March/April 2005

This rather chic-looking black and grey PDA (right) would be a head-turner in its own right, but when you realise that it has a GPS receiver and dedicated "navigate" button integrated into it, you know it's raising the bar in terms of what to expect in terms of real-time navigation.

The device is called the PiN 570, and it comes from Navman Europe. The new Zealand-based company already offers a range of dedicated in-vehicle navigation solutions, as well as navigation software to run on standard PDAs. The new PiN 570 unit slots in between the two approaches, offering the benefits of integrated software and hardware in the format of a fully-functional (and attractive) PDA.

The GPS receiver is integrated into the back of the tungsten/graphite casing, and flips up on a hinge when in use. The rest of the time it's out of sight and out of mind. Integration extends to the navigation, since you can store addresses in the built-in Pocket Outlook application and simply tell the unit to navigate to them.

Features of the navigation package include turn-by-turn voice instructions, two- and three-dimensional map views, "quick view next manoeuvre" and "four next manoeuvre" options, and a journey planner with provision for up to twelve stops. You can also store favourite destinations and navigate to points of interest.

 

The specification of the PDA part of the device includes a Samsung 200MHz processor (not as fast as those in the latest PDAs, but more than serviceable), 64MB of internal RAM memory, a 3.5in transflective LCD touchscreen operating at 240 by 320 pixels, and an MMC/SD memory card slot. The maps come on a supplied SD card. There is also a sturdy windscreen mount for use in vehicles.

The operating system is Windows Mobile 2003, and Mobile Office is supplied, along with Windows Media Player 9 and voice recorder.

The price for all this? Just £297 plus VAT - which puts it in contention with many other devices that are just PDAs. It was due for launch at CeBIT, and should be available in May.