nuvi posts
Get ready to tech up your driving experience, as Garmin has unveiled a new accessory for its nuvi line of GPS devices that lets you add a number of customizable gauges and monitoring utilities. The new ESP module tucks into the OBD-II diagnostics port on your car and communicates (via Bluetooth) all-important data like intake air temperatures and the fuel efficiency of your driving to the nuvi up top. Yea, it's been done before, but Garmin is (for the time being) a major force in navigation devices and could truly popularize this should there be enough interest. For our money, it's both a neat and geeky way to expand the functionality of the now threatened satnav species. The full dish on price and availability can be expected at CES 2010 this coming January.
Garmin's nuvi 1450 GPS makes small, quiet blip on retail map
It's not that Garmin doesn't love the nuvi 1450 -- we're sure it loves each and every one one of its GPS units equally in their own special way or somesuch -- but it did release the device without so much as a press release or other typical fanfare. Bummer, but the 5-inch, 480 x 272 resolution touchscreen has now been unearthed and doesn't look too bad for its $449.99 price tag. Battery lasts up to three hours without charge and includes optional cityXplorer software for public transit listings and ecoRoute for fuel-conscious drivers. Available now if you're itching to take it with you on the next road trip.
[Via Slashgear]
[Via Slashgear]
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]
[Via navigadget]
Garmin-Asus nuvifone G60 unboxing and hands-on

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

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

[Via GPS Tracklog]
nuvi GPS with EDGE data makes its FCC debut

Sure, you're still waiting for your Nüvifone, but in the meantime it looks like the kids at Garmin have taken all that hard-won knowledge and applied it to their latest PND. The nüvi 1690, which recently popped up at the FCC, features GSM, GPRS, and EDGE connectivity. The unit won't support voice calls, although with Bluetooth you should be able to use it as a hands-free unit for your current cellphone. Garmin has thus far been mum on this guy, but as GPS Tracklog points out, the IFA show in Berlin is just around the corner -- certainly the company will have something to say about all this by then. To check out the FCC bit for yourself, hit that read link. [Warning: PDF.]
[Via SlashGear]
[Via SlashGear]
Garmin issues patch to exorcise brick from 7x5 series GPS
It didn't take long for Garmin to get into gear, once it acknowledged the firmware update had ultimately brought ruin to its nüvi 7x5 series GPS units. The company's released a new software update that should provide a fix -- it should be available now via its WebUpdater. If you're one of those whose device won't even turn on anymore, there's also a support section online for requesting a return authorization to have it repaired under warranty. Garmin acknowledged a few other devices that may be affected, including 800 series, 8x5 series, zūmo 660, and GPSMAP 620 / 640. Those will all be getting updates "in the near future."
Garmin "getting very close" to a US Nuvifone launch... or so it says
If you've a proven track record of delivering solid products to consumers (much like Garmin has), we'll cut you some slack for awhile if you happen to hit a snag or two along the way while bringing a completely new device to market. But after more delays than we care to count and a 1.5 year gap between announcement and right now, the benefit of the doubt vanishes. To that end, we couldn't be happier to report that Garmin's president and COO Cliff Pemble feels that it's "getting very close" to a carrier launch (AT&T, perhaps?) in the US. Said statement was given at a shareholders meeting today, and he also mentioned that the Asian market would see the Nuvifone "this month or in early July." We appreciate the update, but at this point, the burden of proof is squarely on you, Garmin.
[Via Electronista]
[Via Electronista]
Garmin intros super sleek 5-inch nüvi 1490T navigator
Just a month ago, Garmin came clean with the nüvi 1390T as part of its 1300 lineup, and today we're being formally introduced to the numerical successor. The nüvi 1490T sports a chassis that's some 25 percent slimmer than most nüvi models and an expansive 5-inch touchscreen. As with other new Garmins, this one also arrives with free lifetime traffic alerts and lane assist with junction view. Other expected amenities are also included, namely multiple-point routing, automatic time zone transition and a speed limit indicator that displays speed limits for most major roads. As insinuated, an integrated traffic receiver comes standard, and there's even an ecoRoute feature that suggests the most fuel efficient path. Finally, prospective buyers can count on Bluetooth technology for making and receiving handsfree calls, and the support for optional CityXplorer maps makes this suitable for the pedestrian in you, too. Expect it on store shelves everywhere this July for $499.99.
[Via GPS Tracklog]
[Via GPS Tracklog]
Garmin nvi 1200 and 1300 hands-on

Gallery: Garmin nuvi 1200 and 1300 hands-on
Garmin unveils nvi 1200, 1300 series GPS units

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.
nuvi 885T reviewed - speech recognition 'great,' detour function 'not so much'

Sure, when we first caught wind of Garmin's nüvi 885T a while back it seemed like the hotness (if your measure of hotness begins and ends with a GPS), but how does it really stack up? GPS Magazine just got their hands on one of these bad boys, and they've been kind enough to share their thoughts with us. "Great," they say, "if speech recognition is your number one priority." Besides voice recognition, the reviewer was really into the Enhanced MSN Direct (traffic, fuel prices, flight statues and more), the ever-useful Where Am I? feature, MP3 playlist support, lane assist, and well behaved Bluetooth. Problems? For starters, MSN Direct for this model costs $50/year (or $130 for life), while many cheaper nüvis get it gratis. Additionally, a few oversights -- there is no way to exclude a specific road from a route, for instance, and a very limited detour function -- and this reviewer thinks that some users would be better served by another Garmin, such as the nüvi 7x5. But don't take our word for it -- for the exhaustive review hit the read link.
Update: Then again, maybe it is too much to ask for users to get free, unlimited MSN Direct. According to Garmin tech. support: "No Garmin unit receives MSN information gratis. Some do have a free trial period, but Microsoft does not give the information out for free." Thanks for the heads up, guys!
Update: Then again, maybe it is too much to ask for users to get free, unlimited MSN Direct. According to Garmin tech. support: "No Garmin unit receives MSN information gratis. Some do have a free trial period, but Microsoft does not give the information out for free." Thanks for the heads up, guys!


























