In brief, the Garmin-Asus nuvifone G60 integrates a quad-band GSM phone with 3.5G data connectivity, 3MP camera, a Webkit-based Internet browser, personal messaging, Wi-Fi, stereo Bluetooth, a GPS receiver and Garmin’s proven navigation functionality. Other software functionalities available include an mp3 music player, calendar/PIM, Outlook contacts, Word, Excel, PowerPoint and PDF and image (JPG) viewers.

Garmin-Asus predict that when released the nuvifone G60 will offer unique features created by its location centric design as compared to the conventional data and voice paradigm. In the nuvifone consumers will have the option of a mobile phone of outstanding GPS navigation pedigree co-developed Garmin, a company with among the most extensive in the market. Other phones have GPS but, this one will maximize the potential of the combination of networking with GPS positioning to deliver location based services. Only a small percentage of the population are aware of the business and social significance the proliferation of location awareness will have.
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Garmin’s Dakota 10 and Dakota 20 handhelds are affordable GPS navigators bringing an attractive color, touchscreen display with a simple user interface to the outdoor market. The units are superbly compact, rugged and waterproof devices with up a long 20 hours of battery life. As with many GPS navigators, the current difficult market conditions have delivered much more value for money in terms of extra features.

The Dakota 10 and 20 units have high-sensitivity GPS receivers to quickly acquire and maintain satellite reception, even poor reception environments like under heavy tree cover or deep canyons. Satellite acquisition is sped up by HotFix which automatically calculates and stores satellite position information for future reference.
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Nokia’s N79 Active cell phone and Polar Bluetooth Wearlink heart rate measurement unit package provides a serious tool for monitoring your fitness when combined with Nokia’s Sports Tracker software application (free download). With the phone secured in an included arm band and your heart rate data collected by the N79 Active over a Bluetooth connection to the heart rate belt worn around your chest, you are set to train in an intelligent manner to raise your fitness.

The Nokia N79 Active phone is no different to other N79 phones with 3G network speeds, Wi-Fi, 5-megapixel camera (+ video), GPS and Symbian operating system. With the input from the N79s built-in GPS receiver, Nokia’s Sports Tracker application will display importants stats in real time and also log them for later uploading to Nokia’s Sports Tracker support site for review and perhaps sharing with team mates or a trainer. With the GPS data you can see an overlay of your route on a map.

Mikko Rieger on the N79 Active

Nokia’s Sports Tracker is a GPS enabled activity tracker software package that runs on Nokia smartphones. The software recently won the Best Mobile Internet Service award in GSMA Global Mobile Awards 2009. It has improved even further since than with its first significant update being issued in March. Sports Tracker is compatible with all Nokia devices based on S60 3rd Edition.

While users are training, Nokia’s Sports Tracker provides immediate performance feedback such as speed, distance and time and automatically stores the data in a training diary. At Nokia’s Sports Tracker support site users can share their workouts and routes. It’s a particularly useful tool for collaborative training through allowing coaches to monitor performance and team members to compare their training regime against their team mates. However, there are privacy settings for your training data and you decide what to share.
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Garmin’s Foretrex 401 and Foretrex 301 GPS navigators, rugged and waterproof for tough conditions, have a high-sensitivity, WAAS-enabled GPS receiver, easy-to-read LCD display and a USB interface. Garmin advise that the units are suitable for light hikers, skiers, campers and military personnel to wear comfortably on their wrists. The display and navigation software remind one of a eTrex H which is handheld rather than worn on the wrist.

Combined with the high-sensitivity GPS receiver is Garmin HotFix for quickly acquiring and maintaining satellite reception even in heavy tree cover or deep canyons – our faithful eTrex H has passed many such tests. As one hikes or skis the Foretrex 301 or 401 accurately monitors and stores your routes, tracks and waypoints. When its time to return, it’s a simple matter of turning on the TracBack feature, and Foretrex will retrace your path right back to you point of origin. The software provides breadcrumb trails, data fields and a compass screen to enable you to return to any waypoint.
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Pioneer’s AVIC-U310BT is the most affordable in-dash GPS navigator from Pioneer. However, it still has and impressive array of features for a GPS navigation and entertainment system. Notably the U310BT offers Bluetooth and Apple iPod and iPhone control. The touch screen display is a large 4.3 inches (WQVGA). The U310BT can be fully integrated into a large number of vehicles with a 2-DIN dash opening.

The U310BT comes with text-to-speech technology so turn-by-turn navigation directions include spoken street names for the increased safety offered with drivers not needing to take their attention from the road ahead as often.
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Pioneer’s AVIC-X710BT and AVIC-X910BT are the latest impressive instalments in their line of in-dash navigation and entertainment systems. Both systems combine GPS navigation, audio and video entertainment and extensive connectivity features including Apple iPod and iPhone, Bluetooth, MSN Direct, HD Radio and SIRIUS XM Satellite Radio. Big displays make a difference and the AVIC-X Series has a bright, color 5.8 inch high resolution WVGA touch panel display. Both Pioneer AVIC-X navigation system models can be fully integrated into a large number of vehicles with a 2-DIN dash opening.

Building upon features from previous models such as their AVIC-F500BT (in-dash and portable navigation), Pioneer have made visual interface enhancements including:
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The uPro Golf GPS by Callaway Golf is the most sophisticated golf GPS we’ve seen so far. It is the first to bring in mapping features that might be found in the premium outdoor handheld GPS devices such as the DeLorme PN-40. In fact it even goes further with the capability to accept voice commands, a feature usually seen on only premium GPS navigators.

The uPro is a convenient handheld size, is light at 3.1 ounces and will fit easily into a pocket. It has 2.2-inch, high-resolution (320 x 240 pixels) trasflective color screen transflective. Being transflective it uses uses sunlight to boost screen brightness. Lithium Ion battery capacity at 10-12 hours is more than adequate for a days golf.
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DeLorme’s Earthmate GPS PN-20 is a high-sensitivity, WAAS-enabled, bright color screen, handheld GPS which offers an impressive array of display options including up-to-date topographic maps, NOAA nautical charts, and four types of aerial imagery. The PN-20 is suited for outdoors use in all conditions being waterproof to IPX7 standards, vibration resistant and clad in an impact-resistant rubberized case.

The PN-20 is a good size for a handheld GPS unit and is suitably light. It has a decent size 65K-color daylight-readable transflective TFT screen suitable for any light conditions including direct sunlight.
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DeLorme’s Earthmate PN-40 reflects in its solid design and performance the quality that DeLorme put into their GPS products for professionals. It’s a handheld GPS worth looking at seriously if you will depend on your GPS. The DeLorme PN series oudoors GPS navigators have been used successfully in numerous Arctic and Antarctic expeditions.

The PN-40 has a high sensivity STMicroelectronics Cartesio GPS chipset, and preloaded map and imagery. Its both rugged and waterproof (IPX-7) for demanding outdoor conditions. Map display is on a 65K-color daylight-readable transflective TFT screen by Sharp suitable for any light conditions including direct sunlight.
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