Saturday, May 1, 2004
Navman PiN - Pocket PC with GPS
Posted by Jonathon Watkins in "HARDWARE" @ 01:00 PM
We've previously posted about quite a few Pocket PCs with built in GPS available in the UK / Europe. For example, there's the Medion Pocket PC, the Mitac Mio 168 Pocket PC, Typhoon PPC and the Tchibo Pocket PC.
Now the Register reports that Navman are going to be releasing a similar unit based on the Mio 168, called the PiN (Personal Interactive Navigation). The Pocket PC will run Windows Mobile 2003 and will have the usual hardware, consisting of a 300Mhz XScale processor, 64MB RAM, 32MB ROM, 3.5in QVGA display and a SD/MMC slot. It should cost around £399 and you can read more about the device at Navman's site here.
"Navman's version ships with the company's own navigation software, SmartST V2, and a Europe-wide map package. The PiN ships with street-level maps for 16 European countries: UK, Ireland, France, Germany, Italy, Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Austria, Switzerland, Portugal, Spain, Norway, Denmark, Finland and Sweden, all on CD-ROM and ready to be copied over to the bundled 128MB memory card - large enough for a single country. The PiN also ships with a in-car power adaptor and a windscreen mounting kit."
"SmartST V2 uses to the map data to calculate and display the routes you choose. The software can display maps in 3D mode or the more traditional map-like overhead view. Drivers can be guided by spoken directions so they never have to take their eyes off the road. SmartST can also conjure up alternative routes to bypass roadworks and traffic jams, and will quickly get motorists, cyclists and walkers back on course if they take a wrong turning."
So how many of you guys are using GPS with your Pocket PCs? Do you prefer to have GPS built in, do you use external Bluetooth modules or do you use some other system? What are your thoughts on GPS and Pocket PCs? Is it a nice toy to have, or do you use it seriously to replace dedicated GPS systems?
Now the Register reports that Navman are going to be releasing a similar unit based on the Mio 168, called the PiN (Personal Interactive Navigation). The Pocket PC will run Windows Mobile 2003 and will have the usual hardware, consisting of a 300Mhz XScale processor, 64MB RAM, 32MB ROM, 3.5in QVGA display and a SD/MMC slot. It should cost around £399 and you can read more about the device at Navman's site here.
"Navman's version ships with the company's own navigation software, SmartST V2, and a Europe-wide map package. The PiN ships with street-level maps for 16 European countries: UK, Ireland, France, Germany, Italy, Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Austria, Switzerland, Portugal, Spain, Norway, Denmark, Finland and Sweden, all on CD-ROM and ready to be copied over to the bundled 128MB memory card - large enough for a single country. The PiN also ships with a in-car power adaptor and a windscreen mounting kit."
"SmartST V2 uses to the map data to calculate and display the routes you choose. The software can display maps in 3D mode or the more traditional map-like overhead view. Drivers can be guided by spoken directions so they never have to take their eyes off the road. SmartST can also conjure up alternative routes to bypass roadworks and traffic jams, and will quickly get motorists, cyclists and walkers back on course if they take a wrong turning."
So how many of you guys are using GPS with your Pocket PCs? Do you prefer to have GPS built in, do you use external Bluetooth modules or do you use some other system? What are your thoughts on GPS and Pocket PCs? Is it a nice toy to have, or do you use it seriously to replace dedicated GPS systems?
