GPSmagazine.com: March 2010 Archives

Audi A6 Symphony II to RNS-E Retrofit: How to Update Your Audi With 2010 Electronics

I wanted to upgrade the aging factory stereo on my 2004 Audi, and get all the goodies that come with a 2010 car: built-in GPS navigation, Sirius Satellite, Bluetooth, MP3 playback, and multi-media capabilities. But buying a new car seemed a heavy price to pay for what amounts to a few creature comforts.

Basically I'm still quite happy with the car. I just wished there was a simple way to upgrade the electronics while still keeping the Audi factory look. Turns out there is. I upgraded my car, and you can too. And it's not as difficult as you might think.

You can have the Audi dealer do it all for around $3.500. Or you can do it yourself for around $1,400.

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Posted by Fletch at 12:56 AM | Permalink | Comments (15)

Hertz NeverLost Gen5 Review

Verdict: Delightfully Old School

Review Highlights

Generation 5 of Hertz's legendary NeverLost system
Brings 2-way GSM connected services
Still offers best of breed navigation with unmatched ease of use
Could do a lot more with wireless connectivity than just weather and flight status data

This year, Hertz will begin deploying the 5th generation of its popular NeverLost GPS navigation system. Already available in select U.S. markets (for $12.99 per day, or complimentary in Hertz Prestige Collection cars), the Gen 5 NeverLost system brings real-time two-way connectivity, and advanced features such as online trip planning services, weather, and flight status data.

I had the chance to spend a week with a Gen5 NeverLost equipped car, and put the GPS system through its paces. How does the NeverLost Gen 5 stack up against previous NeverLost versions as well as stand-alone PNDs? Read on.

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Posted by Fletch at 1:54 AM | Permalink | Comments (11)