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TeleNav Shotgun Web-Connected GPS Delivers Real-Time Traffic, Finds Cheap Petrol for $US300
Posted by Matt Buchanan at 3:10 AM on November 9, 2008
Just as Dash—makers of the internet-connected, traffic-terminating GPS—is bailing out of the hardware game to sell its awesome software to other companies, TeleNav is officially doing the exact opposite: Jumping in with its first GPS device, which sounds a lot like the Dash Express (on paper, anyway). The internet-connected Telenav Shotgun delivers real-time traffic reports with intelligent re-routing, dynamic maps, automatic updates, web search, cheap gas locator and online pre-planning, which lets you plan your route on PC and shoot it over to the Shotgun automagically.
Just as Dash—makers of
(Sorry for the cheesy video, blame TeleNav.) Other touted intertube-powered features include on-the-spot weather, restaurant reviews, commute alerts and address share (letting everyone know where you're at), though they're "in the works" so are part of "TeleNav's short-term road map." However, since it's not open sourced like Dash, we sadly won't be seeing anything like Twitter clients. Also, since it only uses GPRS, and not Wi-Fi like the Dash, I wonder how fast (or ungodly slow) the updates will be.
Also unlike Dash, they're starting at $US300 right off the bat. Even if you forego the $US12/month subscription, it's still pre-loaded with 11 million points of interest, and the usual TeleNav GPS features. Whether TeleNav's well-known name will help them out in a market so cutthroat Dash basically couldn't survive remains to be seen. And uh, honestly, we're still waiting for that iPhone app.
Actual device specs:
FEATURE DESCRIPTION
Dimensions 4.9L x 3.1W x 0.75H inches
12.5L x 8W x 1.9H cm
Weight 0.27 pounds (124 grams)
Screen Size 4.3 inches (10.9cm) diagonal, 16:9 aspect ratio
Display Resolution 480 x 272 pixels
Display Type TFT LCD touch screen
Speaker Built-in, high-quality speaker, 1 W
Headphone 3.5mm jack
Battery Life Up to 2.5 hours of normal use (five days in suspend mode)
Battery Type Rechargeable lithium-ion
GPS Chip Atlas III
Network Access TeleNav Connected Service uses cellular (GPRS)
Car Charger 12v car charger
Input: DC +12V
Output: +5V, 3A, via USB
Wall Charger AC wall charger
Input: AC 110~240V
DC +5V, 3A via USB
LED Indicators 1 red LED for charge indication
1 green LED for charged indication
2 blue LEDs for TeleNav Connected Service usage indication
[Telenav - Thanks tipster!]
Comments (AU Comments · US Comments)
There are currently no AU comments for this post.
geschmidtt
Posted 6:02 AM 9/11/08
Meh, I have all that stuff in my Samsung Instinct, plus it is not a bad phone, and works great as a PAM.
geschmidtt
jwardell
Posted 7:53 AM 9/11/08
"Traffic for top 31 markets" seems like it has the same lame major-road-only traffic as TomTom and Garmin.
What makes Dash so great is it records traffic for nearly every road everywhere. It is especially useful for those that don't live in a major city, or don't take major highways, or take secondary roads that are quicker than the highways.
jwardell
passionchamp
Posted 9:08 AM 9/11/08
I want a GPS device that warns you of red light cameras... that will more than pay for the device.
Disclaimer: Not that I run red lights. But sometimes when you don't know where you're at and you're looking for street signs and other things, you don't recognize the changing light in time and it costs you $400... then you tell yourself that you will never travel to Sacramento/Elk Grove ever again.
passionchamp
fastm3driver
Posted 1:45 PM 9/11/08
Didn't you hear; all the gas is cheap! A week from under $2!!!! Suck it Prius owners. ahhhhhh, that felt good for some reason.
fastm3driver
jbkendrick
Posted 6:09 AM 10/11/08
Any GPS that allows for custom POI's has the ability to warn of red lights these days. My Garmin has had that for years, flashes and audibly warns as you approach the cameras in the POI database. Its not perfect though, as some cameras have been removed and new ones added.
In addition, many jurisdictions are now purchasing mobile cameras that can be moved around to the traffic incident hot spots in order to save money on cameras.
And for the people that are waiting for the iPhone app, I say me too. Though the iPhone 3G already does some neat GPS trickes. I recently wrote on my blog about the iPhone's GPS, which surprised me with its abilities. Here's the link if you're interested. [johnkendrick.wordpress.com]
jbkendrick