NaviGadget

GPS on rear view mirror

Feb 19, 2008 gps navigation, misc news 9 Comments

We had talked about some hi-tech rear view mirrors with embedded GPS receivers before such as the VDO Dayton MS5700 and GPSMirror.

Today we are adding another device to that lineup called MirrorPilot. MirrorPilot uses ANTARIS 4 GPS chipset with SuperSense, 2D and 3D maps, voice instructions, and traffic message channel. The display inside the mirror measures 2.2″ and has QVGA resolution.

The 700 € price tag may seem too much at first but think about how nice it will be to not have any cables and suction cups all over the place. You won’t have to worry about charging the device either or thieves braking your windows for it.

Currently MirrorPilot is only available in Europe preloaded with European maps. Expect to see this CeBIT in Germany which is coming up soon… Read More …

new VDO Dayton GPS navigation systems includes TV receiver

Sep 14, 2007 gps navigation 19 Comments

VDO Dayton’s new PN 4000 and PN 6000 navigation systems includes digital TV reception as well. Presented at the IAA International Motor Show Cars, in Frankfurt, these portable navigation devices, will come with a DVB-T receiver as a standard feature – a feature that still is of no use in the U.S. But if you were in a European country that broadcasts digitally you could enjoy your favorite TV channel on a 4.3″ screen with the PN 4000, and a 5.3″ screen with the PN 6000.

The two new models belong to a family of navigation systems that includes the older VDO Dayton PN 2050 and PN 3000. Both PN 4000 and PN 6000 offer high resolution maps rendered in 2D or 3D, and have a 16:9 aspect ratio display. You can also get live traffic info if you choose to get the optional RDS/TMC traffic receiver.

Now on to the digital TV part:

…VDO Dayton has now integrated a receiver for digital TV signals alongside the navigation computer. This receiver, which is available in large areas of Europe, brings the “television of the future” into the vehicle. Due to powerful batteries and an external power supply, the PN 4000 can be operated outside the vehicle, like at camp grounds, the beach or vacation homes. Because the antennas are designed to be highly sensitive and redundant, the system ensures television reception even at speeds of up to 160 km/h allowing the back seat to become a mobile home theater on long road trips.

Not only does the dual tuner receive the television program, but it also displays screen text, television subtitles, and the electronic program listings for the next four days.

PN4000 and PN6000 also feature an SD slot through which you can bring your portable media such as videos or music. Also, an optional Bluetooth module is available, which will upgrade the device to a hands-free system for mobile phones… via

MS4400 navigation radio

Apr 30, 2007 gps navigation 2 Comments

If you don’t care about fancy colorful maps and don’t have more than 1DIN space in your dashboard MS400 navigation radio from VDO Dayton may just be the solution for you. MS4400 features dual RDS tuners so you can still enjoy your regular radio stations while still benefiting from TMC information.

The high resolution 260 x 100 dot matrix screen is capable of displaying both audio info next to your next turn displayed with some simple graphics. It can speak 9 languages in 20 different voices and keep 200 locations in its address book.

MS4400 also is an audio/MP3 player and most importantly it lets you play your CDs or audio files while navigating. It has a max. power rating of 4 x 55 Watts which can be controlled with a 5 channel equalizer and can automatically adjust the volume depending on your speed.

There’s only one problem with MS4400. We don’t where it’s sold or how much. We’d appreciate it if our readers could help us here.

PN 3000 from VDO Dayton does Sudoku too

Mar 5, 2007 gps navigation Leave a comment

This new GPS navigation system from VDO Dayton is called PN 3000. It features a 4.3″ anti-glare touch screen display with automatic brightness control, built-in 64 MB flash memory, removable/rechargeable Li-Ion battery, IR Receiver for remote control, and an SD card slot. If you need to waste some time in your vehicle you’ll find the MP3 player and JPEG viewer handy too. Feel like you need to exercise your brain? – well PN 3000 happens to be the only navigation system that features Sudoku. Just please do not try to solve them while driving. The prices range from 470€ to 550€… via

VDO Dayton MS5700 rear view mirrow navigation

Aug 24, 2006 gps navigation 2 Comments

The MS5700 is a rear view mirror navigation system that features a 4 inch screen on the left hand side of the rear view mirror directing you to your destination while keeping your eyes firmly on the road.

The MS5700 is actually a combination of two products from VDO Dayton that brings together their flagship product PC5700 (box looking thing in the picture) and the MM2100 mirror. Just to clarify this will not fit onto your existing rear mirror since it requires a high tech monitor embedded behind the mirror which connects with a single cable that is hidden inside the mirror’s arm and runs up through the roof and down to the navigation system’s computer.

The mirror displays the map in a 4:3 ratio and integrates a speaker as well as an infrared eye to control with a remote control. Manually you can change the display brightness as well as the volume with the buttons on the front too.

The navigation system powered by the PC5700 stores the info on a 8.5GB DVD which can store all of Europe’s roads. More features after the jump…

C-IQ Intelligent Content on Demand
Once C-IQ is activated, you benefit from a wide range of products including up to date road maps, travel guides and special country products. Along with wide coverage, road maps come with free traffic information (TMC) and up to 1.500.000 Points of Interest (POI). The C-IQ update service automatically sends you the latest road maps free of charge. Activation takes just a few minutes anytime, anywhere. Navigation content can be chosen on a daily or monthly basis with time based payment.

Integrated RDS-TMC Receiver

Traffic information is available through the integration of a TMC receiver. The resulting combination of functions is not only better value for money but simplifies the installation. It only requires a connection to the FMAntenna.

2D/3D Map View

Through the special software, the precise and smooth map is viewable in the classic 2D or new 3D view. In the 3D view, additional Information, for example street numbers, sight seeing possibilities and traffic information, is blended into the horizon and removed from the foreground. You are able to chose up to 5 POI categories you’d like to see.

Dynamic Navigation via TMC

The system is able to process traffic information, which is provided through an integrated RDS-TMC receiver (Radio Data System – Traffic Message Channel). This traffic information is evaluated and included in the route calculation. The delta (travel time, distance) for the current route is shown and the driver can decide whether he wants to drive the alternative route or not. It is possible to customize the system’s behaviour for dynamic route planning.

Extensive Destination Input Possibilities

With the great number of input possibilities, virtually every destination can be found. The destination input is supported by the ‘Intelligent Typewriter’. Only the alphabetic characters that are necessary will be presented automatically, making destination selection considerably simpler.

Siemens VDO presents the VDO Dayton MS2110

Jun 12, 2006 gps navigation 1 Comment

auto-translated:After the VDO Dayton ms 2000, Siemens VDO presents a new PND (GPS Autonome), the VDO Dayton ms 2110.

The great innovation, it is the new software of navigation, developed by Siemens VDO, instead of preceding software of navigation not very convincing and provided by Map & Guide.

Like the VDO Dayton ms 2010, it integrates a receiver RDS/TMC for information traffic and good news, it is of information traffic of the Premium type, i.e. one will as well have information on the motorways paying as in the large cities as Paris will intra muros, its peripheral and the motorways of Island of France.

Its principal characteristics :

· Touch screen LCD TFT 3′ ‘ 5 anti-reflecting resolution 320 X 240 pixels
· Processor 200 MHz
· 544 Mo of memory ROMANIAN Flash integrated (software + cartography)
· 64 Mo of RAM
· Port SD (2 maximum Go)
· Connector mini USB
· Receiver GPS integrated with chip SiRF IIe/Lp
· Folding antenna GPS
· External connector antenna
· Removable battery Lithium-Ion 1800 mAh (4 to 5 hours of autonomy)
· Exit high speaker
· Dimensions : 120 X 80 X 37 mm
· Weight : 228 G
· Support suction cup
· Operate by remote control
· Cartography Navteq or TeleAtlas (depends on the country of marketing)
· Information Traffic RDS/TMC Premium from MediaMobile V-Traffic
· Posting 2d and 3d
· Reader of music MP3
· Viewer of photographs JPEG

It’s a pity that it uses a chip GPS of old generation, one would have preferred sensitive liked SiRF III.

MS 2010 from VDO Dayton

Jun 6, 2006 gps navigation 9 Comments

VDO Dayton, part of Siemens VDO Automotive and very successful in the navigational market, is currently creating the successor to their MS 2000 PND. The device, the MS 2010, will be available this June for the surprisingly low introduction price of 249 € (£ 170). Striking, because the MS 2000 was more than 100 € more expensive…

Identical
On the outside it’s not really noticable that we’re talking about a new device here: both PND’s look identical. The differences are on the inside and especially with regards to the installed navigational software.

VDO Dayton has taken advantage of their many years of experience with built-in devices. This has led to several enhancements with regards to the user interface, a completely new menu structure and a simpler method of inputting.

With regards to to the map display, especially the transparant split-screen stands out: the commands are accompanied by an arrow and then there is the special ‘male/female button’. Ferry van der Vliet, CEO of the Dutch sales division of Siemens VDO explains: “We’ve made a distinction beween a male and a female display: research has learned us that most men like to have their map facing North, while most women like a map which turns in accordance with the driving direction.”

The MS 2010 is shipped with a car mount, a USB cable and power adapters for in-home and in-car charging. The newest maps of all the European countries are shipped standard on SD-card and DVD. Van Der Vliet: “We offer the maps of the entire continent of Europe, including Eastern Europe. We are able to do this because we use several map supliers.”

via

Mio 268 and Mio 269 Navigation Systems Australian Review

Mar 4, 2006 gps navigation, reviews Leave a comment

…The Mio 268 and 269 navigation systems use mapping software that’s contained on a single SD memory card or is preloaded on an internal hard drive, are completely portable and in addition to being supported by a cigarette lighter power feed, have inbuilt rechargeable batteries. Swap the 268’s memory card for a card with MP3 files instead of maps, and you can play music through either the small in-built speaker or earphones. The 269 does even better with its built-in 2.5GB hard-drive that can also show video.

And all at a price that starts from a RRP of AUD$899.

So how good are the current systems? We put the Mio pair to the test and were disappointed. Simply put, the Mios are not even in the same ballpark as the old VDO Dayton system – and are much worse than the factory nav systems we’ve experienced in any car.

The Mio 268 and 269 are visual twins. Both are a compact (138 x 72 x 26mm) size and have a light mass. The small size and weight lets either be easily supported on the supplied suction cap windscreen mount that has a bendable wand to allow you to angle the screen how you want. However, when compared with a built-in nav system, this location straight away causes problems.

Despite being brightly backlit, the screens aren’t a match for the intensity of the Australian sun shining straight on them. Yes, you can still see the display – but only just. Their readability is also made more difficult by the very small font size used on the screen. Especially in current cars with steeply sloping windscreens, the Mio is often too far away to read the information (like actual speed, direction, etc) placed along the top of the screen.

And there’s another downer in having to mount the Mio on the windscreen. At night, the display reflects terribly in the glass. You can’t move the Mio to the interior of the car – not without buying the optional external GPS antenna, anyway. At night the display – and its reflections – were so distracting that we ended up mounting the unit in front of the passenger… which causes yet another problem. In cars with a passenger side airbag, having the Mio literally sitting on top of it is a recipe for crash danger… via