13
Feb
Verdict: Basic unit for the budget conscious — it does what it’s supposed to with no frills. Decent build quality; feels sturdy.
My predecessor Jill mentioned the iCN 330 on its release, but it doesn’t seem as though she got her mitts on one to review. I, on the other hand, have managed to score a refurbished unit from our warehouse.
As your typical average user, I reckon I’m perfectly-suited to review this unit.
23
Oct
The Acer N50 is a wee classic. Not only does it have Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and Infrared connections, it also has both SD and CF slots. OK, so this doesn’t sound unusual, but then I mention that it is under £130 and suddenly your ears prick up. It is not to shabby looking either. Acer PDAs are always known more for their performance than their looks, but the company have struck a good balance with the sleek little N50.
5
Sep
Old vs New - the TomTom ONE
TomTom have launched a new entry-level sat-nav to replace the best-selling TomTom ONE - the ONE version 2. But does this new challenger stand a chance in the GPS featherweight division?
Well it may look prettier, but then again, the old TomTom ONE was never going to win a bonny baby contest. But it’s not just in looks that Version 2 (v.2) poses a challenge to its predecessor, it’s shed a few pounds and it’s gained a few features:
continue reading "TomTom’s new range - But Which ONE?"
29
Aug
A multimedia GPS system for under £130? Sounds good - so what’s the catch? Well it is light, easy on the eyes and has (my favourite) Destinator maps, so it ticks all the first boxes. When you look a little deeper it has a decent 266Mhz processor (not NASA standard, but not bad), a 12 channel receiver and SiRFStar III antenna - a decent mix for a low end machine.
When you add to that the MP3 player and picture viewer and you have an all rounder device. The menus are easy to navigate, and the interface is pretty intuitive so it is definitely user friendly. So it gets the Jill’s Corner thumbs up. Nothing new or special, but a lot of the best bits in one cheap device - what more can you ask for?
For more information on the Packard Bell GPS 400 click here.
15
Jun
Meet the HP iPAQ rw6828 Multimedia Messenger, previously a vicious rumour way back in February, is now a real and shiny product, complete with all the goodies we expected, and a few more. Pretty light at a megre 140g, with a minimalist look - no keyboard, just some quick jump buttons, the 6828 looks like a smartphone you wouldn’t be embarrassed to hold to your ear in public.
It is one of the first Windows Mobile 5.0 based devices to support push email, making it an ideal business phone/PDA. Strangely it is only tri-band, but features every connectivity option you can imagine - GPRS/EDGE, Bluetooth, Infrared and Wi-Fi. Part of HP’s DIAFA (Designed in Asia, for Asia) Initiative, CNET are currently the only reviewers lucky enough to get their hands on one, and they are singing its praises. Comparing it to the corporate friendly Blackberrys, they are pleased to announce that the 6828’s multimedia functions blow the Berry out the water.
9
Jun
A PDA with GPS, not unusual, but at less than £130, a pretty rare find! So why so cheap? Well, this little mobile office doesn’t have all, what have become, the ’standard’ PDA features - like Bluetooth. It doesn’t have Wi-Fi, or a camera, or an integrated phone, and it’s based on Pocket PC 2003 rather than Mobile 5.0 OS. So what does it have? Well, an SD expansion slot and a decent 64MB RAM, a good 3.5″ TFT screen, Windows Media player (so it can claim to have an MP3 player) and a decent 266MHz processor.
6
Jun
GPS Magazine has given the latest portable device from TomTom a B+ and the “Editor’s Choice” award. The Editor and magazine founder, Fletcher Previn, has given the TomTom GO 910 commendation for “Phenomenal GPS Reception”, and claims he could receive up to 5 bars of reception indoors, and even in midtown Manhattan. A lot of the other features he comments on are standard across the GO range - portability, rechargeable in-car, good quality speakers, and great user interface. A few things specific about this device are mentioned - such as the fast CPU, and integrated bluetooth for handsfree calling (unique to the latest TomTom GOs).
2
Jun
The long awaited threesome from Navman have arrived. I reviewed an iCN 530 last week, but the bigger babies in the litter are the iCN 720 and the monster iCN 750. These two feature the NavPix technology that allows you to navigate to a destination using just images, and some ridiculously high definition 4-inch widescreens - but what about the GPS technology? Are they yet another range that chooses multimedia over GPS? Would I be as well using a paper map and an iPOD?
continue reading "Navman’s new iCNs - worth the wait?"
23
May
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
19
May
After years of major growth, the PDA industry has started to even out, with some of the biggest names even shipping less products than this time last year. Mio, on the other hand has shown an increase in the number of units shipped compared to the same time in 2005. Despite being a relatively “new” brand, Mio claims a 10% share of the GPS industry, and with so many new products being launched in both Europe and the US in the next few months - there’s no doubt they will continue to grow.
Their latest products, the C210 and the P350 are a dedicated in car GPS system, and a PDA with GPS functions respectively. Now on sale in the UK market I’ve had a look at them and can tell you what the score is…
