Where in the world

Still getting lost in the city? Your car must not have a new, wafer-thin, touch-screen global positioning system device. If it did, you would not only find your way around, you would also receive restaurant reviews, movie times, traffic updates and weather forecasts. Thanks to wireless technology, digital circuitry and flash memory cards, this satellite-linked gadget does almost everything but pick up your dry cleaning. We tested four of the newest navigation devices from some of the most popular makers.

FIND GOOD FOOD

First look: The Nav300 from Delphi has two key improvements over an earlier version. An external microphone lets you verbally request directions to one of several pre-programmed destinations. (To program it, you must record your voice giving such commands.) The microphone can also link to your cellphone to make hands-free calls. Another addition to this version: You can upload the most recent Zagat Survey restaurant and hotel reviews into the device.

Yikes and likes: Like the earlier version, the Nav300 includes real-time traffic warnings without a subscription fee. But we found the voice-recognition software unreliable. And to get the Zagat reviews, you must pull out the security-digital memory card that holds your personal settings and insert the Zagat SD card, another flaw.

411: $400; (888) 809-9800; Sears and www.shopdelphi.com.

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FIND HELP

First look: The newest feature on the Tomtom Go 720 allows the device’s owner to update the maps in the gadget and share those changes with fellow Tomtom owners by the Internet. If you find a road that is washed out by a flood or fire, you push a button on the Tomtom to mark the closure. Once home, you drop the device into its docking bay to send the map update to other Tomtom owners. The device includes a “help me” button that gives directions to the nearest hospital, car repair facility and more.

Yikes and likes: The 4.3-inch touch screen (measured on the diagonal) is big, bright and easy to read. We also like that you can download celebrity voices, such as that of Monty Python alum John Cleese, to give you directions. But to get real-time traffic warnings, you must link the device with your cellphone and pay an annual fee of about $82.

411: $500, available at Best Buy, Circuit City and other electronics retailers.

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A FIND, IF YOU HAVE THE CASH

First look: The Garmin Nuvi 680 is the latest model from one of the nation’s most popular navigation device manufacturers. The sleek and bright Nuvi includes nearly all of the latest features, including traffic alerts and Bluetooth technology to make hands-free cellphone calls, plus a free yearlong membership to an MSN service that can flash weather reports, movie times, gas prices and traffic reports on to your navigation device.

Yikes and likes: The Nuvi is intuitive and easy to use, with a 4.3-inch screen (measured on the diagonal) and lots of restaurant and retail store listings. The traffic reports even estimate how much time gridlock will add to your trip. The drawback: The eye-popping price is nearly twice the cost of similar devices.

411: $860 available at Best Buy, Circuit City and other electronics retailers.

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FIRST, FIND YOUR GLASSES

First look: The Magellan Maestro 3250 is a pint-size navigation device that packs many cool features, including Blue- tooth connectivity, text-to-speech directions and access to 6 million points of interest in North America. Plus, the Maestro takes voice commands, such as “nearest gas station” and “nearest coffee,” a must for the caffeine-addicted.

Yikes and likes: The voice-command feature works well without having to program the device with a recording of your voice. But the 3.5-inch screen (measured on the diagonal) is too small, making it hard to read and difficult to operate the touch-screen controls. Traffic warnings are free for three months but the service must be renewed for $60 a year afterward.

411: $399, available at Radio Shack and Staples and other retailers; (909) 394-5000 or www.magellangps.com.