Electronics: Travel Companion
December 1, 2007
With an influx of fully integrated navigation systems for the luxury-car segment, purchasing a handheld device seems more archaic than avant-garde. But Navigon, a small cartography company from Germany, is pioneering new navigation methods with their 7100 model. Navigon claims that the 7100—the company’s first name-branded GPS—redefines the navigation experience by fusing the most up-to-date technology with innovative style and design. The console is less than 1-inch thick and features a high-contrast, 4.3-inch, full-color screen that can be set to either two- or three-dimensional views.
"Any navigation system can get you from point A to point B," says Blake Bowen, Navigon product manager, "But the Navigon 7100 actually helps you decide where you want that final destination to be." Many may consider this a far-fetched concept, but the Navigon 7100 makes it a reality with a little help from a few partnerships.
Zagat Survey, an online evaluation source incorporated into the system, facilitates the decision-making process with reviews and ratings for restaurants, hotels, and nightlife in more than 70 major U.S. cities. And should there be traffic congestion en route to your dinner plans, the 7100 will inform you and calculate the fastest course of action—compliments of Clear Channel Communications. This subscription-free, real-time traffic feature is included with the $649 cost of the console. The 7100 comes complete with an adjustable windshield mount and two charging devices, one for home and one for the car, which becomes a necessity for journeys over four hours.
Navigon boasts over 16 years of experience in the cartography industry, which is certainly apparent. With a real-life representation of every freeway intersection across the country, a lane assistant that provides a visual display of the optimal lane choice, and the turn-by-turn guidance provided by a sultry female voice, it is actually more difficult to lose your way than it is to stay on course.
Navigon, www.navigon.com
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