May 15 - 11:45am EDT   Fujitsu today supplied an early look at the LifeBook U2010, its sequel to the U810. The design shares the unique twist of a rotating 5.6-inch display, which offers a convertible tablet at the size of an ultra-mobile PC, but promises improvements both inside and out. The U2010 is the company's first to use the Intel Atom processor and should run faster while lasting longer than the original's A110 chip; it also builds in an HSPA modem and a GPS for wide-area 3G wireless and navigation respectively. [full story]

May 12 - 3:30pm EDT   Sony Ericsson is patenting a system that would tie songs to specific locations, says a new filing within the US. Proposed technology for a "location dependent music search" would use GPS or a similar mapping method to determine the phone's location and promptly find music associated with the area, whether on the device or on an Internet server. The feature would let users cue songs they associate with favorite areas or download songs from local artists. [full story]

May 7 - 3:45pm EDT   On Tuesday, Clarion unveiled two new personal navigation units, the MAP680 and MAP780. The 4.3-inch touchscreen devices offer more than just 2D and 3D navigation, as a photo viewer, video and MP3 player and RDS-TMC traffic tuner are integrated. A 400MHz CPU is common to both units, as is Bluetooth capability that enables hands-free calling, sending SMS messages and A2DP audio streaming. The MAP680 has less built-in memory than its bigger brother, at 1GB versus 2, and can only be had in one of four versions with pre-loaded regional maps of Europe. The MAP780 includes mapping software for 43 European countries. [full story]

May 7 - 2:30pm EDT   Although it won't be available until Friday on Verizon and is still absent from Sprint's shipping roster, the BlackBerry Curve 8330 has landed at Electronista in a near-identical Telus form and is being put through its paces. Much of the design will seem familiar to those already aware of the Curve, but there are important additions to this first CDMA version of RIM's QWERTY smartphone that are likely to factor heavily into our full review. [full story]

May 6 - 3:45pm EDT   The iPhone is the target of a new Sprint commercial promoting Samsung's Instinct phone, due to ship in June. The ad pits the two devices in side-by-side competition, as each attempts to find a caller's location. Both are able to reach their end result in roughly the same amount of time, but the Instinct is able to deliver a more precise location, while the iPhone can only narrow positioning down to a few city blocks. The Instinct is also able to present a 3D view of its results. [full story]

May 6 - 3:25pm EDT   Nokia's anticipated E71 smartphone could be ready as early as this week, according to tips handed to GSMHelpdesk. The Dutch site says the phone could be announced this Thursday and points to multiple online stores in its own country that already list the phone. The entries all point to the device being a major upgrade over the aging E61i with 3G Internet over HSDPA, Wi-Fi, and true GPS being its most prominent upgrades. [full story]

May 6 - 1:10pm EDT   TomTom, maker of GPS devices like the ONE and the ONE XL, has no plans to build its own cellphones, according to a report out of Taiwan. DigiTimes cites a "top executive" from TomTom Asia, who says that the company will continue to focus on in-car navigation units, and accompanying content and services. TomTom has been collaborating with ASUS and HTC on navigation features for their own handsets, using parts from still more companies. [full story]

May 6 - 11:45am EDT   RIM's BlackBerry Niagra is actually representative of two different phones, according to a further scoop from BGR. The Niagra itself will reportedly be a data-focused version for CDMA networks such as Sprint in the US or Telus in Canada and will still support 3G access over EVDO, including RIM's first-ever EVDO Revision A support for faster connections. In return, Wi-Fi will be dropped while navigation is likely to be limited to assisted GPS. [full story]

May 1 - 9:50am EDT   Garmin's highly touted nuvifone may cost $100 more than its Apple rival at AT&T, according to a survey passed along to Engadget. The navigation device maker is gauging customer responses to its price strategy and is currently suggesting that its GPS-enabled cellphone should sell for $500 with a two-year contract, or $100 above the price of a standard iPhone. [full story]

April 29 - 9:45am EDT   Finland-based cell phone-maker Nokia on Tuesday announced it will team up with ARC Transistance, the European automobile club network, to provide users of its phones with Real Time Traffic Information (RTTI). The service will be offered as an option with a subscription fee in Nokia Maps 2.0 and any newer Nokia software. Thanks to RTTI, drivers will benefit from shorter commutes as their phone's navigation systems will now be able to inform them of any timely congestion, construction or crashes in their way and re-route as required. [full story]

April 29 - 9:40am EDT   TomTom this morning updated its long-serving ONE and XL lines to make them easier to carry. The 3.5-inch ONE 130 and the widescreen, 4.3-inch XL 330 use refinements in hardware to slim down their bodies considerably compared to the original GPS devices and are designed to be more easily removed from a car either for pedestrian use or for safety: a new mounting system dubbed EasyPort lets users keep the mount attached to the receiver for transport and can even slide into a pocket through a collapsible arm. Larger speakers on either-size map device improve direction notices in noisy situations. [full story]

April 25 - 4:15pm EDT   Apple's increasingly anticipated 3G-capable iPhone will add more than just the speed when it launches in the summer, according to a tip allegedly passed on to Engadget. The rumor appears to validate firmware references and other clues that the device will include native GPS for live map tracking but also confirms another that the device will undergo a conspicuous outer change: the anodized aluminum back is being replaced by an all-black glossy shell with a chromed volume rocker. The change also remedies complaints about the headphone jack by making it flush with the rest of the phone body, according to the claim. [full story]

April 24 - 10:40pm EDT   Research in Motion's 3G-capable BlackBerry won't launch at the same time as its 3G iPhone counterpart and may have been intentionally delayed, claim sources speaking to Fortune. The handset, now said to be named the BlackBerry 8900 and nicknamed the Meteor, has allegedly had its AT&T release pushed back from June to as far as August. The official explanation is said to revolve around call quality concerns for the smartphone, which is likely to replace the top-end 8800. [full story]

April 24 - 1:35pm EDT   TomTom on Thursday launched its Rider 2nd Edition portable navigation system made for motorcycle riders. The systems utilize a Cardo scala-rider Bluetooth headset to relay instructions and allow for hands-free calling. The 2nd Edition was upgraded with more features from the company's in-car units, including Map Share that allows users to share voice messages, points of interest or even itineraries via Bluetooth. A new Help Me! button can either connect riders with or find the nearest emergency services and roadside assistance. [full story]

April 22 - 3:50pm EDT   Archos this afternoon launched the 605 GPS, a combination of both its staple 605 Wi-Fi media player and a navigation add-on. The attachment provides a SiRF III GPS receiver that integrates tightly with the media player; when docked in a special car cradle, the 605 and its module supply driving directions as well as features normally available only in dedicated mapping units. The device can subscribe to either free or paid traffic warning systems and includes a one-year free subscription to an accident notification service. Archos' system is intelligent enough to recognize a signal drop and will simulate position changes until a satellite lock returns. [full story]