Cowon released its new premium navigation ‘COWON N13 TPEG Plus’ in Korea market, which added TPEG(Transport Protocol Expert Group) service that brings you the most recent traffic information.

With Samsung’s 7-inch 16.7M color digital WVGA TFT LCD, the COWON N3 features Alchemy AU 1250 600MHz to improve video playback, SiRF III chip for high GPS reception, two SD card slots, USB host, and AV input/out. It also offers powerful multi tasking capability to use navigation, video, T-DMB, music simultaneously.

Here is another GPS tracking device fitted with a GSM antenna to also serve as a mobile phone. Manufactured by Chinese Leader International this tracking system is a dual band mobile phone with a regular keypad as well as an emergency keypad that can be programmed to store 5 numbers. It also has a SOS button which automatically sends coordinates to the ‘guardian’ number.

Here is the full set of specs:

• GSM 900/1800Mhz or 850/1900Mhz
• 20 channels uNAV GPS module
• Embedded GSM antenna
• Embedded GPS patch antenna
• High sensitivity micro phone
• Standard cell phone keypads
• Independent redefined alarm keys and SOS key
• 128×32 PSTN display

This GPS tracker is designed to work using SMS messaging but in case of an emergency the microphone is also activated to transmit voice date too.

NAV-8800 is latest GPS navigation system from Marbella.It has the slightly bigger screen at 4 inches and uses the super sensitive SiRF Star III GPS receiver.

NAV-8800 is quite multi-purpose offering various entertainment features such as photo album, a MP3 player, and a movie player. But the most exciting of it all is the built-in 2 megapixel digital camera - in case you don’t have one on your cell phone.

NAV-8800 also provides an AV-in interface. You can enjoy watching digital TV with the optional DVB-T box too. There’s also the support for rear view cameras.

We do not have any leads on the availability date.

The UK army is planning to equip their front lines forces with a new target locator that embeds a GPS receiver.

The new Surveillance System and Range Finder (SSARF) allows the user to find the exact location and distance of enemy forces quickly and even determine the most appropriate and accurate artillery firepower to use.

The new GPS equipped range finder is all-weather, can function day and night, lightweight, uses thermal imaging, and laser range finder of up to 5km.

It is contract worth £30 million with Thales UK which is expected to start being used as early as 2009

The MirrorPilot is a GPS navigator integrated in a rear view mirror. The MirrorPilot gets rid of the nasty cables and the suction cup holder you have to endure with the common GPS devices.

If you buy a new car you pay through your nose to have an integrated GPS navigator. The innovative MirrorPilot gets you an integrated GPS solution for 700 Euro (~$1,000).

The makers (paragon and Magna Donelly) also highlight the security aspect of having the maps displayed in the rear view mirror. This way you check where you go and also see what is going on behind you.

The MirrorPilot has state-of-the-art navigator features including ANTARIS 4 Chipset with SuperSense, 2D and 3D maps, voice, and TMC. The display inside the mirror has a size of 2.2 inch and QVGA resolution.
Currently the MirrorPilot is available only in Europe with pre-loaded maps of European countries.

The MirrorPilot should be installed by a car shop.
More details on the MirrorPilot Site (German). The MirrorPilot will be exhibited at the CeBit 2008.

NDrive at MWC in Barcelona the Portuguese brand presented G700, a personal navigation device with 4.3″ screen, GSM/GPRS connectivity which enables the G700 to connect to the internet for local information.

Others features of the two way connectivity is updates on weather, traffic information, and cultural events like the concerts and movie listings.

Just like their software this GPS navigation system also offers aerial images overlayed with POIs and directions.

NDrive G700 will be marketed next month for approximately of 480€€. This however does not include mobile internet subscription

A800 comes with a large TFT LCD display measuring 4.3″. It has a Samsung 2440 400 MHz CPU, and uses the popular SiRFStar III GPS chipset. It has the most basic multimedia features such as picture viewing and listening MP3s.

Here are the rest of the features and specs:

• 20 channel viewing
• supports wmv, asf, mpeg4, mp3, jpeg formats
• voice-guided instruction
• powered by char charger or rechargeable battery (1600mAh)
• MMCX-type connector for optional external antenna
• SD storage card expansion slot
• 64MB Flash ROM, 64MB SDRAM

The Portuguese brand Ndrive presented the latest version of their GPS navigation software for smart phones, symbians, as well as PDAs with Windows Mobile.A nice feature of this navigation software is that it can display 3D renderings of buildings while routing the user. Ndrive uses photographs coming from the Spanish company Blom which specializes in high quality geographical information.

The demo for the software was rather impressive, it is quite smooth, but we’ll have to wait and see if it is really useful. We do not have information on the number of POIs yet but it is planned to be released at the end of March.

One thing to note is that data for all these aerial images takes a lot of space: 2 GB for Madrid for example. Therefore it is necessary to install only certain cities in 3D photographs and let the remainder of the country or Europe be installed in normal graphical mode.

Ndrive uses maps from Tele Atlas. Maps of Europe on DVD will cost 98 €

i-mate just introduced a new handheld at MWC 2008 in Barcelona called Ultimate 9502. Ultimate 9502 is Windows Mobile device which includes a direct video out so you can connect to a digital projector or TV to run presentations and video calls.

Here are the rest of the specs:

• Microsoft Windows Mobile 6 Professional
• UMTS HSDPA/HSUPA: 850/1900/2100 MHz
• GSM/GPRS/EDGE: 850/900/1800/1900 MHz
• WiFi and Bluetooth 2.0 EDR
• 256MB ROM, 128MB RAM
• MicroSD card slot
• 3MP camera with auto focus and LED flash
• VGA camera for Video Calls
• 2.8″ VGA Touch-Screen
• Integrated GPS
• Direct Video output for projectors & displays

In addition, the integrated GPS feature is there thanks to the Qualcomm chip, the processor runs at 400Mhz and the battery has 1660mAh capacity.

i-mate Ultimate 9502 will be offered exclusively through Australian Telstra and will be available as early as this March for AUD $1099. (985 USD)

The new Chevrolet Traverse which was just unveiled at 2008 Chicago Auto Show will be the first Chevy to offer XM NavTraffic as a standard feature. XM NavTraffic is currently available in 80 major cities across the U.S.

XM NavTraffic feeds data on accidents and road constructions directly to vehicle’s GPS navigation system via XM’s nationwide satellite broadcast system. XM NavTraffic also provides information on traffic flow where available. This allows users to view a color-coded overlay that indicates the average speed of travel along the driver’s planned route. XM NavTraffic is powered by Navteq.