|
|
|
TomTom was founded in 1991 in Amsterdam. TomTom is known for designing and making robust, user-friendly satnav systems. They are currently the most popular satnav brand in the UK. Their "GO" range offers something for all budgets. The TomTom GO 510 provides street-level mapping of the UK and the major roads of Western Europe. Maps and a safety camera database come pre-loaded on an SD memory card so the system can be used straight out of the box. The TomTom GO 710 is similar to the 510 but offers street-level mapping for Western Europe - ideal for those who holiday or travel regularly on the continent. Finally, the new TomTom flagship is the GO 910. Coming complete with a 20GB internal hard-drive, the 910 offers street-level mapping for UK, Western Europe, Canada and the USA! The GO 910 can also be used as an in-car MP3 player. Talk-to-speech enables the system to tell you the names of roads in which you need to turn - greatly aiding navigation. You can compare the 3 new models here. Still available is the entry-level TomTom GO 300. The GO 300 offers comprehensive navigation, multiple Points of Interest as well as 3D maps and automatic re-calculation of routes if you should stray off the route planned in advance by your TomTom. The TomTom GO 500 builds on the GO 300 by including all the major roads of Europe as well as the ability to link to a Bluetooth phone and the TomTom GO 700 has an internal hard-drive for storing additional maps and Points of Interest databases. TomTom have also introduced the TomTom ONE a new entry-level system ideal for the first-time user. Finally, the TomTom RIDER - a sat nav system designed with TWO WHEELS in mind, ideal for motorbikes, bicycles and moped. |
|
|
Garmin was founded in 1989 in the USA, by Gary Burrell and Dr. Min Kao, PhD. Garmin has grown into one of the leading companies in the production of satellite navigation and GPS systems. To date they have sold in excess of 5 million units worldwide. Having initially been involved in the design and construction of GPS systems for aviation and the exacting attention to detail and reliability required in that industry, they have now expanded into other markets, including satnav units for use in automotive, aviation, marine and general recreation. Based in Kansas, they have offices in Europe and Asia. Service, sales and support is provided by over 2,500 dealers, distributors and corporate partners worldwide. Their StreetPilot range is popular, providing a solution for all budgets. The entry-level StreetPilot C310 comes with maps for the UK, as well as 2D and 3D mapping, voice instructions and automatic re-routing if the user strays of the pre-determined route.. The StreetPilot C320 and C330 both build on this solid foundation and the C340 can also be linked to the Garmin GTM 10™ FM TMC receiver for receiving traffic information for upto the minute travel planning. The 2610 and 2620 offer solutions for professional drivers with increased funationality and the Quest and Quest 2 offer an alternative for the driver who is looking for something a little bit different. |
|
|
Magellan was founded in California and was one of the first companies to research and produce satellite navigation systems. The original company merged with Ashtech Corporation in 1997 to become Magellan Corporation. They were subsequently bought by the Thales Group in July 2001. This became Thales Navigation - combining four leading brands - MLR, DSNP, Magellan and Ashtech. The units we are concerned with are part of the RoadMate series. The RoadMate 300 is a mid-priced unit which offers affordable navigation. With voice-prompted turn-by-turn directions as well as a POI (Points of Interest) database and the ability to program more than one waypoint (destination) for a particular journey this is an excellent introduction to in-car satnav. RoadMate 700 offers the functionality included in the 300 as well as maps for a number of European countries. The RoadMate 800 is the flagship system from Magellan offering all the above as well as MP3 music player, photoviewer, and multiple stop optimisation - simply enter a number of different stops and the unit will optimise the route indicating which stops should be made and when - ideal for sales professionals and delivery drivers/couriers. |
|
|
Mio Technology Limited is one of the worlds leading players in mobile communications. They have sales, marketing, and service offices in Taiwan, China, Japan, the US, and Europe. Mio Technology has dedicated itself to the development of satellite navigation units. Its main focus is on marketing mobile communication devices under the Mio DigiWalker brand. These include Smartphones, Pocket PCs, and handheld GPS navigation systems. The Mio 268 is an all-in-one system - maps come preloaded on SD cards and the unit can be used straight out of the box. The system offers the usual turn-by-turn voice instructions and POI (Points of Interest) database. Also included is a musicplayer for playing MP3's which can be stored on SD cards (available separately). The Mio 269 builds on the 268 with an internal harddrive for storing maps, Points of Interest and MP3 music files. This unit also comes with maps for 22 European countries. |
|
|
Navman is a leading manufacturer of satellite navigation systems for both marine and in-car use. Founded in New Zealand in 1988 and producing a wide range of navigation systems they have become a major force in the satellite navigation industry. New for 2006 come the Navman iCN720 and Navman iCN750. Unique to these new systems is the NavPix navigation software - destinations can be stored in the form of photos! Both systems have a 1.3 megapixel camera built-in. Pictures can then be "geo-tagged" so the system knows the location of the picture and the user can simply click on a picture to navigate to it! The iCN series of sat nav systems caters for all budgets from the entry-level iCN 320 offering basic navigation for around £160. They build on this with the iCN 510 - an additional £40 gets 3D moving maps and increased functionality. Regular users will like to consider the iCN 520 and iCN 550 models with the iCN 635 and iCN 650 being suited to the professional, heavy user, such as sales professionals, couriers etc. |
|
 |
ViaMichelin is part of the Michelin Group and was incorporated in the year 2000 to design, manufacture and market digital navigation systems. At present they offer two systems. The entry level Michelin X930 provides all the benefits one would excpect from an entry-level system. Door to door navigation with Points of Interest. In addition, the Michelin X930 contains tourist information from the Michelin Green Guide as well as hotel and restaurant information from the Michelin Guide. The top-of-the-range Michelin X950-T comes with all the features and benefits of the X930 but also has a built-in Traffic Information system - with no ongoing charges for the use of the service. Information on roadworks, traffic delays and bad weather affecting driving conditions are received by the X950-T and allow the driver to navigate around the problem, therefore ensuring a swift and trouble-free journey. |
copyright - satnavsource.co.uk - 2006 - all rights reserved |
