The NAVTEQ database is developed by a team of approximately 600 geographic analysts and includes detailed attributes from turn restrictions and relative road crossing heights to road segment access restrictions, one-way streets and speed categories that help optimize routing.  Additionally, NAVTEQ maps include points of interest including restaurants, hospitals, shopping centers and leisure facilities, making it easier to locate and route to many different destinations. 

Roy Kolstad, Vice President and General Manager at NAVTEQ said “We are pleased to be recognized as an important component in the Government’s strategy to provide infrastructure information for road and transportation programs and critical initiatives such as homeland security.”

The full press release is available via NAVTEQ's website

Posted by Fletch at 6:27 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Posted by Fletch at 11:08 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

VS.

Retailers will tell you that both Tele Atlas and NAVTEQ are excellent mapping providers, and that both have their unique drawbacks and strengths. Not so in my experience: NAVTEQ maps ARE better in the U.S.

Time and time again I find major roadways that are inaccurate or missing altogether from the Tele Atlas map database. I've also noticed that devices with Tele Atlas maps tend to route me differently than devices with NAVTEQ maps, even if both devices have the same streets on the map. Tele Atlas is stronger in Europe, but in the United States you are better off getting a device with NAVTEQ maps on it. Period.

To show you what I mean, take a look at the table below:

Continue reading "The Trouble With Tele Atlas" »

Posted by Fletch at 9:46 AM | Permalink | Comments (5)

Verdict: Almost Perfect. Too Bad About the Mapping Data

This month TomTom released it's newest GPS, the highly anticipated TomTom ONE. I got my hands on the ONE and I completed my in-depth review of the unit.

Continue reading "TomTom ONE Review" »

Posted by Fletch at 9:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (51)

Recently I needed to perform a hardware reset on a Magellan RoadMate GPS. Magellan calls this procedure a "reset for first use". If your unit is locked up, or so doing something strange that only a total reset will cure, then this is for you. Note that this will erase everything saved on the unit, and Magellan says you should call their support instead.

Step 1: On the RoadMate, press ++--+-
this will bring up the "hidden menu". From there, you can access the shell, perform a hard reset, and additional tasks on some units.

There - now you know how to access the "hidden menu" on a Magellan RoadMate. Use it at your own peril. Cheers!

Posted by Fletch at 9:58 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Ok ok -- so this is about a week old, but I've been busy dammit! Anyway, Garmin's worst kept secret is now official: the Nuvi 660 is available for a pre-ordering for about $1075 (yikes!). The deets are pretty much everything we already knew:

• Receiver: high-sensitivity WAAS-capable GPS receiver by SiRF
• Display: 4.3 diagonal, 480 x 272 pixels; WQVGA TFT landscape display, with white
  back-light and touch screen
• Unit dimensions: 4.9”W x 2.9”H x 0.9” D (12.4 x 7.4 x 2.3 cm)
• Weight: 6.2 oz. (190 g)
• Battery life: 3 to 7 hours
• Bluetooth wireless technology for hands-free calling
• FM transmitter (U.S., Australia and New Zealand only)
• Alerts for traffic, road construction and weather-related tie-ups. nüvi 660 uses data to suggest alternate routes before problems are encountered
• Includes Garmin Lock™, an anti-theft feature
• Voice announces streets by name
• Preloaded maps for all of North America or Europe
• Fingertip touch-screen interface
• Look up addresses and points of interest
• Choose 2D or 3D map perspective
• Upload custom POIs, including alerts for speed zones and safety cams
• Built in Travel Kit includes MP3 player with sample MPs, audio books, picture viewer, world clock, currency and measurement converters, calculator and more
• Add optional software such as Travel and Language Guides to personalize nüvi
• SD memory card expansion slot
• USB interface for loading data

OK - I want one. Should have my grubby hands on one soon, so look for the review within the next few weeks.

Posted by Fletch at 1:55 PM | Permalink | Comments (6)

Verdict: Good, But Not Great

A few weeks ago I completed my review of the Magellan RoadMate 3000T. Now that Magellan has officially released the 3000T's more expensive counterpart, the RoadMate 6000T, I have completed my in-depth review.

The Magellan RoadMate 6000T is the latest installment in Magellan's long and successful series of RoadMate GPS devices. The 6000T is their high-end model, offering features like traffic, Bluetooth, mp3, photo, multi-destination routing and more.

Continue reading "Magellan RoadMate 6000T Review" »

Posted by Fletch at 12:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (23)