Two new nav-u personal navigation devices from Sony make it easier than ever for drivers to tackle the urban jungle. Just sketch a simple line or shape on screen with your fingertip and the new NV-U51 and NV-U71T will guide you safely and surely to your most frequent destination – whether it’s home or the nearest filling station.

Features in a nutshell

• Easy to use interface with Gesture Command for quick access to frequently-used locations


• 3.5-inch high brightness screen with anti-glare coating


• TMC monitoring for dynamic route guidance


• New suction cup mounting system


• Low power consumption for long (6 hr*) battery life

Both models feature a slim new cosmetic design and a high-brightness 3.5-inch screen with a special anti-glare coating that cuts unwanted reflections in bright sunlight. Special attention has been paid to simple operation – vital when drivers are searching for clear directions in a new part of town. Frequently-used commands like ‘go home’ or ‘find the nearest fuel station’ can be made with a quick, simple stroke of a finger on the touch screen. This unique ‘Gesture Command’ function improves driver safety and concentration by reducing the need for fiddly option selection or scrolling through on-screen menus.

Operation is positive and fuss-free thanks to large, easy to use buttons and icons to enter destination information and select other functions. A new top-level menu first appearing at power-on gives immediate access to ‘Navigation’, ‘Search Nearby’ and other key functions.

For even greater driver safety and confidence while driving, both models display airports, filling stations, bars, restaurants and points of interest making it easier for drivers to get their bearings in an unfamiliar environment. The four closest points of interest are pointed out en route in Dynamic route information mode.

The NV-U71T also monitors real-time broadcasts of Traffic Message Channel information (optional in NV-U51), allowing dynamic route guidance in the event of an on-road hold-up.

A new Sony-developed mount system for both units features a high-adhesion flexible gel. This provides secure fastening to a windscreen or dashboard, even at low temperatures where other adhesives can lose their grip.

Both units come with a 1-month free subscription to Speed Camera locations and the update service. Speed camera locations encourage greater driver safety and awareness of road conditions. The display is supplemented by an audible ‘beep’ to warn when approaching a camera. A 12 month subscription to camera location updates is available online as an optional service.

Inside both models is the new-generation SiRFstarIII GPS chipset (a product of SiRF Technology Holdings Inc). As well as reducing real-world fix times, this power-packed chipset boosts sensitivity to deliver a more accurate, positive navigation experience. This is a major benefit in where it is hard for GPS systems to lock accurately onto satellite signals. The embedded 512MB memory of the NV-U51 includes single-region mapping data, while the NV-U71T packs a pan-European map into its 2GB memory The low power consumption contributes to longer operation up to six hours* on a single charge of the built-in battery. In addition to the supplied car battery adaptor, an AC power adaptor is also supplied for use at home.

The NV-U51 and NV-U71T will be available throughout Europe from December 2006.

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