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Garmin nuLink! 2390 torn apart by FCC, put back together again on US site
Last week Garmin announced the latest member of its high-end GPS navigator family, the nuLink! 2390. Sadly, it was a Europe only affair, leaving American consumers wondering why the company was giving us the cold shoulder. (Whatever it was baby, we're sorry, come back.) Then we spotted an unnamed 4.3-inch Garmin making its way through the FCC that matches up quite nicely, size- and feature-wise, with the 2390. The newest nuLink-enabled device is even showing its face over at the company's US website (you really do love us!), though it's not available to order and you'll have to do some serious digging to unearth it. Whenever it does hit American shores you'll be able to pull in 3D traffic data and search Google thanks to its GSM radio and tether your phone to it using Bluetooth for hands-free calls. It also has voice recognition software so you can furiously bark commands at it when you miss a turn and a tracking feature for keeping tabs on unruly teens. If you're into seeing gadgets splayed open like an organ transplant patient check out the gallery below. %Gallery-123787%
Garmin's nuLink! 1695 attracts high-end GPS buyers, nuvi 2200 and 2300 mop up the rest
Looks like Garmin's cellular nüLink! service was something of a success -- it's now become the brand of the company's new top-tier GPS. The Garmin nüLink! 1695 replaces the nüvi 1690 with a model nigh-identical on the outside but for a larger, 5-inch touchscreen, but imbued with the traffic trending features of the 3700 series -- in other words, pretty much just what we expected. Unfortunately for spendthrifts lusting after its connected search functions (including traffic, weather, Google, fuel prices, flight times and more) and new integrated services store, the price is about what we expected as well, starting at $450 for the unit with a year of nüLink data and $5 a month thereafter. However, if that's out of your price range Garmin's not going to let you go without a fight -- it's also introduced no fewer than eleven new nüvi 2200 and 2300 series PNDs with a wide variety of features at nearly every wallet size. Press releases after the break, and find the full lineup at our source link.
Garmin's connected nuvi 1690 now shipping for $500
Guess what, kiddos? Garmin's minty fresh connected PND is now shipping, and if you plan on getting your home address on one of those labels, you best break out the checkbook. The nüvi 1690 is now moving out from Amazon's warehouses, and just as promised, it's going for a penny under $500. Is real-time access to Google search, white page listings, real-time traffic and flight status updates on your GPS unit really worth all that cheddar? Maybe -- but just wait until those two years of free service expire. Good times.[Via navigadget]
TomTom pushes Google services to mid-range XL 340S LIVE
TomTom has already delivered its LIVE services to an array of its higher-end personal navigation devices, but now the company is pushing the Google love onto less expensive siblings. Er, one less expensive sibling. The mid-range XL 340S LIVE has just been launched, complete with Google-powered Local Search, real-time traffic information, real-time fuel prices, local weather and the company's own IQ Routes, which gets you from one point to another via the most efficient route possible. Essentially, this is simply a 4.3-inch (320 x 240 resolution) XL 340S with connected services, and as with Garmin's latest, said services are being provided courtesy of AT&T. Unfortunately, the $299.99 asking price only includes three months of LIVE; after that, you'll be shelling out $9.95 per month and hating every minute of it.
Garmin's nuLink! service powered by AT&T -- more connected nuvis to come?
Connected PNDs have it rough. Ever since Dash folded, the future has been murky at best for any GPS company hoping to rope consumers in by promising real-time information on the face of their navigator. Garmin, however, is hoping to get folks hooked by avoiding that awful monthly fee for the first two years on its nüvi 1690, and it's using AT&T's network in order to do so. Today, the carrier proudly announced that it would be the one providing service to the device, giving users within range of an AT&T tower access to Google Local search, updated fuel prices, white page listings and Garmin's own Ciao! social networking system. What's interesting, however, is the high-profile nature of the partnership. We'd hate to speak too soon, but would we be nuts to think a whole cadre of AT&T connected GPS units were on tap for, say, CES 2010? Guess only time -- and sales data from the 1690 -- will tell.
Garmin's nuLink-enabled nuvi 1690 is nuly official
News of Garmin's nüvi 1690 took an unofficial route and managed to find its way to us a few weeks ago, but the official press release took a little longer, arriving this morning and confirming that the connected device will be available sometime before the end of the year at an MSRP of $499.99. For that you'll get two years of the Garmin nüLink service, including such niceties as Google local search, white page listings, real-time traffic and flight status updates, and the Latitude-like Ciao service, which would enable you to snoop on your friends' locations from afar. The 1690 even hops on the trendy green bandwagon with an ecoRoute mode that will select the least environmentally destructive route -- based on expected speed and acceleration, not on the expected number of critters squashed along the way. Fancy? You betcha, but there's still no official word on the even fancier 1800-series. Perhaps official confirmation of that device is taking the most eco-friendly route -- walking.
Garmin's connected nuvi 1690 and browser / camera-equipped nuvi 1860 leak out
Garmin already had a little fun at CeBIT this year, but it looks as if the PND maker is gearing up for quite a thrilling IFA, too. For starters, we've confirmed that the nüvi 1690 you've seen floating about is legitimate, and if Garmin prices those connected services right (read: gives them away), it stands a chance of being a real winner. Slated to launch on September 3rd just as IFA kicks off, the 1690 will pack a 4.3-inch WVGA display, North American maps, text-to-speech, Bluetooth handsfree support and EDGE data for pulling down weather, flight statuses, fuel prices, movie times, traffic and Google-powered local search results. It should be available at the tail end of Q3 for $499.99, though there's no word on how pricey the connected services will be. If you're looking for even bigger and better things, there's the nüvi 1800 family. The nüvi 1820 checks in with a 4.8-inch WVGA panel, a Linux-based OS, Bluetooth handsfree support, WiFi, lane assist, a traffic receiver, text-to-speech and a few features not found on your common PND. We're talking about a full-fledged web browser (with YouTube support), multimedia player, access to email, internet radio streaming and even video streaming. Of course, you'll have to provide the web access, but if you've got a MiFi or the like riding shotgun in your ride, you can keep this bad boy connected throughout the trip. Also of note, the nüvi 1860 packs all of the aforementioned goodies but throws in a 3 megapixel camera with geotagging for good measure. Garmin doesn't bother to mention pricing details on either of the 18xx units, but we get the impression that both will sticker for well over the $500 mark.Update: That $500 sticker on the 1690 will include two years of connected services -- not perfect, but a solid gesture nonetheless.[Thanks, Anonymous]
User manual for Garmin's connected nuvi 1690 reveals "nuinfo" service branding
The connected PND, by most accounts, is a dying breed. Dash couldn't pull it off, TomTom's execution was downright pathetic and no one even remembers that Insignia made one. But considering that Garmin's nüvi range has always delivered, we're going to let the nüvi 1690 ship before passing judgment. Said navigator, which just slipped into the FCC's database a fortnight ago, didn't have too many details attached to it, but a recently discovered user manual reveals that although Garmin's local-data service will be powered by Google, the company has branded it with the virtually-unpronounceable name "nuinfo." Yeah, we have no idea, but we're definitely interested in finding out what the ultimate plan is -- the shots of the device in the manual lead us to believe that local weather information will be on tap in addition to the usual waypoint searching and so forth, but unless Garmin throws these so-called "connected services" in gratis, every smartphone owner on the planet will simply laugh and move on. [Via GPS Tracklog]
TomTom XL Live connected GPS passes the FCC
Looks like domestic drivers may soon have the privilege of shelling out extra money every month for TomTom's "connected" services. According to recently unearthed FCC documents, the mid-range (and until now Euro-centric) XL Live has been manhandled and passed all its tests. This guy operates on the GSM850 and GSM1900 bands, which means it should be available on AT&T or T-Mobile's 2G network -- you know, when it does make it to market. And when it does make it to market, might we recommend you go with the Homer Simpson voice skin? That thing is hilarious. [Via GPS Tracklog, Thanks Rich]
TomTom GO 740 LIVE impressions
Way back at CES, TomTom proudly announced that its GO 740 LIVE personal navigation device would be its very first "connected GPS" to hit the United States of America. Just last month, the company announced that said unit was finally shipping to anxious consumers. Hardware wise, there's nothing here outside of the ordinary, but it's the little extras that make all the difference in the world here -- or, at least that's what TomTom wants you to think. Is this $400 navigator worth the up front costs, let alone the monthly fee to keep it connected? Head on past the break for our take.
Motorola looking to produce a connected GPS unit?
Motorola's navigation line certainly isn't the firms most notable, but the Garmins and TomToms of the world are probably taking notice after an intriguing quote from product line manager Blake Bullock. According to TWICE, Mr. Bullock stated that Moto was "absolutely making a bigger play" in the PND arena. Specifically, he mentioned that it could "bring something new to the table with Motorola's vast experience in wireless connectivity," noting that it has "aspirations to combine the best aspects of 3G smartphones with PNDs [to] create optimized experiences for consumers." 'Course, we've no clue as to when, where and how the company will get its hands dirty with a web-savvy GPS unit, but considering its current state of affairs, we'd say yesterday would be a great time to get things rolling.[Via GPS Tracklog, thanks Rich]
NavTrac's RTV10 PND does GPS tracking, two-way messaging
Can't say we've ever heard of NavTrac, but we are digging the differentiation seen in its RTV10 portable navigation device. Hosted up by LiveViewGPS, this unique navigator not only provides the usual turn-by-turn guidance to get you from point A to point Z, but it also includes a GPS tracking function (for fleet managers and suspicious parents) as well as two-way messaging functionality. While it's not truly a "connected GPS," this one does provide more communication with the outside world than most, and if you're curious of the specs, it features a 4.3-inch 480 x 272 touchscreen, built-in speaker, 4GB of internal flash memory, 64MB of DRAM, a SiRF Atlas III GPS module and a rechargeable Li-ion. Sadly, this no-namer won't run you cheap, as the unit itself rings up at $599 while the subscription to the aforementioned communication services will knock you back another $39.95 per month. Full release is after the break.
TomTom intros ONE 140 and XL 340 series, ships GO 740 LIVE
TomTom decided to bust out a pair of announcements this morning, so we won't waste any time getting right to the crux of it. That splendiferous GO 740 LIVE, which was introduced at CES this January, is finally shipping in the US of A. If you'll recall, this is TomTom's first connected navigation system, which can download real-time traffic information, fuel prices, weather reports, etc. If you're intrigued, you can snag one now with three months of LIVE Services for $399.95. Moving on, we've got four new systems entirely: the ONE 140 / ONE 140s (3.5-inch display; 140S announces spoken street and place names) and the XL 340 / XL 340s (4.3-inch display; 340S includes speech functions). Each of these include the company's IQ Routes technology and Advanced Lane Guidance, features that were previously reserved for higher-end PNDs; furthermore, the new crew also includes maps of Mexico. Catch 'em all this month for $179.95, $199.95, $229.95 and $249.95 in order of mention.[Via GPSReview]Read - GO 740 LIVE now shipping in USRead - ONE 140 Series and XL 340 Series%Gallery-49036%
Sprint looking to wholesale bandwidth to connected gadget makers
So, what's a flagging cellular operator to do once it has succumbed to the grim realization that no one wants to sign up for your service and you've already collected the dough from selling off nearly all of your towers? Go wholesale, of course! Unbeknownst to most, all of the Kindle downloads on Amazon's white-hot e-reader go through Sprint's network, and given just how successful that little venture has been, the carrier is hoping to expand its revenues from wholesaling bandwidth (which currently sits at just 3 percent of its total) by inking similar deals with connected gadget makers. From internet-connected vehicles to GPS systems to cameras, the options are darn near limitless, and with so much free capacity on Sprint's network, it might as well find companies to use it. 'Course, it's not like Sprint's the only one out there trying to carve these kinds of deals into stone, but it's definitely the one that needs to do it most immediately.
TomTom intros GO 740 LIVE connected GPS
It's been a rough little while for so-called connected GPS units, but it looks like TomTom is still confident in the idea, and it's just gotten official with its first such device for the US market: the GO 740 LIVE. As you may recall, this one actually made its debut way back at IFA in the summer, and it looks to be mostly unchanged for its entrance into the US. That includes the standard 4.3-inch touchscreen, 2GB of internal flash memory with a microSD card slot for expansion, handsfree Bluetooth functionality, voice recognition, maps of the US and Canada courtesy of TeleAtlas and, of course, a built-in SIM card slot and GPRS modem to let you take advantage of all those "connected" features. As with the Insignia connected GPS unit, you'll get a year of free service with the device, which certainly makes that $500 price tag a bit more bearable. Look for it to be available sometime in the second quarter of this year.[Via PC Magazine]
Switched On: Riding Shotgun in a traffic jam
Each week Ross Rubin contributes Switched On, a column about consumer technology. Often, a shotgun is used at the beginning of a dash, but not so in the world of connected GPS devices, where Telenav launched its Shotgun portable navigation device days after Dash decided to exit the hardware business with its pioneering Dash Express. Unlike Dash, Telenav was no newcomer to the guided navigation space, being a leading provider of turn-by-turn navigation services to cell phones. Its customers include Sprint and AT&T, and consumers can subscribe to the service directly through Telenav -- even if their carrier doesn't support it -- as long as their smartphone does. The product is free to download, but carriers charge a subscription fee for unlimited use, or offer it on a per-diem price. Because it is designed for an inherently wireless device, Telenav software includes features such as traffic notification, which is a premium feature in portable navigation devices. In addition to physical advantages such as the large screen, the Shotgun has at least one important advantage over Telenav's cell phone services. Since its maps are local, the device continues to route even when you drive outside of cellular coverage areas. But there's at least one holdover from its cellular heritage that Telenav needs to shed on the Shotgun -- an unceasing, bright blue LED signaling wireless connectivity, which is hugely distracting to the driver, especially at night. Perhaps a bundled strip of black duct tape will do in the meantime.
Telenav Shotgun connected GPS launched, reviewed
It doesn't seem like the connected GPS market is the best place to be at the moment -- Dash just dropped hardware sales in a radical restructuring and Magellan's halted development of the 5340 -- but Telenav isn't shying away, throwing its hat into the ring with the $300 Shotgun. A $12/month GPRS subscription gets you the usual slew of web-enabled features like real-time traffic and weather, live POI searches, gas pricing, and online trip planning, all wrapped in the usual Telenav PND UI and bolstered by 11 million preloaded POIs. Sounds like an interesting piece of kit, and it's apparently well done -- GPS Review took an early look at the 4.3-inch touchscreen PND and found it to be a "good start," albeit with some minor annoyances that will hopefully be remedied in a future software update. Still, we're just not all that convinced that another subscription fee is going to appeal to many in this economic climate -- we'll see if the Shotgun manages to fire. Peep tons more pics in the gallery.%Gallery-36523%
Magellan suspends development on Maestro Elite 5340 connected GPS
First comes the fallout at Dash, and now this. Apparently GPS manufacturers are finally caving to the realization that the vast majority doesn't want yet another monthly fee tacked on in the form of a connected GPS -- particularly when so many of the non-connected navigators work so well. TWICE has it that Magellan has "suspended development" on its Maestro Elite 5340 with Google Local search, noting that even though it "believes there is great promise in connected navigation, in the near term, consumers have shown an unwillingness to pay a steep price for PNDs, especially with the recent economic downturns." If you'll recall, we actually toyed with this very unit back at CES, and sadly, it seems those hands-on shots are as close as any citizen outside of the company will ever get to it.[Via GPSTracklog]
Dash cuts 50 employees, drastically changing business model
It's hard to say if Amazon's recent fire sale of the Dash Express was an indicator of all this, but Dash is making some serious changes, regardless. Reportedly, the outfit has slashed 50 employees -- or around two-thirds of its workforce -- which will leave 30 workers who will operate primarily in engineering and support. According to now-CEO Rob Currie (who has replaced founder Paul Lego by Lego's choice), Dash "wanted to launch its device in the retail channel, but the economic changes made it rethink its business focus." To that end, Dash will actually cease making and selling its own hardware, and instead it will "license its platform to makers of automobile on-board navigation systems, smartphones, netbook-style mobile internet devices and other consumer electronics." So, what does it all mean? It could mean that the connected Dash platform is on the way to an automobile or cellphone near you, but we suppose only time will tell. As for existing Dash owners? Continued software updates and an online Dash Driver Network has been promised.
How would you change the Dash Express?
To say we've been waiting far too long for the Dash Express to escape the labs and hit the shelves would be a gross understatement, but now that this connected navigator has taken to the streets, we're wondering if the public at large feels that it was worth the wait. During the time we spent with it on our escapades around the Windy City, we didn't find too many chinks in the armor, but for the price, we wouldn't be shocked to hear of people expecting more. So, is the Dash Express living up to your lofty expectations? Aside from rocking a discounted sticker, what else could be squeezed in here to make paying up sting a little less? The forum's yours, dear readers.
