NaviGadget

The two sided GPS phone from Mio which we spotted at CES 2008 earlier this month is apparently into two way traffic updates just like Dash - but probably not in the near future since it was only a prototype device even without a model name or number. Engadget reports that the new Mio GPS / phone will use Qualcomm’s QST1100 chipset.

Mio’s new connected PNDs will be based on the QST1100 chipset from Qualcomm, the first solution to integrate application processing, GPS and cellular connectivity for ubiquitous connectivity and sleeker form-factors. The QST1100 chipset leverages Qualcomm’s gpsOne technology for unsurpassed GPS performance. The fully integrated gpsOne solution supports numerous modes of operation - including Assisted-GPS, Standalone-GPS and gpsOneXTRA Assistance technology for enhanced Standalone-GPS performance - and is the most widely deployed position-location solution in the world.

Mio has been doing good in the GPS navigation market. We’ll see if they can combine the power of GSM networks into their GPS device seamlessly… via

Garmin just today announced their entrance into mobile phone market with the nuviphone.

The device mainly features:

• phone
• mobile web-browser
• personal navigator
• digital camera

Expected to be available in third quarter of 2008, nuviphone is a sleek touchscreen device that will integrate 3.5G connectivity and has its own custom operating system. Other features of nuviphone includes Google Local Search which can sort search results based on your current location, Garmin Online which offers real-time traffic and more, and the ability to take pictures and automatically tag them with location information. Bluetooh, Wi-Fi are all there.

No word on pricing just yet but we’ll keep you updated.


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HP iPAQ 310 also got a review recently. As we expected the iPAQ 310 has the best screen out there for a GPS navigation device which is super bright and has 800×480 pixel resolution. It is also very impressive in terms processor power - how about a 600MHz dual-core CPU?

But the software… It seems to be lacking in every department. Here is a small excerpt:

We also had an issue with not being able to cancel navigation. Typically when you are navigating to a destination, and you navigate away from the screen giving you directions it’ll ask you if you want to cancel the route planning, but that is not the case with the 310; it keeps navigating, no matter what. In fact, if you choose a route and then decided to just cancel, it won’t, even if you go back to the home page. From there, pressing the “map” button takes you back to the route you were previously navigating. One time we even turned it off because we were tired of hearing it tell us to turn here and go there, and it magically turned itself back on a few minutes later to tell us to make a turn. It’s literally like the Terminator as far as navigation goes.

And there is more like this in the review. It seems like it would be wise to wait for a second generation iPAQ 310 which hopefully will be more user friendly. Currently iPAQ 310 sells for $320 on Amazon.

Toshiba is getting to release a new GPS phone called Toshiba 820T. Apparently it is only going to hit the Japanese market so far. Toshiba seems to be following the same form factor as with 811T but with 820T they are targeting the young ones - or actually their parents who’d like to know where they are - since this GPS phone also supports a location tracking service.

As far as other hardware specs, 820T will have 2.4″ QVGA screen, and a 3.2MB digital camera. Available colors include pink, white, and blue. It should be available in February. read »

The mini GPS tracker from Holux which we announced back in December 2007 is apparently called M241 and it just got an extended review from Richard’s Tech Reviews.

Holux M241 seems to have performed well but the reviewer had some issues with the battery life and the software that is provided with this GPS receiver / data logger.

Holux M241 is available for only $76 on Amazon. Not bad for a such a GPS receiver with an LCD screen.

Intellitrac’s X1 is a water proof GPS tracking system with 12 channels. Offered by Systech of Taiwan, X1 offers real time GPS / GSM tracking as well as journey logging, geofencing control, and remote controlling.

It has a backup battery which lasts more than 3 days in case its connection to the car battery is interrupted. Other sneaky features of this device include voice wiretapping into the conversations in your vehicle, tow alarm, and even mileage report.

Intellitrac X1 measures 90×66x30mm and only weighs 130g. When U.S. distributor picks this real time GPS tracking system we’ll be the first to let you know.

One of Supa’s new GPS navigation systems, S1200G, comes ready to connect to a special cradle that includes a SIM card and a separate rechargeable battery.

The S1200G runs on a Freescale MX21 266Mhz processor and uses Microsoft Windows CE 5.0 operating system. This sat nav system has a 4.3″ touch screen, SiRF Star III receiver, 1300mAh Li-Polymer battery, and SD slot, as well as a mini USB port.

What functionality this GSM cradle will bring is not quite clear - but the lack of microphone is enough to prove it is not designed to make phone calls. The other obvious use for a GSM in a GPS navigation system cradle would be to bring 2 way connectivity such as Dash is doing (Magellan trying with 5340) but we’ll have to wait and see how Supa will translate this into the U.S. market - if at all.

Korean MediaCanvas had this GPS navigation system on display at CES 2008, simply called Pathfinder.

Pathfinder has a small body - even smaller than most PDAs. It only measures 2.3″ x 4.4″ x 0.77″ and has a 2.7″ TFT LCD touch screen with 320×240 resolution. Thanks to the small screen the Li-Ion battery can last upto 8 hours; something we’re not used to see on most sat nav systems on the market today.

Pathfinder comes with a built-in 2GB memory and uses a 12 channel GPS receiver.

We do not know if/when this will be available in the U.S. but if it did, it would definitely be popular among those who wants a GPS navigation system that would easily fit in a pocket.

Magellan Triton is expected to be a big hit among hikers and geocachers with its color 2.2″ screen and rugged IPX7 waterproof design. Of course the price will be one of the best selling points for Triton 300. It is only $146 at Amazon, and we bet if you wait a couple months you can get it for even cheaper.

Triton 300 is compatible with National Geographic TOPO maps, and features new Magellan VantagePoint content management software. Another nice convenient feature on the Triton 300 is the fact that it uses two AA batteries.
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It looks like this SiRF Star III bluetooth GPS receiver and data logger is coming to U.S. pretty soon now that it has cleared FCC.

Manufactured by NaviSys, GR-312 bluetooth GPS receiver has a smart design. It is made up of two parts, the actual GPS receiver and the bluetooth antenna inside the small USB stick on the right, and the bulkier power source on the left. So, if you need to use this with a laptop you can just use the USB stick. Say you’re in your car with no laptop or the battery. In this case you can use the provided car adapter which connects the USB stick directly to the power source.

And when you are on the go, say hiking or just using this with a smartphone outside the car just put the USB stick into its housing on the power source and you’re set. Why couldn’t others think of this before?

This device is not only for providing GPS data to other gadgets. It can also act as a standalone GPS logger. The software provided with GR-312 can supply your waypoints in the popular KML format - ready to be viewed on Google Earth.

We have no info on pricing or availability yet.