Nokia 770 finally gets useful

SOMEBODY'S FINALLY come up with a decent use for the Nokia 7770 - the PDA/tablet who major claim to fame so far is that it runs Linux. Navicore has decided to port its Symbian software over onto the 770.

So fairly bizarrely the 770 finds itself up against dedicated Personal Navigation Devices (PNDs) from the likes of Garmin and Tom Tom.

Navicore takes the well-trodden route of linking a stand-alone GPS receiver to the 770 via Bluetooth. The INQ was assured that the 770 can support a second Bluetooth connexion so the PDA can be linked simultaneously to the net.

Via a Nokia 3G handset, for example. The idea is that you can look up a restaurant on the net and then find you way to it using Navicore's navigation software. At the demo the integration between browser and the navigation software left a bit to be desired.

The vendor also claims that Navicore can be used by both pedestrians and cyclists but it didn't look to hot as a tool for ramblers. By contrast, Navicore uses maps from Tele Atlas and Navteq which are pretty hot for motorists.

Included in its supported POIs (Points Of Interest) are WiFi hot spots with the data apparently being supplied by J-Wire.

Finally, good news for existing Navicore onwers. They can upgrade to Navicore Personal 2007 from the 2006 version for free.

The bundle of Navicore software along with the GPS receiver should retail for around 199 Euros. Availability is in around a month's time. Nokia itself wouldn't commit to whether it will offer a total package of the 770 with Navicore included. µ

L'INQS
Navicore
Nokia 770