great American Trucking Show

DALLAS, Aug. 24 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Cobra Electronics Corporation (Nasdaq: COBR), today announced the debut of the 7750 Platinum, its new 7″ navigation unit specifically designed for the professional driver. The new 7750 Platinum features enhanced graphics, Junction View with Lane Assist, State Mileage Log, and Hours-of-Service Log. In addition, the new 7750 Platinum features the industry’s best last-mile routing, offering superior road coverage on secondary highways. The 7750 Platinum is on display in the Cobra booth, #16074, at the upcoming Great American Trucking Show in Dallas, TX August 26-28, 2010.

The enhanced graphics and menu options on the 7750 Platinum provide maximum visibility in sunlight and optimized efficiency when scrolling through searches and settings of the unit. The new Quick-Tabs allow drivers to see critical information such as the distances to weigh stations, travel centers, rest areas and mile markers at a glance. The new Junction View with Lane Assist provides drivers with 3D images of upcoming highway junctions as well as lane guidance and enhanced turn-by-turn directions. Also, new on the 7750 are the State Mileage Log that tracks miles within a state for IFTA reporting and the Hours-of-Service timer that enables drivers to easily track their On-Duty, Off-Duty and Driving Time.

“As a leader in the trucking industry, it is our job to do what we can to simplify the lives of the professional driver,” said Sally Washlow, senior vice president of marketing and sales, Cobra Electronics. “The new features of the Cobra 7750 Platinum not only provide additional information to get drivers to their destination in the most efficient way, but it also helps them with responsibilities such as mile tracking and hour logging.”

The 7750 Platinum also features the map rated highest in route quality and reliability, based on the results of certified quality testing. The TeleAtlas map in the 7750 Platinum delivers more than 1 million additional miles of road coverage in the US than the competing map. In addition to more miles of road coverage, the 7750 Platinum map provides drivers 17x more last mile (dock-to-dock) coverage and 4x more trucking attribute coverage on secondary highways.

Like its predecessor, the Cobra 7750 Platinum includes the 33,000 ProMiles® Software Development Corporation and TruckDown™ Info International, Inc. truck-specific points of interest (POIs) such as routable travel center locations, detailed amenity information, fueling stations, restaurants, heavy duty towing, truck and trailer repair shops, truck-friendly hotels, weigh stations and certified scales, the most truck-specific POIs in the industry. It also features more than 12 million standard Tele Atlas POIs and branded icons, which visually represent participating businesses as instantly recognizable logos so users can accurately identify specific brands of interest. Lastly, the 7750 Platinum includes 3 months of unlimited downloads from Cobra’s exclusive AURATM Camera & Driving Hazard Database, which alerts drivers to the locations of fixed speed and red-light cameras, dangerous intersections and known speed traps.
The Cobra 7750 Platinum will be available at travel centers nationwide for a suggested retail price of $499.95. For more information, stop by the Cobra Electronics booth, #16074 or at the Great American Trucking Show in Dallas, Texas, August 26-28, 2010, or visit www.cobra.com.

About Cobra Electronics
Cobra Electronics is a leading global designer and marketer of communication and navigation products, with a track record of delivering innovative and award-winning products. Building upon its leadership position in the GMRS/FRS two-way radio, radar detector and Citizens Band radio industries, Cobra identified new growth opportunities and has aggressively expanded into the marine market and has expanded its European operations. The Consumer Electronics Association, Forbes and Deloitte & Touche have all recognized Cobra for the company’s innovation and industry leadership. To learn more about Cobra Electronics, please visit the Cobra site at www.cobra.com. Follow Cobra on Twitter at www.twitter.com/CobraElectronic or become a fan at
www.facebook.com/CobraElectronics.

As for the PND functionality, preloaded is the company’s World Edition map which includes a complete road network for the US, Canada, Western Europe and Australia, as well as water features, urban and rural land use, and a realistic shaded relief background.  The 710 throws in Summit Seriestopographic mapping and Magellan’s City Series turn-by-turn map for road directions.

All models have 16hrs of battery life, programmable hardware keys – which can be set to trigger the camera or other features – and, on the eXplorist 610 and 710, a 3-axis electronic compass and a barometric altimeter.  The Magellan eXplorist 510 is $349.99, the eXplorist 610 is $449.99, and the eXplorist 710 is $549.99.

Press Release:

Magellan® Launches Next Generation of eXplorist® Outdoor Handheld GPS Devices

Rugged, Waterproof Navigation Devices Are Designed to Enable Recording, Geotagging and Sharing of Outdoor Adventures

SANTA CLARA, Calif. – July 14, 2010 – Magellan today unveiled the next generation of its award-winning, rugged eXplorist handheld GPS devices for the outdoor recreation market.

The new eXplorist 510, 610 and 710 devices allow adventurers to navigate to outdoor destinations worldwide, capture geotagged photos along the way, and share their experiences online when they return home. Each eXplorist model combines high-sensitivity GPS, an intuitive user interface, easy-to-read mapping and accurate navigation. The new series of handheld GPS units are being revealed at the OutDoor Trade Fair in Friedrichshafen, Germany, and will be available to consumers inNorth America, Europe, and many other countries worldwide in the 4th quarter, 2010.

“With the popularity of social networks, the GPS industry is shifting towards more online experience sharing,” said Justin Doucette, Director, Outdoor Product Marketing, Magellan. “There are many sites that allow for geographic and multimedia data to be posted and shared with others. The eXplorist series allows users to bring their adventures home with them, catalog for future reference, and share online with family and friends.”

All three new eXplorist handheld GPS units come equipped with a camera, microphone, and speaker to enable users to record and share their adventures with friends.

Each eXplorist device features a 3.0-inch color touch screen, a 3.2 mega-pixel camera with auto-focus, microphone and speaker to record geo-referenced images, videos, and voice notes. All products in the eXplorist series are waterproof (IPX-7) and come preloaded with the most detailed worldwide map in the industry. Magellan’s World Edition map includes a complete road network for the U.S., Canada, Western Europe and Australia, as well as water features, urban and rural land use, and a realistic shaded relief background.

The top-of-the-line eXplorist 710 combines the best of on-road and off-road navigation. Built-in maps get adventurers from doorstep to trailhead to summit and back. The eXplorist 710 includes both Magellan’s highly detailed Summit Seriestopographic map and its City Series turn-by-turn map which allows users to navigate their vehicles through busy city streets on their way to their outdoor adventures. The eXplorist 610 and 710 feature a 3-axis electronic compass and a barometric altimeter that provide precise orientation, accurate elevation information, and enables for weather pattern tracking.

Each model in the eXplorist series also includes several innovative features, such as Magellan’s award-winning OneTouch™ favorites menu, enabling users to instantly access bookmarked locations, searches, and functions. The industrial design incorporates silent proximity alarms. And, to complement the 3.0-inch touch screen, each device has two customizable hard buttons to take a photograph, mark a waypoint, or provide quick access to a number of other preferred features.

The new eXplorist devices also include essential outdoor features such as expandable memory, paperless geocaching, GPX compatibility, 16 hours of battery life, high sensitivity GPS enabling 3-5 meters of accuracy, vertical profiling, a digital almanac, track summary statistics and area calculation.

The Magellan eXplorist 510 GPS device will be introduced at an M.S.R.P. of USD $349.99, the eXplorist 610 at an M.S.R.P. of USD $449.99, and the eXplorist 710 at an M.S.R.P. of USD $549.99. The units will ship with a standard mini USB cable and 2 lithium disposable AA batteries. With the purchase of a Magellan® eXplorist GPS device customers will receive a 30-day free premium membership to http://geocaching.com.

The new generation of eXplorist GPS handheld devices joins several other new introductions by Magellan this year in the outdoor navigation market. The eXplorist GC, a device 100% dedicated to geocaching, and the ToughCase™, a device that transforms your iPhone or iPod Touch into a rugged, handheld GPS device, were launched earlier this year.

For more information, visit magellangps.com.

About MiTAC Digital Corporation
MiTAC Digital Corp. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of MiTAC International Corporation and promotes and sells products and services under the Magellan brand name. Magellan assists people to travel, work and play with leading portable navigation and positioning solutions across multiple consumer markets. Recognized as an industry innovator, the company is the producer of the award-winning Magellan RoadMate® portable car navigation, Outdoor and Mobile navigation devices. MiTAC Digital Corp. is headquartered in Santa Clara, Calif. For more information on Magellan visit magellangps.com.

2010 MiTAC International Corporation. Magellan, Roadmate and the Magellan logo are registered trademarks of MiTAC International Corporation and One Touch and ToughCase are Trademarks of MiTAC International Corporation and are used under license by MiTAC Digital Corp. All rights reserved. iPhone and iPod are trademarks, of Apple Inc, registered in the US and other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Apple’s previous acquisition, Placebase, was a more straightforward Google Maps alternative.  The company was bought in the summer of 2009, and followed by recruitment for software developers who would work at Apple to take the iPhone’s Maps app “to the next level”.

Relations between Google and Apple have been cooling since the search giant launched their own smartphone platform in the shape of Android, and began to withhold its more advanced functionality – such as free turn-by-turn directions – for devices that run that OS.  Apple are believed to have asked Poly9 staff not to comment on the acquisition.

[via Apple Insider]

In return, Microsoft will gain access to DENSO’s patents, though neither company is specifying which, exactly, these include.  However, a quick glance at DENSO’s site shows they specialise in image recognition, stereo image processing, gaze tracking, drowsiness monitoring and remote security systems, together with integrating high-resolution LCD TFT displays with instrument clusters.

No word on the legal details of the agreement, but DENSO is apparently paying Microsoft for their assistance rather than the other way around.  You can all make your hybrid blue-screen-of-death/stuck-gas-pedal jokes now.

Otherwise it’s likely to have a 4.3-inch display, like the 1690, and use the Bluetooth for hands-free calling.  Garmin has also been playing around with a database of average road speeds based on historical data, which they call trafficTrends, so it seems likely that will make an appearance too.

In the US, the nuvi 1690 uses AT&T’s EDGE network for its connection; it seems unlikely Garmin would want to step up to 3G in the 1695 given the power requirements.  No word on when the nuvi 1695 PND might see an official release, but judging by the fact that Garmin’s request for temporary confidentiality lifts on August 1st 2010 it can’t be too far off.

[via GPS Tracklog]

Each can also be used with Garmin’s free Custom Maps app, which takes paper or other digital maps into a format the GPSMAP 62 series can display.  Meanwhile Garmin Connect can be used to track waypoints and the like.  No word on pricing at this stage, however.

Press Release:

Garmin® Unveils GPSMAP® 62 series, Updating Iconic Outdoor Handheld

OLATHE, Kan./June 2, 2010/Business Wire — Garmin International Inc., a unit of Garmin Ltd. (NASDAQ: GRMN), the global leader in satellite navigation, today announced the GPSMAP 62 series of rugged outdoor handheld devices, bringing a sleek updated look, new mapping options and many technical innovations to a product line beloved by hunters, hikers and geocachers of all ages.

“The GPSMAP 60 series has been one of our most popular product lines, and the new GPSMAP 62 series improves the form and functionality to make a best-in-class device even better,” said Dan Bartel, Garmin’s vice president of worldwide sales. “Whether you’ve been using Garmin for years or are buying your first handheld, GPSMAP 62 is ideal as it combines our new breakthroughs in outdoor recreation technology with the comfortable feel of an old favorite.”

Boasting a 2.6” sunlight-readable color display, up to 20 hours of battery life and a high-sensitivity GPS receiver and quad helix antenna for unparalleled reception, the GPSMAP 62 series features three distinct waterproof models to suit various activities and interests. The basic GPSMAP 62 includes a built-in worldwide basemap with shaded relief. The GPSMAP 62s adds a 3-axis tilt-compensated electronic compass and wireless connectivity for sharing routes, tracks, waypoints and geocaches between other compatible Garmin handhelds. GPSMAP 62s also includes a barometric altimeter that tracks changes in pressure to pinpoint your precise altitude. Users can also plot barometric pressure over time, which can help keep an eye on changing weather conditions. In addition to these key features, GPSMAP 62st includes preloaded 100K topographic maps for the entire United States (or preloaded 50K topographic mapping of Canada for the Canadian version). Coverage on GPSMAP 62st includes major trails, urban and rural roads, interstates, highways, coastlines, rivers and lakes as well as national, state and local parks, forests and wilderness areas. In addition, you can search for points of interest by name or proximity to your location and view descriptive details for terrain contours, topo elevations, summits and geographical points.

To help each user maximize the mapping potential of Garmin handhelds, each model in the GPSMAP 62 series is compatible with Garmin’s subscription-based BirdsEye™ Satellite Imagery, the free online community at Garmin Connect™ as well as Garmin’s free Custom Maps utility for transferring paper or digital maps onto a compatible handheld.

Geocachers can help the environment and be more efficient by going paperless with the GPSMAP 62 series, quickly downloading cache information directly to the device. Each model stores and displays key information such as location, terrain, difficulty, hints and description, so that you don’t have to tote printouts with you. Learn more about geocaching, getting started and going paperless at www.garmin.com/geocaching.

Subscribers to BirdsEye Satellite Imagery can use BaseCamp™ software to quickly transfer high-resolution satellite images to any Garmin GPSMAP 62 device and seamlessly integrate those images into the handheld’s maps to get a true representation of the surroundings. More details can be found at www.garmin.com/birdseyesatimagery.

Customizing maps for your Garmin outdoor handheld has never been easier. Through a few simple steps, Garmin’s Custom Maps can bring the details, labels and landmarks of your existing paper or electronic map to a product in the GPSMAP 62 series, or a compatible Garmin Oregon, Dakota or Colorado. Compatible with both PC and Mac, this free utility complements the myriad of mapping products already offered for Garmin devices, including City Navigator®, NT for turn-by-turn directions on city streets, Blue Chart® g2, for marine charting, and TOPO U.S. 24K and 100K map software for incredible terrain detail (each sold separately). To walk through the steps, to find and share maps and to join discussions about Garmin Custom Maps, visit www.garmin.com/CustomMaps.

Experiences will live on long after the activity has ended, thanks to Garmin Connect (http://garminconnect.com), the free-to-join online community of more than 20 million activities for sharing, storing, analyzing and enjoying at garminconnect.com. Outdoor and fitness enthusiasts alike can share activities on Facebook and Twitter, export to Google Earth or relive the activity in table view, calendar view or on a variety of maps including our new embedded Google Earth view.

Each device in the GPSMAP 62 series has a high-sensitivity GPS receiver with HotFix, which automatically calculates and stores critical satellite information and can use that information to quickly calculate a position. The GPSMAP 62 series is made even more versatile through its universal mounting system that is compatible with the same accessories as Garmin’s Oregon, Dakota and Colorado products. Other key upgrades include photo navigation and onboard memory for downloading maps. GPSMAP 62 and GPSMAP 62st models also feature high-speed USB for faster map transfers with your computer, as well as a 3-axis tilt-compensated electronic compass, which shows the user’s heading even when standing still, without the need to hold it level. In addition to the preloaded topographic details for the entire United States, GPSMAP 62st features 500 MB of available built-in memory. GPSMAP 62 and GPSMAP 62s are ready to be customized to fit any user’s activity, thanks to 1.7 GB of onboard memory.

The GPSMAP 62 series represents the latest breakthroughs from Garmin, which has spent 20 years developing technologies and innovations to enhance users’ lives, making Garmin a household name in the automotive, aviation, marine, wireless, outdoor and fitness industries. For more about features, pricing and availability, as well as information about Garmin’s other products and services, go to www.garmin.com, www.garmin.blogs.com and http://twitter.com/jakesjournal.

When running on the iPhone, Pandora shows up as a separate source on both the new AVIC-Z120BT and Pioneer’s existing AVIC-X920BT in-dash unit.  A free download, the app allows for track rating – using Pandora’s thumbs-up/thumbs-down system – from the head-unit’s touchscreen.

Even if you haven’t got an iPhone, there’s plenty to like about the AVIC-Z120BT.  Voice-controlled navigation, a customisable homescreen, choice of 30,000 different LED colors to match your car’s own scheme and an ECO Driving mode that plans navigation by fuel economy and CO2 emissions.  The Pioneer AVIC-Z120BT will be available in June, priced at $1,599.

Press Release:

Pioneer’s Flagship Navigation System Also Entertains with Pandora

The AVIC-Z120BT Offers Quality Navigation and Endless Entertainment Capabilities

Pioneer Electronics (USA) Inc. continues to stay ahead of the curve in in-car entertainment and information technologies with the official launch of its top-of-the-line, AVIC-Z120BT in-dash navigation system. The highly sophisticated flagship unit introduced at the 2010 Pioneer Car Electronics Road Show for dealers, brings together the best route guidance features with more entertainment and convenience attributes that include PandoraLink for Pioneer App, MusicSphere™, Pioneer’s proprietary music analysis software, a revolutionary 3D user interface and ECO Graph for eco-friendly drivers.

“In 1994, Pioneer was the first company to bring in-car GPS to the U.S. market, and today we are continuing to advance the navigation category with the launch of our highly intuitive, flagship AVIC-Z120BT. Our team of designers and engineers devised this model to not only deliver reliable route guidance and high quality audio and video, but also to enable users to easily adapt their personal devices to their cars. And, now with its capability to deliver Pandora’s popular Internet music service, Pioneer again redefines the navigation category,” said Ted Cardenas, director of marketing for the car electronics department, sales and marketing division of Pioneer Electronics (USA) Inc.

Navigation and Entertainment from A to Z
The AVIC-Z120BT is the latest entry in Pioneer’s prestigious Z-series navigation systems, offering the best in in-dash navigation with compelling entertainment and sound quality features. It features an elegant, motorized high-resolution 7-inch WVGA touch screen display, 3D graphics accelerator, onscreen iPod/iPhone control, built-in Bluetooth1 for hands-free calling and wireless music streaming, USB connectivity2, SD card slot located behind the motorized front panel, high quality CD/DVD audio/video playback, back-up camera input and is SIRIUS XM3 satellite and HD Radio4 ready. The AVIC-Z120BT’s comprehensive map database from Tele Atlas® covers the entire United States, Canada, Alaska and Hawaii, enabling users to route to millions of destinations including more than 12 million points of interest (POIs). Additionally, the unit features enhanced voice recognition, including the capability to input destination addresses by voice.

Unique to the 2010 Pioneer navigation line, the AVIC-Z120BT features dual zone entertainment, which enables rear passengers to enjoy DVD video and audio on a separate rear display and headphones, while front passengers listen to AM/FM or XM or Sirius satellite radio sources. Additionally, the unit also features several sound quality components, including Supertuner™ IIID, Radio Data System (RDS), dual A/V inputs, 7-band graphic EQ and 4-Volts preamp outputs (X3).

PandoraLink – Pandora internet radio fans using the service on an iPhone now have the same control interface directly on the AVIC-Z120BT. When users launch the PandoraLink for Pioneer App, Pandora will be displayed as a dedicated source on the AVIC-Z120BT and provide similar functions on its onscreen display such as detailed track information and album art. In addition to the capability of rating a track with “thumbs up” or “thumbs down,” the dedicated user interface provides easy navigation on a large 7-inch touch screen display and allows users to bookmark a song or artist, skip the currently playing track, change stations and select Quickmix playback.
Advanced User Interface – 3D animation utilized in the navigation maps has also been applied to the audio interface providing a completely new in-car experience. The intuitive touch slide control capabilities of the AVIC-Z120BT feature dynamic shortcuts for source selection, expanded display of album art and improved display of audio track data. The receptive touch slide interface is also utilized for searching through music content with a new, improved dual-speed scroll for ABC and List Searches. The customizable home menu allows users to drag and drop up to 15 function icons into the home page display for easy one-touch access.
MusicSphere – Pioneer’s new proprietary MusicSphere5 technology enables iPod and iPhone users to enjoy their library of music in a new way by creating unique, mood-based playlists that can be accessed onscreen with a distinctive 3D animated sphere. MusicSphere analyzes the user’s entire music library and creates 40 specialized playlists based on various musical attributes of the songs, such as feeling (bright, energetic, gloomy, relaxing calm), rhythm pattern, Beats Per Minute (BPM) and year of the song and/or date added to the device. The specialized playlists can be accessed on the navigation display through an animated 3D sphere that can be rotated with a touch of the screen, providing a quick and highly visual method of selecting MusicSphere generated playlists. Additionally, the MusicSphere software allows users to create a “DJ Playlist” which will create a non-stop mix of the selected music types with the ability to blend between songs using transition effects.
ECO Driving – The system also features the second generation ECO Driving function which provides driving status reports as well as the driver’s impact on the environment with visual graphics onscreen. Through Pioneer’s proprietary AVIC FEEDS®6 PC software7, the unit can estimate the fuel cost of trip as well as the vehicle’s CO2 emissions through detailed Drive Reports. Through a proprietary fuel consumption algorithm, AVIC FEEDS can also log and archive driving data and analyze driving habits to generate various reports with suggestions to improve fuel efficiency. The ECO Graph shown on the navigation unit visually represents the user’s environmental impact, illustrated in 2D, 3D and divided map views. Additionally, when a route is set the system will calculate a Drive Score based on driving efficiency which factors abrupt stops, accelerations and idle time.
The AVIC-Z120BT can be fully integrated into a large number of vehicles with a 2-DIN dash opening, and can match any vehicle’s dash lighting with its more than 30,000 customizable illumination colors.

The AVIC-Z120BT will be available in June for a suggested retail price of $1,599.

Pioneer’s Car Electronics Department is known for offering the kind of in-car products that make driving more enjoyable by offering high quality audio and video, seamless connectivity and ease-of-use. Its focus is on the development of new digital technologies including audio video, navigation and satellite radio, while maintaining its strong heritage in products for car audio enthusiasts and sound competitors.

NOTE: Do not use your Pioneer system if doing so will divert your attention in any way from the safe operation of your vehicle. Always observe safe driving rules. In some states certain operations of devices while driving may be illegal. Where such regulations apply, they must be obeyed.

1Bluetooth functionality requires a compatible Bluetooth-enabled mobile phone. Certain Bluetooth features may not be supported by all compatible Bluetooth-enabled devices, and/or the functionality of such features may be limited in certain devices or by certain wireless carriers. See more details about compatible Bluetooth-enabled mobile phones at the following webpage: “http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/BluetoothCompatibility”.

2Not every USB device is compatible with a Pioneer head unit containing an USB port. See more details at the following webpage: “http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/USBCompatibility”. Pioneer head units containing a USB port are compatible with USB MSC (Mass Storage Class) devices only, and are not compatible with DRM (Digital Rights Management) contents and MTP (Media Transfer Protocol) connection devices. For size and other limitations, please see Owner’s Manual. Unauthorized copying of music or other files is strictly prohibited. Optional USB extension cable is available for use with front USB ports.

3SIRIUS XM Satellite Radio is a subscription service not affiliated with Pioneer Electronics – service is available everywhere within the continental U.S. More information is available at “http://www.siriusxm.com”. The “XM” and “SIRIUS” and related marks are trademarks of SIRIUS XM Radio Inc. Ability of the Pioneer system to access the SIRIUS and/or XM satellite radio service is subject to change without notice and could be affected by any of the following (but not limited to the following): changes to the SIRIUS XM Radio service; or, discontinuation of the SIRIUS XM radio service.

4HD Radio and the HD Radio logo are proprietary trademarks of iBiquity Digital Corp.

5PC systems requirements for MusicSphere software includes:
OS – Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows7
Windows Hardware
A PC with a 1GHz Intel or faster processor
512MB of RAM or greater
Screen resolution of 1024×768 or greater
Broadband Internet connection to use MusicSphere data download

Windows Software
Windows XP Service Pack 2 or later, 32-bit editions of Windows Vista, or 32-bit editions of Windows 7
64-bit editions of Windows Vista or Windows 7 doesn’t support
iTunes 9.0.3 or later
QuickTime 7.6.4 or later
Internet Explorer 7 or later
300MB of available disk space

6Functionality available via AVIC-Feeds varies by AVIC model.

7PC systems requirements for AVIC-FEEDS software includes:
OS – Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition / Professional (Service Pack 2 or later), Microsoft Windows Vista, Only supported by 32 bit version. (Not compatible with Mac OS)
CPU – Pentium III 500MHz or higher (Recommended: Pentium III 1.0GHz or higher)
Memory -256MB or more (Recommended: 512MB or more)
Hard Disk – 100MB or more of available hard disk space
Display – Display capability of 1024 x 768 resolution, 16-bit color (65536 colors) or higher
Other – Internet Explorer 6.0 or later preinstalled, USB/SD Card-accessible interface, Google Maps-capable internet environment

Press Release:

Pioneer Brings Pandora Into the Dash with New App

New In-dash Navigation Systems Provide Pandora Internet Radio and More

Pioneer Electronics (USA) Inc. today announced the availability of the PandoraLink for Pioneer1 App on the App Store. Through an iPhone, the free PandoraLink for Pioneer App provides complete control of Pandora’s internet radio music service on Pioneer’s new AVIC-Z120BT and AVIC-X920BT in-dash navigation systems. The recently announced models integrate sophisticated navigation capabilities as well as new groundbreaking features, including a revolutionary 3D touch slide interface, Pioneer’s proprietary music analysis software, MusicSphere™ and ECO Graph for ecologically aware drivers.

“Pioneer’s robust in-dash navigation systems will excite music enthusiasts who can now discover new bands and songs while driving with Pandora’s massive audio library and full onscreen control with the new PandoraLink for Pioneer App,” said Ted Cardenas, director of marketing for the car electronics department of Pioneer Electronics (USA) Inc.

PandoraLink for Pioneer App
Pandora internet radio fans using the service through iPhone now have the same control capabilities directly on the new Pioneer AVIC-Z120BT and AVIC-X920BT navigation systems. The PandoraLink for Pioneer App is displayed as a dedicated source on the units and provides Pandora users with the familiar functions of the online service including onscreen display of track information such as title, artist and album art. In addition to the capability of rating a track with “thumbs up” or “thumbs down,” the dedicated user interface provides easy navigation on a large 7-inch or 6.1-inch touch screen display while driving, which allows users to easily bookmark a song or artist, skip the currently playing track, change stations and select Quickmix playback.

“Pioneer is one of the first manufacturers to transition our service from the home or office into the dash of a car with complete onscreen display and control. Our listeners will definitely enjoy the Pandora experience while in a car,” said Tim Westergren, chief strategy officer & founder of Pandora.

2010 Navigation Models
The recently announced AVIC-Z120BT carries the reputation of Pioneer’s Z-line of navigations systems, offering the best in navigation with compelling entertainment and sound quality features. The double-DIN unit features a large 7-inch WVGA touch screen display, a map database from Tele Atlas® with 12 million points of interest (POIs), DVD playback, 4GB of flash memory, rear seat entertainment, built-in Bluetooth2 for hands-free calling and music streaming, USB connectivity3, SD card slot, back-up camera input and is SIRIUS XM4 satellite and HD Radio ready. In addition to advanced navigation capabilities the AVIC-Z120BT also incorporates PandoraLink for Pioneer App, MusicSphere which creates mood-based playlists that can be accessed onscreen with a distinctive 3D animated sphere and Eco Driving reports for the connected and environmentally aware driver. The AVIC-Z120BT also features hi-volt pre-amp outputs, 7-band graphic EQ and custom designed power supply capacitors for improved sound quality.

The currently available AVIC-X920BT was named CNET’s Best of CES finalist for the Car Tech and GPS category at the 2010 Consumer Electronics Show, and was noted for its comprehensive navigation capabilities in addition to its new music technologies incorporating PandoraLink for Pioneer App and MusicSphere in addition to Eco Driving, which helps drivers become more aware of their environmental impact. The double-DIN unit features a large 6.1-inch WVGA touch screen display, a map database from Tele Atlas® with 12 million POIs, DVD playback, 4GB of flash memory, built-in Bluetooth for hands-free calling and music streaming, USB connectivity, micro SD card slot, back-up camera input and is SIRIUS XM satellite and HD Radio ready.

The Pioneer AVIC-X920BT is currently available for a suggested retail price of $1,099, and the AVIC-Z120BT will be available in June for a suggested retail price of $1,599.

The PandoraLink for Pioneer App is currently available for free from the App Store on iPhone at www.itunes.com/appstore/.

Pioneer’s Car Electronics Department is known for offering the kind of in-car products that make driving more enjoyable by offering high quality audio and video, advanced connectivity and ease-of-use. Its focus is on the development of new digital technologies including audio video, navigation and satellite radio, while maintaining its strong heritage in products for car audio enthusiasts and sound competitors.

NOTE: Do not use your Pioneer system if doing so will divert your attention in any way from the safe operation of your vehicle. Always observe safe driving rules. In some states certain operations of devices while driving may be illegal. Where such regulations apply, they must be obeyed.

1 Pandora App required in conjunction with PandoraLink for Pioneer App

2 Bluetooth functionality requires a compatible Bluetooth-enabled mobile phone. Certain Bluetooth features may not be supported by all compatible Bluetooth-enabled devices, and/or the functionality of such features may be limited in certain devices or by certain wireless carriers. See more details about compatible Bluetooth-enabled mobile phones at the following webpage: “http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/BluetoothCompatibility”.

3 Not every USB device is compatible with a Pioneer head unit containing an USB port. See more details at the following webpage: “http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/USBCompatibility”. Pioneer head units containing a USB port are compatible with USB MSC (Mass Storage Class) devices only, and are not compatible with DRM (Digital Rights Management) contents and MTP (Media Transfer Protocol) connection devices. For size and other limitations, please see Owner’s Manual. Unauthorized copying of music or other files is strictly prohibited. Optional USB extension cable is available for use with front USB ports.

4 SIRIUS XM Satellite Radio is a subscription service not affiliated with Pioneer Electronics – service is available everywhere within the continental U.S. More information is available at “http://www.siriusxm.com”. The “XM” and “SIRIUS” and related marks are trademarks of SIRIUS XM Radio Inc. Ability of the Pioneer system to access the SIRIUS and/or XM satellite radio service is subject to change without notice and could be affected by any of the following (but not limited to the following): changes to the SIRIUS XM Radio service; or, discontinuation of the SIRIUS XM radio service.

Video demo after the cut

The hard work is all done by a regular in-dash Pioneer PND unit, with the NaviRobo crab just being assigned the basic pointing duties.  Hopefully Pioneer will be doing some work to streamline their route-programming interface before the system’s launch, since having a friendly ‘bot to guide you is useless if you can’t figure out how to tell him where you actually want to go.

The two companies reckon NaviRobo will be of particular interest to those with hearing impediments and the elderly, who might have trouble following audio navigation prompts or complex on-screen displays.  It’s expected to go on sale within the next 2-3 years, priced at around 10,000 yen ($110).

[via PlasticPals]

Video demo after the cut

Both AR and standard 3D maps are available, with worldwide coverage courtesy of NAVTEQ mapping data, and both modes support voice guidance prompts.  Both driving and walking directions are supported.

Wikitude will be making the Wikitude Drive beta available in the US Android Market from 10am PST today, but it’ll only be available for the first 2,000 people to download it.  No word on when the full version of the app – which we’re presuming Wikitude will be charging for – might emerge.

[vimeo]http://vimeo.com/11870382[/vimeo]

[via Android Community]

Update: Video demo of Ovi Maps SR4 on a Nokia N8 after the cut!

The first thing Ovi Maps users should see is increased speed, both of the app itself and of the positioning lock. Nokia have developed their own WiFi triangulation system, which now means you’re more likely to get a positioning fix while indoors or in “urban canyon” style built-up areas. They’ve also set up a dedicated team to track hotspots, and the WiFi positioning system will be available as an API for other location-based services (LBS) to access on compatible Nokia devices. Meanwhile to speed positioning in larger countries, such as the US and China, Nokia have used a nifty shortcut to narrow down GPS/A-GPS positioning by factoring in cell tower ID.

While the technology might be getting more complex, the Ovi Maps UI has been tightened up. User feedback said the positioning indicator was too easily confused with the data meter, trying to give too much information when people only wanted to know if they had a fix or not, and if so how accurate it was. Now there’s a better partial-fix display, defaulting to a zoomed-out view that shows the limits of its accuracy. Zoom in, meanwhile, and that radius disappears so as not to overlap with the 3D landmarks, which have also seen a boost in number. City searches, meanwhile, default to a zoomed-out view that encompasses the whole city, rather than zooming in to the closest level.

Duee is particularly pleased with the Qype integration, which currently shows up as a new POI icon on the map itself and as an information source alongside wcities in a POI profile. Tapping that shows user ratings, information and reviews, all within Ovi Maps itself, plus you can tap through to more informationon Qype’s mobile site. Right now you can’t add your own Qype reviews through Ovi Maps, however, only rate the POI as before.

Nokia are pushing out nine “navigation packages” which will bundle an in-car holder and charger with an Ovi Maps compatible phone, and soon any Ovi Maps device will come with those accessories as standard. According to Duee, they’re also looking at other accessory possibilities, for instance tailored to the bike and pedestrian navigation guidance Ovi Maps offers.

As for what’s further down the line, as part of their recent corporate reshuffle the Ovi Maps teams have been made more focussed, and the end result of that should be faster releases in future. That should also include quicker NAVTEQ mapping data updates, and Duee’s team are looking at ways they could improve distribution for future releases, rather than users downloading a whole new version every time. They’re also considering how they can build user contribution into map and POI accuracy, whether that be a TomTom-style on-device flagging of incorrect roads, addresses or numbers, or some other system. What’s telling, though, is the amount to which Nokia are relying on consumer demand to shape the Ovi Maps service. Faster positioning, for instance, wasn’t top of the team’s list to tweak, but in-app feedback showed that it was at the top of the users’ list, and so it got prioritised.

Ovi Maps SR4 on Nokia N8:

We also asked Duee what he’d expect – or at least like – to see in five years time. He reckons that mapping and navigation will evolve to be a central context layer in mobile devices, not just an app you dip into to get from A to B or find a nearby restaurant. That might include augmented reality (AR) and Latitude-style updates on when friends, family and different social groups are nearby, but it will also likely incorporate new interaction technologies like voice search. Since Ovi Maps is integrated into a phone with a camera, you could take a photo of something and use that as a search trigger: pull up a digital menu from a photo of a restaurant sign, for instance, or get route information by snapping a shot of a bus stop. He’s also looking to gaming and online collaboration.

That’s all still to come, of course; for now, Ovi Maps SR4 (v3.0.4) is faster than before, looks better and packs more information. It’s available to download free from maps.ovi.com today, complete with new mapping data for Malta and the Maldives, among other places, and as before you can store maps on-device and not pay a cent in data fees while you’re on the move. Let us know how you get on!

The largest PND on offer is the Magellan RoadMate 5045, which has a 5-inch touchscreen and lifetime traffic updates.  Interestingly, while it has the largest display, it lacks some of the features of the high-end RoadMate 30xx models, many of which have hands-free calling via Bluetooth.

• Magellan RoadMate 5045 – 5” screen, lifetime traffic $219.99
• Magellan RoadMate 3065 – 4.7” screen, includes Traffic Wakeup feature, Bluetooth $299.99
• Magellan RoadMate 3055 – 4.7” screen, lifetime traffic, Bluetooth $249.99
• Magellan RoadMate 3045-LM – 4.7” screen, lifetime map updates, lifetime traffic $229.99
• Magellan RoadMate 3045-MU – 4.7” screen, one free map update, lifetime traffic
• Magellan RoadMate 3045 – 4.7” screen, lifetime traffic $199.99
• Magellan RoadMate 2045 – 4.3” screen, lifetime traffic $199.99
• Magellan RoadMate 2036-MU – 4.3” screen, one free map update, lifetime traffic $199.99
• Magellan RoadMate 2036 – 4.3” screen, lifetime traffic $179.99
• Magellan RoadMate 2035 – 4.3” screen, lifetime traffic (contiguous US, Hawaii and Puerto Rico only) $169.99

All but the 2035 come with AAA TourBook integration and lane guidance.  Most models are available to order now, with free shipping from Magellan’s site.

[via GPS Track Log]

There’s also a choice of SKUs with either lifetime map updates, lifetime traffic updates, or both.  All get Advanced Lane Guidance and over 7m POIs.  Both models will go on sale later this month, priced from $169 for the TomTom XL 350 and from $199 for the TomTom XXL 550; adding lifetime maps or lifetime traffic updates will be $30 each.

Press Release:

TomTom Launches New and Innovative XL 350 and XXL 550 Range of Navigation Devices

Latest Series Incorporates New Easy-to-Use Interface and Products with Lifetime Traffic and Map Updates Options

CONCORD, Mass.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–TomTom, the world’s leading provider of location and navigation solutions, today announces the TomTom XL 350 and XXL 550 series, the latest models in the company’s award-winning portable navigation product line. This range includes the new TomTom EasyMenu™, a sleek display and all the quality navigation features from TomTom that consumers rely on to safely and efficiently reach their destinations.

“These new products combine some of the most advanced and acclaimed TomTom features in an easy-to-use format and further deliver on our commitment to providing the most intelligent navigation products in the market”
All TomTom products in the XL 350 and XXL 550 range include TomTom’s new EasyMenu user interface, which offers sharp graphics and a simple touchscreen menu that provides quick access to search tools so that users can get started towards their destination even faster. All products also include TomTom’s proprietary IQ Routes™ Technology and TomTom Map Share™. IQ Routes offers the most efficient routing for any time of day or day of week. Map Share allows users to make map improvements on their device and share these improvements with the TomTom community.

“These new products combine some of the most advanced and acclaimed TomTom features in an easy-to-use format and further deliver on our commitment to providing the most intelligent navigation products in the market,” said Tom Murray, senior vice president of market development at TomTom, Inc. “With the introduction of the XL 350 and XXL 550 range, we empower our users with the accuracy of TomTom’s most up-to-date maps and intelligent routing information that helps them avoid traffic delays and other hassles on the road.”

Select devices across the new range of XL 350 and XXL 550 devices include Lifetime Maps and/or Lifetime Traffic Updates:

Lifetime Map Updates feature allows users to keep their maps fresh by downloading, every few months, the industry’s most accurate and up-to-date maps.
The maps include one million more miles than competing maps and, in certified tests, rate highest in terms of quality and reliability. Because an average of 18% of road information changes each year, maps are continually refreshed to include improvements across the entire road network and updates to points of interest (POIs). With Lifetime Map Updates, consumers always have access to the best maps available.
Lifetime Map Updates are available on XL 350M, XL 350TM, XXL 550M and XXL 550TM devices.
Lifetime Traffic Updates feature offers real-time insight into current traffic conditions to help drivers avoid delays.
The TomTom device receives the latest, constantly-updated traffic information; recalculates total drive time; and suggests more efficient alternate routes if they are available.
Combined with TomTom IQ Routes, the real-time traffic information via Lifetime Traffic Updates, ensures the smartest and fastest routing possible.
Lifetime Traffic Updates are available on XL 350T, XL 350TM, XXL 550 T, XXL 550 TM devices.
Technical specifications
Additional features on all devices include:

Maps: preloaded premium maps of the US/Canada/Mexico from Tele Atlas
MapShare on demand updates
IQ Routes
POIs: over 7 million points of interest
Advanced Lane Guidance
EasyMenu™
The new series of products also includes the XL 350 4.3″ model and the XL 550 5.0″ model.

Availability and Price

The X50 products will be available in late May and prices will begin at $169 for the 4.3”, and $199 for the 5.0”. Lifetime Maps and Lifetime Traffic Updates are each available for an additional $30.00.

Otherwise there’s 24/7 IQ Routes, which uses road traffic data to predict what routes will be busier at different times of the day and week, and Advanced Lane Guidance.  Mapping data covers the US (including Puerto Rico), Canada & Mexico and more than 7 million POIs.  MRSP for the XL 350 will range from $169.95 to $229.95, while the XXL 550 will range from $199.95 to $259.95.

[via GPS Track Log]

Not only can you use that voice pack yourself, but they’re shared on Nokia’s new Own Voice site so that others can download them too (we’re guessing you can keep them private as well).  It’s a brilliant idea, and it might just put custom voice prompt vendors out of business.

Of course, if you’re friends with James Earl Jones you could always get him to record some Nokia prompts and save the £7.95 TomTom are asking.  Alternatively, prepare for April Fools Day 2011 by recording a load of incorrect directions to install onto your friends’ phones, telling them to go left when they should turn right.

[via Nokia Conversations]

Video demo after the cut

Despite the huge screen, Motorola don’t seem to allow you to have all the usual information displayed at once: you can only see ETA or current speed, for instance, not both.  Motorola have also used a two-panel layout, with mapping on the right and different contextual panes on the left, and navigating through the latter is apparently trickier than it ought to be.

Throw in the fact that voice-searches are sluggish to respond and you’re looking at a PND that’s not quite everything it should be.  There are some strengths: decent Bluetooth handsfree performance, for instance, and speedy power-on times, but you’re making some sacrifices for $280.

Frustratingly for early-adopters who couldn’t wait and opted for the WiFi-only iPad, the 3G connection isn’t actually necessary: mapping data is all locally stored, and CoPilot Live HD only needs the GPS chip that’s not present in the normal iPad.  As well as navigation there’s in-app local search and real-time weather information.

ALK Technologies have submitted CoPilot Live HD to Apple for App Store approval, so until it shows up in iTunes you’ll have to sate yourself with this huge gallery of screenshots.  When it’s finally available it will be priced the same as the regular iPhone version, with no ongoing subscription fees.

Press Release:

CoPilot® Live HD™ navigates to the iPad 3G

Hi-resolution edition of the award-winning CoPilot Live sat nav app brings the ultimate in-car navigation experience to the Apple iPad 3G

April 29th 2010 – London, UK – ALK Technologies today announced that it has submitted CoPilot Live HD to the app store, a turn-by-turn satellite navigation and trip planning app designed specifically for 3G models of Apple’s iPad. With street maps stored on the device, CoPilot Live HD takes full advantage of the iPad 3G’s in-built GPS receiver and high resolution touch screen to provide the ultimate large-screen voice-guided navigation experience.

CoPilot Live HD makes it easy to find the way in-car or to plan a trip in advance with beautiful hi-resolution maps and graphics. A new split screen driving view combines uncluttered 3D or 2D map displays with clear, non-distracting turn instructions. As with CoPilot Live for iPhone, the HD edition auto-switches between portrait and landscape, uses pinch-zoom functionality and offers access to iPod music controls from within the app.

Initially launched in North America to coincide with the U.S. release of GPS-enabled iPad 3G models, detailed street-level maps are stored directly on the iPad. Customers do not need to download maps for each trip or worry about being left stranded without maps in mobile dead spots. Apps for additional regions will be launched as the iPad 3G becomes available worldwide in coming months.

More than just turn-by-turn navigation, CoPilot Live HD’s powerful offline trip planning and route preview features allow travellers to plan door-to-door itineraries on their iPad before they hit the road. Users can enter multiple stops for a single journey and optimise to calculate the most efficient route. Advanced features include integral access to local search, real-time weather information, and the ability to create customised routing profiles that best suit personal preferences.

“CoPilot Live HD provides an absolutely sensational GPS navigation and planning experience on iPad 3G,” said Michael Kornhauser, Managing Director at ALK Technologies. “Developing for iPad was a natural step following the tremendous popularity of our CoPilot Live iPhone app. It’s a really fantastic platform for navigation that allows us to fully exploit the many years of expertise we have gained from supporting tablet computers with our CoPilot Live Laptop products.”

CoPilot Live HD North America has been submitted to the appstore for approval, and is expected to be available to buy for iPad 3G in early May. Pricing will be the same as for the CoPilot Live iPhone app with no ongoing fees or subscriptions.

Keeping everything moving is a 500MHz ARM11 processor and 128MB of RAM, while there’s also 4GB of user-accessible storage.  Battery life is estimated at around 3hrs of standalone use, though of course there’ll be a windscreen mount included too.

According to TomTom, the LIVE system is available in 33 countries so far, while the integrated modem will mean the company can remotely update the GO LIVE 1000 with new services and firmware updates.  No word on pricing at this stage, but it’s expected to arrive in Europe come the summer.

Press Release:

TomTom: One Device, Endless Possibilities

~ New technologically advanced navigation device to make relevant real-time services accessible for all ~

AMSTERDAM–(BUSINESS WIRE)–TomTom (AEX:TOM2) today previews the GO LIVE 1000, the first in a whole new generation of navigation devices, designed to bring real-time services to millions of drivers.

“Our customers are relying increasingly on their navigation devices and it is no longer about the destination alone, but also very much about the journey itself”
The new TomTom GO LIVE 1000 is the first TomTom product completely designed for connectivity. Based around a powerful ARM 11 500 Mhz processor, the device also showcases a new Webkit-based user interface and the latest capacitive touch screen technology.

The software and service delivery platform have been optimised for rapid integration of third party applications and easy localisation to match the needs of specific markets or applications. The back end server systems have been completely redesigned, allowing effortless delivery of rich content and downloadable applications, via cable or over the air. All this also makes the TomTom GO LIVE 1000 future proof. It will be much easier than ever before to receive the latest content and relevant information instantly.

Working with partner Vodafone, TomTom has pioneered an innovative new business model, delivering real-time connectivity seamlessly across 33 European countries for the first time. With the GO LIVE 1000 there is no need for subscription or activation, as a full year of services* is now included with the device. This suite of services includes TomTom HD Traffic™, mobile speed cameras and local search in 16 countries.

New routing

TomTom is committed to providing motorists with the best routing technology possible, developing industry firsts IQ Routes™ and HD Traffic™.

For the new platform, TomTom engineers were tasked to design a new routing algorithm that continuously scans the road network for the fastest routes, using these layers of navigation information. This has resulted in a patented super fast routing algorithm that sets new standards in accuracy and speed. And user interface enhancements give drivers a better visual understanding of traffic conditions.

Complete new look and feel

The new user interface and application logic has been much improved. To existing TomTom users, the product will have the familiar TomTom feel, being easy to use and rich in features, but it does that in a much richer graphical environment. The new capacitive touch screen offers crystal clear graphics at high resolution.

“Our customers are relying increasingly on their navigation devices and it is no longer about the destination alone, but also very much about the journey itself”, said Corinne Vigreux, managing director TomTom. “The GO LIVE 1000 has been designed to make the journey a relaxed, predictable, safe and enjoyable experience. Thanks to our technologies we know the road ahead and what is happening on the journey. The GO LIVE 1000 will get our customers to their destination easier, safer and faster than ever before.”

Richer and more detailed maps, covering two million kilometres more roads and addressable locations across 45 European countries, ensure drivers never have to waste time looking for valuable information regarding their route. Also, a new Park Assist feature automatically informs drivers of car parks near their destination.

*Availability of services will vary per country

Availability

The TomTom GO LIVE 1000 will be available in the summer.

Notes for editors

IQ Routes

TomTom IQ Routes applies the historical travel time experience of millions of drivers to calculate the fastest route possible. The technology is based on historical speed measurements for every time of day, one for every road segment, from large motorways to small local roads. In up to 35% of all cases, the use of IQ Routes results in driving a faster route, saving significant travel time as well as money and fuel.

HD Traffic

TomTom’s HD Traffic service is based on the anonymous measurements of ordinary mobile phones moving through the network. A significant proportion of mobile phones on the move are in cars. Analysis of these results gives accurate traffic information for all major and secondary roads. The HD Traffic service is further enhanced with information from TomTom users who wish to share their travel time information anonymously with other users. This contributes to the accuracy and granularity of this unique service. It gives a much more accurate traffic information resource than traditional systems and for much larger territories.

About TomTom N.V.

TomTom N.V. (AEX: TOM2) is the world’s leading provider of location and navigation solutions. Headquartered in the Netherlands it employs over 3000 employees worldwide. More than 40 million people daily use its solutions, be it in the form of dedicated portable navigation devices (PNDs), in- dash car systems or tracking and tracing solutions for fleet management. In addition, hundreds of millions of people use TomTom’s digital maps on the internet or mobile phone.

In 2009, TomTom reported €1.5 billion in revenues and a €340 million net cash flow from operating activities. More information about TomTom can be found on www.TomTom.com.

Google also confirmed that the Maps Navigation does not require a constant data connection throughout the journey, instead pre-caching the entire route when initially calculated.  Of course, if you then deviate from the route, the handset will need to pull down new mapping data.  ”It needs a data connection when you ask for navigation,” said Mobile Maps product manager Steve Lee,”but while driving to your destination, if you intermittently lose the connection, it will still carry on. As long as you stay on the route.”

Free PND functionality has proved to be a significant hit in recent months, with Nokia announcing that they have seen 10m downloads of their own free navigation app, Ovi Maps Navigation, since it was released as a no-cost update.  In contrast, the TomTom iPhone PND app currently costs around $99.

The update – GMN Beta v4.1.1 – offers pretty much all the features from the US version, including 2D/3D map views and various overlays with POI, fuel station and traffic information.  If you have a Nexus One you can also search for a destination by voice command.

Google originally said that the limit on Navigation functionality was down to map data rights; it seems that they’ve now been able to negotiate those rights for the UK market along with the US.  It remains to be seen whether they’ll do the same for mainland Europe, or indeed update any of the Google Maps apps for other platforms such as Windows Mobile or iPhone OS.

[via Android Community]

Interestingly, the windscreen suction mount is semi-fixed to the Start2, folding flat against the PND when not in use, but giving you one less thing to carry.  Other functionality include spoken street names, points of interest and advanced lane guidance, together with speed camera alerts.

The Start2 has 2GB of onboard storage, a battery good for up to 2hrs unplugged use, and a QVGA display.  Two versions of the Start2 are on offer, a £119 ($180) model with regional mapping data and a £139 ($210) model with full European mapping data.  No word on whether the PND will see a US release, but they’re available to order in Europe now.

The mapping data will be refreshed “every few months” according to TomTom, while the traffic information is updated every three minutes.  It’ll be used in TomTom’s proprietary IQ Routes system, which not only takes into account distance when calculating a journey, but the time of day at which you’ll be making it.  Expect to pay $199.95 upward for a TomTom PND eligible for free updates.

Press Release:

TomTom Lifetime Map and Traffic Updates Now Available in North America

~ Lifetime Features Deliver the Most Up-To-Date Maps; Help Drivers Steer Clear of Traffic ~

CONCORD, Mass.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–TomTom, the world’s leading provider of location and navigation solutions, today announces the availability of a wide range of TomTom devices offering Lifetime Map Updates and Lifetime Traffic Updates. These new features empower users with the accuracy of TomTom’s most up-to-date maps, as well as real-time traffic information that helps them avoid traffic delays and other hassles on the road. At no extra cost, customers will receive these updates for the useful life of the device.

“The nation’s roads are changing every day, so TomTom is proud to offer Lifetime Map Updates on our portable navigation devices”
“The nation’s roads are changing every day, so TomTom is proud to offer Lifetime Map Updates on our portable navigation devices,” said Tom Murray, vice president of market development for TomTom Inc. “This feature, in conjunction with TomTom’s Lifetime Traffic Updates, offers our customers the assurance that they will always have the industry’s most accurate maps and the real-time traffic information they need for hassle-free navigation.”

Lifetime Map Updates
TomTom’s Lifetime Map Updates feature allows users to keep their maps fresh by downloading, every few months, the industry’s most accurate and up-to-date maps. The maps include one million more miles than competing maps and, in certified tests, rate highest in terms of quality and reliability. The road network changes on average 18 percent annually, so they are continually refreshed to include improvements across the entire road network and updates to Points of Interest.

Lifetime Traffic Updates
TomTom’s Lifetime Traffic Updates feature offers real-time insight into traffic events to help drivers avoid delays. The TomTom device receives the latest traffic information every three minutes, recalculates total drive time and suggests more efficient alternate routes if they are available.

All TomTom products featuring Lifetime Updates also include TomTom’s proprietary IQ Routes™ Technology and TomTom Map Share™. IQ Routes offers the most efficient routing for any time of day or day of week. This feature, combined with the real-time traffic information via Lifetime Traffic Updates, ensures the very best routing possible. Map Share allows users to make map improvements on their device and share these improvements with the TomTom community.

Availability and Price
Select TomTom devices across the TomTom XL and TomTom XXL product lines are now available with Lifetime Map Updates, Lifetime Traffic Updates or a combination of these features. Pricing starts at $199.95 MSRP and varies by model.

For more information, please visit: www.tomtom.com

* TomTom devices featuring Lifetime Map and Traffic Updates are only available in North America.