Mio introduced a car GPS with a 7-inch (diagonal) screen, the Moov S700, at the recent Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Typical car GPS touchscreens are 3.5 inches or 4.3 inches (diagonal). The Moov S700 is to retail for $299, but no word yet on when it will be available for sale. Few details have been released, but the large screen size is intended to provide more space for maps and navigation menus, but is also intended to handle in-car video. The Moov S700 is also targeted to the recreational vehicle market. Its large screen size is easier to see when mounted on a large RV windshield that may be far from the driver. In keeping with the RV theme, it also comes loaded with "MadMaps" scenic road trip routes.

Garmin introduced a new golf GPS model, the Approach G5 (suggested retail, $499), at the recent Consumer Electronics Show. The Approach G5 is to be on the market by the second quarter of 2009. I had some hands-on time with the Approach G5, and was impressed with how Garmin has made use of the unit's large color touchscreen. For example, you can find the distance-to-the-green from any point on the hole by simply touching the touchscreen. When you slide your finger on the screen, the yardage changes instantly. Of course the unit also gives you a distance-to-the-green from your current position readout at all times. You may also manually move the pin position for accurate to-the-pin distances. Also setting the G5 apart is the fact that Garmin will not be charging for golf course maps or map updates. This should shake up the golf GPS market, in which most manufacturers charge significant fees for initial course map databases and for ongoing map updates. The Approach G5 will also feature course preview, a digital scorecard, and more. The Approach G5 is based on much of the same hardware as the Garmin Oregon model. Image © Garmin

Las Vegas - TomTom just keeps making improvements to its already excellent navigation and connectivity features, and the new-for-2009 GO 740 LIVE carries that theme. This time around, TomTom has added always-on Internet connectivity via built-in GSM cellular technology. The 740 LIVE doesn't have a Web browser, but it does have a nicely integrated Google Local Search feature that dramatically expands its points-of-interest (POI) database and POI depth and utility. TomTom's Tom Murray walked me through the 740 LIVE's features at the recent Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. The 740 LIVE is to sell for $499 (suggested retail) and is to be available by May, 2009. Internet connectivity is to be free for the first 12 months, and $9.95 per month thereafter. There's lots more in this first look.
Image © TomTom

CES Las Vegas - A number of manufacturers are showcasing environmentally friendly technology here at the 2009 Consumer Electronics Show - everything from reduced packaging, to end-to-end recycling of products such as printers and ink cartridges. One technology that caught my eye is being touted by NavTeq, the giant company that supplies map and traffic data to GPS makers. NavTeq partnered with Italian car-tech company Magneti-Marelli to create "green routing" to calculate the most fuel-efficient route. No word on when it will be released, but they are demonstrating the technology that will add "most fuel efficient route" to existing "fastest" and "shortest" options when you select a route.