When Dash finally announced the estimated launch date for their Internet connected GPS unit they mentioned a price tag of $599. When I first heard that, I had a hard time picturing them selling many of them.

But they clearly realized the same thing, and have done something amazing; they managed to lower the price to just $399, which brings it in the same price category as many other high end navigation systems.

If you missed what the Dash Express does; you get full Internet connectivity in the device for searching addresses (through Yahoo), receiving software and map updates, traffic information, "live" content and the ability to send addresses from your PC directly to your car with the Dash Send2Car feature.

The Dash Express is available today for just $399 (with service plans starting at just $9.99). Amazon has a 30 day scoop on selling the device, which should mean no tax and free shipping for most people!

Purchase link: Amazon.com

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Google Maps Mobile

Google Maps Mobile was the first decent online mapping program with satellite imagery (built upon the work of Keyhole), and it was also the first online map program for Windows Mobile. There had been other navigation packages, but they all depended on local storage of the maps and were fairly expensive.

With the advent of more Windows powered phones, Google maps mobile made it possible to download an application under 1Mb, and have access to the entire map database Google had to offer.

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It’s all a little shady at the moment, but someone caught a glimpse of a demonstration of a Nav N Go powered GPS solution for the iPhone. Early reports show that the iPhone will use a Wifi to GPS receiver or a dedicated GPS plugin adapter from GoMite.

I’m guessing that Nav N Go were a little early in showing off the demo, which would explain the lack of information about it, but if I had to venture a guess I’d say we’ll hear much more after the Apple SDK press conference held today.

Hopefully this will be the first of many third party applications for the iPhone/iPod Touch.

Source: Pocket Lint

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The first sighting of the new Navigon 8100 was at CES, but of course CeBit is the place for the German nav system maker to officially announce their newest offering. And what an offering it is!

• Bluetooth handsfree
• FM transmitter
• Picture viewer
• Music player
• TMC Pro "high speed updating" traffic receiver
• Text to speech
• Voice recognition
• Lane Assist
• PanoramaView 3D (shows terrain and other geographic information)
• Outlook address synchronization

I’m already a big fan of Navigon (I use their 5100 unit myself) so rest assured that this new device will be on my "must get" list.

Source: Navigon press release (German)

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CeBIT - Hannover, 3 March 2008 - TomTom, the world’s largest portable navigation solutions provider, today announces ground-breaking features and unique content on its latest TomTom GO device – the GO 930T – including the company’s unique IQ Routes™ technology and Advanced Lane Guidance.

The innovative IQ Routes™ technology is based on real average speeds that have been measured on roads, rather than static maximum speeds per road type. This means the new TomTom GO determines a route by considering all possible routes, and then selects the one that takes the least time. In almost 50 per cent of all journeys, this results in taking a different and faster route, saving the driver significant travel time - as well as saving money and fuel.

In addition, the new TomTom GO features Advanced Lane Guidance - a first for the navigation mass market. Advanced Lane Guidance gives drivers a more realistic view and enhanced visual instructions of drivers’ surroundings, ensuring they are better informed about the situation ahead.

 

I have to correct them, on that last part; lane guidance has been a standard feature on Navigon GPS units for some time now. In fact; "IQ routes" isn’t that new either, Magellan announced a similar feature in their upcoming Maestro 4350.

But in the battle of the GPS units what counts is who can make the most noise, then price and then who can get their unit on store shelves before the competition.

Source: TomTom

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It’s the first week of CeBit in Hannover, so this means most European based tech companies will be announcing their goodies for 2008. TomTom has several new products lined up for us. The first one is the HD Traffic receiver. Instead of relying on TMC (FM RDS) traffic information, they provide it over this GPRS modem built into a regular car power plug. The other end plugs into the mini USB port on select TomTom GPS units (930, 730, 920, 720, 520).

According to TomTom, the HD receiver will deliver up to 5 times more up to date traffic information, from more sources than FM. The receiver also has an integrated Li-Ion battery pack for stand along use.

Upon release, the receiver will provide traffic information in The Netherlands. Germany and the UK will follow later this year, with France being added in 2009.

The TomTom HD-Traffic receiver retails for EUR99.95 and comes with 6 months free traffic updates. It’ll be on shelves mid April.

Source: TomTom

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If you own a Navigon 2100, 5100 or 7100 GPS unit then login to your Navigon account (or create a new one) and download the new version 1.1 firmware update.

Your Free Software Update Release 1.1

NAVIGON issues software release updates for existing GPS products to improve upon system performance, efficiencies, and the overall user experience. The following software release, Software Update 1.1, delivers several improvements to North American NAVIGON GPS Navigators, the NAVIGON 7100, NAVIGON 5100 and NAVIGON 2100/2120 devices, chief among them are:

• Better and easier to use Point-of-Interest searches
• Improved voice guidance and text-to-speech functions
• Enhanced user interface
• Improved Bluetooth® stability (7100 only)

 

I’ll report back later with my experiences in updating the unit and how it’s improved (or not).

Source: My Navigon

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Zagat has always been more than just the “paper guide” for me. I had it on my Palm back in 2000, then on my PocketPC, and it’s even on my Navigation system.

It’s one of those things that just makes life a little easier. Jason Langridge reported on the new version (6.0) so it was time for me to upgrade and take the opportunity to show it off in a mini review.

Of course, the first step is to download the program. You can get the entire installer here, or browse to m.zagat.com for an over the air installation. Mobile versions are available for Windows Mobile, Palm and Blackberry.

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If you’ve been in a Hertz rental recently you may have noticed a USB port on the side of the Neverlost unit. That port is part of the new "Neverlost Online Trip Planning" service (OTP).

With OTP you can preload all your addresses on a USB drive and once you get your rental you simply insert the drive, and Neverlost has access to those addresses.

Imagine the time you’ll save not having to sit in the rental lot fidgeting with printouts trying to enter the address of the hotel. Get in the car, plug the USB drive in, select the address and drive off.

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Whoa. Enagdget has the scoop on something I knew would happen sooner or later, but I was expecting it 1) later and 2) not from Garmin (I had expected it to be a TomTom first). This is the Nuvifone, the first part phone, part Nuvi from Garmin. This gorgeous phone has HSDPA (3G), WiFi, Bluetooth and of course GPS.

It’ll have the familiar Nuvi interface and everything else you’d expect from a smartphone. No word (yet) on the price, and Garmin expects it to be released in Q3 of this year.

They are bound to have a lot of competition from Windows Mobile, the iPhone and of course the upcoming Google Android phones, but since most of those devices are phone first, then GPS device I’d say Garmin has a decent shot at success.

Garmin announces the Nuvifone

Garmin Nuvifone interface gallery

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