Navman’s MY500XT portable GPS satellite automotive navigator has an impressively large 4.7 inch (diagonal) touchscreen making it even easier to see navigation maps while driving. The MY500XT is the premium Navman sat nav model in its’ MY range. The unit has an extensive feature set including; text-to-speech for announcing street names, Advanced Lane Guidance, Bluetooth connectivity for hands-free phone use, Live Traffic Updates, Keyword Destination Search, pre-loaded Lonely Planet and Wcities guides, Live Local Searches via Google and TrueLocal.com.au, Live Weather information and an FM Transmitter to connect to your car stereo. Often ignored because of the primary automotive application, is the walking mode for navigation using roads and paths suitable for pedestrians.

As mentioned, the Navman MY500XT’s screen is larger than the common 4.3 inches however, the resolution remains at 480×272 pixels. So, although the screen is easier to see it does not provide any improvement in the level of detail.

The MY500XT has a capacitive touch screen which from user comments available seems more responsive than its S300T predecessor’s resistive touch screen. A war still rages over the superiority of capacitive over resistive touchscreens or vice versa with no clear winner as yet. Women with long fingernails should note that they will have the same problem as with other capacitive touchscreens, such as the iPhone, with fingernail tips not registering. It’s also worth mentioning that glide touch is disabled by default in favour of the button scrolling system common to most portable GPS devices.

Navigating with the Navman MY500XT

Smart Find Keyword Search

Keyword Destination Search is our favorite feature and it’s sure to be a much appreciated feature with other users also. It skips the multi-screen destination entry with an online search engine type single find menu providing the ability to search via entry of the full address, keywords or postcodes. Just like a search engine it will present a list of options for your selection. The speed of this process will win over many a fan.

NavPix

Navigation using NavPix is also an option. Navman call pictures that contain encoded GPS coordinates (geotagged) NavPix which can be used to navigate to the GPS location.

Navman Connect – Live Local Search

At this point it is worth mentioning that the Navman MY500XT will perform live searches using Google or TrueLocal (online database of over 1.3 million businesses) utilizing a Bluetooth connection to a (compatible) mobile phone. Live searching ensures you have guaranteed current information as opposed to pre-loaded POI (Points of Interest) information which is current to the time the database was last updated. Live search will be a feature which comes to dominate destination selection.

Traffic

If you regularly commute over the same roads, Traffic may be a primary reason for purchasing a GPS device. Included with the MY500XT is a lifetime subscription to the Suna traffic messaging service covering Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Adelaide and Perth.

Current traffic information enables you to avoid potential delays on your route. Event messages and traffic icons are displayed as they occur and are accessed automatically using the built-in TMC receiver. The Traffic Message Channel (TMC) carries broadcasts of real-time traffic and weather information via the FM Radio Data System (RDS).

If faced with a traffic delay, the MY500XT can provide an estimated delay time or time of arrival allowing you to decide to continue on route or made a deviation to avoid the problem.

Multi-stop Routing

The MY500XT will allow you to enter waypoints you wish to visit on route.

3D Junction Views

3D Junction Views helps give you through complicated intersections by displaying a detailed 3D image of the approaching major intersection. Arrows guide you through the intersection.

Advanced Lane Guidance

Knowing the correct lane to be in prior to a turn can make life on the road much easier. Navman’s Advanced Lane Guidance displays onscreen arrows which combined with spoken directions provide advice on the best lane to be in when approaching a turn on or off a motorway.

Location and Trip Capture

This feature stores a location or trip so you can return again.

3D Landmarks

3D Landmarks seems to be a feature which polarizes users with some loving and some hating them. 3D Landmarks are highly detailed renderings of well-known buildings inserted to help drivers orientate themselves and find their way easier. Unfortunately, some users think they can make the map screen more cluttered and difficult to read.

Guides

The Navman MY500XT comes with Lonely Planet and Wcities guides for all Australian cities pre-installed. Both guides provide a database of POIs under such categories as; attractions, events, landmarks, business listings, dining, essentials, hotels, nightlife and shopping. Upon selecting a POI it’s possible to navigate to that destination, save it to favourites, call ahead, or browse the surrounding area on the map screen.

Premium Safety Alerts

Premium Safety Alerts groups together speed and red light camera alerts, blackspot warnings and railway crossings.

Speed Limit Alerts

Having the current speed limit for the road you are travelling is useful safety and financial (avoid fines) convenience. Information is obtained from the pre-loaded mapping data so some limits may have changed since the last map update.

School Zone Warnings

As one might guess, this functionality warns the driver when they are approaching reduced speed limit school zone. User feedback has been that the alerts are a bit overzealous by popping up at any time of day and not recognizing those schools on busy roads which do not have a 40km/h speed restriction.

FM Transmitter

By tuning your radio to the Navman MY500XT’s built in FM transmitter you can divert its sound output to the cars speakers for clearer playback of digital music files, voice guidance and Bluetooth connected phone calls.

Live Weather Updates

Live Weather Updates provide useful information about the weather on your planned journey or at your destination so you won’t be caught unaware.

Maps

Navman have a map guarantee which allows purchasers to download a free map update if one becomes available within 30 days of first using your MY500XT. Updating is simply a matter of installing Navman’s NavDesk PC software (included) and connecting your device using the included USB cable.

A survey of MY500XT user comments on their experiences revealed some concerns with map accuracy. A couple of the more prominent complaints were about missed “no right turns” and navigation guidance calling for illegal U turns. Navman sources its mapping data from NAVTEQ following an agreement earlier this year. Any problems won’t be isolated to Navman as many other GPS navigator brands also source their mapping data from NAVTEQ.

The raised issues with map accuracy highlight how essential it is for consumers to check for map updates soon after they purchase their GPS navigator (especially given the map guarantee) and regularly after that. Everyone seems to realize that you need the latest printed road maps but, less so with digital mapping data.

Map accuracy queries also highlight just how quickly roads and their signage change and the effort digital mapping suppliers must put into updates. Technologies such as TomTom’s MapShare, which utilizes user feedback to improve mapping accuracy, make excellent sense when viewed in this light. It should be noted that Navman supply a link from their website to NAVTEQ where you can report mapping inaccuracies.

Incidentally, from some comments it is worth reminding potential purchasers to check that their Bluetooth equipped mobile phone is compatible with the MY500XT before purchase.

The Navman MY500XT comes with a reasonable 2 year warranty.

Standard Inclusions with MY500XT Sat Nav Unit

• USB Cable
• Windscreen mounting bracket
• 10-30V in-vehicle charger
• NavDesk Software DVD

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