Sporting a silver brushed-metal housing, the 8100T integrates a 4.8-inch color touchscreen with a panoramic 16:9 aspect ratio. The extra-wide screen is particularly useful for displaying the contours and elevations of nearby geographic features such as lakes, rivers and rolling hills, helping drivers realistically see what lies ahead.

By introducing real 3-D views to the market, the Navigon 8100T "raises the bar on innovation and design in the personal navigation device category," said Michael Roach, Navigon's president for the Americas.

Traffic and Lane Alerts

Measuring 5.3x3.3x0.9 inches and tipping the scales at 9.4 oz, the Navigon 8100T is equipped with a 533-MHz processor from Samsung; a SiRF StarIII GPS chip; 512MB of ROM; 128MB of RAM; and a SD card preloaded with software and maps. Additionally, the product integrates a special traffic receiver and antenna; dual microphone input for noise cancellation; and a nonremovable 1500 mAh lithium ion battery.

According to Navigon, the 8100T's touchscreen is capable of displaying local street and speed-limit signs for virtually every highway interchange and exit that drivers can expect to encounter. Lane alerts are displayed well in advance to prevent users from missing their freeway exits.

The extra-large display window also portrays color-coded visual alerts about real-time traffic conditions across 95 markets in the U.S. and Canada. To avoid a potential trouble spot, the user can simply touch a button on the unit to obtain the best available rerouting around the problem area. Both features are available for the lifetime of the product right out of the box with no additional fees or extra hardware required.

Voice Commands

The device's built-in voice destination entry technology makes it possible for drivers to operate the unit while keeping both hands on the steering wheel. Speak the desired address and the device will guide you through all the navigational twists and turns required to get to the destination.

The 8100T also can function as a Bluetooth speakerphone, allowing drivers to conduct cell-phone conversations in a hands-free mode. Additionally, users have the ability to port contacts to the 8100T that have been stored on compatible handsets equipped with the Bluetooth HFP 2.0 profile.

Empowered by Microsoft Windows CE 5.0, the software onboard the 8100T also gives users the ability to determine which restaurants, gas stations and hotels will be available at highway exits farther down the road. And should the available choices be unfamiliar, the driver can always consult the plethora of ZAGAT ratings and reviews stored in the device's memory.

The Navigon 8100T will have a suggested retail price of $599 when online retailers start selling it later this month. Additionally, Navigon's optional FreshMaps offering, which provides up to 12 map updates over three years, will be priced at $79.99.