As such, it's best that you don't expect to make phone calls with it, send a text message from it or even surf the internet with it. Only navigators in need of direction need apply.

Thankfully, the Nokia 330 Auto Navigation portable GPS unit is an able pilot and, in typical Nokia style, is incredibly easy to use.

The unit's body is pretty standard, at 10.9cm long and 8cm wide, and comes in a typical dark grey. It does, however, feature a GPS antenna that flips out from its back, and this might explain its unusually reliable GPS reception (it didn't even blink beneath Brisbane's Inner City Bypass tunnel).

The Nokia 330 has just five buttons at its side, as most selections are made using its 8.8cm (3.5in) touch-sensitive screen. Those buttons let you access the main menu, the navigation menu, change the volume and turn the unit off, and all are welcome, time-saving additions.

The touchscreen is similarly impressive, with a 320x240 resolution that is bright enough to see even in direct sunlight.

Navigators can also set up the screen's mapping view as they like it, with options including different colours to suit night and day, 3D and 2D views, as well as changing the icons for different points of interest. More than 500,000 are included on the Australian maps provided with the gadget.

The Nokia 330 uses a SiRFStar III GPS receiver and is one of the first devices in Australia to use ROUTE 66 Navigate 7 mapping software, which is currently more popular in the US and Europe. Thankfully, it should be familiar to any current user of GPS technology and is easy to use without research.

Finding a GPS link with this device took mere minutes, and requesting navigation was as easy as typing an address using a touch-sensitive keyboard. Unfortunately, users do have to type in a full address, and the unit then searches its maps and asks you to choose the one most similar to your request.

It does store searches in its history, however, so you can quickly ask for directions to your favourite locations later. The unit can also store up to 200 address points.

You can change your navigational preferences from the device's main menu, and they include preferences for avoiding motorways, toll roads and ferries, or providing navigation for you as a pedestrian, car or truck.

You can also set speed alerts based on the different types of roads.

Turn-by-turn voice directions are provided by a stern female voice with a clipped English accent, and are easy to understand. There is a repeat function, however, just in case you mishear your instructions.

The Nokia 330 provided able navigation in Connect's tests, though it did take lengthy pauses when working out a route. This occurred in spite of its speedy 400MHz Samsung processor.

While not a problem when setting your route from a stationary position, this 20-second delay will be frustrating if you miss a turn and the unit needs to recalculate your route.

As well as providing mapping information from the unit's supplied SD card, users can play music, video or photographs with the device.

The Nokia 330 supports MP3 music files, JPEG and BMP photos, and video in WMV, AVI, ASF, MPG formats. Users might need to buy a new SD card to do this, however, as the supplied 512Mb memory card does not have a lot of room spare.

Surprisingly, the Nokia 330 does not include Bluetooth connectivity for use with mobile phones – something some similarly priced GPS units do – nor does the device come with an AC charger. Instead, it comes with an in-car cradle, USB cord and an in-car charger.

These shortcomings aside, driving with the Nokia 330 is a pleasure, thanks largely to its crisp, bright screen and user-friendly menus, which are easier to navigate than some of its more popular rivals. Whether Nokia becomes a force to be reckoned with in the GPS market is yet to be seen, but the 330 is a solid start.

Source: news.com