NaviGadget

Sony NV-U81T and NV-U80 released same day as nuvi 660

Sep 1, 2006 bluetooth, gps navigation, nuvi, sony

Sony today announced the NV-U81T and NV-U80, two widescreen GPS navigation systems the same day Garmin announced their widescreen nüvi 660 which makes it look as if Sony taking on the navigation system giant Garmin as competition.

Both NV-U81T and NV-U80 will feature what Sony calls POSITION PLUS technology which provides accurate positioning and route information when GPS signals are weak such as beneath a tunnel or bridge, between tall buildings or trees with dense foliage. The position plus makes predictions about the location of the vehicle by listening to its acceleration sensor and a pressure sensor to provide more stable, reliable positioning information, even when GPS signals are degraded or briefly unavailable.

Another feature unique to NV-U81T and NV-U80 is the Gesture Command which makes it easier for the driver to interact with the software. Gesture command makes frequently-used commands like “take me home” or “find the nearest fuel station” available with a quick, simple stroke of a finger on the large touch screen. Sony claims this unique Gesture Command will improve driver safety and concentration by reducing the need for fiddly option selection or scrolling through on-screen menus.

Also to help you keep your eyes on the road is the bluetooth hands-free calling (just like nüvi’s) which can connect to your bluetooth enabled cell phone so you can call any number in your phonebook using your navigator or just dial a new number on the intuitive keyboard.

Differences between NV-U81T and NV-U80:

Storage

• NV-U81T: 4GB hard disk
• NV-U80: 512 MB memory

Map Coverage

• NV-U81T: full European map of 37 countries
• NV-U80: country specific map

Extras

• NV-U81T: Traffic Message Channel comes standard
• NV-U80: Traffic Message Channel is optional

The new nav-u’s will only be available in Europe starting in November and there’s no word on pricing yet.

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