Garmin International Inc. has introduced the iQue M4, a new addition to Garmin’s personal digital assistant product line. The iQue M4 Pocket PC is Garmin’s first iQue to come pre-loaded with highly detailed City Navigator North America NT street data of the entire United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico.
The iQue M4 uses Garmin’s familiar StreetPilot interface that offers users with two recognizable options – “Where to?” and “View map.” By incorporating larger, more intuitive navigational icons, it is possible for users to select icons with their finger, rather than a stylus. After using the touchscreen to enter information about the destination – such as the name or street address – the driver will be given detailed, turn-by-turn, voice prompted directions. Destinations may also be selected through the points of interest (POIs) database, which includes nearly six million POIs such as restaurants, fuel, banks and hotels.
Based on an 312 MHz Intel PXA 271 XScale processor, and with 64MB RAM and 32MB ROM, the iQue M4 uses a QVGA (240 x 320 pixels) TFT display.
The built in Windows Media Player lets users browse music by artist, album, song, and genre. MP3s can be loaded onto an SD card and no special software is required to play the music.
The iQue M4 boasts a new highly sensitive GPS receiver, and SD/SDIO expansion slot for memory, wireless networking and other expansions. The iQue M4 features Microsoft’s Windows Mobile 2003 Second Edition operating system, which includes Pocket Office applications and supports portrait/landscape screen orientation for easy viewing of multimedia content.
The iQue M4 is expected to be available in December at an estimated retail price of US$699.99. The standard package includes a USB synchronization cable, AC wall charger, auto cradle, companion CD or DVD (US only) with owner’s manual, City Navigator North America NT maps pre-loaded, and quick-reference guide.
