HP has released GPS systems before, but always as adjuncts to a PDA or cellular phone. The company's iPAQ 300 Series Travel Companion is a stand-alone GPS device that employs Windows CE 5.0 and HP's own custom user interface.



With an included car mount, charger, and windshield holder, the iPAQ 300 is primarily intended for automotive use, though it can also operate on an internal battery pack. It is said to offer a 4.3-inch WVGA (800 x 480 pixel) touchscreen display. The device employs Bluetooth for connection to a phone or stereo headphones, and features both a speaker and a digital music player.

As per the photograph below, HP's custom user interface incorporates 3D mapping, at least for certain cities. Instead of appearing as mere lines in a 2D space, or even a titled semi-3D space, maps are said to include 3D building models.


HP's iPAQ 300 displays 3D building models
According to HP, the unit offers turn-by-turn directions and spoken street names. It's said users can quickly zoom in from a 10,000 foot view to street level, and pan around landscapes by moving their fingers on the display.

Specifications listed by HP for the iPAQ 300 Series Travel Companion include:

• Processor -- Centrality (SiRF) Titan clocked at 600 MHz
  
• Memory -- 128 MB RAM, up to 2 GB Flash ROM (capacity varies by country)
  
• Display -- 4.3-inch touchscreen TFT display, 800 x 480 pixel
• Wireless:
  • Integrated GPS receiver
    
  • Bluetooth 2.0
• I/O:
  • mini-USB
    
  • 3.5 mm headphone jack
• Expansion -- 1 x SD card slot
  
• Dimensions -- 3.4 x 4.3 x 0.7 inches (86.8 x 110.2 x 18.2 mm)
  
• Weight (with battery) -- 6.6 ounces (187 g)

HP's data sheet has been just slightly overtaken by the facts, since it lists the iPAQ 300's processor as being a 600 MHz Centrality Titan. Centrality Communications was acquired by SiRF, which is now marketing the former's Atlas III, Atlas II, and Titan processors under its own brand.

Features listed by SiRF for the dual-core Titan SoC (system-on-chip) include:

• RISC Core:
  • Up to 600 MHz ARM1136EJ1
    
  • Up to 600 MHz integrated vector floating point unit for 3D acceleration
    
  • 128 KB level 2 cache
• DSP core:
  • 50-300 MHz enhanced DSP for video and GPS
    
  • Full DMA support
    
  • Direct control to UART, USP, GPIO, and other peripheral interfaces
• Advanced Autonomous GPS:
  • 40+ channels
    
  • Up to -166 dBm sensitivity
    
  • Up to 2,000,000 effective correlators

SiRF's Titan processor integrates navigation and entertainment
The Titan processor's mobile navigation and entertainment features are illustrated above; note, however, that HP is not employing the hard drive or XM Radio possibilities in this device.

Availability

As of this writing, HP had not yet released pricing or availability information for the iPAQ 300 Series GPS.

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• HTC PDA/phone gets SiRFstar GPS receiver
  
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