NAVIGON swings entry GPS with advanced 3D

NAVIGON at the IFA show today rolled out a new starter GPS unit it says will please drivers still looking for some extra features. The 2100 (pictured) is based around the near ubiquitous 3.5-inch touchscreen of many mapping units but still shares the slim profiles of the 5100 and 7100 and a few of the more advanced features. Reality View provides a 3D mockup of the road that indicates lane changes and actual signs in the area; unlike some units, traffic data is always free, NAVIGON says. Points of interest are complemented by ZAGAT star ratings in major US cities to help recommend better hotels or restaurants.

Other important but not always included features are similarly loaded into memory, such as speed limit warnings and vocalized directions complete with street names. The company didn't say which regions would be covered by the unit or what storage would be used, though the device is most likely to come with maps for the continental US and Canada stored on an SD card. NAVIGON will launch the 2100 in the fall for $250.