Pharos Traveler 525 2.27-Inches Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator
Pharos Traveler 525 2.27-Inches Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator
- Pocket GPS navigator that combines WiFi, Bluetooth, and Microsoft Windows Mobile 5.0 into single device
- 512 MB SD card comes preloaded with top 50 U.S. metropolitan maps; voice prompts and turn-by-turn directions
- Lets you access Outlook e-mail and synch your contacts with GPS positioning for easy navigation
- Easy-to-read color display with 240 x 320 resolution; Bluetooth enables wireless Internet or cell phone connectivity
- Compact housing fits in purse or pocket; measures 2.34 x 4.32 x 0.69 inches (W x H x D); 1-year warranty
The Pharos Traveler GPS 525 offers turn by turn, voice prompted navigation plus WiFi connectivity so mobile professionals can navigate with confidence when on the road but can also quickly access the internet for updates in news, sports, weather and stock quotes when waiting for their plane. The 525 ships with a 512MB SD card with the top 50 metropolitan areas of the U.S. With its built-in microphone the 525 turns into a phone, allowing users to initiate free global phone calls when in range of a WiFi hotspot. It also has full connectivity to Microsoft’s Outlook which allows all contact addresses to sync immediately versus loading one at a time. Along with its small, compact size the 525 boasts a color touchscreen display and the most sensitive GPS receiver on the market (SiRFstarIII) for more robust position fixes in the urban canyon or hilly terrain.Amazon.com Product Description The Pharos Traveler GPS 525 Portable Navigation System is the first pocket GPS device to combine Wi-
List Price: $ 549.99
Price: $ 549.99
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DP
June 26, 2011Excellent device, not getting much press,
I was looking at the Garmin iQue PDA’s and was not convinced. I happened upon the Pharos GPS 525 by chance, and thought I would give it a try.
This thing is impressive. GPS, BlueTooth v1.2, 802.11(b), and Windows Mobile 5.0. 64MB RAM, 128MB flash. Garmin can’t touch that. And they include everything under the sun in the box: case, windsheild mount, car charger, home charger, usb cable, earbuds, extra stylus, USB SD card reader for your PC… and even a 512MB flash SD card! And the quality of the device seems excellent, from the removable battery with solid battery cover, to the finish of the device. Not a cheapo unit at all.
Not the speediest at 300MHz, but probably a good tradeoff for battery life. I have no performance complaints.
Important to note, this is a small form-factor PDA. I was surpised by this, but it’s perfect for me. 109.7mm x 59.4mm x 17.6mm. This is a much more usesable size but some might find it hard to read the smaller screen.
I give it 4 instead of 5 stars because although they include turn-by-turn nav software, I’m not sure it’s the best. But then, I don’t have experience with other software. I have heard that it’s a pretty standard deal that most people buy a GPS PDA and then buy TomTom Navigator 5 a la cart. I’ll likely do that soon.
I’m the type of person who is rarly 100% satisfied with a product, but it was nice to see that they didn’t hold back on this one. Only room I see for improvement would be bundle of TomTom s/w, add a digital camera, a slimmer carrying case, stereo speakers, 2nd SD slot, and 802.11(g) (which I haven’t seen in a PDA to date).
Nice job Pharos, I’m impressed.
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|Dan
June 26, 2011Great Device Let Down By Terrible Supplied Nav Software,
Bought the Pharos 525 2 weeks ago. It’s a very neat device, and is one of the first to include all three wifi, bluetooth and gps in the one unit. It is smaller than most PDA’s, but has the same amount of pixels as other QVGA Pocket pcs (320×240) in its smaller screen, giving it a very sharp and readable appearance. Its big enough. Battery life is great – I accidentally left the GPS running one morning on arriving at the office, it was still going when I next looked at the device 8 hours later! My old Garmin Ique would’ve been dead after about 45 minutes without power with the GPS running. The GPS receiver is also super sensitive, and does not require a flip out antenna, meaning you can often leave the device in its pleather case while operating the GPS, and not in your car window if you don’t want either, a nice nod to convenience.
I can’t agree with the other reviewer comment “Nice job Pharos”. The device is basically a rebadged HTC Galaxy, aka Qtek G100, aka Dopod P100, aka I-mate PDA-N. Pharos has done nothing to the unit apart from added their splash screen at start up. The only thing Pharos has done is include their Ostia software, which is, quite frankly, absolutely terrible and without doubt the worst GPS software I’ve ever used. Hopelessly old fashioned and non-intuitive, the worst thing of all is that its routing algorhythms are way off and the routes it chooses are shockingly terrible. I’d have no confidence to travel somewhere unfamiliar with this software – you will get to your destination, but it’ll probably take you a while, on the scenic route – this is what those rip off New York style cabbies must use!
Thankfully, you can bin this terrible software and install something else. I’m currently running Mapopolis, which is an excellent inexpensive program, not the best looking (blows Pharos’s terrible effort away, mind you) but the routing, directions and features included are excellent, and the mapping is bang on. You can even try before you buy off their website. Other good ones are TomTom 5, Copilot 6 and Iguidance.
All in all, very happy with the device now – just be sure you budget in some extra to change the navigation software – even if you’ve never used GPS before, and think the supplied Pharos Ostia is OK, you owe it to yourself to at least have a look at one of the other programs – you’ll change your mind very fast!
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