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Alpine PND-K3msn

(Credit: Alpine Electronics)

On Tuesday, Alpine Electronics announced that it is now shipping its latest in-car GPS, the Alpine PND-K3msn. The device offers a lot of the same navigation features as the Alpine PND-K3, including text-to-speech functionality, integrated Bluetooth, and highway junction view. The main difference between the two models is the addition of MSN Direct services.

MSN Direct brings real-time information to the PND-K3msn, such as real-time traffic, weather forecasts, gas prices, and movie times. There's also a "Send to GPS" feature that lets you find addresses and businesses from your PC on Live Search maps and then send them wirelessly to your GPS.

With the purchase of the PND-K3msn ($299.95), you get a three-month complimentary subscription to the MSN Direct services, but after that you will have to pay $49.95 per year or a one-time fee of $129.95. Also, be sure to check out the coverage map to make sure you can get the services in your area.

(Credit: Garmin)

Mio isn't the only one making GPS news at CeBIT 2009. Garmin also got in on the action and introduced its new Nuvi 1200 and 1300 series of portable navigation devices on Tuesday. The new products sport thinner designs and are the first to offer the option of enhanced pedestrian navigation through CityXplorer maps.

Realizing that portable navigation devices are no longer restricted to just the car and hoping to reach new customers, Garmin wanted to provide an option for those exploring new cities by foot. Slimming down the size of the GPS was one solution and CityXplorer was another.

CityXplorer maps will be available as an optional download to users, ranging from $9.99 to $14.99, and provides information for select cities that allows users to plan and use routes that include public transit options, such as buses and subways. Garmin has not yet released a list of supported cities but plans to publish them (for both North America and Europe) on its Web site in Q2.

Even if you don't opt for the CityXplorer route, the new GPS offer plenty of other navigation features and for reasonable prices. For example, all models in the Nuvi 1300 series, which include the Nuvi 1300, 1350, 1350T, 1370T, and 1390T, have 4.3-inch touch screens and text-to-speech functionality. The Nuvi 1370T and Nuvi 1390T also provide free traffic updates for life. Meanwhile, the Nuvi 1200 series, which consists of the Nuvi 1200, 1250, and 1260T, has 3.5-inch touch screens and text-to-speech functionality. The Nuvi

The Nuvi 1200 and 1300 product lines are expected to ship in Q2; for full details and pricing of each model, check out Garmin's Web site.

Q: I am writing to ask you about what GPS device is the best for someone interested in traffic updates (preferably free), as well as Bluetooth capability. I also like the idea of Lane Assist because I fear missing exits. Also, is the voice response option really a practical one at this phase? Hope to hear from you soon. --Alex via e-mail

A: Hi Alex. I'll start with your last question first. Voice command functionality is just starting to show up in portable navigation devices, letting you enter addresses and perform some other tasks simply by speaking to the GPS. As with any new technology, I can understand your apprehension. Is it good enough? Is it actually useful? In other words, is it ready for prime time?

In the case of voice commands and GPS, it's not quite there yet. The idea behind it is good. The ability to enter addresses and perform certain functions with the sound of your voice would seemingly save you the time and trouble of going through various menus and tapping onscreen buttons to achieve the same goal.

Being able to do things like increase system volume and zoom in on maps via voice commands is particularly useful since you can keep your hands on the wheel instead of reaching over to fiddle around with your PND's touch screen.

However, in practice, the technology still needs some work. Voice command functionality is available on a handful of GPS models, such as the TomTom GO 930 and the Magellan Maestro 4250, but of the current offerings, there are only two models where I'd consider the voice command feature satisfactory: the Garmin Nuvi 880 and Navigon 7200T.

These two systems returned fairly accurate results when dictating addresses, and the Nuvi 800 had the bonus of offering 30 voice commands to perform other functions, including volume control and activating the hands-free speaker system. Unfortunately, they're also on the pricier side ($700 to $1,000 for the Garmin and $300 to $500 for the Navigon), and I wouldn't say the voice command functionality is so great that it's worth the extra expense.

Navigon 7300T

(Credit: Navigon)

Navigon on Monday introduced three portable navigation devices: the Navigon 3300 Max, the Navigon 4300T, and the Navigon 7300T. The trio also includes a new feature called Navigon MyRoutes, which aims to provide personalized route recommendations based on your driving habits.

MyRoutes works by recording and analyzing your driving habits, along with other data, such as day of the week and time of travel, to come up with the best route based on that information. The feature will provide up to three route recommendations, and gives you the distance and estimated time of arrival to your destination, also taking traffic, speed limits, and constructions into consideration. MyRoutes will display this information on a map to give you a visual overview of your options.

In addition to MyRoutes, all three GPS devices offer other new features. Here is a breakdown of each model.

Navigon 3300 Max: The aim of the Navigon 3300 Max is to offer more for less, and on paper, it certainly looks like the PND matches the description. For $199.99, you get a 4.3-inch touch screen, text-to-speech functionality, and advanced land guidance. The latter, which includes Reality View for exits and Lane Assistant Pro, is definitely a bonus at this price, since these high-end features are typically seen in more expensive models. The system comes preloaded with maps of the 48 contiguous United States, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Navigon 3300 Max

(Credit: Navigon)

Navigon 4300T Max: The Navigon 4300T Max adds on to the 3300 Max with integrated Bluetooth for hands-free calling and real-time spoken traffic updates for life. The GPS also includes Rand McNally content, such as Best of the Road Weekend Getaways, Scenic Tours, and Regional Trips. The 4300T Max has a suggested retail price of $279.99.

Navigon 7300T: Last but not least, the Navigon 7300T brings together the Panorama View 3D feature, which we saw in the Navigon 8100T, and the Landmark View 3D functionality of the Navigon 7200T. It also offers voice address entry and commands, so not only can you input destinations with the sound of your voice, you'll also be able to perform various tasks, such as increase system volume and answer calls, by speaking to the GPS. The 7300T costs $399.99 and includes all the features previously mentioned, as well as Zagat ratings and reviews for certain points of interest.

All three Navigon models are expected to ship in the second quarter, and you can preorder the Navigon 3300 Max and 4300T Max on March 9 through various online retailers, including Amazon.com, Crutchfield, and CompUSA. We'll, of course, give all three a road test when we get them.

The new features certainly pique our interest, but we're just wondering if Navigon has done anything to improve its devices' GPS performance, since we haven't always been impressed by it.

(Credit: Corinne Schulze/CNET Networks)

Perhaps seeing the error of its ways or facing slow sales, Alpine Electronics announced on Wednesday that it has reduced the price of its Alpine PND-K3 GPS from $349.95 to $199.95.

"When we first introduced the PND-K3, the pricing was competitive for the market and for the device's robust feature offering. As the marketplace has changed in the last few months, we are adjusting the price to meet consumer demand for a full-featured product at a better value," said Stephen Witt, vice president of marketing.

Frankly, we thought the price of the PND-K3 was too high from the get-go, but either way, we're glad to see the price drop. The portable navigation device includes features such as text-to-speech functionality, advanced lane guidance, and integrated Bluetooth. You can find out all the details in our full review of the Alpine PND-K3.

(Credit: Corinne Schulze/CBS Interactive)

On Tuesday, location-based service provider TeleNav released new features for its connected portable-navigation device, the TeleNav Shotgun. The added functionalities include a mileage tracker and the capability to check ratings and reviews for points of interest (POI), such as restaurants, hotels, and so forth.

The Mileage Capture tool was designed with business users in mind so that they can track their miles and record them for any clients or jobs. You can capture your mileage on a specific route or from any user-specified start and end point. Once you return to your office or home, you can then connect the Shotgun to your PC (via USB cable) to view and download reports as Microsoft Word or PDF files.

The feature that we're particularly happy about is the POI reviews. We knocked the lack of this capability in our original review of the TeleNav Shotgun, since we think it's one of the benefits of having a connected PND, so we're glad to see this addition. You'll now be able to check out reviews for a variety of POI, including the aforementioned restaurants and hotels, but also stores, museums, and more. In addition, you'll be able to add your own reviews and ratings right from the GPS.

The new features are part of the TeleNav Connected Service, and current Shotgun owners who have subscribed to that service will receive an over-the-air message alerting them to the update. We'll be checking out the new capabilities ourselves, so check back soon for an updated review.

The Garmin Nuvi 200 is a good choice.

(Credit: Corinne Schulze/CBS Interactive)

Q: If you had to pick a walking-tour-guide GPS for a first-timer walking in New York City, but wanted to use a basic GPS auto navigation system, what would you buy? Are crossover systems any good? We are visiting NYC for Valentines Day weekend and don't want to get lost! --Bill via e-mail

A: Bill, I've found that crossover GPS units aren't exactly what they advertise. These portable navigation devices, such as the Magellan CrossoverGPS and Garmin Nuvi 500, try to be all-in-one GPS solutions for drivers, boaters, and outdoor enthusiasts. However, it's been my experience that while they're decent navigators for the car, when it comes to other modes of transportation, you're better going with a dedicated GPS for that specific activity.

That said, all hope is not lost for you. Since you're looking for something to navigate the streets of New York City and not the back country, you can probably get away with a basic in-car GPS. I'd recommend something small and basic like the TomTom One 130S or the Garmin Nuvi 200, since it will be easy to walk around with and then slip into a pocket or bag. With the Nuvi 200, you can also purchase the Garmin Travel Guide SD card that comes loaded with recommendations and ratings for hotels, restaurants, tourist attractions, and more, all provided by Fodor's travel guides. The accessory costs $70, but includes data for all of North America.

Another suggestion I have is that if you have a cell phone or smartphone with integrated GPS, you can add a location-based service like TeleNav to get real-time tracking, turn-by-turn directions, and local search. There are a couple of advantages with this option. First, you wouldn't have to carry another device and a cell phone is ultra-portable. You can purchase the location-based services on a per-day basis (or per-month if you wish), so this option could also save you some money.

Hope this helps, Bill, and have a wonderful Valentine's Day in NYC!

(Credit: Corinne Schulze/CBS Interactive)

2009 Nissan GT-R

In December we invited you to vote for the 2008 Tech Car of the Year from our five nominees. Well, no upset this year, as our staff judges agreed with the voting public: the 2009 Nissan GT-R is our Tech Car of the Year. Nissan has been putting top-notch cabin tech into its Infiniti models, and applied the same gear to the GT-R. But that's only the beginning, as you can almost feel the circuitry running through the GT-R's advanced suspensions and road-holding systems. Likewise, the engine is a pretty impressive piece of engineering, bringing in supercar acceleration from a V-6, not to mention the new double-clutch gearbox.

The GT-R has some faults, such as the overly stiff ride, which isn't really mitigated by the Comfort setting for the suspension. And we had some staff disagreement about that double-clutch gearbox: Brian Cooley found problems with using it in traffic, while Wayne Cunningham felt it worked very smoothly. But we couldn't deny the tech tour de force that the Nissan GT-R represents.

... Read more

(Credit: Magellan)

On Monday, Magellan Navigation Inc., entered into a definitive agreement to sell its consumer products division to Taiwanese-based MiTAC International Corporation and expects the transaction to be finalized by January 2009, though no specifics were given about the financial terms. As part of the package, MiTAC, which also owns Mio Technology, makers of the Mio Knight Rider GPS and the the Mio C520, will inherit the Magellan RoadMate and Maestro series of portable navigation devices and the Triton series of handheld GPS.

Though Magellan still has a decent retail presence in the United States and comes in third to Garmin and TomTom, the company has been slow to come out with new products and hasn't been able to keep up with the big two in terms of features, innovation, or support. Meanwhile, Mio has struggled with brand recognition in the States. Just how the two companies will integrate remains to be seen, but GPS Business News believes that MiTAC will do away with the Mio brand and build on Magellan's name and customer base. This would probably make the most sense, but either way, it's going to be an uphill battle.

(Official press release: Magellan)