Guide + Play(TM) GPS-500 Provides Users With the Ultimate in Portable Navigation and Multimedia Mobility With Signature Harman Kardon Sound
LAS VEGAS --(Business Wire)-- Jan. 8, 2007 Harman Kardon today announced the introduction of its Guide + Play GPS-500, a full-featured GPS navigation and multimedia device that incorporates high-fidelity audio, and full-motion video -- but that's small enough to fit in the palm of the hand. Functioning as a portable GPS navigation system, digital music player with full music-browsing capability and an easy-to-use video player, the Guide + Play GPS-500 is the must-have all-in-one solution for automotive or personal use.
Harman Kardon is a leading provider of audio products for the home, computer and automotive markets. With the GPS-500, Harman Kardon has leveraged its years of audio innovation to deliver a consumer-friendly, stylish and high-end portable GPS navigation and multimedia solution combination. Clean lines, a slim profile, a crisp WQVGA LCD screen and touchscreen operation, add up to a device as attractive as it is functional.
"Convergence of GPS and multimedia systems in a single device is of growing importance to consumers, but most combination GPS/multimedia systems on the market today lack many of the features -- music-browsing control and capability, for one -- found in a single device," said Mike Giffin, president of the Mobile Systems Division for Harman Consumer Group. "The Guide + Play GPS-500 can be used while driving, working or relaxing, offering consumers ultimate mobility by enabling them to take their music collections on the road, watch movies on a plane or use the navigation system to find the nearest gas station or restaurant."
Harman Kardon's GPS-500 provides functionality and superior sound by incorporating the following:
1. Tightly integrated navigation and multimedia applications for simultaneous use. Both applications work together, ensuring that important navigation information is audible and displayed, even when multimedia functions such as digital-music playback are in use. Users may also set volume priority between the two functions.
2. An easy-to-use touchscreen interface that lets users find key features and toggle between device menus with ease. The GPS-500 also includes a "Points of Interest" search that lets users find directions to nearby popular points of interest, such as restaurants, coffee shops or bookstores, with a simple touch of a button.
3. A 4-inch widescreen WQVGA LCD display for high-quality viewing of maps and videos. The widescreen aspect ratio allows users to see a larger map view when in GPS mode than do most GPS devices currently on the market. Additionally, a 480 x 272-pixel screen resolution ensures a clear and crisp viewing experience for enjoying digital music or videos loaded onto mini SD cards of up to a 4GB capacity. Featuring PlaysForSure, the device supports multiple multimedia formats including MP3, MP4, WMA, ASF, WAV and OGG.
4. A pocket-sized, virtually invisible portable mount that secures the slim (19.6mm in depth) GPS-500 for automotive use. The mount features a ball-and-socket joint that provides an almost unlimited number of viewing angles, allowing users to position the GPS-500's screen so that it can be seen from anywhere in the vehicle.
The GPS-500 has up to five hours of battery life, 2GB of internal flash memory, up to 4GB optional external SD card flash memory, and a USB 2.0 high-speed interface, and includes a carrying case that's perfect for travel. The GPS-500 can be charged via a wall-mounted AC adapter, a USB port that is compatible with both PC's and Macintosh(R) computers, or an in-car cigarette-lighter cable -- all of which are included with the unit.
Pricing and Availability
The Harman Kardon Guide + Play GPS-500 is compatible with all automobiles. It features a pocket-sized portable mount and an internal FM modulator that enables it to be connected to any vehicle, regardless of make or model. The GPS-500 will be available at quality retailers nationwide and at http://www.harmankardon.com beginning March 2007; it has a suggested retail price of $499.95.