PCTechBlog

Parrot 3200-LS

Since is is now a requirement to use hands-free devices for use in cars, I started to look for a solution for our van.  I wanted to find something that would connect to the main headunit, where it would automatically mute the audio, to allow the call audio to be heard.  Also, I wanted the device, when installed, to look releatively stock. The Parrot 3200-LS looked like it would work perfectly.  

I had it installed a few weeks ago, and the install looks nice.  It was easy to configure with my Samsung iSCH-760.  On the Parrot, I went into the setting menu for pairing, and selected Windows CE, and the Parrot displayed a password.  Then on my phone, I searched for Bluetooth devices, and then selected the Parrot 3200-LS.  Once paired, the phone numbers on my phone automatically appeared on the Parrot 3200-LS, so I could select phone numbers directly from the Parrot’s interface.

I didn’t have as much luck with my wifes Palm 750wx.  I was able to pair just as easy as my iSCH-760, but none of the contacts appeared on the Parrot.  After doing some searching, I discovered that Windows Mobile 5 doesn’t include support for syncing contacts with the Hands free profile.  I found JETware Hands-free extension for Windows Mobile that solves this problem.  Once I installed that the contacts appeared on the Parrot 3200-LS. In addition to contacts, the JETware extension allows phone battery status to appear on the screen.

Continue Reading July 11th, 2008

MSN Direct

I have been using the Nuvi 680 for several months.  One of the reasons that I bought it was for the traffic information provided by MSN Direct.  I have been unimpressed with the quality of the data.  There are several problems:

1. There are many areas that don’t have coverage.  For example, when driving from San Jose to Sacramento, as soon as we left the local area there was no coverage. Unfortunately, we encountered a traffic delay that we could have been routed around.
2. Many of the roads that I travel on to and from work are not included in the MSN Direct data.  I only have seen information on interstates and state and US highways.
3. The data seems to be stale. I have had many occasions when the Nuvi stated that there was a delay, when the delay had already cleared up.

I think that the Dash Express could present better data, but I still have some reservations.

• It doesn’t have bluetooth.
• The form factor doesn’t really lend well for a portable unit.  I can slip the Nuvi into my pocket when I take it from my car. 

Continue Reading April 7th, 2008

Nuvi 680 update

I have been using the Garmin Nuvi 680 for a while now, and I do like it.  There are some things that I don’t like about it. 

1. You can’t specify a number destinations and have the Nuvi calculate the best route to all of them.  You can only specify a destination and a single "via point"
2. You can’t specify a road to avoid when routing.  For example, there is no way for you to specify that you want to avoid a particular highway on your route
3. The traffic alerts do not indicate the time that they were last updated.  It is impossible for you to determine how likely a alert is to still be a problem.
4. The microphone on the unit, when mounted on the dash is near the windshield.  So, when it is raining out side, it is hard for the other person on the line to hear you.

Continue Reading January 8th, 2008

Garmin Nuvi 680

For a little while, I have been looking for a GPS unit for my car.  I didn’t want to buy a new stereo, so I was mainly interested in a portable unit.  I also was interested in one that had traffic information available, as our current one in our van doesn’t, and it doesn’t help when the route takes you through a traffic jam.

I settled on the Garmin Nuvi 680 because it has some key features:

• Handsfree bluetooth profile (including displaying phone address book
• traffic information. (The Nuvi 680 using MSN Direct for this information.  This allows the expected time delay to be displayed on the unit.)
• MP3 player

We drove down to southern California over the holidays, and this was a perfect time to try it out.  Since we were taking the van, we could compare it to the built-in navigation of the Odyssey.

There are several things that I noticed about the Nuvi 680

• The Nuvi is a lot faster at calculating a route, than the Honda navigation system
• The list of businesses/restaurants are better categoriezed on the Nuvi than on the Honda navigation system
• The Nuvi was able to keep the GPS signal better than the Honda.  (The Honda navigation thought that were driving through the fields about 1/2 mile off Interstate 5.)

There still is one things about a portable GPS that I don’t like.  None of these navigation units look like they belong in the car.  Ideally, I would like these to look stock.  I think that the Garmin and Volvo partnership is a start.  Unfortunately this solution doesn’t look stock.  It would be great, if Volvo put the mounting in the dash, instead of on top of it.

I would love to see a partnership with multiple auto manufacturers and GPS makers, to standardize on a interface and mounting mechanism.  This would allow customers to change GPS units as the technology changes.  

Continue Reading January 1st, 2008

TomTom “real world” navigation

Crave has a post that mentions a patent that TomTom has filed for some some interesting technology.  This patent application describes a navigation unit that displays navigation directions overlaid over video of the surrounding area.

This would allow the arrows that indicate where to turn to be overlaid over the the roads themselves.

I do wonder how funny this will look when the navigation unit looses sync with the GPS satellite.  Will the arrows indicate driving into storefronts?

Continue Reading July 13th, 2007