Manufacturers redirecting R&D on declining GPS device orders?

If you enjoy the decimation of an industry as much as Google does then you’re going to love the latest rumor sourced from DigiTimes‘ manufacturing moles. According to the Taiwanese rumor rag, personal navigation device R&D teams at the manufacturing powerhouses of Foxconn (aka, Hon Hai) and Wistron have been shifted to other devices in the face of “declining PND orders.” Seems logical as GPS-equipped smartphones snuff out their dedicated forebears with the same converged precision that turned wrist watches into items of fashion. The strange part of this DigiTimes rumor is that said manufacturers have shifted those PND teams to focus on e-book readers and (are you ready?) MIDs. Man, if the world’s largest manufacturer of consumer electronics sees MIDs as a more economically viable option than personal navigators, well, maybe things are more dire for TomTom and Garmin than originally feared.

Manufacturers redirecting R&D on declining GPS device orders? originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 02 Dec 2009 01:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mio MiBuddy GPS units to trade Windows CE for Android

If you’re keeping tabs on Mio Technology’s GPS happenings, you’ll be interested to dip into some facts that PC World has uncovered about the company’s upcoming offerings. According to the mag, the next version of the electronics-maker’s MiBuddy satnav unit will dash the underlying Windows CE architecture for Google’s newer and far more suave Android platform. The new device will be pushing into MID territory, boasting a 4.7-inch touchscreen along with a hardware slider keyboard, the ability to browse the internet, and WiFi and Bluetooth onboard. Call us crazy, but it seems possible that devices like dedicated PNDs running Android could easily adapt Google’s new turn-by-turn system as their primary mode of operation. Alternately, you could switch between Mio’s proprietary version and Google’s variation… or they could axe the big G’s altogether, though that awkward situation makes far less sense to us. No word on timing or price just yet, but we’ll keep you posted.

[Via NaviGadget]

Filed under: GPS

Mio MiBuddy GPS units to trade Windows CE for Android originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 02 Nov 2009 09:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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TomTom’s new x50 user interface gets pictured

We’ll be honest — after seeing TomTom’s best efforts on its flagship GO 740 LIVE, we couldn’t be happier to witness a new user interface for the outfit’s PNDs. After taking the wraps off of the GO 950, GO 750 and GO 550 yesterday at IFA, the good folks over at Mobility Minded were able to take a quick peek at some UI improvements that’ll ship on the new trio. Aside from just looking entirely more modern, TomTom also added a “Live” tab that gives drivers quick access to upcoming traffic, the cheapest gas nearby and the location of fixed and mobile safety cameras. We’d still like to see a bit more overhauling in the future, but if you’re interested in a closer look at what’s changing in the immediate, give that read link some love.

Filed under: GPS

TomTom’s new x50 user interface gets pictured originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 04 Sep 2009 09:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Garmin’s connected nuvi 1690 and browser / camera-equipped nuvi 1860 leak out

Garmin already had a little fun at CeBIT this year, but it looks as if the PND maker is gearing up for quite a thrilling IFA, too. For starters, we’ve confirmed that the nüvi 1690 you’ve seen floating about is legitimate, and if Garmin prices those connected services right (read: gives them away), it stands a chance of being a real winner. Slated to launch on September 3rd just as IFA kicks off, the 1690 will pack a 4.3-inch WVGA display, North American maps, text-to-speech, Bluetooth handsfree support and EDGE data for pulling down weather, flight statuses, fuel prices, movie times, traffic and Google-powered local search results. It should be available at the tail end of Q3 for $499.99, though there’s no word on how pricey the connected services will be.

If you’re looking for even bigger and better things, there’s the nüvi 1800 family. The nüvi 1820 checks in with a 4.8-inch WVGA panel, a Linux-based OS, Bluetooth handsfree support, WiFi, lane assist, a traffic receiver, text-to-speech and a few features not found on your common PND. We’re talking about a full-fledged web browser (with YouTube support), multimedia player, access to email, internet radio streaming and even video streaming. Of course, you’ll have to provide the web access, but if you’ve got a MiFi or the like riding shotgun in your ride, you can keep this bad boy connected throughout the trip. Also of note, the nüvi 1860 packs all of the aforementioned goodies but throws in a 3 megapixel camera with geotagging for good measure. Garmin doesn’t bother to mention pricing details on either of the 18xx units, but we get the impression that both will sticker for well over the $500 mark.

Update: That $500 sticker on the 1690 will include two years of connected services — not perfect, but a solid gesture nonetheless.

[Thanks, Anonymous]

Filed under: Digital Cameras, GPS

Garmin’s connected nuvi 1690 and browser / camera-equipped nuvi 1860 leak out originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 18 Aug 2009 10:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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FineDigital’s FineDrive iQ Special helps commuters learn FineEnglish

Ah, those crazy-beautiful multi-purpose navigation devices of South Korea, is there anything they can’t do? If your answer is that they can’t teach you English, think again. The iQ Special features a language trainer built on voice recognition software from its predecessor, the FineDrive X700, alongside the usual fare of goodies we westerners rarely get to see: SiRF-based GPS, DMB digital TV, video and music playback, and even TPEG traffic alerts. Priced at 469,000 KWN ($384), this PND is available today, and it’s probably redundant to note that it won’t be making its way to English-speaking countries any time soon — not that we doesn’t need it, mind you.

[Via AVING]

Filed under: GPS, Handhelds, Portable Audio, Portable Video

FineDigital’s FineDrive iQ Special helps commuters learn FineEnglish originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 05 Aug 2009 03:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony debuts 6.1-inch NV-U3DV navigation unit

Well, it’s not the Android-based Walkman / PND that Sony supposedly has in the works for next year, but we’re guessing the company’s new NV-U3DV navigation will still turn a few heads nonetheless, and not just because of its large 6.1-inch screen. Launched today in Japan, this PND packs a 480×272 resolution on that big new screen for bigger buttons and more map space, along with a number of fairly unique features like Position+ G, which makes use of an accelerometer, gyro-sensor, and pressure sensors to detect the direction of the vehicle even in touchy environments like a tunnel or high incline. Otherwise, you can expect all the usual media player features (including mobile TV in Japan), live traffic information, and a full range of points of interest and various guides courtesy of PetaMap. No word on a release ’round here just yet, unfortunately, but folks in Japan will be able to pick this one up in August for ¥65,000, or just under $700.

[Via Sony Insider]

Filed under: GPS

Sony debuts 6.1-inch NV-U3DV navigation unit originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Jul 2009 17:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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