ASUS
R700 & R700t PND
Portable Navigation Device
(aka GPS)
GPS
devices are considered to be
a navigation tool.
Most people think
that you only use a GPS to
guide you
on your trip to a known destination.
They indicate your position on a map
and some devices can speak directions
on your route towards your destination.
However
you can also use the GPS
on-the-fly mode
to show upcoming
roads as you look at the
map window
to decide where to turn next.
The time
it takes to look at the screen
to see
your next turn or make a directional
change is reliant on your being able
to decipher what you have seen on
the screen. A short glance onto the
screen and back to the road should be
enough to make a choice based on
what you saw on a GPS window. The
reality is that many GPS devices make
you
take a longer time looking at the
screen
before you can decipher what
you've seen.
That is the single, first
and most important
use of ANY GPS
device, while in the on-the-fly
mode,
because the longer you take your
eyes
off the road, the more dangerous using
a GPS becomes. The exception to this
rule is when you are strictly using the
voice directions and not looking at the
GPS device at all.
With the introduction
of the new ASUS
R700 and the ASUS R700t
PND which
comes with a 'Real 3D' viewer,
it has
added the most important feature
of any
GPS device ever created, being able
to take
short glance onto and off the PND,
as
ASUS calls it, and make your direction
change or confirm it. Wow, what an
improvement. While most GPS devices will
allow you to change the overhead flat
map view, to a closer roads appear
bigger and distant roads appear smaller
view, which they refer to as 3D, the
ASUS has actual 3D maps, as you can
see in the photos above.
ASUS once again has come to the
table
and brought innovation and clarity
to a
confused and cluttered market with
a
clear and focused solution to a problem
that most other manufacturer hadn't
realized needed fixing. ASUS has
jumped leaps and bounds ahead of
a lot of the competition.
I will be posting my "First Look"
Review
once I have had a chance to test
it.
(The following text is from the ASUS
website.)
Navigate Via Easily Recognized 3D
Landmarks
- Navigate Conveniently with 3D Realistic
Maps
- Bluetooth
Features for a Smoother Drive
- Safety First
with Auto Light Sensor
- Stylish and Slim Outlook
- Quick Access with Large 4.3” Wide
Display
- Versatile Entertainment Center
ASUS R700/R700t Provides Convenient
and Realistic Navigation with 3D Maps
Catering to users who require a
top-notch PND for their GPS navigation
needs, ASUS, producer of high quality
handhelds, has released the ASUS
R700/R700t
PND. This handy gadget is
not only convenient
for inputting routes
via a user-friendly
interface; the realistic
3D Maps provide
a 3D panoramic view
that makes it simple
for users to
navigate complicated and multi-level
junctions. The R700/R700t also features
a vast array of applications that include
Bluetooth Handsfree functions to
provide a smoother, safer drive; and the
TMC (Traffic Message Channel) module
for instant traffic updates (TMC feature
is support by R700t only).
Navigate Conveniently with 3D Realistic
Maps
2D maps can be slightly more difficult
to understand when looking at complex
intersections,
so the new 3D map
function is a welcome
change for
drivers. With a panoramic view
of the
navigation route, full 3D representations
realistically display the surroundings
with geographical illustrations and
detailed road information – allowing
users to easily and conveniently view
their GPS positions in real-time. The 3D
maps will turn, move and stop as the
driver does the same, and will provide
pan and zoom options to view nearby
streets.
Bluetooth Features for a Smoother Drive
With Bluetooth 2.0 handsfree
calling
support, the R700/R700t provides
users
with fast transfer speeds, better
voice
quality and safer operations. Building
Bluetooth connections automatically via
auto-ping, it also provides echo
cancellation for clear audio for
conversations, shows the caller name
when calls are incoming and can
automatically answer incoming calls
after 5 seconds. It can even speak out
SMS content to allow drivers to
concentrate
more on their driving
without the need
to handle the device.
Safety First with Auto Light Sensor
The R700/R700t also contains a built-in
auto light sensor that automatically
optimizes the backlighting of the LCD
panel. This safety feature not just saves
power, it allows users to view
navigational directions whether it is
night or day; or even when driving in a
tunnel. With this feature, users will get
optimal lighting to view directions
without straining their eyes or drawing
too much attention from driving.
Stylish
and Slim Outlook
The R700/R700t's concise design
emphasizes simplicity without
unnecessary buttons, and is only
13.5mm thick and 200g – making it
lightweight for easy portability. With
a subtle and sleek outlook, this PND
will
fit perfectly into any luxury car
setting.
Quick Access
with Large 4.3" Wide Display
Additionally, a convenient and intuitive
interface provides you with a
user-friendly interface that consists
of a touchscreen control with
icon-driven operations with a large
virtual button for simple navigational
directions that includes vibrant colors
and pictures. The super large 4.3 inch
wide LCD screen further enhances ease
in operability by allowing users to see
more roads, lanes and points of
interests
(POI) on the screen –
allowing them
to get on their way faster.
Versatile Entertainment Center
The R700/R700t is a portable
communications and multimedia center
that can let you enjoy listening to MP3s,
watch videos, and browse pictures –
making it your best companion
anywhere. The built-in FM Transmitter
allows the R700 to broadcast phone
conversations, navigational directions;
and voice out SMS in the vehicle
speakers - allowing users to enjoy the
best quality acoustics for their listening
pleasure. It also saves the navigational
software into the 1G internal memory
to
avoid the user deleting it by mistake,
and
supports Micro SD memory cards
expandable
to a large 4G for even
more multimedia
enjoyment.
Avoid
Traffic Jams with TMC Module*
(R700t Only)
The
built-in TMC (Traffic Message
Channel)
provides real-time information
on traffic
conditions and allows users to
be notified
of accidents, road diversions,
traffic
jams, traffic light breakdowns,
parking
lot vacancies and so on. When
the route
passes into a traffic
obstruction, the
R700t is able to
automatically calculate
and lay a new
navigation route to bypass
the traffic
jam via an alternate route.
Additionally,
it can provide weather forecasts
for
major cities – allowing users
to plan
well for a happier drive.
*Note
-
The R700 does not support this
function.
- The TMC traffic update
depends on
the TMC service in your region
* All specifications are subject to
change without notice. Please check
with
your supplier for exact offers.
Products
may not be available in all
markets.
* PCB color and bundled software
versions are subject to change without
notice.
* Brand and product names
mentioned are trademarks of their
respective companies.
ASUS R700t PND (GPS)
