You can tell from the design that there’s something different about Fujifilm’s FinePix XP30 and XP20 digital cameras, and happily it’s not just an aesthetic flourish. The new range is waterproof to up to five meters, resilient to drops of up to 1.5m, and freezeproof to -10 degrees centigrade. It’s also dust and sandproof, and if you opt for the XP30 then you get a GPS chip to geotag your photos.
Up front is a 14.2-megapixel sensor with CCD-shift image stabilization, a 5x optical zoom, fact detection and automatic panorama functionality. On the back is a 2.7-inch LCD display. The XP30 and XP20 are capable of shooting 720p HD video at 30fps.
Fujifilm’s Photobook Assist function creates travelogs of your journey, piecing together shots based on GPS location and even showing place names. The FinePix XP30 with GPS will ship in February for $239.95, while the FinePix XP20 without GPS will arrive in March for $199.95.
Press Release:
FinePix XP30 with GPS — a world’s first for outdoor compacts January 5, 2011
Fujifilm has raised the bar in the competitive outdoor compact camera sector by introducing the FinePix XP30; the world’s first water, shock, dust and freeze proof model featuring built-in GPS functionality.*1
*1 Researched by Fujifilm at 5th of January
Continuing in the tradition set by the XP10 that it replaces, the FinePix XP30 offers a competitively-priced entry into the sector with a specification that will ensure outdoor-loving photographers or adventure sports enthusiasts are well catered for. In addition to GPS and its rugged build quality, the camera also features 14.2 megapixel resolution with an impressive 5 times wide zoom with optical image stabilization to shoot sharp image quality in any condition. With a FinePix XP30 in their rucksack, outdoor photographers will be able take their pictures to new heights without the steep price tag!
Pin-point your location, anywhere in the world
An increasing number of compact cameras feature GPS tagging, but only the FinePix XP30 features this type of functionality in a rugged, outdoor model. What’s more, the GPS features on the camera won’t only tell you where you are in the world; it offers additional functions that are essential for outdoor shooting and will make you wonder how you ever managed without them.
Locations can be displayed either as longitude and latitude or by place name. The FinePix XP30 has an embedded list featuring around half a million places of interest across the globe. When a shot is taken, the image is tagged with location information, enabling you to quickly find shots of a place you’ve visited. Should users then want to create a photobook of a specific location they can do so using the Photobook Assist function where you can tag images then turn the pages of the book on the camera’s rear LCD.
But that’s not all. If you visit a location that you want to return to but can’t remember which way to go, the Photo Navigation mode is invaluable. Simply find a shot of the location and the FinePix XP30 will not only tell you how far it is from your current spot, it’ll show you the direction you need to travel to get there.
For those who want to re-trace their steps and map a route of their travels, the Route Logging function is sure to appeal. The FinePix XP30 stores location data every 10 minutes*2 and, once the images are downloaded to a PC through MyFinePix Studio (bundled image viewing software), a map of the route, along with the pictures you took along the way is created using Google Maps.
*2 Anytime On or Only Power On must be selected for data to be logged.
The FinePix XP30 is ready for anything you can throw it. Thanks to the ‘4 way Protection’ system, you’ll be able to keep taking pictures long after conventional cameras have been packed away. With a riveted front panel and rounded body shape featuring a smart two-tone design, the XP30 is:
Waterproof to 5 metres, making it perfect for underwater photography, for taking pictures in heavy rain or snow, or simply for running it under the tap when it gets dirty
Shockproof up to 1.5 metres, so it’ll handle being dropped or knocked around in a trucksack
Dust / Sandproof, meaning you can take it to the beach without having to worry about the sand clogging it up
Freezeproof to ?10°C, perfect for skiing, snowboarding or any other sub-zero activities
Quality optics deliver perfect pictures
Sporting a Fujinon 5x wide optical zoom covering 28 – 140 mm (35 mm equivalent), the FinePix XP30 is well equipped to deliver high quality images. In addition to the fine optical quality, the XP30 features Fuji’s advanced Optical Image Stabilisation system to help combat camera shake. Pictures can be taken and still be blur-free, making it ideal for underwater and night-time shooting.
A wide range of functions for every shot you take
As well as offering all the benefits of an outdoor camera, the FinePix XP30 is also a great picture-taking machine in its own right. It boasts a full range of flash overrides, face detection for perfect portraits and a healthy selection of subject-based scene modes, which includes Motion Panorama which automatically stitches up to three shots to create panoramic picture. There’s even a number of in-camera retouching functions including crop, rotate and red-eye removal.
Outdoor photographers wanting to shoot video aren’t neglected either; the FinePix XP30 offers HD movie capture of 720p at 30 frames per second or conventional 640 x 480 pixel definition.
Don’t want GPS? No problem
While the FinePix XP30 with its GPS features is a great camera for photographers who like to travel outdoor, Fujifilm recognises that not every user requires GPS functionality. For this reason, a second model — the FinePix XP20 — has been introduced, which offers a virtually identical specification, without GPS.
Fujifilm FinePix XP30 / XP20 key features:
14.2 megapixel resolution
GPS functionality*3
5x wide optical zoom covering 28 – 140 mm (35 mm equivalent)
CCD shift image stabilisation
2.7 inch rear LCD with 230,000 pixels
Waterproof to five metres
Shockproof up to 1.5 metres
Freezeproof to ?10°C
Dust / Sandproof
Motion Panorama mode
Available in Black, Silver, Orange, Blue, Green and White*4
*3 Not available on XP20
*4 White color is not available on XP20
Besides a healthy consumer modem business, Option is one of the world’s big suppliers of cellular chipsets — and it just unleashed a particularly interesting one here at CES this week. No bigger than a postage stamp and about as thick as a nickel, the second-generation GTM601 and GTM609 is billed as the world’s smallest to support voice, GSM / HSPA, CDMA / EV-DO, GPS, and GLONASS, which stands to make your next phone design (assuming you are, in fact, designing a phone) more svelte and power-conscious than ever before… and as a bonus, it’ll work around the world with the world’s most popular 2G / 3G standards and frequencies. Follow the break for the full press release.
Today TeleNav Inc. announced their merge with QNX Software Systems. Their plan is to integrate connected GPS navigation to sync with the QNX car application platform. This will vastly expand the possibilities of automakers to help integrate 3D turn-by turn navigation and voice/audio prompts” to a much wider audience.
Both TeleNav and QNX will be demonstrating their latest innovations to the industry at this CES in Las Vegas.
TeleNav and QNX Team to Demonstrate Navigation and Search
TeleNav’s Connected Navigation and Local Search to Work with the QNX CAR Application Platform
LAS VEGAS, NV — (MARKET WIRE) — 01/04/11 — TeleNav, Inc. (NASDAQ: TNAV), one of the largest global wireless navigation services providers, andQNX Software Systems Co. today announced that QNX and TeleNav have partnered to enable connected GPS navigation to work with the QNX CAR™ Application Platform. Automakers and Tier One suppliers using the QNX CAR Application Platform will soon have the ability to offer connected navigation and search, providing drivers with 3D turn-by-turn navigation and voice/audio prompts, along with real-time information like up-to-date maps, business listings, local places, traffic information, gas prices and more. QNX and TeleNav will demonstrate connected navigation and search in the QNX CAR Application Platform this week at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, NV.
“A key goal of the QNX CAR Application Platform is to leverage the latest innovations in mobile devices and consumer electronics in a way that is appropriate for in-vehicle use,” said Andrew Poliak, director of automotive business development, QNX Software Systems. “It just made sense to partner with TeleNav to make sure our products work together to offer the best in navigation technology.”
“QNX is clearly a leader when it comes to automotive operating systems,” said Hassan Wahla, vice president of business development for TeleNav. “We look forward to working with the QNX team to bring OEMs and Tier One suppliers high quality, customized connected navigation and comprehensive local search capabilities.”
QNX Software Systems is the global leader in operating systems and middleware for the in-car telematics and infotainment market, and has licensed its technology for use in more than 20 million in-vehicle systems worldwide. The QNX CAR Application Platform is designed to help the automotive industry reduce the cost and effort of building in-car infotainment systems. It allows customers to evaluate a rich set of pre-integrated technologies.
When Garmin curtailed its hardware partnership with Asustek late last year, you had to know the company would make a comeback to the mobile front in some shape, fashion or form. Starting today, the iPhone and 3G iPad both get the all-new StreetPilot app, which costs $39.99 and provides you with turn-by-turn navigation from the guys who make their living from the stuff. It undercuts TomTom’s $49.99 offering for iOS, while offering real-time traffic data, voice commands, lane assist, address book integration so you can navigate directly to your buddies’ addresses, and multitasking support. It’s looking like a pretty comprehensive piece of premium navigation software, which, if previous rumors bear out, should be landing on BlackBerry devices as well pretty soon. Jump past the break for the press release.
“Every step you take, ever move you make, I’ll be watching you” sang a creepy Sting, instantly earning a place at the wedding receptions of those who don’t really think about what his stalker lyrics are actually suggesting. If only Sting had been able to pick up Garmin’s new GTU 10 GPS locator, a waterproof tracking box fitted with a GPS chip and an AT&T modem, that updates its location on Garmin’s Tracking site.
As well as casual check-ins, the GTU 10 supports up to 10 geofences (virtual boundaries) which trigger an email or text message notification when the tracker moves outside. The battery is good for up to four weeks of use, and sends out low-power alerts when it’s running short.
The Garmin GTU 10 is priced at $199.99 with a year’s worth of access, allowing for 10 points of daily track history. Standard Tracking renewals are $49.99 for a year’s subscription, or you can upgrade to 7 days of track history access for $4.99 per month.
Press Release:
Garmin® GTU 10: New GPS locator helps you track what’s important
OLATHE, Kan./January 4, 2011/Business Wire — Garmin International, Inc., a unit of Garmin Ltd. (NASDAQ: GRMN), the global leader in satellite navigation, announced today that it is entering a new market – personal and property tracking – with the introduction of its innovative GTU 10 GPS locator and web-based Garmin Tracker™ service for computers, smartphones and compatible Garmin nüLink devices. GTU 10 will be showcased in the Garmin booth (South Hall #35831) at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show.
“For more than 20 years, Garmin has been the go-to name for location-based technology and our new GTU 10 broadens the scope of ways that we can help our customers in their everyday lives,” said Dan Bartel, Garmin’s vice president of worldwide sales. “Whether you’re keeping an eye on your children after school, your pets or your property, you’ll have peace of mind knowing that you can easily and affordably track the locations of the things that matter most to you.”
How It Works
Small (3”x1.3”x.8”), lightweight (1.7 oz.), waterproof and packaged with a carabiner clip and pouch, GTU 10 is easy to attach to a backpack, dog collar or anything else you want to track. Once you register your GTU 10 at my.Garmin.com, the tracking service is enabled. Tracking data is delivered across AT&T’s wireless network. When you’re on your computer, Garmin’s Tracking website helps you manage your GTU 10 and map its location. For even more convenience when you’re on the go, you can download the Garmin Tracker™ application for your mobile device to see the location of GTU 10 and how it relates to your current location. For another level of connectivity, compatible Garmin nüLink devices can automatically route to the GTU 10’s location with turn-by-turn directions.
GTU 10 owners can create up to 10 geofences (virtual boundaries) for your device so that when it enters or exits a geofenced area, Garmin can send an email or text message notification to you or authorized friends and family members. It’s also easy to view a track history of where your GTU 10 has been. And because there are numerous ways to use GTU 10, it’s easy to customize battery settings for optimal performance. The built-in rechargeable Li-ion battery can last up to four weeks between charges, and low battery/powered off notifications through the tracking service let you know when it’s time to recharge or when the device has been turned off.
Make It Yours
“While GTU 10 was being developed, countless uses evolved as different people saw different possibilities,” said Dan Bartel, Garmin’s vice president of worldwide sales. “Our role is to provide the technology and make it intuitive and reliable, how you use it is up to you.1”
Among some of the many potential uses for GTU 10:
• Parents: Know that your child arrived at the babysitter’s house after school, or track your teenager when he/she borrows your car.
• Cyclists and runners: Let loved ones track your whereabouts, or let friends track your progress on race day.
• Property owners: Attach GTU 10 to your prized possessions, such as boats, tools, farm machinery, construction equipment, etc. – or hardwire it into your car – and keep an eye on your valuable goods from anywhere.
And the list goes on, depending on what you want to track, and how you choose to track it.
Tracking options
GTU 10’s tracking capabilities are a result of combining high-sensitivity GPS with a connection to AT&T’s nationwide wireless network. GTU 10 has a suggested retail price of $199.99, which includes one year of Standard Tracking. Providing access to 10 points of daily track history, Standard Tracking can be renewed at an annual rate of $49.99 after the first year of complimentary service. For those who want a more detailed history, the Deluxe Tracking service plan ($4.99 per month) can access 7 days of track history. Each service plan includes the option to automatically renew upon expiration, and there are no early termination fees, no activation fees and no contracts.
Since its inception in 1989, Garmin has delivered 72 million GPS enabled devices – far more than any other navigation provider. Garmin’s market breadth in the GPS industry is second to none, having developed innovative products and established a leadership position in each of the markets it serves, including automotive, aviation, marine, fitness, outdoor recreation, tracking, and wireless applications. For more about GTU 10 and Garmin’s other products and services, go to www.garmin.com, www.garmin.blogs.com and http://twitter.com/garmin.
Use of the GTU 10 is subject to applicable laws and regulations.
Garmin looks to be hedging its bets when it comes to the hardware/software PND debate, launching not only the nüvi 2400 range of dedicated 5-inch GPS units, but its first iPhone app as well. Garmin StreetPilot for iPhone offers turn-by-turn directions with spoken street names, free traffic alerts, lane-assist with a junction view for complex highway navigation, and integration with iTunes for music playback while you’re driving.
As you’d expect, it also supports Apple’s iOS multitasking system, so that navigation isn’t shut down even if you switch to a different app. Address Book integration allows for easier route planning, too. The new Garmin StreetPilot for iPhone app is available now, priced at $39.99.
Press Release:
Garmin® Brings Turn-by-Turn Navigation to iPhone with New StreetPilot App
Garmin rolls out new smartphone application lineup at 2011 Consumer Electronics Show
OLATHE, Kan./January 4, 2011/Business Wire — Garmin International Inc., a unit of Garmin Ltd. (NASDAQ: GRMN), the global leader in satellite navigation, today announced its first turn-by-turn navigation app for iPhone, StreetPilot, as well as its full lineup of new smartphone applications for both iPhone and Android. Garmin’s new mobile applications — including StreetPilot for iPhone, Garmin Tracker, myMechanic, and My-Cast Lite — will be on display in the Garmin booth (South Hall #35831) at the 2011 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.
“Providing consumers with mobile applications is yet another way they can experience the benefits of Garmin – be it our navigation expertise or bringing the capabilities of our niche market products to a smartphone. GPS is an extremely helpful tool, but we recognize it’s not a one-size-fits-all solution. We decided to introduce a new line of smartphone applications so that we can give customers a quality Garmin experience in the format of their choosing,” said Dan Bartel, Garmin’s vice president of worldwide sales.
The StreetPilot® App: Designed specifically for iPhone, the StreetPilot App gives iPhone owners unlimited use of Garmin’s industry-leading navigation with traffic alerts. The intuitive interface greets users with two simple options: “Where to?” and “View Map.” Customers can easily look up addresses and services and get voice-prompted, turn-by-turn directions that speak street names to their destination.
The StreetPilot App includes many of the same high-end features available on Garmin’s standalone automotive GPS devices like free traffic alerts that enable drivers to steer clear of traffic accidents, road closures and construction; lane assist with junction view that directs drivers to the preferred lane and displays realistic images of upcoming complex junctions; and speed limit indicators that display speed limits for most major roads. It is an off-board navigation system so that customers always have the advantage of the most up-to-date mapping information available.
The StreetPilot App also integrates with a driver’s iTunes music library so they can access and control their music while on the move; integrates with their address book so they can navigate directly from their contact list; and uses the multitasking ability of iOS 4 to allow them to take a phone call while the navigation continues to work in the background.
The StreetPilot App is available now for $39.99 from the App Store on iPhone or at www.itunes.com/appstore.
Garmin Tracker: Available soon for iPhone and Android, the free Garmin Tracker App works in conjunction with the Garmin GTU 10 tracking devices (also announced at CES 2011) allowing users to track the things that mean the most to them – a child, pet, boat, car and more – and see its location from the convenience of their smartphone.
myMechanic: Auto aficionados can now know their car’s specific performance metrics including horsepower, torque, G-force, and more. Available for download from the Android Marketplace beginning in February 2011, myMechanic’s information is available when paired via Bluetooth with Garmin’s ecoRoute™ HD module.
My-Cast® Lite: In addition to the lineup of My-Cast apps currently available for iPhone, a new, free My-Cast Lite application is available now for Android users which provides radar, current conditions, hourly and extended forecasts and more.
Since its inception in 1989, Garmin has delivered 72 million GPS enabled devices – far more than any other navigation provider. Garmin’s market breadth in the GPS industry is second to none, having developed innovative products and established a leadership position in each of the markets it serves, including automotive, aviation, marine, fitness, outdoor recreation, tracking, and wireless applications.
As more people rely on their smartphones for turn-by-turn navigation, is there still a market for a standalone PND? Garmin reckons there is, hence the new nüvi 2400 Series of sat-nav devices. Fronted by a 5-inch touchscreen, the four-strong range – nüvi 2460LMT, nüvi 2460LT, nüvi 2450LM, and the nüvi 2450 – offer predictive traffic, automatic logging of favorite destinations, and, optionally, hands-free Bluetooth calling and voice-control.
The nüvi 2460LMT and nüvi 2460LMT each have lifetime traffic subscriptions, and all four models support user-rating of POIs which can then be synchronized with other Garmin PND owners. The UI itself is also customizable, allowing you to pull commonly-accessed features to the front.
Pricing is expected to range from $249.99 to $349.99 when the nüvi 2400 Series goes on sale in Q1 2011. The LM-models also get lifetime mapping updates.
Press Release:
Garmin® Debuts nüvi® 2400 Series: Large Format Navigators With Advanced Features
OLATHE, Kan./January 4, 2011/Business Wire — Garmin International Inc., a unit of Garmin Ltd. (NASDAQ: GRMN), the global leader in satellite navigation, announced today the nüvi 2400 series of personal navigation devices, featuring a large five-inch display and a new range of optional features like voice-activated navigation, lifetime traffic and map updates, and advanced route planning and calculation with Garmin’s nüRoute technology. The nüvi 2400 series will be showcased in the Garmin booth (South Hall #35831) at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show.
“The nüvi 2400 series offers drivers some of the most sophisticated and sought-after features available on the market today,” said Dan Bartel, Garmin’s vice president of worldwide sales. “The large five-inch diagonal display is easy on the eyes, and options like voice activation, traffic alerts, and enhanced route calculation make traveling across town or cross-country easier than ever. And never before have these features been available at such an economical price.”
The nüvi 2400 series is comprised of four models: the nüvi 2460LMT, nüvi 2460LT, nüvi 2450LM, and the nüvi 2450. Models featuring voice activated navigation let users control nüvi by voice, so they can keep their eyes on the road and hands on the wheel. Simply wake up nüvi with a customizable voice command and begin speaking menu options that are displayed on the screen. Bluetooth connectivity lets users make and receive phone calls when paired with a compatible Bluetooth-enabled phone. Lifetime traffic-enabled models help notify drivers of traffic delays and road construction and suggest detours around them. Units featuring lifetime map updates let users download the most up-to-date maps and points of interest up to four times a year.
All models feature nüRoute with trafficTrends™ and myTrends™ predictive routing. With trafficTrends, nüvi automatically learns traffic flow trends to improve route calculation and better predict the estimated time of arrival based on time of day and day of week. With myTrends, nüvi will, over time, begin to anticipate a route to favorite destinations as soon as the device is powered up.
The nüvi 2400 series lets consumers customize their unit in new ways as well. Users can give a one- to five-star rating to any point of interest. When the unit is connected to a myGarmin account, they can submit their ratings and receive an updated community database of ratings from other users. Owners can also customize their device’s main menu to display their most-used icons for quick navigation.
Priced from $249.99 to $349.99, the nüvi 2400 family is expected to be available in the first quarter of 2011. Visit www.garmin.com for more information and pricing.
Since its inception in 1989, Garmin has delivered 72 million GPS enabled devices – far more than any other navigation provider. Garmin’s market breadth in the GPS industry is second to none, having developed innovative products and established a leadership position in each of the markets it serves, including automotive, aviation, marine, fitness, outdoor recreation, tracking, and wireless applications.
Like it or not, we’re stuck in a world fascinated with convergence, and while Spot’s Satellite GPS Messenger did its job well, it still required users to tote around a dedicated, non-integrated, standalone device. Unfortunately, we’re still no closer to seeing a mainstream smartphone with a legitimate GPS module within, but Spot’s edging ever closer with the Spot Connect. This GPS puck is equipped with a Bluetooth transceiver, enabling it to “sync with smartphone operating systems like Android” when you’re too deep in the brush to nab a cellular signal. From there, it’ll allow your smartphone to determine location via the Globalstar satellite network, and even transmit that information to personal contacts or an international emergency response center. Users can send location-based texts or emails via satellite, update social networks from remote locations, track progress on Google Maps / My Tracks and store up to ten predefined messages for quick referencing and sending. Just imagine the Foursquare check-ins you could manage with this bad boy! The puck itself is waterproof to an IPX7 standard and weighs just 3.7 ounces, and we’re told that more mobile operating systems will be supported “later this year.” The Connect will go on sale this month for $169.99, though the services described above will run argonauts $99.99 per year. Full release is after the break.
As the story goes, Russia-based AFK Sistema’s subsidiary Sitronics (along with US’ Qualcomm and China’s ZTE) have developed the first smartphone to use GLONASS — specifically one with a 90nm GPS-GLONASS chip. It’s been called, in so many words, the “Russian answer to the iPhone 4″ by the Powers That Be, and without getting into key details like platform and specs, we know officially the phone is going on sale in Russian sometime in March for 10,990 rubles (about $360 in US).
For other details on the device, we seek more unofficial (and therefore not 100 percent confirmed) sources, like the notably well-connected Eldar Murtazin. According to him, we’re looking at the ZTE model A918, an analog of the A916 with Android 2.1, a 3.2-inch QVGA screen, FM radio, and 2 megapixel camera — yeah, hardly an iPhone 4 competitor, if you ask us. That version is supposedly launching on MTS for 7,500 rubles ($246), meaning the GLONASS-equipped equivalent has a 3,490 ruble ($114) markup. And the March release? Apparently in limited quantities, with mass production not coming until second half of 2011. Unfortunately, we’re not sure this one’ll be making an appearance at CES for further inspection. Check out the video after the break for a cameo of the device featuring Putin, Russian billionaire (and head of AFK Sistema) Vladimir Yevtushenkov, and Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov.
Ford has pushed out their new SYNC Destinations mobile app today, allowing iPhone, iPad or Android device users to hook up to the TDI systems in their Ford vehicles and get Predictive Traffic advice for route mapping. Hooking up with the device’s address book, as well as allowing up to 25 saved locations, the app lets you search for turn-by-turn directions and have them ready and waiting when you actually get into the car.
Ford’s predictive systems take into account real-time speed, accident and incident information for all highways, interstates, arterials and city streets in 126 metropolitan areas across North America, and then use that to pick what the system reckons is the best route for your journey. So far, so good, but it then throws in local school schedules, sports games and concerts as well.
If you want to use the app – which is available in the App Store and Android Market, and is promised for BlackBerry devices soon – you’ll need a 2010-2011 SYNC-equipped, TDI-capable Ford and an account at syncmyride.com.
Press Release:
NEW FORD SYNC DESTINATIONS APP OFFERS ‘ON THE GO’ NAVIGATION; PREDICTS BEST DEPARTURE TIMES
• SYNC® Destinations is a free smartphone app that gives SYNC Traffic, Directions and Information (TDI) users mobile access to search for and save destinations to their cloud-based SYNC Services account for easy access when back in the car
• App includes Predictive Traffic, powered by Ford’s best-in-class traffic information supplier INRIX, providing users with recommended departure time, travel time and ETA based on current and expected traffic conditions along their route
• Free SYNC Destinations app is available today for Apple iPhone, Apple iPad and Android-based devices and can be downloaded through the Apple App Store and Android Market
• SYNC Destinations is available to owners of 2010-2011 SYNC-equipped, TDI-capable vehicles who have a registered and active TDI services account on www.syncmyride.com
DEARBORN, Mich., Dec. 29, 2010 – Owners of 2010 and 2011 Ford SYNC-equipped vehicles that are Traffic, Directions and Information (TDI)-capable can now download a free smartphone app designed to help get them where they need to go with less hassle.
Ford launched the SYNC Destinations mobile app today for Apple iPhone, Apple iPad and Android-based devices, with BlackBerry smartphones coming soon. Available at no cost, the app gives users of TDI services mobile access to a host of navigation and traffic information specifically designed to make any trip easier.
“SYNC Destinations leverages the power of your smartphone to manage a user’s SYNC Services account and to plan ahead, sending destination locations to your car, and knowing what’s happening on the road ahead of you before you even get behind the wheel,” said Dave Gersabeck, SYNC TDI product manager.
With the SYNC Destinations app, TDI users have an exclusive on-the-go link to their cloud-based SYNC Services account on www.syncmyride.com, where they can add, save and manage “Saved Points” or addresses. A maximum of 25 Saved Points can be accessed through the app. Locations added via SYNC Destinations are immediately accessible through SYNC Services once in the vehicle, with turn-by-turn directions delivered to the car only a few simple voice commands away.
“With SYNC Destinations, you can be standing in line for a coffee, making impromptu plans with a friend or sitting at the ballgame, and conveniently add a new address to your Saved Points – without ever stopping to log into your account at a personal computer,” adds Gersabeck.
With SYNC Destinations, SYNC TDI users can also better plan the when and where of their commutes, accessing real-time traffic information, reliable traffic forecasts and other time-saving features powered by INRIX, a leading provider of traffic information and driver services. Key benefits include:
• Traffic maps with real-time speed, accident and incident information for all highways, interstates, arterials and city streets in 126 metropolitan areas across North America
• Reliable traffic forecasts that predict how travel times are expected to change over time, based on sophisticated analysis of current traffic conditions, day of the week, season, holidays and related days, current and forecast weather, accidents and road construction, as well as other unique local events such as school schedules, sports games and concerts
• Fastest routes based on current and expected traffic conditions as well as recommended departure times, expected travel times and ETAs that make navigating to daily destinations, whether across town or cross-country, easier than ever
• Easy look-up of addresses for new destinations through local business search and address book integration
“SYNC Destinations is an easy-to-use mobile tool that gives busy, on-the-go SYNC users the flexibility to search and save locations for quick access in the car, plus, with features such as predictive traffic, users can take some of the guesswork out of their daily trips by preplanning the best estimated time of departure to get around town quickly and easily,” said Gersabeck.
Also specific to SYNC Destinations is a 5 mph lockout feature, which automatically halts the app from running on a smartphone once it is detected to be traveling in excess of 5 mph, helping drivers stay focused on the task of driving.
Ford, Lincoln and Mercury owners of 2010 and 2011 SYNC-equipped, TDI-capable vehicles can download the SYNC Destinations app for free from the Apple App Store and Android Market. To activate it, the user has to enter his or her www.syncmyride.com login credentials. Once those credentials are submitted, the app confirms the user’s TDI subscription status, and is then unlocked and ready for use.
Ford will feature demos of SYNC Destinations at the Pepcom Digital Experience media event in Las Vegas on Jan. 5, 2011, and then at the 2011 International CES consumer technology trade show in Las Vegas between Jan. 6 and Jan. 9, 2011.
Ford has pushed out their new 
