Sony NV U70 NAV U Portable GPS Navigator
With the NV-U70 Nav-U system, Sony has decided to take the concept of the small, easy-to-use GPS device as a starting point and then add Sony touches like enhanced sound, a custom interface, and seamless, highly intelligent rerouting capabilities. Sony also developed its own proprietary GPS receiver for the NV-U70, enabling higher sensitivity and fast, accurate positioning.
The included mounting kit makes it easy to place the Nav-U in clear view while you’re driving. It’s also easy to remove the unit, so you can take it with you on foot. |
The NV-U70 is small and unassuming, but it packs a highly visible, bright screen and crisp, clear voice instructions. |
The Navigation menu lets you quickly choose the type of routing assistance you need. View larger. |
Points of interest near your location — parking, restaurants, gas, and more — are just a few taps away. View larger. |
Upcoming maneuvers, as well as location and other trip info, are clearly displayed on the map screen. View larger. |
The NV-U70’s small, slender frame houses a high-brightness, 3.5-inch touch-screen display that features an anti-glare coating for viewing in all situations. In addition to resisting smudges from fingerprints, the monitor also sports a wide viewing angle so folks anywhere in the vehicle can see the screen clearly.
Because light conditions change so much and so rapidly in a car, Sony has also built the unit with a highly intelligent brightness control system. First, the map color changes to account for day and night time viewing. Meanwhile, a light sensor on the side of the unit senses light level changes and brightens or dims the screen in eight sequential steps. The automatic dimmer won’t respond to short-term brightness changes, like when you’re just passing under bridge. Plus, the auto dimmer only works when the unit is on the cradle, so that when the device is being used on foot, you can’t accidentally cover up the light sensor and change the brightness. In addition to the automatic functions, you can also easily control brightness manually. Yes, Sony thought of everything in the screen brightness department.
Sony knows audio and they’ve brought that expertise to the NV-U70. To help you hear instructions clearly, the unit features a two stereo speakers on the front of the housing and a ported, 1.6-inch woofer in the rear.
The device contains 1 GB of memory, which is preloaded with a comprehensive map of the entire continental USA and Hawaii — making the NV-U70 ready to navigate out of the box. Additional map data, which includes maps of Puerto Rico, Alaska, and Canada, is provided on a DVD that ships with the NV-U70. Using your PC’s USB connection, you can upload this data to the device quickly and easily. An embedded, rechargeable lithium-ion battery gives you up to two hours of power when you want to take the device out of your car (the unit also ships with a vehicle power adapter).
Sony has built a custom interface for the NV-U70 from the ground up that makes it easy to get where you need to go. The simple touch-screen user interface allows you to input addresses via an on-screen keyboard, and you can also search locations by zip code, city, or street. Additionally, you can ask the unit to direct you to the nearest points of interest, such as gas stations, hotels, and restaurants.
The interface features a large arrow that always guides you through the next maneuver, and there’s a repeat button when you need a direction repeated. Precise voice timing insures that the spoken commands are always in sync with your location and movements. Intelligent rerouting instantaneously recalculates your route when you take a wrong turn, making it appear that your route is originating from the point of your missed turn or direction. Lastly, a convenient “Home” command instantly directs you to your home address, no matter where you are.
What’s in the Box
NV-U70 GPS system, car cradle, XA-DC2 car battery adapter, XA-AC13 AC adapter, USB cable, adhesive tape, pad, carrying pouch, mounting plate, screws, application disc (DVD-ROM), quick start guide, warranty card, end-user license agreement, and owner’s manual.
User Ratings and Reviews
5 Stars Quick Easy Accurate
This device is very easy, simply type in the destination and it will tell you where to go, make a wrong turn and it recalculates to get you back on track. Very easy to set up and go.
1 Star Should have listened to the salesman and bought a Garmin
The interface is difficult and not very intuitive to use. Why SONY makes things so complicated is unknown to me. I’m taking it back to Radio Shack and exchanging for a Garmin, I will gladly pay the difference and refurbishing charge.
5 Stars Great Price – Good Options
I just bought a refurbished NV-U70 for $129. Out of the box it worked well getting me home from the Sony Outlet store. I did get a message the maps are more than 12 months old but I called Sony and they are sending me the 2008 maps for free! This is lowest price I have seen for a GPS and it does the basics, shows the route, speaks the next navigations, calculates the re-route when you miss a turn or decide to go another way. It finds the position fast and the mount is easily moved from one car to another. Great price .. good options … what more could you ask?
2 Stars Do Not go For Sony name in GPS- Sony is for TV not for GPS
It is better for Sony to manufacture electronics and stay away from GPS. I am a Sony Customer but highly disappointed with Sony GPS. I could not find any special feature which would make it better than 90 bucks GPS.
Interface not friendly need to go some steps to even find simple search.
You need to know zip code to get the correct street/address because if you just go with city name, it will give you multiple zipcodes and then come back not finding the street.
If you want to find POI, not easy to find and it will keep waiting for ever. I guess very slow processor.
Will take you through the crowded streets of city while easy and quick highway route is available.(even after selecting Quickest instead of shortest route).
Start in one direction and after some times make you turn in opposite direction going through small streets. Can’t figure it out you are on the highway or 10 meter away on service road.
Battery life is low so you will have to keep it plugged.
Only interstate names are text to speech and rest of all streets just keep left and keep right.
If multiple exits on left/right you know the result.
Maps are atleast ten years old and last to issue the updates.
Signal strength is good but bad in snow and high buildings.
I would not recommend someone to buy this Sony GPS.
1 Star Not quite as good as a Hagstrom
My husband bought this a few years ago. The first problem we encountered was that you can’t load the software onto a Mac computer, I guess he should have read the system specs before buying it. Second problem we encountered was that we couldn’t load the software onto my work Windows based laptop either, so haven’t been able to update the maps. The third problem we encountered was that it is difficult to change states with the interface. The fourth and most frustrating problem, especially for a New Yorker, is that when you enter a zip code for Brooklyn, then ask for 1st Ave, it wants to take you to 1st Ave in Manhattan, not Brooklyn. There have been times when I’ve just wanted to throw the thing out the car window. Instead I open the glove compartment and pull out the Hagstrom NYC atlas. I’m trying to decide whether we should just bite the bullet and buy a TomTom.
As an update, I stupidly bought the update disk. There are significant problems with Sony’s update software. The software only works on Windows operating systems, but not Windows Vista. Also, the software will not load on any computer that has Microsoft Office 2007 loaded.
I reiterate, DO NOT BUY this product. I would go so far as to say, DO NOT BUY any SONY GPS navigation system. When you buy a system, make sure its accompanying software will work on your computer.
Buy/More Info
MapShare lets you add your own map corrections and POIs, then share them with the entire TomTom user community via the TomTom HOME website. 
. The product was shipped fast and my unit had the latest map updates as well. So out of the box and ready to go. 
