實踐與HP iPAQ 312旅行伴侶GPS

我說我是相當好與地圖，并且為那個原因我從未需要GPS設備。說到這點，我由技術深深地也吸引。今天我接受了a HP iPAQ 312旅行伴侶到回顧。

在此之前，我不知道惠普做了一個GPS產品。這實際上是他們的秒鐘。但是，我一少許擔心他們也許跨步入不熟悉的疆土，并且這個產品的質量在領域將反射他們的缺乏經驗。現在被演奏與它，它克服了所有我的恐懼，并且我相信没有理由為什麼尋找GPS設備的任何人應該從他們的名單排除此。這我什麼我發現了。

在第一次印刷，您將來敬佩多麼美麗用戶界面在這個華美的高分辨率(800×480)決議屏幕。每個像精巧詳述，并且有大量他們。涼快的藍色題材是一致，刷新。

為接觸也是好的優選的接口，輸入唯一的方法。不同於電容多接觸時尚，這個設備用途意味的傳統抗拒接觸技術所有對象被強迫顯示將登記。鐵筆是包括的并且在槽孔坐在設備頂部，但，因為按鈕無論如何是，很大有一點，如果所有原因使用他們。

您也許被帶領相信或許這個設備跑一習慣操作系統-它跑窗口的Symbian或Java，但實際上像大多其他HP iPAQ設備，窗口鈰5.0 確切。并且沒有，它未碰撞。這是不尖叫窗口窗口設備的一個了不起的例子。

通過看某些這個設備的增進HP圖像，您也許容易地說服這是一個大設備，但實際上它是非常緊湊的。在比較，它我的老鼠小於。有最小的斜面在慷慨的4.3英寸屏幕附近。屏幕尺寸不妨害可讀性，它將是好的，如果是一少許更大的少許更間隔更小的按鈕的它。

On the right side is a rotatable and clickable scroll wheel - similar feel to a mouse scroll wheel, this serves as an easy way to zoom in and out of maps as well as changing volume and screen brightness. There is also a rubber flap for antenna, headphone and USB connectors. And at the very bottom, a small reset button.

On the left side is the slot for the Secure Digital card. No SD card is required to operate the device, however you can access the media stored on it.

A big selling feature of this device is the 3D map capability, which is a combination of the software and third-party mapping data. Unfortunately the digital map data in Australia is very primitive and does not show buildings and other structures as it would in US or Europe, but you can still see some of the 3D effects on bridges as above.

Personally, I find myself switching back to 2D view again and again because 3D view is quite processing incentive, and doesn’t give the fluid experience of panning around a map very well.

This device had no problems routing all the routes I threw at it, including those in outer suburbia. All the returned routes were exactly the ones I know are the best from personal experience. Routing journeys of around 40 kilometers (25 miles) took less than 4 seconds. Route recalculations such as those from a wrong turn were under 2 seconds. In the route details screen, it was smart enough to show me how many kilometers were traveled on highways and if there were any tolled highways or roads.

However if you’re a freeloader like myself, you can easily set up to avoid toll roads as well as many others unfavorable road features.

The turning point of this device for me from just a digital map to a useful driving tool is this feature of address filtering. I’m not too familiar with GPS devices so I’m not sure how many of them offer similar functionality like this, but what it does is it prevents you from typing addresses which do not exist such as road names and suburb names.

For example, after you input a suburb, it will only allow you to type the roads that exist in that suburb. This filtering continues to cut down letter-by-letter. When appropriate, it will switch views to present you with a list of options you can select.

The same applies to street numbers too.

The text-to-speech synthesizer is equally impressive as well. Whilst it doesn’t announce street names, but does provide very clear and natural directions via the loudspeaker on the back.

Having walked around on foot with the device, the GPS accuracy has an error margin of around 10 meters which is not that much of a deal in a car. However after turning a corner and changing orientation, it is able to correct itself pretty much instantly. Surprisingly with the internal antenna, I was even able to receive some GPS signal on and off under a tin metal roof.

In addition to the navigation features, this device also includes a range of basic entertainment functions like viewing pictures, videos, music and a range of arcade games. I applaud for HP for trying to extend the device with useful multimedia features, but it really falls short.

The Achilles heel of this device is that it is severely underpowered. For example, when trying to play a standard-definition Windows Media Movie video, it was downright unwatchable almost like a picture slideshow. On top of that, when the announcer informed me the GPS signal had been lost, the video actually froze so the speech synthesizer could do its job. Either the multimedia software is severely unoptimized or the processor is not powerful enough, I hope HP takes this problem seriously for the next version. It could have been a serious PMP-contender, but the software and hardware is just not up to scratch.

Since I don’t have a Bluetooth phone, I wasn’t able to check out the Bluetooth connectivity features but at the least it offers hands-free answering capability to receive and dial calls. Most points of interest on the map also has a telephone number which makes it even easier to book reservations at your destinations without ever touching your phone.

The device comes with a standard set of accessories including USB cable, wall-socket power charger, car charger, car windscreen mount, dashboard mount as well as faux leather pouch.

At a recommended retail price of US$450, this GPS device does slip a little into the pricey side. Having briefly compared it with some competing products, I think the user interface alone might be worth its difference. For its second try, HP has built a very solid device with a great piece of software that really shows they’re committed to the GPS experience as much as any of the other competitors. Can’t wait to see where they’ll go next.

Check out my Flickr gallery for more pictures of this device.