Verdict: LOOX Pretty. Hard to Use.
Jointly developed by Fujitsu and Siemens, and powered by Navigon's Mobile Navigator 6 Premium software, the Pocket LOOX N100 is a stylish, ultra portable pocket GPS that combines GPS navigation and multimedia entertainment in a device that fits in the palm of your hand.
With a suggested retail price of $499, the N100 offers turn-by-turn GPS navigation, an audio player, photo viewer, and video playback capabilities. I put the Pocket LOOX N100 through the our rigorous testing criteria and find out how this palm-sized GPS stacks up against the competition.
Table of Contents
- Technical Specifications
- What's in the Box?
- Mounting the Pocket LOOX in the Car
- Powering on the Pocket LOOX
- Finding an Address with Pocket LOOX
- Finding a Restaurant with Pocket LOOX
- Setting the Home Address
- Configuring System Options
- Routing Engine Performance
- Voice Recognition
- Pros
- Cons
- Conclusion
1. Technical Specifications
- Samsung 300 MHz processor
- 2.8-inch QVGA color touchscreen display
- SiRF Star III GPS chip
- Mini SD card slot
- 2 GB Mini SD card, preloaded with North America NAVTEQ maps
- Runs Navigon Mobile Navigator 6 Premium
- 64 MB RAM
- User swappable rechargeable 1100mAH lithium ion battery
- Internal microphone, loudspeaker, and headphone jack
- Music player (MP3,AAC,WMA)
- Video player
- Photo viewer
- AC Adapter and 12v car adapter included
- Dimensions: 3.5" x 2" x .6 inches
- Weight: 3.9 oz
- 2D and 3D map views
- Voice guidance
- Voice command
- Branded POI icons
- Lane advice and guidance (highlights the actual lane on the roadway you're supposed to follow, not just the road. Supposedly this is a first for any consumer GPS)
- Supports multi-destination routing
- Real-time traffic over RDS-TMC with free service over the lifetime of the product
- Speed information and warnings
- Customizable, interchangeable faceplates in multiple colors
- Play retro video games
- World clock
- Calculator
2. What's in the Box?
Figure 1: Fujitsu/Siemens Navigon Pocket LOOX N100 box, front
The Pocket LOOX N100 ships with the following items in the box:
- Pocket LOOX and expandable stylus
- NAVIGON MobileNavigator 6 Premium maps and manuals
- Windshield and dashboard mounts
- AC adapter
- Car charger
- 1150 mAh lithium ion battery
- USB cable
- Front covers (black and white)
- Headphones
- Mini SD card
- Safety guide
- Warranty
Figure 2: Fujitsu/Siemens Navigon Pocket LOOX N100 box, opened
Flip open the box on the Pocket LOOX N100 and the first thing you see is the N100 itself, the included USB cable, the black interchangeable faceplate, and included headphones.
Figure 3: Fujitsu/Siemens Navigon Pocket LOOX documentation
Lift out the top tray from the box and you'll see the included documentation and software.
Figure 4: Navigon Pocket LOOX - What's included
The Pocket LOOX N100 ships with everything shown above:
- Pocket LOOX N100 and expandable stylus
- NAVIGON MobileNavigator 6 Premium maps and manuals
- Windshield and dashboard mounts
- AC adapter
- Car charger
- 1150 mAh lithium ion battery
- USB cable
- Face plates (one black and one white)
- Headphones
- Mini SD card
- Safety guide
- Warranty Card
Figure 5: Included AC adapter
The included AC adapter has a standard AC plug on one end, and a mini-USB style connector on the other. Providing power through the USB port is becoming more common on GPS devices. Another benefit of charging via the USB port is that it's easier to find replacement chargers, and the GPS will charge when connected to your computer's USB port.
Figure 6: Included cigarette lighter power adapter
The Pocket LOOX N100 includes a 12v cigarette lighter power adapter, for use in the car.
Figure 7: Windshield mount
When using the Pocket LOOX in the car, you'll want to mount the unit in the windshield using the included suction cup style windshield mount. A quick-release bracket connects to the end of the suction mount, making it easy to cradle / uncradle the GPS.
Figure 8: Windshield mount, assembled
The windshield mount has a flex-arm that can be articulated into the desired position. To attach the mount, simply press it against the windshield glass and lower the lever into the locked position.
