NaviGadget

Garmin BirdsEye

Jan 20, 2010 garmin, gps navigation, software 1 Comment

Garmin just announced a subscription based service called Garmin BirdsEye which lets users load highly detailed photo maps to their handheld GPS navigation devices. Currently the compatible devices include Garmin Oregon, Garmin Dakota, and Garmin Colorado and the annual subscription costs $30 which gets you unlimited access.

Here are some specs about the BirdsEye service:

• aeriel photo based maps
• 0.5 meter per pixel resolution
• zoom capability ranges from 12 miles to 20 feet
• can be overlayed over vector maps
• data provider is DigitalGlobe

You’ll have to wait until March of this year for the BirdsEye satellite imagery.

Garmin Dakota 20 review

Dec 23, 2009 fitness, garmin, gps navigation, reviews Leave a comment

You remember Garmin Dakota 20 right? Considering buying one? Well, we have a review for you.

It looks like Garmin Dakota 20 survived crash tests, was usable with wet and muddy gloves, and great for navigation.

Setting up routes for recording seemed like a bit of a bigger challenge but still manageable.

The bottom line is:

If you need a GPS unit that can master maps, deliver data, record your ride and fitness data, and direct you to your post-ride pasta when it’s all over, this is a good do-it-all option.

Mind you the review was done for bikers but most of this should still apply.

garmin custom maps

Nov 19, 2009 garmin, gps navigation 6 Comments

Garmin just introduced a free service called Custom Maps that lets Garmin Oregon, Garmin Dakota, and Garmin Colorado users upload their digital or even paper maps into their device.

You’ll have to update the software on your PC and on the Garmin handheld devices we just mentioned, save the map in JPG format, create an image overlay, link the JPG file, adjust the boundaries, then send to your device – all of which are explained here in detail with images too.

Garmin Dakota 20

Jun 27, 2009 garmin, gps navigation, tracking 2 Comments

Garmin Dakota 20 is Dakota 10’s bigger brother. Announced at the same time Dakota 20 has pretty much the same appearance as Dakota 10 but when it comes to specs it hides a lot inside.

Priced only $50 more than Dakota 10, for a total of $350, you can expect the same impressive 20 hours battery life from Dakota 20. It also has a microSD card slot to store more stuff, like maps, a 3-axis compass tilt-compensated electronic compass, and a barometric altimeter. Also don’t forget about the wireless connectivity feature that lets you share waypoints, tracks, routes and geocaches wirelessly with Dakota, Oregon, Colorado and Foretrex devices.

If you’re looking for something bigger and more expensive you should check out Garmin Colorado or the Garmin Oregon series.

Wait until September for Garmin Dakota 20 to come out.

Garmin Dakota 10

Jun 27, 2009 garmin, gps navigation, tracking 4 Comments

Garmin Dakota 10 is one of the latest outdoor GPS handheld devices from the company. Compared to the Garmin Oregon series, the Dakota 10 is a lot cheaper and lower end.

Garmin Dakota 10 has a 2.6″ color touchscreen, weighs 6.75 ounces, and runs up to 20 hours on two AA batteries. It is also built rugged, and is waterproof (IPX7). It has worldwide basemap pre-installed and comes with 850 MB of memory, which can store 1,000 waypoints, 50 routes, 2,000 geocaches and an active tracklog of 10,000 points and 200 saved tracks. We doubt you’ll run of space.

You can expect to get yours hands on a Garmin Dakota 10 starting in September for about $300.