The Becker Traffic Assist 100, or Crocodile, is optimized for international use. It communicates in 28 languages and, in some cases, different voices.
(Credit: Becker)If you're planning to hop on your Harley and travel the globe, you're not going to want some wimpy little GPS device attached to your hog. You're going to want something rugged and water-resistant, with a tough name like "Crocodile."
That's just the nickname of the Traffic Assist 100, from Becker. It's meant to evoke the stylized reptile skin finish on the mobile navigation system, which has a turn-by-turn view optimized for motorcycles.
The device, which Becker is unveiling this week at the IFA electronics fair in Berlin, is a rubber-coated, water-resistant version of the Becker Traffic Assist Z 201, and it shares some standard features with its precursor, such as visual or acoustic warning signals for speed limits. It also has 2GB of integrated flash memory with preloaded Navteq data for 42 European countries, and it features menus and text-to-speech instructions in 28 languages.
The 4.3-inch wide-screen color display has day and night views featuring a touch-screen graphic guidance system designed to make it easier for bikers with a closed visor to read the monitor in low-visibility conditions. For better orientation in cities, buildings are displayed as 3D models.
The Crocodile also comes loaded with more than 1,000 photorealistic 3D images of European landmarks, including the Reichstag building in Berlin.
Oh, and it has a smart-speller function, which could come in handy, particularly if you're an American roaring through the backwoods of Poland.
The Crocodile will be available in October for 300 euros (about $438).
Other rugged GPS devices:
(Credit:
Dvice)
As many carmakers try to outdo each other with cutting-edge technologies, we may be seeing a the beginnings of a trend to take accessories back in time, at least where design is concerned.
That makes sense, especially for those of us who appreciate vintage cars but can't stand the jarring appearance of a new digital radio ruining the aesthetics of a '57 Chevy's dashboard. Companies such as RetroBelt have figure this out with products like its "Retro Sound" sound system, and now Becker has done them one better by adding GPS features to a retro stereo of its own.
In addition to the navigation, the classically pinstriped "Mexico 7948" (we're don't understand the name either) includes an MP3 player, iPod connection, voice recognition, and Internet access, according to Dvice. It's available in Europe now, though a U.S. version is planned for release this year. But at an estimated $2,300, it might better to just buy a new car.
(Credit:
Becker)
We have nothing against the Ferrari laptop and certainly nothing against the Dino. But of all the latest Ferrari-related announcements, this one just doesn't seem to live up to the legendary name above its face, at least in its appearance.
Granted, the Traffic Assist Pro (couldn't they come up with a better name?) is packed with features, including a state-of-the-art GPS system, 400-MHz processor, MP3-grade speakers and a touch-sensitive screen that Newlaunches says can support 65,536 colors. Perhaps most impressive of all to us, it can keep a list of speed radars in its internal database.
Still, despite all of its Becker engineering, we can't help but think of a kid's toy when we look at this thing. An Etch-A-Sketch, maybe. And we wouldn't want to pay $900 for something that looks like it came from Toys R Us.
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