REVIEW COMMENTS: Navman iCN 650

Dave · Posted: Thu Dec 30, 2004 8:39 pm Post subject: REVIEW COMMENTS: Navman iCN 650

We announced on 13th September 2004 that Navman have three new products coming out and we have now production iCN 650 in our hands.

This review covers the iCN 650 which is an enhancement over the iCN 630 V2 and the original iCN 630 in a number of ways. First like its new brother the iCN635 it incorporates the new 2004 V3 software. This includes a number of new features like Topographical maps as one. The iCN 650 also has another bonus in that it has complete Western European maps pre-loaded.

The full review is available here.

JoniGPSexpress · Occasional Visitor Joined: Dec 31, 2004 Posts: 1

Why oh why cant navman put even a small battery in the 650?

On one of my cars, whe you turn the ignition, it kills the accessory sockets and the Navman restarts. It then has to recalculate my route again which is really annoying!

Even a small battery that lasts 1 minute would do.

Even still, this is a lovely device which is certainly worth upgrading to.

Dave · Posted: Fri Dec 31, 2004 11:52 am Post subject:

I totally agree with you and this is something I have been harping on about to Navman for well over a year. When we met with Navman they didn't see any requirement for a battery, nor did they see any requirement to make the iCN's waterproof.

It's a shame. It is annoying when you pull into a petrol station and power the ignition off and the iCN 650 then powers on. When I power the ignition back on, the iCN doesn't auto-start up, so you have to manually power it on again. If you leave it at that stage it will re-plan the route and get you back en-route so you don't have to manually re-enter your destination data, but it is still very annoying!

DavidW · Posted: Fri Dec 31, 2004 8:53 pm Post subject:

Dave - is it Navman kit that requires you to edit the @ symbols out of the speed camera files as well as the header line, or am I thinking of another system that requires that?

David

SamHunter · Posted: Fri Dec 31, 2004 9:11 pm Post subject:

I downloaded the speed camera files to an iCN620 running SmartST v3 and there is no need to remove the @'s, only the header.

Sam

Robin2 · Posted: Fri Dec 31, 2004 9:52 pm Post subject:

Reading the review, I could not see how you entered address data etc when planning a route. You said that there was not a touch sensitive screen, but there isn't a keyboard either!
Robin

Dave · Posted: Fri Dec 31, 2004 9:52 pm Post subject:

Early versions did require the editing of an @ but I think from what several have said it's fixed in the later builds of the POI Editor that Navman ship.

paulloren · Occasional Visitor Joined: Jan 11, 2005 Posts: 2

Ok,
You have reviewed both 650 & 510.
Which yould you recoomend.
510 is significantly cheaper selling for as little as $350 USD.
510 is smaller- has built in battery.
510 has touch screen

650 - Bigger Screen- how much better is non reflective ?
How much better is speaker?

Currently which software to you kike better Navman Smart St v3 or new Tom Tom Go(2004) code base.

Dave · Posted: Thu Jan 13, 2005 9:51 am Post subject:

The 650 is much better in terms of screen quality (brightness, size) and also audio. It's major flaws compared to the 510 are it's size and no battery.

The 650 does come with pre-installed European (or North American) maps depending in which zone you purchase it, and that is a major plus over the 510, although there's no reason why you couldn't put a 1gb SD card in the 510 and use this to store a complete zone of maps.

It all comes down to what you are looking for out of the device, if battery is essential but expcetional screen clarity and audio isn't a real must, or is a lower priority than a battery, then you may wish to go for the icn510. Bear in mind that the iCN510 basically is a Pocket PC, so you will get the same quality of screen and audio that you would from most Pocket PC's.

Personally, I really like the iCN650, more so over the iCN510, but the iCN510 is much more practical in it's size, it's easy mounting system, lightweight and it carries a battery so the device doesn't power off say when you stop at a petrol station.

evans88 · Occasional Visitor Joined: Jan 22, 2005 Posts: 13

On the 650i how do you plan a route? There is no touch screen and no keyboard.

Also can you find a destination by inputting logtitude and latitude coordinates?

Donegal TDI · Posted: Mon Jan 24, 2005 2:03 am Post subject:

Having successfully installed V3 software on an original ICN630, and more than pleased with the results, that cute little remote with the 650, will it work with the 630? I know this is a long shot Smile

Tim Buxton · Posted: Mon Jan 24, 2005 9:19 am Post subject:

Tim Buxton · Posted: Mon Jan 24, 2005 9:24 am Post subject:

evans88 · Occasional Visitor Joined: Jan 22, 2005 Posts: 13

Tim

Thanks for your response. I don't actually own one but want one this week so I have no manual to refer to. The problem with the review is that it states th Navman is not touch screen but the picture of the remote seems to have no keyboard either.

In terms of finding a destination by long/lat I am confused. I ran a comparisson on the global positioning system website between the 650i and the Garmin 2620. This states that you can route to destinations by log/lat in Navman. But you and others I have spoken to say you cannot.

Given that routing by long/lat is a prime requirement for me I am hesitant because I do not wish to make an expensive mistake.

Tim Buxton · Posted: Mon Jan 24, 2005 4:26 pm Post subject:

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