Navman have launched the iCN 530, successor to the popular iCN 520. I told you about the 530 along with the other new products from Navman, but now more details have been released, I’m wondering, apart from the obvious face-lift, is there really any difference between it and the 520? The pretty fella on the left is the 530 which boasts more memory and a more advanced GPS system (SiRFStar III Generation 2 rather than SiRFStar2 XTrac) but it also carries a little more bulk. Around 32g heavier (a packet of crisps or so) and a centimeter wider this isn’t much of a difference, but with all the effort Navman put into making things smaller, you’d think they’d manage it here aswell? SiRFStar
Apart from that there isn’t much of a difference: they have the same size screen, the same size processor (although different makes), and neither have bluetooth, wi-fi, mp3 players, cameras or anything frivolous like that. The 530 does offer European maps, where the 520 doesn’t, and this alone is probably worth the £50 (ish) price difference.
One main difference is that the 530 offers Traffic alerts. As far as i can tell from the press release, the 530 does not come with a TMC module (for live Traffic alerts) but the pack is available separately from Navman for around £100. It will plug onto the back of the in-car cradle, and there are no subscription fees as far as I can tell but am willing to be proven wrong if anyone knows better!
For more information on the Navman click here.
Related Articles
1 user responded in this post
Traffic - I’ve done my homework on buying a unit with traffic one of the best thing about the Navman traffic unit is that you pay for the traffic reciever unit (which clips onto the suction-mount) and, while its not cheap-as-chips… THERE IS **NO** SUBSCRIPTION FEE!
- You pay the money and use it for as long as it goes at no further extra cost…..Nice!
Ok - I had a 520 and I LOVED it [it was stolen last week
] . I was small enough to fit in your back pocket without leaving an unsightly bulge, it was reliable. the interface was basic, but easy-to -use. It has very good GPS reception and pretty fast acquisition. The BEST thing about the 520 was that it wasn’t trying to be an MP3 player etc etc. It was designed for a purpose and it did its job well and without any problems. I have my iPOD with the best user interface in the MP3 business… why have a GPS-MP3 without 3/4 of the functionality that makes an iPOD what it is? The only thing bad about the 520 was the rocker button, which you didn’t actually HAVE to use.
The 530 looks like it has been designed to keep the best features of the 520. They got rid of the rocker button, which is good .. and they have added the Parking and Petrol station buttons so that you can display these locations when you need them (which is cool).
Is “no bluetooth” a problem? To be honest I’ve got a bluetooth phone that supposely synchs easily with my PC… but its such a hassle to do, that I never get around to it. I suspect I would be the same with a bluetooth handsfree for the GPS too. I dont want to spend 45 extra sectonds linking uo every time I get into the car. I think that a lot of the GPS companies have got on the wrong track with all the multimedia stuff and schnick schnacks. I’ve got all of those in my phone… why double-up?
Uli
Leave A Reply
Please Note: Comment moderation maybe active so there is no need to resubmit your comments