Image Gallery: TeleNav Shotgun personal navigation device
TeleNav has been developing and supporting mobile GPS navigation software and services for a few years and just launched their first dedicated GPS device. The TeleNav Shotgun is a two-way communication device so that you receive live traffic updates and capability to search the internet for destinations. The touch screen Shotgun is a very capable navigation device and is a compelling piece of hardware in this category.
The included poster gives you directions for securely attaching the Shotgun to your car.
The Shotgun is fairly compact and looks similar to other units you have seen in the store.
You will find a vehicle windshield mount, car charge, home charger, and USB cable in the box.
TeleNav uses one of the simplest solutions I have seen for adjusting the window mount. The small ball and socket are tightened down by the screw after you find the right location for mounting.
The lever helps the suction cup to securely attach to your window.
As you can see here the Shotgun is quite a bit smaller than the Dash Express.
Another view showing the size comparison
The Shotgun rests under the Dash Express and is a very portable solution.
Here you can see the thickest part of the Dash Express on the thin Shotgun.
The miniUSB part (used for charging) is found on the left side next to the 3.5mm headset jack.
The SIM card slot and microSD card slot are found under covers on the right side of the Shotgun.
A flush mounted power button is found along the right top of the Shotgun.
There is a mono speaker on the back of the device.
With the back mono speaker, I had the volume set to maximum to try to hear the directions in a moving car. Front mounted or side mounted speakers may have made for a louder experience.
There are several settings you can use to customize the software to your liking.
Do you want a pop-up appearing on the screen if there is a traffic incident?
You can have the device automatically adjust the background colors on the map depending on the time of day or you can select your desired function manually.
I expected to see an auto adjustment for brightness, but it doesn't appear that there is a light indicator on the Shotgun.
You can change the units if you like, but keep in mind there are currently only maps for the U.S.
TeleNav gives you several routing options for creating your trips.
Do you want a top view or a driver perspective view while navigating? I like the 3D maps best myself.
The Extras display gives you several more options for managing your device.
You can communicate back to the TeleNav servers since the device has two-way communications capabilities.
There are several options available to setup your next trip.
A large pop-up keyboard appears when you are asked to provide information for your trip.
There are over 11 million POIs loaded on the Shotgun.
You are given different options for searching as you try to find your destination.
The other categories option includes these different categories.
The gas search option is very handy for finding local stations.
Search for that airport while traveling.
You can use the Shotgun to view a virtual compass as well.
The Windows Mobile TeleNav software is very similar to that found on the Shotgun. The software on the top device (an HTC Advantage) has a few less options and features than the TeleNav Shotgun.
The City option is missing from Windows Mobile.
The Advantage is even larger than the compact TeleNav Shotgun.
You can manage your navigation options with these utilities.
Here is an overhead view of a route.
You can view your directions in a list.
The Shotgun is pretty quick at routing you to your destination.
Here you can see what the night time 3D map looks like.
The box on the bottom left scrolls through ETA and distance remaining as you drive. It also gives you your compass direction and satellite status.
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