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Low-End Korean GPS is Basically High-End 7-Inch Screen PMP, for US$190
Posted by Kit Eaton at 11:40 PM on August 15, 2008
The normally navigation-focused guys over at Navigadget have spotted something interesting: The "low end" Easycar U7 GPS system heading for Korean drivers at the moment is basically a pretty high-end media player with a 7-inch touchscreen. As well as helping you navigate, the 1.9cm deep gizmo plays audio and video files, has a text reader, photo-viewer and accepts digitally-broadcast TV. Check out the gallery to see it in action, and go mad when you learn it costs the equivalent of just US$190.
Where did you see a fairly thin PMP with a 7-inch screen and all that functionality for that small an amount of cash? I know there's exchange-rate shenanigans happening, but it sure makes most GPS systems over here seem like a rip-off.
Let us know your take on this guys: Are the Koreans just lucky buggers, or are the GPS makers over here ripping us off?
[Navigadget]
Comments (AU Comments · US Comments)
There are currently no AU comments for this post.
Cliff_Dangers
Posted 12:14 AM 16/8/08
I just ordered one of these... I'm a canadian living in korea. I'm telling you now that you are getting ripped off. For the most part, even though the products are made here, they generally more expensive than if you bought them outside the country. Reason being is that they heavily tax electronics and other goods with a luxury tax. Example.. you can buy a hyundai sonata with some goodies in the usa for about 22,000.. that same car in korea (keep in mind that it's made here and there are no shipping costs of duties) would cost you around 30,000. The DMB on this GPS as well as all the others is super cool. All the taxis are showing the Olympics.
Cliff_Dangers
lldsandsll
Posted 12:13 AM 16/8/08
on the exchange rate, the dollar has reached it's highest vs the pound in over 6 years. woot!
lldsandsll
B1663R
Posted 12:08 AM 16/8/08
Little from column A
Little from column B
B1663R
CYST!
Posted 12:08 AM 16/8/08
Way overpriced.
CYST!
strider_mt2k
Posted 11:56 PM 15/8/08
@strider_mt2k: -hardware and software, excuse me.
strider_mt2k
strider_mt2k
Posted 11:55 PM 15/8/08
I've been trying to tell you this all along!
My low-end Mio C230 is a MARVELOUS media player once it's unlocked!
Personal GPS systems are WAY over-muscled for what they do, and could do much MUCH more if the hardware was simply unlocked and made available for use.
In many cases these things are just re-purposed PDA hardware under the skin.
So SURE this thing does lots of stuff! (and well, I'm sure!)
It's not a great stretch, considering.
strider_mt2k
scarbrtj
Posted 11:53 PM 15/8/08
A GPS system for your car which causes a car crash because you're watching a movie on it, instead of the road. How ironic.
scarbrtj
Secret Agent Man
Posted 12:48 AM 16/8/08
@Cliff_Dangers:
That's because it is statistically shown that $8,000 is the amount that will convince an average American to do something that they would otherwise be too embarrassed to do.
Secret Agent Man
robpruitt
Posted 12:29 AM 16/8/08
@ Cliff Why in the name of hell would someone buy a Hyundai Sonata? I'm sorry, couldn't resist. Your point was actually well said.
robpruitt
rmtech
Posted 1:09 AM 16/8/08
If anyone is looking for an affordable GPS tracking device for a vehicle check out RMT's Tracking Key. Its a great unit that will track for 100 hours of driving. Priced only at $199.00 it is also one of the cheapest GPS tracking units on the market.
rmtech
denis_bda
Posted 12:56 AM 16/8/08
That would be ideal for a whole bunch of uses in terms of small pc's around the house (kitchen, bedroom, etc).
Anyone have any idea how one could be ordered from korea and if it is likely to be modded to support a different os?
denis_bda
elbweb
Posted 1:27 AM 16/8/08
You also have to realize a good chunk of the price your paying for is the maps, and in the country where the total size is only 85,020 sq miles (compared to 3,794,066 sq miles of the US)
so between that and it being made there, i could see this happening...
elbweb
2-7offsuit
Posted 4:25 AM 16/8/08
@strider_mt2k: I've been trying to decide on a cheap gps system that can be unlocked. If you were to buy one today, would you still get the Mio C230? Or is there something else more recent that offers a better value or more hackability?
2-7offsuit
Azogue
Posted 4:15 AM 16/8/08
I'm dying for a portable ATSC TV...it should be in my Creative ZEN, for cryin'-out-loud.
Azogue
finite_elephant
Posted 4:11 AM 16/8/08
My wife's cousin in Seoul has a similar device (I think the brand was "Mappy"). Had all the multi-media functions described above (including digital TV), plus the GPS had all the fixed speed traps on major roads programmed in and warned you of them as you approached.
He said he got it free when he opened a checking account.
So yeah, something's up.
finite_elephant
Husar
Posted 5:07 AM 16/8/08
My GPS unit is still a Gizmondo with TomTom loading on it. Screen size is the only issue for me.
Husar
Boognish
Posted 10:39 AM 16/8/08
just read the post guess it's OTA digital TV, and I'm jealous.
Boognish
Boognish
Posted 10:36 AM 16/8/08
I'm in Daejon South Korea right now and man the cabbies have there GPS hooked up to TV and everything. We were watching the Olympics on the way back from a restaurant the other night. I'm not sure if it's sat tv or what but it made me wonder how there aren't more accidents.
Boognish
cmantito
Posted 1:59 AM 16/8/08
Well with products like the Nokia N810 available for just a few hundred dollars. it's not really a surprise. We seem to let artificial software restrictions run rampant for no good reason simply because the average consumer doesn't know better.
cmantito
jbang
Posted 6:40 PM 18/8/08
This makes me happy to be living in a country with DVB as standard.
Is there a reason the US went with a system that isn't in place anywhere else (or is it)? Was it based on / because of the existing broadcast systems?
jbang