| PND sports "Knight Rider" interface |
Sep. 30, 2008
 Mio is now shipping a PND (personal navigation device) targeting fans of the original Knight Rider television series. The "Knight Rider GPS" runs Windows CE 5.0, has a 4.3-inch display, includes 1GB of flash memory, and announces routings via voice synthesis and flashing LEDs, says Mio.
(Click here for a larger view of Mio's Knight Rider GPS)
Mio says the Knight Rider GPS, officially licensed from Universal Studios, offers "exclusive voice guidance and turn-by-turn directions featuring the original voice of KITT, the most iconic TV car of all time." The Knight Rider series, recently remade by NBC, aired in the early 80s, featuring a high-tech, talking Pontiac Trans Am.
In addition to the voice prompts, which can be set to address the user as "Michael" or one of 300 other common names, the Knight Rider GPS also sports flashing LEDs on either side of its display. In typical 80s style, these are said to flash in sync with the device's voice as it provides turn-by-turn directions.
Unlike the original KITT, the device does not include voice recognition capabilities. However, says Mio, it "can be programmed to advise drivers of speed limit infractions for those inclined to apply too much turbo boost."
Apart from the Hollywood dress, the Knight Rider GPS is much like other recent PNDs from Mio, such as the Moov 380 and a variety of others. For example, it uses a Samsung S3C2443 processor clocked at 400MHz, and supplied with 64MB of RAM and 1GB of flash memory. The device has a 4.3-inch touchscreen display with 480 x 242 pixel resolution.
For its navigation capabilities, the Knight Rider GPS includes MioMap 2008 maps on an SD card, a database claimed to include more than four million POIs (points of interest), and SiRF's ever-popular starIII chipset. According to Mio, the device also incorporates SiRF's InstantFixII, an enhancement announced in January that uses "sophisticated, patent-pending algorithms" to predict satellite locations. This shortens "warm start" times from the typical couple of minutes to as few as five seconds, according to SiRF.
Jeremy Laws, senior vice president of mobile & broadband with Universal's digital pictures group, said, "The Knight Rider GPS by Mio is a groundbreaking entertainment-branded navigation system that’s a super-cool and natural extension of an iconic television franchise. I mean, who are you going to trust more than Mio GPS and KITT to get you out of trouble when you're lost in L.A. traffic?"
Features and specifications listed by Mio for the Knight Rider GPS include:- Processor -- Samsung S3C2443 clocked at 400MHz
- Memory -- 64MB of RAM and 1GB of flash storage
- Display -- 4.3-inch touchscreen display with 480 x 242 resolution, plus flashing LEDs
- GPS -- SiRF starIII GPS receiver
- Other I/O -- Mini USB port
- Expansion -- SD slot
- Battery -- 720mAH battery with 2.5 hour life
- Dimensions -- 3.54 x 3.30 x 0.94 inches (90 x 83.8 x 23.9mm)
- Weight -- 5.08 oz (144g)
Further information
Mio says the Knight Rider GPS is available now, with a suggested list price of approximately $270.
PCMag.com reviewed the device this week and suggests saving money by purchasing one of Mio's "ordinary" PNDs instead. Reviewer Craig Ellison writes, "Knight Rider junkies and those who enjoy 80s nostalgia are sure to bite, but for me the novelty wore off quickly." To see his review, go to the publication's website, here.
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