nokia gps device gives good directions but still lags behind - touch screen headphones

(CNET)--
The Nokia 2007 automatic navigation system was first released on the SEMA 500 and finally took to the streets.
This is the second portable navigation device we see from the Finnish handset manufacturer (
The first is the Nokia 330 automatic navigation)
Compared with 330, this is a great progress.
The design is more delicate;
There is a bigger 4. 3-
Inch touch screen;
It wraps up more features with textto-
Voice function, integrated Bluetooth and traffic information function.
In addition, Nokia 500 switches from Route 66 Navigation 7 software to Nokia map (
The same goes for Nokia smartphones)
Although better than the former, it is not as easy to use or streamline as TomTom or Garmin PND.
In fact, sometimes navigating on a device can be very confusing.
So despite the excellent performance of the Nokia 500 autonomous navigation system, we think that Garmin Nuvi 660 or TomTom GO 930 will bring you a better experience.
Nokia 500 automatic navigation is now available for $499 through online retailers and Nokia flagship stores. 95.
The overall design of the Nokia 500 automatic navigation system is reminiscent of the Nokia 330.
This is not particularly inspiring, but there are some enhancements and improvements to the overall design.
First of all, the Nokia 500 feels less plastic than its predecessor, and it has a beautiful charcoal gray case with silver trim.
The unit is also compact at 4.
8 inch wide by 3.
0 high 4 inch.
8 inch deep, easy to carry between vehicles.
There is a bigger 4 in front. 3-inch (Contrast 3. 5 inches)
Display 480 color touch screen on 65,536x2 72-
Pixel resolution.
The map and image look clear and the screen is responsive to touch.
With the larger display, Nokia repositioned the shortcut button on the right side of the Nokia 330 to the bottom of the Nokia 500 screen, which we found to be more beautiful.
These controls include the volume up/down key and the menu button.
The power button is located on top and 3.
Both the 5mm headphone jack and the external antenna jack are covered.
Finally, there is an SD expansion slot on the right.
The Nokia 500 automatic navigation device is equipped with a car charger and a car holder (Windshield only)
USB cable, soft protective bag, 2 gb SD card, software DVD and reference material.
Unfortunately, there is no dashboard disc, which is a problem for drivers in California and Minnesota as these states prohibit installing anything on the windshield (
Although we have questions about how many people actually abide by this law).
The good news is that the car charger has an integrated traffic receiver so you can get up-to-
Date of road condition.
The Nokia 500 automatic navigation system is equipped with a SiRF StarIII lp gps receiver and comes pre-installed with Navteq maps of North America and millions of points of interest.
The user interface is different from Nokia 330 because the company switched from Route 66 Navigation 7 software to the current Nokia map Smart2Go software.
Overall, we prefer the Nokia map software to Route 66.
The menu and icons are clear and clear;
That said, it is not as easy to use or streamlined as Garmin or TomTom devices.
For example, it takes an extra click to enter the address, and finding various features and settings is sometimes like a treasure hunt.
These tools are not always organized logically, so you never know where you will find something ---
More will be introduced later.
To start planning your trip, you can enter a specific address, select points of interest, or select a location from favorites or recent listings.
The favorites menu also allows you to save your home and work address, and it's strange that you can plan a multi-destination trip here.
Having this feature in the collection clip menu doesn't make much sense to us, however, you can plan your trip with multiple sites and names and save your trip for future reference.
You can also add navigation points to your flight.
The Nokia 500 can calculate the route in the shortest distance or the fastest time, and has a variety of modes of transportation, including bicycles, motorcycles, pedestrians, vans and scooters.
If you want to avoid highways, toll roads and ferries, you have the option to cut these off from your trip.
Once the outlet line is calculated, you can check the route and find alternative routes if you wish.
With an integrated traffic receiver, you can also check for congestion or events along the way and find another way.
If you happen to be off track, the system will automatically recalculate the route.
The map has the color of day and night in 2D and 3D views, and you can change it so that the North is always at the top of your screen or the direction you drive.
Depending on your needs, you can choose a variety of map screens.
In tracking mode, you can get more technical data such as altitude, geographic coordinates and satellite connections, while browsing mode only displays the current location and the name of the current street.
Finally, the navigation screen will provide the information needed to plan the destination, including the current and upcoming street names, the direction and distance to the next turn, and the distance to the destination.
In all modes of zooming in and out of the map, plus and minus icons can be used.
The Nokia 500 automatic navigation device provides text to complement visual assistanceand voice-guided turn-by-
Turn, and text-to-
Voice function, so the system will say the actual street name.
There is a built-in
In the FM transmitter, so that you can transfer the audio through the stereo system of the car.
Note: Make sure to select the voice with the TTS tag (
General Settings> VoiceSkin)
Otherwise you will only get general instructions.
We don't know why. to-
Voice is not set to default--
Who doesn't want this feature, does he?
GPS devices can also be used as hands.
Free speaker system with Bluetooth integrated.
We are happy to see that the Nokia 500 will download the address book for your phone, so you do not have to enter the number manually.
The device also supports voice dialing from compatible phones.
Also, if one pointof-
Interest lists a phone number that you can call directly to the business.
Finally, the Nokia 500 features multimedia, including music and video players and image viewers.
The Integrated Media Player supports MP3, WMA, AAC and eAAC music files as well as mpeg 4, 3GP and WMV video formats.
We tested the performance of the Nokia 500 automatic navigation in San Francisco, and from the beginning of the cold, the device took about three minutes to fix our location under a cloudy sky, although the subsequent start takes a few seconds to a minute.
When we were driving throughout the city, the receiver followed our location well.
It did lose the lock when we drove through the Broadway Tunnel, but after we left the tunnel, it soon received the signal.
We use the Nokia 500 twice.
On our first trip, we mapped the route from the San Francisco Marina to Sunnyvale, California.
We entered the starting point and the end point, and the system quickly calculated the direction.
We have never been to this destination and we set out with the Nokia 500.
We are pleased to report that it has allowed us to get there efficiently without any problems.
We also tested the standard route from the pier to the CNET city center headquarters, and again, there is no big problem.
We missed a few chances of testing the route to recalculate the rate, which is enough to get us back on track.
That being said, what we have to say isto-
The voice direction is very bad.
The sound sounds mechanical and when we understand what it is saying, it makes a mess of the names of many streets.
We paired the Nokia 500 with RIM BlackBerry Curve 8330 for Verizon Wireless, and there was no problem connecting or downloading the contact list for the phone.
We are also able to make and answer calls.
If you are interested in the multimedia experience (
You know how I feel about GPS and multimedia)
, Although you can plug in a pair of headphones or play music through car stereo via FM transmitter, the music play sounds a bit exaggerated.
It's good to watch the video in a short time.
The rated battery life of the Nokia 500 automatic navigation is two hours of continuous use.
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