Navigon 2110 Max

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http://reviews.cnet.co.uk/handhelds/0,39030065,49297440,00.htm

Reviewed 18 June 2008

Reviewed by Brett James

On the outside, the Navigon 2110 Max is essentially the widescreen version of the previous 2110 sat-nav, but internally you will find the latest Navigator 7 software, an improved destination input screen and motorway/major junction assistant features in the form of Reality View Pro and Lane Assistant Pro. The 2110 Max can be purchased shortly for around £160 with European maps.

Strengths
Similar to the previous Navigon range, the Max incorporates a sleek black finish, which integrates ports/buttons seamlessly within its casing. Design qualities also extend to its TMC antenna, which is now integrated into the car charger to reduce cabling.

The 109mm (4.3-inch) screen is coated in a stronger anti-glare coating, which shields the screen from direct sunlight pretty well. Navigon's interface remains relatively the same from previous versions, but runs faster and now incorporates a picture viewer.

Main menu icons also expand when pressed to reveal additional options. With a similar press, the menu options retract back to reduce screen clutter.

Despite the lack of a Qwerty keyboard, it's easier to enter destinations with the Max's Smart-Speller feature, which greys out any letters that are unlikely to follow what you've already inputted. You can also enter destinations via the map itself, choose from stacks of POI or utilise the route planner and run through simulations of your routes before embarking on your journey.

During tests the Nemerix GPS receiver coped pretty well and the route calculation speeds of the Max were fast. Re-route calculations were no slouch either. When approaching major motorway junctions and smaller complex junctions -- including roundabouts -- real signpost information is displayed at the top of the screen (eg 4A M42 Birmingham Airport), alongside the updated Reality View Pro and Lane Assistant Pro views.

The latter provides a larger symbol than its previous incarnation, which we found much easier to view when being guided into the correct lane. It's still hard to keep an eye on the screen when navigating around some hellish motorway roundabout junctions with multiple lanes.

The Reality View Pro -- now incorporating exits -- shows a real-time graphical representation of the motorway lanes/exits lanes you need to be in, which we found useful. Additional driving aides include an accurate road speed symbol displayed on the map -- with optional speeding alarm -- and a safety camera database that provides basic audio/visual warnings of approaching cameras. The latter can be updated via the handy Navigon Fresh software, which can also backup/restore your device if needs be. We also found in the box a voucher entitling you to 24 months of quarterly map updates for £15.

The LogBook feature, recording your trip data including mileage, can be exported into Excel, which is handy for company car drivers. Finally, a security pin function is available for locking out your device from unwanted visitors.

Weaknesses
You won't find a Bluetooth option for hands-free navigation and to utilise the TMC receiver in the UK, you have to pay a one-off £40 subscription fee.

Voice directions are clear, but basic with no text-to- speech. An upgrade to incorporate text-to- speech will be available at the end of July, happily.

Some basic bugbears include the anti-glare screen, which is great for blocking out reflections, but not so sharp when viewing images via the picture viewer. Also, when inputting a full postcode, it has the annoying side effect of not allowing you to refine your search further with a street/house number.

Conclusion
The 2110 Max is certainly a vast improvement in terms of performance. The enhancements to its Reality View Pro and Lane Assistant Pro are indeed useful, though the latter depends on the complexity of the junction. Despite the lack of Bluetooth and required TMC subscription, its Navigon Fresh software can be used to gain updates at a later date. At its starting price, the Navigon 2110 Max still remains competitive for the quality on offer.

Edited by Shannon Doubleday