Obviously there would be a hoard of angry and frustrated drivers, which is little more than an inconvenience unless some guy gets mega road-rage and beats someone to death with a gearstick.

More seriously, a huge chunk of the economy would buckle in (an estimated €800 billion chunk of the European economy is already dependent on GNSS.)

And Amulances, fire engines and the like who rely on GPS would be hit  with life-threatening delays. Picture the scene; there’s a catastrophe like 7/7 (God forbid) which affects GPS. The emergency services are already struggling due to the scale of the problem and on top of everything emergency response vehicles trying to get to the scene are lost without GPS and have no back-up method of getting directions. Hundreds of lives would be at risk and there would be a public outcry. Obviously this is the worst case scenario, but I’m not just doom-mongering here; scientist and tech-experts are genuinely concerned about the issue. The RAE has handed some suggestion to the government, so let’s hope they listen.

The Latest Threat To Humanity? Sat Navs is a post from: UK Gadget and Tech News, Reviews and Shopping Site - Gaj-It.com

Overview:
If there’s one thing that seems to be hitting phone shops more and more, it’s yet another touch screen handset. So how do you differentiate from the pack? Well Garmin and Asus have teamed up to bring out the nuvifone G60 and nuvifone M20. Both are touchscreen handsets, but both are also first and foremost, Sat Navs. So will this blend come together as well as 25 year old whisky or is it a case of mixing oil and water? Let’s take a look.

Preview:
At the Gadget Show Live in Birmingham, we were lucky enough to get a hands-on demo of the new nuvifones, in particular the G60 which was the original nuvifone originally due to be released in 2007. It was delayed as Garmin and Asus were still getting the technicalities of the handset sorted out.

Now it looks like we’re going to be able to get our hands on these phones soon, with both handsets potentially due in shops by June this year.

The nuvifone M20 is a well-styled, easy to use handset powered by Windows Mobile. It features a 2.8 inch touchscreen, has a 3 mega-pixel camera and comes with 4GB of flash memory and a mini-USB headphone Jack- not great then for plugging into your usual headphones.

For those of you who, like myself, aren’t a fan of the usually sluggish Windows platform, the nuvifone G60 is powered by Linux. With a 3.5 inch touchscreen, it’s a bit easier on the eye when you’re using it as a sat nav in your car.

Similarly to it’s smaller cousin though, the G60 also has a 3 mega-pixel camera as well as 4GB of memory.
It does thankfully however, have a standard 2.5mm headphone jack.

Both cameras come with auto-focus and geo-tagging which can be teamed up with the “Panoramio” application that navigates to get-tagged photos sorted by distance from your current location.

I mentioned that the differentiating factor of the nuvifone range to other smartphones on the market is the fact that GPS isn’t an afterthought on these handsets. They are in fact designed to be used as your usual car sat nav, and can be mounted onto your front windscreen as is usual for a standard GPS unit.

The home screens of both handsets offers large “Search” and “View Map” icons, showing that map-reding is as integral a part of the handset as the ability to call your mum.

But doesn’t everyone already have a sat nav in their Ford Mondeo? Why get a handset that doubles-up on this functionality? Well this is the question we put to Garmin, who informed us that only 1/3 of people in the UK already have a sat nav, which is a figure far below what we had expected.

The beauty of having easy-to-use GPS on your phone is that you have ready access to a map when you looking for somewhere on foot. How many times have you caught a train to a new town only to spend 30 minutes to find the cinema/ restaurant/ random other meeting place that was only a 5 minute walk in the other direction from the station?

Both the G60 and M20 also feature “Ciao”, which is a location based social networking platform. It’s a pretty cool stalking app that lets you see where your friends are and keeps you up to date on their status.

There is also the “White Pages” app which lets you search for and navigate to listed people and businesses. You can categorise your search by name, business, or phone number.

The last noteworthy application is “Flight Status” which is a bit of a necessity for the weary business traveller. Flight Status (as the name suggests) gives you access to flight departure and arrival times and gate information from a range of airports around the world.

The two handsets look to appeal to different markets, with the M20 noticeably sleeker in design which would appeal to the business user or anyone else who’s looking to use it as a phone first before turning it landscape as a GPS unit.

Conversely, the G60 really is a sat nav first and a phone second which sounds a bit topsy-turvy but Garmin have a theory that people who don’t already have a sat nav are those who may not be the most up-to-date with the tech world. Garmin believe that by giving them a device with the comfortable facilities of a mobile phone, it can gently ease these traditional paper map readers to the world of “turn left in 800 metres”.

Price and network carrier are still under wraps, but we think the new nuvifone series stands out enough from the overcrowded touchscreen smartphone market to be able to make a name for themselves.

For a better look at the functionality G60 check out our video taken at the Gadget Show live in April 2009.

The Gaj-It Verdict:
Design: 8/10
Usability: 9/10
Features: 9/10
Value: TBA

We Say:
The nuvifone series is Garmin’s first step into the mobile phone world, and they’ve come up with a handset that looks to equal the best. I’m personally glad that there’s a Linux option to the Windows Mobile platform, but whether Linux proves to be responsive and reliable, we’ll only know from a proper test-run. Convergent technology has taken another step with the nuvifone handsets, and I can’t wait to see where Garmin go from here.

Preview: Video Demo of the Garmin Nuvifone G60 and M20 GPS Phone is a post from: UK Gadget and Tech News, Reviews and Shopping Site - Gaj-It.com

I hate to stereotype people though; some like pink and sparkly and some hate it. So if this makeover of the Nuvi 250 isn’t up your street, Garmin have also released a Black Diamond Edition of the Nuvi 760 and a sparkle-free variety in blue and white (260) and red (760).

Now let’s get back to basics. The Nuvi 250 features a 3.5 inch (diagonally) full touch screen that allows the user to navigate with ease. It offers a 3d view display and configurable vehicle icons (i.e. select ‘car-shaped’ icons for map navigation).

Garmin promise an easy to use gadget, offering turn-by-turn guidance with voice prompts, safety camera alerts and the ability to add additional points of interest.

This sparkly sat nav offers a choice of route set up, whether you’re looking for the fastest time, shortest distance, off road etc. and route avoidance – avoid those pesky toll roads. It also has an auto re-route feature for fast off route and de-tour calculation.

With preloaded maps for North America or Europe, I feel a road trip calling. And for such a trip, the world travel clock, currency converter and calculator will be extremely useful. Thanks to the jpeg picture viewer – you can remind yourself what your family look like while you’re on your travels.

The Nuvi 250 uses a rechargeable li-ion battery, with a life of up to 5 hours. Size wise, it measures 9.7 x 7.1 x 2cm. It uses Garmin Lock ™ for security.

If you wish to purchase the Nuvi 250, it comes with the following useful extras:

• Preloaded City Navigator NT for Europe (full coverage)
• Vehicle suction cup mount
• Vehicle power cable
• Dahsboard disc
• Set up and go guide

Garmin recently unveiled these new editions at IFA 2008 in Berlin. So far, there is no news relating to the release date of these products in the UK, but you can check out the new range at Aving News.

So what do you think? Cool? Tacky? Would you buy one of the new range? Drop us a comment and let us know!

Garmin Nuvi 250 Light Rose Diamond Edition: Bling Bling! is a post from: UK Gadget and Tech News, Reviews and Shopping Site - Gaj-It.com

Review:
The Garmin Forerunner series has been a very popular gadget with athletes in the past. The combined heart rate monitor with GPS capabilities provides ample statistical information for you to accurately monitor and manage your training. Even if you’re not a regular face in the London Marathon, this device is great for anyone who wants to lose weight, or maintain a healthier lifestyle as it provides the challenge for you to do better each week and constantly improve your stats.

There are two elements involved with using the Forerunner effectively; a heart rate monitor strap to wear around your chest, and a GPS receiver set in the wrist watch which collects data which can then easily be transferred to your PC for you to analyse.

There is a straightforward initial setup of the Forerunner 405. Simply charge the watch, then follow the on-screen instructions to configure the watch to your personal settings and to pair it with the heart rate monitor. You can further set up the wireless USB ANT receiver on your PC so that all of your data can be wirelessly be transferred to your PC. There is no software provided with the Forerunner 405, meaning you have to log on to the Garmin website for the Garmin ANT Agent software. You can then choose to collate your data online through Garmin Connect.

This is a great idea as when you’ve finished your workout, all you need to do is simply bring the Forerunner 405 to within nine feet of your computer, and it will automatically transfer all of your workout data to your PC as well as upload it to Garmin Connect. You can then take a shower and have a bite to eat before you decide to log on to see an analysis and archive of your runs. Say good bye to the days of scribbling down your time on a sweaty bit of paper when you walk through the door.

Aesthetically, the Garmin Forerunner 405 GPS is in a different league compared to all previous versions, as this is the first model that won’t make you look like you’re carrying a small fridge on your arm. It actually looks like a watch which, unlike the previous 305 model, doesn’t make it look out of place on your wrist. Design-wise, so far so good. But what is it like actually wearing it?

Well comfort-wise, it’s not too bad, except that you are stuck with having the face of the Forerunner directly on the back of your arm with no room for movement. If you wanted to angle the Forerunner on the side of your wrist so that you could see it easier, the moulded shape of the wrist band means that, well, you can’t really.

What is really innovative and exciting about the Forerunner 405 is the very cool touch bezel control system, which you use to operate it. This did take a bit of getting used to, but once I likened it to an iPod touch-wheel in my mind, I was soon on top of all of the functions. The bezel has four areas which you simply need to touch and hold to access the option. The areas include time/date, training, menu and GPS. To scroll through menus you simply trace your finger around the bezel, and to select an option just give it a tap. If you’ve gotten so involved with beating your previous calorie-burn and it has suddenly become dark without you realising it, you can activate a light to keep an eye on your stats by pressing two fingers on the bezel.

Not everything is touch-controlled however, as there are two hard buttons on the side of the Forerunner: start/stop and lap/reset. After trying out this gadget, it did make sense for these two buttons to be easily accessible when you’re on the go as you have easy control over timing your lap without losing seconds fiddling around with different menus.

With regards to the GPS function, it did take awhile to set itself up, especially if you’re like me and want to get out the door and get into the run as soon as possible. I found that I was quite a few minutes into my jog before it found my position. An obvious way to get around this problem is to strap yourself up and go out side for a warm-up walk, or do some stretches outside while the system sorts itself out. I was in a heavily populated area full of tall buildings as well which really didn’t help. Once it found the GPS signal however, it performed well and did stay locked on for the remainder of my run.

This is a great exercise tool which athletes and the health-conscious alike will love. Whenever you hit the “runner’s wall” and find it hard to push on, this gadget provides the encouragement you need to make sure you keep attaining your highest standard. That sentence may look like it was written by a gym teacher, but it’s that what the power of beating your own stats does to you!

The Gaj-It Verdict:
Design: 8/10
Usability: 8/10
Features: 9/10
Value: 8/10

We Say:
The Garmin Forerunner 405 is a big step up from the previous model, both in terms of style and usability. The very cool bezel control makes it stand out from similar products on the market, but the device still retains its simplicity of use.

Review: Garmin Forerunner 405 GPS – Take it for a Run is a post from: UK Gadget and Tech News, Reviews and Shopping Site - Gaj-It.com

Both TomTom and Garmin over time have proven their capabilities in order to create navigations systems that don’t disappoint, but now its time to find out which will complete the race and make it first to the finish line.

Let the Race Begin!
Affordable, for under £150 the TomTom ONE v3 and Garmin 200 seems like a good deal. With similar specifications, they both include pre-installed 3D maps of GB and Ireland, voice instructions, Post Code look-up, speed-camera warnings, Points of Interest (e.g. Petrol Stations), store favourite locations, and slot smartly into your pocket/handbag so you’re definitely getting your money’s worth.

With sleek and simple designs, the TomTom and Garmin are both user-friendly so that you can quickly navigate from A to B and will fit neatly within your car’s interior.

In terms of extras, the TomTom One v3 has the ability to plug in a FM TMC aerial and get free traffic information, when it comes to the Nuvi 200 TMC traffic capability is unheard of.

The One v3 also includes a neat feature called mapshare, allowing you update maps by adding road changes directly to your TomTom and making it available to others and also downloading approved map changes millions of other TomTom users. At this stage it’s not looking good for the Nuvi 200 as it has no mapshare either.

If your thinking of upgrading your maps to European or North American maps at a later stage then One v3 is penalised as it has no SD card slot preventing the option to upgrade its map database, so if your thinking of making a trip to Europe make sure you buy the Europe Version or look at a higher model. However, the Nuvi 200’s killer blow is an expansion slot for more maps, or pictures, so you have the ability to covert the Nuvi into a 250 or 270 by updating to European or American maps.

Finish Line: It’s A Close Finish But Check Out Our Scores…

The Nuvi 200 might be your ideal motoring companion if you want a cheap and cheerful unit allowing you to be able to upgrade maps at a later stage, however it looks as though the TomTom One wins by a millisecond because of its solid design, ease of use and it’s unique software.

The TomTom One wins pole position and is crowned king of the road for the entry level sat nav.

TomTom One
• Design: 8/10
• Usability: 10/10
• Features: 9/10
• Value: 8/10

Garmin Nuvi 200
• Design: 8/10
• Usability: 9/10
• Features: 8/10
• Value: 9/10

Compare Sat Nav Deals at FindSatNavDeals.com or Kelkoo.com

TomTom ONE and Garmin Nuvi 200 Go Head to Head. Who Will Be Crowned King of Road? is a post from: UK Gadget and Tech News, Reviews and Shopping Site - Gaj-It.com

This time it�s Garmin making a grand appearance into the mobile techie world with the ‘nuvifone’, which is described as “an all-in-one, sleek and slim, touchscreen device that combines a premium phone, mobile web-browser, and cutting-edge personal navigator”.

Not to sure about the name as I have always had a problem trying to find out how to properly pronounce it, but that aside my gadget predictions maybe right as it would seem that GPS is surely set to storm the gadget market this year!

Source: PocketLint

Let’s Not Get Tongue Twisted by Introducing Garmin New ‘Nuvifone’ is a post from: UK Gadget and Tech News, Reviews and Shopping Site - Gaj-It.com

The nuvi 850 has a 4.3 inch 480 x 272 resolution touchscreen to compensate for the lack of hands free calling with wireless Bluetooth. Along with this it has many high end features such as voice recognition, FM traffic compatibility, MSN Direct, text-to-speech, and the car locator.

If you’re in the US you’ll be able to pre order it from Amazon for about $800. I’m not too sure when it is likely to be available in the UK yet.

Source: NaviGadget

Late Arrival: Garmin Nuvi 850 Is Introduced is a post from: UK Gadget and Tech News, Reviews and Shopping Site - Gaj-It.com

The nuvi 370 is the bog standard sat nav with a 3.5 inch screen and is definately for those who want a straightfoward ride with no add ons. However, the nuvi 670 is the one which boasts the most features as it has a sexy and cleaned lined 4.3 inch face or touchscreen. Along with that it has a 1.25GB flash memory for storing MP3 music. Bluetooth is also incorporated in it’s road worthy box, allowing you to hook up your mobile for handsfree calls. One thing which stands out from it all is the FM transmitter which allows you to hear the instruction, music etc from a better speaker.

Check Kelkoo for the cheapest Nuvi 670 deals

Check Kelkoo for the cheapest Nuvi 370 deals

Garmin Unveils Two New Nuvis – the 370 and 670 is a post from: UK Gadget and Tech News, Reviews and Shopping Site - Gaj-It.com

• Kelkoo.co.uk

Overview

When all you bikers thought that you had been forgotten in the Sat Nav world, Garmin have introduced a Sat Nav system that has considered all the special needs that you could ever want in a Sat Nav system. It is aimed not only at the motorbike couriers but also excellent for all sorts of bikers, such as the European globetrotters or the Superbike racers.

Review

Don�t worry, before you start complaining that regular Sat Navs on bikes are not waterproof, they are fiddly to set with gloves on etc, I found when using the Zumo, it certainly crossed off a number of them ailments off my list so read on to find out how?

The waterproof Zumo sat on the bars and wirelessly hooked up to my Bluetooth-enabled helmet. I was able to navigate around the map using the touch screen, without having to take off my gloves and the chunky left-hand friendly control helped me pick my desired destination. All I could think of was �Bliss!��at last someone has thought that the biker population may need directions as well.

The Zumo offered a SD memory card so routing could be shared before taking off into the horizon. The batteries lasted for only four hours between recharges however it had all of Garmin�s points of interest in it, so if you need a quick stop at the service station to rejuvenate yourself then you can instantly divert. With Garmin�s new voice technology which spoke the names of the roads as well as turning instructions it made instructions very clear.

However the only drawback is the volume buttons which could be easier to use especially when your racing down the motorway and the other cars are a distraction you really need the volume to be very loud. When adding on the Bluetooth function then you�re looking at the possibility that this could break the bank balance priced at a staggering �330.

The Gaj-it Verdict

• Design: 8/10
• Usability: 8/10
• Features: 9/10

• Love: Waterproof, robust design, glove friendly and street name prompts
• Loathe: Awkward volume control position and price unfriendly

We say: The Zumo certainly gets the thumbs up in relieving complaints that I�ve had with other Sat Nav systems but I can�t helping wishing that the price could be better.

Specification

Display: 2.8� W x 2.1� H (3.5� diag.), 320 x 240 pixels; high bright sunlight-readable, UV-resistant, touch screen display
Unit dimensions: 4.8″ W x 3.9″ H x 1.6″ D
Weight: 10.6 ounces
Removable lithium-ion battery; three hour typical use
Bluetooth wireless technology for hands-free calling and navigation audio prompts
Supports optional FM TMC traffic alerts
Supports optional XM NavTraffic with XM weather, and XM Satellite Radio
Preloaded maps for all of Europe
Voice announces streets by name
Look up addresses and points of interest
Choose 2D or 3D map perspective
Upload custom POIs, including alerts for speed zones and safety cameras
Built-in MP3 player and JPEG Picture Viewer
SD card expansion makes it easy for storage and route sharing
Export and review your travels in Google� Earth with a free account from MotionBased.com
Glove-friendly touch screen with left-handed controls
Sunlight-readable, UV-resistant display
Motorcycle console for trip information
Motorcycle mount with standard 4-hole AMPS pattern
Garmin Lock�, an anti-theft feature
Custom caps, available in a variety of colors, to reflect your style
Waterproof: IEC 60529 IPX7 standards (submersible in one meter of water for up to 30 min.)

Garmin Zumo 550 Sat Nav for Bikers Reviewed is a post from: UK Gadget and Tech News, Reviews and Shopping Site - Gaj-It.com

Overview

The N�vi 660 is Garmin�s latest all-in-one sat nav device, also known as a �Personal Travel Assistant�. Sitting at the top of the company�s range, the N�vi 660 is special because it offers a larger-than-normal 4.3-inch touchscreen display (480×272 pixels, QVGA), integrated traffic capabilities, FM transmitter, and built-in Bluetooth. These new attributes are in addition to the GPS navigator, traveller�s reference, and digital entertainment features.

Review

Unlike previous N�vi models the N�vi 660 adds desirable enhancements such as a wider screen and integrated traffic announcements, which are two features that have never been packaged together before. With its large touchscreen interface the N�vi 660 makes it easy to obtain voice-prompted, turn-by-turn directions, route calculation, and automatic rerouting.

Garmin has also made it possible to supplement the pre-loaded maps with custom points of interests and the integrated traffic receiver that makes it possible to avoid traffic and road construction delays. Another new feature is the integrated MP3 player, as well as support for audio books and phone calls over your vehicle�s existing speakers

The super-bright, white backlit screen apparantly looks great in the car and is easily viewable in sunlight. The automatic night mode was is also a welcome touch, swapping glaring white to black and altering the colours of maps to make them easier to navigate in the dark, living up to Garmins� claim of a �sunlight readable display�.

However, the disadvantages are the cost to buy this whch could set you back �399. There wasn�t a route exclusion features so if I wanted to exclude certain roadways I can’t.

Specification

Size: 4.9�W x 2.9�H x 0.9�D (12.4 x 7.4 x 2.3 cm)
Weight: 6.2 oz. (190 g)
Display: 4.3 diagonal, 480 x 272 pixels; WQVGA TFT landscape display, with white back-light and touch screen
Battery life: 3 to 7 hours
Storage: 2 GB internal storage media
Routes: Automatically calculated with turn-by-turn instructions; custom road preference allows user to prioritize choice of back roads or major highways; automatic off-route recalculation shows how to get back on track if you miss a turn or exit; a detour function enables routing around traffic problems or road construction
Traffic: Alerts for traffic, road construction and weather-related tie-ups. n�vi 660 uses data to suggest alternate routes before problems are encountered
Bluetooth� features: Bluetooth wireless technology allows hands-free calling capability when paired with your compatible phone.

Includes:

• MP3 Player
• JPEG Picture Viewer
• World Travel Clock With Time Zones
• Currency Converter, Measurement Converter, Calculator
• Card Game
• Travel Alarm Clock With Automatic Wake-up
• GPS Receiver: SiRF Star III high-sensitivity GPS receiver
• USB Connector

The Gaj-it Verdict

• Design: 8/10
• Usability: 9/10
• Features: 9/10

Love:Slim design and sunlight readable display

Loathe:Price and sometimes took to long to re-route

We say:
Add Bluetooth, traffic data, an MP3 player, photo viewer, travel guides, and long battery life, and you’ve got yourself one great GPS. However, you�ll pay to get this performance, but if you can stretch your budget you won�t regret it.

Garmin N�vi 660 is a post from: UK Gadget and Tech News, Reviews and Shopping Site - Gaj-It.com