Qstarz to Announce TINY GPS Receiver with MP3 Function

[Paul Martin]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.pocketpcreviews.net/news/industry-news/qstarz-to-announce-tiny-gps-receiver-with-mp3-fun-2.html' target='_blank'>http://www.pocketpcreviews.net/news...-mp3-fun-2.html</a><br /><br /></div><i>"Small is beautiful, TINY is a HUGE improvement! Particularly if it comes with the extra function of being able to listen to MP3s via the FM transmitter. How that is supposed to work we don't know (yet) but our review unit has just been FedExed from Taiwan so we'll tell you soon! Official announcement of the Qstarz BT-Q920 is December 20. And HOW tiny you ask? Try 5.9 x 4.4 cm. That's about 2 inches square. Not bad for a SiRF Star III receiver with bluetooth and music..."</i><br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/Qstarz_BT-Q920_pocketpcreviews.jpg" /><br /><br />From a technological perspective, it's interesting to pull these technologies together. But, from a practical one, I'm not sure I get the point. Since a Bluetooth GPS device needs to pair to a host device with the mapping information, wouldn't THAT device be the one with the MP3's? But, I like the small form factor idea. Can you see a reason to add MP3 capability to a GPS receiver?

[AtTheCross]

Can you see a reason to add MP3 capability to a GPS receiver?

adding voice options like tom tom?

[Paul Martin]

Interesting idea. But, if it doesn't have any mapping info, where would it get the directions?

[Chris Spera]

But, from a practical one, I'm not sure I get the point... Can you see a reason to add MP3 capability to a GPS receiver?

None. I've reviewed a few different GPS Systems. I can understand the need for voice responses and directions, but this technology pairing doesn't make any sense at all to me...

[Perry Reed]

That doesn't seem a whole lot smaller than the Holux GPSlim 236. Of course that music thing is new.

[Jason Lee]

hehe this is just weird.. :)

[rnuqui]

it says it's got an FM transmitter so I guess that's how you listen to music, via the car stereo speakers, same way as how most ipod fm transmitters work.

that leaves the bluetooth free to connect to a pda device for mapping info.

does that make sense?

[Paul Martin]

does that make sense?

Oh sure, it makes sense, I'm just not sure of why you would want this combo. Wonder how much large the memory bucket will be? Also, I can't tell if that's an actual screen on the top or just a colored piece of plastic. Maybe it's a Shuffle/GPS hybrid. :D

[Perry Reed]

Oh sure, it makes sense, I'm just not sure of why you would want this combo. Wonder how much large the memory bucket will be? Also, I can't tell if that's an actual screen on the top or just a colored piece of plastic. Maybe it's a Shuffle/GPS hybrid. :D

Yeah, I seriously doubt that's a screen. But I wonder about the value of the mp3 feature. If you're already connecting this thing to a PDA or PC with Bluetooth, why not just play your music on that PDA or PC?