Welcome in the GPS world, real 3D maps are the equivalent to Dick Tracy’s watch for communication. And of all the Garmins, Magellans, and TomToms on the market, we’re a little surprised that HP is the first to get them integrated into its iPAQ 310 Travel Companion. The iPAQ 310’s 3D maps for 40 major cities are more of a novelty than a necessity, but the 310 is still a good all-around navigator with some helpful tools for frequent travelers.
Like other plug-in GPS units, the iPAQ 310 is an easily portable black rectangular unit, although its 4.3 x 3.4 x 0.7-inch shell is a bit sleeker than most. Its only external controls are a power button, external volume dial, an SD Card slot, and a mini-USB port. Besides the standard car charger and windshield and dashboard mounts, the iPAQ 310 also comes with an AC power cord, a slip case, and a USB cable for indoor syncing.
The iPAQ 310 is built on Windows CE 5.0, so its menus resemble those of a handheld computer more than those of other GPS devices on the market. Menus are clear and well arranged; navigating the device and planning and following multistop itineraries is a breeze. Whenever you look up a POI or an address, you get the option to add it to your existing route, or to make it the start or endpoint of your journey.
The iPaq 310 offers text- and voice-guided directions in English, Spanish, or French. In addition, the unit has text-to-speech functionality so you’ll hear actual street names instead of generic voice prompts. Maps are presented in 2D or 3D view, and while driving a specified route, the map screen will show you the distance to and direction of your next turn as well as the street name, your current driving speed, estimated time of arrival, and other useful information. One cool aspect about the iPaq 310 is that you get 3D renderings of buildings.
