0ur opinion:

, December 12, 2007:
High-end audio equipment manufacturer Harman Kardon's continues to combine solid navigation with truly superb media player function in its GPS products, creating a bar for navigator/personal entertainment system convergence devices. They've improved their models this year with a fuller feature set and a nifty little remote.

Feature Set
With their first line of GPS navigators released last year, H-K wisely stuck to the basics with their navigation. Perhaps that was the reason navigation worked so much better on Harman Kardon's devices than on some other navigators produced by manufactuer's whose core business was not GPS.

With basic nav nailed down however, Harman Kardon added a full feature set into this year's models. All of the new models -- the GPS-310, GPS-510, and GPS-810, -- come with text-to-speech for spoken directions with real street names, a photo viewer and MP3 player. The GPS-510 adds a video player. The GPS-810 has the same features you'd get on the top-end model from any manufacturer, including , bluetooth connectivity, traffic data capability (from TMC Clear Channel), and an FM transmitter that will deliver both directions and music through an open channel on your car's stereo system.

4-inch WQVGA 480px x 272px high-resolution widescreen touch screen (actual size)

Navigation
The main purpose of any car GPS device is to take you reliably from point A to B. Here the GPS-810 performs nicely indeed, providing several options for finding your destination. To get going you can select either a street address, a specific point of interest such as a gas station or restaurant, a recent or saved destination, a postal code, or an intersection (if you're not sure of the exact address). To speed up text entry, the unit employs an intelligent auto-completion feature that displays only the letters that spell an item in its database. This greatly reduces the letters from which you have to choose to tell it where you want to go.

0nce it knows where you are headed, the device offers you the choice of shortest distance or most use of freeways or other high-speed arterials. You'll also find a trip planner that lets you lay out and save multiple destinations, as well as avoidance choices for routing your trip away from borders, toll roads, unpaved roads, ferries, and more. lf you take a wrong turn or need to use a detour, the GPS-810 will automatically re-route you and get you back on your way.



And how did the GPS-810 perform out on the road? ln a word, admirably. The responsiveness of the device and excellent user interface make it a joy to use. The GPS-810 also has an extremely fast and accurate GPS signal processor, so it locks, calculates and recalculates routes, and responds to commands quickly. 0ne of the hardest things for a manufacturer without a long history in building GPS navigators is getting the routing algorithms correct, so it was nice to see that Harman Kardon seems to have gotten this right. ln most cases, the device decided on logical and efficient routes, too--something that can't be said of all GPS devices out there.

lntuitive interface is easy to operate. See route planning details.

Easy to understand traffic data

Setup and lnterface
Setup is as easy as turning the device on, since it comes loaded with maps of the U.S. and Canada. 0n first bootup, choose from English, Spanish, or French language options for the spoken directions and interface menus.



lnteracting with the GPS-810's touchscreen is delightfully intuitive and reliable; there's really no need for a stylus or navigation buttons, which simplifies things on the road. The division of the main interface into four main quadrants is a helpful touch, and it's refreshing to see manufacturers moving away from awkward icon-based menus. lnstead of drilling down through lists of icons, all of the GPS-810's options are presented on simple, color-coded shapes. That said, we were a little puzzled by the use of the 'Source' menu key, which takes the user back to the main menu from any point in the interface. lt's a useful feature, but why not call this the 'Home' button instead?

Accurate, detailed 3D navigation, and turn-by-turn directions.

Use the unit's touch screen to enter address locations.

An intuitive menu lets you switch quickly between music, video, and navigation options.

The screen itself is sharp and clear, offering great resolution and clarity in all driving conditions. The map screen is a sight to behold, offering delightfully crisp 3D images, as well as excellent responsiveness when zoomed and panned. Likewise, the interfaces for music and video playback are pleasantly uncluttered, responsive, and well thought-out. 0ne problem in our unit, though, was the lack of a sleep mode. The device's screen will stay on at full illumination when it's left idle--even when running on battery power. There's also no sleep button on the device.

Hands Free Phone That Really Works!
Using Bluetooth wireless capability to allow GPS navigators to function as hands-free phone kits is becoming more popular, especially as more states pass laws that prohibit in-car cell phone use without a hands-free kit, so lots of navigators are sporting the feature these days. However, this is an area in which the GPS-810 really shines, primarily because of the dual microphone and Harman Kardon's patented noise-cancelling technology.

Most GPS navigators have a single microphone located in the center of the device, which can make you sound garbled on the other end. The GPS-810 has two microphones, one on each side of the device, so both passenger and driver can use the hands-free phone kit and come through clearly. Also, Harman Kardon has installed the same kind of noise-canceling system they use in their high-end audio products, to further enhance intelligibility.




Multimedia
The GPS-810 strives to be much more than just another GPS device in a crowded market, and that's likely why Harman Kardon has polished the multimedia features of the device so well. With support for MP3 and WMA music files, the music player has a refreshingly intuitive user interface and good sound quality. lt's a cinch to browse music on your SD card by artist, album, genre, playlist, and song. Another nice touch is that you can keep the music playing while the unit is in navigation mode.

	Video playback is equally straightforward. The device recognizes WMV9 or MPEG-4 AVl video files and presents them in a scrolling list. Press a title and you're off in movie land, complete with smooth framerates and minimal jitters during high-action sequences. We did encounter a format incompatibility with an AVl file encoded in the DlVX format. Attempting to play the file freaked the GPS-810 out, and a hard reset was required. Harman Kardon is very clear about which file formats are supported, but many folks might inadvertantly attempt to play a DlVX-encoded AVl instead of an MPEG-4 AVl. Broader format support would be a welcome addition. To ease some of the pain of getting your movies and TV shows into the right format for the GPS-810, Harman Kardon provides a brief guide for Windows Media Player users. Mac users will have to use third-party media encoders to prepare their videos for the GPS-810. Lastly, battery life when playing back videos was surprisingly good. After a two-hour movie the GPS-810 was only down to a 40 percent charge.

Design
The GPS-810 is solidly built--something we expect from Harman Kardon--and it instills a sense of confidence that it can survive the bumps of bruises that come with the mobile lifestyle. Measuring approximately 4.5 inches wide by 3.5 inches high, and a little over half an inch thick, the device is only a little chunkier than your average PDA or Smartphone. The clean lines of the GPS-810 are enhanced by a complete lack of buttons; all interaction with the device happens between the touchscreen and your finger. ln the interest of simplicity, there is not even a stylus that can fall to the floor and roll under the seat of your car.

The only button you'll find on the device is the recessed power button on the top, right next to the SD card slot. The slot accepts cards with up to 4 GB of capacity. There's also a small jog wheel on the right side for volume and display brightness control. Below this dial you'll also find a mini-USB port that serves double duty for both charging and PC-to-device data transfers, as well as a standard 3.5-millimeter headphone jack. Meanwhile, you'll find a pinhole reset button on the bottom, as well as a hold switch on the left side for deactivating the touchscreen. Lastly, the back of the unit sports a small audio speaker and a port for an optional GPS signal booster antenna.





Pros
Excellent user interface
Fast, accurate GPS performance; good mapping capabilities
Polished, user-friendly music and video playback

Cons
Minor lag during some operations
Limited video format compatibility
No sleep or low power standby function

What's in the Box
GPS-810 portable navigator, wireless control knob, wireless FM transmitter, 4-hour lithium-polymer battery, USB 2.0 Hi-Speed computer interface with cable, fold-flat windshield/dashboard mounting bracket, dashboard mounting disk, car charger, wall charger, traffic antenna, carrying case, quick-start guide

:
portable GPS satellite navigation unit with built-in antenna * wireless controller knob * 4.3' color (480 x 272 pixels) touchscreen control5 * text-to-speech technology lets voice prompts announce road names over the built-in speaker * includes FM-TMC traffic-info receiver (additional subscription fees apply after free 90-day trial) * Bluetooth technology for making and receiving hands-free calls with your compatible cell phone *


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• Monster Cable J2 CAM MINIUSB-7 High Performance USB to Mini-USB Cable (7 ft.)
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Buyer's feedback: - * Nice but fair ...
I bought my Harman Kardon GPS-810 a couple of months ago, I was very excited because I love the brand and have a loyal HK product consumer but I am very disapointed with this gadget.

Bad:

1.- Maps and places not updated
2.- Sometimes makes you go in circles
3.- Battery last 12 mins. on mine
4.- When car is stopped gps may loose direction and start spinning
5.- Doesn't update on PC
6.- Makes errors while taking you to POI
7.- Confusing when trying to change on freeways

Good

1.- Good looking
2.- Remote cpntroled

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Buyer's feedback: - Good buy
This may sound a little silly, but I was sold this GPS on my first visit to a store. The sales guy really sold me on it based on my criteria. I brought it home and began feeling as if I was bamboozled. So, I returned it (with a restocking fee) and decided that I needed to do some homework. I looked at every possible types of GPS devices. I purchased a Navigon because I liked the graphics. Even the graphics turned out to be a disappointment. So, I returned that one. Every single review suggested a Garmin 660 or along those lines. I tried them out and wasn't happy with the menu or it's functions. I went back to the H/K. I've had it for about a month now and I am very happy with my purchase (the second time). I haven't used the music or video part of the device, but the navigation and bluetooth works well. With the navigation, it doesn't give me exactly what I'm looking for all the time, but it does get me where I want to go, especially when I get lost. I travel around LA alot. the streets are very confusing. this has gotten me out of many hours of driving around lost. I like the touch pad. It is sensitive, and feels solid. I like the looks and feel of the H/K. The mounting bracket is good. The biggest bonus of this device is it lets me do title searches (or keyword) searches for business. I really use that alot. I can find the nearest "home depot" or "best buy" or whatever store I need at my location. This has become such an asset to my business. I returned the Navigon because I couldn't do that. I couldn't do that with the Garmin either. So, i really like this H/K. I'm very happy with it and use it almost everyday.

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Buyer's feedback: - * Works as described, but quirky... ...
Pros:
- My Motorola Razr V3 Phonebook was uploaded to the 810 without any problems, touch dialing is really nice.
- Navigation screen is large enough and the 3D view is handy, night mode is cool.
- Zooming while in 3D mode is nice to check out surrounding areas
- GPS startup is quick (~10 secs) and interface is intuitive.
- It is one of the nicest looking 4"-5" GPS units, feels substantial and is finished in graphite.
- I have sync'd several MP3 playlists as described in the user manual using windows Media player. I am able to use the 810 instead of my iPod as needed.
- Navigation is on par with the Eclipse AVN-5510 in our other vehicle
- Many POI's and map data is up to date within about one year
- I have received personal emails from customer support regarding the availability of the firmware upgraded and external microphone.
- You really can simultaneously have the 810 navigate, listen to music and make phone calls

Cons:
- I am hoping the external phone microphone will be available soon, some people thought I sounded like I was calling from inside a tunnel.
- My Bluetooth and remote issues fixed with firmware update

Overall, for $329 it works as promised and puts navigation in my car for significantly less than the OEM option.

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Buyer's feedback: - Piece of Junk
Bought this item today and it's going back. Slow system that locks up. Have had to reset it 5 times. I want out of box and go not let me reset over and over again. Really pissed because I like the idea, look and concept. Oh well, will try again and research.

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Buyer's feedback: - * Wait for an Update! ...
I love the 810, but I am rating it with 1 star, as I think you should wait for an updated firmware.

This could be the best GPS, but its firmware is very buggy and it doesn't function as advertised.

I bought one and returned. Harman Kardon says: "we're aware of the problem and it will be fixed with a firmware upgrade in the near future." However it's been more than 6 months and nothing has been done, neither specific dates or details published, and everyone gets the same response: upgrade is coming in 2 weeks or so.

The main reason I returned mine, ware the Bluetooth and overall instability. I got random numbers instead of the names, after I synced my iPhone, and almost everybody is complaining of the same problem using different phones. The connection is good, but keeps loosing. It wouldn't go into sleep mode and kept shutting down, then it took relatively long time to start up.

I would rate the GPS 810 with 10 stars if it worked as presented. Don't buy this unit now! Follow GPS 810 forums and make sure you get one with the latest firmware to be released.