Electronics giant Sony is reaching to grab a bigger slice of the GPS pie with the introduction of two new portable units unveiled at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas.

Emphasizing ease of use rather than features like MP3 players and photo storage, both nav-u models feature text-to-speech capability. Real-time traffic reporting is available. A suction-cup mount coated with a non-adhesive gel will enable it to stick to the textured surfaces of dashboards, according to Sony. The idea is to put the devices closer to the driver, thereby making them easier to see and reach. Plus, such a system avoids a windshield mount, which is illegal in California and Minnesota.

Another unique feature is "gesture command." So long as the address has been pre-programmed, a driver can get directions home with just a finger swipe of the screen drawing an inverted "V," representing the shape of a house roof. Other gesture commands perform common functions like "call home" and zoom.

The nav-u systems include maps of all 50 states, Canada, Puerto Rico, and 5 million points of interest.

The NV-U73T is the base model with a 4.3-inch screen, and it is priced at approximately $350. The NV-U83T adds Bluetooth hands-free calling ability, a larger 4.8-inch wide-aspect screen, and a split-screen feature that gives drivers a more detailed, three-dimensional view of approaching intersections. It also continues to provide directions for brief periods when the GPS signal is lost, such as going through a tunnel. It is priced at $500. Both are expected in stores in February.

We will introduce the nav-u into our ongoing portable GPS navigation device test program as soon as it is available.

—Jim Travers

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