Motorola’s MotoNav TN700 series navigation device did provide a tough competition. Being the first model in this line, the TN765t not only retools the PND design but completely re-designs the onscreen familiarity, merging the map and menu screens into a polished and flawless interface. Websites like alaTest.com rates it 8.8/10, CNET gives it 8.3/10 and pcmag.com gives it a 6/10. So lets get into the product to find out how the ratings are valid.
Some of its highlighted features are:
Easy Constant Look At The Map:
Now view map constantly while on your way with easy to use apps along with voice commands and stunning graphics. TN700 and TN500 come along with traffic alerts and a 3D Landmark viewing map. It also carries a speakerphone that can connect with your Bluetooth.
Display And Looks:
The TN765t breaks from PND convention starting with its cinematic wide-screen display. This 5.1-inch colour LCD features a 2.39:1 aspect ratio that is significantly wider than the 16:9 aspect ratio of most wide PNDs. This gives the MotoNav all of the advantages of a big screen with lots of pixel real estate, but with a much lower vertical profile.
Bluetooth:
The TN765t features Bluetooth connectivity for hands-free calling, a simple enough feature that Motorola has implemented in a very interesting way. After pairing with a four-digit PIN, the TN765t is able to make voice calls and, for compatible phones, can sync contacts and read messages.
User Friendly Keys:
Along the top edge are a power/lock switch and a dedicated menu button. On the back of the device, down either edge are six more physical keys. The left side features volume up, down, and mute; the right side features zoom in, out, and a customizable shortcut key. Along the bottom edge of the device is a proprietary multi-pin connector for attaching the car dock, a recessed reset button, a microSD card slot, and a Micro-USB port.
Car-Kit:
Like any good in-car PND, the MotoNav ships with a windshield-mount car kit. The MotoNav’s car kit integrates an FM-traffic data receiver. The MotoNav TN765t also ships with a 12-volt power cable that is designed to connect to the car dock, an adhesive dashboard mounting disc, a Micro-USB cable, and a multilingual user’s guide.
Interface:
The main map screen is a fairly clean interface. Users are able to overlay POI icons onto the map by choosing categories in a menu and, in the 3D view, major landmarks and large buildings are represented with simple 3D models. Traffic flow and incident data are also overlaid as icons and colour-coded highways when available.
Easy-Touch screen:
Tapping anywhere on the map brings up the right panel menu. From here the user is presented with a large “Enter Destination” button and three soft keys along the screen’s right edge. Two of these keys are customizable, but the third causes the right panel to slide further out, revealing an assortment of options. So get going.
Performance:
However, the MotoNav TN765t represents a phenomenal improvement over Motorola’s last attempt to break into the PND market. The way how the TN765t’s turns the standard PND interface on its ear by ditching the discrete menu screen in favour of a single consistent interface for mapping, navigation, and options is incredible. Given our choice of PND interfaces to use in a moving vehicle, the MotoNav fails all. TN765t offers a good mix of features for its price point with Bluetooth hands-free calling, lifetime traffic data, text-to-speech, and enhanced map data with lane guidance and 3D landmark info.
Tags: motonav tn700, motorola motonav, top navigation device