Mark Spoonauer's Laptop Mag is running an extensive UI video from their exclusive hands on of the Garmin nuvifone. [Laptop mag]

One of neato aspects of the iPhone 3G's engineering is that it crams a whole bunch of wireless stuff, like 3G, Wi-Fi and GPS into just two antennas, which are integrated into the "metal ring around the camera, the audio jack, the metal screen bezel, and the iPhone circuitry itself." But that doesn't mean it's always going to get a solid GPS signal (same with most phones), like when it's indoors or between skyscrapers. So it uses assisted GPS, also known as aGPS or A-GPS, like most phones with "GPS," though it can mean a couple different things.

In the iPhone's case, it means location is determined with a combo of GPS, Wi-Fi and cell towers, depending on what's available—and all that data is crunched by the "assistance server." There are several benefits to A-GPS. It's wayyy faster for one. With vanilla GPS, to get a lock, you need several strong signals for a decent length of time. With A-GPS, the assistance server tells your phone where the closest satellites are and does the serious computational legwork, cutting down the number of frequencies the phone has to scan and the numbers it has to smash, making the whole process a lot faster. Also, the server can take paltry, choppy ones and make use of 'em. And this all makes it a lot more battery friendly too.

The nicest thing about the iPhone 3G's setup is that the you-are-here circle indicates how accurate the assistance server's guesstimation is, like when it derives your location in less than ideal conditions. Unlike some phones' A-GPS, Apple implies iPhone's A-GPS will still work without a cell signal (it "finds your location via GPS or by triangulating your position...") in case you're camping or just in the boonies. (Update: As commenters have pointed out, an issue would be getting the Google maps, which need to be downloaded via cell or Wi-Fi. A third-party app from TomTom or such with locally stored maps would solve that problem, so main issue is still the chip's capabilities to work without assistance.)

It's unknown how hard the GPS is going to punch the battery life. The iPhone turns it on and off "quickly and automatically" when needed. But we anticipate it'll sock it pretty good when the chip's actually active, especially for decent stretches—like during live tracking, possibly, but we think it might power on the receiver only at needed intervals to save juice, doing the rest of the crunching internally or by other means if they're available (like cell towers).

Okay, so the only hands on time we've had with the iPhone's GPS apps comes from Brian's brief time with it, and that did reveal a couple quirks. (Well for one, it couldn't quite find him.) Maps and photo geotagging both asked him for permission to use his location, which kinda bugged him, but since he got the first demo, I'm relatively certain it only does that the first time you use the phone, like the E911 option.
In case you're wondering about the live traffic info, that's been Google mojo for a while.

Hopes for a more robust or simply different navigation app from one of the majors like Garmin, TomTom or Telenav are foggy right now. TomTom says they've got one running already, but there's also a weird clause in the SDK that would seem to prohibit other GPS apps. On the other hand, big companies could talk to Apple directly (and very probably are) to get their apps okayed on the iPhone, which would be smart for both parties. It'll make the iPhone an even more serious GPS device, and it'll give the established makers a piece of the pie they fear losing. But we'd still like to see some sweet (and free) homebrew stuff too. [Giz Explains]

Something we missed, or you still wanna know? Send any questions about 3G, GPS, G-spots or anything else to tips@gizmodo.com, with "Giz Explains" in the subject line.

If that wasn't bizarre enough, it actually gives directions with flair using the six joints in its arms and neck to make gestures—and it will provide information on nearby landmarks when you pet its head. iX plans on expanding their line to include a "variety of shapes, including other characters and a plain mechanical version” in the near future, and they expect to have a product on the shelves sometime next year. As for a reason why anyone would want a teddy bear car navigation system, I have only one thing to say...it's from Japan. [Pink Tentacle via psfk]

While the "communicating with medium earth orbit" part of GPS is totally free, you generally have to shell out for an online service like Garmin's to get any navigating done—unless you've got a dedicated device with tons of stored maps. This new fee is equivalent to 10 months of a normal subscription, and will carry on until you or your BlackBerry kicks the bucket, providing your handset doesn't become sentient (See Giz v Garmin, Supreme Court of the United States Case 497, 2132 AD). [Garmin via IntoMobile] -John Herrman

Garmin(R) Provides Navigator for Samsung Mobile Phones

OLATHE, KA UNITED STATES

LAS VEGAS, March 31 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Garmin International
Inc., a unit of Garmin Ltd. (Nasdaq: GRMN), the global leader in satellite
navigation, announced today that select Samsung mobile phones will have the
benefit of Garmin's intuitive turn-by-turn, voice-prompted navigation
directly on the phone. Samsung Mobile Navigator by Garmin is based on the
popular Garmin Mobile(TM) XT navigation software, and Samsung phones with
this navigation capability are expected to be available in Europe and other
parts of the world in several months. Garmin will display the Samsung i780
and other examples of its mobile phone navigation solutions April 1-3,
2008, at the CTIA Wireless trade show in Las Vegas.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20061026/CGTH082LOGO)

"Garmin is pleased to offer Samsung users a rich navigation experience
with the same intuitive user interface found on other Garmin personal
navigation devices," said Roger Jollis, Garmin's director of OEM & mobile
marketing. "Garmin's on-board and off-board phone navigation solutions are
now available on over 500 different handsets, including Samsung mobile
phones."

"We are pleased to provide Garmin's advanced navigation feature on
Samsung's i780 and other Windows Mobile based smartphones recently
introduced to the European market. As navigation features become rapidly
popular among various mobile features, Samsung is continuously investing to
provide the best of experience to our consumers," said YongBae Lee, vice
president of mobile communication division, Samsung Electronics, of Samsung
Electronics.

Marketed in major European countries, the Samsung i780 has a sleek
design packed with the latest in business and consumer features including
global positioning system (GPS) navigation, fast HSDPA and EDGE
connectivity, Bluetooth, 802.11b and g wireless capabilities, full touch
screen with stylus, QWERTY key pad, Microsoft Windows Mobile 6.0
Professional operating system, 2.0-megapixel camera and front camera for
video calls. The i780 also delivers full Internet browsing, MP3 music and
FM radio.

The Garmin navigation software is on a plug-and-play microSD card, and
once a customer loads the card into the phone, the software automatically
installs. Customers may then use their phone to receive voice-prompted,
turn-by-turn directions to their destination. A 3D moving map on the
phone's display shows the user exactly where they are, and if a turn is
missed along the way, Samsung Mobile Navigator by Garmin automatically
calculates a new route. Users may key in a specific street address or
search millions of points of interest (POI) — places like hotels,
restaurants, shopping, and tourist attractions. Customers can also dial the
POI's phone number automatically — for reservations, hours of operation,
or other information.

Those using Samsung Mobile Navigator by Garmin also have access to
Garmin Online(TM), a free and subscription based online service that offers
dynamic content such as traffic, weather forecasts and safety cameras.
Garmin Online content varies by region.

Garmin Mobile(TM) Application to Offer New Features on BlackBerry, Symbian and Windows Mobile Smartphones OLATHE, KA UNITED STATES

LAS VEGAS, March 31 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Garmin International
Inc., a unit of Garmin Ltd. (Nasdaq: GRMN), the global leader in satellite
navigation, announced today upgrades to Garmin Mobile that include a new
user-friendly interface and Google Local(TM) search. These upgrades will be
available on a variety of handsets and platforms including BlackBerry,
Symbian and Windows Mobile smartphones. These new features are in addition
to a long list of rich features and real-time content included with Garmin
Mobile's current subscription based service that includes turn-by-turn,
voice prompted directions, as well as traffic, weather conditions and
forecasts, fuel prices and more. Garmin will display the Garmin Mobile
enhancements at its CTIA Wireless trade show booth (#6639) in Las Vegas,
Nevada, April 1-3, 2008.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20061026/CGTH082LOGO)

When the new Garmin Mobile application is launched, customers will
first notice the new nuvi-like interface, with "Where To?" and "View Map"
icons on the smartphone display. Once "Where To?" is selected, colorful
icons such as "Address," "Recent Finds," "Food and Hotel" and "Google
Local" streamline the number of keystrokes required before selecting a
destination and receiving turn-by-turn, voice-prompted directions. If a
turn is missed en route, Garmin Mobile automatically recalculates the route
based on the user's current location. Garmin Mobile has an extensive points
of interest database — places like hotels, restaurants, ATMs, gas
stations, airports, and more — thanks to the over six-million integrated
points of interest and Google Local search. Garmin Mobile is also
integrated with the phone's address book so that users can navigate
directly to a contact's address stored on their smartphone.

The Google Local search capability lets users harness points of
interest information via the World Wide Web. It allows users to look for
locations by typing in key word searches as they would if they were on
their desktop computer. If looking for a coffee shop with free Wi-Fi
access, simply type the phrase in the search box and a list of venues will
appear based on proximity to the user's current location. In addition,
Garmin has created a "quick search" feature that lets users search Google
Local via categories — such as food, lodging, fuel, and more — rather
than typing a word or phrase into the Google Local search box. Detailed
information can be displayed including descriptions, business address &
phone numbers, and a user-contributed rating, where applicable. Once the
user selects a location, they can save the destination to their favorites
folder, call the destination, or navigate to it with Garmin's intuitive
turn-by-turn, voice-prompted directions.

In addition to navigation, Garmin Mobile includes free access to
constantly-updating information like real-time traffic, fuel prices,
weather forecasts, and more.

Since Garmin Mobile is a subscription based solution, mapping data is
stored on Garmin's servers, not on the device itself. Therefore, customers
have the advantage of the most up-to-date mapping information available
directly from Garmin's servers. In order to access Garmin's network, the
smartphone must have a data plan for network access.

1. Each Dash Express anonymously and automatically sends its position and speed back to the Dash servers

2. Dash also receives traffic info from road sensors, commercial fleets and other sources through our partnership with Inrix [shown in dotted colored lines]

3. Dash then calibrates these sources against "ground truth" provided by the Dash devices actually driving the roads every day [shown in solid colored lines]

4. Dash then sends out updates to all of the Dash devices in the area with current road speeds

For an averaged sized metropolitan area it takes just a few hundred units for the Dash Driver Network to provide live up-to-the-minute data for most major roads during commute hours.

When the device hits the market, all those lines will go solid—green or red depending on whatever kind of hellish commuter traffic you're in for. Dash can steer you around it maybe, but it lacks the guided surface-to-surface missileage to actually make the other commuters go away. [Dash via NaviGadget]

TomTom reveals revolutionary IQ Routes™ technology on new TomTom GO series

~ Unique route calculation method provides smartest routing on the market ~

Concord, MA - March 3, 2008 - TomTom, the world's largest portable navigation solutions provider, today announces ground-breaking features and unique content on the new TomTom GO range, including its exclusive IQ Routes™ technology and Advanced Lane Guidance.

The innovative IQ Routes™ technology is based on actual average speeds measured on roads, rather than posted speed limits. This means that the new TomTom GO range determines a route by considering all possible routes and then selecting the one that takes the least time based on recent historical data. In almost 50% of all journeys, this results in a faster route, and saves significant travel time, fuel, and money.

In addition, the new TomTom GO series includes TomTom's Advanced Lane Guidance feature. Advanced Lane Guidance provides users with realistic representations of complex highway junctions and lane-specific visual directions that take the stress out of navigating these otherwise difficult junctions.

The two new features will be available with the new TomTom GO series, the TomTom GO 930 and TomTom GO 730, starting at the end of April 2008.

"With the introduction of IQ Routes™ technology, we continue to focus our efforts on features and content that improves the core navigation experience," said Jocelyn Vigreux, president of TomTom Inc. "IQ Routes™ delivers what we call 'intelligent routing' - an even smarter and more efficient way of planning your daily route that will help TomTom GO users save time, fuel and money."

TomTom IQ Routes™

The new TomTom IQ Routes™ technology is based on actual average speeds on roads, rather than the posted speed limits. This intelligent routing technology is based on anonymous historical speed profiles of over 6.2 billion miles of driven roads, gathered over the years by millions of TomTom users. It takes into account all the factors that may influence the time it takes drivers to get to their destination, including traffic lights, rotaries, steep slopes and speed bumps.

The TomTom IQ Routes™ speed profile database continues to grow at the rate of over half a billion measurements per day, so the time and spatial accuracy of TomTom IQ Routes™ technology will continually increase. Drivers can be confident that they will always be given the smartest route, incorporating detailed local knowledge. This allows for more efficient daily route planning, in particular when driving through urban and mountainous areas.

Advanced Lane Guidance

With the new Advanced Lane Guidance feature, navigating difficult junctions becomes easier than ever before. Advanced Lane Guidance provides users with realistic visuals of complex highway junctions and lane-specific directions. Static images of road signs, in the same color as the ones displayed on the road, ensure that drivers have an even more realistic view of the road ahead, and their specific route.

A host of extra features

In addition to IQ Routes™ and Advanced Lane Guidance, the new TomTom GO range has a new premium look with a high-quality finish, expanded map coverage and comes pre-installed with the latest navigation features, including:

- TomTom Map Share™ technology, enabling users to make updates and corrections to their own maps instantly and to benefit from improvements made by other users, completely free of charge. New Map Share features include the ability to change turn restrictions and posted road speeds

- Latest map guarantee so users always have free access to the latest map at time of purchase

- Voice address input so that users can drive to millions of cities and street names by simply announcing the address of their destination

- Clear voice instructions and text-to-speech to enable street names, places, traffic alerts and SMS messages to be read aloud as part of the spoken instructions

- Enhanced Positioning Technology (EPT) for uninterrupted navigation even in tunnels or highly-built areas (TomTom GO 930 only)

- TomTom RDS-TMC Traffic Receiver, as a compatible accessory, for detailed traffic information

- Large 4.3 inch touch screen with new generation icons and an updated user interface to navigate drivers to their destination even more easily

- Enhanced hands-free calling with high-quality sound system via Bluetooth® to allow drivers to keep their eyes firmly on the road while making phone calls in the car

- Extensive safety features, including the 'Help Me' menu that give drivers direct access to emergency services and roadside assistance

- Built-in FM Transmitter to play music and navigation instructions seamlessly over the car stereo

- New smart & fun extras to personalize users' devices, including recording your own driving instructions, view documents, exchange positions via SMS and Bluetooth™ wireless technology and select a favorite car icon on the screen

- Free TomTom HOME software and content from the TomTom community to keep your TomTom device up to date at all times

- Full range of accessories to match the design and finish of the updated GO range

Map Coverage

- The TomTom GO 930 comes pre-installed with the most up-to-date maps of US, Canada and Western and Central Europe stored on the internal memory

- The TomTom GO 730 includes new expanded map coverage, including the latest maps of the US and Canada

Availability

The new TomTom GO range will be available across North America and Europe starting at end of April 2008.

Product technical specifications

- 4.3" widescreen 16:9 format LCD (WQVGA: 480*272 pixels)

- CPU 400 MHz

- TomTom GO 930: 4 GB internal flash memory, TomTom GO 730: 2 GB

- SD card slot

- High sensitivity GPS receiver

- Bluetooth™

- Lithium-polymer battery (up to 5 hours operation)

- Dimensions: 118 mm x 83 mm x 24 mm- convert to inches 4.6 x 3.2 x 1

- Weight: 7.7 ounces

The system itself consists of a GPS unit that connects to the soldiers helmet and a full-color display attaches directly to goggles or helmet shields. It also "contains an 802.11 Wi-Fi interface for Joint Precision Airdrop System data connectivity and custom circuitry that allows for dead reckoning calculations in the event of a GPS lock failure." Plus, it looks like the dude is rockin' a sweet mohawk. [GPS Daily]

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.

The methods aren't new, as Primordial's site is filled with news clippings from 2006, and I think an old Polaris outdoor GPS had this tech. But Magellan's press release says the tech is now exclusively theirs. It's smart, but its probably unwise to depend on such a system to navigate outdoors. Whereas road data goes out of date every few years, the seasonal swelling of rivers, altering of terrain and paths, falling trees, and other quickly changing outdoor conditions are best handled with common sense and local knowledge. Couldn't be too harmful to know where a deep forest starts and a sheer rock face drops, though. [Business Wire]

The Price: Around $200

The Verdict: Horrible. There are a lot of features packed into the Nextar Snap3 for the price, but don't be fooled. Even if you cared about having an MP3 player, Bluetooth and a photo viewer in your GPS unit (which I don't) the bottom line is that none of it is worth a damn if the navigation system doesn't work.

The device took forever to acquire a signal, it was often confused in confined areas like neighborhoods and apartment complexes, and the voice prompts and distance measurements were generally out of sync with the locations on the map. In other words, I could be sitting at a stop sign, ready to make the correct turn, and the device would insist that I was hundreds of feet away from that same intersection. Well after the turn was made, the voice prompt would finally chime in. It was frustrating to say the least. Oh, and just for the record, none of the extras worked properly either. My suggestion is to stick with something from a more trusted brand that fits your price range— like the Garmin nuvi line.

Magellan® Maestro™ Elite 5340+GPRS Connected Auto Navigation First to Deliver Real-time GoogleTM Local Search

New Integration Enables Drivers to Search and Route to Local Businesses, Products, and Services, Plus Send Trips Wirelessly from PC

LAS VEGAS - Jan. 6, 2008 - Magellan, the world's fastest-growing GPS brand, today premiered its Maestro Elite 5340+GPRS connected auto navigation unit featuring Google Local Search that enables users to get deep, location-specific information on the go. Scheduled to ship in Q1 2008, the Magellan Maestro Elite 5340+GPRS will be the first GPS model to enable users to search for local events - from concerts to local library events - as well as local businesses and services. Magellan will be showcasing its new products in its booth at the 2008 Consumer Electronics Show booth (no. 31247) beginning Monday, Jan. 7, 2008.

Accessible on the Maestro Elite 5340+GPRS connected navigation device is Google's real-time local search enabling users to search the Web for businesses in a specific neighborhood, providing detailed, Internet-based information about those businesses - not just the business name or category. For example, users can search for "Star Wars" and find "Target" and "JPM Comics," among others, or get recommendations for the best banana cream pie near their point of reference. Users simply type in what it is they are looking for and Google displays relevant results around the user's current location or a user-specified location.

Through the new Maestro Elite 5340's wireless GPRS connection, Magellan also delivers real-time traffic information, local weather forecasts, and makes it possible for users to wirelessly send addresses and notes to the GPS device directly from a PC with an internet connection. The user can send destination addresses to the Maestro Elite 5340+GPRS in advance of the trip or have someone at home or back in the office send information from the Magellan website directly.

The Magellan Maestro Elite 5340+GPRS is the company's premiere GPS model. Like all of the newly introduced Elite models, it provides rendered 3-D landmarks and buildings; 6 million points of interest (POI); a USB port; and advanced voice command functionality. The Maestro Elite 5340+GPRS also features a 5-inch WQVGA widescreen; a 533 MHz S-Media 3362 processor; and the ability to perform deep searches on local areas and receive information sent from a PC for on-the-fly changes.

"We're pleased to be partnering with Magellan to provide users with detailed, relevant local information while on the road," said John Hanke, director of Google Maps & Earth. "Magellan devices are powerful, interactive tools for navigation and discovery that serve as a cutting-edge platform for Google's robust local search capabilities."

"We are thrilled to be joining forces with Google to provide GPS users with the most relevant local data available in a format that puts people in control of their travel experiences more than ever before," said Nelson Chan, president and CEO of Magellan. "Google's renowned expertise in helping users search and organize information adds a powerful and compelling component to our new Magellan Maestro Elite line. As the GPS category begins to expand beyond basic navigation and into more versatile exploration uses, the personal navigation device (PND) will become a primary resource for drivers and travellers to search for and access real-time information, monitor traffic information about their specific routes, and transmit data between communications devices."

"Connected PNDs can offer much more than just turn-by-turn navigation," said Chris Jones, vice president and principal analyst at research firm Canalys. "The successful vendors in this area will combine the compelling, dynamic services the connectivity potentially brings, in a device that is easy to use, has an attractive design, is affordable (both the device and subscription cost) and is well-explained to the customer at the point of sale. The partnership with Google will provide the owners of this new class of device with a familiar and trusted local search engine."

The Maestro Elite 5340+GPRS is scheduled to be available at retailers in March 2008 for an estimated MSRP of $1299.

The Maestro Elite 5340+GPRS will be compatible with Magellan VantagePointTM, the only desktop application on the market that helps people manage their GPS maps, information, and other content and easily sync it to their devices. Through VantagePoint, which is a free download from http://www.magellangps.com, Magellan customers can personalize and expand their GPS experience.

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.

• MyDash web interface lets you plan routes, browse through geoRSS feeds of different recommended destinations, and create Yahoo! search criteria (sushi restaurants in Boulder, CO) that you can send to the Express navigator as a search button. MyDash also offers user-generated searches and lists as well as static POS. It will soon feature third-party navigational POI lists as well, all options that you can choose to put on your system—or not. The coolest thing is, you don't have to think about these different sources of data if you don't want to, instead relying on a system-wide meta search with a variety of results.

• Send2Car is a freakin' amazing plug-in for Firefox, IE, Safari and Outlook that lets you right-click an address and, yep, send it to the Express's routes list. On Macs, you can just send any text. Have a look:

• Traffic data from three separate databases: the traffic-information provider Inrix, used by other GPS navigators; the historical data from the Dash database, which even now is being gradually beefed up by beta testers all over the country; and your own personal Dash database, which learns your local bottlenecks as you drive. The Express combines the data to make three different suggested routes for you to consider, with different time projections based on time of day and conditions.

• AutoUpdate for now means that traffic and software are automatically updated, but during my chats with Dash I've learned that at some point after launch, this service will include map updates as well, from provider Tele Atlas.

The first three months of Dash service are free The service plans break down a lot like TiVo's: If you want to tack on 24 months up front, you pay around $240. If you want to go month-to-month, it's $13. And if you want to round out the service to a full year (adding 9 months of paid service) it's an extra $100—the option intended for gift givers.

Of course, if you do plan to buy the Express for someone as a gift, you can only show them the receipt at Christmastime, since this pre-order corresponds to a delivery time of mid to late February. [Dash]

Award-winning Dash Express Now Available for Pre-Order

New GPS Leverages Two-Way Connectivity to Provide Real-time Answers to Drivers' Questions in the Car

December 17, 2007

News Facts

Dash Navigation, Inc. today announced that the Dash Express, the first Internet-connected GPS device, is now available for pre-order at the company's website (http://www.dash.net).

The Dash Express will be priced at $599.99 and will include three free months of Dash Service*.

While the Dash Express functions as a great GPS device even without the Dash Service, to take full advantage of the unique set of connected features including real-time traffic information from the Dash Driver Network, Internet Search, Send2Car and AutoUpdates, a subscription is required.

Consumers will have several options for subscribing to the Dash Service:

2 year pre-pay plan: Effectively $9.99 per month

1 year pre-pay plan: Effectively $10.99 per month

Month-to-month plan: $12.99/month
The Dash Express will begin shipping in mid-to-late February directly from www.dash.net followed by broader retail distribution in Q2 2008.

Product Features

While any GPS device can provide directions to get you from point A to B, the always-connected Dash Express gives you the information you need every day.

Superior traffic with the Dash Driver Network™: Select your route based on up-to-the-minute traffic data that is automatically and anonymously tivexchanged via the most reliable source - other Dash devices.
The Dash Express gathers traffic information from the Dash Driver Network and combines it with other sources of traffic data to provide you with the most accurate picture of what's happening on the routes you're traveling.
Only Dash provides traffic information for both freeways and local roads and side streets.
The Dash Express provides up to three routing options to your destination that are based on flow rather than incident data, and it has the ability to automatically alert you when traffic conditions change and route you around traffic problems on your route.

Find virtually anything with Yahoo! Local search: Connect to Yahoo! Local search to find unlimited points of interest—people, places, products and services.
Two-way connectivity gives Dash Express the ability to use Yahoo! Local search and other Internet search sources.
Unlike other GPS devices that come loaded with a static database of points of interest, Dash gives you access to unlimited points of interest based on your specific needs, and delivers key detailed information (i.e. gas prices, movie times) to help you chose the right destination.

Send2Car™ means no typing required: Simply highlight an address from any Internet browser or Microsoft Outlook and send it directly to your car.
You can use Send2Car yourself, or have someone else send it to your Dash device when you're already on the road.

MyDash makes it even easier to personalize your Dash Express: The MyDash portal (http://my.dash.net) enables you to customize your Dash Express.
Create your own lists and feeds or, if you prefer, import the great content created by other members of the Dash Community.
Easily send customized search buttons (i.e. LA Yoga Studios, Best Red Sox Bars in Boston, Toddler Playgrounds in New York City) straight to your device so you always have access to the places you want to go.

AutoUpdate™ means your GPS is always up to date: Dash Express is the only GPS that automatically and wirelessly updates software and traffic using two-way connectivity. You'll always have the latest features as soon as Dash releases them.

It uses a Peltier device to change temperature - the warmer the unit, the more on-track you are, but take a wrong turn and it will cool down. This odd feature could also be used in other ways, like telling you how important a call is - if it's your hot girlfriend it could get toasty warm to tell you to pick up, but if it's your boss then it could ice up to tell you that it's best avoided. [New Scientist]

Although we're not too sure what they're smoking over there in Germany, because in one of the other videos they claim the old way of getting directions into your car was by printing them out and handing them to your Golden Retriever, who lovingly tapes them to the car's dashboard. [Mercedes]

You also get an FM transmitter which can feed multimedia or traffic alerts to your car radio. It should be available toward the end of the year in Europe, priced at about €300. [Nokia]

And unlike Sony, which dabbles in a lot of areas that it doesn't intend to dominate, when Panasonic enters a market, it plays for keeps. (See Panasonic digital cameras and Panasonic plasma TVs for recent examples.) The real question: how soon will we see a Panasonic portable, something that might give Garmin a run for its money? Paul Liao, CTO of Panasonic North America, told me that while he won't discuss particulars, the company is working on one.

Follow the jump for Strada specs and a screenshot gallery.

The Panasonic CN-NVD905U is now available. It competes directly with double-DINN systems from Alpine and Pioneer, but instead of DVDs, it uses a hard disk drive, meaning 20X faster read speeds.

That's a 30GB hard drive: 10GB for map data and points of interest, plus an extra 20GB, I'm told, for future updates. For you digimap junkies, Panasonic went with Navteq for their map database, and packs 12 million POIs, also from Navteq. One cool POI feature I haven't seen before on a GPS navigator: phone-number reverse lookup. If the number of a business is in the database (and there are 3 million phone numbers included), you can just punch in the number and the POI will pop up. It's easier than entering an address, and sometimes a phone number is all you've got. [Apparently, this feature is on other in-dash systems, but it's still very cool.]

There's an SD card slot and a DVD drive built into the in-dash device. For minor firmware updates, you just download something to an SD card, then insert it. For larger upgrades, the SD card acts as the key, unlocking the hard drive. You then insert a DVD, say, a full Navteq map update, and the disk copies that data.

It supports iPods and both Sirius and XM tuners, but only one at a time, unless you buy a $129 4-port adapter. The iPod cable will cost you an extra $49. It supports Sirius Traffic, with the add-on receiver and a subscription. It doesn't support XM NavTraffic.

Here are some other nuggets you might find interesting:

•Bluetooth is not built in, but supported via add-on dongle

•The Strada supports a rear-view camera, sold separately

•The on-screen keypad can be alphabetical or QWERTY depending on your preference

•It's got gyroscopic and speed sensors so that it stays on track in tunnels and covered roadways

•There is no voice command, nor is there any text-to-speech capability (it talks, but it won't call out road names)

•While Panasonic uses Windows CE as an operating system, it uses its own proprietary GPS receiver chipset and its own Ultra 1 processor

The big story for Panasonic was that the interface made sense. I think there are a lot of nice interfaces in the portable world these days, but it is nice that Panasonic is aware of the importance. Since the device is pretty much a typical double-DINN in-dash system, I only took pictures of the interface itself, since it's what sets it apart. Shots are below.

As I mentioned, it's sometimes hard to get excited about an in-dash system, something that is difficult or impossible to install yourself and comes with a bunch of hidden costs, something, after all that, that you can't even take with you when you rent a car in some far off place. My hope is that Panasonic gets going on the portable version, because the portables I've seen from Pioneer and Alpine were also-rans, at best. Bring it, Pana! But beware of Garmin, cuz they're good! – Wilson Rothman

Panasonic Launches Strada Hard Drive Based Audio/Video Navigation System [Panasonic]

However, since most GPS devices don't yet have traffic integration (the one that came with our car doesn't), this won't be a huge deal yet. But when these prankers find out how to inject messages that tell you there's a gigantic traffic jam on one freeway in order to move everyone to another—and thus clearing up traffic on the first—people will start to worry. – Jason Chen

Satellite navigation users at risk for false messages [ComputerWorld]

Bad pun, I know, but I couldn't resist. We've already reported on the TomTom and Garmin cellphone rumors earlier this week. And now here comes some more news that makes the rumors about the SatNavvers wanting to multi-task seem even more likely.

Mike Goodenough, from the UK office of Route 66, has been quoted as saying that "Nokia's goal is to be at the top of navigation." Route 66 is, of course, the company that puts the GPS software on Nokia 6610s. And it won't just be Nokia's top-end cells that will be getting GPS—even Nokia's pay-as-you-go phones are expected to have the chips in them. – Ad Dugdale

Soon all Nokias will have a GPS Chip [NaviGadget]

BMW Assist can receive messages that look a lot like email in the car, which might have dubious value otherwise, but when you're thinking about how you must write down addresses on little slips of paper and then re-enter them into a car GPS system, this starts to make sense. Check out the video and some fresh commentary, after the jump.

Thinking about this a little more, there's that problem of people checking these messages as they barrel down the Autobahn at 160mph. Maybe there's a way to disable this function once the car's speed surpasses 150 mph. But then, that's not that much different from just simply playing with a GPS system while driving, or talking on a cellphone. We're just hoping that soon our robot overlords will learn how to drive. – Charlie White

Google Maps Send to Car [Google Blog, via Fresh Creation]

It's hard to tell the scale of the device from its photo, but if the Moto icon is near the size of the ones on phones, it looks to be a bit bigger than a Peppermint Patty. No details on which phones work with the T815 yet, but we're betting the Q works, and by association, all other Windows Mobile 5 OS devices.–Brian Lam

MOTONAV T815 [Motorola]

Pioneer is also breaking into the valuable "Need For Speed" niche market with their new AVH-P5900DVD AV system. They claim it is designed for America's tech-savvy youth, who demand features like video playback, direct iPod control and XM/Sirius satellite radio. For $1000 you can have "bragging rights" in your junior college parking lot. – Karson Thompson

In addition to giving you real-time traffic reports, that MSN Direct connection lets you call up gas prices, weather conditions and even movie times. Along for the ride is Garmin's user-friendly interface and a "3- to 7-hour" battery life. Garmin will ship the Nuvi 680 sometime in the first quarter of this year for just under $1000. – Charlie White

Product Page [Garmin, via Mobile Whack]

With Yahoo, Dash users can search for Thai food, movie theaters, or various other things people search for already. Once you find what you want, the results are presented as address cards which you can activate and get directions to instantly. We're looking forward to seeing some hands-on demos of this at CES because seriously, we can't find our way to the bathroom without getting lost. – Jason Chen

Press Release [Dash]

And if you were keeping track of the XM and Sirius Thunderdome, Bushnell is releasing a GPS nav system that does XM, also. – Travis Hudson

Directed Mobile Media NAV420 Sirius-Ready Portable Nav System [Orbitcast]

This looks like a highly capable GPS unit, but we didn't see any mention of Bluetooth or speakerphonage in the specs, which would be odd since Nokia is such an ace with cellphones. The company didn't mention when we would see this little navi stateside, but estimated an unusually low retail price in Europe of 360 ($457) before taxes. Bring it, Nokia, post haste! – Charlie White

Nokia 330 Auto Navigation [Navigadget]