DIGITAL LIVING NEWS & TRENDS Super-Sized GPS Navigation: Garmin nuvi 5000      Garmin demonstrated at CeBIT announced a new series of nuvi navigators designed specifically for those seeking premium navigation features on a large, 5.2-inch touchscreen display.      “The nuvi 5000 is ideal for those with larger vehicles that need navigation on a big screen,” said Dan Bartel, Garmin’s vice president of worldwide sales. “With its easy-to-use interface and route planning features, it puts drivers in total control of the road.”      With its large, touch screen interface, the nuvi 5000 makes it easier than ever to obtain voice-prompted, turn-by-turn directions, route calculation, and automatic rerouting if a motorist strays off course. Route planning is easy as the nuvi 5000 will save 10 routes, specify via points and preview simulated turns on the big screen.      Additionally, it auto sorts multiple destinations providing the driver with the most direct and efficient route for errands, deliveries, collection scheduling or sales calls. Drivers who want to keep track of where they have been can turn on the track log feature and see an electronic bread crumb trail that shows their previously traveled route on the display. If a driver wants to avoid an area, the nuvi’s routing can be customized by choosing to avoid selected roads, areas and congestion charging zones.      Garmin has also made it possible for customers to supplement the pre-loaded maps with custom points of interest such as historical places of interest and the ability to update the powerful preloaded Cyclops safety camera information.      All routing information is displayed on a digital elevation map that shows detail about the surrounding terrain. Users can select a configurable vehicle icon, which allow the user to travel along their route with a fun, customized vehicle-shaped icon----instead of a simple wedge shape graphic.      The nuvi also displays speed limits for motorways, trunk roads and dual carriageways. Traffic information is provided by TrafficMaster in the UK and other TMC suppliers in European countries where servers and coverage is available.      In addition, the nuvi 5000 displays a video signal from an external analog source, such as a reversing camera or in-car DVD player. When an external video source is active, the user may revert to the map display by touching anywhere on the screen. Customers also have several entertainment options to choose from----an internal MP3 player, audio book player and games. The built-in MP3 player lets users browse music by artist, album, song or genre. Music can be loaded onto an SD card and is drag-and-drop easy, meaning no special software is required. The nuvi 5000 is also compatible with audible.com, a subscription based audio book service. A handful of games are preloaded on the nuvi to help passengers pass the time. Additional games will be available in the future at www.garmin. com/games.      All music or speech files can be played over the vehicle’s existing speakers, through the nvis built-in FM wireless transmitter or via the unit’s 3.5mm stereo output jack. The entertainment audio is muted when navigation instructions are given.      The nuvi 5000 is expected to be available in Europe the second quarter of 2008 at a RRP of £499.      Garmin Ltd. is incorporated in the Cayman Islands, and its principal subsidiaries are located in the United States, Taiwan and the United Kingdom.      For more information visit Garmin’s media centre at www.garmin.co.uk/mediacentre. Nav N Go presents 3D navigational software      Nav N Go (www.navngo.com) has announced the availability of its 3D navigational software, Nav N Go iGO8, on a variety of personal navigation devices (PNDs), smart phones and game consoles. The advanced offering of Nav N Go iGO8 includes high-definition 3D navigation maps of terrain and road elevation, landmarks and buildings. The new software version was presented at CeBIT 2008 in Hannover, hall 14, stand G14.      Key success features comprise easy portability to different hardware and OS platforms, its powerful compression technology and full customization capabilities of both user interface and workflow.      “Demand for 3D navigation software is soaring in the European market. Forecasts say that 90 to 95 percent devices used in Europe will be photo-realism-enabled by 2012,” said Leon van de Pas, CEO of Nav N Go. “As a result, our partners are eager to migrate to Nav N Go iGO8 and implement this unique selling feature to keep ahead of competitors.”      Nav N Go iGO8 provides an integrated multimedia experience, with a built-in music and video player and travel gides. With an interface that is clear, intuitive and easy to use, Nav N Go iGO8 includes a simple mode for less experienced users, and an expert mode for advanced ones. The software comes with text-to-speech capability that offers directions with real city, street and highway names.      To ensure this technology is readily available on a multitude of mobile devices to customers in Europe, Nav N Go has already formed strategic partnerships with leading global companies like Harman Kardon, LG Electronics, Sony Computer Entertainment Europe, QNX Software Systems, Asus Computer GmbH, Clarion Europe GmbH and Pioneer Europe NV. Nav N Go is delighted to see the rollout of Asus personal navigation devices R300 and R700 and has high expectations for the launch of Sony’s personal portable entertainment system PlayStation Portable with Nav N Go iGO8 software planned for spring this year.      Nav N Go iGO8 covers more than 70 countries globally with navigable maps since recently including also Australia, Argentina, Cyprus and India. Due to the recent acquisition of Topmap, a Hungarian digital map provider, Nav N Go is able to support local map providers also in those regions where leading providers have no or only limited map coverage so far.      The new format also supports exonyms, or non-native place name designations, giving users the ability to easily locate desired destinations even if the name is spelled in a foreign language. The software also supports over 45 languages including Arabic, Chinese, Greek, Hebrew, Japanese and Russian, and also comes pre-loaded with millions of advanced points of interest (POI).