Navigators Oysters Chrome. Oysters navigators: review of the best models Download maps for the oysters navigator
It is difficult to create something new in a traditional format: as soon as a certain niche is formed, it is instantly filled with assorted creators, talented and not so talented. It’s easier to perform at the intersection of genres, combining the well-known in previously unknown combinations. For some time, this small individual direction can be developed alone, then, of course, the epigones will overtake and push back. It is not for nothing that the word “synergy” is so popular and fashionable today: interdisciplinarity has become a trend of progress - both cultural and technical.
This is all to say that in the field of automobile gadgets, everyone is trying to show off by offering something special, often ambivalent. We wrote about a five-inch navigator on Android that performs the functions of a tablet computer; about a navigator with a Texet DVR, about a smartphone with a Mio DVR... Now here is the subject of our interest - the Oysters Chrom 2011 3G navigator. This is, so to speak, a “navigator plus” - with functions and capabilities not previously seen in PND.
Remember, in the era of PDAs on WM, devices with a USB host were especially popular? That is, those through which it was possible to control external USB devices - hard drives, modems and so on. There were few PDA models with a host, and they are still in demand on the secondary market, although it would seem that the days of WM are over. Oysters Chrom 2011 3G brings back a piece of the past: a combination of Windows OS (though CE) and a USB host. But the key letter here is 3G. It is assumed that the USB host will be used to connect the 3G modem.
Structurally, the Oysters Chrom 2011 3G itself is absolutely trivial. This is a PND with a five-inch display with a resolution of 480x272 pixels.
The device has an expressive design: the front part is flat, with a barely noticeable edge around the perimeter, the display is integrated into the panel, although not 100%, but the black frame around it is thinner than most competitors. But the main style-forming element is the edging, painted to look like polished metal and smoothly surrounding the ends of the body. It protrudes above the surface by no more than 1.5 mm, which gives the impression of careful manufacturing: plastic castings are quite difficult to make with such precision that, as here, the protrusion is perfectly even along its entire length. And one more thing: the navigator is very thin - 11 mm! This is not a record, but close to it. An elegant device, what can I say...
As for the performance characteristics, everything here is more or less standard: SiRFAtlas V navigation processor with a clock frequency of 500 MHz, RAM - 128 MB, weight 130 grams.
All inputs and outputs: SD card slot, 2.5 mm headphone output and traditional miniUSB - located on the left side. There is another “hole” in the form of a second mini-jack socket (2.5 mm), but it is not used in this navigator. On the back panel there is a microphone window, a reset button and a built-in speaker grille.
The mounting bracket is completely standard, the same can be seen in dozens of other brands and models of navigators. It is compact, convenient, the suction cup is latched with a button “under the thumb”, that is, in an optimal way. The cradle is also of a standard shape, but with a twist: on the back it has a thin folding leg that allows you to place the navigator on the table. Not otherwise than for home Internet surfing.
Equipment... I don't use the word "standard" too often, do I? It is, let's say, economical: a suction cup with a cradle, a very nicely designed and well-written instruction manual (not a common occurrence, by the way), a stylus, a USB cable for a computer, a car charger with a non-twisted cord, and a mains charger with a USB socket right on the case. The latter is also a saving factor; the kit has become a whole wire cheaper, because the USB cable also performs “nutritional” functions here.
The most unusual thing in the design of Oysters Chrom 2011 3G is located between the cradle and the mating part of the suction cup bracket (there are corresponding fasteners for this on both sides) - this is an adapter from miniUSB to regular USB. It is made in the form of an intricately shaped box and is connected to the navigator with a short cable; power must be supplied to the adapter itself; there is a miniUSB socket for this purpose.
With this box, the navigator should turn into something like a PDA, allowing the connection of peripheral devices. Now we will try to do this.
The standard USB modem turned out to be slightly thicker than necessary for an absolutely problem-free connection; its back wall rests against the protrusion on the cradle (this is one of the holes in the stylus holder), and the USB connector plug fits into the socket with interference. At the same time, the modem stands at a certain angle, taking out all the flexibility of the connector. This, albeit a small one, is a miscalculation; it was necessary to make the body of the USB adapter just 1-2 mm thicker at the base or move the USB socket up.
Cumbersome? Undoubtedly. This modem connection is inferior in terms of convenience to built-in solutions in which the GSM modem is combined with the navigator base board. You can’t leave an external modem in the cradle on the glass overnight - it will become stubborn (although it should be said that it’s not advisable to leave just a cradle with a suction cup on the glass - its presence in the car serves as a “Check the glove compartment” signal for intruders). But this solution also has an advantage - it works in 3G networks, because not a single GSM module built into navigators can yet work in UMTS networks. Even if this is not so important for downloading information about traffic jams, we are talking about almost a PDA with an open access to the OS shell. Therefore, you can expect more from him - work in office programs, with by email, messengers, social networks and the Internet in general. This is where 3G will come in very, very handy. Let's try.
The modem is initialized automatically, and the navigator also makes all settings independently. In some cases, you may need to manually select connection parameters mobile operator, but you don’t need to “fill in” anything, just select from the list. In this case, MegaFon settings were selected.
Actually, this is where the connection ends; the navigator doesn’t ask any more questions.
First we used the bad old IE. Nothing new or unusual: pages take a monstrously long time to load, which in no way corresponds to the capabilities of the data network, the processor power, or the amount of built-in memory. It should be borne in mind that if there are lightweight versions of pages mobile browsers they choose them, but even in this case there is no smell of efficiency. It feels like I'm back in the days of Dial Up! Pages were updated at approximately the same speed ten years ago, when connected via telephone line with its real 25-30 Kbps.
Things went much better for Opera. This is already a semblance of an ADSL connection, the flow speed seems to have increased to 150-200 Kbps. However, YouTube videos are almost never played. It’s a little sad - there won’t be many people willing to watch videos given the strict traffic tariffs. And with unlimited 3G connections, everything is still not easy, the same MegaFon on its popular unlimited tariff allows you to download 1.5 GB, after which the connection slows down to 64 Kbps. What kind of YouTube is this...
The built-in Internet radio application connects to the radio.corbina resource, or rather, it should connect. There was no way to start the broadcast, despite the fact that the modem was working in full 3G mode. Although the design of this application is very beautiful and multifunctional in appearance.
There is also a button " social media", but this is just a set of four bookmarks (Facebook, Twitter, VKontakte and Odnoklassniki) for Opera. There is no convenience in using these services through the navigator: there are no pictures to really look at (traffic!), no videos (especially traffic!). In addition, this version of Opera has obvious problems with fitting Internet pages to a five-inch “horizontal” screen. By God, Opera Mini works much better in portrait orientation.
The unstable sensitivity of the navigator's touch pad really spoils the impression. With sporadic clicks in navigation mode, this is not so noticeable, but when working in browsers, the delay in reactions to clicks is simply infuriating! Click and wait. 2, 3, 5 seconds... Pressed again, again, again. At some point, the sensors do respond, but then it turns out that the navigator has begun to process, say, the last two or even three commands simultaneously. In the browser, this automatically means a corresponding number of clicks, so that the web page that eventually opens will not be the one you were looking for. It's a little easier with a stylus, but even here the reaction is hardly predictable.
So, presenting Oysters Chrom 2011 3G as “almost a PDA,” we were a little hasty - Internet surfing on this device turns from entertainment into a test of the strength of the nervous system. Perhaps the transition from a touch screen to a mouse and keyboard will make control more convenient... Drivers? There should be something basic in WinCE; the author has experience connecting mice and keyboards to navigators on this OS (though of a different brand, but also with a host). Bluetooth devices are usually not recognized, but wired mice and “clave” - easy.
The Logitech RX1000 USB mouse was recognized and worked without problems. True, on such a small screen the cursor has acquired hypersensitivity, which, of course, is more of a hindrance than a help. The Logitech M305 Bluetooth mouse connected just as easily. But the scroll wheel did not work for any of them.
But there were difficulties with the keyboard - it could not be identified either in browsers or in office applications within the OS itself, no matter how many keyboard options we tried. This is already affected by the lack of drivers, as in the case of the wheel.
Now the logical step is to connect two or more devices via a passive USB hub (a simple Orient 104).
Good expectations were justified: the navigator has a built-in full-fledged USB controller, theoretically capable of servicing up to 127 devices (if you do not take into account power restrictions). The modem and mouse started working at the same time, greatly facilitating the use of the Internet.
Oh, how unusual the cursor looks on the navigator screen!
The transition from the friendly Oysters interface to the Windows CE shell is like a tub of cold water to the collar. Everything is illogical, inconvenient and ugly! Moreover, it is not Russified. Even grouping shortcuts on the desktop is a problem; they are difficult to drag, and the signatures tend to be layered on top of each other. Moreover, after a reboot, these efforts will go to waste - the shortcuts will again take their original position.
Built-in office programs for Windows CE are not designed for full-fledged work with files and documents; here you cannot create and edit text or images, you can only view them. Actually software comes down to a set of viewers and games, and all this is in the immeasurably more convenient Oysters shell. An ordinary user who is not interested in squeezing the maximum possible out of their devices is unlikely to use access to Windows CE: it is both inconvenient and unnecessary.
But for the “confused”, access to Windows opens up truly PDA-like opportunities, because on the Internet you can find a huge number of all kinds of ancient programs for CE - from organizers to mobile TV. In any case, office applications and on-screen keyboard should be changed to less misanthropic ones.
In all this game of transforming the PND into a new gadget, we somehow missed the basic function - navigation. Everything is fine with Oysters Chrom 2011 3G: basic program is the new CityGuide. We wrote about it immediately after the release of the commercial version, now we’ll just add some touches and place emphasis.
Let's note the successful grouping of on-screen controls - there are a lot of them, but now you don't need to strain your brain by translating the names of the buttons into understandable language, as in the previous version of CityGuide. And under the main buttons there are generally two lines of signatures: the name and, in more detail, a decoding of the essence of this name.
The transparency levels of the controls and their location relative to the map are almost perfectly chosen. In almost all cases, the user can simultaneously monitor the route and control individual functions; there is no need to leave the map. Notice how unobtrusively the translucent buttons on the left side of the screen (with the image of a traffic cop and the letter E) look, calling up additional menus. And here’s how these additional menus are displayed:
They are quite contrasting and readable, but they do not completely block the lower field of the card.
The setup process has also become clearer:
CityGuide has long been famous for its rich database of POIs, but only now has it learned to present them in a readable manner, having reworked the symbols.
Another interesting observation: the new CityGuide provides information about the speed of traffic in traffic jam areas and does this visually very delicately, without introducing information noise. See how easy this data is to read:
But with the schematic representation of architectural elements, not everything is smooth, especially in densely built areas and on the outskirts. In pursuit of details and authenticity, the City Guides went too far, not taking into account that detail at such small scales of the image can be unnecessary.
Of course, I wanted to show the buildings as recognizable as possible, for which some of their elements had to be made translucent so that the real configuration could be read. But some details of the map are no longer unambiguous, for example, in the following screenshot you can “read” how the road goes along the roof of a building (in the foreground), and in the background on the right the architectural landscape is an incomprehensible mess.
The new CityGuide, as we have already written, copes excellently with navigating around Moscow; the navigator did not make a single mistake at any of our ambush addresses. The only thing that the program did not know was the newly formed one-way traffic on Palekhskaya Street, but this is forgivable, the release was issued even before the change in travel rules.
In the last publication we made a mistake when we wrote that new version CityGuide is built on an old engine and is only a deep redesign of the program. This is not the case, as the main ideologist of the project and director of MIT Andrei Sabaidash explained, the engine is also completely new, faster and more stable. This is important, because the “heaviness” of cartographic information is increasing every day and old engines can no longer adequately process such information flows.
⇡ Conclusions
So, Oysters Chrom 2011 3G is an excellent example of PND, which tried to go beyond the genre, but really couldn’t. And that's good! Oysters remained normal navigator, more precisely a navigator-plus, with more or less high-speed Internet access. This is not its main function, but it’s not meaningless either; you can view your email and social media posts on it quickly and conveniently if you connect a USB mouse. The built-in Internet radio client and access to Windows CE are, of course, purely marketing things; they are difficult to use. Otherwise, it’s a well-thought-out device. He would like less inertia in response to touch screen touches...
In short, take your mouse and modem with you. Will come in handy on the road.
It is one of the leading Russian companies in the development of new digital technologies. These developments also include navigators of different series, models and types. The Chrom series is recognized as one of the most popular series of guidebooks. It is represented by such models as:
Chrom 2000. The model is equipped with a basic Windows platform CE 6.0. Clock frequency The navigator speed is 500 MHz, and the built-in RAM is 128 MB. Thanks to its excellent technical characteristics, the guide is able to select and indicate the most optimal route to given points. The 480×272 touch screen extension allows you not only to track your route in excellent quality, but also to watch movies using multimedia functions. The navigator is also equipped with an input for memory cards whose capacity does not exceed 16 GB.
GPS navigator Oysters Chrom 2011 3G is one of the very first models that are adapted to USB devices O. You can also connect both a mouse and a keyboard to it. Thanks to the 3G function, the guide provides access to all the necessary Internet information in a matter of seconds. The large five-inch screen allows people with limited vision to use the device.
Oysters Chrome 2011. This GPS model A navigator can be an excellent assistant in determining the optimal travel route. The car guide can work without recharging for 4 hours. Touch screen makes it possible to set a convenient and comfortable viewing angle for the driver.
The portable car navigator Oysters Chrom 2600 with a built-in antenna seems to be created in order to prevent the driver from getting lost on the country's roads. The color touch display is ideal for viewing routes and video films.
Chrome 6000 3G. The model of this navigator can be used as a mini-computer. The guide supports the functions of connecting a keyboard, mouse, 3G modem, and USB device. Built-in radio and several of the most popular browsers will help you pass the time in hours-long traffic jams. In just a few seconds, the guidebook can turn into an online entertainment center.
Chrome 5500. This model is the only one in the Chrom series that is based on Android OS. The operating memory has been increased to 512 MB, which allows you to increase the speed of the guide several times.
Automobile series GPS navigators Chrom from Oysters is specifically designed to improve driver comfort. Chrom series devices are always ready to guide you on the right path.
In 2006, the Oysters company appeared on the automotive electronics markets, the first devices of which stood out favorably against the background of analogues of other brands and brands.
Navigators Oysters
From the first days of their appearance, car navigators produced by Oysters were distinguished by a combination of attractive appearance, high quality, wide functionality and modern materials. The creation of new devices includes the use of innovative developments and achievements in the field of automotive manufacturing and automotive technology, thanks to which devices of this brand were able to conquer the world market.
Product range
The first device that combines a 3G modem with the ability to use high-speed Internet appeared in 2010 thanks to the efforts of the developers of the Oysters company. The first mass production of navigators was launched in 2012 - models were equipped with the Android operating system and supported the GLONASS positioning system.
The use of new technologies and unusual solutions made it possible to bring Oysters navigators into the TOP 10 in terms of sales volumes - the company's products took eighth place at the end of 2011. Taking into account the specifics of the domestic market, such results turned out to be very good in comparison with other companies engaged in the production of similar equipment. Oysters navigators, like other devices produced under this brand, are popular and in demand among consumers. They can be found in almost all retail chains that sell electronics.
Navigators Oysters Chrome
The Oysters range includes various devices solving various navigation problems. Taking into account the variety of technologies and the current level of development, positioning devices are increasingly reminiscent of tablet computers, as they have the same wide functionality. Oysters Chrom 3G navigators have become one of the most extensive lines. The very first model in it was the Oysters Chrom 1500 device.
Technical parameters of Oysters Chrom 1500
The capabilities and cost of the device make it an ideal representative of the budget class. However, the gadget copes surprisingly well with its main task - positioning. The hardware component of the navigator is the Centrality Atlas V processor with RAM in 64 MB and a clock frequency of 500 MHz. The Oysters 3G navigator is capable of quickly processing data and has good performance, but it is not capable of properly performing two processes at once (for example, playing music and positioning) due to the small RAM resource. The fairly popular SIRF Atlas V is installed in the navigator as a GPS receiver. The component is highly reliable.
CityGuide software is installed as firmware for Oysters Chrom navigators; the entire system is controlled by Windows CE 6.0. The gadget is relatively small in size: its screen is only 4.3 inches, but the display clearly displays positioning information or multimedia files. In addition, the compactness of the navigator allows it to be used as a pocket gadget for a short time - resource battery life he has a small one. Additional functionality of the device allows you to listen to music, view photos, videos, text and graphic files.
Oysters 5500
A later model released in this line was the Oysters 5500 navigator. Compared to previous devices, this gadget provides Internet access via a modem connector and the use of Wi-Fi technology. Comfortable communication and work with the navigator are possible thanks to the pre-installed Android operating system.
The navigator is equipped with a processor with a frequency of 1.2 GHz and 512 MB of RAM. Technical characteristics allow you to perform quite complex tasks, supporting the operation of several processes at once. Oysters Chrom 5500 simultaneously supports two positioning systems: GLONASS and GPS. The gadget's display diagonal is 5 inches, which practically turns it into a full-fledged tablet computer. The gadget's controls are completely touch-sensitive.
Oysters Chrome 1000
Among all the navigators, Oysters 1000 does not seem to be something unique and original: a classic navigation device with a stylish, sophisticated design that can fit into the interior of any car. The advantage of this model is not only good technical specifications and attractive appearance, but also affordable price. The functionality of the device includes only the essentials for navigation, which made it possible to maintain the low cost of the gadget.
In the line of devices of the same name, Oysters 1000 is the base model, which may require certain modifications and improvements from the manufacturer. Despite this, playback of multimedia files and drawing of maps occurs at a fairly high level. The ratio of the size of the gadget and the diagonal of its display in this model has been slightly changed. The manufacturer managed to enlarge the screen while maintaining the compact dimensions of the device. The display resolution is 480 x 272 pixels, and the device control is fully touchscreen.
The development of the Oysters Chrom 1000 navigator was carried out on the SirfAtlas V platform, in which the processor operates at a frequency of 500 MHz. The GPS navigator has 64 MB of RAM and 2 GB of built-in memory, which is enough to download the necessary maps to the device. Oysters Chrom 1000 navigators have additional features: a media player that plays almost all files, a video player with which you can view videos and pictures, various games supported by the device, and the ability to open text documents.
The Oysters 1000 GPS navigator is a basic model of a navigation gadget that has good functionality, carefully drawn maps and an attractive design.
Model 2011 3G
Oysters Chrom 2011 3G navigators have become a shining example of how quickly the digital industry can progress. The display diagonal of the gadget is 5 inches, the latest version installed system"Navitel 5.0" and powerful processor provide fast work devices. The ability to connect third-party devices (mouse, keyboard, modem, flash cards) significantly expands the functionality of the device thanks to the presence of a USB adapter. Oysters 2011 3G is one of the few devices that supports external USB gadgets.
The navigator is housed in a plastic case with a chrome-plated side border. The color scheme, chrome details and impressive size (10.5 mm) make the Oysters Chrom 2011 a stylish and attractive gadget. There is only one button on the body of the device that turns the gadget on and off. The controls are completely touch-sensitive. The only disadvantage of the touch display is the resistive technology used, which has long been obsolete.
The microphone and speaker are located on the back of the device, not far from them is the Reset key. On the sides of the gadget there are the main inputs, outputs and connectors: miniUSB port, headphone input, flash card slot. The presence of a USB port allows you to connect the navigator to a computer for charging or downloading additional maps. The device comes with a special holder and frame that allow you to mount the device on the windshield in the car. The cable allows you to connect the navigator to the charging adapter via a miniUSB port. This is explained by the fact that the full functioning of such devices requires an external power source.
Technical specifications Oysters Chrom 2011 3G
The navigator is based on the Sirf Atlas V chipset, which is considered one of the best in the line of devices. The processor operates at a frequency of 500 MHz. Basic version The model includes 128 MB of RAM and 2 GB of flash memory. You can expand the navigator's memory using MicroSD cards. operating system installed on Oysters Chrom 2011 - Windows CE 6.0. Diversity installed programs, placed on the navigator desktop, makes it easier to manage the device and provides access to its main features and functions.
Supports modern maps Asia, CIS, Europe and Latin America. The gadget copes with the functions assigned to it perfectly, maintaining high reaction speed and performance, clarity and accuracy of map display and route planning, and ease of finding the desired addresses. Connecting the navigator to the Internet allows you to use it to communicate on social networks. The latest version of software, high level of performance, low price make the gadget one of the most popular and in demand.
New - Oysters Chrom 6000
Relatively recently, the Oysters company released a new model of car navigator - Chrom 6000 3G. The new product features a six-inch TFT display with a resolution of 800 x 480 pixels, which allows you to display images on the screen in high quality. Additional display backlight makes it possible to work with the device both in the dark and during daylight hours. The gadget is easily and clearly controlled using touch technology.
Technical characteristics of Oysters Chrom 6000
The GPS module built into the Oysters Chrom 3G navigator does an excellent job of transmitting the signal without stopping work even in the most inaccessible places - for example, when driving a car into the forest or in cities with a large number of high-rise buildings. All data received by the GPS module is stored in the device’s memory, which is very convenient.
128 MB SDRAM memory guarantees high data processing speed. This modern gadget is equipped with a Sirf Atlas V processor with a clock frequency of 500 MHz. The positioning process is carried out on the basis of the received data and their subsequent display on the navigator display. Despite the fact that the device has the Navitel 5.0 system installed, the user can inquire about how to update the Oysters navigator and supplement it with any other mapping software.
Oysters Chrom 2011 3G is a car navigator model that clearly shows the progress of the digital industry. Like any other modern Oysters Chrom 2011 3G model, it has a 5″ touch screen, a powerful engine and latest version navigation system Navitel 5.0. However, this is not all, since using USB an adapter that allows you to use such gadgets as a keyboard, mouse, flash memory, 3G modem, radically expanded its capabilities. This is one of the few models that supports external USB devices.
The body of the navigator is made of plastic, on the sides of which there is a chrome border. The dimensions are impressive - only 10.5 mm, which, along with the color scheme and chrome, gives the Oysters Chrom 2011 3G an incredibly stylish and strict appearance.
Since the device has full touch control, there is only one button on the body, which is responsible for turning the navigator on and off. The main disadvantage of a touch screen is the use of resistive technology, which is old-fashioned these days.
On the back of the case there is a microphone and speaker, next to them there is a Reset button. The main connectors and inputs/outputs are located on the side of the device. There is a headphone jack, a slot for a flash card and a MiniUSB port, with which the Chrom 2011 3G navigator can be connected to a computer to download maps or recharge the battery.
For attachment to windshield A holder and frame are included as standard.
The charging adapter is connected to the navigator via a MiniUSB cable, which in turn is connected to the MiniUSB port. This is due to the fact that USB devices require external power for normal operation.
Warp hardware Oysters 2011 3G navigator - Sirf Atlas V chipset, which is one of the best in its line. The clock frequency of the Sirf Atlas V processor is about 500 MHz. The standard equipment includes 2 Gb flash memory and 128Mb RAM. As described above, the navigator has a slot for MicroSD cards.
Oysters Chrom 2011 3G works on Windows based CE 6.0. The navigator desktop contains rich software that allows you to access the main capabilities of this device.
The navigation system uses the latest maps of the CIS, Asia, Europe and Latin America. High performance, clear interface, accurate route planning, ease of searching for addresses - these are main feature this navigator and it copes with its functions simply excellently.
Connecting a 3G modem allows navigator users to visit all known social networks. The low cost of the device, high performance and software allowed Oysters Chrom 2011 3G to become so popular among motorists.
Instructions for navigator Oysters Chrom 2011 3G
Firmware for Chrom 2011 3G
with badge
Firmware version for devices no icon"FM transmitter" with installation instructions.
