Motorola MotoNav TN765t – with new MotoExras service
Car Tech — By Ricky on March 24, 2010 at 12:05 amThumbs Up:
Free FM-traffic reception; updated hardware; MotoExtras service to get real time data via calling from paired phone; text-to-speech and Bluetooth hands-free calling; innovative interface to show menus while watching maps.
Thumbs Down:
GPS tracking works relatively slow in urban areas. MotoExtras service is not always on needs to be manually refreshed for getting latest information.
The Whiz Kid Speaks:
Motorola MotoNav TN765t is an automotive PND that has 4GB internal memory and inbuilt antenna. It includes services for MotoExtras, Junction view, Lane guidance, and Speed. It features Bluetooth connectivity, Voice command recognition, Street name announcement, and Voice navigation instructions.
5.1 inches touch screen display has a resolution of 854×358 pixels. The additional features are Bluetooth hands-free calling, preinstalled POIs, and inbuilt speaker. GPS design highlights are Cinematic display, Smooth scrolling, and Map-centric interface.
MotoNav TN765t has standard lithium ion battery that has a life of 2 hours. Accessories included inside the box are user guide, micro-USB cable, dashboard mounting disc, and 12-volt power cable for connecting the dock.
Razzle Dazzle:
Motorola MotoNav TN765t is 2.8 inches tall, 5.3 inches wide, and 0.6 inch thick and weighs 6.1 ounces. Its display is much wider than the normal PNDs.
Inside Dope:
Suppose your Personal Navigation Device is itself making a voice call to the server to get the result of a particular search. It is not an imagination, but a truth about Motorola MotoNav TN765t. Last year, the company had launched MotoNav TN30 which could not get much success in the market. Now, Motorola is trying to capture the market with its new GPS navigation device – MotoNav TN765t. It has several upgrades over its predecessor.
5.1 inches color LCD display has 2.39:1 aspect ratio that makes it much wider than the screen of most PNDs. The display has 854×358 pixels resolution and features matte finish that makes it visible in direct sunlight as well. Motorola MotoNav TN765t will take less space on the car’s windshield than other 5 inches PNDs. However, the display is less tall than that of normal PNDs.
Menu button and lock/power switch are located on the top of Motorola MotoNav TN765t. You will find six buttons at the bottom on the back. Shortcut key, zoom in and out buttons are on the right side, whereas mute, volume up and down buttons are on the left side. You can adjust the zoom and volume in the Preferences menu also. What’s more – you can customize the shortcut key.
Micro-USB port, micro-SD card slot, reset button, and multi-pin connector for installing car dock is located on the bottom edge. You will find the loud speaker at the center on back panel. Motorola is providing a car windshield mount kit that integrates FM-traffic data receiver. In addition, the cradle can draw battery’s power and enables it for using without 12-volt power connection.
You will get the map screen directly on turning on the Motorola MotoNav TN765t. We like that main map screen has clean interface. Along with top edge, you will find info bar and transparent soft keys for zoom in/out, alternate views, and voice commands. Large buildings and major landmarks are denoted by 3D models in 3D view. You can overlay POI icons on maps by selecting the relevant categories. The traffic incident and flow data will be overlaid in the form of icons and color-coded highways on availability.
Motorola MotoNav TN765t has overlaid menus on the map instead of separate menu screen with preferences and options. These menus slide in as right and left panels across the edges of screen. You can tap anywhere on the map to access right panel menu, which has three soft keys and large “Enter Destination” buttons. You can customize the two soft keys on this screen, while the third key will slid out the right panel.
There is a thin bar along with the left edge, which shows left panel menu on pressing. Left panel menu has useful information such as direction and speed data, route information, nearby POIs, secondary map view, and traffic data.
Both left and right panel will slide in and out with animations. We appreciate Motorola to provide such enough large display to show menu panels without fully obscuring the map display. This will enable the users to navigate highways and menus at a same time.
Only destination entry screen will fully hide the map, but we hope that you will not type while driving. Motorola MotoNav TN765t employs search function instead of having separate interfaces for address entry and POI search. You can simply type POI category, business name, or address to find out. The TN765t PND will search for relevant search string. On the destination entry screen, you will get an onscreen virtual QWERTY keyboard and integrated auto-complete function to list possible destination on LCD’s right edge. The Google Search and voice entry are also included in this screen.
On connecting to cradle, the Motorola MotoNav TN765t downloads free traffic data for major highways. However, this data comes with small text offers and ads. The TN765t PND has Bluetooth enabled hands-free calling. You just have to pair the device with your phone by entering four-digit PIN. After pairing, MotoNav TN765t will sync contacts and able to make voice calls. The device can read the text messages and shows them in good way. What’s more – Motorola has added data connectivity service “MotoExtras” that connects to the company’s server to get data for flight status, weather forecasts, and fuel prices.
Motorola has already launched and provided some updates for the device. We will recommend you to pair the MotoNav TN765t with your computer and updates its firmware before pairing it with your Bluetooth enabled phone.
Suppose you are searching for a particular string/location that is not available in preloaded POI database. You just simply tap at Google button at destination entry screen and hit Search. After that, Motorola MotoNav TN765t will itself make a voice call to server of about 30 seconds and retrieve first 10 results. This call can be made through any Bluetooth enabled phone. It is worth to mention that this service is free for first 90 days and after that you have to pay additionally to subscribe for taking its benefits. We will recommend you to subscribe for this service if you are buying the MotoNav TN765t.
In voice mode, you can access all the basic functions through voice command. Motorola MotoNav will give a collection of relevant and accurate responses. However, its speech-to-text engine is not good and comparable to that of Google voice search.
Motorola MotoNav TN765t took 35 seconds for first cold boot and need one-minute to lock the satellite. On the contrary, the PND restarted instantly on pressing the button. You can use the resistive touch screen even with the gloves. The TN765t PND was quick to locate our position in clear sky, but took sometime when we were inside a building.
Trip Planner allowed us to sort destination play-list and we retrieved it instantly even after few days. Its Optimize button placed the destination in an efficient order for overall shortest trip. We liked the MotoExtras service, but why to pay for both calling rates and subscriptions fees. The data connection of MotoNav TN765t does not have live fuel prices and traffic data. On the contrary, Garmin Nuvi 169 and TomTom GO 740 Live PNDs are providing these services but have more prices.
MotoNav TN765t is a better upgrade over its predecessor. It turns standard PND interface by providing different panel styled menu screens. It also beats all large PNDs including Garmin Nuvi that takes large space on windscreen while driving. The TN765t offers revamped map data with lane-guidance and 3D landmarks, text-to-speech, lifetime traffic data, and Bluetooth enabled hands-free calling.
On the contrary, the MotoNav TN765t has some complaints about FM based traffic data and paid MotoExtras service by voice calls. It also lacks constant data stream and works so-so in urban environments. Still, we appreciate the Motorola to bring a PND with always-on data connection with live high-def traffic data like Garmin NuviLink.
Nitty Gritty:
If you need a latest GPS PND in affordable price range that automatically makes a voice call to get information and can work with above drawbacks, then we will recommend you to buy – Motorola MotoNav TN765t.
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9 Comments
I always like this site. It has got so many innovative and classic gadgets to play with.
Motorola in GPS? That is cool! Their mobiles are really great to use. I hope this also goes fine.
Navman is the best in GPS. no one can be that good. It has got the best range and best network for any maps.
It has got many latest features, but lacks in some areas as getting reception when you need the most in urban areas.
Connecting your phone with GPS has become common. But the quality is what it matters the most!
Its really good that it installs the traffic maps on its own.. it comes very handy!
This device seems to be interesting. Many Navigations systems are not that friendly to use.
Many of the new vehicles have got GPS systems installed internally and now a days even mobiles have got it.
In this latest world of technology, competition is growing. People have to be very fast in their thinking and also in ideas.