This article is more than 1 year old
Show me the way to go home: GPS on test
Ten gadgets to get you from A to B
Garmin NüVI 670
Garmin's new 670 is touted as the complete navigation gadget and features a number of cool new additions alongside a plethora of non-navigation functions. Garmin has opted for the larger and thus easier to use while driving daylight-readable 4.3in-wide touchscreen, and the 670 comes pre-loaded with maps for the 30 European countries, North America, Canada and Puerto Rico.
The shiny silver 670 houses 1.25GB of in-built Flash memory, which can be easily expanded via the SD card slot should you wish to fill it up with music or pictures to take advantage of its MP3 and audiobook player and JPEG photo viewer functions. Bluetooth is present for hands-free phone calls, but it's the FM transmitter that really grabs the attention. In car, this means you can play the text-to-speech voice guidance, MP3s and phone calls via your car's own speaker system, making for infinitely better sound quality all round.
There's an enormous POI database; FM TMC traffic receiver with instant re-routing for traffic jams, road works and weather related problems; 2D and 3D maps; currency and measurement converters; world clock; calculator; and simple software downloads for the likes of language and travel guides should you find yourself on a road trip through... er... Puerto Rico.
Garmin has a fine heritage in GPS navigation systems and the top-of-the-line 670 lives up to that reputation in every way. Alongside the well-versed and intuitive maps and menus lies a fully featured multimedia system designed to keep you entertained and in control no matter where you are in the world. Comprehensive barely covers it.
Garmin NüVI 670
| Best for convergence
Expensive but all-encompassing satnav and multimedia crossover gadget |
 |
| Price | £420 inc VAT |
|---|---|
| More info | Garmin's UK website |
TomTom Go 910
Looking to expand on its already supreme range of satnav systems, TomTom has included a huge 20GB memory in its Go 910. If you've already glanced over the TomTom One Europe review earlier in this group test, you'll know that the company's menu system, map graphics and screen layout is second to none, and with the new improved wide 4in touchscreen, things only look better on the 910. Obscure viewing angles, bright sunlight - nothing seemed to hinder our viewing experience.
Maps for 19 European countries (though not Ireland) are included alongside North America and Canada, and account for 8GB of that 20GB memory. A quick bit of maths reveals that leaves a meaty 12GB space for your MP3s and piccies, easily accessible via the excellent TomTom Home software. You can also buy an audio cable to hook it up to your car stereo for music playback either from the hard drive or via your iPod, which you can then control via the TomTom's touchscreen - something you'll need to do if you intend to take use of the MP3 feature as the 910's own speaker is unsurprisingly tinny and won't do your impeccable music taste any justice.
The ubiquitous satnav must-haves are all accounted for too: Bluetooth, probably the best text-to-speech system currently available, remote control and TomTom's excellent Plus service, which brings you real-time traffic information - a free one-month trial is bundled - speed camera alerts and real-time five-day weather reports.
But above and beyond all the features and design genius, it is still the simple act of navigating from A to B with the minimum of hassle that the Go 910 excels at, and excel it does. Superb.
Best for home and business
TomTom Go 910
| Best for everything
The best of everything satnav has to offer easily accessed at a price that won't break the bank |
 |
| Price | £320 inc VAT |
|---|---|
| More info | TomTom's website |
The Pocket Loox is a crossover PDA and satnav device that's been called the PNA answer to the iPod - and a brief perusal of its silky curves and shiny silver and white livery should immediately tell you why.
The smallest and lightest PNA on the market - a floaty-light 110g - the N100 is smaller than many mobile phones but certainly isn't feature light. As a PDA it's missing some hardcore business apps, instead offering basic games, clock and calculator, but as a satnav it's got everything you expect and need.
The brilliant 2.8in touchscreen is as bright and clear as any GPS unit on the market and opens up a menu system that's as easy and intuitive to navigate through as the pack-leading TomTom's. You're even provided with a decent stylus to prevent a fingerprint-riddled screen.
Maps for the UK, France and Nordic nations are supplied via the 1GB Mini SD card with more on the enclosed DVD - an impressive 37 countries in all - and are effortlessly smooth in real-time 2D or 3D with surprisingly loud voice guidance that increases in volume as you accelerate - nice touch. The unit lists thousands of POIs, and provides auto-rerouting and lane assist. The only thing we really missed was a speed camera database and traffic updates, for which you'll need to buy a TMC aerial.
While The N100 can take a little while to locate a satellite from the off - five minutes tops - once up and running it is uniformly quick and accurate, and amazingly easy to use even with that slightly smaller screen. Throw in an excellent music player, as Fujitsu-Siemens has, and you've got a great looking love child of iPod and satnav - brains and beauty in one slight package.
Fujitsu-Siemens Pocket Loox N100
Best for style
Tiny, capable and beautiful - it's the Kylie Minogue of the satnav world, but with a better singing voice
Price
From free
More info
Fujitsu-Siemens' website
| Best for style
Tiny, capable and beautiful - it's the Kylie Minogue of the satnav world, but with a better singing voice |
|
| Price | From free |
|---|---|
| More info | Fujitsu-Siemens' website |
Biting the hand that feeds IT
