Garmin unveils nüvi 1200, 1300 series GPS units
By Laura June 
posted Mar 3rd 2009 11:04AM
posted Mar 3rd 2009 11:04AM
Garmin's just unleashed two new lines of GPS units, the nüvi1200 and 1300 models. Both lines are capable of pedestrian navigation (making use of CityXplorer maps), which is totally awesome if, like us, you use the GPS to get you where you're going, then get lost as soon as you set foot outside your vehicle. The new, super-slim nüvis come in 3.5-inch (1200) and 4.5-inch (1300) variations, and some models in the lines will offer features such as Bluetooth and text-to-speech, and all of them feature Garmin's free lifetime traffic service. The new units should be available in North America in the second quarter of 2009, for prices ranging from $250-$300. Hit the read link for the full release after the break.
Posted March 3, 2009
LATHE, Kan./March 3, 2009/Business Wire - Garmin International Inc., a unit of Garmin Ltd. (NASDAQ: GRMN), the global leader in satellite navigation, today announced the nüvi 1200 and nüvi 1300 series – an innovative family of navigators with a new ultra-thin design that offer enhancements for navigation in and out of the car. This new series of products introduced at CeBIT in Hannover, Germany, March 3-8, 2009, is ideal for the consumer who wants advanced features at a value price. The nüvi 1200 and 1300 series are the first nüvi devices to offer pedestrian navigation capability enabled through optional CityXplorer™ maps. CityXplorer maps are available for select tourist destinations in both North America and Europe, and can easily be downloaded directly to the nüvi.
Various models of the nüvi 1200 and 1300 product families also provide other premium features like free lifetime traffic alerts and lane assist for added confidence in navigating complicated intersections and turns. All these new devices feature text to speech, a technology that enables the enunciation of names and upcoming roads – enhancing confidence while navigating in unfamiliar locations.
"Our nüvi devices are known for the great navigation experience they provide in the vehicle. Now our customers can have that same great experience when navigating an unfamiliar city by foot or public transportation," said Dan Bartel, Garmin's vice president of worldwide sales. "The nüvi 1200 and 1300 products allow us to meet the needs of that on-the-go customer by offering an affordable nüvi that provides location and destination information when, where, and how they need it most. The personal navigation device (PND) is no longer just for the car – take it with you wherever you go and enjoy the enhanced usability and rich features only a dedicated device like this can offer."
In addition to features offered by other members of the nüvi family, these new multi-mode navigators feature a public transit mode supporting optional CityXplorer content. Available as a download for select cities, CityXplorer allows the user to plan and use routes that can include public transit options such as bus, tramway, metro and suburban rail systems. With CityXplorer, users can get the most out of their navigation experience to many exciting cities across North America and Europe. The thinner and lighter form factor of these new products allows the unit to be more easily carried in a pocket or purse – making it ideal for pedestrian navigation. Content from CityXplorer varies in cost from $9.99 - $14.99, depending on the city. A list of cities offered in North America and Europe is expected to be available in the second quarter of 2009 at www.garmin.com.
To help drivers make their gas tanks go the extra mile, these devices come standard with ecoRoute™, which suggests fuel-efficient navigation. In addition to "faster time" and "shorter distance" for route preference, ecoRoute lets nüvi users choose "less fuel" as the best way to save gas and money. Through ecoRoute's Fuel Report and Mileage Report, drivers can focus on their fuel conservation, and also find fuel-saving tips along the way.
All models in the nüvi 1300 series boast a bright 4.3" touchscreen display and feature text to speech technology. The nüvi 1300 is available with coverage of the lower 48 states, Hawaii and Puerto Rico, while the nüvi 1350 is available with preloaded comprehensive coverage of North America. For transatlantic travel, the nüvi 1370T comes standard with mapping for North America and Europe. Both the 1350, 1350T and 1370T add lane assist, which highlights the preferred lane for navigation. Building on the aforementioned features, the 1390T adds junction view allowing drivers to see realistic images of upcoming junctions where available. Lifetime traffic alerts from NAVTEQ Traffic are also included with the 1350T, 1370T and 1390T, enabling drivers to steer clear of traffic accidents, road closures and construction. The nüvi 1370T and 1390T come standard with a traffic receiver that will provide alerts in the coverage areas – no subscription fee is required. The nüvi 1370T and 1390T also feature Bluetooth® hands-free connectivity.
Every new model in the nüvi 1200 series feature a bright 3.5" touchscreen display, and features our popular text to speech feature. The nüvi 1200 is available with coverage of the lower 48 states, Hawaii and Puerto Rico, and the nüvi 1250 and 1260T are available with preloaded comprehensive coverage of North America. The 1260T adds Bluetooth hands-free connectivity and lifetime traffic alerts from NAVTEQ Traffic.
The manufacturer's suggested retail price for these models is as follows:
nüvi 1300 $249.99
nüvi 1350 $299.99
nüvi 1350T $349.99
nüvi 1370T $449.99
nüvi 1390T $399.99
nüvi 1200 $199.99
nüvi 1250 $249.99
nüvi 1260T $299.99
All models are expected to be available in the second quarter of 2009. Additional information is available at www.garmin.com. Lifetime traffic alerts extend for the useful life of the nüvi unit or as long as Garmin receives traffic data from its traffic supplier.
What is the best GPS unit for under $150? I'm a college student and I know nothing about them so any help will be much appreciated. Thanks.
hey man, try cnet.com
Hey I own a nuvi 360 and I've recently seen it for 109.99 (buy.com via deals2buy.com). Its a very good gps small, reliable, decent battery life, will do some pedestrian navigation and some advanced features. It is heads and shoulders above the cheapy GPS units you typically see in this price range.
Stick with Garmin. Check out the Sunday ads for Best Buy, Staples, etc. You can get a decent one for around that price, nothing fancy, but I would have to say Garmin is one of the best out there.
This could be the thing I've been holding out for...
Just purchased a Nuvi 760, which after updating was set up with the CityExplorer, however i didn't get any free lifetime traffic. :(
I don't believe the 760 series featured standard lifetime traffic, but is an OPTIONAL service. I believe the models with the "T" after the model number feature built-in free lifetime traffic alerts. I have the 755T and it comes with it. I bought it because I was driving to Los Angeles from Seattle, and then needed it to navigate the insane freeways in southern California, and then for coming back home. It's the only time I used it, and I was impressed. The 3D maps didn't really do it for me, in fact I didn't notice any on the screen but the traffic alerts are only for certain major cities. It is enabled for here in Seattle and in southern California but northern California and most of Oregon it wasn't. It came in handy a few times, but over all, it isn't a much have.
With my garmin 2610 sitting in the wife's car, i took the plunge on the Nuvi 750. Me thinks Garmin went downhill some. I like the speech of street names, but the detail of maps is worse, and so is the settings section. Don't get all the details like you can on the 2610.
Id rather use a smartphone and hope the Pre can do the job later.
These look pretty sweet, but I think I'm gonna wait for the nuvifone to come out and see how well it'll be as a "pedestrian" gps unit.
Your reference to "prices ranging from $250-$300" should show the range as $250 to $450 -- the top three models in the 1300 series all will retail for more than $300.
The only problem with these is that the "pedestrian" mode requires downloads of more maps that cost more money. It's stupid that Garmin doesn't just include everything on the unit out of the box so you can just start using everything.
The last thing I want to do is have to spend yet even more money and download more maps that should've been included in the first place at no extra cost.
On top of that, the maps for pedestrian use are limited. It's not a "I'll be guided wherever I walk" type of thing. The pedestrian maps only cover certain areas and that's it. Stupid.
Garmin says: "...pedestrian navigation capability enabled through optional CityXplorer maps, which are available for select tourist destinations in North America and Europe..."
Select tourist destinations? I want to be guided wherever I go!!! Not just in select tourist destinations.
Once again, these are the maps that Garmin is charging extra for and that have to be downloaded.
So in other words, pedestrian mode really doesn't work - and not at all out of the box. It's just a bait and switch marketing ploy by Garmin. I say that because most people will have the impression that this mode will work straight out of the box, but they'll later discover it won't, and that the maps that are purchased and downloaded suck.
As a GPS device, I'm sure it's great. But pedestrian mode is a complete fail.