Review Of Clarion NR1UB ClarionMiND Navigation System
GPS — By Ricky on July 14, 2009 at 10:29 amYummy: The most awaited ultra portable device with all the services that a PC can have within. Also the systems and features are quite extensive and outrageous. So, nothing is wrong to have a Wi-Fi portable compact navigation device.
Oops: The stability bets distorted while multitasking. The device lacks built-in Web connection so while using the Bluetooth device, connection errors are probably bound to have. The difficulty could occur while using the navigation application as traffic updates are kept separate.
Specialty: Flashy graphics, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi connectivity, Web browser with a Flash support and also the compact size could be the features that can rock you.
Our Verdict: The portable device is definitely better to have but still the main features of the dedicated data connection are missing and the restricted integration between the given applications is a serious problem which ruins the goodies.
ClarionMind NR1UB is the device made for the ease and betterment especially for the business class as it provides all the facilities of a PC and that also in a quite compact size that can fit with in your pocket. Also the salient features of the device are nice to see in just one instrument. Let’s make a dissection of the device and take out some of the positive and negative features of the same that can make our mind for the denial or acceptance!!
Distinctive Design
The features and application with the device have a larger list and also it has the well quality PND design. The size is so manageable that hand-holding is also possible with the device. Removable battery is the blessing of the device. Other optional exterior features are GPS antenna, micro SD card slot, the power/standby button and also the unique stylus stored in a recessed slot. A full size USB port, a Mini-USB port, a power adapter connection, and a headphone jack are on the right side of the device to make the functions of device easier.
The most attractive feature is the front of the portable PC, it’s a 4.8-inch WVGA color touch screen with800X480 pixels. All the keys are settled on the front in such a manner that the user automatically adjusts with the format. Let’s see the direction wise keys location. There are three illuminated touch keys for Home, Menu and Audio.
Graphic Design
The Graphics are quite crispy, but the drawback we faced while using it practically is the glare. The screen has a glossy finish which attracts the glare to come on the screen and makes a difficult view for the user. If you keep going outside quite often and using net more of the time, using ClarionMind NR1UB would make it somewhat difficult in the daytime if you are out in the car.
The glossy finish also attracts the fingertips and smudge magnet. The screen gets stuck with the finger prints if they are holding on the screen. The magnet makes the impression brighter and it disturbs the view sometimes.
Perfect Processing
ClarionMind is powered by the Intel Atom Processor. The 512MB of RAM enables adequate performance for the applications. The only problem as said earlier is that the processor works quite effectively and speedily till more applications are not performed. The minute, more applications gets searched on, the mess creates and makes you hang on with your Bluetooth. This is the only drawback faced.
A 2GB solid-state hard drive of ClarionMind holds the operating system as well as media files. The home screen is blessed with 16 icons that are displayed in a horizontal row, running off on both the side of the screen as the user wants. The user has the facility to rotate the icons just by flicking a finger left and right across the touch screen to slide the list in a very Apple Cover Flow-type manner. The flow of the icons moving is nice to watch.
The top part of the screen is covered by the status bar that displays the current application, connection information, a task switcher, battery state, and a clock widget.
The bottom part of the device is covered by a ticker that displays weather updates, news, My Space notifications, and Clarion Sync information.
Car fixing performance
The interface of ClarionMind is a car friendly and the navigation application takes no time to get launched. GPS map and weather, news and music widgets make the body of the device pack jam with the beauty. Along the bottom are icons for address book, Clarion Sync, and My Space.
If you are stuck at some place, GPS can help you just by touching the map as it launches the full-on navigation application where a destination can be entered as an address or chosen from the preloaded points of interest. If you have Wi-Fi or a Bluetooth to a phone, you can also search Google Maps for points of interest.
Fascinating features
16 major icons make a great functioning of the home screen. Also if we see the out box features, Navigation, Traffic, and Weather are, separate applications that do not communicate with one another. The Traffic application starts performing with a connection to the Internet and pulls traffic data from NAVTEQ’s traffic database, Weather application is connected with the Weather.com. Cars require a special traffic antenna to receive all the data live.
Web connection makes your job easier to receive the data of News, E-Mail, and Browser. The News application gets its way from CNN News and BBC News RSS feeds with links to full stories that open in the browser. The Browser has fine tuned with Fire fox-based browser. Flash and JavaScript are attached to have a perfect view and also to enable further browsing. Scrolling is an enjoyable job as just by sliding and rotating you can perform it and entering text is also easier with an onscreen keypad that pops up when needed. The E-Mail application is a run-of-the-mill POP3 e-mail client that is relatively easy to set up and operate.
Depressing features
ClarionMind has an option of Point-of-interest searching option but the results are not at all satisfactory. The live traffic data is not included effectively, for the better performance; an antenna called car cradle in the car is required which makes lesser sense of buying an expensive device like ClarionMind.
Car performance in the car is not up to the mark. Opening multiple applications should be done at user’s own risk!! Stability drops dramatically if more application is started.
Micro SD Cards are not competitive enough to match the large library options. Server crash is also a frequent problem.
Battery life is just 2 hours if Wi-Fi is not used. Multimedia usage can make the life half than the regular ones.
Also the applications are replicated only on modern GPS enabled smart phones.
Final words
Despite of some drawbacks, the Clarion is having a good quality. But still, it requires lot thinking from your point of view for the utility.
Tweet This
Save to delicious1
Stumble it
Subscribe
2 Comments
The product is a good addition to our travel equipment, although there are times that it gives directions that I disagree with since I travel those areas enough to know what roads I prefer to take and the directions from the Garmin do not match my choices but it is okay and will re-adjust itself.Like the information on places toeat and gas stations, very nice!
Navigation systems have come a long way since inception. There are two kinds that you will want to consider. The first is the size like in this review. It is large enough to see while driving and comes with multiple features. The second kind is the personal handheld device. This one can go from home to car and even travel with you into desolate areas.
Art @ GPS Car Tracking System´s last blog ..GPS Tracking Device for Automobile/Trucks/Cars