The Garmin nüvifone
The Garmin nüvifone is a combination of a smartphone and GPS. Overall it sounds pretty impressive. Some of the details pulled from the press release:
The all touchscreen device is the first of its kind to integrate premium 3.5G mobile phone capability with an internet browser, data connectivity, personal messaging, and personal navigation functions in one device.
When the nüvifone is docked onto the vehicle mount, it automatically turns on the GPS, activates the navigation menu, and enables hands-free calling so that the user never misses a beat in the conversation and is able to begin routing to their destination with ease.
The nüvifone is Garmin’s first device to include Google local search capability, which allows users to search for locations like “coffee shops” and Google will sort the results based on the user’s current location and relevance. In addition, the nüvifone includes a web browser incorporating premium features and touchscreen operation for an optimum mobile browsing experience. The nüvifone also includes personal messaging functions, including email, text, and instant messaging.
For the ultimate in safety, the nüvifone “Where am I?” feature lets users touch the screen at any time to display the exact latitude and longitude coordinates, the nearest address and intersection, and the closest hospitals, police stations and gas stations. The nüvifone also helps drivers find their car in an unfamiliar spot or crowded parking lot by automatically marking the position in which it was last removed from the vehicle mount.
In addition to navigation, the nüvifone includes access to Garmin Online™, an online service offering constantly-updating information such as real-time traffic, fuel prices, stock prices, sport scores, news reports, local events and weather forecasts.
The built-in camera allows individuals to take a picture that will automatically be tagged with the exact latitude and longitude reference of where the image was taken. The user may then save the image so they can navigate back to the location, or email the image to a recipient who can navigate directly to the location. The nüvifone also provides direct access to millions of geo-located landmark and sightseeing photographs available through Google’s Panoramio picture sharing site.
Other multimedia functions of the nüvifone include a built-in video camera, MP3 and MPEG4/AAC.
There's no details yet on what it will cost, or what carriers will have the nüvifone, but it's scheduled to make it's debut in Q3 of this year.
You can read a little more about the phone at the Garmin site HERE.
Posted by Ghostshark under Electronics |
