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EMTAC has just announced the release of the EMTAC mini-S3 Bluetooth GPS Receiver to compliment Smartphones and handheld devices. With EMTAC’s “World Smallest GPS” claim, the mini-S3 is a portable receiver small enough to fit in your pocket or purse and is suitable for various uses from hiking, marine navigation to vehicle navigation.

The mini-S3 is 0.7 inches thick, weighs a mere 60 grams (approx. 2 oz) and has a useful rubberized non-slip coating for any surface. It runs on an 8 hour rechargeable Lithium-ion battery utilizing a mini-USB charging plug for on-the-go charging from any computer and is compatible with all GPS software e.g. CoPilot Live, TomTom, Streets and Trips.

Retailing at $99, the Emtac mini-S3 is a competitive alternative to higher priced GPS products out on the current market. 

Read [Pocketnow]

­ViaMichelin, the portable GPS navigation and technology firm and a subsidiary of the Michelin Group (yup the tire guys), has announced its ViaMichelin X-930 entry-level portable GPS navigation system for North America. Combining ease of use and portability, the X-930 is the lightest weight product in its class, and features the latest GPS receiver technology (SiRFstarIII).  Loaded with comprehensive NAVTEQ digital map data for the United States and Canada, the X-930 can seamlessly navigate users to destinations throughout North America.

The X-930 features a slim, lightweight design (4.7 ounces) and size (4.8 x 2.8 x 0.7), while providing a full-size touch screen (3.5). The unit also features voice and text turn-by-turn guidance with street-level maps for all 50 United States and Canada. It showcases a directory of more than 1.5 million Points of Interest that allow users to easily find restaurants, lodging, gas stations, banks/ATMs and other businesses and services.

The X-930 has been one of the top-selling entry-level GPS portable products in Europe for the past year, and we expect it to do very well here.

The X-930 is now available in select outlets and will be available at other major retail stores and websites throughout December 2006. The suggested retail price is $299 in the U.S.

Main features of the ViaMichelin X-930:

• Integrated SiRFstarIII GPS receiver


• Size: 4.8¹¹ (L) x 2.8¹¹ (W) x .07¹¹ (D)


• Weight: 4.7 ounces


• 3.5¹¹ screen (320 x 240)


• 312 MHz processor


• 32 MB RAM


• Lithium-polymer battery


• SD card slot


• Loudspeaker

Retail package includes:

• ViaMichelin Portable GPS Navigation X-930


• Stylus


• Car mounting systems
• Lighter cable
• Power adapter


• USB cable for PC connection


• SD card with pre-loaded U.S. maps (all 50 states)


• ViaMichelin Navigation DVD-ROM with documentation, utility software, and maps of Canada with Points of Interest


• Installation poster and QuickStart manual

Read [ViaMichelin]

GlobalSat, which some of you know as one of the leading manufacturers of GPS systems, has once again created a distinct product at a very affordable price. The BT-328 Bluetooth GPS Receiver is exactly what it sounds like, a Bluetooth GPS receiver with over 16 hours of battery life. Scott over at BlueTomorrow had a chance to review the unit:

I turned it on, it worked, I drove, it worked, I got where I was going, and it was still working. By now, the BT-328 has convinced me to give up my wired USB GPS for good. Once you go traveling with a GlobalSat Bluetooth GPS, you will wonder how you ever got along without it.

Read the full review [BlueTommorrow]