PDAs that get around: no cell phones, but these pocket PCs have what a traveler needs.With a variety of global positioning systems Global Positioning System: see navigation satellite. Global Positioning System (GPS) Precise satellite-based navigation and location system originally developed for U.S. military use. available for automobiles, mapping out driving directions has never been easier for today's business Today's Business is a show on CNBC that aired in the early morning, 5 to 7AM ET timeslot, hosted by Liz Claman and Bob Sellers, and it was replaced by Wake Up Call on Feb 4, 2002. traveler. You can even locate gas stations and restaurants along the way. But wouldn't it be nice if you could also use the navigation system A GPS-based electronic system in a car or truck that provides a real time map of the vehicle's current location as well as step-by-step directions to a programmed destination. See GPS and vehicle tracking. for getting around on foot? That's the idea behind a new generation of travel-friendly personal digital assistants. Not only can they manage your contacts and download e-mail, but they can remind you where your next appointment is and tell you how to get there whether you're driving or strolling. Three new Pocket PCs are good representatives of this new class: the iPAQ rx5915 Travel Companion from Hewlett-Packard, the Pharos Traveler GPS 525 from Pharos Science & Applications Inc., and the Mio P550 from Mio Technology Mio Technology Ltd., a subsidiary of Mitac Int'l Corp., is a Taiwanese electronics maker that manufactures and markets Pocket PCs, Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs), smartphones and Personal Navigation Devices (PNDs). All products are focused to the trend of a "Mobile Lifestyle". Ltd. What makes these devices notable are their GPS receivers and street-mapping software. Each device provides street-by-street driving directions for the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. and Canada. Mio P550; $499 This device provides access to maps, a points-of-interest search function, and a contacts list. The Mio P550 has 2GB of built-in flash memory for maps and other data and Mio's WorldMate navigation software. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Pharos Traveler GPS 525; $549.95 The Pharos Traveler GPS 525 has a 300-megahertz Samsung SC32442 processor and comes with the company's Ostia Ostia (ŏs`tēə), ancient city of Italy, at the mouth of the Tiber. It was founded (4th cent. B.C.) as a protection for Rome, then developed (from the 1st cent. B.C.) as a Roman port, rivaling Puteoli. mapping software as well as a 2GB Secure Digital memory card preloaded with street maps. Also included is a copy of Microsoft Streets & Trips 2005. Ostia includes Smart Traffic, a real-time traffic information feature, and Smart Finder, which can help you find a point of interest. The unit measures 4.3 x 2.3 inches and is 0.69 inches thick. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] HP iPAQ rx5915; $599.99 The HP iPAQ rx5915 Travel Companion uses a 400-megahertz Samsung SC32442 processor and is bundled with Navigator See Netscape Navigator, Netscape and Norton Navigator. Navigator - Netscape Navigator 6 street map software from TomTom. Navigator 6 can speak driving directions in more than 30 languages and provides a choice of 50 different voices. The iPAQ unit measures 4.74 x 2; inches and is 0.65 inches thick. The six-ounce iPAQ can also be held in a landscape orientation. A Travel Assistant icon links you to features such as a currency converter (1) A device that changes one set of codes, modes, sequences or frequencies to a different set. See A/D converter. (2) A device that changes current from 60Hz to 50Hz and vice versa. , a world clock, and access to global weather forecasts. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Consumer Info Mio Technology Ltd., 510-252-6950, www.miogps.com Hewlett-Packard Co., 800-752-0900, www.hp.com Pharos Science & Applications Inc., 888-742-7678, www.pharosgps.com |
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