Not to sound sarcastic or state the obvious, but what highway or roads do you travel on that has wifi that the rest of us have yet to see?

It sounds like you're referring to the BlackBerry 8800. ;-)

It can do everything you describe except learning your driving preferences.

buy a Nokia N95!

Strange, you haven't posted a review of the GPS system shown here (Mio C520). Is it better than the Garmin's you have been recommending?

I believe the GPS unit you are describing is the dash express. Launches later this year. Connects up via GPRS for POIs and traffic updates.

What makes it so different is that it gets traffic info from other users of their product. For example a road may have a high speed limit but it always gets jammed up at rush hour. This GPS unit records all these statistics so every can benefit from better routing.

Read more here: www.dash.net

Maybe it's time to get into HAM radio? I have my GPS linked to my radio to get some of the requested features.

Check out Dash Navigation at dash.net. They are working on a device with two-way communication using WiFi and GPRS. Real-time traffic info, gas prices and more. It's currently in beta testing.

the connection to internet via GPRS is not fast enough to be useful in a lot of situations.

I think DASH is only the start of GPS that includes GPRS WiFi connectivity with server base maps update capabilities. The POI's and firmware will also be updated via WiFi or GPRS along with traffic that will cover not only major highways but surface streets, you will find many GPS manufacturers will follow possibly by Q4 this year.
You don't think the top three will just sit there and let someone else take the new WOW factor away from them do you?

" Oh, and while we're on the subject, is SiRF ever going to update it's popular StarIII receiver? Don't get me wrong, SiRF's receiver was the largest breakthrough to hit the GPS market in years, but it's been almost 2 years - how about a freakin' update already?!"

Yeah, SiRf purhcased Centrality GPS and now they offer the affordable GPS receiver solution by offering the Centrality chip set. What the heck, can't beat them, buy them!

Biju,
The picture is of the Mio C520. It is simply awesome unit for the price. It has actually won some Garmin Nuvi converts. I have posted a review in Amazon.

I have used it extensively in the Pacific Northwest where it works wonderfully. Performance in the Bay Area California was also great, but not perfect. It never, ever, got me lost and does fast recalcs without forcing you to do U turns. It also found EVERY address I threw at it. (That said, some people in the North East seem to dislike it).

Lots of advanced features like ability to define multiple via points, display of altitude, time sync with satellite, and automatic night mode based on time zone and map coordinates. In my opinion, all the advanced features are useful and none are gimmicky.

A really cool looking GPS worth checking out. (See my review in Amazon for more info).
Cheers,
Nagappa

"Where the Hell is gps 2.0"? Where are your literary manners? Pull your sad mind out of your electronic gameboy or gps or wherever its stuck.