Garmin announces redesigned line of eTrex GPS handhelds with enhanced geocaching
Lost hikers and outdoorsmen will soon have yet another arrow to add to their navigational quivers, now that Garmin has decided to upgrade its eTrex line of GPS handhelds. The refresh, announced this morning, will bring three new models to the eTrex family during the third quarter of this year. First up is the eTrex 10 -- a basic, $120 little guy that carries a global database of locations, as well as a monochrome display that can be read under the sun. The $200 eTrex 20, on the other hand, displays images in 65k color on a 2.2-inch screen and can support topographic, roadway and marine maps. At the high end of the spectrum is the eTrex 30 ($300), which offers all the features you'll find on the eTrex 20, plus a tilt-compensated electronic compass, barometric altimeter and wireless data transfer capabilities. All three models allow users to download geocached information directly to their devices and boast a lengthy 25-hour battery life -- giving you plenty of time to find your bearings before calling in the rescue squad. Full PR after the break.
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The New eTrex®: Garmin®'s Best Selling GPS Handheld Just Got Better
OLATHE, Kan.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Garmin International Inc., a unit of Garmin Ltd. (NASDAQ:GRMN), the global leader in satellite navigation, today announced the redesigned and upgraded eTrex® handheld GPS device – evolving from one of the world's most reliable and popular handhelds, with millions sold. This entry level option has been given enhanced ergonomics, an improved interface, paperless geocaching and in certain models, a 65k color screen with expanded mapping capabilities. These new additions - along with up to 25 hours of battery life - make the new eTrex more versatile and user-friendly, while maintaining its storied toughness and durability. The eTrex was announced in preparation for the Teva Mountain Games in Vail, CO, where it will be prominently displayed at the Garmin booth June 3-5.
"The eTrex has been a staple within our handheld GPS lineup for over 10 years and has been a favorite among hikers, hunters and geocachers who want the basics; simple, compact, lightweight and accurate"
"The eTrex has been a staple within our handheld GPS lineup for over 10 years and has been a favorite among hikers, hunters and geocachers who want the basics; simple, compact, lightweight and accurate," said Dan Bartel, Garmin's vice president of worldwide sales. "Using our industry leading experience and innovative technology, we designed the new eTrex to stand up against whatever Mother Nature throws at it."
Go Green, Go Paperless: Take this powerful pocket-size GPS device with you on your next geocaching adventure and leave the paper print-outs at home. The new eTrex series supports geocaching GPX files for downloading geocache locations and details straight to the unit using its high-speed USB connection. The eTrex stores and displays key information, including location, terrain, difficulty, hints and descriptions, which means no more manually entering coordinates and those paper print outs! To start paperless geocaching, simply upload the GPX file to your unit and start hunting for caches. Caches can be downloaded from OpenCaching.com, a completely free online community for creating, sharing and finding geocaches around the world.
Save Green: For the budget savvy consumer looking for a basic GPS device, Garmin offers eTrex 10. This basic handheld GPS is armed with a sunlight-readable monochrome display and a worldwide basemap making it easier than ever to know where you are and where you are headed next. eTrex 10 is the perfect device for families looking to get into the growing community of geocaching, yet is robust enough for an avid hunter to mark his or her favorite spots with. To see eTrex in action visit, www.garmin.com/eTrex
See The Way: View a wide array of detailed topographic, marine, and road maps on eTrex 20 and 30, thanks to the enhanced 2.2 inch 65k color, sunlight readable display. Sold separately, those maps include TOPO U.S. 24K to hit the trail, BlueChart® g2 preloaded cards for a great day on the water or City Navigator® maps for turn-by-turn routing on roads. Download BaseCamp™ (www.garmin.com/basecamp), a free utility that allows users to plan and manage trips, routes, tracks, and waypoints and transfer them between the computer and eTrex. BaseCamp lets users view both 24K and 100K topo maps in 2D or 3D renderings. Another convenient window depicts the elevation profile currently displayed. And with Track Draw, users can trace a fluid track and get an immediate elevation profile to determine the difficulty of their hike or geocaching adventure.
Stay on Course: eTrex 30 takes all the features mentioned and adds a built-in 3-axis tilt-compensated electronic compass, which shows your heading even when you're standing still, without holding it level. Also added is a barometric altimeter which tracks changes in pressure to pinpoint your precise altitude and wireless unit-to-unit data transfer with compatible devices. This top of the line offering within the new eTrex series was designed for the outdoor enthusiasts who want easy access to the most amount of information in small compact product.
The new eTrex devices are expected to be available in the third quarter of 2011. The eTrex 10 and 20 have a suggested retail price of $119.99 and $199.99, respectively. The eTrex 30 has a suggested retail price of $299.99. Additional information about the eTrex series is available at www.garmin.com or www.garmin.blogs.com. Garmin has spent more than 20 years developing technologies and innovations to enhance users' lives, making it a household name in the automotive, aviation, marine, wireless, outdoor and fitness industries.
