Amazon has this Garmin Nuvifone G60 available for $99 after the obligatory 2 year service agreement. The phone’s primarily for Garmin lovers who prefer the interface of their beloved GPS device over  competing smartphone’s with similar (free) services. The 3.5-inch anti-glare, resistive touchscreen display is big enough to easily see your maps – and there’s 65K colors and 272 x 480 WQVGA resolution. Given that some of the early Droid reviews have given meh reviews to the map feature maybe the Garmin will have a fighting chance competing against free.

Garmin Nuvifone G60 via Gearsponsor Logicbuy

This is the tale of how I almost stopped using my iPhone as a GPS unit and how the right app and a better idea of how to use it changed my mind. Here is what happened.

When the iPhone gained its GPS capabilities I was excited to use is for navigation. Using Google maps worked well enough but certainly was not a replacement for standalone unit. Then a host of new third-party GPS applications began to appear and I became more excited about using the iPhone as my only GPS unit. That didn’t last very long. I was heading to a wedding I was officiating in New York when things went more than a bit array. Continue Reading

As promised the Garmin Nuvifone G60 is up for sale on the official AT&T site. After 2 year contract this device will set you back $399 less a $100 mail-in-rebate. Just think how happy you’ll be to use the built-in Wi-Fi, 3.2 MP camera, voice-guided GPS and touchscreen. Fast forward a week and imagine how pissed you’ll be as you realize that pretty much any modern phone on the market offers this (plus apps) for less. Caveat emptor – or at least have some dignity and wait for Amazon to change their “currently unavailable” status and post a reasonable price (like free) for this. It’s worth noting that users of the Nuvifone will also be hit up for a $5.99 monthly added service fee so they can view traffic, access white pages info. More after the jump.
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AT&T Wireless has announced, via a press release, the upcoming availability of the Garmin nuvifone G60.  The device will be available for purchase starting October 4th and it will be exclusively for AT&T Wireless customers only.

Back in April Wayne posted a video demo of the device in action.

The nuvifone G60 combines a top notch GPS navigation system, with voice, data and mobile web.  It’ll come preloaded with maps and tons of points of interest for the North American market as well.

The phone also features, 3G, Wifi, a touch screen Qwerty keyboard, 3 MP camera with auto focus, and more.

The G60 will sell for $299 with a two year agreement after a $100 mail in rebate.  Nuvifone Premium Connected Services which includes traffic updates, white pages, weather, movie, local events and fuel price content are available for $5.99/month after a 30-day trial.

You can read the entire press release here.

Here’s a deal on a brand new Magellan automotive GPS. For only $99 (normal price around $300) you’ll get this 4.3 inch Magellan 4040 GPS navigation device. There’s built-in AAA travel information including member roadside assistance details. Bluetooth capabilities allow you to link your compatible Bluetooth phone to make and receive hands-free phone calls as well as sync numbers and contact information. Traffic information is available as well as voice command (additional fees apply).

Magellan 4040

Someday Soon, Inhalers Such As This One May Be "Smarter"

At one of my former jobs, my then-manager once told me that a cousin of his had suddenly died from an asthma attack.  Saddened as I was for his loss, I became more concerned about my own wife, who suffers from asthma as well (the adult onset type, or as she likes to call it – “a parting gift from Philip Morris”).

According to the Center for Disease Control, as of 2007 Asthma affected over 16 million people in the United States.  And the number of cases is increasing.  For years, scientists have been researching into the environmental factors that contribute to asthma.  But to solve a problem, one must first understand a problem.  To do that one needs to have data – LOTS and LOTS of data.
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The following is a review submitted by Nan Palmero – Chief Inspiration Officer at SalesBy5. Telenav, as most of you may know, is the software behind many of the branded GPS applications found on AT&T Navigator and Sprint Navigation. The Telenav Shotgun is their first entrance into the crowded stand alone GPS space. Fortunately, though, Telenav has a few tricks up their sleeve to differentiate their device from the sea of other GPS devices out there.

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One thing that I saw come out of CES was this cool little Z10 projector from Nextar; it literally fits in the palm of your hand.

This little projector is capable of 640×480 and is based on LCOS technology.  LCOS, or Liquid Crystal on Silicon, is the technology being used in most micro projectors and the small modules being made to add to new cellphones.  This allows you to have a very small and pocketable projector. Continue Reading

Today only you can pick up a refurbished Garmin StreetPilot 7200 which feature a big ass 7″ screen (most GPS units from Garmin have 4.3″), integrated XM Radio (antenna and subscription required – extra), integrated XM weather, traffic (you guessed it – extra). Hit the next page for the specs. My recommendation – good deal if you don’t mind a big old GPS screen in your face. Probably best for those driving big 18 wheelers or RVs with lots of dash space. Continue Reading

This little guy will be announced by Nextar at CES later this week.

Picture provided by Nextar

The Nextar Z10 is a LCOS, or Liquid Crystal on Silicon, projector which fits in your pocket.  Nextar also is also introducing a 20 inch screen to go along with it.  The screen is only 640×480, but may be just the thing you need for a small presentation setup.  It will work with your iPod, iPhone, PSP or a DVD player.  It also has a slot for a microSD card and can play MP4 videos directly on the projector.

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Nextar introduces their Folio wallet sized picture album which displays 320 x 240 JPEG images on a 3.5″ LCD TFT screen. This is a nice gift for yourself or a relative to eliminate the need to carry bulky photo albums. Load the images to the device’s internal 128 MB or 256 MB of storage or add SD, MMC or MS memory cards to further expand storage capacity. The device is powered by an internal rechargeable Lithium Ion batter and an AC recharger is included. Watch for this at Bed Bath and Beyond with a suggested list price of $69.99 for the 256 MB version and a slightly lower price for the 128 MB version.

Nextar

I am a GPS nut, and  I have been since I won my first one, a Garmin GPS-12 at the Dayton Hamvention as a door prize.  That Garmin had no maps in it, but fortunately it’s almost unheard of to not have included maps on a GPS unit these days.  So what makes the Nextar I4-BC special?  Let’s find out.

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I have had a few different GPS units over the years. My first was a Garmin GPS 12 which didn’t have any road maps or anything else; it was much more appropriate to use in the forest, but  I used it everywhere and even hooked it to a laptop so I could get maps.  It was a awesome device, but hobbled by older technology and Selective Availability when I used it.

My next unit was also a Garmin, the Garmin eMap to be precise.  Now that SA was off, it was much more accurate, but it did not have WAAS or any other technology that could give me good fast fixes.  The eMap was a great device, but the maps were not very detailed unless you spent a ton of money on memory and a Garmin CD.  I loved it anyway.

Wayne sent me his Dash Express since he hated it.  I was initially a little skeptical about the device, however after playing with it for the better part of a week I think I have found an almost ideal GPS device for me.  With the Dash, you can do so much more than just navigation.  It’s devices such as the Dash (and Apple’s own iPhone) that can bring location specific information to you whenever you need it and wherever you are. Continue Reading

Here’s a great idea for anyone with little kids. It’s a GPS with wireless backup camera for a super affordable $269! The manufacturer is Nextar who is also promoting the KIDS AND CARS safety awareness program which their navigation system clearly can assist with. The included back-up camera provides a clear rear view for up to seven feet behind your car and increases the safety for children. The navigational system has a 4.3 inch color touch-screen display, text to speech, 1.6-million points of interest, 2D/3D map view and the ability to play MP3’s. The system includes preloaded maps and directions for 50 US states and 10 Canadian provinces.

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Chris Gavula and I have been beating this issue up over the 2 weeks since the release of the iPhone 3G and the iPhone 2.0 firmware. Both of us are Windows Mobile veterans of many years, and have bumped into problems like those that iPhone 3G users have been experiencing, before.

This morning, both of us are goggling it up, trying to get the skinny on who manufactured the iPhone 3G. What we’ve found is that MANY different companies made all of the different components.  However, like the original iPhone, FoxConn (Han Hai), out of Taipei is the assembler.  What neither of us have been able to nail down, though, is who made the 3G radio, and who wrote the radio ROM.

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