Alpine Electronics of UK Ltd has introduced Blackbird (PMD-B100P), a new portable navigation device (PND) with a unique system docking capability and built-in traffic receiver.

After a steady expansion from the first DVD navigation system in 1997 up to fully integrated Mobile Media Solutions, now Alpine hits the market with a portable navigation device for the first time. The Alpine Blackbird is a high-end navigation system, which can be removed from the car to also be a portable navigation device. It can be taken from one car to another or even be used when walking by foot. It can also be combined with a fixed Alpine system and therefore be fully integrated.

Blackbird has a built-in radio data system (RDS) TMC tuner. With the RDS TMC (Traffic Message Channel) service, Blackbird alerts drivers of planned and unplanned road incidents, like roadworks or accidents, and shows road congestion levels. Without any extra unit or additional subscription, Blackbird is fully TMC ready, which allows you to find the best route on that day with the dynamic route guidance.

The unit has a 4GB HDD containing preloaded maps of Western European countries and over 1 million Points Of Interest (POI) locations. The 3.6-inch digital LCD touch screen delivers 16.7 million possible colours and anti-glare technology for easy at-a-glance visibility.  Blackbird has an Ambient Light Sensor that automatically controls the display brightness to optimise the screen visibility in day and night conditions.

The device can function as a navigation system and music player simultaneously, using the built-in SD-/MMC-card slot.  A USB 2.0 connection facilitates the loading of mapping and software updates and the loading of MP3 files onto the SD card. Consumers can load their favourite MP3 or WMA files onto an SD/MMC card and then install this card into the Blackbird. Through the QuickSearch™ interface, the user can find any song via the touch-screen menu. Furthermore, Blackbird’s unique NaviMix function automatically lowers the volume of the music playback during voice-delivered driving instructions.

The sleek black aluminium design with back-lit laser-etched control pad "redefines PND product design" say Alpine, and can easily fit in a jacket pocket or handbag. Alpine’s exclusive Graphical User Interface (GUI for Drivers™) screen graphics deliver at a glance on-screen driving directions, as well as simple and easy to use menus and controls.

Running on the Microsoft Windows CE platform, Blackbird includes comprehensive NAVTEQ™ map coverage for West European countries with full turn-by-turn voice instructions to virtually any address.  As a portable device, the unit can be moved easily from car-to-car, yet it can also be connected to a wired docking station (PMD-DOK1), allowing it to be fully controlled through one of Alpine’s touch screen based AV head units. Blackbird’s mapping, driving instructions and traffic alerts can then be viewed on the in-dash AV head unit, letting Blackbird serve as the main navigation “brain” in a complete audio/video/navigation (AVN) system.  All controls and functions can then be managed from the larger touch-screen in-dash monitor or with an optional remote control. With the Blackbird dedicated to the navigation processing, this frees up the AV head unit to focus on the entertainment system operations.

In summary, Blackbird can be used as the navigation brain for an integrated in-dash system or as a portable navigation device and MP3 player. Owners get the flexibility to use their in-vehicle navigation any way they want, going from one car to another or docked for fully integrated in-vehicle performance. An optional second Car Kit is available, making sharing between family vehicles easy and simple.

Blackbird is available now from authorised Alpine dealers for a recommended retail price of £399.99.