CES: New Twists on GPS

As I mentioned in a pre-CES post, GPS technology is on the radar for lots of families. Sales of GPS units rose 66 percent last year and are expected to keep rising in 2007. I got a look at what the leading GPS companies are showcasing at CES, and here's a quick take:

Magellan - has the first pocket-size Crossover GPS, which can be used for in-car navigation and for hiking and other on-foot outdoor travels. It contains topographical maps for all 50 states, Canada, Puerto Rico, and Mexico and retails for $549.

Garmin - released the Astro Dog Tracking System (pictured). Designed first for hunters, this handheld GPS unit combined with a dog collar that has a 5-inch antenna allows dog owners to track their dogs' whereabouts and what they're doing while there: sitting, barking up a tree...you get the idea. True, it's for hunters, but I can see some serious dog lovers who worry about their furry ones' safety putting this thing on when they're outside, even if they have invisible fences. It's expected to be available in June 2007 and it will sell for about $649.

Garmin also released the Nuvi 680 ($999), which is the first GPS unit to have MSN Direct Service providing up-to-the-minute traffic, weather, real-time gas prices, and movie times. The Garmin Nuvi 580 provides the services, too, for $799.

TomTom - has no new products on tap, but it has dropped $100 off the price of the TomTom One, a very capable GPS unit that is excellent for first-time users. It's now $399.