Updating their Guide + Play line with three new models, Harmon Kardon incorporates video, music and hands-free calling into their traffic and GPS package.
Harman Kardon announced today the introduction of three new models in their Guide + Play line, the GPS-310, GPS-510 and GPS-810. Updates to the Guide + Play GPS-300 and GPS-500 models, the new units incorporate text-to-speech, real-time-traffic, Windows Media DRM support, a picture viewer, Bluetooth hands-free calling and a rotary wireless controller.
The new high-end model GPS, the GPS-810, integrates the navigation and digital music applications for simultaneous use, so that important navigation information is both audible and displayed on the unit's touchscreen, even when digital music playback is in use. Volume priority is user-customizable for the two functions, and the text-to-speech technology provides spoken identification of road and highway names. It also has over 10 million "Points of Interest," (stored on 2GB of internal flash memory) which users can search through to find directions to nearby restaurants, gas stations and ATMs. The GPS-810 uses a real-time-traffic-information service to display current traffic incidents and freeway speeds (where available) through a built-in receiver and included antenna. New users receive a free 90-day-trial subscription from the Clear Channel Total Traffic Network.
The 19.6mm thick unit has 4.3-inch widescreen LCD with 480 x 272 resolution. The screen uses alpha blending, enabling prompts and icons to be rendered transparent, allowing the map to remain in full view. Included is a pocket-sized portable mount that secures the unit during in-car use. The mount features a ball-and-socket joint that allows users to position the screen so that it can be seen from potentially anywhere in the vehicle.
Users can access music and videos loaded onto SD/SDHC cards, in either MP3, AAC, WMA, WMV9, or MPEG4 file formats, and uses playlists created in Windows Media Player. The video player has WM-DRM10 decoding for compatibility with music and video downloads and subscription services. The Macintosh- and PC-compatible USB 2.0 interface has MTP support, automatically transcoding videos when they are transferred to the device. The included wireless FM transmitter allows audio from said music and video to be played through the car's audio system. The included picture viewer shows thumbnail previews or slideshows of users' JPEG format pictures.
A wireless rotary controller is also included, allowing for safer and more convenient in-car operation, and can be mounted in a location that provides safe and comfortable access while driving. Using Bluetooth, call information and phonebooks for many popular mobile phones can be displayed on the touchscreen, and dual microphones and a noise-cancellation system are built-into the device for simultaneous navigation and hands-free calling.
The GPS-810 also includes carrying case, in-car cigarette-lighter adapter and AC adapter.
Scheduled for simultaneous release, the GPS-510 has all the same features as the GPS-810, but features a smaller, 4-inch touchscreen, and does not include the wireless rotary controller, Bluetooth features, picture viewer, FM transmitter or MTP transcoding. The GPS-310 has all the features of the GPS-510, but without the real-time traffic information, video player, AAC or playlist support or the AC adapter.
All three units will be available in November 2007, with the GPS-310 retailing at $350, the GPS-510 at $450 and the GPS-810 $600.
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