In 2003, we reported on a GPS navigation device that led the visually impaired to their impending doom due to an "inaccuracy" of the system.

Although this new GPS device is not as cuddly as a guide dog, it is made up of one earpiece and microphone, which would allow the blind a certain anonymity, kind of like Daredevil, in that he would no longer need a cane or furry pet, which would leave both of his hands free ... to fight crime, perhaps? [create the future contest via gizmag]

Other slightly less useful apps are Coldwell Banker's real estate search—only useful if you're actually looking for houses and like driving around aimlessly hoping you get lucky, and Funambol's calendar feature, which checks your calendar for appointment locations. Trapster is free, but we're not sure about the other apps (they may not be).

A commenter notes that some apps are limited by the UI. The Trapster app makes you keep searching for speed traps instead of just displaying them constantly on your UI. [Dash]

You can even watch TV while navigating—state and federal law permitting—using NIP, that is, "Navi In Picture." Did I mention it's also got a handsome leather jacket and stylish interchangeable face plates? Trust me, I'm not usually this jazzed about most of the transglobal jetsam that probably won't make it to the US. Somehow, this time, it's different. [Aving.net]
Give the video below a second to load.

Super-Sized GPS Navigation: Garmin® nüvi® 5000

Olathe, Kansas/January 3, 2008/PR Newswire — Garmin International, Inc., a unit of Garmin Ltd. (Nasdaq: GRMN), today announced a new series of nüvi navigators designed specifically for those seeking premium navigation features on a large, 5.2-inch touchscreen display. The nüvi 5000 was announced in conjunction with the 2008 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, and will be on display at the Garmin booth (South Hall 4, booth #35832).

"The nuvi 5000 is ideal for those with larger vehicles that need navigation on a big screen" said Dan Bartel, Garmin's vice president of worldwide sales. "With its easy-to-use interface and route planning features, it puts drivers in total control of the road."

With its large, touchscreen interface, the nüvi 5000 makes it easier than ever to obtain voice-prompted, turn-by-turn directions, route calculation, and automatic rerouting if a motorist strays off course. Route planning is a cinch as the nüvi 5000 will save 10 routes, specify via points and preview simulated turns on the big screen. Additionally, it auto sorts multiple destinations providing the driver with the most direct and efficient route for errands, deliveries or sales calls. Drivers who want to keep track of where they have been can turn on the track log feature and see an electronic bread crumb trail that shows their previously traveled route on the display. If a driver wants to avoid an area, the nüvi's routing can be customized by choosing to avoid select roads and areas. Garmin has also made it possible for customers to supplement the pre-loaded maps with custom points of interest such as school zones and safety cameras.

All routing information is displayed on a digital elevation map that shows detail about the surrounding terrain. Users can select a configurable vehicle icon, which allow the user to travel along their route with a fun, customized vehicle-shaped icon - instead of a simple wedge shape graphic. The nüvi also displays speed limits for major highways and Interstates.

Customers also have the opportunity to receive dynamic content from either MSN Direct (U.S. only) or FM TMC (Traffic Message Channel) traffic receiver. Those selecting the optional MSN Direct receiver will receive enhanced, up-to-date traffic information, fuel prices, weather reports, enhanced movie listings, and news and stocks information for major metropolitan areas in the United States. In addition, owners may plan trips and look up destinations from their computer, via Microsoft Local Live, and then send locations and routes to the nüvi 5000. Customers who purchase the optional FM TMC traffic receiver will receive up-to-date traffic information for metropolitan areas in the United States and select European countries.

In addition, the nüvi 5000 displays a video signal from an external analog source, such as a back-up camera. When an external video source is active, the user may revert to the map display by touching anywhere on the screen.

Customers also have several entertainment options to choose from - an internal MP3 player, audio book player and games. The built-in MP3 player lets users browse music by artist, album, song or genre. Music can be loaded onto an SD card and is "drag-and-drop" easy - no special software is required. The nüvi 5000 is also compatible with audible.com, a subscription based audio book service. A handful of games are preloaded on the nüvi to help passengers pass the time. Additional games will be available in the future at HYPERLINK "http://www.garmin.com/games" www.garmin.com/games. All music or speech files can be emitted over the vehicle's existing speakers, through the nüvi's built-in FM wireless transmitter or via the unit's 3.5mm stereo output jack. The entertainment audio is muted when navigation instructions are given.

The nüvi 5000 is expected to be available in North America in February for a manufacturer's suggested retail price of $799.99. It will be available in Europe in the second quarter of 2008.

If our experience with our GPS system's voice recognition is any indication, even if this smart-looking unit is 98% accurate (which would be miraculous at noisy highway speeds), it will still be terribly frustrating for inputting crucial and complicated data such as street addresses and points of interest.

Plus, we often glance at the GPS screen's map, just to be sure which street we need to turn onto, and how far away it is. If those near-impossible voice-rec hurdles can be overcome, the Voice Navigator has possibilities, and might even be safer to use than a conventional GPS system. [NavStar, via GPS Tracklog]

AUDIOVOX INTRODUCES "Anyware ™"- MOBILE PC

Compact portable PC features navigation, Bluetooth and Windows Vista/A/XP

Las Vegas NV - October 2007 - Audiovox Corporation (NASDAQ: VOXX) president Tom Malone calls the Anyware™ , Audiovox's Ultra-Mobile PC, "the only Ultra Mobile PC product that gives the user GPS navigation, Bluetooth and Windows, in a package smaller than a conventional laptop.

The Anyware ™ features a 30 GB hard drive, 2 USB Ports, 2 GB SD card slots, A/V out ports, expansion IO port and a sync port cable for desktop and notebook. Additional components include a WiFi module, with mobile and home/office accessories such as vehicle mount, carrying case, AC power adapter, DC power adapter, remote control, audio/video out and I/P expansion port. MSRP $1,499.99.

Malone believes the Anyware™ will fit into the lifestyle of today's tech-oriented family. "The Anyware not only provides GPS and Bluetooth features for navigation and hands-free communications while driving without compromising the occupant's safety, it's a full featured portable PC that can be taken from the house to the car to the office. What's more it will seamlessly pick up whatever programs were started at home and need to be continued at the office."

All Audiovox mobile products are built for the road and as such are specification-laced road testing before being released to retail and Anyware passed those tests. "Anyware™ is built for mobile application, with shock-resistant features and a rugged road-ready design. In addition to Audiovox's normal QC and design testing, this product was road tested for 10,000 miles over 6 months to ensure the reliability and performance of all hardware and software functions. It is one tough product."

[Jensen]

You'll be able to use this software algorithm along with your GPS navigation system to receive accurate estimates of traffic flow, without paying for live traffic updates. What if there's an accident? There is one way to make this system even more accurate.

Plenty of services available today sell you real-time traffic information, and this Tele Atlas system will also give you that option, but when you team that live data up with this huge database of historical traffic data, you get what the company says is a much more accurate estimation of exactly how long it will take for you to get to your destination at any given time of the day. But that real-time data is only available in 94 cities thus far, and of course, you'll be required to shell out US currency for the privilege of receiving it.

Even without that real-time data, with this software on board your car's GPS unit, that "time to destination" number can be much more accurate. Now, GPS systems typically use posted speed limits to give you an estimated time of arrival, but this software's smart algorthms, whether used alone or especially with live traffic data, will give you an ETA number that's likely to be a lot closer to reality. – Charlie White

Mapping Traffic Flow [Technology Review]

There must be some catch. Anybody seen a cheaper GPS unit anywhere? – Charlie White

Product Page [Piva Digital, via NaviGadget]

Its 5-inch 640x480 screen is fed with a relatively large 30GB hard drive, but 25 of those 30 gigs are reserved for all those satellite shots. We're also hearing that the satellite imagery is only available for certain metropolitan areas, so if you're not a big city dweller, that map capability may not be any help.

Here's the kicker: like our favorite Garmin Nuvi 660 (with a smaller 4.3-inch screen, by the way), the iWAY 600c can transmit its turn-by-turn voice guidance to your car radio. No availability info yet, but it will retail for $800. – Charlie White

Lowrance iWAY 600C with satellite imagery [Navigadget]

Although this particular device may not show up in the States, we're hoping the idea of including a steering wheel-mounted control device with these portable GPS and PMP units will become a commonplace feature. We're big fans of most GPS devices, but have noticed that sometimes they can be distracting to the point of being dangerous. Well, especially when you're using four of them at the same time. – Charlie White

LAN-SD460, the LG Portable Navigation Device [Akhihabara News]

Standalone GPS navigators cost between $400 and $800 (but some are even cheaper, like this Garmin unit on sale for $310 at Amazon), so this software and hardware combination's $129 price might be worth it if you don't mind using your laptop as a GPS device. Might want to get an accessory outlet adapter for that laptop if you're going on a long trip. – Charlie White

Update: check out a pic of the Microsoft /Pharos GPS hardware, after the jump.

Press Release [Microsoft]

Well, here it is. Not much to look at, but the Microsoftians say it's much better than the unit that shippped with Streets and Trips 2006.

Insert its included 1.5GB SD card full of NavTech maps of the US and Canada, and its SiRFstar III GPS receiver chip listens to those geosynchronously orbiting birds, getting you where you need to go.

We're a little concerned about that stylus sitting next to it in the picture—hunting around for a stylus under the carseat wouldn't be too convenient barreling down the highway at 80mph. This is a touchscreen, isn't it? Even so, it still looks like a lot of GPS for $350. – Charlie White

New Delphi NAV200 is only $350 [NaviGadget]

Japan-based buds tell us if you don't have a GPS navigation system there, you're in deep shit. Few of the streets are marked with so much as a measly sign. That's why we keep seeing such powerful new navigation systems coming out of the Land of the Rising Sun. This HDV-770 from Kenwood has a wide and highly visible screen with an appealing twist inside: in addition to a DVD/CD from which you can load your maps and watch movies, it has a hard drive on board that holds all that map data for ready retrieval. The result? Very fast access, which is vital when you miss a turn—there s recalculation involved where every second counts, and if you don't have new directions quickly, you'll get even more lost. Not only will this navi help you find your way, it s iPod-compatible, too, and can be packed with thousands of mp3s or mpeg movies. The HDV-770 was introduced at the Tokyo Motor Show two months ago, and will be shipping to Japan in the middle of February at a price of 225,750 (around $1952).

Kenwood HDV-770 Car Navigation System [Mobilewhack]

Specs and pricing for more vehicle GPS units [Amazon]