Garmin's CES lineup leaked: golf, cars, and do-it-yourself navigation voices
By Chris Ziegler 
posted January 4th 2010 7:29PM
posted January 4th 2010 7:29PM
- Garmin Voice Studio: This might be the coolest announcement, but if you've got friends with compatible devices, it's going to get old real quick. Basically, it's a PC-based app that lets you record your own nav instructions (which we're guessing is going to result in some extraordinarily NC17-rated Nuvis). The company is saying it'll take about 20 minutes to complete a set of commands -- and naturally, it won't do text-to-speech for reading street names and the like. It won't work on the Nuvi 3xx and 6xx series, but otherwise, you should be good to go.
- Zumo 665: Have a rider in the family? The 665 is Garmin's latest motorcycle-centric nav unit, which appears to be little more than a 660 with the XM weather, radio (with A2DP out), and traffic on board. It's got a slightly newer firmware build than the current 660 that adds additional map layouts and data fields; and don't worry, 660 owners -- you'll get it in the Spring.
- ecoRoute HD: The long-discussed ecoRoute cable will be confirmed (again) at $149.99, this time for a launch somewhere between the first and second quarter of the year.
- Approach G3: This looks to be a downmarket version of the G5 for high-tech golfers looking for a little assistance on the green; MSRP comes in at $349 (compared to $449 for its big brother).
Update: It's official.
I'm hoping for a $50 unit!
@Chazdorf
I'd like that too....
Garmin Voice Studio - One step closer to Christopher Walkin GPS.
Poor Mac users - no Garmin Voice Studio.
Weren't they supposed to have a Bluetooth version of the Ecoroute device too?
HOTs.
So they're finally coming out with an audio editor for a GPS. Can you say, "WTF took so long?"
::rubs hands together::
"You missed your turn, dumbshit. Now I gotta recalculate for your stupid ass."
I've been wanting to record that forever.
OK...lemme get this straight. Garmin is selling an OBDII scan tool for $150?!!? Why not buy a $50 scan tool with USB and just use it with your phone (for example, running the free Carman software on your N900/N810 or other sw on your iPhone/Android phones??). One heck of a mark-up I must say!
@naashak
You misspelled hell
^^^ I meant Bluetooth not USB.
Not the kind of response Garmin needs after Google's GPS.. I don't know what but this is not really a step anywhere.
This is another nail in Garmin's coffin. What the heck is this kind of crap for CES? Is their entire marketing staff on crack? Do they eve have a marketing staff?
Why are there so many Nuvi models? Why are there so many Oregon models...................How can the general public possibly keep up with all the models?
Garmin, if your listening.....knock it off!
Come up with something good instead of just rehashing the same crap every 6months
I'm an avid motorcyclist on and off the road and I REALLY want a
Zumo...but dang...$600 for a GPS is absolutely ridiculous.
Waterproof or not.
hey if you guys scroll up/down with your keyboard buttons, the pic makes a kool effect with the score bares, try it.
(im sooo F-ing bored lol)
What happenned to the nuvi 1820 and 1860 models announced last year?
I do want the Nuvifone 2 (andriod) and hope that they have some info about it. The original Nuvifone is now only $250 dollars on Amazon or 1 cent on contract. But some waterproofing and maps for trails and waterways would be awesome on the nuvifone.
@IcerC
Have you tried Google navigation? I have not had it work properly even once so far. The first time I tried it, it didn't tell me it didn't know the exact address before it started directing me. It dropped me off at the wrong street without a way to even get back to the address I originally entered. The second time I tried using it, it had typos in street names, and was telling me to turn AFTER I passed the street I needed to turn onto. The third time I tried it, it told me to turn left, then immediately right at a place where I was supposed to just go straight across an intersecting street. On top of that, you have the fact that you need to have a data connection for it to work at all. If you are outside of your coverage area you are screwed.
Google navigation is okay for a last-resort backup, but it does not compare to a dedicated device at all.
@Player1
Garmin isn't much better, at least in CA... where it tells you to "Keep Right" and that takes u off the Freeway as the "Right" lane is exit only.. so you go in a circle...
Also in Ohio they show an on ramp that is not there... Has not been for a long time like a couple years, at least with my Google nav, it stays up to date, and has never steered me wrong... Heck even Vzn's Navigator works better...
@MJ You should probably update your maps then. A garmin isn't going to do that automatically. And I'm not following your first comment. I would never consider "keep right" to mean go into the exit lane regardless of where I lived.
@Player1
Well if right means left (ur living on bizaro world...), Why say KEEP right if the center/left lane is what you want and will work fine???
... who wants to pay $100+ to update a < 6 month old device? Just paid $400 for.. I think garmin needs to offer free updates for atleast a year...
If you buy a smartphone do u have to pay for software updates under the first year? I hope not, I sure don't, and would not... why should u have to pay for updates on a GPS thats new?