Bonnie Cha,
December 4, 2008
One of the benefits of portable navigation systems is voice-guided directions, and if you've got an in-car GPS that has text-to-speech functionality (meaning the system will speak actual street names), even better. Having these audible prompts is not only helpful but also a nice safety feature, since it allows you to spend more time looking at the road instead of down at a paper map or screen. Continuing along those lines, there's a new technology that's just starting to show up in devices now: voice commands. With this capability, you can perform certain tasks with the sound of your voice. For example, you can dictate addresses, find points of interest, and navigate home. This is an emerging trend, so there's just a handful of units with this feature. Here are the latest systems we've tested; read on to see if one is right for you.
| Product name | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $299.99 to $449.99 | $565.00 to $1,239.02 | $399.99 to $499.95 | $267.99 to $499.99 |
| CNET editors' rating |
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| Average user rating | ||||
| Review date | November 26, 2008 | June 30, 2008 | May 28, 2008 | December 16, 2007 |
| The Bottom Line | Though the Navigon 7200T doesn't have cleanest user interface, the portable GPS offers plenty of advanced navigation features and accurate directions. | As we've come to expect from the Nuvi line, the Garmin Nuvi 880 offers an impressive feature list and solid performance, but it's the accurate speech recognition that really pushes the Nuvi 880 over the edge and makes it one of the best GPS we've tested to date. | If you're looking for a high-end in-car GPS with the latest features, the TomTom GO 930 delivers with accurate directions and new navigation tools like advanced lane guidance and voice address entry. | Despite some minor shortcomings, the Magellan Maestro 4250 is a solid and accurate mid-level portable navigation system with a helpful voice-command feature. |
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| Features | ||||
| Included GPS accessories |
Car charger Adapter for dashboard mounting Car mount |
USB cable Vehicle mount Car power adapter Remote control |
Docking station Car power adapter Remote control Mounting bracket |
USB cable Carrying case Automotive windshield mount Car power adapter |
| Navigation routes | Info unavailable |
10 |
Info unavailable | Info unavailable |
| Navigation waypoints | Info unavailable |
500 |
Info unavailable | Info unavailable |
| Audible assistance |
Audible signal(s) |
Street name announcement Navigation instructions |
Voice command recognition Navigation instructions |
Voice command recognition Navigation instructions |
| GPS functions / services | Info unavailable | Info unavailable | Info unavailable |
ETA (Estimated Time of Arrival) Distance |
| GPS PC connection |
USB cable Bluetooth-enabled |
USB |
Bluetooth |
Hi-Speed USB |
| Weight |
0.4 lbs |
6.2 oz |
7.8 oz |
6.9 oz |
| Antenna |
Built-in |
Built-in |
Built-in |
Built-in |
| System features | Info unavailable |
2D / 3D map perspective Built-in FM modulator Built-in speaker Custom POIs JPEG photo playback Hands-free calling via Bluetooth Calculator Automatic routing Garmin Lock Clock |
2D / 3D map perspective TomTom Map Share technology Built-in speaker IQ Routes technology Built-in FM transmitter TMC (Traffic Message Channel) ready Hands-free calling via Bluetooth Built-in microphone |
2D / 3D map perspective Built-in AAA Travel Information Hands-free calling via Bluetooth Preinstalled POIs |
| Destination |
Automotive |
Automotive |
Automotive |
Automotive |
| Design features |
Touchscreen Day mode Night mode |
Info unavailable | Info unavailable | Info unavailable |
| Included GPS software |
SiRF GRF3i+ |
MapSource City Navigator North America NT |
TomTom HOME |
NAVTEQ ON BOARD |
| Manufacturer Warranty | Info unavailable | Info unavailable | Info unavailable |
1 year warranty |
| Data memory type |
microSD Card |
MicroSD |
SD Memory Card |
SD Memory Card |
| Maps included | Info unavailable | |||
