NaviGadget

Sound Solutions is distribuitng what it claims is the first PDA phone with an onboard receiver for Traffic Message Channel (TMC) functions in conjunction with a built-in GPS receiver. The N100, by Torq, can receive traffic reports of conditions ahead and alert drivers to problems that could cause delays on a planned route, according to the company.

Sound Solutions says the N100 has been optimized to support many of the popular GPS software packages available for the Pocket PC. The large, 128 MB storage capacity provides space for multiple maps and destinations on the device. The Location SMS application integrates GPS and phone functions, enabling users to send SMS text messages with precise GPS coordinates to any other SMS-compatible phone or device, according to the company.

The N100 appears to be virtually the same platform as the recently announced P120, but substituting GPS for the 802.11 WiFi. It runs Windows 5.0 on a 400 MHz Samsung S3C2440 with 64 MB of SDRAM and 128 MB of Flash.

Sound Solutions lists the following key features and specifications for the Torq N100:

* Processor — 400 MHz Samsung S3C2440
* Memory — 64 MB SDRAM, 128 MB flash
* Display — 2.8-inch TFT LCD touchscreen; 320 x 240 resolution; 16-bit color
* USB sync port
* Audio — built-in microphone and speaker, stereo headphone jack
* Camera — 1.3 Mpixel, up to 1280 x 960 resolution
* Expansion — Mini SD card slot
* Wireless:
- quad-band (850/900/1800/1900 MHz) GSM, GPRS Class B, multi-slot Class 10
- Bluetooth v1.2 Class 2
* GPS — SiRFstart III chipset with TMS function
* Operating System — Windows Mobile 5.0 for Pocket PCs
* Dimensions — 4.7 x 2.4 x 0.9 inches (119 x 62 x 23 mm)

The N100 is expected to be available in the USA and Canada next month, according to Sound Solutions. Pricing was not disclosed.

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Acer is a relative newcomer in the in-car GPS unit market when compared to TomTom and Garmin, and this shows up in the Acer d150 Portable Navigator. Its large in-car cradle looks out of place in any dashboard and the quality of workmanship is found wanting. Although it fares poorly aesthetically, directional information was presented clearly, with the comprehensive POI database more than equal to the tasks thrown at it. When it comes to reliability software-wise, the d150 performs admirably. If only it could be complemented with a better presentation and more features to justify the relatively high price tag of £299.00. At a lower price, you can get stylish models with more features than the d150 from TomTom and Garmin.

via, or for a review checkout this site.

We haven’t featured a foreign PMP on these pages in awhile, so for those of you hungry for a feature-filled device that you’ll never get your hands on, we proudly present the Sorell DN10. With only 1GB of internal flash memory, the DN10 isn’t going to win any capacity awards, although an SD card slot allows you to jack that total up to a still-low-but-acceptable 3GB. Features, then, and not storage, are what should draw Koreans to this model, as it boasts a 3.5-inch screen and both a GPS receiver for navigation and DMB tuner for watching OTA programming when they get sick of the two movies that they were able to cram onto the device. Filetypes supported include AVI, DivX, XviD, WMA, MP3, and JPEG, and pricing comes in at under $400 (measured in won, of course)… via

It is impossible to traslate anything from this site, but they have pics of a what seems to be GPS navigation capable phone. Also after some research I figured out that the phone is actually manufactured by Sanyo, and it doesn’t actually integrate a GPS receiver chip. It uses FOMA which is a standard service only in Japan, offered by DoCoMo.

WCDMA

W-CDMA (Wideband Code Division Multiple Access) is a type of 3G cellular network. W-CDMA is the technology behind the 3G UMTS standard and is allied with the 2G GSM standard.

More technically, W-CDMA is a wideband spread-spectrum 3G mobile telecommunication air interface that utilizes code division multiple access (or CDMA the general multiplexing scheme, not to be confused with CDMA the standard).

W-CDMA was developed by NTT DoCoMo as the air interface for their 3G network FOMA. Later NTT DoCoMo submitted the specification to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) as a candidate for the international 3G standard known as IMT-2000. The ITU eventually accepted W-CDMA as part of the IMT-2000 family of 3G standards. Later, W-CDMA was selected as the air interface for UMTS, the 3G successor to GSM.

FOMA

FOMA, officially short for Freedom of Mobile Multimedia Access, is the brand name for the 3G services being offered by Japanese mobile phone operator NTT DoCoMo.

FOMA was the world’s first W-CDMA 3G service when launched in 2001. FOMA is compatible with standard UMTS, both via the radio link as well as via USIM card exchange, and hence provides several alternative options for global roaming: either with or without change of handset. Since mobile services in Japan are generally more advanced than in most other countries, e.g. FeliCa-i-Mode Wallet Phones, i-Mode mobile data services etc, to obtain full benefit of FOMA services local Japanese handsets are used.

definitions are from wikipedia.

The Medion mark announce a new PND (autonomous GPS) in its GoPal range : the PNA 210. It uses the new software of navigation from 3soft about which GPSAndCo has already spoken you for weeks. Good point for this new software of navigation compatible with POI Warner for the addition and the warning signal of POI and thus of radars.

This product is today the entry of range of the mark with the characteristic to have a smaller screen : the size is of 2,8 inches instead of the usual one 3,5 inches and not of battery refillable Lithium, these are 4 piles traditional of type AA which are used. One can well on using it with the charger lights provided cigar but the piles, even refillable, will not be reloaded.

GoPal PNA 210 A following characteristics :

* Receiver GPS integrated with chip GPS SiRF III
* Samsung Processor To 266 MHz
* Touch screen 2,8 inches TFT 65 536 colors of resolution 240×320 pixels
* Port SD/MMC
* Food by lights cigar or by 4 piles of the type AA
* Dimensions : 7,6 X 11,4 X 4,9 cm
* Weight : 220 G
* Microsoft Windows CE.net 4.2
* Software of navigation GoPal (3soft)
* Cartography of dated France 2005.4, provided by Navteq and préinstallée on memory board SD 256 Mo.

Its price is of 229 €€ what is a new record of price for a receiver GPS SiRF III !

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This new origami device, manufactured by It’s Label was announced today in France. The company does have a fancy flash site but this gadget isn’t up there yet. It features a 7″ screen which supports upto 1024×768 resolution, and it can play movies in DivX, mpeg2, H264,… formats. It comes with wireless internet with a 1GHz processor, available with 40Gb or 60Gb hard disk. The wireless receiver is 802.11 b/g and has Bluetooth functionality. It measures 22.5×14.5×2.8 and weighs 860 with batteries. It is priced at 990 Euro’s.

Scroll down for full specs and more pics.

• CPU VIA C7M NaNo (BGA onboard)
• CPU Speed 1.0 GHz
• Operating System Windows XP Tablet PC Edition with Touch Pack
• System Memory 1 x SODIMM slot 512MB Standard, (Upgradable to 1.0GB)
• Hard Drive 2.5″ 9.5mm, 40GB UDMA 133, 5,400rpm
• Chipsets VN800 Northbridge
• VT8237R Southbridge
• Video Controller VIA 16MB - 64MB
• VGA Resolution 800×480 Native
• Zoom display 800×600, 1024×600 @ 800×480
• Display Ultra Slim 7 ” Wide-Angle View TFT LCD
• Input Device Four wire resistive touch screen

User Interface

• 1 x Power on/off switch
• 1 x Wireless on/off switch
• 1 x D-pad with enter
• Left Mouse Button, Right Mouse Button
• 4x Function Keys
• PageUp, PageDown, Key Lock, Volume Up, Volume Down,
• Synaptics Transtouch Stick Cursor

Communications

• QCOM 802.11b/g WLAN (5V and 3V solution)
• Bluetooth 2.0+EDR (IVT Corp.) Class 1

I/O Ports

• 2 x USB 2.0
• 1 x Headphone/Stereo Mic combo
• 1x 36-pin Cradle Connector (cradle provides 2xUSB 2.0, DB-15, 10/100 RJ-45, Power, Audio In, Audio Out)

Audio

• VT1618 - AC97 Codec
• Built-In 1W Speaker
• 3.5mm Headphone & Stereo Microphone Combo Jack

Battery

• Re-chargeable 26w Lithium ION Battery (2200mAh), 2.5+ hours battery life under mark 4.5 (4 hours with optional extended battery)

Accessories Included:

• AC Adapter with Cord Set
• Headphone/Microphone Combo
• User’s Manual
• Utility CDs (Restore & Utilities)
• 1 Year Limited Warranty

Optional:

• External CD-RW/DVD Combo Drive
• USB Modem or GSRM Modem
• Docking Cradle with additional I/O Ports
• 2 Year & 3 Year Extended Warranty

Size

• 8.98″ x 5.75 ” x 0.98″ (W x H x D)

Weight

• <2 lbs with Battery Pack

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Toyota Japan is getting serious about competing in the car navigation system niche. On May 8th they will be launching eight new models of navigation systems that will be available as dealer installed options. There will be five HDD models and three which rely on DVDs for content. The hard drive models will feature 40GB of storage capacity along with DVD playback and 5.1 virtual surround sound.

A 7-inch display monitor is standard, but a 9-inch LCD for the rear seat is an option. You can also choose to add a digital terrestrial TV tuner, a receiver for MobaHO!, a satellite digital audio/video service in Japan, or iPod connection capabilities.

These will not be cheap options from Toyota. The HDD models will range in price from $1,900 to $2,800, and the DVD versions range from $1,375 to $1,700. Presumably Toyota will use Japan as a test market to see if it makes sense to expand to wider markets.

via

After Becker, Blaukpunt, JVC, Sony and Pioneer, it is another mark of multi-media embarked which arrives on the market provided already well portable navigation, namely Tokai with the NAV 101.

The platform used well-known since is already used by Yakumo with EasyGo, on the other hand, chip GPS is from now on SiRF III, pledge of very good sensitivity and the software of navigation is different.

Its principal characteristics :

· Integrated receiver GPS SiRF III with antenna dépliable
· Processor Samsung S3C2410A To 266 MHz
· Screen 3,5′ ‘ TMR TFT 65 000 colors and of 240×320 resolution
· 32 Mb or 64 Mb of RAM
· Port SD (up to 2 Go)
· Minis-USB
· Battery Lithium-Ion of 1000 mAh getting an endurance from 1,5 to 2,5 hours according to use (GPS or MP3)
· Dimensions : 13 X 7,4 X 2,1 cm
· Operating system Windows CE.net 4.2
· Cartography 2005.4 of France and the principal European axes, provided by Navteq
· Software of navigation provided by similar Map&Guide to Falk Navigator 3
· The fixed radars are integrated, only those set up until the 23/12/2005. They are provided by the SpeedLimit company and an annual update will be marketed, possibly coupled to an update of the cartography.
· Reader MP3

in French

Introduction: Oscar 220 is a high-precision GPS satellite navigation system that is designed for portability. With an embedded TMC antenna, real-time traffic information is received by your system for automatic rerouting. With a bright 3.5″ screen and extra large icons, this system ensures you always know where you are going. The integrated MP3 player keeps you entertained on the road. Hands-free calling is also integrated with Bluetooth support. A large flash drive gives detailed maps for large areas.

Features:

• 20 Channel GPS Receiver - Highly sensitive GPS receiver for accurate navigation in challenging environments.
• Easy to use - Extra large icons for intuitive data input and menu navigation.
• Audio player - Integrated audio player for entertainment on the road.
• Embedded TMC Antenna - Receive real time traffic information to avoid traffic jams.
• Bluetooth - Transfer addresses from your handheld for instant navigation.

pic via

Today, Takara presents a new PND : nothing revolutionist, passage obliged with chip GPS SiRF III, a new case which seems succeeded, a priori, always of in the same Asian supplier, namely CarPoint and last version of destinator, namely the 5.5.

Its principal characteristics:

• Receiver GPS integrated with chip SiRF III
• Touch screen 3,5 inches anti reflections with 16 million colors and resolution 240 X 320 pixels
• Its stereophony
• Leds descriptive of change of direction
• Windows CE.net 4.2
• Multi-media reader MPEG4, MP3 and JPG
• Software of navigation Destinator PN 5.5 including module PC Destinator Comforts in order to be able to install the radars, the latter being preloaded.
• Cartography of France coming from Navteq

It is delivered with a charger lights cigar, a support of fixing conveys and a cover of transport. The charger sector is in option and as from the second half of 2006, a case Info traffic RDS/TMC will be also proposed. It is sold 499€ in the automobile dealers.

auto-translated from French