Garmin intros Nuvi 260 with text-to-speech

It looks like Garmin hasn't yet run out of digits in its 200-series of GPS devices, with the company today introducing the Nuvi 260 model, the first of the series to boast text-to-speech capabilities. That notable feature will let you keep your eyes on the road while the device calls out street names and directions. Otherwise, the device appears to be pretty much identical to others in the series, boasting a 3.5-inch touchscreen, pre-loaded maps of the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico, six million points of interest, and an SD card slot for expansion, among other standard fare. Look for this one to land sometime this month with an MSRP of $499.99.

[strider_mt2k @ Aug 6th 2007 11:19AM]

Text-to-speech is much more important than photo viewers, MP3 players, and the other useless feature creep that these GPS units in general seem to be succumbing to these days.

Get the basics down first, then over complicate things!

[BillyBob @ Aug 6th 2007 12:05PM]

GPS units are way overpriced. The signal processing and navigation is now mature technology, and the cost of the screens has plummeted. There is no reason for these receivers to cost the same as a dual-core desktop PC. Eventually, commodity pricing will kick-in.

[Rob @ Aug 9th 2007 9:57AM]

GPS units seldom ever sell for MSRP. Typically they sell for much less. Take the Garmin nuvi 250 and 350 for example ($429 and $536 MSRP respectively) and they've been widely selling for $359 and $449 for a while even here in Canada and some places even throw in the Garmin leather case (I would imagine even a more competitive street pricing south of the border).

I agree, even with those prices they're still too much it seems. But they're nothing compared to the option to have GPS factory built-in to the car. Here it's somewhere in the 2-3k range which is absurdly expensive.

[HineyWipe @ Aug 6th 2007 12:22PM]

My comment with Garmin Nuvi's (and I own the 660) is the map data is outdated. Matter of fact, I just spent $70 to get the 2008 map DVD and it STILL lists a interstate as missing its onramps; these were finished over 2 years ago! I also notice that latency is still an issue. I'm also peeved they want a subscription (more $) for traffic info. My wifi-phone get's that info free. Frankly, the best GPS I've seen is Acura's in car model.

[Jeebus @ Aug 6th 2007 12:35PM]

Amen brother. And the POI DB is also horribly outdated. You cannot believe how many times I've driven to a location only to find... well, nothing.

[kuonji @ Aug 6th 2007 12:26PM]

Um. The Nuvi 350 can be bought almost anywhere for ~$370 and it already has text-to-speech. gg Garmin?

How about the new Tomtom 720. Larger LCD screen, customizable voice responses (use your kids voice or something), along with a ton of other features for....$499.

WTG Garmin.

[pikkoz @ Aug 11th 2007 7:12AM]

I also feel to complain to garmin ( i own a nuvi 6600 too).
How nowdays a gps device with the same old 3.5" screen, the same outdated garmin interface, the same poor map image rendering (please feel free if you find a gps unit worse that a garmin one), the same crappy text-to-speech ,orribly outdated POI ,and probabily without bluetooth ,costs the same or more than a 2-3years old navi system?
I mean, beside the chassis, whats so different compared an old nuvi 350? i know that the portable hardware doesn't progress as much as pc/console hardware, but at least don't price so high that i feel cheated , at least make some software improvements.

With the same price you can get a tomtom 720 :
-larger 4.3" screen (important feature )
-better map rendering (important feature )
-better T-T-S (the same go910 loquendo voice synt, very important feature)
-still, better POI database
-integrated FM transitter (not crucial but as usual ,your car speakers are better and loader than gps navi devices)
-bluetooth interface(important for who want to make an hands-free calls)
-voice recognition ( as i seen it's not very useful because you still need to press the touchscreen but, hell it seems to work well and it's a cool feature to display that nuvi doesn't have)
-and many other unrated but interesting features like mapshare or the possibility to records your own speech navigation warings

I'm not a tomtom "fanboy" but i feel that garmin needs to wake up a little, other companies are making leaps in software and database terms and i feel like garmin is just proposing the same product with a different chassis.

[pikkoz @ Aug 6th 2007 3:20PM]

I also feel to complain to garmin ( i own a nuvi 6600 too).
How nowdays a gps device with the same old 3.5" screen, the same outdated garmin interface, the same poor map image rendering (please feel free if you find a gps unit worse that a garmin one), the same crappy text-to-speech ,orribly outdated POI ,and probabily without bluetooth ,costs the same or more than a 2-3years old navi system?
I mean, beside the chassis, whats so different compared an old nuvi 350? i know that the portable hardware doesn't progress as much as pc/console hardware, but at least don't price so high that i feel cheated , at least make some software improvements.

With the same price you can get a tomtom 720 :
-larger 4.3" screen (important feature )
-better map rendering (important feature )
-better T-T-S (the same go910 loquendo voice synt, very important feature)
-still, better POI database
-integrated FM transitter (not crucial but as usual ,your car speakers are better and loader than gps navi devices)
-bluetooth interface(important for who want to make an hands-free calls)
-voice recognition ( as i seen it's not very useful because you still need to press the touchscreen but, hell it seems to work well and it's a cool feature to display that nuvi doesn't have)
-and many other unrated but interesting features like mapshare or the possibility to records your own speech navigation warings

I'm not a tomtom "fanboy" but i feel that garmin needs to wake up a little, other companies are making leaps in software and database terms and i feel like garmin is just proposing the same product with a different chassis.

[Garry @ Oct 14th 2007 12:56PM]

I just bought the gps Garmin nuvi 260 with voice recognition. The problem I have is that the street name by voice recognition does not work,only turn right or left works.Is there anyway of programing it to say the street name?

Thanks Garry!

[Scott @ Nov 8th 2007 2:19PM]

Gary,
Make sure you have a language selected with TTS in its name. That should do the trick.

Thanks, Scott

[Tristan @ Dec 27th 2008 1:16PM]

I have a Nuvi 260 and I purchased the street maps for Brazil. How do I install the Brazil maps and protect the North American that is in it now.