Garmin gets official with its nuvifone
By Darren Murph 
posted Jan 30th 2008 7:53PM
posted Jan 30th 2008 7:53PM
In case that wasn't enough, here's an overview of the rest of the features:
- "Where am I?" - spits out precise longitude / latitude coordinates at a moment's notice
- Helps drivers remember where they parked by marking the position in which it was last removed from the vehicle mount
- Garmin Online - an online service offering constantly updated information such as real-time traffic, fuel prices, stock prices, sports scores, news reports, local events and weather forecasts
- Built-in camera (megapixels currently unknown; captures video as well) that automatically tags photos with exact longitude / latitude. This allows the user to navigate back to the location or email the image to a recipient who can navigate directly to its location.
- Provides direct access to millions of geo-located landmark and sightseeing photographs available through Google's Panaramio picture sharing site
- Integrated media player to handle MP3, MPEG4 and AAC files
- Just in case you missed it: Q3 2008 release; price and "sales partners" will be announced "in the future"
So now the double posting now affects the posts and not just the comments anymore?
One hand doesnt know what the other is doing, huh
Three smartphone categories now: 1. Connected Multimedia Devices (iPhone) 2. Connected Email Devices (BlackBerry) 3. Connected Global Positioning Devices (Nuviphone). So far a ride today for Apple, the stock will get hammered again tomorrow.
I like what I see so far. But I need more details. Exchange support?
Actually looks very promising (AND I'm an unlocked, jailbroken iPhone owner, go figure).
I wonder who will win the aftermarket app support contest first. True, Apple will release the SDK, but how "open" will it be? Will Garmin follow Apple's "locked down" culture?
I really like thier Nuvi navi units, so let's see how this turns out. I bet they'll nail the cellular reception on their first phone attempt, unlike Apple.
The UI looks really sweet. Pretty original actually. Can't wait to see more details...esp. price.
Did Garmin forget about their first Cellphone, the NavTalk?
https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?pID=145
Isn't this discontinued?!
Ok, these images look real. :-)
No wonder they didn't have time to finish the software/firmware on the Colorado before they put it on sale. ;-)
This looks nice. Although a Satellite-phone-GPS would be a better combo.
What are you talking about?! This is a Satellite-GPS-Phone!
He means a satellite phone with GPS, not a cellular phone with GPS.
If you're still confused, see this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satellite_phone
And this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobile_phone
Garmin Online Service? How much are they going to charge for that? (HINT GARMIN: The answer should be "FREE")
Why should it be free?
It'll be good to see how big this is compared to the iPhone, and how much it weighs.
Is that Pomodoro street address a hint about who the carrier will be? As one of the few, the proud, the doomed Sprint customers, I kind of hope so. (I'm one of those "waiting patiently for iPhone 2.0/my Sprint contract to end" people, and this is the first wannabe that could actually make me think twice about going iPhone.)
No. It's a HSDPA phone, which means AT&T or T-Mobile. Garmin could conceivably sell it unlocked without a carrier. We'll know more when we know which HSDPA bands it supports. AT&T is on 850/1900, and T-Mo is on 1700 (aka AWS).
Haha I wish. Too bad nothing cool comes to CDMA since the rest of the planet uses GSM =\
Is that Pomodoro street address a hint about who the carrier will be? As one of the few, the proud, the doomed Sprint customers, I kind of hope so. (I'm one of those "waiting patiently for iPhone 2.0/my Sprint contract to end" people, and this is the first wannabe that could actually make me think twice about going iPhone.)
@Don, I second you comment. Watch apple investors cry for mother on those stocks tomorrow. I think Garmin should launch this product asap and then roll-in updates later just like Mr. el-jobso is doing. This way they can steal some of the thunder apple currently have so they all can start crying. Also, this device should fill in the holes iPhone currently have such as the triangulation crap the firmware 1.1.3 introduced which to me is crap cuz u can't spend that much on a phone that's very hyped n can't get a fuglin gps receiver built-in. Oh well, the honey moon is almost over for the cupertino bois and that 10million milestone for iPhone ain't coming sorry...unless iPhone drops to $300 ....lol and then remove that stupid ATT locked crap. May be even refund ATT its money back so the joy of a GSM device can be enjoyed.
Jimmy, did someone with an iPhone treat you poorly when you were a child?
Basically this is an iPhone for iPhone haters. You trade in itunes for a GPS, get a nice screen, decent form factor, and 3G.
CharlieX, What do you mean by "Trade in itunes"?!! The nuvifone supports ACC and better yet: MP3! What more can we ask for??!?!!?
CharlieX, What do you mean by "Trade in itunes"?!! The nuvifone supports ACC and better yet: MP3! What more can we ask for??!?!!?
Charlie, it's not an iPhone.
It's not an iPhone copy.
The design has nothing to do with the iPhone.
Get over it.
@Saad,
iTunes syncs everything automatically: music (smart playlists FTW), podcasts, contacts, mail, calendar, video, pictures, etc. It also backs up your phone on each sync.
Dragging and dropping some MP3 files like you would with a flash drive is a huge step backwards for iPhone users.
@Scott
I'm probably in the extreme minority here, but I absolutely hated that before 1.1.3 the only way to get songs on/off my iPhone was to sync it through iTunes. It meant I had to set up and keep track of a specific iPhone playlist in iTunes just to get tunes on/off my phone. The whole reason I jumped on 1.1.3 as soon as it came out was the ability to manually manage my music on the device. I never really used playlists that much on my iPod either though.
That's actually the 4.3" widescreen, right? Regardless, this one feels like it's gonna land way outside any sensible price range. :\
A good price for the Nuvifone would be in the range of $ 600 - $ 700, I mean come on, it is a Phone, a Browser, a Music Player, a GPS...... a Phone, a Browser, a Music Player, a GPS...... a Phone, a Browser, a Music Player, a GPS...... a Phone, a Browser, a Music Player, a GPS.
Well first you double post saad, then you start to repeat things in your own posts...You should really have your browser checked out.
oh no PlayIT, this one was intentional, doing it Steve Jobs style. :D
If it's cheaper than the iPhone and the plans are much more reasonable, I might get one. ^^
It looks simple and elegant.
And the first phone since the one that I currently have that I'm genuinely excited about....
...
...is a Garmin?!
What the eff? Is this the Twilight Zone??
Please let it have multi-nav points, please let it have multi-nav points...
This phone looks amazing. That being said, this had better prompt HTC to put the Touch Cruise out in the US as quickly as possible, or they're going to be late to market yet again.
Does it pronounce new-i-phone?
I only have one question: What are they doing driving 65mph in the Garmin parking lot??
Heh, that's funny, remembers where you were when you took it off of the car mount so you can find your car. Well, except in a garage.
What that points to is a car mount -- perfect! How awesome is that, a phone that has its own car mount and then can be used as a nav system. I love the car mount+hardwire for my Nuvi, but it's a pain to fish my iPhone out of my pocket to take a call (though I usually use my Jawbone). This is like the best of both worlds.
Very impressed - just six things that worry me:
No mention of video support.
HSDPA + GPS + fairly slim = lousy battery life.
No mention of internal storage.
No mention of internet browsing (might have missed this).
Proietary OS based on other Nuvis = not going to be an open software platform.
Probably no cool eye candy effects like iPhone google maps page curl.
Despite that list, I still think this is a great product - particularly if you can use it as a 3G modem / GPS adapter for a laptop.
Hi, first I want to congratulate engadget for its blog, it’s the best ;) but I have to disagree with this post in one small detail. Garmin’s nuvifone is not a breakthrough on the smarphone area, the first hybrid GPS+Smartphone is a Portuguese product, released a month ago. Check it out http://www.ndriveweb.com/products/product/32/ (choose language on the right top corner). Since I’m Portuguese I’m very proud of it :)
Hate to bust your bubble there, but there are plenty of other smartphone + GPS combos out in the market. The NDrive itself is a re-badged Asian phone. Here is a Thai version of it... http://www.phoneonemobile.com/product_detail.php?cont_id=24 and another discussion http://www.pocketpt.net/forum/lofiversion/index.php?t19117.html
Also see the Nokia N95 and Numerous HTC products that have GPS built in. Garmin themselves had the NavTalk back in the Analog cell phone days https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?cID=165&pID=84
it has to be the most unimaginative design ive ever seen... It like any phone from 5 years ago with the buttons ripped off and the screen pulled down. At least apple/LG has the awareness of the market place to understand that you have to make these thing look good. After all half the reason that these things are going to be bought is to show off to people, and with this phone I would be hesitant to do so.
This isn't anything new at all. The HP Ipaq HW65xx series had all of these features three years ago, and a little over a year ago released an updated Ipaq HW69xx. Phone, camera, GPRS/EDGE, GPS (I use TomTom with it), MicroSD card slot, Windows Mobile 6, Webbrowser, etc etc. It needs an update, but it's been around a while and almost no one has one.
WIFI WIFI WIFI WIFI WIFI WIFI WIFI WIFI ADD WIFI
WIFI WIFI WIFI WIFI WIFI WIFI WIFI WIFI ADD WIFI
omfg that is soo what i need i cant wait to start selling this at my work!!
What a bunch of iPhone haters...just because you cant afford one dont knock um. What makes you think youll be able to afford this new POS
very cool, it'd be nice if it runs windows mobile 6. hope the nuvifone can help to bring the HTC Touch Cruise to american soon.
oh did i say i hate iphone, what an overpriced piece of you know what. can't wait for the nuvifone or htc touch cruise
I really like this - am very tempted to hold off buying an new phone until this comes on the market. As a music fan (who, btw, hates Apple/iPods/iTunes) I'm curious if this comes with a 3.5mm standard jack? And what about micro-SD support? And as someone asked - how much integrated memory (I would expect 8GB as a minimum...). Wifi would we awesome too of course...
P.S. Hey, Saad - I really liked your Steve-Jobs-mimic. ;)
I have the same concerns as Lloyd, Felix, and Sean. but as far as price... who cares!! The Iphone is $500+ and it only has a 30 day warranty and you got to jailbreak it to make it do anything worth a spit. I was aiming on getting an Iphone but Itunes and apples lock-down on everything was a big turn off. I like modding my equipment to do more, I hope garmin doesn't make the same mistake. My old Ique 3600 has went thru hell and back and still works (it is in the beater truck) and it handles music, nav, video, remote (if needed) and whatever. Garmin's newest unit is hopfully going to be the next monster-gadget that will keep me happy for a while. May Garmin Save me from going Apple!!!
Face it - you dont like to MOD anything, you just wait for the people with BRAINS to come up with something, and then you watch the uTube videos 50x in order to MAKE THEM DO MORE. Stop actling like you actually know something outside posting in a blog.
I see MNC Group have got it online looks very good...
http://www.mynewcheap.co.uk/products/details/garmin-nuvifone/11338/
i want contacc whith your business