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Gizmondo is no Xbox portable. They're like "Games? So old; we're like, navigation, man!"

Is there a portable Xbox 360 on the way? Here's a clue: Tiger Telematics launched a hand-held rival to gamestations from Sony and Gameboy - and all it really needed was a lot of games. That hasn't happened, so at the recent "best of Stuff" exhibition (organised by "Stuff" magazine) in London, Gizmondo turned its back on games, and went sat-nav.

Observers said they didn't think this would save Gizmondo; the magazine Personal Computer World remarking on its "Labs" blog that "With the Sony Playstation Portable offering superior graphics, we find it hard to believe this new venture will save the Gizmondo."

The thing is, I can't see this pleasing Microsoft very much, because Tiger Telematics has been - unofficially supported by Microsoft, in the belief that Gizmondo might be a proving ground for a portable Windows games player.

Whether Tiger Telematics was exceeding its brief in revealing this to journalists, is another question, but it certainly did "tell friends" that Xbox software would need little conversion to run on the Gizmondo. What's hard to believe is that Microsoft would be happy to see an outside company succeed in the XBox market...

The navigation gear is a joint development with ALK's CoPilot. They actually announced this joint development back in October in the US - targeting the maps at geographic areas: "The Gizmondo Navigator 2006 will be available separately in four individual regions (East Coast, Mid-West, West Coast, and South West) for $169 (SRP), as well as entire USA option for $249 (SRP)," said the release.

A complete system bundle is also available for $399 (SRP), including software and a Smart ADDs-enabled Gizmondo. Accessories also available include a deluxe in-car option of a powered cradle, which will also enable the user to mount the Gizmondo on the dashboard or windshield. However, there's no information on ALK's web site about European plans. On Gizmondo's own site, all the satnav news is about the US, including the news that it is updating the maps through Ford dealerships

A clue, though, may be in the product name on the UK web site: Navigator 2006

Tags: satnav, Gizmondo, mobile, Wireless, Gadgets, Gps