GPS

It doesn’t seem like the connected GPS market is the best place to be at the moment — Dash just dropped hardware sales in a radical restructuring and Magellan’s halted development of the 5340 — but Telenav isn’t shying away, throwing its hat into the ring with the $300 Shotgun. A $12/month GPRS subscription gets you the usual slew of web-enabled features like real-time traffic and weather, live POI searches, gas pricing, and online trip planning, all wrapped in the usual Telenav PND UI and bolstered by 11 million preloaded POIs. Sounds like an interesting piece of kit, and it’s apparently well done — GPS Review took an early look at the 4.3-inch touchscreen PND and found it to be a “good start,” albeit with some minor annoyances that will hopefully be remedied in a future software update. Still, we’re just not all that convinced that another subscription fee is going to appeal to many in this economic climate — we’ll see if the Shotgun manages to fire. Peep tons more pics in the gallery.

Gallery: Telenav Shotgun

What comes after the GPSmile 61? Why, the GPSmile 62, of course! The predictably titled successor to the big-bezeled unit we spotted at CES earlier this year has surfaced, though there’s no real indication that it’s coming stateside. Thus far, we’re seeing a 5-inch WQVGA display, an “edge-free” design, an SD card slot, integrated speakers and a removable rechargeable battery to boot. You’ll also find a built-in multimedia player as well as Bluetooth, and the TMC support should keep you posted on real-time traffic. You’re hopelessly riveted, aren’t you?

[Via SlashGear]

First comes the fallout at Dash, and now this. Apparently GPS manufacturers are finally caving to the realization that the vast majority doesn’t want yet another monthly fee tacked on in the form of a connected GPS — particularly when so many of the non-connected navigators work so well. TWICE has it that Magellan has “suspended development” on its Maestro Elite 5340 with Google Local search, noting that even though it “believes there is great promise in connected navigation, in the near term, consumers have shown an unwillingness to pay a steep price for PNDs, especially with the recent economic downturns.” If you’ll recall, we actually toyed with this very unit back at CES, and sadly, it seems those hands-on shots are as close as any citizen outside of the company will ever get to it.

[Via GPSTracklog]

UC Berkeley has been working on using cellphones to track traffic for some time now, first under the the decidedly less expansive Mobile Century project, and now under its new Mobile Millennium project, which has the backing of Nokia, NAVTEQ, and others. It actually first kicked off earlier this year, but it looks like it’s now about to take another big step forward, with the researchers set to open things up to the general public — or the general public in Northern California, at least. The idea here is to collect data from folks with GPS-equipped cellphones and combine it with existing traffic data, and then in turn make that information accessible via cellphone to let you plan out the speediest route. According to the researchers, the software will work on both Nokia and non-Nokia phones, but it seems that they’ve only tested it on the E71 and N95 so far (you can also view real-time traffic data on your computer). More details will apparently be announced when this new stage of the project officially gets underway on November 10th, but those interested in taking part can already register by hitting up the read link below.

[Thanks, Eric M]

Update: In case you’re wondering about the potential privacy concerns here, UC Berkeley has said that it has built privacy safeguards into the system from the beginning to ensure that no data can be tied to a particular phone, and it also notes that users can control the service themselves and, of course, shut it off anytime they don’t want traffic data to be transmitted.

It’s hard to say if Amazon’s recent fire sale of the Dash Express was an indicator of all this, but Dash is making some serious changes, regardless. Reportedly, the outfit has slashed 50 employees — or around two-thirds of its workforce — which will leave 30 workers who will operate primarily in engineering and support. According to now-CEO Rob Currie (who has replaced founder Paul Lego by Lego’s choice), Dash “wanted to launch its device in the retail channel, but the economic changes made it rethink its business focus.” To that end, Dash will actually cease making and selling its own hardware, and instead it will “license its platform to makers of automobile on-board navigation systems, smartphones, netbook-style mobile internet devices and other consumer electronics.” So, what does it all mean? It could mean that the connected Dash platform is on the way to an automobile or cellphone near you, but we suppose only time will tell. As for existing Dash owners? Continued software updates and an online Dash Driver Network has been promised.

Nextar’s not only introducing a sizable duo in its SNAP line at SEMA 2008, it’s also introducing a navigator with MSN Direct support. The Q4-MD will boast a 4.3-inch touchscreen display, Tele Atlas maps covering all 50 US states along with Canada, access to 1.6 million points-of-interest, 2D / 3D map viewing modes, an SD card slot, MP3 player / JPEG viewer, USB connectivity and a rechargeable Li-ion battery. Most notably, you’ll receive a free year of up-to-the-minute traffic reports, current / three-day weather conditions, news headlines, stock quotes and local event listings via the aforesaid MSN Direct service. Expect to see this one in stores for $329.99 in Spring 2009. Full release is after the break.

Gallery: Nextar intros Q4-MD navigator, throws in MSN Direct free for a year

Nextar Debuts Advanced GPS Navigation System with MSN Direct Service Free for 12 Months

Includes Maps of US and Canada, Smart Traffic, Weather Reports, and More;
Unit to Be Unveiled at 2008 SEMA

Note: Nextar products will be on display in the Mobile Electronics area of SEMA in booth 10613 in the North Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center.

La Verne, CA – October 30, 2008 – Nextar™, a designer and marketer of bold and new consumer electronic products with mass appeal, is set to unveil its latest GPS navigation system featuring a host of MSN® Direct (www.msndirect.com) location based services free of charge for 12 months. The unit (Q4-MD) is part of the Nextar Q4 series and includes an easy-to-see 4.3″ touch-screen display, built-in speaker, and voice-guided, turn-by-turn prompts for maps covering all 50 states as well as Canada. Nextar will feature the Q4-MD with MSN Direct at the upcoming 2008 SEMA show in booth 10613 in the North Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center.

“The Nextar Q4-MD with MSN Direct is the perfect prescription to provide drivers with the latest traffic conditions, weather reports, and other vital information,” stated Eddy Zheng, Nextar founder. “Now, users not only have access to maps and directions for the entire United States and Canada, but also a wealth of other information to make their in-car time less harried and more enjoyable.”

With the inclusion of MSN Direct, the Q4-MD not only gets users to their destination via the quickest, easiest route, but also provides a unique resource to a wide-range of information. MSN Direct expands navigation systems by offering relevant, timely, location-specific information.

With MSN Direct, the Q4-MD provides drivers with essential, up-to-the-minute traffic reports, current and three-day weather conditions for a local area or nationally, and handy gas-price comparisons for stations near the driver. It is also a conduit to news headlines, stock quotes, and a listing of local events. For instance, MSN Direct can look up box office times for current movies playing at local theaters and get you information on the latest sports events, music concerts and more.

“We are excited to be partnering with Nextar on its advanced GPS Navigation Systems,” said Patrick Kennedy, Director of Business Development, MSN Direct. “Together MSN Direct and Nextar are adding value to portable navigation devices that translates into real benefits for consumers — helping them reduce commute time, save on fuel and increase productivity.”

The unit comes with a generous 4.3″ TFT touch-screen display that provides large, clear, colorful images of maps from all 50 US states and Canada’s 10 provinces and three territories. A special automatic night mode offers additional screen lighting for even easier-on-the-eye viewing. Voice-guided directions with turn-by-turn voice prompts are clearly audible through a built-in speaker. Text-to-speech technology clearly pronounces road names. Language support is provided for the three most spoken languages in the covered area: English, French, and Spanish.

The Nextar Q4-MD provides 1.6-million points of interest, including hotels, shopping centers, gas stations, and restaurants. Instant route recalculation is provided in case a driver misses a turn. Digital map data is supplied by Tele Atlas, a leading global provider of digital maps and dynamic content that power many of the world’s most essential navigation and location-based services.
Other features include:
• Storage capability for up to 300 addresses of favorite destinations;
• 2D and 3D map-viewing modes, a SD card slot for additional memory, and a built-in an;
• Capability to play MP3 files and display JPEG images (lightweight, built-in rechargeable Lithium-Ion battery supplies power).

The unit measures 4.5″ x 3.1″ x .08″ and weights approximately 2.3 pounds. Accessories include a MSN Direct receiver, AC adapter, car adapter, USB cable, protection pouch, suction cup, and a stylus/touch pen.

Pricing and Availability
The Nextar Q4-MD navigation system with MSN Direct will be available at leading retailers across the U.S. in Spring 2009. It has a SRP of $329.99 and comes with a one-year limited warranty.

We had a respectable hunch that Navigon’s 5100 max would be hitting US shelves in short order, but we weren’t aware that it’d be launching alongside a friend. As for the 5100 max, you’ll find a 4.3-inch touchscreen, Reality View Pro / Lane Assistant Pro technology, handsfree Bluetooth support, text-to-speech, an Exit Guide and free real-time traffic updates for life. The little sibling (dubbed 2090S) checks in with a 3.5-inch touch panel and most of the same internal niceties already mentioned save for Bluetooth. Look for the cute couple right now exclusively at RadioShack (or RadioShack.com) for $299.99 / $199.99, respectively. Full release after the break.

NAVIGON Launches NAVIGON 5100 max and NAVIGON 2090S GPS Navigators

New NAVIGON 5100 max and NAVIGON 2090S Personal Navigation Devices and accessories available exclusively at RadioShack stores and online at RadioShack.com

CHICAGO, November 3, 2008 - NAVIGON, the leading innovator in the navigation market, and RadioShack, one of the nation’s most experienced consumer electronics specialty retailers, today announced that the new NAVIGON 5100 max and NAVIGON 2090S GPS devices will be sold exclusively at RadioShack stores and through RadioShack.com. Both products offer a list of advanced and exclusive features, are based on NAVIGON’s newest generation of fast and easy to use software, and offer regular map updates with NAVIGON FreshMaps.

The elegantly designed NAVIGON 5100 max features an extra-wide 4.3″ touchscreen display and Free Real-Time Traffic Updates for Life. Based on NAVIGON’s newest generation of fast and easy-to-use software, both the NAVIGON 5100 max and NAVIGON 2090S come with Reality View™ Pro, Lane Assistant Pro, Advanced Text-to-Speech guidance announcing directions and street names, and DirectHelpSM which provides directions to nearby emergency service providers including hospitals, pharmacies and road-side help - all at the touch of a button. Both provide up to eight regular map updates with NAVIGON FreshMaps, over a $50 value if purchased alone.

“NAVIGON’s 5100 max and 2090S units offer the unmatched navigation experience and unique feature set that has come to be associated with NAVIGON products,” said Michael Roach, NAVIGON’s President for the Americas. “We are proud to work with RadioShack on this exclusive partnership and commend RadioShack’s dedication to offering its customers the latest technology and innovation.”

The NAVIGON 2090S and NAVIGON 5100 max are available exclusively at RadioShack stores and online at www.radioshack.com. The products retail for $199.99 and $299.99, respectively.

The NAVIGON 5100 max features include:

• Free Real-Time Traffic Updates for Life. Real-time traffic updates allow routing around congestion by including traffic flow, incidents and alternate routes and works for the lifetime of the product out-of-the-box without any fees or additional hardware.

• NAVIGON FreshMaps: Keeps your NAVIGON 5100 max as up-to-date as it was on the day you bought it with up to eight quarterly map updates spanning two years.

• Extra-wide 4.3″ touchscreen display with 16:9 aspect ratio

• Reality View™ Pro. Never miss an exit again with the next generation of Reality View providing more coverage in more places. Reality View Pro displays 3D views with road sign text and lane guidance for virtually every highway interchange and exit.

• Lane Assistant Pro. Helps drivers prepare to make an upcoming exit or turn by providing clear visual lane guidance. NAVIGON’s second generation of Lane Assistant provides a lane map complete with arrows and actual road geometry.

• Bluetooth® Hands-Free. The integrated Bluetooth® feature helps keep both hands on the wheel while still staying connected. The NAVIGON 5100 max acts like a Bluetooth speakerphone to hold hands-free conversations. Contacts are easily downloaded for one-touch calling.

• Advanced Text-to-speech. Lets drivers keep their hands on the wheel and eyes on the road with advanced phonetic text-to-speech technology to ensure proper pronunciation of streets.

• Fast Destination Entry. The latest generation of NAVIGON software makes entering and finding information fast and simple. NAVIGON’s SmartSpeller feature helps guiding through the entry process.

• Exit Guide. NAVIGON’s Exit Guide enables users to search upcoming exits for one of six POI categories – food, gas, lodging, rest areas, auto service or shopping. And, with one click, the NAVIGON 5100 max navigates there.

• Top-Notch Performance. NAVIGON’s new software gets to the right route in less time. Our new platform delivers our most responsive interface to date with dramatically improved route calculation times to get directions more quickly.

The NAVIGON 2090S features include:

• Reality View™ Pro

• Advanced Text-to-speech

• NAVIGON FreshMaps

• Lane Assistant Pro

• Fast Destination Entry with latest generation of software

• DirectHelpSM

• 3.5″ touchscreen display

Man, a lot — a lot — has happened in the mobile space since Garmin went public with its then-mesmerizing nüvifone. Nearly a year later, it’s become but a blip on the radar behind the Touch HD, G1, XPERIA X1 and iPhone 3G. Nevertheless, Garmin has come out and reaffirmed that the long-awaited handset will actually not be delayed once more, and that the “first half of 2009″ shipping estimate is still valid. Let’s just say that $500 price tag we saw floating around back in May better be substantially lower whenever this thing finally gets around to hitting up a store shelf.

Warm on the heels of its T30 PMP, Nextar is getting official with two new GPS units in its ever-expanding SNAP family. Up first is the SNAP5 — which predictably includes a 5-inch touch panel — followed by the 7-inch SNAP7. Both devices check in at just 0.7-inches thick and feature stereo speakers, text-to-speech support, US / Canada Tele Atlas maps, an SD card slot, a built-in MP3 player / JPEG viewer, 2D / 3D map viewing modes, a rechargeable Li-ion battery and a magnetic docking station (hence the SNAP moniker — get it?!). The duo is all set to debut at SEMA 2008 in early November, but they won’t go on sale in the US until Spring of 2009; at that point, you can grab the SNAP of your choice for $299.99 / $349.99, respectively. Full release is after the break.

Gallery: Nextar intros 5-inch SNAP5 / 7-inch SNAP7 GPS units

Nextar Adds Larger Screen Size & Magnetic Docking Station to the SNAP GPS Navigation Systems Family

5″ and 7″ Models Are Just 0.7″ Thick and Feature Touch-Screen Displays, Stereo Speakers, and Text-to-Speech as well as Maps of US and Canada; Units to Be Unveiled at 2008 SEMA

Note: Nextar products will be on display in the Mobile Electronics area of SEMA in Booth #10613 in the North Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center.

La Verne, CA – October 28, 2008 – Nextar™, a designer and marketer of bold and new consumer electronic products with mass appeal, is adding two models to its line of slim SNAP GPS navigation systems. The models, a space-saving 0.7″ thick with Nextar’s magnetic docking station, are the SNAP5 with 5″ touch-screen display and the SNAP7 with 7″ touch-screen display. Both come with built-in stereo speakers and text-to-speech (English) technology. The units join the SNAP3, which has a 3.5″ touch-screen display. All models offer maps of the entire US and all of Canada. Nextar will introduce the two new SNAP family members at the upcoming 2008 SEMA show in Booth #10613 in the North Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center.

“With the addition of these two models, our slim SNAP navigation systems line offers displays for a wide-range of needs,” commented Eddy Zheng, Nextar founder. “At just 0.7″ thick with Nextar’s advanced magnetic docking station, these new units fit in very narrow locations. Slim design, choice of screen size, complete coverage of two countries, and lots of terrific features make our SNAP lineup the perfect solution for the most discriminating buyer.”

Large, clear, colorful images of maps from all 50 states and Canada are shown on both units’ 4:3 TFT touch-screen displays. Maps are provided on one 2GB SD card for easy installation. Text-to-speech technology clearly pronounces road names in English. Software support is provided for English, French, and Spanish, the three most spoken languages in the covered areas. A special automatic night mode offers additional screen lighting for easy-on-the-eye viewing. Voice-guided directions with turn-by-turn voice prompts are clearly audible through built-in stereo speakers.

Users of either of the two new Nextar SNAP navigation systems will have no trouble locating any number of hotels, shopping centers, gas stations, and restaurants along their routes, as each provides millions of points of interest. If a user misses a turn, a new route is recalculated instantly. Digital map data is supplied by Tele Atlas, a leading global provider of digital maps and dynamic content that power many of the world’s most essential navigation and location-based services.

Both units have the capability of playing MP3 files and displaying JPEG images (a required SD card for these functions is not included). Addresses for favorite destinations can be stored in either model. Other features include 2D and 3D map-viewing modes, a SD card slot for additional memory, and a built-in antenna. A lightweight, built-in rechargeable Lithium-Ion battery supplies power.

SNAP5 measures 5.8″ x 4″ x 0.7″, SNAP7 measures 7.8″ x 4.9″ x 0.7″. Each weighs approximately 2.6 pounds.

Accessories for both units include: AC/DC adapter, car adapter, USB cable, protection pouch, suction cup, and a stylus/touch pen.

Pricing and Availability
The Nextar SNAP5 and SNAP7 navigation systems will be available at leading retailers across the U.S. in Spring 2009. SNAP5 has a SRP of $299.99; SNAP7 has a SRP of $349.99. Both come with a one-year limited warranty. They are packaged in eye-appealing full-color boxes.

Features Found in SNAP5 and SNAP7 Models:
Touch-screen display: Provides interfacing capability while map is being viewed
Built-in speaker: No extra wires or speaker to connect
3D building display: Buildings can be shown in 3D to serve as landmarks, helping the driver know exactly when to turn
Text-to-Speech: Safety feature that allows driver to keep eyes on the road while getting directions; clearly pronounces names of streets encountered during drive
Points of Interest: Name or description of a specific location that user may find useful or interesting; generally indicated by an icon on the map
Lithium -Ion Battery: Lightweight, holds charge longer, and does not suffer from memory effect compared to similar batteries
SD card slot: Provides additional memory and is used for MP3 playing or JPEG image viewing
Day and Night modes: Night mode offers additional lighting on screen for easier viewing
MP3 playing: Allows driver and/or passengers to listen to favorite MP3 files while in vehicle
JPEG viewing: View photos and other graphics while in vehicle
Favorite address storage: Quick, easy way to find addresses of frequently visited destinations
Route recalculation: Instantly changes route if driver misses turn
Built in antenna: Ensures reception of signal without running additional wires
Stylus: Allows user to point more accurately than using a finger to small areas on the display screen

NDrive’s GPS units may not ever make it over here, but it looks like folks in Europe now have two more models to choose from, which the company says are a full 40% thinner and lighter than anything else on the market. Those include the 3.5-inch NDrive Touch and 4.3-inch NDrive Touch XL, which are each available in 1GB and 8GB versions and include all the usual the GPS-related features, plus a few slightly less than common ones like a light sensor and, perhaps most notably, “gesture support,” though it’s not clear exactly what that entails. There’s no word on an exact release date just yet either, but it looks like they’ll run you between €139 and €249, or roughly $170 to $310.