Despite the fact that this is not the best possible period for launching a new PND on the market (after all, people tend to purchase less non-vital consumer electronics nowadays), some of the most important names in the industry keep rolling out such products, but trying to keep the performance/price ratio as close as possible to an ideal one, at least from the point of view of the consumer.

And the latest to join this group is Alpine, which has just launched its PND-K3msn portable navigation system with MSN Direct, which, as you've probably guessed, is a connected personal navigation device providing full access to a host of additional features, including here a seriously improved navigation experience.

Without a doubt, the most important feature the PND provides is constant access to MSN Direct’s continuously updated Smart Traffic information, weather reports, gas prices, movie times, news and alerts, local event information and stock prices. The MSN Direct content is displayed on the PND-K3msn using Alpine’s own graphical user interface (GUI), while users can take advantage of a nifty little feature called “Send to GPS,” which will allow drivers to send certain addresses and locations from their computer directly to the PND.

The navigation device also delivers text-to-speech announcements of turn-by-turn driving instructions and street names, assistive mapping visuals that offer very important driving information, such as Highway Junction View (which indicates the correct side to use at a junction split) and One-Way Street Icons for clear notification of one-way streets. It also comes equipped with a Bluetooth module powered by Parrot, for convenient hands-free phone calls when connected to compatible Bluetooth-enabled mobile devices, and a built-in SD card slot that enables playback of WMA/MP3 music files.

Besides the features mentioned above, the PND-K3msn comes equipped with OnPoint Advanced GPS Positioning technology, which ensures the moving vehicle stays accurately positioned on the map even in areas where it’s difficult to receive GPS reception, such as in a tunnel, around tall buildings or under heavy foliage. OnPoint simultaneously uses three technologies – satellite-linked positioning data, solid-state gyro sensor technology (to determine the vehicle’s direction) and accelerometer technology (to gauge the vehicle’s speed) – to supply this continuous coverage.

The new PND-K3msn from Alpine will sell for around 300 US dollars, drivers also getting three months of trial for the MSN Direct service included in the price tag.


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