Chicago — Navigon announced a new flagship portable GPS product that is one of the first to offer a “panoramic view” of the road ahead.
In addition the company said it will sell two proprietary personal navigation device (PND) models through RadioShack.
The new flagship Navigon 8100 displays 3D images of side roads and hills in a panoramic view as the user drives, to provide better map orientation.
It has a 4.8-inch display and also offers free real-time traffic updates for the lifetime of the product. It uses voice input for destination addresses and offers Bluetooth for hands free calling. It has text-to-speech pronunciation of street names and lane alerts to guide users to the correct exit lands. It displays representations of highway signs at almost all exits on nearly all highways in a new “Reality View Pro” feature (previous models showed highway signs only at select intersections).
The unit began shipping this month at a suggested retail price of $599.99. An optional FreshMaps package of up to 12 map updates over three years is available at a $79.99.
At RadioShack, Navigon is selling the 5100 with free lifetime traffic updates, and free map upgrades in the form of eight quarterly upgrades over two years. The unit has a 4.3-inch screen with Bluetooth and text-to-speech pronunciation of street names as well as lane assistance and Reality View Pro at $299.99. Also at RadioShack, the Navigon 2090S has a 3.5-inch screen and many of the same features as the 5100 minus lifetime traffic and Bluetooth at $199.99.
Navigon has sold through RadioShack in the past but the two new units are its first proprietary models for the retailer.