Comparison Navitel E500 vs Artway NV-800

The navigation programme, originally installed in the navigator and sold with it, in other words, a set of maps available to the user “out of the box”.

Most modern navigators are equipped with such programs (although the name of pre-installed maps is not indicated for all models). Note that the functionality of complete programs in different models may vary. Most often, these are the simplest maps of the world or the region in which this device is sold. However, there are exceptions: there are models with detailed maps, programs with advanced functionality, etc. Such exceptions are especially common among high-end specialized devices, in particular marine and aviation (see "Scope"). And for some navigators, there may be several options for pre-installed programs and even the ability to select such programs at the request of the user. All these details should be specified in each case according to the manufacturer or seller.

It is also worth considering that the characteristics often indicate only the general name of the cards. At the same time, the same card can be available in several versions that differ in functionality and, sometimes, terms of use (paid / free). However, the main features are basic capabilities, interface device, etc. — usually, are common to all versions. Therefore, by the name of the complete programme, usually, one can quite accurately determine the general capabilities and features of the card's functionality.

Parameters of the display installed in the navigator.

— Display diagonal. Size screen size in inches. The larger the screen, the more information can be displayed on it and the more detailed this information will be presented. On the other hand, the size of the display significantly affects the dimensions of the device, and large screens are more expensive.

— Display resolution. Display size in dots (pixels) horizontally and vertically. The higher the resolution (with the same diagonal), the more detailed and clear the image the screen can produce. In addition, on high-resolution displays, small details are better visible, which increases the comfort of viewing information. Too high a resolution is usually not required for GPS navigator displays: for example, 800x480 pixels, limited by the standards of smartphones or tablets, with a diagonal screen size of about 6” are considered quite sufficient even for an advanced device.

— Matrix type. This parameter is indicated mainly for tech cases when the screen uses a high-quality IPS type matrix. This technology provides high quality color rendering, good brightness and wide viewing angles; moreover, IPS screens are relatively inexpensive to produce.

- Touch. Screen support for touch control. You can give commands to the device by touching the icons on the display itself - similar to how this is done in smartphones and tablets. Touch control opens up...many more possibilities than classic controls and provides flexibility in working with the navigator. In particular, by touching the screen you can set points on the route, zoom in or out on the map, etc.

- Color. This parameter determines whether the screen is color or monochrome (black and white). Black and white displays are simple, inexpensive, consume little power, and are quite suitable for displaying basic navigation information. At the same time, color screens are more functional: maps often use different colors to highlight individual objects, which would not be possible on monochrome displays. As a result, black and white screens are quite rare among modern navigators - mainly among the most compact and inexpensive models.

— Backlight. The screen has its own backlight system. This function makes the device independent of external lighting: the illuminated image will be normally visible both at dusk and even in complete darkness. It is also worth noting that many LCD screens have a backlight by default; it is activated when the screen itself is turned on and works regardless of external lighting - without it, the image on the matrix would simply be impossible to see. In particular, this operating principle is used in IPS-type matrices, which have gained popularity in modern portable electronics (including navigators).

Clock speed of the processor (CPU) installed in the navigator.

This parameter is often used to evaluate the overall level of the device and the power of its filling: it is believed that a higher frequency, in turn, provides greater computing power and better performance. However, the technical features of the processors are such that a high clock frequency does not always mean a more advanced chip. In addition, the processing power of the entire device depends not only on the CPU, but also on other components — from RAM to the operating system and installed software. So this information plays only a supporting role.

The amount of random access memory (RAM) installed in the navigator.

The amount of RAM is one of the key parameters of any computer system, directly affecting its performance and computing power. The more RAM installed on board, the better the device will cope with resource-intensive tasks and the more applications you can run on it without noticeable damage to the speed of operation.

Specifically in navigators, performance can be important, for example, when driving at high speed - the “braking” device may be late with a hint, which causes various unpleasant situations to arise. At the same time, paying attention to the amount of RAM only makes sense if an operating system like Android is installed on board.

— Wi-Fi. A technology originally designed to connect to the Internet through wireless access points; for the same purpose, Wi-Fi is most often used in navigators. Note that not only a stationary router can play the role of an access point, but also a smartphone — many of these gadgets have the appropriate mode. But the specific possibilities of such a connection may be different. One of the most popular features is downloading up-to-date traffic data and other traffic information (see "Features"). In addition, navigators may provide updating maps and firmware via the Internet. And for models with full-fledged OS (see "Operating System"), the ways of using Wi-Fi are very diverse: web surfing, access to social networks and instant messengers, "social" games that involve communication with other players, etc. In fact , in navigators with OS, Wi-Fi capabilities are limited only by the set of installed applications.

— USB. The device has a USB connector. Most often, modern navigators are equipped with compact ports like miniUSB or microUSB, and the main purpose of such ports is to charge the battery and connect to a computer — for example, to update maps. The most advanced models may also provide the connection of external peripherals (for example, a flash drive with map updates or a 3G modem for Internet access), but such features are quite rare, mainly among navigators with a full-fledged OS (see "Opera...ting system").

— Slot for memory cards. A device for reading removable memory cards — most often in the SD or microSD form factor; specific types of supported cards should be specified separately. Such a device (card reader) performs two main functions. Firstly, it allows you to expand the built-in memory of the navigator by supplementing it with external media; at the same time, the capacity of the card can be chosen at your discretion (taking into account the maximum volume — see below). Secondly, the card reader facilitates the exchange of data with other devices — smartphones, tablets, laptops, etc.; this can be useful, for example, for loading maps and other navigation data, for copying recorded tracks, etc. The specific functionality of the card reader should be specified separately.

— Headphone output. The presence in the navigator of a special connector for connecting headphones. Usually the role of such an output is played by a standard 3.5 mm port. Headphones can be used for any tasks related to sound accompaniment — voice prompts, talking on the phone or via the Internet (via Skype, Viber, etc.), listening to music and watching videos, etc. (depending on which functions are provided in the navigator itself). At the same time, the “ears” are especially convenient in two situations: in a noisy environment, when the speaker of the navigator may not be heard over background sounds, and also when it is desirable to avoid unnecessary sounds (for example, if passengers are sleeping in the car).

— Bluetooth. A wireless communication technology designed to connect different devices directly to each other. The method of using such a connection can be different, one of the most popular options in navigators is connecting a wireless headset. Through such a headset, you can hear the voice prompts of the navigator and give commands to it, talk on the phone, listen to music, etc. (specific possibilities, of course, depend on the functionality of the navigator itself). However headsets are more expensive than wired headphones and have a limited operating time (the battery needs to be charged periodically); but they are much more comfortable.

— ANT+. This standard is mainly used to transmit information of a sports and medical nature — heart rate, distance traveled, speed, etc. It is characterized by low power consumption, but has a low bandwidth — up to 60 kbps. For ANT + to work, it must be supported not only by the gadget, but also by the smartphone or other device to which it is connected. At the same time, we note that, in addition to a direct connection to an external device, this standard allows you to build networks from ANT +-compatible devices — including integrate them into smart home systems.

— AV input. Input for connecting a composite (audio + video) analogue signal. With such an input, you can connect an external signal source to the navigator, such as a portable DVD player, a reversing camera (in car navigators), an echo sounder (in marine ones), etc.

This parameter directly determines the amount of energy that the battery can store; and the greater the energy reserve, the longer the device can work on one battery charge. However, this is in theory; in practice the situation is somewhat more complicated. Firstly, the actual autonomy of the navigator will also depend on the power consumption of the device - and it can vary greatly between different models. Secondly, milliamp-hours, in which capacity is indicated, is not a completely reliable unit: the physical features of such a designation are such that two batteries with the same capacity in mAh, but different nominal voltages, will also have different actual amounts of stored energy.

In light of all this, it is hardly worth assessing the autonomy of the navigator by the capacity of the included battery - it is better to look at the operating time directly stated by the manufacturer.