Posts Tagged ‘garmin’

Garmin Approach G6 – all you need to know

Jan 17, 2012 , ,


You’re looking at a shiny new Garmin Approach G6 GPS golf device. Here’s the scoop:

  • available Feb 2012
  • MSRP is $300
  • preloaded with over 25,000 worldwide courses
  • weighs just over 3 ounces
  • 2.6” sunlight readable display
  • offers layup arcs that are drawn on the map
  • battery lasts up to 15 hours

Too expensive? Older models, such as Approach G3 and Approach G5 must be a whole lot cheaper by now. Too big? Check out Garmin Approach S1 which is just a wrist watch.

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Garmin Smartphone Link – mostly no thanks

Jan 17, 2012 , ,

Garmin recently announced Smartphone Link. This is an for Android devices to bring live updates to your GPS navigation system. The GPS navigation system and your smartphone have to connect via bluetooth. It will work on all new bluetooth enabled nuvis and also nüvi 2475LT, 2495LMT, 2595LMT which require a software update.

As you may have guessed this setup will be using your phone’s mobile data plan and the Android app is free. However there will be premium content available through subscriptions.

Free services:

  • Live weather information
  • myGarmin messaging – update notifications and special offers from Garmin

Premium Live Services:

  • Live Traffic ($20/year): updated every two minutes and covers major highways, interstates and main roads
  • photoLive traffic cameras ($10/year): ability to see real-time photos from more than 10,000 traffic cameras across the U.S. and Canada
  • Fuel Prices ($10/year): best prices in your area
  • Advanced Weather ($5/year): current and 5-day forecasts, severe weather alerts and view animated radar images

If you have a smartphone why you would pay for these services is beyond me.. Live Traffic? Try Google Maps. Traffic cameras? There’s an app for that too. Fuel prices, Advanced Weather? All free on Android. We like Garmin devices but all these services we say NO THANK YOU. Still interested? Here’s the link.

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Garmin’s new high end GPS navigation systems: nuvi 3550LM and nuvi 3590LMT

Jan 10, 2012 , ,


Garmin announced a new series of high end GPS navigation systems yesterday which are on display at CES 2012. Called the nuvi 3500 series; the models include 3550LM, and 3590LMT which will be available starting this February.

Garmin Nuvi 3550LM

  • ultra thin design, 5″ glass display
  • Guidance 3.0 navigation engine
  • photoReal junction view

Garmin Nuvi 3590LMT has all of the above and:

  • subscription-free Digital 3D Traffic
  • compatible Garmin’s Android app for live services

Garmin Nuvi 3550LM has an MSRP of $370 whereas the Garmin nuvi 3590LMT which has Android connection for live services has an MSRP of $400. We say wait until June and pick them up for a lot cheaper :)

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Garmin’s new GTN 750 Trainer app for iPad 2

Dec 28, 2011 , , , ,


This is one of the ways Garmin is still staying relevant when every single smartphone on the market offers practically free GPS navigation. Stand alone automobile navigation is not their only market. They’ve got aviation too. Just recently they announced a new app for the iPad 2 called GTN 750 trainer. Pilots can now train on the ground, and practice basic operations of Garmin’s new all glass GTN aviation systems.

GTN 750 Trainer app allows pilots to pan the map, enter waypoints into the flight plan, load airways, graphically edit flight plans, radio tune and more. It even has hi res terrain maps, worldwide NavData, and simulated traffic targets and simulated XM weather data for a more realistic experience. Some other options include TAWS-B audible alerts, transponder control and remote audio processor control, and other demo settings that lets users to simulate flight scenarios by changing altitude, speed, location, etc.

$25 is small price to pay to get your training while still safely on the ground.

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Garmin Fit App nad ANT+ Adapter

Oct 27, 2011 , ,


Garmin just announced Garmin Fit for iPhone and Android. It’s an app we’ve been waiting from the company. This first release keeps track of speed, pace, distance, time, calories and can potentially display if you have the right add-ons. Of course it works with Garmin Connect to upload your workouts. Another news from the company is the ANT+ adapter for iPhone allowing users to use their Garmin ANT+ accessories with their iPhone.

With Garmin Fit you’ll at least have a way to track your workout even if you forget to charge your Forerunner and forget to take it with you. You can control the music from within the app and manage calls and text messages without interrupting Garmin Fit – which will cost $1.

Garmin ANT+ adapter for iPhone is already available for $50 and this tool lets you monitor and record heart rate and cadence directly on your phone. You’ll need the footpod sensor for example which works great if you’re working indoors.

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Garmin Forerunner 910XT

Oct 5, 2011 , ,


Garmin today announced Forerunner 910XT – a GPS-enabled watch that can give you swim metrics and tracks distance, speed/pace, elevation and heart rate for running and cycling. It has a slim profile to not interfere with you wetsuits (you realize this is designed for triathletes?) and comes with on-board barometric altimeter for precise elevation data. As for as swim metrics 910XT can provide swim distance, stroke count, stroke rate and stroke identification. It also calculates your swolf score:

30 seconds plus 15 strokes equals a swolf score of 45. Swolf is a measurement of swimming efficiency and, like golf, lower is better.

Software on Forerunner 910XT is also aware that you are training for a triathlon. It categorizes each sports activity and can log the transition time in the process. Oh and did you say ultra marathon? 910XT has a up to 20 hours of battery life.

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Garmin eTrex to follow GLONASS satellites

Sep 30, 2011 , ,


The satellite tracking system GLONASS developed by the Russians will now be used by the new Garmin eTrex series (eTrex 10, eTrex 20, and eTrex 30). The new eTrex models will be able to track both GPS and GLONASS satellites at the same time. What this means for you is that you’ll be able to get a satellite position fix about 20% faster than you were to use GPS alone. Since there are 24 GLONASS satellites so far this gives your device more options to use and listen for the strongest signal. The only downside of activating both technologies is the reduced battery life. There’s always a trade off.

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new Garmin aera 796 and 795 Aviation Navigators

Sep 16, 2011 , ,


Garmin last week announced aera 796 and aera 795, a new line up of portable aviation navigation devices. aera 796 will be the new flagship product – following GPSMAP 696, and will add new features such as touchscreen user interface, screen orientation option and 3D Vision. It even has a digital document viewer, scratch pad and pre-loaded geo-referenced AeroNav IFR and VFR enroute charts so you can almost have a paperless cockpit.

aera 796 has 7″ touchscreen and is designed to fit on the yoke. It features 3D view of database-generated terrain which uses GPS to recreate a behind-the-aircraft perspective view of the topographic landscape. aera 796 may be qualified for use as either a Class I or Class II Electronic Flight Bag (EFB).
Other new features include a built-in digital document viewer to view PDF documents, JPEG photos, etc.
It also offers GPS-derived panel information, including track indication, GPS altitude, groundspeed, vertical speed and turn indication. Internal GPS provides position updates five times per second (5 Hz), allowing it to present flight data more smoothly and accurately.

You also have access to XM WX Satellite Weather and SiriusXM Radio for NEXRAD, METARs, TAFs, TFRs, lightning, winds aloft, turbulence forecasts, PIREPs, icing forecast and other important info.

The aera 796 and 795 are already available and will cost $2500 and $2200 respectively. North American customers that do not require XM WX Satellite Weather and SiriusXM Radio, may be interested in the aera 795 Americas that has identical features to the aera 796 except that it is not XM capable.

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short term memory loss from bike crash filled in with GPS data

Sep 14, 2011 , ,


[NYT] A cyclists in California got into an accident and almost had no recollection of the incident. He was going downhill at about 30 miles per hour. And somehow ended up with a broken nose, concussion, road rash, stitches to the face, and a deep cut to the knee for good measure.

He was riding along and lost about 20 minutes of his memory. He really wanted to know how and why he crashed. He didn’t even remember if he passed out before the crash – causing the crash. Well good thing he was using a (helmet of course) GPS cycling computer which was recording his speed, location, pedal rate, and heart rate. It is almost like a black box.

This rider was using a Garmin 305 which you can pick up for less than $200. It lets you upload your track details to a Web service, and have you show off your stats to other riders. Luckily his Garmin 305 was not harmed. He uploaded the data to his computer. He could clearly see before his crash his speed went from 30mph to 10mph while his heart rate remained at 126bpm (at least it wasn’t heart attack?). Of course he also overlayed the data onto Google Maps to figure out the exact location of the accident.

Just before where the GPS said he crashed, he could sure enough see a long, thin, deep pothole which was even visible in Google’s street view. He also happened to find one of his lenses from his glasses that he broke…

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Garmin Nuvi Prestige: 3490LMT, 3450LM, and 3450

Aug 28, 2011 , ,


We just covered the nuvi essentials series, and nuvi advanced series. Next in line we have the Garmin Nuvi Prestige. These models are for high rollers! Nuvi Prestige makes the ladies weak in the knees. End sarcasm. OK seriously now. The prestige series have the super slim body and feature a nice glass screen much like an iPhone. It has multi touch features and you can use it portrait mode as well as landscape. There are only three models in the Prestige line up: nuvi 3490LMT, 3450LM, and 3450.

You can compare them here but basically here is how much they cost:

  • nuvi 3490LMT – $400
  • nuvi 3450LM – $370
  • nuvi 3450 – $330

Also known as the nüvi 3400 series – these offer Garmin Guidance 3.0. Offered in these models is Digital 3D Traffic with 30 second updates which is free. SafeText which reads your incoming text messages out loud if you connect it to your phone using Bluetooth, and photoReal junction view. All Prestige models have a 4.3″ screen.

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