Garmin 10x Bluetooth-Enabled GPS System (Mounted Version) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I am using the 10x with a Palm TX and with Garmin Mobile XT as software and they work fantastic, is just like using a nuvi or Street Pilot.
Very quick to access the satellites, I have an old Etrex Legend and it take a lot of time ot get a position, but the 10x just does it in a minute.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Garmin 10x Bluetooth-Enabled GPS System (Mounted Version)

Product Description:
Compact and lightweight, the Garmin GPS 10x sensor combines a high sensitivity GPS receiver with Bluetooth technology in a sleek design. Both portable and wearable, you can mount the GPS 10x in your car or clip it to your clothes for navigation by car or foot. Ideal for mobile executives and professionals, the 10x determines your location and transmits vital information to mobile devices so you stay on track. For added convenience, the 10x features a removable and rechargable, long-life, lithium-ion battery which lasts up to 20 hours with every charge.
What's in the Box
GPS 10x,Lithium-ion battery, and 12-volt adapter cable.

Want to read more honest consumer review about Garmin 10x Bluetooth-Enabled GPS System (Mounted Version) now ?

Mio P550 3.5-Inch Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I don't recommend this item. There are a couple of pluses, but there are a number of problems:

First, the pluses--
--The price is good for a GPS unit and PDA.
--The SIRF III GPS received is responsive, receiving good reception even inside my house (except for the basement).
--The Wifi is fast.

Now the minuses:

--The battery life is poor.I ran through a fully charged battery in a little over an hour with the Wifi on.
--The screen is poor quality.There is bleeding of text and images and the resolution does not appear good.Possibly, this is because the screen is quite large for 320x240 resolution.
--The PDA functions are not integrated with the mapping and GPS functions. E.g., there does not appear to be a way to access your contacts list within the Mio Maps.
--Mio Maps is clunky software.It requires multiple taps and is not intuitive.
--There are typical Windows Mobile memory problems because applications do not shut down when closed.I guess I'll need to pursue the third party software route to address this problem.
--Internet Explorer is a dated and inconvenient browser for mobile devices.It doesn't format pages well and will not load secure sites such as Chase Banking.I downloaded Opera mobile but they want to charge $24 for a registered copy.
--The device is quite heavy.It is industrial in appearance; not attractive but not terribly ugly.It is a bit odd that the screen is so recessed.
--I was surprised that the device connects to ActiveSync via USB 1.1.This causes synchronization to be very slow.
--Skype did not work very well even though I have a very fast home Wifi network.
--Almost no software came with device (only Worldmate, Mio Mapping and the basic Windows Mobile).Outlook was not even included.This is a first, in my experience.

I haven't used the mapping software extensively.It's based on TeleAtlas.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Mio P550 3.5 Inch Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator

Product Description:
Perfect for any road trip, the Mio P550 Portable GPS Multimedia Navigation System is a versatile navigation device, providing full PDA capability, Internet access via built-in Wi-Fi, and wireless connectivity with Bluetooth. Both affordable and stylish, the Mio P550 makes it easier than ever to get where you are going, even when you aren't quite sure where that might be. And because the P550 is compatible with most Windows Mobile 5 software, you can use it for off-road navigation as well.
Since it runs on the Windows Mobile 5 operating platform, the Mio P550 can support the GPS software of your choice. This means you are not restricted as to where and when you can use GPS, nor do you need different devices depending on the activity you want to use them for, for ultimate flexibility. For the road, the manufacturer does recommend Mio Map software, which guides you to your destination with a seamless journey, and has maps of the US and 24 European countries available. However, the P550 is equally in its element if you want to go sailing, biking, or hiking, requiring you to just add the software and get going. The highly sensitive SirfStar III GPS chipset in the P550 can receive signals from up to 20 satellites for extremely accurate positioning, even in the toughest terrain. And when it comes to connecting the receiver, you don't have to worry about getting tangled up with external antenna and extra wires, because it is already built-in. Slim and sleek, the P550 has an ultra-compact design offering pocket-sized portability that's perfect whether you are traveling on foot, by bike or in your car. The Mio P550 even makes exchanging files quick and easy via reliable, high-speed Bluetooth connectivity for synchronizing your Outlook or calendar with your desktop computer.
More than a convenient navigator, the P550 can be used with SD/MMC cards to store pictures, MP3 files, videos, and eBooks, turning this unit into a multimedia entertainment center. Now you can always take a couple of eBooks, your favorite MP3s, a film or two, and your photo album along, in the convenience of a standard memory card. And since you are only limited by your number of SD/MMC cards, you can read on the train, show relatives your family snaps, or listen to music strolling around town, taking unlimited entertainment with you wherever you go. The Mio P550 also offers all the advantages a surprisingly powerful, incredibly versatile PDA running Windows Mobile. Providing access to all Microsoft Office Pocket applications, you can go through your PowerPoint presentation, edit Word documents or create an Excel spreadsheet any time you need to, so you'll always be prepared and up to speed. And when you've had enough of work, you can also use the P550 to play games to pass the time, or use the Wi-Fi to get online and surf the Internet.
The Mio Digiwalker P550 utilizes a 3.5-inch color resistive, anti-glare LCD touch-screen display with LED backlighting, 65,000 colors and 320 x 240 pixels of resolution. This unit includes 64 MB of on-board RAM, 128 MB of memory, and infinitely expandable memory via the built-in SD/MMC card slot that is SD/IO compatible. The P550 includes a USB 1.1 connector, a built-in speaker and mono microphone, a 3.5-millimeter headphone jack, and an internal rechargeable 1,200 mAh lithium-ion battery. This unit utilizes Bluetooth 1.2 wireless technology, and 802.11 b and g Wi-Fi connectivity. The included cradle doesn't just hold your navigator, but will also charge the battery while you drive when connected to the power cable. Combined with the windshield mount, this cradle forms a very solid device holder, providing investment security and preventing vibrations. The Mio Digiwalker P550 portable GPS multimedia navigator weighs six ounces, measures 2.8 x 4.5 x 0.7 inches (W x H x D), and is backed by a manufacturer's one-year warranty.
What's in the Box
Mio Digiwalker P550 portable PDA and navigator, device holder, windshield mount, AC power adapter, DC in-vehicle power adapter, USB cable, CD with user's manual, getting started CD, license agreement, windshield mount guide, quick start guide, Mio club registration card and warranty card.

Want to read more honest consumer review about Mio P550 3.5 Inch Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator now ?

Navman PiN 570 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This is a decent GPS device and a fine Pocket PC.I'd give it 3.5 stars if possible.

Pros:

1) It's a perfectly decent Pocket PC.I've owned several, and this is no worse than any of them except for CPU speed and RAM.It's perfectly OK and actually pretty decent looking.Its lights (charging, charged, etc.) keep you well informed.

2) The GPS functions work pretty well.The software for the PC is quite good.You can load maps to main memory and/or the SD card (your choice per map).You get a lot of control with reasonable ease of use.The US maps seem pretty good (but not up-to-date with the very latest street changes).

3) It's priced VERY attractively.Consider that you're getting a fully-functional PDA (with MP3 playback, games you can download, etc.) AND a GPS device with a 3.5" color touch-screen.Amazon is a great retailer and has a good price, but I did manage to pay fifty less on sale elsewhere.

4) If you make a "wrong" turn (intentionally or not), it's pretty quick to recalculate the route and give intelligent new instructions.

5) You can switch among 4 screens while navigating: 2D map (and you can zoom in & out and drag to scroll), 3D map, list of directions with current step highlighted, or a "large" screen of what the next major step will be (and how soon).To avoid being distracted while driving, that last screen may be your best friend.You probably don't need the maps much while driving -- just while planning the trip or if you pull over.DON'T DRIVE DISTRACTED!

6) This may annoy some people, but I like that it gives verbal directions about upcoming forks/intersections, even if you only need to continue going straight.It's reassuring.

Cons:

1) The mounting hardware is somewhat awkward.The device needs a pretty good line-of-sight to the satellites, so you really want it close to the windshield (unless you buy an external antenna, which I may).

2) Entering destination addresses is slow because the software tries to anticipate what you're entering as you enter each part.It has to consult its database, so you must wait until it creates a list of possibilities at each step.But you only have to do this occasionally (when you enter locations), so it's not a big deal.It doesn't affect you at driving time.

3) It doesn't speak the names of the streets as it tells you to turn.Some GPS devices (including the one in my wife's Motorola RAZR V3m phone) do.Again, not a huge issue.

4) The screen can get washed out in bright sunlight, especially since you need to have it pretty close to the glass (windshield) for it to have a consistent connection to the satellites.But if you've looked at the map ahead of time, you really don't need the screen that much while driving -- the voice will tell you what to do.Another side effect of having to mount it so close to the glass is that it's farther from your face, so it can be harder to read.But, as I said before, if you get an external antenna, then you can presumably mount the PDA anywhere, so it will be more shaded and closer to your eyes.

Bottom line:

If you're wealthy, get a car with a large, built-in navigation system.If you're semi-wealthy, get a stand-alone, larger-screen, top-of-the line nav system for 3 or 4 times this price.But if you are on a budget and want a nice nav system and a good PDA for one low price, this can't be beat!

PS: I did NOT experience the crashing or power problems that another reviewer mentioned.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Navman PiN 570 3.5 Inch Portable GPS Navigator

Product Description:
If you're on the go a lot, you need a device that can combine personal information management, scheduling, and navigation features into a single, pocketable device. The PiN 570 from Navman is just such a device. It can change the way you work and play.

Navigate to contacts in your Outlook address book.

Fits in the palm of your hand. Enter a contact, make an appointment, and get voice guidance to that appointment location when you need it. And while you're at it, enjoy the convenience of a Windows Mobile device with mobile versions of your favorite applications, music, games, photos, and more.


Navigation and PDA features, all in one. Because the PiN 570 is made by Navman, it's first and foremost a navigation device. The unit's GPS navigation system will guide you with 3-D door-to-door maps and voice directions, all at the press of a button. You can travel directly to your Microsoft Outlook contacts using the PiN 570's integrated 12-channel GPS receiver, which is powered by Navman's SmartST 2005 software. Turn-by-turn voice guidance, back-on-track rerouting, a choice of 2-D or 3-D map perspectives, a points-of-interest database for your map region, and multiple route planning are just some of the features packed into the PiN 570's navigation software. You'll also get the convenience of area avoidance--if traffic is bad, you can tell the unit to automatically change your route and keep you moving. The Navman PiN 570 comes complete with North American maps, including Hawaii, Alaska, Puerto Rico and Guam, on CD-ROM, so you can easily download your preferred region to an included SecureDigital (SD) Card.
The PiN 570 sports a 3.5-inch landscape LCD with 320 x 240 resolution and support for up to 65,000 colors--plenty of room for detailed map views, as well as for the unit's integrated PDA functions. Get all the functionality you expect from a Windows Mobile 2003 device, including pocket versions of Microsoft Outlook, Word, and Excel. You can also listen to music and MP3 files, play games, or store and view digital photos. The PiN 570's interface is touchscreen-enabled, so every function is just a few taps away. And because the 570 fits in the palm of your hand, you can move from car to car or set out on foot with powerful features at your fingertips. From your desk to your dashboard, the Navman PiN 570 will navigate you through your day.

What's in the Box
PiN 570 unit, SmartST 2005 3D navigation software with preloaded TeleAtlas Mapping Data, AC charger, DC in-car charger, USB data transfer cable, flexible windshield mount, and leather-feel carry case.

Want to read more honest consumer review about Navman PiN 570 3.5 Inch Portable GPS Navigator now ?

Mio MOOV 300 4.3-Inch Widescreen GPS Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I need a GPS for my daugther, who got her driver license recently and have been calling home asking for direction often :-) After surveying the field I narrowed my choices down to: Garmin 260W, TomTom XL-S, and Mio Moov 300. The main selection criteria are:
1. bigger screen
2. text-to-speech
3. all gps functions, none others (e.g. bluetooth)

Since Moov 300 is fairly new and there aren't a lot reviews it is sort of a risky buy. However, since all 3 are pretty much the same functionality-wise, the tie-breaker came down to price. After a couple of weeks, here are some opinions:

Pros:
1. fairly easy to use (never read the manual).
2. find satellites almost instantly (< 15sec), even inside my house. Note that performance might vary, I can only speak from my experience.
3. Good text-to-speech, announce direction in advance. Again, I read some people complained it announced turns too late, but not yet to me. It usually announces twice, once to remind you beforehand, the other when the turn is near.
4. fast re-route
Cons:
1. Battery is weak, less than 2 hours.
2. Sometimes the route is devious.

Overall, I consider it worth the money if you are not too picky.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Mio MOOV 300 4.3 Inch Widescreen GPS

Product Description:
Turn-by-turn Spoken Street Name Voice Guidance. Never miss a turn with 3D indicators and auto-zoom views. Clear voice guidance lets you hear the directions so you can focus on the road. Stylish Design that fits easily in a pocket or purse makes it easy to take the Moov 300 with you. Preloaded U.S. Map of All 50 States and Puerto Rico. No PC download or SD card required. Preloaded with Over 3.5 Million Points of Interest. No More Waiting for GPS Signal with InstantFixII. Get fast and accurate GPS signal receptionevery time. No extra fees and PC connection required. 4.3- Touchscreen Interface. The bright, anti-glare touchscreen makes it easy to type in your destination and easy to see while you-re on the road. SD / MMC Slot for easy additional map loading.

Get 35% OFF

Want to read more honest consumer review about Mio MOOV 300 4.3 Inch Widescreen GPS now ?

Mobile Crossing WayPoint 200 GPS Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)The version that I got is Waypoint 205 (aka Waypoint 200 national edition). In my opinion, this PDA + GPS (or rather GPS + PDA) is probably the best in its class. However, its price range may put it on a not so competitive edge against other similar products. The reason I gave it only 3 stars is not because of the way the product was built but because I don't think that the PDA + GPS combined technology has matured to the point that makes this product useful for every one. In fact, if you are not a techie, you might find your experience in configuring this product for your own use frustrating.

As a PDA ...
It runs Windows CE and allows you to sync with Outlook via ActiveSync. Note that this unit comes with a fully featured Bluetooth adaptor but IT DOES NOT COME WITH A WIRELESS ADAPTOR (unlike most other PDAs/Pocket PCs priced half as much). So if you want to browse the internet at a cafe/airport/hotpoint, you will need to buy a wireless compactflash. Since the Bluetooth connection is indepensible (that is how this PDA communicates with the bluetooth GPS reciever), you probably would want to shop for one compactflash card that supports both Bluetooth & Wifi connections. There are very few manufacturers that make an adaptor for both of these wireless technologies. And when you do find one (see Ambicon for example), it may not work well. So chances are you will need to buy another wireless compactflash and take it with you whereever you go. This is not an actractive option, is it?

As a handheld GPS ...
This is what the product is marketed for (i.e., mainly as a hand held GPS). Its navigational accuracy is quite good. In addition, it comes with a well thought out auto gadget set that you will find it indispensible when you use the unit inside a car. It does a pretty good job of finding routes and will quickly detects that you've missed a turn and re-computes a new route/detour without requiring any manual interaction. Since it comes with a Bluetooth GPS receiver, the receiver can be mounted remotely from the unit to allow for better sattelite reception.

You can also record your GPS positions. This feature makes unit suitable for off-road use. But with limitted battery power, I don't exactly know how useful this feature can be.

The Waypoint 200/205 has several critical weaknesses that are common to nearly all products in its class. Basically, it is a complex computer with complex navigational software running on very limitted harware resources. These problems make this type of product better suited for techies and not for every one.

1. As mentioned above, this unit does not come with a wireless connection

2. Plan to spend many frustrating hours if you want to run ActiveSync on this unit via the Bluetooth connection. Mobile Crossing has a web page especially for this feature. But it is not of much help. There is an expert review on the web specifically mentioning his frustration in getting this feature to work. It took him 30 minutes to figure out how to use this features. Well, it took me about 1 day to get this feature to work.

3. The unit is not reliable. You will need to frequently soft resetting your unit. In some cases, soft resetting won't solve the problems. For example, you may find the unit automatically turns off the backlight when you tap on the screen and soft resetting does not solve this problem. In these cases, you will need to take the battery out to perform a hard/cold reset. This kind of reset will erase all software you've downloaded and your own customed configurations. Basically, you should always back up the data on your PDA to your PC or Laptop. The unit is just not reliable enough to function standalone.

4. Unlike the expensive GPS unit that comes with your car, the Bluetooth GPS will take about 1 minute (or much longer in some cases) to sync with the sattelites if you only turn it on sporadically. This wait can be taxing on your patience

5. Be careful if you decide to use the business locations that come with the detailed maps. They are accurate most of the time. But a good fraction of the times, it will direct you to go to a place that is a few miles away from the actual business address. Because of this problem, a could be very useful feature is of limitted utility. If you don't want to get lost, I recommend that you always look up the destination address on the web and use that for navigation.

6. The unit is really practical for 1 or at most 2 region maps loaded. Any more than that will make the unit extremely unresponsive. Loading the maps of 3 or more regions may even crash your Waypoint. Furthermore, you really have to be a techie and have a lot of patience to go through the map downloading instructions. The national edition allows you to have access to all US region maps. But it does not come with all of these maps installed. All US maps will fit into a 1GB compactflash card. You can buy this card from Mobile Crossing or you can build the card yourself. In either case, here is another card that you will need to carry with you whenever you travel.

7. At the time of this writing, Mobile Crossing map availability is limitted US, Canada, and UK. iQUE product has significantly more maps of other countries.

8. According to Mobile Crossing, the battery is specially made for the product. If you need an extra battery for your PDA, Mobile Crossing will direct you to their outlet. The battery alone costs about $60. I have not been able to find any other alternative.

Mobile Crossing tech support is better than most other companies. It is probably because they are still a small company whose products (though quite good in their classes) have not been widely adopted. I have contacted their tech support a few times. In most cases, they can diagnose the issues quickly. I would not be surprised if a significant portion of the cost of product goes to tech support.

The GPS/PDA combined product is a such a good concept. It fits the use profile of most of us. We only need to use the navigation feature on the average may be once a week or when we travel. For the rest of the time, we can use the unit as a full-featured PDA. But because of limitted computational power, memory, and reliability of the software, one needs to think twice before buying this product.

If your need is just for your own local area/state/region, the regional release of this product is probably what you want. You won't need to configure your unit since it is shipped with the map for your region (i.e., it is ready for use out of the box). However, if you need to use more than one region (as most of these units are national editions), you will need to ask yourself the following two questions:

Are you a techie?
Do you derive pleasure from figuring out how things work?

If you answer no to either question, your need for a mobile hand help GPS must be extremely great before buying this product or any other product in the same class. You might want to consider buying a PDA unit and a separate navigational unit. In my assessment, tt is still at least a few years away before we see a PDA/GPS product that can overcome most of the weaknesses mentioned here.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Mobile Crossing WayPoint 200 GPS

Product Description:
The Mobile Crossing WP205 Way Point Pocket PCand GPS Navigation System integrates highly effective, satellite guided vehicle navigation with a high-performance Bluetooth-enabled Windows Mobile 2003 Pocket PC. If you're on the go a lot, you need a way tocombine personal information management, scheduling and navigation features into a single, pocketablesystem.

The Mobile Crossing WP205 navigation system works as well in your car as itdoes in your pocket.

The 3.5-inch LCD touchscreen with voice guidance helps you keep youreyes on the road. View larger.
Charging the WP205 is a breeze with the included USB charging cradle.
The handy, included car mount simplifies on-the-roadnavigation. With the Mobile Crossing WP205, you can wirelessly upload a contact from your PC, make an appointment,and get voice guidance to that appointment location when you need it. It's that easy! And while you're atit, enjoy the convenience of a Windows Mobile device with mobile versions of your favorite applications,a music player, games, photo viewing, and more. Featuring a complete set of national maps and points ofinterest, and a SiRF-powered GPS chip, the Mobile Crossing WP205 will also provide you with the fastestand most accurate navigation service available.
If it's important to you that your GPS system works aswell in your car as in your pocket, the Mobile Crossing WP205 is an excellent choice. Featuring alightweight, thin design, it runs for over three hours on battery power. Although it retains all thefeatures of much more expensive in-car navigation systems, the Mobile Crossing WP205 can be moved easilyfrom car to car and can even be used as a hiking and marine GPS in a pinch.
Featuring Navteq Onboard maps and data bases, the Mobile Crossing WP105 gives you millions of points ofinterests across the country, as well as the highest-quality maps available for a GPS navigation unit.With loud and clear, naturally spoken and pleasantly human voice directions, you'll be guided with turn-by-turn directions as you navigate to your destination.
The Mobile Crossing WP205 takes navigation another step by including a complete set of Windows Mobile2003 Premium Edition applications, including Internet Explorer, Windows Media Player, and Outlook-compatible organizer applications. This means that no matter where you are, your full set of contacts andimportant information, along with the world's most widely used set of software applications, are a touch-screen away, giving you the ultimate in navigation experience and convenience.
Among the navigation system's many unique quick-access features include:

The "heart" button, which gives you fast access to your favorite places and a one-buttoncommand to take you home in the middle of the night
The detour button that automatically takes you around the traffic
An information button that gives you information such as exact speed and location
The navigation button for easy access to traffic and weather information
An easy-to-use thumb wheel for zooming in and out of the map

With the Mobile Crossing WP205's built-in address book, you'll have quick routing information to yourfavorite contacts, and a convenient voice memo feature that lets you easily record voice memos whileyou're driving. An automatic day/night mode makes the viewing of the 3.5-inch touch-screen stress-free.This feature reduces harsh glare when driving during the night and provides maximum visibility whennavigating daytime traffic.
When you purchase Mobile Crossing WP205, you'll also get a free one-year subscription to TrafficWatch, afeature that enables your system to receive delayed and real time traffic information in both visual andaudio format. Also included is a one-year subscription to Weather Underground, a location-based servicethat offers delayed and real time weather satellite imagery. Note that some features of these servicesrequire a mobile Internet connection delivered by your cellular phone service provider.

What's in the Box
WayPoint Pocket PC, travel adapter (USB and charging), main battery, stylus,USB desktop cradle/charging stand, USB cable, AC adapter, companion / documentation CD, getting startedDVD, plastic dust cover installed in the SD slot, CompactFlash Bluetooth card pre-installed in PDA,Bluetooth GPS Receiver, Bluetooth GPS charging cable/adapter, split charger cable, powered vehicle mount,vehicle mount T-slot docking plate, windshield suction cup with gooseneck, 12-volt cigarette lighter plugcable, PDA vehicle charging adapter, audio cord (3.5-millimeter to 3.5-millimeter), Waypoint usersmanual, additional software instructions, warranty card, product registration card with warranty sheet,Quick start guide, support sheet, and EULA booklet (end users license agreement).

Want to read more honest consumer review about Mobile Crossing WayPoint 200 GPS now ?