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The new Nissan Cube  

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The new Nissan Cube will be unveiled the morning of November 19 at the Los Angeles Automobiles Show, and the automaker has begun the buildup to its arrival. The Cube now has an official website, where you can count down the days and see more on the Cube art cars that design students prepared for the '08 New York Auto Show, among other things. Nissan's covering all the bases, also getting the Cube set up on Facebook and other social networking sites in the meantime.
We like the Cube a lot, and hope the new version keeps the character of the current Japanese vehicles intact while delivering power and fuel economy geared to appeal to the U.S. buyer. We don't think Nissan's going to botch this, so and shoppers looking to get their geek ought to have a strong candidate from Nissan. Not that it'll be without competition the Scion xB, Honda Element, and Kia Soul will all be vying for peoples' attention, too. Let the car lovers deathmatch begin. Thanks for the tip, Turkey Pie!

Supercar Concept: Saleen S5S Raptor  

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Chris Theodore, Ford's former head of North American product development and the man who brought us the Ford GT, stopped by this morning to chat with editor-in-chief Jean Jennings and to tell us more about one of his current projects as vice chairman and chief technical officer of Saleen.
 
That would be the mid-engine Saleen S5S Raptor supercar concept that debuted at this year's New York Car Shows.
 
Saleen and its partner company, ASC, Theodore reminded us, are "the largest independent design facility in the world." The product guru elaborates: "We did the S5S partly to showcase our design capability. It was done right here in Michigan, in Warren, by one of our young designers, David Byron. We had an in-house design competition among half a dozen designers, and it came down to two finalists. We had a Betty Crocker bake-off, and David's design won.
 

"Yes, the cars has the potential for reality. We are well aware that the sweet spot in supercars is between about $150K and $200K." [Where Bentley has done so well with the Continental GT.] "We also wanted to showcase our new 5.0-liter, 620-hp motor, which is already available in our Extreme Mustang. We decided, let's float the idea of an E85-dedicated vehicle, and bump hp to 650.
 
"We designed the car around a feasible business model. And the next thing was to see the market reaction. The response at New York was phenomenal. We got 10 million hits on our Web site, and thousands of articles of one form or another were published.
 
"Now this new cars is on tour with some of our 200 Saleen dealers. The S5S Raptor is clearly a magnet for the Saleen brand.
 

"We have not yet decided whether to build the car. It will be difficult to find the right partner, and there are lots of technical and manufacturing obstacles. If we do decide to build it, though, I could have a prototype S5S Raptor up and running in six months, and it would take a couple of years to bring it to market.
 
"If we decide to do it, sometime in 2009 we'd have a running prototype."
 
Build it, Chris. America should not cede this profitable, image-building slice of the car market to the Italians, the Brits, and the Germans. (And the Japanese. The Lexus LF-A might play in this price league, as well.) The new Corvette ZR1 and the Dodge Viper ACR are cresting the $100K mark, but with the demise of the Ford GT, there's nothing else coming out of Detroit to take on the Ferrari F430, the Lamborghini Gallardo, the Aston Martin V8 Vantage, and the Porsche 911 GT2. The slow-selling, outrageously expensive, practically undriveable Saleen S7 supercar, really just a racing car with street clothes, was too much of a stretch for the Saleen brand. But the S5S Raptor is exotic, hot, and uniquely American. Build it!

TomTom / Tele Atlas a done deal, Nokia / NAVTEQ moving in that direction  

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Coincidence is a funny beast, is it not? On the very same day, releases have been put out touching on both of the major navigation deals that have long since been pending. To kick things off, we've got TomTom and Tele Atlas in quite the celebratory mood, as TomTom intends for Tele Atlas' listing on Euronext Amsterdam and on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange "to be terminated as soon as legally possible." Can't blame a brother for wanting what's his, right? Moving on, we're hearing that Nokia will receive clearance from EU regulators "to buy digital map supplier NAVTEQ, as no formal charges are to be levied against the deal." It's also noted that the time for sending a statement of objections has passed, so from the outside looking in, it seems the two can at least move forward with their plans.

TomTom already has iPhone navigation software ready to roll  

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That sound you hear is the not-yet-released nüvifone trembling in fear, as TomTom has just announced that an iPhone-ready version of its famed navigation software is practically ready to rock 'n roll. More specifically, a TomTom spokesman was quoted as saying that its "navigation system runs on the iPhone already," and he made the statement hot on the heels of the iPhone 3G announcement. Sadly, he wouldn't disclose an estimated release date for the software, but it's safe to say that the TomTom touch could make Apple's darling a formidable nüvifone opponent.

The SPOT Satellite Messenger  

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Everyone remembers the terrible stories on the news a few years ago, of climbers and hikers lost in the wilderness and the desperate search to find them before the unthinkable happened. If you love the outdoors, a situation like that could be your worst nightmare.
 
A number of products have appeared to help you survive the elements should you wind up in a bad position. The SPOT Satellite Messenger is one of those products, and while I didn't take it to the top of a mountain, it certainly proved itself useful on more than one occasion.
 
The SPOT looks like a big orange walky-talky; it's light, it fits in the palm of your hand, and it is very orange. The thick black plastic buttons and grips on the side add to its rugged feel. The AA batteries required for the device to work are included in the package, along with a user guide to help you get used to it.
 
Because the SPOT is a satellite messenger, it must acquire a signal before you can really start using it; you can't turn it on and expect it to work. You need to leave it out in the open (or at least somewhere with skyward view) for a good 10 to 20 minutes before it's able to send messages. Its size and shape do make it obvious that the SPOT is a device designed for safety--the bright-orange exterior is impossible to mistake, and the fact that there are only four buttons (on/off, check-in, help, and 911) make the device incredibly simple to use, even in an emergency.
 
 

Hands On: i-gotU GPS  

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There's a new little toy I've started throwing in my camera bag--a GPS receiver. It's not what you're thinking. There are no movings maps. In fact, there's no readout at all. This GPS receiver, smaller than a pack of Tic Tacs, doesn't tell me where to go; it shows where I've been. I'll explain how that enters into photography in a second.
 
I found the i-gotU (among the worst named products of this century) on eBay; it's available widely online at electronics outlets too. For $40 or so, including shipping, you get the receiver, a small USB holster for charging and data transfer, and a software CD.
 
The i-gotU itself features a single button and two hidden LEDs. That's all you need, because as it finds your position using the constellation of GPS satellites, it's also recording it on internal memory. Back home, the data is quickly pushed to your computer.
 
If you carry the i-gotU while you shoot, and the clock on your camera is reasonably on-time, your photos can be geotagged. That means the major photos sites, and even Google, will properly place them on the map.
 
I lent mine to a friend, who carried it and his camera as he snowmobiled through Vermont. I now have documentary proof that he's crazy enough to hit 80 mph on snow!
 
The i-gotU is not without its shortcomings: When you turn it on, make sure to leave it in the clear until it's latched onto a few satellites. Once that's done, it works fine in your pocket. Forget step one, though, and you'll find yourself missing data points.
 
The time interval between fixes, which you can set, is really more a suggestion than a hard-and-fast rule. Does it make a difference that I knew where I was about every 26 seconds instead of exactly every 15? Probably not. I'm told this has to do with the battery-conserving sleep mode it goes to between sightings.
 
Speaking of battery--shades of iPod--it can't be changed. I have no idea what the reasonable life expectancy is, but hopefully when it gives up, the next generation will be here and be cheaper!
 
Post by Geoff Fox

Little News from Auto Show in North American at this year (2008)  

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Little News from Auto Show in North American at this year (2008)
Let's call it NAIAS 2008 (NORTH AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL AUTO SHOW 2008) were one of largest auto show (say it also : cars show)in this word. It already held and successfully!. There are 58 vehicles that participated in this show, including 14 local debuts (North American)  and the other (44 debuts) were come from around the world. This NAIAS 2008 use to show to public about new cars,  new concept, and also new debuts in automotive world. 
How can I say that this were successfully? Just look at this category below
1. Look at the attendees. It reach until 700.000 attendees. It's a huge number!
2. Look at the number of media that report this show. At least 6000 media were participate in this show, and those 6000 media were international media! (approximate from 60 country). What a spread rumors and information!
3. Look at the industry that follows this show! At least 37.000 industry has counted from 2000 companies.
4. How much money that can gain from this show. From this show, $6 million were raised for children's charities.
This car show excitement were heightened by the presence of several celebrity and political guests. Other entertainers included singers Bryan Adams, Mary J. Blige and Toby Keith; celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck; Monster Garage host Jesse James; IndyCar Series driver and "Dancing with the Stars" champion Helio Castroneves; NBA All-stars George "Iceman" Gervin, Willis Reed, Bill Walton, Spud Webb and Dominique Wilkins; Katie Feenstra from the WNBA's Detroit Shock; Richard "Rip" Hamilton from the NBA's Detroit Pistons; actors Kim Catrall, Giancarlo Esposito, Rosie Perez, Drew Sidora and Lisa Vidal; heavyweight boxer Evander Holyfield, hip-hop legend Funk Master Flex; media moguls Damon Dash and Russell Simmons; The Tonight Show with Jay Leno's Ross "the Intern" Matthews; among several others.
 

TomTom profits drop 83% due to price cuts  

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The war for the low end of the GPS market promises to be a bloody one, and it looks like TomTom's suffered the first major injury: quarterly profits at the device maker dropped 83 percent from last year, and the company says it's due to competitive price cuts.
 
TomTom made a net profit of just €7.3M ($11.4M) this quarter compared to €44M ($66.2M) in the year-ago quarter, results which led the company to lower its outlook for the entire year.
 
The company actually sold 50 percent more devices than it did a year ago, but as PND prices steadily fall, it looks like TomTom will have to figure out a new way to pad those margins and refill its piggy bank if that $4.2B all-cash Tele Atlas deal goes through.
 
 

TomTom intros ONE 130, XL 330 GPS units with new car mount  

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As before, the TomTom ONE 130 (pictured above) occupies the low end with a 3.5-inch display, though it sports a redesigned and slimmer body this time around, along with a companion model in the form of the ONE 130S, which adds text-to-speech functionality.
 
Look for the whole lot to be available next month, with the ONE 130 setting you back $200, the ONE 130S and XL 330 each running $250, and the XL 330S coming in at $300.
 
Moving on up a bit, the TomTom XL 330 boasts a 4.3-inch widescreen display, and is also available in an XL 330S text-to-speech model.
 
TomTom may be having some profit troubles these days, but that's apparently not stopping it from getting plenty of new products out the door, with it now announcing four new models in its TomTom ONE and TomTom XL series, along with a spiffy new car mount to go along with 'em.
 
Otherwise, all the models will give you support for TomTom's Map Share technology, support for an optional RDS-TMC traffic receiver, and TomTom's new EasyPort mount (pictured after the break), which can be folded away into the device itself.
 
If none of those float your boat, you can also take a gander at TomTom's previously-announced x30 series devices, which the company informs us are now available in North America.
 
 

GPS : TomTom GO 930 gets reviewed  

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The fine folks at GPS review have gotten their hands on the new TomTom GO 930, a followup to the GO 720 -- TomTom's previous flagship device. As far as looks go, the 930 is pretty much a 720 in shiny black clothing, so the review concentrates on the new features included like Active Lane Guidance, static intersection images and IQ routes. Nothing's going to blow you away if you already have a 720, but the lane guidance should help with that all-important "which lane should I get in?" conundrum, while IQ routes has significantly improved route time estimations. Intersection images were too few and far between to be much help, but overall this is a decent improvement to an already impressively-reviewed device.

GPS : BMW's ConnectedDrive  

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And you thinking puttering around the intarwebz on your EDGE-capable iPhone was bad -- just think of trying to find anything on the 'net while inadvertently moseying through a dodgy part of town. Nevertheless, BMW is gearing up to offer "unrestricted access" to the web as an alternative in any new 2008 vehicle, but alas, it's only for European clients at the moment. Of course, BMW's no outsider to letting bits and pieces of the web into its motorcars, but this conception will let you catch up on the latest gadget news and pre-order the latest Elmo doll from the comfort of your heated seat. Sadly, the service is only accessible to front seat passengers when the car is moving under 3mph (it's for the best, we know), but your kid can surf into all sorts of bizarre chatrooms while seated in the rear.





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$178 Garmin nüvi 200 GPS  

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The nüvi 200 features a 3.5-inch color TFT touchscreen, turn-by-turn directions with voice guidance, preloaded maps for the U.S.
Today only, Walmart.com is selling the Garmin nüvi 200 GPS system for just $178, regularly $320.
and Puerto Rico, world clock, currency/measurement converters, SD memory card slot, 2D and 3D mapping, and a battery life of up to 5 hours.
Get it now while it's in stock!
 
 

Telenav GPS Navigator $99 Bucks for One Year  

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Telenav GPS Navigator (with Telenav Traffic) offers turn-by-turn directions, location-based services and re-routing around traffic jams.
Read our full review of the Telenav GPS Navigator (with Telenav Traffic).
Telenav has jumped on the bandwagon with a deal of $99 for an entire year of GPS Navigator service.
Get the $99 Telenav deal here.
I'll admit that I really liked the traffic function.
For my test routes around New Jersey and into Manhattan, the traffic-optimized routes worked well.
From our review: I tested TeleNav on a number of routes, both driven and simulated, to see how well it worked.
Route recalculation times after a missed turn were similar to those of a dedicated GPS device.
To be able to preview bottlenecks along your route is a nice feature, but to see just how slow the traffic is and how much of a delay you're likely to experience is priceless.
The web is just crawling with sales today--check out our Cyber Monday roundup on PCMag.com for proof.
 
 

Mio Technology Launches Newest GPS at Radio Shack  

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It shares many of the features of its more expensive sibling, the $399.95 Digiwalker C520, but the C320 is not upgradeable to live traffic and lacks the C520's text-to-speech capabilities.
The C320, available exclusively at Radio Shack, features a 4.3-inch touch screen, pre-loaded maps of the United States (including Alaska and Hawaii) on the built-in 1GB of memory, and a 1.7 million Point of Interest database.Mio's newest GPS device, the DigiWalker C320, launched today at 4,500 Radio Shack stores nationwide.
With an estimated retail price of $299.95, the DigiWalker C320 is Mio's least expensive 4.3-inch widescreen automotive GPS.
 
 


GPS : viliv X2 Flash Multimedia DMB Navigator  

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The X2 navigator is bundled with Windows CE, along with a robust 500Mhz AMD AU1200 processor, allowing the user to view DMB TV and videos in multiple formats, such as, DivX, XviD, MPGE1/2/4, WMV 7 or 8 (480 × 272), and WMV 9 (720 × 480).
The device also boasts a 4.3-inch LCD touchscreen from Samsung, with a 500cd/m2 brightness, a 400:1 contrast ratio, and wide viewing angles.
The X2 also features an audio player that supports MP3, WMA, OGG, and WAV, as well as an image viewer, which displays JPEG, GIF, PNG, BMP, TIFF, and WMF files.
The X2 also manages to squeeze in support for Flash, HTML and MS Office documents.
It also supports SDHC cards, extending the memory capacity to 16GB.
The device is powered by NAND flash memory ranging from 4- to 8GB.
The device utilizes flash memory, rather than the conventional hard disk drive of its predecessor, the P2.
While it looks a lot like the P2, in terms of design, the X2 offers several new features like karaoke, a car diary, and TPEG service, T-DMB, and multitasking function.
With an in built GPS antenna and SiRF3 chipset, the viliv X2 FLASH renders navigation services to travelers even when they are not on wheels.
The device has been priced at 459,000 Korean Won ($497 USD) for 4GB model and 529,000 Korean Won ($572 USD) for 8 GB mode.
The X2 measures approximately 142 x 79 x 23 mm and weighs only 290 grams.
 
 


New Delphi Nav300 GPS Unit Packs Plenty of Features  

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Delphi's latest portable GPS device, the Nav300, has the usual satellite navigation abilities, and also packs in ZAGAT ratings, voice command control, Bluetooth connectivity, Text-To-Speech for street names, speed limit warnings, and a host of other features.
When not on the road, the Nav300 doubles as a media player, handling music and movies via an SD card, and the device also includes a built-in "matching game.
The NAVTEQ Map software includes not only the continental United States, but Canada, Alaska, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico.
The Points of Interest feature includes branded icons, making finding fast food at a glance all the more easy.
The Delphi Nav300 is available now at ShopDelphi.com for a base price of $399, or $499 including the lifetime Clear Channel traffic and weather alerts.
There's optional real-time traffic and weather information available through Clear Channel for an additional $100 fee for lifetime service, if purchased with the device.
The opt-in-later option costs $199.
Lane assistance and road sign alerts will show upcoming road signs and make sure drivers are in the correct lane to make a turn.
ZAGAT ratings access should be available in September.
 
 


Navigon's Incoming GPS Unit Will Offer Free Traffic Updates  

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Nowadays it seems like everyone has a GPS unit, but Navigon's new 5100 will have a leg up on the competition when it debuts later this month 'cause it'll offer real-time traffic updates at no extra charge (unlike most GPS units which require a subscription for the service).
The unit will be out later this month.
On top of that, the inch-thick 5100 will also have the brains to recommend neighboring restaurants, hotels, and bars rated by Zagat.
It won't have built-in Bluetooth, which we hold as a strike considering its $500 price, but it will offer text-to-speech functionality and a "lane assistant" which tells you the best lane to drive in when you're on the highway.
All this displayed on its 3.5-inch screen.
 
 


TomTom's Future GPS Systems to Dump 3D Images for Live Ones  

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The system would rely on a camera (mounted on the front of your car) to provide the live imagery to your GPS' display.
Using image recognition technology, the unit would then pick out landmarks and sync it with the directions from your GPS.
The new units will guide you using real-world images rather than 3D maps.
The guys at Electronista have unearthed details on TomTom's next generation GPS units.
TomTom has filed a European patent on the idea, but there's still no word on how soon before we see it here.
The days of staring at polygons on your GPS may be over.
 
 


Falcom's MAMBO II worldphone brings the GPS, Bluetooth  

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That bulge you see contains a helix GPS antenna and some features inside the unit include a SiRF Star III GPS chip (with GPS tracking using up to four satellites), a 3D motion detector, a decently large 1,200 mAH Li-ion battery and a standard mini-USB connection for charging and connection purposes.
If so, dig this: Germany's Falcom Mambo II is a quad-band GSM worldphone with GPRS that sports a 20-channel GPS receiver for those detailed tracking needs you may be looking for.
Feeling paranoid and require the use of a personal GPS tracker?
No pricing or availability is known yet.
 
 



In-car GPS jammer subverts mobile tracking devices  

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This simple cigarette adapter plug-in reportedly "knocks out GPS logging or GPS tracking systems that may be operating in your vehicle," and considering that it sports a two-to-four meter operating range, just about every automobile outside of an 18-wheeler (or limousine) should be covered.
If you're the type who just may be the victim of undercover GPS tracking (read: promiscuous), you should give some serious thought to this one.
Unfortunately, there's no word yet on how much this potential life-saver will cost, but its slated to ship "soon" to the devious and uber-paranoid sects.
 
 


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