NaviGadget

Rand McNally now have their own GPS navigation system

Sep 20, 2006 gps navigation

Rand McNally just entered the GPS navigation market at $500 mark, offering a unit that only measures 4.5″ x 3.2″ x 1.4″. The 150 year old map making company is going the extra mile and including a “printed road atlas to help overcome the limits of any small device screen in providing the big-picture perspective drivers want”. Or is this their way of saying “our battery won’t last long – here is paper map just in case”?

Included in the software you also get 26 pre-planned award-winning Best of the Road(TM) trips designed by experts at Rand McNally that can provide a specially selected driving itinerary complete with attractions, restaurants and shops. They also decide when you can stop for a bathroom break.

Product highlights:

• Clear voice prompts tell you when to turn
• Automatic rerouting if you miss a turn
• “Detour” button to route around traffic jams
• Bright 3.5″ color touch screen with 2-D and 3-D modes
• Day- and night-view map modes
• Large keyboard for touch screen entry
• “Go Home” button that directs the driver home from any location
• Multistop route planning and mileage calculator
• Doubles as an MP3 player
• Easy access to millions of points of interest including:

• Food
• Gas stations
• Lodging
• Banks and ATMs
• Travel and shopping
• Emergency services
• Many others

Each box includes:

• Rand McNally GPS Navigator
• Rand McNally Road Atlas and Travel Planner
• Memory card with full maps of the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands
• Windshield mount
• Vehicle charger
• AC adaptor
• Quick-start guide
• USB connector cable
• Software utilities
• Documentation DVD

GPS product specifications:

• Unit dimensions: 4.5″ W x 3.2″ H x 1.4″ D
• Weight: 7 oz. (approximately 0.5 lb.)
• Display: 3.5″ color TFT LCD, LED backlight, 320 x 240 pixels, 65K colors, QVGA resolution, and landscape view
• Hardware buttons: on/off, volume control, destination menu access
• Battery: Lithium ion battery
• GPS receiver: SiRF Star III with 20 channels
• Antenna: Built-in patch
• PC compatible: USB cable
• Languages: English, French, and Spanish