NaviGadget

MyGuide just recently announced three new GPS navigation systems with names that are as difficult to say as they are to spell. The three new models are M.i.motion3318, M.i.motion4328 and M.i.more4338.

The highlight of the new product line is M.i.more4338 which offers integrated WiFi so you can connect to the internet when you’re say at a coffee shop parking lot.

Other new feature is the integrated TMC module which is standard with the M.i.motion4328 and M.i.more4338. What they call new here is the TMC antenna that is embedded in the car charger. Other brands figured this out a while ago but we guess later is better than never.

Another new feature they’re advertising is the Outlook contact download which lets you synchronize your contacts with your GPS navigation device. We see no use in this but the story may be different for a real estate agent who clients are mostly businessmen.

While all three provide hands free bluetooth, and text-to-speech, M.i.motion 3318 lacks audio player and picture viewer.

Here are the specs for M.i.more4338:

• Navigate from door-to-door in your region in 24 languages with the new navigation software MyGuide 8.0
• Li-Ion 2200 mAH Battery (4 h navigation Lifetime)
• 400 MHz CPU
• 2 GB Flash Memory, 128 MB RAM
• Maximal 30 channel GPS
• Operating system: Windows® CE 5.0

M.i.motion3318 has a 3.5″ and is planned to launch mid May 2008. M.i.motion4328 has a 4.3″ screen and will be out by the end of May. M.i.more4338 also has a 4.3″ screen and that will be out as soon as mid June.

GPSAndCo has a demo video (in French) of the new TomTom GO 930 we talked about earlier this month. The video does a good job at showing how the advanced lane assistance works and the rest we don’t really understand.

Playstation 3 is not exactly our expertise here at Navigadget but we came across a new SonyPlaystation 3 model making through FCC.

Here is what the application reads:

The modification points are as follows:

1. Although the circuit construction of Bluetooth module in Front-End is different, this is not to cause any modification to the mentioned electric characteristics and RF characteristics to the circuit diagram and block diagram.

2. The reverse F antenna is added for Bluetooth module…

3. Addition of model: CECHE01 (Original model: CECHA01)
The model: CECHE01 is to be added by the difference of the capacity of hard disk drive.
There is no influence to RF characteristics by above mentioned difference.

*CECHA01 (Original Model): 60GB Hard Disk
*CECHE0 (Addition Model): 80GB Hard Disk

As you may already know the first two way internet connected Dash Express comes with a service plan (optional). This connectivity is mostly via cellular networks, and Dash’s partner for providing this server is Jasper Wireless. Jasper is an aggregator and can provide coverage over a variety of networks. Now it is important to understand you’ll still be able to navigate anywhere even if the whole network is down - because the maps are stored on the device and GPS signals come from outer space, not Jasper.

The GPRS coverage is there to give you traffic information from the Dash Driver Network, Yahoo local search, map updates, software updates, gas prices, movie times, and the ability to send addresses from your PC to your Dash.

Each device comes with a free 3 month trial period. To subscribe, for more you’ll have these options:

• Purchase a 2-year prepaid plan for the equivalent of $9.99 a month
• Purchase a 1-year prepaid plan for $10.99 a month
• Purchase a month-to-month plan for the rate of $12.99 a month
• Purchase a bundle of the first year of service (9 months on top of the 3 free months) plus the Dash hardware for a total of $499.99 exclusively through Dash.net

Here you check coverage in your area… read »

Snooper is a European company that specializes in helping drivers avoid speed cameras, police radars, and many other traps with their GPS navigation systems. Their latest is the Snooper Strabo 370 which can pre-warn of any static/temporary speed cameras, mobile sites and even low bridges!

Like we said their specialty is helping you avoid tickets so Strabo 370 works with the Enigma database which has the information for camera locations across Europe.

In terms of navigation, there is mapping for the whole of Western Europe on the 2GB memory (via Navteq), with all the searching and points of interest you might expect.

Strabo 370 also has hands free bluetooth capability.

If you purchase all the maps and databases it could cost you as much as £394… read »

Version 2.0 of the MapCapt just recently got released. If you’ve never heard of MapCapt before don’t worry. Here’s the scoup:

MapCapt automatically scrolls, captures, assembles and saves maps from a web page to a bitmap file, even if scrolling is controlled by custom controls. You can use it with maps.google.com, maps.yahoo.com, and more and then use these ‘downloaded’ maps with your GPS navigation device.

There’s a free version which is quite limited - you can only do two steps of horizontal scrolls on no vertical scrolls. What good is that?

The full version - which you can purchase for $9 or 6 € - has no such limitations and provides two additional features such as the ability to follow a road with the manual scrolling function and autocorrect some small misalignments problems.

Interesting piece of software this MapCapt.

The latest firmware update from Sprint enables faster data speeds of EV-DO Rev. A technology and enhanced GPS functionality on your Sprint Mogul. EV-DO Rev. A technology supports faster data rates and higher system capacity enabling users to send and receive large amounts of data at broadband speeds (speeds comparable to basic DSL). Wherever EV-DO Rev. A coverage is available, average download speeds will increase from 400-700 Kbps to 600 Kbps-1.4 Mbps. In addition to higher speeds, the new firmware will enable support for Sprint Navigation which can provide audio and visual turn-by-turn directions.

If you are not interested in paying extra for Sprint Navigation service you can always rely on Google Maps for Windows Mobile. As soon as you upgrade the software Sprint Mogul can even show you changing lanes on the highway in real-time or even put a little dot on the screen on where you are currently at in the world.

However do not expect turn by turn directions from Google Maps. You’ll have to advance manually after you make each turn… read »

Dash express debuted yesterday - and they’re exclusively available from Amazon for $399 or from dash.net for the same price. That’s a 33% decrease from what they originally thought they would sell for. Well that’s great news for the consumer and now we’re sure a lot more people would consider purchasing one.

Inforemer-HDX is a GPS enabled golf management system designed by GPS Industries, successor to Inforemer. We’ve talked about many other GPS systems for golfers but this one seems to have the most features coupled with advertisements targeting the wealthy who spend their days golfing.

Inforemer-HDX combines GPS and wireless technology with powerful golf course management applications; designed for golf course operators.

Inforemer-HDX uses Windows and runs with open platform software. It uses Intel Strong Arm RISC Micro-controller and features Wi-Fi High-speed Wireless Network and Internet Protocols which lets their users fast access to rich online content and establish the golf course as a wireless Hot Spot.

The device also does two-way messaging to improve communications between players and the clubhouse. The GPS is also not any GPS but something called “Differential GPS” for more precise distance measurements.

To appear at your high end golf course soon…

We have a shot of the nuvi 860’s remote controller! Nuvi 860 is the European version of Nuvi 880 so we’re assuming the remote will look the same on nuvi 880, and nuvi 850.

nuvi 860’s features include hands free bluetooth connectivity, voice guided directions, speech recognition which is activated via the remote controller, FM traffic receiver, FM transmitter for using your (European) car’s audio, and microSD card slot.

Nuvi 860 will be available in Europe starting in May for 600 €.

Also we have updated our huge table where you can compare nuvis… read »