http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/23/garmins-waterproof-nuvi-500-navigator-gets-reviewed/ Engadget Comments for Garmin's waterproof nuvi 500 navigator gets reviewed http://www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/23/garmins-waterproof-nuvi-500-navigator-gets-reviewed/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/23/garmins-waterproof-nuvi-500-navigator-gets-reviewed/Jul 23rd 2008 6:23PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/23/garmins-waterproof-nuvi-500-navigator-gets-reviewed/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/23/garmins-waterproof-nuvi-500-navigator-gets-reviewed/]]>Jul 23rd 2008 9:42AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/23/garmins-waterproof-nuvi-500-navigator-gets-reviewed/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/23/garmins-waterproof-nuvi-500-navigator-gets-reviewed/
I wonder if Garmin used some of that Golden Shellback waterproof coating? ]]>Jul 23rd 2008 9:45AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/23/garmins-waterproof-nuvi-500-navigator-gets-reviewed/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/23/garmins-waterproof-nuvi-500-navigator-gets-reviewed/Oh wait, no text-to-speech. I guess instead it would come out:
blarble ... blrbblglubblebarl ... bblalbburgleblar (which I think is a city near Hamburg).]]>Jul 23rd 2008 9:54AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/23/garmins-waterproof-nuvi-500-navigator-gets-reviewed/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/23/garmins-waterproof-nuvi-500-navigator-gets-reviewed/Jul 23rd 2008 10:21AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/23/garmins-waterproof-nuvi-500-navigator-gets-reviewed/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/23/garmins-waterproof-nuvi-500-navigator-gets-reviewed/Jul 23rd 2008 12:21PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/23/garmins-waterproof-nuvi-500-navigator-gets-reviewed/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/23/garmins-waterproof-nuvi-500-navigator-gets-reviewed/Jul 23rd 2008 1:17PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/23/garmins-waterproof-nuvi-500-navigator-gets-reviewed/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/23/garmins-waterproof-nuvi-500-navigator-gets-reviewed/Jul 23rd 2008 1:18PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/23/garmins-waterproof-nuvi-500-navigator-gets-reviewed/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/23/garmins-waterproof-nuvi-500-navigator-gets-reviewed/Jul 23rd 2008 1:32PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/23/garmins-waterproof-nuvi-500-navigator-gets-reviewed/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/23/garmins-waterproof-nuvi-500-navigator-gets-reviewed/
I love my Nuvi 350. Can't go wrong with the Garmin Nuvis IMHO.]]>Jul 23rd 2008 2:09PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/23/garmins-waterproof-nuvi-500-navigator-gets-reviewed/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/23/garmins-waterproof-nuvi-500-navigator-gets-reviewed/Jul 23rd 2008 4:36PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/23/garmins-waterproof-nuvi-500-navigator-gets-reviewed/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/23/garmins-waterproof-nuvi-500-navigator-gets-reviewed/
It's a shame that although it provides voice directions, it doesn't pronounce the street names. That's something they could and should have added. But I don't see any reason why they couldn't provide this in a firmware upgrade. I guess that would not only depend on Garmin's willingness to do so, but also whether or not there's enough internal memory in the device to handle the extra storage space required to store a street name pronunciation database (or in whatever data form that feature is stored). A feature upgrade like that would probably also demand a small fee, since every little extra thing in a PND costs money.

Waterproofing the unit is fantastic, but they also need to ruggedize the case better. But it looks as though Garmin will be offering a carrying case for it for around $20, so who knows what that will look like and consist of? Maybe that will provide adequate protection.

Other than that, it seems that it does most things that a person could ask for. And with features like an electronic compass, Wherigo Player, HotFix, Garmin Connect Photos, Geocaching GPX file support, and optional MSN Direct traffic and info support, this thing really does have most everything. It's expensive, but I can see why.

Why do people want BT in a PND? Is it really that much more difficult to just use your mobile phone's speakerphone or a BT earpiece? And why do people want MP3 capability in a PND? Use an iPod or the like, for media. PND's are meant to get you from here to there, wherever that happens to be; so IMO, the lack of BT or MP3 support hardly seems a loss (especially since I use the solutions I mentioned above).

But again, I just hope they do offer a TTS (text-to-speech) firmware upgrade for it later on (even for a small fee). That would be a very worthwhile upgrade.

Another thing I'd add about this, is that I hope the additional mapping info found in the BlueChart g2 Vision software and Vision Inland Lakes software can be loaded on our own microSD cards. I don't like the idea of having to buy pre-loaded cards and swapping them in and out. I'd like to be able to independently buy my own card (based on the capacity I choose) and then load everything on that one card. I also hope they offer more topographical land support (3D maybe?).

Ya know, once you see a feature rich device like this, by extension, based on usability logic, it isn't that much of a stretch to begin daydreaming for further technological integrations. So with that in mind, for the real convergence and environmental geeks, (especially considering the device's topographical capabilities when hiking, etc.), they may have wanted to see measurement features such as altitude, temperature, barometric pressure, and the like. I don't think that's asking too much, but all those things (and much more) can be professionally handled with a Kestrel Instruments 4500NV Pocket Weather Tracker (NIST Certified; with or without Night Vision capability (I'll link to the NV version: http://www.ambientweather.com/ke845nv.html ).

Get this Garmin and that Kestrel, and anyone would have a very solid amount of data at their fingertips!


I guess what I'd really like to see, is a marriage of the best features from both this Garmin Nuvi 500, and Garmin's Rino 530 HCx (https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?cID=146&pID=8523#). Now THAT would be a killer device!!!]]>Jul 23rd 2008 8:43PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/23/garmins-waterproof-nuvi-500-navigator-gets-reviewed/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/23/garmins-waterproof-nuvi-500-navigator-gets-reviewed/
It's a shame that although it provides voice directions, it doesn't pronounce the street names. That's something they could and should have added. But I don't see any reason why they couldn't provide this in a firmware upgrade. I guess that would not only depend on Garmin's willingness to do so, but also whether or not there's enough internal memory in the device to handle the extra storage space required to store a street name pronunciation database (or in whatever data form that feature is stored). A feature upgrade like that would probably also demand a small fee, since every little extra thing in a PND costs money.

Waterproofing the unit is fantastic, but they also need to ruggedize the case better. But it looks as though Garmin will be offering a carrying case for it for around $20, so who knows what that will look like and consist of? Maybe that will provide adequate protection.

Other than that, it seems that it does most things that a person could ask for. And with features like an electronic compass, Wherigo Player, HotFix, Garmin Connect Photos, Geocaching GPX file support, and optional MSN Direct traffic and info support, this thing really does have most everything. It's expensive, but I can see why.

Why do people want BT in a PND? Is it really that much more difficult to just use your mobile phone's speakerphone or a BT earpiece? And why do people want MP3 capability in a PND? Use an iPod or the like, for media. PND's are meant to get you from here to there, wherever that happens to be; so IMO, the lack of BT or MP3 support hardly seems a loss (especially since I use the solutions I mentioned above).

But again, I just hope they do offer a TTS (text-to-speech) firmware upgrade for it later on (even for a small fee). That would be a very worthwhile upgrade.

Another thing I'd add about this, is that I hope the additional mapping info found in the BlueChart g2 Vision software and Vision Inland Lakes software can be loaded on our own microSD cards. I don't like the idea of having to buy pre-loaded cards and swapping them in and out. I'd like to be able to independently buy my own card (based on the capacity I choose) and then load everything on that one card. I also hope they offer 3D topographical land support.

Ya know, once you see a feature rich device like this, by extension, based on usability logic, it isn't that much of a stretch to begin daydreaming for further technological integrations. So with that in mind, for the real convergence and environmental geeks, (especially considering the device's topographical capabilities when hiking, etc.), they may have wanted to see measurement features such as altitude, temperature, barometric pressure, and the like. I don't think that's asking too much, but all those things (and much more) can be professionally handled with a Kestrel Instruments 4500NV Pocket Weather Tracker (NIST Certified; with or without Night Vision capability (I'll link to the NV version: http://www.ambientweather.com/ke845nv.html ).

I guess what I'd really like to see, is a version where Garmin marries the best features from both this Nuvi 500, and their Rino 530 HCx (https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?cID=146&pID=8523#). Now THAT would be a killer device!]]>Jul 23rd 2008 9:06PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/23/garmins-waterproof-nuvi-500-navigator-gets-reviewed/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/23/garmins-waterproof-nuvi-500-navigator-gets-reviewed/
Engadget To Do List:

1.) Fix commenting system! (Add Edit and Delete functions!)
2.) See #1 above.

:)]]>Jul 23rd 2008 9:11PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/23/garmins-waterproof-nuvi-500-navigator-gets-reviewed/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/23/garmins-waterproof-nuvi-500-navigator-gets-reviewed/Jul 23rd 2008 9:40PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/23/garmins-waterproof-nuvi-500-navigator-gets-reviewed/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/23/garmins-waterproof-nuvi-500-navigator-gets-reviewed/
Anyway, from the reviews on Amazon, the Magellan Triton 2000 is a piece of crap, despite its nice spec list. Oh well. Win some, lose some.

Looks like Garmin is where it's at, currently.]]>Jul 23rd 2008 10:09PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/23/garmins-waterproof-nuvi-500-navigator-gets-reviewed/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/23/garmins-waterproof-nuvi-500-navigator-gets-reviewed/
The other day, however, I learned of the Nuvi 500 (and 550). The Magellan does have text-to-speech, which makes it attractive.

Given all of your experience base, please tell me why I should spend the extra $$ on the Garmin as opposed to the Crossover (which is half the price). Thanks a bunch. Terry ]]>Jul 25th 2008 9:25AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/23/garmins-waterproof-nuvi-500-navigator-gets-reviewed/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/23/garmins-waterproof-nuvi-500-navigator-gets-reviewed/Jul 25th 2008 4:09PM