Sony and TomTom have teamed up to deliver in-dash navigation units using TomTom GPS and Sony audio and video (as we said they might earlier this month).
Except for some models around 10 years ago, before navigation became popular, Sony has not offered a modern in-dash navigation head unit until now.
The 2 new Sony/TomTom models will come in 6- and 7-inch screens and ship in early November. Pricing will run about $1,000 and $1,300, respectively.
Both models are preloaded with TomTom’s maps of the U.S. and Canada and they come with a year of free map upgrades. TomTom says its U.S. maps include more than 1 million more miles of roads than on other GPS devices.
Each unit has a USB input, full Bluetooth capability and a user interface with large buttons.
The XNV-770BT and XNV-660BT each have capacitive touch screens and claim to offer some of the brightest WVGA screens available. They have virtual 5.1 channel surround and Sony’s SensMe feature that automatically creates playlists based on mood from your music library.
The new models also use TomTom’s IQ Routes which avoids roads that are historically congested at the appropriate times of day. Users also get lane guidance, MapShare (to share map updates among TomTom users) and more than 6 million points of interest.
In early September, Sony and TomTom announced a similar partnership for car radio units available only in Europe.
Source: Sony
Photo: European version of Sony/TomTom Xplod models via Engadget
