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On the first day of CES 2009, GPS manufacturer TomTom introduced its newest portable navigation device, the TomTom GO 740 Live. Like the Dash Express and TeleNav Shotgun, the GO 740 Live is a connected GPS using a built-in SIM card and GPRS modem, so you'll get more up-to-date information delivered to your PND right over the air.

What kind of information? Well, I'm glad you asked. With the purchase of the TomTom GO 740 Live, you'll get a complimentary year subscription to TomTom's Live services, which include Google Local Search, fuel-price information, weather data, and … Read more

The TeleNav Shotgun is an Internet connected portable navigation device that uses the TeleNav Connected Service to offer over-the-air traffic data, map updates, and business listings.

Editor Bonnie Cha took the TeleNav Shotgun for a spin and found that while she enjoyed having fresh data at her fingertips, the utility of being always connected to the Net was a little underutilized. In addition, the core navigation functions needed work, as the device suffered from slow route recalculation and muffled voice prompts.

Depending on how you look at it, the NV-U84 is either the second or third highest device in the Sony NAV-U GPS lineup. There's no question that the NV-U94T is the flagship, but determining the NV-U84's value compared with its siblings is a tricky affair.

For one, it has the big 4.8-inch touch screen and higher price that imply it's a step up the ladder from the 4.3-inch screen of the NV-U74T. On the other hand, it lacks most of the advanced features of the NV-U94T and U74T--such as Bluetooth and traffic data--which puts it … Read more

As the entry-level model in the Sony NAV-U line of portable GPS devices, the NV-U44 has a fairly basic feature set. There's no Bluetooth hands-free. There's no traffic information. There's no multimedia playback. For your $249 dollars, the only feature that you get beyond basic navigation is a photo viewer.

However, for many consumers, the basics are all that is needed. In this respect, the NV-U44 does a pretty good job of creating a good navigation experience without breaking the bank.

Read the full Sony NV-U44 GPS review.

Q: What's the difference between portable navigation devices (PNDs) and smartphones with built-in GPS? Why do we have to pay for GPS service on smartphones, even they have built-in GPS antennas, whereas for in-car GPS, we don't need to pay a monthly subscription? Is there a smartphone which will also function as a PND that will avoid paying monthly subscription to mobile companies? --Wize Chap via e-mail

A: Wize Chap, I completely understand your confusion. On the surface, PNDs and GPS-enabled smartphones seem to offer the same services and navigation tools--maps, points of interest, turn-by-turn directions--so why in … Read more

After recently revamping its NAV-U line of portable GPS devices, Sony dropped by to give us a first look at their top of the line NAV-U94T model that should be hitting store shelves soon. We've already covered many of the new features offered by this device, but hands-on time with the device gives us a little more insight. In order of importance, here are the features we liked most:

The first feature demonstrated was the Position Plus technology which uses a gyroscope, an accelerometer, and (interestingly) a barometer to keep track of vehicle position to continue navigation when satellite reception is lost. We chose San Francisco's Stockton Street Tunnel as our destination, which is approximately three blocks long, and set off. Partway through the tunnel, we lost satellite reception, indicated by the display's position triangle turning orange, but the U94T seemed to keep track of our position.

Applying the brakes, we began to slow, then briskly sped back up. The speed readout on the display kept track of these changes as well. Emerging from the other end of the tunnel, the device quickly locked on to satellite reception and we moved on to the next part of testing.… Read more

Microsoft plans this week to demo for the first time a Windows-based portable navigation system running a new custom version of Windows.

At a trade show in Hungary, the software maker is showing a system from Mio Technology that is running the Windows Embedded NavReady 2009 operating system that Microsoft announced back in June.

At the time, the software maker said it would have systems out in time for this year's holiday shopping season. However, Mio's press release said it is not planning to have its systems out until sometime next year. I'm checking to confirm that … Read more

Microsoft wants to take Windows in a new direction.

The software maker announced on Monday its plans for NavReady 2009, a customized version of Windows Embedded that's specifically designed to power in-car navigation systems. The software is based on Windows CE, the slimmed-down version of Windows that is used for Windows Mobile.

Some GPS makers, such as Mio, already use Windows CE, though Microsoft says it is adding support for several new features with this navigation-specific release. New features include support for Live Search, Bluetooth, and MSN Direct, which allows real-time traffic and gas prices. NavReady 2009 should start … Read more

Only yesterday we were complaining that the Palm Centro didn't have enough oomph for our liking when--whaddaya know?--the postman kindly delivered Garmin's Mobile 10, a memory card and sat-nav receiver combo that converts a variety of smartphones, including the Centro, into satellite navigation devices.

You simply stick the card--in microSD, miniSD, and SD formats, all included--into your smartphone, and the sat-nav software automatically starts to install itself. Once installed, you're ready to go and can input full addresses or just a zip code. The receiver automatically pairs with your phone via Bluetooth when you launch the … Read more