Are you a lone crusader in the shadowy world of navigation? Mio Technology, a leading worldwide maker of portable GPS navigation devices, introduces the world's first NAVI-tainment portable navigation device with the launch of the Knight Rider GPS. With a design inspired by the original Knight Industries Two Thousand, or K.I.T.T., the Knight Rider GPS by Mio brings the magic of the original television series to your daily commute with a Knight Industries-approved LED display and custom voice files. All that's missing is Michael Knight and his patent leather jacket.
"The Knight Rider GPS by Mio is a groundbreaking entertainment branded navigation system that's a super cool and natural extension of an iconic television franchise," said Jeremy Laws, senior vice president of mobile & broadband, Universal Pictures Digital Platforms Group. "I mean, who are you going to trust more than Mio GPS and K.I.T.T. to get you out of trouble when you're lost in L.A. traffic?"
For an authentic Knight Rider experience, Mio partnered with Universal Studios to become a Knight Rider licensee and collaborated with Navtones(R) to include exclusive voice guidance and turn-by-turn directions featuring the original voice of K.I.T.T., the most iconic TV car of all time. The device's integrated randomized greetings and 300 custom names will welcome you to your navigation experience. In addition to Mio's hallmark high-quality navigation, the Knight Rider GPS features an active LED voice synthesizer display that moves in sync with the voice, just as it did on K.I.T.T.'s dash. The Knight Rider GPS can even be programmed to advise drivers of speed limit infractions for those inclined to apply too much turbo boost.
"I've been a fan of the Knight Rider TV show since it first aired on Sept. 26, 1982 and the fan base is still going strong today," said Neil Epstein, owner of fan enthusiast Web site, Knight Rider Online. "I have been waiting 20 years for my car to be able to talk to me like K.I.T.T., and now with the Knight Rider GPS it is a reality for fans everywhere."
The Knight Rider GPS features a 4.3-inch widescreen interface, which allows for more on-screen information and additional details about upcoming intersections. More than four million points of interest will assist drivers in locating gas stations, emergency assistance, hotels and restaurants -- turning every trip on the road into an adventure. Like the original K.I.T.T., which had multiple modes including normal, auto and pursuit cruising, the Knight Rider GPS allows drivers to choose routing modes including the fastest or shortest route and highway preference. In a race against mobile assassins or your child's soccer schedule, the Knight Rider GPS also features a SiRFInstantFixIII GPS receiver, which delivers faster GPS signal locks so drivers can navigate as soon as they are ready to drive.
<< Knight Rider GPS Product Specifications >>
With pre-loaded maps of the U.S. and Canada, the Knight Rider GPS is ready to operate in minutes with no computer set-up required.
<< GPS Receiver Channels 20 (SiRFstarIII), WAAS Enabled Display 4.3" TFT with Touch Screen and 65k Colors Storage Format SD/MMC Memory Expansion Module USB V2.0 Weight 5.08 oz (144g) Dimensions 3.54" x 3.30" x 0.94" Price and Availability >>
Available later this quarter at many national consumer electronics retailers, the MSRP for the Knight Rider GPS is $269.95 U.S. Visit www.KnightRiderGPS.com for more information.
<< About Mio Technology >>
Mio Technology develops and markets products that enable users to take advantage of the latest developments in mobile services. The company was established in May 2002 and now has operations in Taiwan, mainland China, Europe, North America, Australia, Japan and South Korea. Mio Technology has more than 1,200 employees worldwide and sells and markets its products in over 47 countries and territories. The company offers a wide array of mobile navigation products, which today includes car navigation systems, handheld navigation systems, GPS PDA phones and GPS PDAs, all designed to enable people to explore and discover the world around them. Mio Technology is among the world's top three vendors of mobile devices with integrated GPS. The company is online at www.mio.com.
<< About Navtones >>
Los Angeles-based Navtones(R) is a global provider of celebrity, specialty, and branded voice content for GPS navigation systems. Thousands of drivers in more than 30 countries know what it means to "Nav It Your Way" from installing Navtones(R) on their portable navigation devices. Founded in 2004 with a mission to add entertainment to the daily commute, Navtones(R) content is available to both consumers and navigation enterprises via download and embedded license, respectively. To sample our exclusive catalog or for more information, please check us out at www.navtones.com.
<< About Universal Pictures Digital Platforms Group >>
Universal Pictures Digital Platforms (UPDPG) is responsible for global digital product development, production, licensing, distribution, and growth strategy for the extensive catalogue of Universal's properties across new and emerging digital platforms, including mobile, video game consoles, personal computers, and other portable devices. With a worldwide mandate to help shape the digital future of Universal Pictures, the Group has offices in Universal City, California; London, England; and Tokyo, Japan.
Universal Pictures Digital Platforms Group is a unit of Universal Studios Home Entertainment and Universal Pictures. Universal Pictures is a division of NBC Universal, one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a global audience. Formed in May 2004 through the combining of NBC and Vivendi Universal Entertainment, NBC Universal owns and operates a valuable portfolio of news and entertainment networks, a premier motion picture company, significant television production operations, a leading television stations group, and world-renowned theme parks. NBC Universal is 80% owned by General Electric and 20% owned by Vivendi.
SOURCE: Mio Technology
SOURCE: Navtones
SOURCE: Universal Studios