Friday, August 29, 2008

It does everything except wash your dishes

According to Gizmodo, Blaupunkt just introduced a new PND (Personal Navigation Device, or in-car GPS) for the European market, the Travel Pilot N700. This device has an amazing array of capabilities, centered around a camera built into the device that displays the road ahead. The N700 overlays driving instructions on the display, so you actually see them on the road's surface. It also reads traffic signs and overlays that information onto the display (the design of traffic signs is much more uniform in Europe than it is in the U.S., which makes recognition of European signs easier; this is one reason why this model is Europe-only for now.) It's also got voice recognition, live traffic information, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth connectivity for hands-free calling and even a built-in DVB receiver for watching television when the car is stopped. The N700 will sell for around $740. Considering that built-in navigation systems typically cost $1,500 to $2,000, Blaupunkt's new model has to be considered a bargain. Here's a video of the unit in action.
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