Garmin takes on iPhone with satnav mobile
Make calls, plan routes
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Is it a satnav, or is it a mobile phone? Garmin’s hoping you’ll think its latest device is both, because the Nüvifone lets you find locations and make calls through a fancy touchscreen UI.
Garmin's Nüvifone: a mobile phone and GPS combined
The Nüvifone combines 3.5G cellular connectivity with Garmin’s established GPS technology. It includes maps for North America, Eastern and Western Europe, and a database with over 1m points of interest.
The Nüvifone has a 3.5in touchscreen that provides users with access to Google apps. And, for that true mobile phone feeling, it also supports text messaging, email and instant messaging, while at the same time supporting MP3 audio and various video formats though its on-board media player. There’s even a built-in video camera.
The Nüvifone's capable of browsing the web, but the manufacturer’s still included its Garmin Online application. This provides users with all the critical information required for living a hi-tech 21st Century life, such as fuel prices, stock movements and sport scores.
However, Garmin hasn’t forgotten its roots. Should you get lost out in the wilderness, then the Where am I? function displays your exact coordinates, as well as details of, say, the nearest hospital.
Garmin hasn’t said much more about the Nüvifone's capabilities yet, but has promised that it’ll be available in Q3. The company hasn't located a price yet.
COMMENTS
I really hope it takes off because
they are right up the street, their actual world HQ is in Olathe, Kansas.
They do have the best navigation software on the market thanks to the new agreement.
Very pretty...
Colour LCD screen, so you can't see it outside, and probably not at all waterproof. Nice phone, GPS is a bit of an afterthought.
To the person having problems with the GPS40, the trick is to use it regularly. The GPS needs to know what satellites it's likely to be able to see and where they are at a given time, which is pulled down from the satellite. If the almanac is still valid the next time you turn it on, it will get a fix much faster as it doesn't have to start from scratch.
It also helps to be near where you were when you turned it off.
I wouldn't be without my Garmin NavTalk, I think I'd still be looking for the hotel in Nottingham it if hadn't got me to within 10 feet, and that was on foot!
Alan.
Re:Can't be worse than the N95
I am sorry to say that you probably haven't worked out how to use some of your gadgets properly if you think they can't show Lat&Long.
I have an almost up to date N95, which gets fixes quicker than the 1st Navman I owned, and it can show Lat&Long from the Nokia Tools menu.
Both Navman Sat Nav (portable car based units) would also show the Lat&Long.
OK none of them have shown OS co-ordinates, but that is what the ones designed for walking have as their selling point
(The Alien as we know they come from space like these sat nav signal things)
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