Garmin is surprising the aviation crowd with the GPSMAP 696. The aviation GPS unit seems to have everything pilots would want in a portable GPS unit: huge, 7-inch screen, victor airways, XM Satellite Weather, jet routes, MEA and major visual references like points of rivers, state boundaries, highways, and railroads. Generally, Garmin announces these aviation models in the summer months, but the company must feel this $3,295 unit is going to make its way onto some pilots holiday wish lists and wanted to capitalize on the sales. PR & Garmin Blog → Read More
This GPS device from Garmin, the Nuvi 510, isn’t intended for your fancy Ford Crown Victoria, but rather your fancy Vespa. (It seems to be Europe-only at the moment, and Barcelona was nothing if not filled with guys on scooters.) That explains the extra large icons, weatherproofing and 8-hour battery life. Like every other in-car (or in-bike, as it were) GPS device, it comes with the relevant built-in maps—here, maps for Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Spain, Portugal, Greece and Italy. It’s around $380, but since it’s Euro-only Real Americans can safely ignore it for now. → Read More
The J.D. Power and Associates just released the 2008 Portable Navigation Device customer satisfaction rankings with Garmin taking the top seat and TomTom following closely behind. These scores are a composite of six factors that include: ease of use, routing, system appearance, speed of system, voice direction, and navigation display screen. Garmin ranks highest among portable navigation device manufacturers, performing particularly well in the display screen, ease of use and appearance factors TomTom follows Garmin in the ranking, performing well in the routing, speed of system and voice direction factors Personally, I have never been a big fan of Garmin interfaces; who am I though but a lowly gadget blogger. JDPower via GPSTracklog → Read More
Prices for portable GPS devices seem to be dropping like people’s pants at a pants store where there’s some sort of insane pants sale, except you really want to try the pants on before you buy them because you can’t return them due to the insanity of the sale prices. Take the Garmin nuvi 350, for instance. Amazon’s got it for $180, which Navigadget says is down from its selling price of almost $500 last year. The nuvi 350 is smaller than it looks and can be used to listen to audio books and MP3 files, effectively making it double as a portable audio player. It’s got 700MB of on-board storage, which can be expanded via SD cards. Battery life is good for 4 to 8 hours depending on how you’re using the device and the display is a 320×240 resolution touchscreen. Garmin nuvi 350 [Amazon.com] → Read More
The latest addition to Garmin’s vast range of GPS options is geared towards outdoors types. Think of the 600 series as a-go-anywhere, waterproof GPS unit that features both marine and automotive GPS functions by sensing the type of vehicle through the mount and then showing to the appropriate function. So when the 640 is in the car mount, it will function a lot like Garmin nüvi with road maps and such, but when snapped into your boat, navigation maps along with underwater 3D bathymetric contour perspective appear. In addition, there is XM radio access including the WX Satellite Weather data and XM NavTraffic with an accompanying subscription. All this convergence comes with the international 620 model going for $999 and the U.S. destined 640 carrying a $1,199 MSRP. → Read More
You might want to consider adding these VHF radios to your economic apocalypse gear and as your going to need to communicate with your fishing buddies as you’re fleeing the Wall Street zombies. The two new models, the VHF 100 and VHF 200, both sport the classic Smokey the Bandit radio look, but are equipped with the latest radio tech. The entry level 100 model transmits via 25 watts of power and offer Class D DSC capabilities while the upgraded 200 offers NMEA 2000 compatibility. If you opt for the higher-end $399 model, you gain a wired fist microphone and a remote that offers full radio control. Or you can just get the basic model for $249. Whatever way you go, they’ll help you evade the yacht-piloting zombie CEOs. PR → Read More
I have no doubt these custom voices for your TomTom or Garmin GPS cease to be entertaining after, oh, about three blocks, but if you’ve got money to burn, go for it. Most are groaningly bad, but they have their functions: GlaDOS: good litmus test for whether people you’re with are huge nerds. Pimp or sexy lady voice: good test for whether you’re a raging misogynist (or closet prostitute). Yoda: Eh, why not? If you’re curious but poor (or care to exercise good taste, like me), you can listen to samples, so at the very least you can laugh at W saying “arrived at destantination. Mission accomplished,” which is funny even though the Bush imitator is only passable. → Read More
Crutchfield has a pretty good deal going on the Garmin nuvi 205 GPS device. It’s normally $199 but there’s currently a $30 price break, which brings the price down to $169. You can then use coupon code 3A825 to get another $20 off. So that’s $149 when the dust clears, plus free shipping. Not bad, eh? The device itself has a 3.5-inch touchscreen, preloaded maps of the US, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico, microSD slot, a rechargeable battery, and pedestrian mode which allows you to get out of the car and walk around with it. Garmin nuvi 205 [Crutchfield via DealsPlus] → Read More
The higher-end 7×5 series receives familiar tech updates. Something about the new features of Lane Assist and 3D buildings makes me think back a few days to the NAVIGON 7200T announcement. Moving on though, the Garmin units now have lifetime NAVTEQ traffic too, with the 785T receiving MSN Direct treatment. (think gas prices, weather reports, new…stuff like that) These models have already been priced with the 755T clocking in at $499, $599 for the 765T, $799 for the 775T and $699 for the 785T. No word on availability but we’re sure they will be out soon if the pricing is already out. 7X5 PR & 2X5 PR → Read More
These look pretty nice. Garmin’s new GPS line, dubbed Oregon, is all touchscreen (possibly troublesome for rugged button-lovers), kind of chubby, and comes in three basic flavors: The 200, which has only the base map and is missing some cool features like an altimeter and compass ($480) The 300, which has a worldwide map and those other things but no details or topos($530) The 400, which has a worldwide map “with imagery,” and detailed maps of either coastal waters (for boaters), inland lakes (for fishers), and one with US topos and 3D views (for me.)(all are $640) Well, if you’re rich and get lost easily, these are probably a good solution. They’ll be available starting in August. → Read More
Microsoft will be the main kit sponsor of the Seattle Sounders FC MLS expansion team. A “kit,” for you Yanks, is the name for the uniform footballers wear, of which a logo of Microsoft’s choosing will be on the front. Right now, it looks like the Sounders will be wearing the slogan “Xbox 360 LIVE” on their shirt, for which Redmond has to pay $4 million. The Seattle Sounders is partly owned by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen. In any event, Microsoft joins a long list of technology companies that sponsor football (soccer) teams. Samsung sponsors England’s Chelsea FC (above); Garmin‘s got Middlesbrough FC and Spain’s Real Betis; and Best Buy sponsors fellow MLS outfit Chicago Fire. → Read More
Last week when Nicholas, John and I were at the Garmin press conference they showed us a couple of videos with the Nuvifone in action. Well, as “in action” as you can get since the units were probably running simulations. In any case, the following videos will give you a better understanding of what the Nuvifone is capable of. → Read More
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