It's a very tough world out there nowadays, regardless of the specific segment of the consumer electronics market we're talking about. In order to push more units out of store shelves, manufacturers and vendors come up with all sorts of gimmicks meant to make their products more attractive for the price-savvy customer than those of their competition. And that's exactly what Nextar has done with its latest announcement regarding the Q4-LT GPS-enabled personal navigation device.

Thus, according to the company's statement, the fresh PND will come packed with a free lifetime subscription for live traffic reports that will be audible through the vehicle’s radio system. In other words, Nextar will be providing for free something other PND manufacturers charge a pretty hefty fee for.

However, as expected, there's also a catch, albeit one that's been carefully hidden within the statement. Thus, Nextar's representatives do tell us that the real life information will be provided together with NAVTEQ, but will be bundled with “discrete advertising and special promotions that are offered to users based on their location.” In other words, it will be add-supported, something that, if done right, might not even prove to be that nasty, after all.

Other features worth mentioning are the 4.3-inch touch-screen display, 3D landmark and sign-post viewing, and a built-in speaker. Furthermore, it provides the capability of playing MP3 files and allows users to view JPEG photos as well. For power, the PND relies on a rechargeable Li-Ion battery.

Nextar's Q4-LT GPS personal navigation device will retail for around 250 US dollars, which is indeed a very good price point, especially given the fact that the sales package also includes an AC/DC adapter, car power adapter, USB cable, external RDS receiver, protection pouch, suction cup, and a stylus/touch pen.


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