Today in a surprise announcement in New York City, Garmin whipped out the nuvifone, a full-fledged GSM HSDPA smartphone built on its own operating system with GPS navigation at its core—but e-mail and web browsing close to its heart, and a camera built in too. No pricing or carrier announcement has been made yet, though its likeliest compatible network is AT&T given the technology. (When T-Mobile launches HSDPA, it too will be suitable, and possibly more attractive than AT&T.)
Features include:
• Google local search
• Garmin Online services - traffic, weather, fuel prices, hotel discounts, etc.
• nuvi-like navigation on the road or in pedestrian mode
• Email, text, IM functions
• Camera, video camera, MP3 and MPEG4/AAC
Garmin is promising to deliver it in the 3rd quarter, and says that while the PND market isn’t dying, the cellphone is clearly a ripe opportunity. Only one problem, as quipster and NPD analyst Ross Rubin pointed out: “Hello and Welcome to nuvifone!” Damn, now I’ll never get that voice out of my head. Have a look at all those pictures and the official press release below.
Garmin n vifone Takes Personal Navigation and Communication to the Next Level
New York/January 30, 2008/PR Newswire — Garmin International Inc., a unit of Garmin Ltd. (Nasdaq: GRMN) and the world’s leading GPS manufacturer, today announced its entrance into the mobile phone market with the n vifone, an all-in-one, sleek and slim, touchscreen device that combines a premium phone, mobile web-browser, and cutting-edge personal navigator. The n vifone is a work of art in features, design and functionality and is destined to transform how individuals connect, communicate and navigate their life.
“The n vifone is an all-in-one device offering unmatched integration of utility and function in a single mobile device,” said Cliff Pemble, Garmin’s president and COO. “This is the breakthrough product that cell phone and GPS users around the world have been longing for — a single device that does it all.”
The n vifone is an innovative mobile phone that has a wide range of advanced yet easy-to-use features. The all touchscreen device is the first of its kind to integrate premium 3.5G mobile phone capability with an internet browser, data connectivity, personal messaging, and personal navigation functions in one device. When powered on, the 3.5-inch touchscreen display reveals three primary icons — “Call,” “Search,” and “View Map” which allow the user to effortlessly master the n vifone’s functions.
The n vifone is the ultimate multi-tasker. Calls are easily initiated by tapping the “Call” button and selecting a name from the contact list or by using the on-screen keypad. When the user is trying to juggle talking on their phone while entering their vehicle to start a trip, the n vifone makes the transition simple. When the n vifone is docked onto the vehicle mount, it automatically turns on the GPS, activates the navigation menu, and enables hands-free calling so that the user never misses a beat in the conversation and is able to begin routing to their destination with ease.
Customers familiar with Garmin’s industry leading n vi product line will feel right at home using the n vifone’s personal navigation features. It includes preloaded maps of North America, Eastern and Western Europe, or both, and allows drivers to quickly find a specific street address, establishment’s name or search for a destination by category using the n vifone’s built-in database with millions of points of interest. Turn-by-turn, voice-prompted directions guide the user to their destination. If they miss a turn along the route, n vifone automatically recalculates a route and gets them back on track, speaking the names of the streets along the way.
The n vifone is Garmin’s first device to include Google local search capability, which harnesses the vast point of interest information available from the world wide web. N vifone users can search for locations like “coffee shops” and Google will sort the results based on the user’s current location and relevance. Information provided by Google includes a web-based rating so that users can select the most appropriate destination and route directly to it. In addition, the n vifone includes a web browser incorporating premium features and touchscreen operation for an optimum mobile browsing experience. The n vifone also includes personal messaging functions, including email, text, and instant messaging.
For the ultimate in safety, the “Where am I?” feature lets users touch the screen at any time to display the exact latitude and longitude coordinates, the nearest address and intersection, and the closest hospitals, police stations and gas stations. The n vifone also helps drivers find their car in an unfamiliar spot or crowded parking lot by automatically marking the position in which it was last removed from the vehicle mount.
In addition to navigation, the n vifone includes access to Garmin Online , an online service offering constantly-updating information such as real-time traffic, fuel prices, stock prices, sport scores, news reports, local events and weather forecasts.
The n vifone also includes numerous mobile entertainment applications. The built-in camera allows individuals to take a picture that will automatically be tagged with the exact latitude and longitude reference of where the image was taken. The user may then save the image so they can navigate back to the location, or email the image to a recipient who can navigate directly to the location. The n vifone also provides direct access to millions of geo-located landmark and sightseeing photographs available through Google’s Panoramio picture sharing site. The Panoramio photo search feature enhances the enjoyment and adventure of sightseeing in an otherwise unfamiliar location. Other multimedia functions of the n vifone include a built-in video camera, MP3 and MPEG4/AAC.
Garmin anticipates that the n vifone will be available in the third quarter of 2008. Specific details about pricing and sales partners will be announced in the future. Additional information about n vifone is available at www.garmin.com/nuvifone.
by gizmodo
We know, it’s not like the nuvifone is a total surprise any longer, but just in case you tend to rest easier after digesting information straight from the source, here goes. Garmin’s recently (and abruptly) announced handset obviously marks the firm’s first solo foray into the cellphone arena, and according to Cliff Pemble, the firm’s president and COO, it’s the “breakthrough product that cellphone and GPS users around the world have been longing for.” That being said, the unit will feature a 3.5-inch touchscreen with a trio of primary icons — Call, Search and View Map — along with an internet browser, HSDPA support and preloaded maps of North America and / or Eastern and Western Europe. Furthermore, it houses “millions” of POIs, doles out turn-by-turn, voice-prompted directions and becomes Garmin’s first device to include Google’s local search capability. As for pricing and availability? We’re looking at a Q3 2008 release, but we’ll have to wait things out before finding out a price and who exactly will be carrying it. Check out the gallery below for shots of the device and its UI, and head on past the break for lots more dirt.
by engadget
18 September 2007 13:27 GMT - Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO, has confirmed that there is a 3G iPhone in the works, although fell short of saying when we could expect to buy one.
Making the comments at the “Mum is no longer the word” press conference at the Regent Street Apple store in London, Steve Jobs, CEO of Apple said: “You can expect a 3G iPhone later next year”.
The news comes as a 2G EDGE-enabled iPhone will be available in the UK on 9 November.
When asked why the current model didn’t have 3G, Jobs blamed power issues saying that the 3G chipset would be too much of a drain on the unit’s battery life which promises 8 hours of call time, but said that future models would have the technology.
“We are working on the next iPhone already, the one after that and the one after that”, Jobs said.
After threatening to drop a large-scale cellular service contract based on concerns that it would lock itself out of a trade-up to the iPhone, a Swedish firm has received assurances from its liaison at the provider that the coveted gadget would arrive as soon as September — and, startlingly, that a version of the handset with 3G (third-generation) wireless Internet access would be in the provider’s hands as soon as January of 2008. The contact at the carrier was especially confident, sources said.
If true, the new model would signal a revision to the iPhone just seven months after its slated June 2007 launch. It would be an even quicker response for European customers, who were originally told not to expect the Apple candybar phone in any form until late this year.
Apple hasn’t been especially shy in beating the drums for its long-term 3G plans, as Apple chief executive Steve Jobs himself mentioned 3G in his Macworld keynote and later had his story backed by Cingular (now AT&T) distribution chief Glenn Lurie.
Most cellular-based Internet access in the world today, including the AT&T EDGE network which the iPhone will first use, is considered second-generation (2G). Few would mistake 2G-level wireless for a truly fast connection. Downloads typically crest at a few hundred kilobits per second even under ideal conditions; uploads are regularly far worse, frequently hovering around just above dial-up access.
3G ultimately amounts to the addition of extra channels on a cellphone network to boost those anemic speeds, particularly in terms of uploads. Where downstream access rarely exceeds 800Kbps on present 3G networks, upstream levels are a much healthier 400Kbps. The technology smoothes out wrinkles in mobile Internet access that make some tasks impractical or even impossible on 2G networks, such as uploading large photos in e-mail attachments or video messaging.
Apple’s choice of cellphone networks would obligate it to use a particular form of 3G known as High-Speed Download Packet Access (HSDPA). At first, this would seem to be something of a misstep: the standard has barely lifted off the ground in the Cupertino-based company’s home turf. Only a handful of US cities currently offer AT&T’s particular brand of 3G to subscribers.
The situation was discouraging enough that Apple reportedly left out the technology in its inaugural phone due to the limited amount of HSDPA coverage in the country.
Thankfully, HSDPA also happens to represent Apple’s best shot at selling the iPhone beyond American borders. In Europe, cheaper data rates and widespread 3G networks encourage Internet access from smartphones to the extent that many cellphone giants lavish more attention on their phone lineups for that continent than anywhere else. Nokia’s range toppers, for example, are often badged as “multimedia computers” rather than cellphones.
It remains to be seen whether or not Apple will add any features to the Euro-friendly version. Most 3G cellphones outside of North America ship with front-facing cameras for video calls, but those phones released in the US (such as AT&T’s BlackJack) have typically gone without added features beyond the extra speed.
The $300 Linux-Powered iPhone Killer Arrives
After seemingly endless delays, the OpenMoko phone is here. The first version of the NEO 1973 mobile phone, which carries the Linux kernel inside and is not locked to a specific network, is available for purchase from OpenMoko.com. It’s not as jaw-droppingly pretty as the iPhone, but it shares a design philosophy — no buttons, just a screen — and it’s ready to be loaded with any number of open-source software applications. (Though, according to Gadget Lab, so is the iPhone).
The base version of the NEO sells for $300. It has a 2.8″ VGA touch screen, a micro SD card slot, a USB port and 2.5G GSM quad band capability.
Keep in mind that this unit (the GTA01) was pushed out early so developers could begin writing device drivers, custom GUIs and some cool apps for the phone. The next revision (GTA02), which will be available starting at $450 in October, will be ready for the mass market. It will have wi-fi, 3-D motion sensors and added graphics accelerators. So this phone isn’t exactly an iPhone killer — the next one will be a contender. AptUsTech has a nice comparison of the NEO 1973 and the iPhone.
When it comes to devices, more choice is almost always “a good thing.” But will consumers respond to the NEO? We all know developers are going to dig this phone. But what’s more important to consumers — a super-sexy status item that’s locked to one carrier and one set of functions, or a less sexy look-alike with a fully free and open software system?
At the same time a very interresting phone has been launched on the market : the Neo 1973
From an user point of view, the two phones share the same design — no more buttons only a tactile screen. While the iPhone has a wonderful user interface that is very polished (as usual from Apple), the Neo 1973 is more conservative with a more traditional interface comparable with an existing PDA.
The main feature of the Neo 1973 is openness. All the hardware is documented, and the software is open source. This contrasts greatly with the iPhone which is as closed as a bank vault. The only way to develop software on iPhone is to build web services designed to fit well on the screen or to use javascript with limited access to the iPhone resources. Trillian just did this and developed a chat application for the iPhone.
But without access to the bare metal, the applications will be limited, and the control remains in the hands of Apple. Of course there is attempt to reverse engineer the iPhone software so a preliminary shell can be run.
On the other hand, the Neo 1973 gives you a total control of the software, a SDK is provided at www.openmoko.org you can also download an emulator and try your software without the real hardware.
Hardware Comparaison
The hardware of the iPhone is not known for sure but several reports give a close idea of what it is.
| Functions |
iPhone |
Neo 1973 |
| CPU |
ARM11 620MHz |
ARM9 266MHz |
| RAM |
128MB |
128MB |
| FLASH |
4 or 8 GB |
64MB |
| Storage extension |
No |
microSD |
| Resolution |
320×480 |
640×480 |
| Bluetooth |
Yes |
Yes |
| WiFi |
Yes |
No (Yes in next revision) |
| USB |
No |
OTG (non powered host) |
| Camera |
2MP |
No |
| GPS |
No |
Yes |
| Bluetooth |
Yes |
Yes |
| Geekport |
Ipod Like (audio+RS232) |
I2C, SPI, RS232, JTAG |
| Accelerometer |
Yes |
No (Yes in next revision) |
No doubt the hardware of the iPhone is more advanced, but the next revision of the Neo 1973 should bring improvements:
- 802.11 b/g WiFi
- Samsung 2442 SoC (400MHz and Camera interface)
- SMedia 3362 Graphics Accelerator
- 2 3D Accelerometers
- 256MB Flash
The main missing function of the Neo 1973 is the camera, but the hopefully the next version will provide it. As an interim, an external USB webcam could be used.
The GPS opens a lot of possibilities, I bet SMS bloging with ubiquitous geographicall positioning will be one of the first mainstream application.
What to do with a Neo 1973
I spoke about shared phone and product adaptation in a precedent article with this phone you can adapt the software to your exact requirements. You can have a phone booth application complete with accounting. Or you can monitor easily a truck or a boat and optimize delivery and pickup.
With the good screen resolution it’s also possible to use it as an e-book reader, or as a web browser with better readability than the iPhone.
Please post your ideas in the comments below and have a look on the existing projects.
How much and when
The Neo 1973 is available now, for a price of $300 you can order it on the web.
The price is high for personal use in developping countries but it’s a great tool for community based phone and we can hope it will lead a open movement in the closed world of GSM phone.
The Neo1973 is the first phone designed to run OpenMoko. It is a phone that can be used with any GSM operator, and it is manufactured by FIC who instigated the OpenMoko project.
If you just received a Neo1973 here are some suggestions for getting started.
Neo1973 Hardware and Disassembling Neo1973 have more information on the hardware.
See OpenMoko, OpenMokoFramework, MokoMakefile and Development resources for more information about source code.
The Neo Base costs $300, the Neo Advanced costs $450.
Neo Base — everything the mobile application developer needs to enjoy the benefits of the first freed phone, the Neo1973:
* Neo 1973 (GTA01B_v4)
* Battery
* Stylus
* Headset
* AC Charger
* Phone Pouch
* Lanyard
* SanDisk 512MB MicroSD Card
* Mini USB Connectivity Cable
Neo Advanced — everything the mobile device hacker wants to get down and dirty with the first freed phone, the Neo1973:
* Neo1973 (GTA01B_v4)
* Battery (2x)
* Stylus
* Headset
* AC Charger
* Phone Pouch
* Lanyard
* SanDisk 512MB MicroSD Card (2x)
* Mini USB Connectivity Cable (2x)
* USB Host Mode Cable
* Debug Flex Cable
* Debug Board v2 (JTAG and serial console)
* Ruggedized Toolbox with shoulder strap
* Guitar Pick (for opening case)
* Torx T6 screwdriver
“Phase 2″ (GTA02, “Mass Market”)
GTA02 (AKA: The Mass Market Neo 1973) is on schedule to go on sale in October. It will have the following new hardware components:
* 802.11 b/g WiFi
* Samsung 2442 SoC
* SMedia 3362 Graphics Accelerator
* 2 3D Accelerometers
* 256MB Flash
* 1700mAh Battery
* Faster CPU - S3C2442/400
We will sell this device through multiple channels. Direct from openmoko.com, the price will be $450 for the Neo Base and $600 for Neo Advanced.
Adds to the Phase 1 phone:
2D/3D-Graphics-Accelerator
2 Accelerometers (model and number is uncertain)
Faster CPU - S3C2442/400
WiFi: Atheros AR6K (see also [2])
Above from [3] and other sources
There will be no changes in the housing. [4]
