Getting there is a breeze

By PAUL BRISLEN

A few years ago I watched a video about the future of automotive transport that had all kinds of whizzy ideas, such as mobile phones that would communicate using radio waves, and a kind of map computer that would tell you which exit to take to get to Grandma's house.

Cellphones are pretty much ubiquitous these days, so I'm glad to report that the second technology, satellite navigation, is also making inroads into New Zealand.

We're a bit behind the rest of the world. The Japanese have had this kind of technology for years, and the Europeans and Americans are well used to jumping into cars with navigation units.

We've had to make do with outdated maps stuffed behind the driver's seat, or - gasp! - pulling over and asking for directions.

That's all behind us. BMW was first off the blocks with in-car navigation units fitted to top-of-the-line cars. However, buying a new BMW is out of the reach of many of us. Retro-fitting a Japanese import is more accessible, and former Kiwi high-flier Navman has come to the party.

Navman, now owned by US giant Brunswick, has produced a portable in-car navigation unit that fits the bill nicely.

The iCN 635 is about the size of an old brick phone and comes with a full suite of maps of New Zealand, including more than 23,000 points of interest. Installation is a breeze. You can chose to fit the unit's support strut permanently, which involves drilling holes in your dashboard, or use the giant suction cup to attach it to the windscreen

The only problem is finding a way of shading the screen on a sunny day, but that's easily dealt with by ignoring the screen altogether and simply using the voice prompts.

Entering destination addresses is straightforward using the eight-way control button. It's a bit fiddly, but cuts down on the number of buttons and controls on the device itself, which is a good thing. Most of the unit is taken up with the screen and that's as it should be.

The screen is usually easy to see, with its highly coloured graphics. A large arrow points the way and if you ignore it, as I did for roadworks, the machine soon realises you're off the beaten track and redirects you back to the optimal route.

There are three options for map display: a flat, two-dimensional version with a colourful arrow snaking down the streets; a tilted 3D view that's easier on the eye for the PlayStation generation but which I found a tad distracting; and a third which I found to be most useful. A giant arrow dominates half the screen with a distance to the next manoeuvre listed below. The arrow indicates a right turn, for example, in 70m which is really all the information I want to take in at a glance. A smaller, less detailed version of the map sits on the right-hand side of the screen giving a general overview of your place in the world. This combination worked well for me, but I'm glad the unit includes the other options as well.

Then there are the points of interest. Navman tells me there are 23,600 listed points which include hotels, motels, camp grounds, banks, ATM machines, restaurants and natural wonders. This makes the unit ideal for rental cars and a must have for anyone going on holiday or business out of town.

Because the device is portable you can take it with you to other countries, and Navman has included a memory card slot as well as mapping software and an application to download to your PC. With the application in place you can load maps for other countries.

There's no need to worry about power - the unit is driven from the car's lighter socket, although it also has a standard power pack should you chose to charge it up separately.

It almost makes getting lost worthwhile.

How it rates

* Price: $1999 including GST

* Pros: Easy to install, easy to use, clear screen, good strong voice, memory card slot.

* Cons: Can get very hot, can lose the GPS signal in CBD building shadows, remote control a bit plastic.

* Rating: 9/10