Garmin iQue M3 introduced

By Sara Griffin

Garmin International Inc. has introduced the iQue M3 automotive GPS navigator. The iQue M3 features larger, intuitive icons that makes it easier for consumers to select navigation applications using their index finger, rather than a stylus. The iQue M3 is expected to be available in July 2005 at an estimated retail price of $499.

The iQue M3 features Microsoft's Windows Mobile 2003 Professional Edition software package, Windows Mobile 2003 Second Edition, which supports portrait/landscape screen orientation for easy viewing of multimedia content. Incorporating Garmin's proven, easy-to-use c-series automotive navigation software, the iQue M3 provides premium in-car navigation capability with automatic route calculation to any destination. The intuitive, point-screen interface requires little input from the user and results in the consumer's ability to see where they are on an electronic map, look up an address or point of interest and route to it. An integrated speaker gives voice-prompted, turn-by-turn directions to your destination.

Users are also able to choose between a three-dimensional navigation view, or the more traditional "bird's eye" overhead view. The 3D navigation perspective lets drivers see an uncluttered view of what's down the road.

A built-in basemap of North and South America shows major highways, thoroughfares, railways, lakes, rivers and borders. Garmin includes its MapSource(R) City Select(R) CD as a standard accessory, so users can download detailed street-level map data, look up nearly six million points of interest (POIs), and navigate to addresses throughout the U.S. and Canada. World travelers can also add a European or Pacific Rim basemap from the installation CD and purchase detailed maps separately.

The GPS antenna on the iQue M3 folds flush with the back of the unit. Garmin has patented the unit's special antenna release switch that simultaneously powers up the device, initiates the satellite-acquisition sequence and defaults to the QueMap(TM) interface. Once the antenna switch is triggered, the device prepares to navigate. The antenna can also be adjusted for optimal GPS signal reception.

Other specifications of the iQue M3:

Operating System: Microsoft Windows Mobile 2003 Second Edition software

Computing Software: Microsoft Pocket Outlook(R), Internet Explorer, Word and Excel; Windows Media(R) Player, MSN(R) Messenger Service, Calculator and ActiveSync(R)

Processor: 312-MHz Intel(R) PXA 271

Unit size/weight: 5.0" x 2.8" x 0.74"/ 5.9 oz.

Screen dimensions: 3.5" diagonal

Display: 240x320-pixel, transflective TFT with 16-bit color display; 64K colors; bright white LED backlight

Internal Memory: 32 MB ROM; 64 MB RAM

Battery: 1,250-mAh replaceable lithium-polymer battery delivering 5-7 hours of continuous PDA/GPS use

Audio hardware: Microphone, speaker, headphone jack

Expansion: Secure Digital slot with SDIO compatibility

Networking: IrDA, SDIO, USB