(Credit:
Garmin)
Mio isn't the only one making GPS news at CeBIT 2009. Garmin also got in on the action and introduced its new Nuvi 1200 and 1300 series of portable navigation devices on Tuesday. The new products sport thinner designs and are the first to offer the option of enhanced pedestrian navigation through CityXplorer maps.
Realizing that portable navigation devices are no longer restricted to just the car and hoping to reach new customers, Garmin wanted to provide an option for those exploring new cities by foot. Slimming down the size of the GPS was one solution and CityXplorer was another.
CityXplorer maps will be available as an optional download to users, ranging from $9.99 to $14.99, and provides information for select cities that allows users to plan and use routes that include public transit options, such as buses and subways. Garmin has not yet released a list of supported cities but plans to publish them (for both North America and Europe) on its Web site in Q2.
Even if you don't opt for the CityXplorer route, the new GPS offer plenty of other navigation features and for reasonable prices. For example, all models in the Nuvi 1300 series, which include the Nuvi 1300, 1350, 1350T, 1370T, and 1390T, have 4.3-inch touch screens and text-to-speech functionality. The Nuvi 1370T and Nuvi 1390T also provide free traffic updates for life. Meanwhile, the Nuvi 1200 series, which consists of the Nuvi 1200, 1250, and 1260T, has 3.5-inch touch screens and text-to-speech functionality. The Nuvi
The Nuvi 1200 and 1300 product lines are expected to ship in Q2; for full details and pricing of each model, check out Garmin's Web site.
Q: I am writing to ask you about what GPS device is the best for someone interested in traffic updates (preferably free), as well as Bluetooth capability. I also like the idea of Lane Assist because I fear missing exits. Also, is the voice response option really a practical one at this phase? Hope to hear from you soon. --Alex via e-mail
A: Hi Alex. I'll start with your last question first. Voice command functionality is just starting to show up in portable navigation devices, letting you enter addresses and perform some other tasks simply by speaking to the GPS. As with any new technology, I can understand your apprehension. Is it good enough? Is it actually useful? In other words, is it ready for prime time?
In the case of voice commands and GPS, it's not quite there yet. The idea behind it is good. The ability to enter addresses and perform certain functions with the sound of your voice would seemingly save you the time and trouble of going through various menus and tapping onscreen buttons to achieve the same goal.
Being able to do things like increase system volume and zoom in on maps via voice commands is particularly useful since you can keep your hands on the wheel instead of reaching over to fiddle around with your PND's touch screen.
However, in practice, the technology still needs some work. Voice command functionality is available on a handful of GPS models, such as the TomTom GO 930 and the Magellan Maestro 4250, but of the current offerings, there are only two models where I'd consider the voice command feature satisfactory: the Garmin Nuvi 880 and Navigon 7200T.
These two systems returned fairly accurate results when dictating addresses, and the Nuvi 800 had the bonus of offering 30 voice commands to perform other functions, including volume control and activating the hands-free speaker system. Unfortunately, they're also on the pricier side ($700 to $1,000 for the Garmin and $300 to $500 for the Navigon), and I wouldn't say the voice command functionality is so great that it's worth the extra expense.
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Garmin-Asus Nuvifone M20
(Credit: Garmin)Garmin-Asus is wasting no time on creating some pre-Mobile World Congress buzz. Last week, the companies announced their strategic alliance to collaborate on an entire line of Nuvifone GPS-enabled smartphones and revealed that it would debut a new Nuvifone model at GSMA 2009. We thought we'd hear about it on the opening day of the show, but on Thursday, Garmin-Asus took the wraps off the Nuvifone M20 and revealed full specs for the Nuvifone G60 (aka the original Garmin Nuvifone.
The Nuvifone M20 will run Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional Edition with full e-mail support, document viewing, and Opera's HTML Web browser. The triband GSM (850/1800/1900)/dual-band 3.5G (HSDPA 850/1900) handset will also have integrated Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.
Of course, navigation is a top priority and the Nuvifone M20 will come preloaded with maps and points of interest and will offer turn-by-turn voice-guided directions and automatic recalculation. To enter a destination, you can manually enter an address, search for a POI, or use an address from your phone's contact list.
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View the latest prices for Garmin Nuvifone G60 (AT&T)
(Credit:
Garmin)
On Wednesday, Garmin and Asus announced a strategic alliance to develop and distribute co-branded GPS-enabled smartphones to be known as the Garmin-Asus Nuvifone series. This includes the original Garmin Nuvifone, which was introduced over a year ago, and will now be rebranded as the Garmin-Asus Nuvifone G60.
The partnership isn't a strange one, considering that Asus has been working on the original Nuvifone for over a year as the ODM (original device manufacturer). Both companies still plan to ship the Nuvifone G60 in the first half of 2009. In addition, Garmin-Asus said it will offer several Nuvifone models this year--all of which will continue to focus on GPS and navigation features, though it was not clear whether they would all run the Google Android operating system.
In fact, Garmin-Asus plans to introduce its next device at the Mobile World Congress, which runs February 16-19 in Barcelona. Both Kent German and I will be there, so we'll definitely keep you updated with the news, photos, and video. I'm also hoping to press the company for a more definite release date for the Nuvifone G60. I mean, come on already!
The Garmin Nuvi 200 is a good choice.
(Credit: Corinne Schulze/CBS Interactive)Q: If you had to pick a walking-tour-guide GPS for a first-timer walking in New York City, but wanted to use a basic GPS auto navigation system, what would you buy? Are crossover systems any good? We are visiting NYC for Valentines Day weekend and don't want to get lost! --Bill via e-mail
A: Bill, I've found that crossover GPS units aren't exactly what they advertise. These portable navigation devices, such as the Magellan CrossoverGPS and Garmin Nuvi 500, try to be all-in-one GPS solutions for drivers, boaters, and outdoor enthusiasts. However, it's been my experience that while they're decent navigators for the car, when it comes to other modes of transportation, you're better going with a dedicated GPS for that specific activity.
That said, all hope is not lost for you. Since you're looking for something to navigate the streets of New York City and not the back country, you can probably get away with a basic in-car GPS. I'd recommend something small and basic like the TomTom One 130S or the Garmin Nuvi 200, since it will be easy to walk around with and then slip into a pocket or bag. With the Nuvi 200, you can also purchase the Garmin Travel Guide SD card that comes loaded with recommendations and ratings for hotels, restaurants, tourist attractions, and more, all provided by Fodor's travel guides. The accessory costs $70, but includes data for all of North America.
Another suggestion I have is that if you have a cell phone or smartphone with integrated GPS, you can add a location-based service like TeleNav to get real-time tracking, turn-by-turn directions, and local search. There are a couple of advantages with this option. First, you wouldn't have to carry another device and a cell phone is ultra-portable. You can purchase the location-based services on a per-day basis (or per-month if you wish), so this option could also save you some money.
Hope this helps, Bill, and have a wonderful Valentine's Day in NYC!
Official screenshot of Garmin Nuvifone's home screen.
(Credit: Garmin)We are starting to see more and more signs that the Garmin Nuvifone is real and not just a figment of our imagination. Announced almost a year ago, the first smartphone for the GPS manufacturer just recently received FCC approval and now Garmin has released a media gallery of Nuvifone interface screenshots, including those for the navigation app, Google Local, the Web browser, calendar, and e-mail.
The user interface looks snazzy and pretty intuitive, but of course, it's hard to say without playing with the actual device. We're hoping that we'll get to see the Nuvifone in action at CES 2009 (and not under a glass case), but in the meantime, you can check out the full gallery of screen shots on Garmin's Web site.
The company also released a clarification in response to an article published by DigiTimes on December 22, which you can read more about in CNET News Managing Editor Jon Skillings's story. The DigiTimes report made reference to the Nuvifone and the fact that Garmin plans to release Google Android handsets, but to be clear, the Nuvifone will not run Google's Android operating system. Instead, the Nuvifone is based on a modified version of Linux.
However, a company spokesperson did confirm that Garmin, which joined the Open Handset Alliance in early December, is working on a Android device, stating, "We do have an Android-based phone under development; however, we are not releasing any additional information about that product at this time." The Garmin Nuvifone is slated to be released in the first half of 2009. Stay tuned for more.
(Source: GPS Tracklog via Boy Genius Report)
(Credit:
Engadget Mobile)
Hey, remember the Garmin Nuvifone? Yeah, I barely remember it either, but it's still kicking around and, in fact, the GPS-enabled smartphone just got FCC approval, bringing it one step closer to release.
According to FCC documents, the Nuvifone (strangely tagged as the "Calf" from Asus) will support North American 850/1900MHz 3G bands, which means AT&T customers would be feeling the HSDPA love on the Nuvifone and not T-Mobile, whose 3G network runs on the 1700/2100MHz bands.
The Nuvifone, which was announced almost a year ago, is the first smartphone for GPS manufacturer Garmin, and originally had a release date of sometime in the Q4 of 2008. However, the company later delayed its release to the first half of 2009. Perhaps with the FCC approval, we might see the Nuvifone sooner rather than later, but we won't hold our breath.
(Via: Engadget Mobile, FCC)
A: Hi Dylan! First off, I'm not sure if you're talking about bicycles or motorcycles, but I'll cover both types just in case. If you're talking bicycles, finding a GPS to meet your needs is going to be a bit difficult. I've been doing a little research online, and a lot of the models available for bikes, such as the Garmin Edge 705, are more for training and logging your rides or workouts. Plus, they have a more outdoor/off-road focus rather than city navigation, so I'm not sure they're your best option.
Garmin Zumo 550
That said, there are a number of in-car GPS that have bicycle routing modes and can provide some of the functionality you're looking for in a portable navigation device. In terms of being hooked up to a network, the Dash Express delivers the most functionality in that sense, since it offers Internet connectivity via Wi-Fi or cellular network and allows for over-the-air map updates, real-time traffic updates, and more. However, it's not very bike-friendly; it's large and clunky and I'm pretty sure there's no bicycle mode.
TomTom offers something called MapShare, where users can make adjustments to maps (such as noting blocked roads, updating POI, adding new streets, and so on). You can make the changes right on the device, save them, and then upload and share them with other users via the TomTom Home desktop companion. Navigon also has something called FreshMaps. From those two companies, I'd recommend something small like the TomTom One series or the Navigon 2000S, and be aware you'll need to get a bicycle mount.
Now, if you're talking about motorcycles, TomTom and Garmin offer their own lines of GPS specifically for motorbikes: the Garmin Zumo and the TomTom Rider series. They both offer traffic updates (subscription required), quickest route options, bike-mounting kits, waterproof casing, and integrated Bluetooth, if you want to make hands-free calls.
Any other bikers (motor or pedal) out there who have suggestions for Dylan?
Magellan Maestro 3100
(Credit: Corinne Schulze/CNET Networks)Q: 1. Is there any in-car GPS that allows me to review the route from start to finish without driving, once I input destination address in the device? If yes, which portable navigation device (PND) lets me review the route before actually driving? - Wize Chap via e-mail
A: Dear Wize Chap, turns out you have a lot of choices. Most in-car GPS offers route simulation or fly-over simulation (the name varies by manufacturer) that provides a running demo of your route from a bird's-eye view. It's useful in that it gives you an overall idea of what you'll be encountering along your drive before even hitting the road. That said, the tricky part can be finding the feature on the device, since it's often buried in the submenus and you may also need to turn the capability on in the settings menu.
On most systems, once you enter your start and end points, the PND will present you the map screen and start navigation. From there, you can typically find various review options, including a list of text-based turn-by-turn directions, whether you want to find an alternate route, add a waypoint, and so forth. It's usually in this submenu that you'll find the route simulation. I'm not sure what your budget is, Wize Chap, but if you're looking for high-end, the Garmin Nuvi 880 is a good choice, or the Magellan Maestro 3000 series or the TomTom One series for more low- to mid-range models.
The TomTom GO 930 maps North America and Europe.
(Credit: Corinne Schulze/CNET Networks)Q: I will be going to Italy next month, and I am being told that the Budget Rental Car does not have a GPS option. I am very nervous about not having help on the Italian roads. Can you recommend the right mapping system for Italy? Does the Magellan Maestro 4040 work in Italy? Any help would be appreciated. I only have a very limited budget to purchase a device, and don't need anything fancy. --Michael, via e-mail
A: Hi Michael. Driving in a completely new territory, especially in a foreign country, can definitely be nerve-wracking so I think it's a great idea to have GPS as reinforcement. You have two options: 1) you can buy a unit with maps of Europe already preloaded on the device; or 2) you can get a standard, domestic model and purchase regional maps to load onto your portable navigation device.
The model you mentioned, the Magellan Maestro 4040, ships only with maps of North America, and unfortunately, the company doesn't provide the option to add European maps. I'd suggest taking a look at the Garmin Nuvi 200 series. Not only can you add European maps ($149.95 additional), you can also get other travel tools, like a language guide. However, as you can see, the maps cost quite a bit, so it can add up. It's worth looking into the models that come with all the maps (North America and Europe) installed on the device, so you don't have to deal with transferring maps to the GPS. The Garmin Nuvi 270 and TomTom GO 930 may fit the bill. Hope that helps, and safe travels!
