Showing posts with label car navigation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label car navigation. Show all posts

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Magellan RoadMate 800 4.3-Inch Portable GPS Navigator Review

Magellan RoadMate 800 4.3-Inch Portable GPS Navigator
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
I purchased this unit a few weeks ago after researching quite a few options. The navigation portion of the unit is outstanding. The screen is very bright. The 3D view is way cool. It takes only 30 seconds or so normally for the unit to acquire your location. It routes very well. Has loads of features. The screen is very readable. It autoshifts from daytime to nighttime view. Both look great. The voice comments are excellent. It comes with an MP3 player and a picture viewer also, but that is NOT why you would buy this unit. You would purchase it because it is a great navagation system. The mp3 and picture viewer are just little extras. They work just fine. The unit is very portable and can easily be switched between cars. It can also be used outside the car with its built in rechargable battery. The only complaint I have so far is that the windshield mount, while quite sturdy, still allows the unit to vibrate around a bit. Also, the manual is, as usual with some of these products, lacking in some important details. When mounting the unit, I would suggest you have the bottom of the mounting bracket touching your dashboard to reduce the vibration. This helped quite a bit. Lots and lots of points of interest built into the unit. It is incredibly easy to start using this unit. Take it out of the box and attach the windshild mount and off you go. Highly recommended as a GPS navitagion system. It is the same price as the Magellan 760, but with additional features. While it is more expensive than the Megallan 700, it has numerous additional features including 3D viewing and many more Points of Interest. I think it is worth the extra $$$$ for this.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Magellan RoadMate 800 4.3-Inch Portable GPS Navigator

Amazon.com Product DescriptionWhile you're navigating your way to your next destination, there's no reason you can't entertain yourself along the way. The Magellan RoadMate 800 Multimedia GPS Travel Companion lets you do exactly that. With a built-in MP3 player and photo viewer, along with Magellan's leading GPS navigation system, there's nothing quite like the Roadmate 800 for your next road trip.
Music and Photos On-the-Go With 4.5 gigabytes of available internal memory, the Roadmate 800 will make sure you never run out of tunes. The Magellan Music Manager Tools software lets you simply transfer your .MP3 and .WMA files from your computer to the unit, or you have the option of inserting a Secure Digital (SD) or MMC card containing your digital files. Either way, you'll have enough tunes to take you from L.A. to N.Y. and back. The Roadmate 800 lets you easily browse your music, create playlists (for MP3 files only), and adjust the sound to your personal liking with a digital equalizer. The Roadmate 800's large 3.5-inch color display will also give you the resolution you need to enjoy your favorite digital photos. Simply transfer your files directly into the memory, or plug in your SD or MMC card, and sit back and enjoy.

Magellan Navigation Of course, the RoadMate 800's main purpose is to make sure you get to where you need to go. To get started, simply select a destination and your RoadMate 800 GPS navigation system will take it from there. By matching letters to the available destinations, Magellan's QuickSpell address entry feature makes it easy and quick to enter destination addresses. An internal address book also stores up to 200 personal or business destinations for quick reference.

Advanced, state-of-art navigation software automatically calculates the most direct route and recalculates it whenever you take a detour or make additional stops. Routing options enable you to choose the best route for you, whether you want the shortest time or shortest distance, or whether you want to stay on or off the freeway. The RoadMate 800 lets you customize every trip exactly as you want. A unique SmartDetour feature will even automatically route around stopped freeway traffic.

Built-in detailed street maps and over six million pre-loaded points of interest make it easy to find the nearest restaurant, gas station, ATM, airport and more. A simple touch-screen menu lets you easily choose a location by category or sub-category. So if you want to find the nearest Chinese restaurant, or the nearest movie theater for the kids, just touch the screen. It has never been easier or more fun to get around town or take cross-country trips.

With detailed maps of all 50 United States, Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands and Canada, you can travel the continent with no need to download new data. A single seamless database built in to the hard drive contains all major city streets as well as federal, state and county roads and highways.

When you want a clearer view of your route, simply touch the 3D map icon. This will get both a three-dimensional representation, as well as a bird's-eye view, allowing you to clearly see cross streets and helping you to prepare for upcoming turns. If that's not enough, a turn-by-turn voice and visual guidance feature tells you exactly when to make the next turn, and to confirm the voice instructions, the automatic map zooms in to show your turn and switches to TrueView 3D so that you'll be sure not to miss your turn. These automatic functions make the RoadMate 800 one of the most useful navigation aids you'll ever experience.

If you've got a trip with multiple destinations lined up, the RoadMate 800 can optimize your travel plans. Use the Trip Planner feature to enter addresses or select points of interest (POI) before leave. You can choose the order of each destination, or you can let the Multi-destination Route Optimization system calculate the quickest route between each point from your present location. The feature also allows you to add and subtract destinations as you go, and you can save your trip to repeat the same route again.

When you're traveling at night, the displayed map on the RoadMate 800 switches to night view at sundown, and back to day view in the morning. This means that you'll always have a clear view of where you're headed. With SmartVolume, the unit's volume automatically increases at speeds over 45 MPH, which means that voice and audio prompts are always at the right level for maximum clarity.

Best of all, the RoadMate 800 is easy to install and is completely portable. You can choose from a selection of mounting accessories, and there's no complicated wiring required. You simply plug in the power cord and you're ready to go. A built-in rechargeable battery lets you take the unit where ever you need to go, and when you want to transfer it to another vehicle, you simply unplug it from one car and plug it into another. It's that simple. At a mere 10.8 ounces in weight and 3.15 x 1.55 x 6.26-inches (W x D x L) in dimension, the RoadMate 800 is meant to be taken wherever your travel plans require.

What's in the Box Magellan RoadMate 800, AC adapter, battery, headphones, user's manual, and warranty.


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Thursday, June 2, 2011

Kenwood DNX6140 6.1-Inch Wide Double-DIN In-Dash Nagivation with Built-in Bluetooth USB/iPod Direct Control/DVD Receiver Review

Kenwood DNX6140 6.1-Inch Wide Double-DIN In-Dash Nagivation with Built-in Bluetooth USB/iPod Direct Control/DVD Receiver
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
I had this unit profesionally installed in my Porsche Cayman and the custom installation is a very good fit. The navigation system is very easy to use - if you've had a garmin (that is what it is based on), you pretty much do not need to read the manual - it is very intuitive and accurate. I've driven about 2000 miles with it and I like the large bright display - it is easy to change directions and detour on the fly. It does not have voice commands, but the touch screen is easy to use.
I have also used the bluetooth with my Razr phone and have not encountered the problems stated in the earlier review. The microphone is placed near the rearview mirror and only the front speakers come on when I'm talking on the phone - the unit shuts off any music that you might have playing. I use the touchscreen to dial a number and it works well - the folks at the receiving end have no problem hearing me.
There is also an ipod adapter that is in the glove compartment - once hooked up all controls are on the touchscreen - it is easy to use and works well. If one puts in a DVD / CD that takes precedence over the ipod unless you instruct the unit otherwise. I leave the unit to power up when starting the car and it automatically shuts off when the engine is off. I haven't used the XM stations as I do not subscribe to that service but the FM stations pull in fine using the standard antenna that came with the car.
All in all this is a very good unit and I am very happy with it.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Kenwood DNX6140 6.1-Inch Wide Double-DIN In-Dash Nagivation with Built-in Bluetooth USB/iPod Direct Control/DVD Receiver

Kenwood's DNX6140 is an all-around solution for your vehicle, providing you with movies, music, hands-free calling with onboard Bluetooth, and built-in Garmin GPS Navigation with maps of the United States and Canada. Get where you need to go and have plenty of fun getting there.

6.1-Inch Touchscreen with Variable Illumination The DNX6140 puts intuitive control right at your fingertips with its 6.1-inch QVGA TFT Active Matrix Display and powerful, easy-to-use graphical user interface. Customize the unit's front panel illumination with the new variable illumination palette of colors--match your interior tones, dash lighting, or whatever tickles your fancy. Selectable wallpapers and customizable backgrounds offer further personalization.
Built-In Navigation--Guidance by Garmin This integrated navi system guides you everywhere with ease on the DNX6140's 6.1-inch screen. All functions are intuitively controlled by touchscreen menus, and voice guidance works over the vehicle's speaker system. There is no need to swap map discs since it comes with a built-in full-memory Garmin Navigation board that features maps of Canada, continental USA, Hawaii, and Alaska. Navigation feature include:
Easy-to-use GUI (graphic user interface)
More than 6 million points of interest
Program up to 500 waypoints for long trips
Text-To-Speech (TTS) Voice Guidance (English, French, Spanish)
Selectable 2D or 3D Map Display
Track Log Display
Trip Computer

Built-In Bluetooth--Powered by Parrot The built-in Bluetooth hands-free system enables easy, safe cellular phone communications from the car. Features include (not all features work on all phones):
High-quality noise-cancelling microphone
Register up to five Bluetooth phones
Holds up to 1,000 phone numbers per registered phone
Supports Auto Phonebook Download
Supports A2DP Wireless Music Streaming
Supports voice-recognition dialing
Supports incoming/outgoing short-message service (SMS)
Bluetooth firmware upgradeable

Enjoy Your Favorite Media The DNX6140 is a media powerhouse, letting you play your favorite CDs and DVDs, along with several digital audio and video formats. The unit accepts DVD, DVD+R/RW, DVD-R/RW, CD, CD-R/RW, VCD, and CD-DA discs. It plays back AAC-LC, MP3, and WMA audio files; MPEG1 and MPEG2 video files; and can display JPG images. Throw your files on a disc or a USB device and enjoy them in your vehicle wherever you are.
And, of course, you still can listen to the AM/FM radio. Use Auto Memory to automatically add stations with good reception to presets, or enter them manually. The DNX6140 displays FM radio text when available as well as traffic information, and it allows you to enter station names.
Seamless Connection with iPod Video/Audio Connect an iPod using the optional KCA-iP301V cable to enable full video (for iPods with video capability) and/or audio control. You'll supply power to your iPod as well as charge it while you enjoy your music.
USB Direct Control You can enjoy your favorite music, video, or images from USB devices like flash drives or MP3 players. When connecting a USB device, playback starts automatically. When a battery-powered USB device like an MP3 player is connected to this unit, it also gets a charge, so it's ready to go with you when you exit the vehicle.
Input and Output In addition to the iPod and USB support, you can use the DNX6140's front auxiliary A/V input to connect external audio/video sources like video game systems.
The unit also features an A/V output for sending content to an additional screen in the vehicle.
For audio output, the DNX6140 has two sets of 2V RCA pre-amp outputs for system expansion (in addition to the on-board 50W x 4 amplifier).
HD and Satellite Radio Ready The DNX6140 allows you to enjoy SIRIUS (requires CA-SR20V cable + Sirius Tuner) or XM (requires KCA-XM100V + XM Mini Tuner) radio in your vehicle. Enjoy a multitude of channels featuring music, news, talk shows, sports, and traffic information with CD quality sound.
You also can add an HD Radio tuner. When you connect an HD radio tuner, features of the unit are disabled and changed to HD Radio tuner features.
Rear Camera Input The DNX6140 is ready for a rear camera, allowing you to monitor behind your vehicle as you back up.
What's in the Box Kenwood DNX6140, sleeve, trim ring, wiring harness, installation tools, installation manual, operation manual, warranty card.

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PYLE PLTS79BT 7-Inch Single DIN In-Dash Motorized Touch Screen TFT/LCD Monitor with DVD/CD/MP3/MP4/USB/SD/AM-FM/RDS/Bluetooth and Screen Dial Pad Review

PYLE PLTS79BT 7-Inch Single DIN In-Dash Motorized Touch Screen TFT/LCD Monitor with DVD/CD/MP3/MP4/USB/SD/AM-FM/RDS/Bluetooth and Screen Dial Pad
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
I just installed my new Pyle few days ago, so i do not have a deep review, but i will give you my feed back so far.
The good.
* Well done, i mean, looks really god (does not look cheap).
* Nice image crisp and clear. Some quick access options for bright or dark days, and a complete set up menu to configure it.
* Good sound, a lot of output wiring options, including two rear video outputs, so you will upgrade your video with two more monitors if you like, without extra accesories.
* Wire harness included... in my case, Pyle included a harness that match my car connectors, so great bonus. Easy to mount, and easy to connect (by pass) the parking brake wire.
* USB and SD Card options.
* Plays the most common audio and video formats, including Divx for video and Windows media for songs.
The bad:
* The screen blocks the middle air conditioning vents, so most of the time the screen is inside (i live in a very hot place). That is why you really depends of the remote. One basic operation like forward or backward is not available on the panel. So, the only way to get it is with the screen or the remote.
* There is a "beep" any time you use the volume control... annoying thing, because is a loud beep for any point of volume, i mean, increase from 10 to 18 is 8 loud beeps.
* The source is controlled by one button. The control does not have a button for each source mode to play it fast, so you will need to push that button until you find the right source.
* Cooling fan sometimes very loud.
* The touch screen performance is not the best... difficult to set time or find the right song in the menu. Sometimes you need the remote to run the close menu lines.
So far, i think is a very good choice (Price Vs. Benefits). I made an upgrade on my Car sound system, because i use to have just a basic Cd Player, and now i have a lot of choices to run with this unit. I already ordered an additional 7" screen to maintain my kid busy in long trips.
I am very happy with this equipment and i will recommend you considering the bad items mentioned (not to bad, but annoying sometimes).

Click Here to see more reviews about: PYLE PLTS79BT 7-Inch Single DIN In-Dash Motorized Touch Screen TFT/LCD Monitor with DVD/CD/MP3/MP4/USB/SD/AM-FM/RDS/Bluetooth and Screen Dial Pad

This in-dash single-DIN headunit has a 7-inch, fully detachable motorized touch-screen display! It\'s equipped with everything you need to make your vehicle into a mobile entertainment system on wheels: a player that supports AM/FM, DVD, VCD, CD, MP3 CD, SD cards, USB sticks, and a front panel AUX input to conveniently plug in your MP3 player or iPod. You\'ll be enjoying your favorite movies, TV shows, and video clips on this crystal-clear 1440 x 234 resolution screen in no time. Easily tweak your image and sound using the brightness, contrast, chroma, hue, treble, bass, balance, and fader controls. Store your favorite stations on the 30 presets, or control the balance of your music using the built-in DSP equalizer. Anti-shock protection keeps your multimedia smooth and skip-free. With 80 watts on each of the four channels and subwoofer, this head-unit has power! Control from the backseat using the included fully functional wireless remote. Compatible with both NTSC and PAL.

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Thursday, May 26, 2011

Kenwood DNX5140 6.1-Inch Wide Double-DIN In-Dash Nagivation with USB/iPod Direct Control/DVD Receiver Review

Kenwood DNX5140 6.1-Inch Wide Double-DIN In-Dash Nagivation with USB/iPod Direct Control/DVD Receiver
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
I picked the 5140 over the 6140 because I don't need bluetooth, besides that the units are exactly identical. Had Best Buy install the unit, they did a superb job for much less than what some of the local audio shops were quoting me.
Now, onto the unit:
-Boot up time is fast, I'm going good in about 10 seconds. I've heard other units are rather slow to boot up (Pioneer). So far no freezing or locking up except I get some lag when using USB (more later). It has an easy to understand interface but I did have to check out the manual once or twice on specific things. I like the fact you can pick what color you want the interface and physical buttons to light up, I have my radio matching my dash lights.-Navigation is great, and if you ever owned a Garmin unit you know full well how the navigation works. The navigation integrates great into the radio controls. The voices are a little loud and your music will mute for your voice guidance. If you are using your radio controls while navigating a route you will get a green notification bar at the bottom that shows the distance and the next turn you should make. I also like how it shows the speed limit and so far that's been very accurate. Garmin also updates their maps on a regular basis, and you can use the Garmin updates to update this unit. Some other manufacturers of in dash navigation don't update after release. Since I plan on having this unit for a few years that was important to me.
-Works great with Sirius. I have my display setup as "4-line" which gives me three lines of song data plus one line of arrow controls. You can pick and choose where and what song data you want displayed with satellite. I personally picked Artist/Song Title/Channel Name in that order. Sirius also gives you 30 presets (6 per "band" and a maximum of 5 bands). Also there's an option to list all channels and you can see what artist or song is playing on each channel organized by category. Very neat.
-The USB function is seriously lacking, and the reason I gave this unit 4 stars. First off the USB is slow, and the unit seems to lag when using the USB function. Also for some reason you're limited to 255 items per folder so if you have more than 255 songs you must start organizing your music in different subfolders. If you open a video file via USB it takes 30 seconds or so before it starts playing, and the unit will freeze during that time until the video starts.
-Video display is crisp and clear. I've seen complaints about dimming but I don't share those complaints. I set my unit to dim with the GPS. This unit will play Divx/Xvid formatted files but you must change the name of the file from filename.avi to filename.mpg. The US version will not play .avi files, I guess due to piracy concerns. It's a cool feature not found on the spec sheet of the unit.
-I didn't buy the iPod cable because I figured I'd just use a USB drive, but due to the terrible USB interface I'll have to buy an iPod cable. Hooking and iPod to the unit via USB without the cable gives no sound or video but it will let you test the iPod interface. It works beautifully.
I've been very happy with the unit.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Kenwood DNX5140 6.1-Inch Wide Double-DIN In-Dash Nagivation with USB/iPod Direct Control/DVD Receiver

Kenwood's DNX5140 is an all-around solution for your vehicle, providing you with movies, music, and built-in Garmin GPS Navigation with maps of the United States and Canada. Get where you need to go and have plenty of fun getting there.

6.1-Inch Touchscreen with Variable Illumination The DNX5140 puts intuitive control right at your fingertips with its 6.1-inch QVGA TFT Active Matrix Display and powerful, easy-to-use graphical user interface. Customize the unit's front panel illumination with the new variable illumination palette of colors--match your interior tones, dash lighting, or whatever tickles your fancy. Selectable wallpapers and customizable backgrounds offer further personalization.
Built-In Navigation--Guidance by Garmin This integrated navi system guides you everywhere with ease on the DNX5140's 6.1-inch screen. All functions are intuitively controlled by touchscreen menus, and voice guidance works over the vehicle's speaker system. There is no need to swap map discs since it comes with a built-in full-memory Garmin Navigation board that features maps of Canada, continental USA, Hawaii, and Alaska. Navigation feature include:
Easy-to-use GUI (graphic user interface)
More than 6 million points of interest
Program up to 500 waypoints for long trips
Text-To-Speech (TTS) Voice Guidance (English, French, Spanish)
Selectable 2D or 3D Map Display
Track Log Display
Trip Computer

Enjoy Your Favorite Media The DNX5140 is a media powerhouse, letting you play your favorite CDs and DVDs, along with several digital audio and video formats. The unit accepts DVD, DVD+R/RW, DVD-R/RW, CD, CD-R/RW, VCD, and CD-DA discs. It plays back AAC-LC, MP3, and WMA audio files; MPEG1 and MPEG2 video files; and can display JPG images. Throw your files on a disc or a USB device and enjoy them in your vehicle wherever you are.
And, of course, you still can listen to the AM/FM radio. Use Auto Memory to automatically add stations with good reception to presets, or enter them manually. The DNX5140 displays FM radio text when available as well as traffic information, and it allows you to enter station names.
Seamless Connection with iPod Video/Audio Connect an iPod using the optional KCA-iP301V cable to enable full video (for iPods with video capability) and/or audio control. You'll supply power to your iPod as well as charge it while you enjoy your music.
USB Direct Control You can enjoy your favorite music, video, or images from USB devices like flash drives or MP3 players. When connecting a USB device, playback starts automatically. When a battery-powered USB device like an MP3 player is connected to this unit, it also gets a charge, so it's ready to go with you when you exit the vehicle.
Input and Output In addition to the iPod and USB support, you can use the DNX5140's front auxiliary A/V input to connect external audio/video sources like video game systems.
The unit also features an A/V output for sending content to an additional screen in the vehicle.
For audio output, the DNX5140 has two sets of 2V RCA pre-amp outputs for system expansion (in addition to the on-board 50W x 4 amplifier).
Bluetooth Ready Add the optional KCA-BT200 to enjoy hands-free phone operation or to listen to audio stored on Bluetooth devices.
HD and Satellite Radio Ready The DNX5140 allows you to enjoy SIRIUS (requires CA-SR20V cable + Sirius Tuner) or XM (requires KCA-XM100V + XM Mini Tuner) radio in your vehicle. Enjoy a multitude of channels featuring music, news, talk shows, sports, and traffic information with CD quality sound.
You also can add an HD Radio tuner. When you connect an HD radio tuner, features of the unit are disabled and changed to HD Radio tuner features.
Rear Camera Input The DNX5140 is ready for a rear camera, allowing you to monitor behind your vehicle as you back up.
What's in the Box Kenwood DNX5140, sleeve, trim ring, wiring harness, installation tools, installation manual, operation manual, warranty card.

Buy Now

Click here for more information about Kenwood DNX5140 6.1-Inch Wide Double-DIN In-Dash Nagivation with USB/iPod Direct Control/DVD Receiver

Sunday, May 15, 2011

Cobra GPSM 2100 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator Review

Cobra GPSM 2100 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
Went to the store with every intention of purchasing TomTom One or the comparably priced Garmin GPS I had researched online for the past week. Really confusing considering all of GPS reviews I'd read gave no definitive explanations on why one rated over the other. Since it all seemed to come down to personal preference, I figured the only way to make a final decision was to demo each model at the store.
The TomTom One would not work! Each time I started to enter an address, the unit would revert back to demo ads. The Garmin model I was interested in was not on display. The sales clerk was kind enough to turn on the TomTom go to demo, but it annoyingly shifted between a loud demo and attempting to pick up a signal. If not for this, I would have overlooked the Cobra 2100 entirely.
What first caught my attention was price. Having failed to demo the units I wanted, the Cobra 2100 was the only GPS on display within my price range. In fact, it was the same price as TomTom One, but appeared to be larger. Side by side comparison made TomTom One look like a toy! I clicked through the various demo options and watched a simulation of a drive from the store to my home. Fine, yet I still had my heart set on the TomTom and was about to find another store to demo the model, but I changed my mind.
Though never owning any Cobra products, I'm aware that Cobra was a big name in radar detection at one time. In addition to GPS navigation, the Cobra 2100 comes with traffic light camera detection and speed alerts already installed. There are more traffic light cameras being installed throughout Baltimore City everyday. This feature and the Cobra name convinced me to give the 2100 a try.
Had the 2100 installed and operating in no top flat. As mentioned elsewhere online, it took more time to get it out of the box than it took to connect it. Once turned on it quickly detected a signal and showed me my present location. After quickly scanning through the menu, I typed in my home address, clicked 'NAVIGATE' and was routed to my destination.
The Cobra 2100 offers a clear visual presentation of the route you're traveling while giving clear and precise verbal directions of how to proceed. Advisories are given continually and well in advance of any turns or deviations from your present course. There is no text-to-speech, though IMHO, none is needed as a quick glance identifies all streets along your route.
Options are given to choose specific routes, but I ignored this on my initial run. The Cobra 2100 (like MapQuest, sometimes) attempted to route me away from what I knew to be a quicker route. Upon ignoring the route suggested, the Cobra 2100 quickly recalculated, suggesting a route based on my adjustment. I followed the same route later, this time taking the route suggested by the Cobra 2100. Cobra added an additional 10 minutes to my journey by unnecessarily routing me on and off the interstate. The "detour" consisted of a series of rapid lane changes and turns. As it was night and the maneuvers demanded I pay strict attention to driving, I didn't chance glancing at the screen. To it's credit, the Cobra 2100 provided precise verbal navigation so there was no need to watch anything but the road. I find I'm not particularly concerned about Cobra's routing suggestion. Had I been unfamiliar with the area, the additional 10 minutes would not be factor at all since the Cobra 2100 WILL, it demonstrates, get me to your destination safely.
Oh...before I forget...I passed through one of those camera intersections while testing the Cobra. It signals the driver by producing a series of camera clicking sounds and displays an on-screen traffic icon as an advisory.
WAY COOL!

Click Here to see more reviews about: Cobra GPSM 2100 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator

Cobra's Nav One 2100 is a specialized, portable navigation system designed for use in vehicles. Simply pick a destination via the easy-to-use touch-screen and you're on your way, as the Nav One 2100 automatically calculates the best route and gives you turn-by-turn directions (with voice and visual guidance) to your address or point of interest.
The Nav One 2100 features Cobra's iA.S.A.P. (Intelligent Accelerated Satellite Acquisition Protocol) technology, which takes advantage of 12 parallel channels for faster acquisition and uninterrupted satellite signal reception in urban canyons and dense foliage. The easy-to-read 3.5-inch color display features an ultra-bright, backlit touch-screen and a photo sensor that automatically adjusts the display for day or night viewing with superb readability even under bright, sunlit conditions. This complete plug-and-go system also includes a cigarette-lighter power cord and windshield suction-cup mounting bracket, letting you use it in any vehicle without performing an elaborate installation routine.
The Nav One 2100 comes with a pre-loaded North America street-level detail map that covers the 48 contiguous U.S. states, plus Hawaii and the major metropolitan areas of Canada. This unit is also traffic-ready, with up-to-the-minute traffic content available via the optional traffic receiver and subscription, which delivers personalized traffic data for 50 major metropolitan areas throughout the United States. In addition, Cobra's patent-pending Compare Routes feature allows the driver to choose from two on-screen routing options to get you around traffic. Also accompanying you on the ride are more than two million points of interest which are searchable by business phone numbers, trip data functions such as an odometer, speedometer, and trip timer, and a trip planner that lets you pre-program up to 10 destinations per plan, for up to five total plans. This unit even includes a trail mode so you can go off off-roading and mark your favorite waypoints for future return.
For your convenience, this GPS system includes English, Spanish, and French navigational voice languages and an automatic shutoff system that preserves battery power. This unit features highly accurate digital map data and rich content from Tele Atlas, and an SD memory card expansion slot for future feature expansion. Cobra's Nav One 2100 is backed by a one-year warranty on parts and labor.
What's in the Box GPSM 2100 receiver, 12-volt cigarette lighter power adapter, windshield suction-cup mounting bracket and user's manual.

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Click here for more information about Cobra GPSM 2100 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Kenwood DNX7140 6.95-Inch Wide Double-DIN In-Dash Nagivation with Built-in Bluetooth USB/iPod Direct Control/DVD Receiver Review

Kenwood DNX7140 6.95-Inch Wide Double-DIN In-Dash Nagivation with Built-in Bluetooth USB/iPod Direct Control/DVD Receiver
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
I JUST PURCHASED THE DNX7140 AND HAD IT INSTALLED IN A CHEVROLET 2500HD SILVERADO. THE SILVERADO HAD THE BOSE SOUND SYSTEM WITH ALL STEERING WHEEL CONTROLS, XM RADIO, AND ON-STAR. SINCE I WANTED ALL OF THESE ITEMS TO WORK AFTER THE INSTALLATION, I HAD THE GEEK SQUAD AT BEST BUY INSTALL THE UNIT. AFTER THE INSTALLATION, ALL PREVIOUS FUNCTIONS WORK VERY WELL.
THE NAVAGATION UNIT IS TREMENDOUS. I HAVE PREVIOUSLY HAD VARIOUS GARMIN PORTABLE NAV UNITS SO I WAS FAMILIAR WITH THE NAVIGATION PART OF THE DNX7140. THE NAVIGATION IS QUICK AND ACCURATE AND THE DISPLAY IS "SECOND TO NONE".
THE SOUND QUALITY IS FANTASTIC. THE CD'S SOUND GREAT. THE PICTURE AND SOUND QUALITY OF THE DVD ARE LIKE THE 5.1 SURROUND SOUND OF MY BOSE UNIT AT HOME. I HAVE A DROID CELL PHONE INTO WHICH I HAVE DOWNLOADED NUMEROUS MP3 SONGS. AFTER CONNECTING THE BLUETOOTH ON MY PHONE TO THE UNIT, I CAN LISTEN TO ALL THE MP3 SONGS ON THE DROID THROUGH THE SOUND SYSTEM. THERE IS NO LOSS OF SOUND QUALITY PLAYING THROUGH THE SYSTEM. IT ONLY TOOK ABOUT A MINUTE TO SYNCH THE BLUETOOTH WITH THE PHONE AND THE KENWOOD.
BASICALLY, THE UNIT IS QUITE EASY TO PROGRAM TO YOUR INDIVIDUAL PREFERENCES. ALTHOUGH THE SPECIFIC CONTROLS ON THE UNIT ARE RELATIVELY SMALL, I DO NOT HAVE ANY PROBLEMS WITH VOLUME OR FUNCTION CONTROL SINCE ALL THE STEERING WHEEL CONTROLS ARE FUNCTIONAL. WITHOUT THE STEERING WHEEL CONTROLS, THE BUTTONS ON THE UNIT ARE A LITTLE SMALL.
NEGATIVES: 1) THE UNIT WORKS GREAT; HOWEVER, KENWOOD HAS NOT LOADED THE MOST RECENT FIRMWARE INTO THE UNIT. FOR THE UNIT TO WORK ABSOLUTELY CORRECT, YOU MUST GO TO THE KENWOOD SITE AND DOWNLOAD AN UPDATE FOR THE FIRMWARE. YOU THEN BURN A CD WITH THIS INFORMATION AND UPGRADE THE FIRMWARE IN THE UNIT. ADDITIONALLY, THE GARMIN SOFTWARE THAT IS LOADED IN THE UNIT MUST ALSO BE UPDATED TO A MORE RECENT RELEASE. HERE AGAIN, YOU MUST DOWNLOAD THE SOFTWARE, BURN IT TO A CD AND INSTALL IT IN THE UNIT. YOU CAN FIND THE FIRMWARE UPDATE AND THE GARMIN UPDATE AT THE KENWOOD WEBSITE AT [...] 2) THE UNIT COMES WITH A REMOTE CONTROL; HOWEVER, I HAVE NOT FOUND THE REMOTE TO BE VERY HELPFUL.
I ONLY HAVE ONE REGRET - I WISH I HAD PURCHASED THE UNIT SOONER.

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The DNX7140 is an extraordinary all-in-one in-dash system with cutting-edge audio, video, and navigation technologies. Featuring onboard Bluetooth powered by Parrot, an advanced navigation system by Garmin, a brilliant 6.95-inch touchscreen, and a wealth of expansion options, it's sure to assist as much as it entertains.

6.95-Inch Touchscreen with Variable Illumination The DNX7140 puts intuitive control right at your fingertips with its 6.95-inch QVGA TFT Active Matrix Display and powerful, easy-to-use graphical user interface. Customize the unit's front panel illumination with the new variable illumination palette of colors--match your interior tones, dash lighting, or whatever tickles your fancy. Selectable wallpapers and customizable backgrounds offer further personalization.
Reverse Tilt Mechanism Depending on the vehicle, in-car monitors are installed in a variety of heights and angles, and this sometimes results in reduced visibility due to reflected glare from sunlight. Kenwood's solution is the exclusive Reverse Tilt mechanism: In addition to the traditional tilt mechanism that allows the bottom of the monitor to be tilted forward over five positions, Reverse Tilt also allows the top of the monitor to tilt forward to eliminate reflected glare.
Built-In Advanced Navigation--Guidance by Garmin This integrated advanced navi system guides you everywhere with ease and is beautifully displayed on a large 6.95-inch screen. All functions are intuitively controlled by touchscreen menus and voice guidance works over the vehicle's speaker system. There is no need to swap map discs since it comes with a built-in full-memory Garmin Navigation board that features maps of continental USA, Canada, Hawaii and Alaska. New navigation functions include:
Roadside Assistance
Phone Number Search / Call (Using BT)
Brand Icon
Mileage Tracker

Built-In Bluetooth--Powered by Parrot The built-in Bluetooth hands-free system enables easy, safe cellular phone communications from the car. Features include (not all features work on all phones):
High-quality noise-cancelling microphone
Register up to five Bluetooth phones
Holds up to 1,000 phone numbers per registered phone
Supports Auto Phonebook Download
Supports A2DP Wireless Music Streaming
Supports voice-recognition dialing
Supports incoming/outgoing short-message service (SMS)
Bluetooth firmware upgradeable

MSN Direct Traffic/Data Receiver Ready Don't be late or waste your precious time and fuel stuck in traffic; use the Kenwood KNA-M100 featuring MSN Direct. Once you activate your subscription, the traffic receiver will begin to receive real-time traffic and other useful data right onto your Kenwood touchscreen, providing quick access to alternative routing using Garmin navigation.
Audio enhancement all the time As part of the DSP for the all new Sound Excellence feature, the DNX7140 Entertainment/Navigation System includes a Space Enhancer and a new Bass Boost. Space Enhancer expands the sound field for the listener so that the audio signal can be heard clearly by the driver and front seat passenger. The new Bass Boost feature increases low-frequency output for each channel and listeners will be able to feel the more powerful sound.
Enjoy Your Favorite Media The DNX7140 is a media powerhouse, letting you play your favorite CDs and DVDs, along with several digital audio and video formats. The unit accepts DVD, DVD+R/RW, DVD-R/RW, CD, CD-R/RW, VCD, and CD-DA discs. It plays back AAC-LC, MP3, and WMA audio files; MPEG1 and MPEG2 video files; and can display JPG images. Throw your files on a disc or a USB device and enjoy them in your vehicle wherever you are.
And, of course, you still can listen to the AM/FM radio. Use Auto Memory to automatically add stations with good reception to presets, or enter them manually. The DNX7140 displays FM radio text when available as well as traffic information, and it allows you to enter station names.
Seamless Connection with iPod Video/Audio Connect an iPod using the optional KCA-iP301V cable to enable full video (for iPods with video capability) and/or audio control. You'll supply power to your iPod as well as charge it while you enjoy your music.
USB Direct Control You can enjoy your favorite music, video, or images from USB devices like flash drives or MP3 players. When connecting a USB device, playback starts automatically. When a battery-powered USB device like an MP3 player is connected to this unit, it also gets a charge, so it's ready to go with you when you exit the vehicle.
Input and Output In addition to the iPod and USB support, you can use the DNX7140's front auxiliary A/V input to connect external audio/video sources like video game systems.
The unit also features an A/V output for sending content to an additional screen in the vehicle.
For audio output, the DNX7140 has three sets of 2V RCA pre-amp outputs for system expansion (in addition to the on-board 50W x 4 amplifier).
HD and Satellite Radio Ready The DNX7140 allows you to enjoy SIRIUS (requires CA-SR20V cable + Sirius Tuner) or XM (requires KCA-XM100V + XM Mini Tuner) radio in your vehicle. Enjoy a multitude of channels featuring music, news, talk shows, sports, and traffic information with CD quality sound.
You also can add an HD Radio tuner. When you connect an HD radio tuner, features of the unit are disabled and changed to HD Radio tuner features.
Rear Camera Input The DNX7140 is ready for a rear camera, allowing you to monitor behind your vehicle as you back up.
What's in the Box Kenwood DNX7140, sleeve, trim ring, wiring harness, installation tools, installation manual, operation manual, warranty card.

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Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Kenwood DNX5120 6.1-Inch-Wide Double-DIN In-Dash Navigation with USB/iPod Direct Control/DVD Receiver Review

Kenwood DNX5120 6.1-Inch-Wide Double-DIN In-Dash Navigation with USB/iPod Direct Control/DVD Receiver
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
I also have this radio and think its great.. very easy to use and looks awesome.. Martins wrote in his review "and all the streets are pre-programmed, any updates come straight from Garmin via satellite, " - thats NOT true. Software updates need to be downloaded from Garmins website and burned to a CD and copied over. Map updates are usually done yearly and must be purchased (for $140) from Garmin (or another authorized re-seller) - they are NOT free and are NOT sent straight from a satellite.
It doesn't change how good this radio is, but I just wanted to make sure no one was basing their purchase on an incorrect statement.

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in-dash DVD/CD player with internal amplifier (22 watts RMS/50 peak x 4 channels) * 6.1" touchscreen * built-in memory for navigation with maps of Canada, USA, and Puerto Rico * live traffic and weather data availablewith optional TMC receiver * plays DVD, DVD-R/-RW, DVD+R/+RW, CD, CD-R/RW, and MP3/WMA/AAC files on disc * compatible with Kenwood iPod adapter, Bluetooth adapter, HD Radio tuner, and satellite radio *

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