(earthtimes.org) - Sanyo has released a new compact, portable navigation device which goes by the name of Easy Street. The company has touted that this device gives value for money in a market which has a number of other competing models.
The most striking feature of the Sanyo Easy Street NVM-4030, as it is technically called, is a 4 inch, 16 by 9 LCD touch screen. This screen is bright, highly simplified and has no buttons to make it cumbersome. All the user has to do is to touch the screen and set the destination and let the device give turn-by turn directions, reports Trend.
It is loaded with a database of NAVTEQ street maps which have 1.4 million markers to utility places like airports, gas stations, restaurants, banks, hospitals and a host of other popular destinations along every route. This database is intrinsically located on a 1GB SD card and hence users don't face any subscription fees. This same card also holds the Continental US map data along with popular markers so that users don't need wait for a download process.
Easy Street uses the regular GPS system, which is the SiRF Star III GPS module, along with the satellite based Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS). The WAAS system uses satellites and ground stations to correct the GPS signal wherever required for greater accuracy and reliability.
If users of Easy Street have Bluetooth enabled mobile phones they can enjoy the double benefit of hands-free calling using Easy Street. All that needs to be done is to upload the most frequently used numbers onto Easy Street's built-in Contact List. A maximum of 500 numbers are allowed in this list. The most interesting part of making and receiving calls using Easy Street is that it is able to do it even if the phone is located deep in a user's purse or pocket. The only condition is the phone has to be somewhere inside the car! The hands-free option ensures your eyes are on the road while you drive and talk.
Some added stuff to the NVM-4030 is a DVD backup of the NAVTEQ maps, the ability to play MP3 and WMA music, a headphone jack, a 12V power adapter, a car mounting kit, USB cable and an instructions manual. Manufacturers assert 3.5 hours of battery life on the inbuilt lithium-ion battery.