Both devices feature "intuitive navigation software" with voice-prompted directions and a text-to-speech feature that pronounces the names of streets along the way. Preloaded Navteq maps feature the entire US and Canada, along with more than 1.2 million points of interest (POIs), from hotels and restaurants to WiFi hotposts and ATMs, according to the company.
The devices both use Freescale's i.MX31 processor, clocked at 266 MHz, and are equipped with 64 MB of RAM. Maps are stored on a 1 GB SD card, Pharos says.
Pharos's Drive GPS 150 (left) and GP 250 (right)The ubiquitous
SiRF starIII GPS chipset is used on both the GPS 250 and GPS 150. This chipset, according to SiRF, tracks more than 20 satellites, and can make real-time navigation practical in challenging environments such as urban canyons and dense foliage.
Designed to be portable, both units have a built-in internal antenna, plus a 1200 mAh lithium-polymer battery rated for 5-7 hours of continuous operation. Their navigation software provides a pedestrian mode that plots routes with pedestrian options and preferences in mind, according to Pharos.
While screen sizes differ, both the GPS 250 and GPS 150 feature displays that are "optimized for daylight," but automatically switch to a night viewing mode after dark. Both devices are also supplied with a power cord and vehicle suction mount.
The Pharos Drive GPS 250 measures 4.8 x 3.3 x 1.0 inches and costs approximately $300, according to the company. The Pharos Drive GPS 150, with its smaller display, measures a narrower 3.9 x 3.3 x 1.0 inches and costs $200.
Both devices appear to be available now. More information is available from the company's website,
here.
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