Pocket LOOX N100 review
Mar 1, 2007 gps navigation, navigon, reviews
Today we are reviewing Pocket LOOX N100 personal navigation device from Fujitsu Siemens and Navigon. When this GPS navigation device hits the U.S. market later this year it is going to cost $500. It’ll a be a good alternative to Garmin or Magellan which seems to be dominating the market right now.
Before we start talking about the review, lets go over the specs first:
- Samsung 300 MHz processor
- 2.8 QVGA display, color transmissive
- TFT touch screen
- Fully integrated SIRFstarIII GPS chip
- Mini SD card slot
- 2 GB Mini SD Card
- 64 MB RAM
- Exchangeable, rechargeable 1100 mAH lithium ion battery
- Internal microphone, loudspeaker and headphone jack
- Music player (MP3, AAC, WMA) and headphones
- Wall and car charger
- Measures 3.5″ x 2″ x 0.6″ inches
- Weighs 3.9 oz
Pocket LOOX N100 runs Microsoft Windows CE 5.0 on the background and relies on Navteq maps. The navigation software is provided by Navigon which is capable of really impressive 3D graphics.
In addition to providing GPS navigation the software on board also plays audio and video files. There’s also a photo viewer, world clock, calculator, and a few retro video games to kill some time while you wait for your girlfriend to get ready.
Hardware
The size of Pocket LOOX is I think the most impressive feature of this device. It is small. It fits in my coin pocket, my car’s cup holder, and in the palm of my hand. It is only as big as a cell phone, only a bit wider.
Despite its small size, people at Fujitsu Siemens managed to fit a sharp 2.8″ touch screen on the Pocket LOOX N100. Screen is the only interface of the device, there are no buttons to take up precious real estate on the front. The only two buttons are on the top, one to power on and another to lock the screen. On the opposite side you’ll find the 3.5mm audio jack, and a mini USB port. The mini SD card slot is on the left side, and the stylus hides in the back corner. Very simple and clean design.
We found the included windshield suction mount was easy to attach and detach. After a few times we were able to install it using only one hand. The Pocket LOOX fits snug into the windshield mount and you still have access to your stylus, power button, and the mini SD card.
Other things we found in the box are the 2GB mini SD card (maps pre-loaded), a car charger, a wall charger, special design headphones that go around your neck, a black face plate, and few other things like a manual, CD and DVD.
The touch screen is bright enough to be easily seen under direct sunlight and it is not that difficult to operate it with your finger if you don’t feel like reaching for the stylus. A neat feature is that you can set the brightness separately for day and night features.
The integrated speaker is hidden in the back. It is very small but definitely loud enough to be easily heard, even at high speeds. You can also set the Pocket LOOX N100 to amplify the volume at higher speeds too.
The battery has 1150mAh capacity and is advertised to last 5 hours. That may be a bit pushing it but it can definitely be achieved with a dim screen – at least when it is new. Just like with any other portable navigation device make sure you carry your car charger with you.
(there are 4 pages to this review – see links to other pages below)
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April 20th, 2007 at 11:07 am
The negative thing I have noticed with my Pocket LOOX N100 is not about the device itself but the maps. The files are dated end of 2006 but are several years old (Stockholm and Oslo).
June 6th, 2007 at 9:13 pm
Can the maps be updated easily or I have to buy the latest extra?
Can the unit accept SD card over 2GB?
July 31st, 2007 at 11:56 pm
Can I purchase this unit in US and buy maps of european cities to install on it?
August 4th, 2007 at 1:31 am
Rate the device 99.99% great so far! 2 questions, where can I purchase auxiliary GPS antenna & what the heck is the purpose or use of the San Disc Mini Adaptor?
August 8th, 2007 at 1:29 am
To Alice Sprague:
Can I purchase this unit in US and buy maps of european cities to install on it?
Yes you can. The maps are made by Navigon and can be bought from their on-line shop or retailers. See e.g. https://www.navigon.com/site/uk/en/shop/consumer/addons
However the price for the maps are so high that you may consider buying 2 units instead.
Also notice that US and alle european maps can´t fit on the same 2 Gbyte memory card. You will have to switch cards.
August 8th, 2007 at 1:40 am
To Al Nottage:
The antenna connector is a standard for GPS units, so you can get antennas from almost every Navigator shop.
Siemens sells an antenna at a high price, you can see it at http://vilpublic.fujitsu-siemens.com/vil/pc/vil/datenblaetter/handheld/ds_acc_pl_n100_series.pdf
(bottom part of page 4).
Other manufactures have much cheaper and more advanced antennas, please notice that the as with other Loox units, the external antenna connector is of the SSMB type, not the most common.
The San Disc Mini adaptor is used if you want to put the mini SD memory card into a standard size SD card reader, e.g. if you want to make backups of your maps. The data transfer in a card reader is much faster than in the Loxx N100´s USB connection.
September 3rd, 2007 at 11:55 pm
Can this product also supporting another asian language especially mandarin, cantonese and japanese then also supporting navigation map where to use in asia example Taiwan, China, Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia, Tailand and Singapore?
September 17th, 2007 at 2:56 pm
Can someone tel me how we can use the photo viewer and video player of Pocket Loox N100?
September 17th, 2007 at 2:58 pm
Can someone tel me how I can get the instruction manuel from the CD or use other operating system connected features if I’m running Vista on my laptop?
September 23rd, 2007 at 2:57 am
Does anybody know how to load custom POI onto the Loox?
October 20th, 2007 at 12:44 pm
David: I had the same problem with Vista. However, you can download the user manual from their website (www.navigon.com). Under Support/Download
November 1st, 2007 at 6:35 am
How good are the maps for Canada? I live in GTA but travel to Winnipeg (a bitch to get aroung in) and other Western cities. Anyone got the 411?
November 17th, 2007 at 8:42 pm
someone told me N100 has Radar build in? is that true?
November 20th, 2007 at 7:27 pm
is it possible to upgrade the RAM to make the gps load faster?
November 27th, 2007 at 3:13 pm
Has no one noticed yet that there are no replies here, they give you the opportunity to express but no help is give. Like any other business, sell the product and give you a kick in the backside with it…
December 3rd, 2007 at 5:10 pm
I see where you can purchase the external antenna from seimens but who else sell this antenna with the correct connector, I cant seem to find anyone.
Thanks
December 5th, 2007 at 9:37 am
Easy ! just download the new version on the fujitsu website
http://support.fujitsu-siemens.com/com/support/downloads.html
They give you all support you need about drivers and upgrades.
December 12th, 2007 at 3:43 pm
Does anybody know if the loox n100 can get any kind of traffic updates or traffic info do I have to only get software to get traffic on this unit or is there hardware that has to be added as well
December 18th, 2007 at 12:48 pm
There are answers for several of you on Fujitsu-Siemans’ site. The link is below. They also have a format to send your questions to them for an answer. Good luck.
http://support.fujitsu-siemens.com/com/support/hints.html
December 24th, 2007 at 11:18 am
I am looking for latest map for my N100
December 26th, 2007 at 7:05 am
I am also curious if there are updated maps available
March 26th, 2008 at 11:10 am
This is an incredible blog, with highly effective information. I do recommend this for anyone to read.
April 20th, 2008 at 10:45 am
Can anyone please tell me if it is possible to install a different OS on this aparatus or upgrade.
I have installed varios software on there but would like a more modern OS and hopefully change games etc
Is this possible please ???????
August 12th, 2008 at 2:21 am
Lots of questions…very few answers….
does anyone know how to download new maps on the loox?
September 29th, 2008 at 5:48 pm
Loox N100 SD card limit is actually above 2GB. 4GB SDHC cards (all brands not known) do in fact work. I know of at least one article that I’ve read that states a 4GB Kensington SDHC card works. I recently purchased a Transcend 4GB SDHC from buy.com for $7 + shipping (around $13) that works flawlessly so far; I had to try it for seven bucks. The N100 shows it as a ~3800MB card. I currently have USA/Canada, Eastern Europe, Western Europe, Hawaii, Alaska, and Puerto Rico on the card and all appear to work fine; only 42MB remains on the card. I have not tested any larger cards. I doubt 8GB+ will work. I only think 4GB works because technically, the SD format does support 4GB, but apparently the chipset that accesses the card must support an access or block difference to reach 4GB, I read some article that described this, and most chipsets do not; thus the 2GB limit (which itself is not even standard across all devices).
Also, I have seen Ebay vendors on the US site selling 2008 US/Europe maps for the Loox, but this turned out to 2006 US maps (the original DVD files) and 2008 European maps. There does not appear to be an answer yet for US map updates for this device. My question to Navigon continues to go unanswered.
January 10th, 2009 at 1:34 pm
In response to Matt’s comment, the N100 Loox does not take SD card, but miniSD. I’ve been trying to get a larger capacity miniSD card for it with no luck. In the documentation, it clearly stated that it will not support the miniSDHC format, only miniSD. Most miniSD made are only up to 2GB, anything higher (4GB and larger) will have to be miniSDHC. Thus, up to now I had been refraining myself from risking my money, cause miniSD cards are much more expensive than SD and microSD (supply and demand).
However, this just changed. I finally found a source in Hong Kong (cellphoneshop.net) that sells the 4GB miniSD, although not cheap at US$19. I mail ordered it, just received it and poped it into my Loox, and voila, it recognizes the 3750MB.
Now, my next plan is to update the software, the Canada and US maps if new ones are available. I also would like to get a copy of the European maps, and hell, why not Asia as well. If anyone can tell me where I can get them or have a copy that I can buy/copy/exchange, that would be much appreciated.
bck at ieee.org
January 31st, 2009 at 9:33 am
This looks like an October 2008 map update for $80, which is almost what the unit itself was bought for.
http://navigonusa.mwrc.net/en/product.php?product_id=25294
February 1st, 2009 at 9:18 pm
HI I JUST BOUGHT A POCKRT LOOX BUT IT WAS USED AND I WAS WONDERING DO U HAVE TO HAVE THE MIMI SD CARD WITH THE MAP IN IT IN ORDER FOR IT TO WORK I NEVER HAD ONE OF THESE THINGS BEFORE SO NOT SURE WHAT I NEED IF I DO HAVE TO HAVE THE MAPS WHERE CAN I BUY ONE.
February 27th, 2009 at 4:35 am
Got a problem i know its late so i guess no one will answer this
but ill be happy if it hapens
I still have an Pocket LOOX N100
but the cd mobile navigator 6 is realy down 2 date
so i wonder is there some site or thing 2 buy or download
new maps for the Pocket LOOX N100
February 27th, 2009 at 4:37 am
i want european software XD
April 28th, 2009 at 2:11 pm
Sorry that I misspoke about SD, but I meant miniSDHC. I have installed a 4GB mini-SDHC with all maps (Europe and full US) and MP3s; well over 3GB. All work as expected. I have read that some devices can take 4GB cards despite not supporting SDHC. It’s all based on the implementation of the chipset that supports the mini-SD or SD slot; micro for that matter. So, 4GB can work in this unit. The only problem is what to put on it, other than MP3s.