NaviGadget

TomTom cash for clunkers program

Nov 20, 2009 gps navigation, tomtom 1 Comment

TomTom just started a new trade-in program – kind of similar to the cash for clunkers deal we had here in the U.S. What you need to do is to purchase a new GPS navigation system from TomTom.com, estimate the value of your trade-in using their calculator, print the shipping label and send it in to their warehouse, and finally get your cash back in about 1 to 2 weeks.

We played with the calculator a bit – a Navigon 2100 we have sitting here with no accessories or cables was $35, a higher end Garmin 760 with charger, cables and mounting kits would get you as much as $177. That’s a good trade-in value! The question is would you trade in your Garmin for a Tomtom?

garmin custom maps

Nov 19, 2009 garmin, gps navigation 5 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.

garmin holiday ads

Nov 19, 2009 garmin, gps navigation Leave a comment

Garmin has a couple of Christmas ads up. Watch them and get in the holiday spirit.

Nutcracker:

Squirrel:

We don’t have any sort of deal with Garmin just so you guys know. If you see any other company come out with similar ads let us know. We’ll put them up :)

new Garmin GPSmap chartplotters

Nov 16, 2009 garmin, gps navigation, marine 5 Comments

We’ve talked about Garmin’s GPSmap series here on Navigadget but just today they came out with a bunch of new models including this one pictured above – the GPSmap 7215.

Their new series of chartplotters are the GPSmap 6000 and GPSmap 7000 which include the new Garmin G Motion technology that promises to smooth map panning, and zooming with super fast updates. Unlike most other devices out there when it comes to marine GPS devices it is sometimes really important to have a really really dim backlight – and all the new models in these series boast a display that can dim down to 0.5 nits.

The new models are:

• GPSMAP 7015: touchscreen, 15″, basemap only
• GPSMAP 7215: touchscreen, 15″, U.S. coastal charts and more
• GPSMAP 7012: touchscreen, 12″, basemap only
• GPSMAP 7212: touchscreen, 12″, U.S. coastal charts and more
• GPSMAP 6012: soft key interface, 12″, basemap only
• GPSMAP 6212: soft key interface, 12″, U.S. coastal charts and more
• GPSMAP 6008: soft key interface, 8″, basemap only
• GPSMAP 6208: soft key interface, 8″, U.S. coastal charts and more

Youll have to wait until February 2010 to get one of these MFD chartplotters. Expect to pay more than $3000… Read More …

Garmin EcoRoutes ESP

Nov 5, 2009 garmin, gps navigation 4 Comments

By next year Garmin nuvi’s will be able to get diagnostic data from your vehicle with the EcoRoutes ESP module. This module will be a small unit that can fit somewhere behind your dashboard if necessary and talk to your nuvi via Bluetooth so you don’t have to worry about too much wiring.

The ESP module connects to and is powered by your vehicle’s OBD-II diagnostics port.

The new nuvi’s will have the software to let you customize which gauges you want to see and even set alerts for each one. Things you can keep track of are things like check engine light, real-time fuel economy, emissions, intake air temperature, coolant temperature, RPM, throttle position, and more… Read More …

Garmins between $100 and $120 for Black Friday

Nov 5, 2009 garmin, gps navigation Leave a comment

Garmin is expected to have a few models specially designed for the American Black Friday madness. These GPS navigation systems will cost somewhere between $100 and $120 according to Twice. Also according to Cliff Pemble who is the president and COO of Garmin the sales of nuviphone were “slow” so a TV ad campaign was just launched. Reporting on the Android based nuviphone – he said it is slated for 2010.

Garmin doesn’t sound like they are too concerned about this new generation of competitors coming from GPS enabled smart phones. These new navigation apps still require a costly data plan and usually a higher end phone.

Garmin Aera

Nov 3, 2009 garmin, gps navigation Leave a comment

Garmin Aera is the new GPS navigation system from the company for those who own both an aircraft and a car. It runs in two modes, so you can easily switch between air, and road.

The new Garmin Aera series will have a 4.3″ screen, much like the nuvis, but when in air mode it will provide the pilots with map, weather, terrain, direct to, HSI/panel, active FPL, numbers, nearest, WPT info, position, XM radio, and tools.
There will be four new models:

• aera 500: base model
• aera 510: add XM WX capable and GXM™ 40 antenna
• aera 550: add high resolution 9 arc second terrain/obstacle data, SafeTaxi, AOPA
• aera 560: add XM WX capable and GXM™ 40 antenna

Here is how much they’ll cost you – yes a bit too much – but you own a plane after all, you can afford it:

• aera 500: $800
• aera 510: $1300
• aera 550: $1500
• aera 560: $2000

MSN Direct service to shutdown in 2012

Nov 2, 2009 gps navigation, misc news 2 Comments

That MSN direct service you may have paid for (possibly with your Garmin Nuvi) will be shutting down on January 1 2012.

I guess in this era of 3G connectivity having to pay for a wimpy service over FM signals to get movie time updates and gas prices isn’t that lucrative. Of course there was the traffic service too.

For decent live traffic updates you can use crowdsourced Google Maps, Inrix apps, and probably bunch of other services.

nuviphone now only $99

Nov 1, 2009 garmin, gps navigation, phones Leave a comment

Oh nuviphone… Now you’re only $99. Remember the days when we thought you’d cost $300?

Amazon knows what the true value of nuviphone is these days. It has to compete with many other smartphones which are much better at many other things and can expand with apps. Nuviphone on the other hands does not do apps, had some bad reviews, but but.. does a great job at navigation.

Grab the Garmin nüvifone G60 for only $99. Of course these prices are after a 2 year contract still…

google navigation

Oct 29, 2009 gps navigation, phones, software 5 Comments

Google – the supreme being of the internets – just announced their new GPS navigation application which will cost nothing. It will come standard on the Android 2.0 OS. And soon it will probably be offered on Blackberry, WinMo, and one day even the iPhone.

Before we go into the details of Google’s new turn-by-turn GPS navigation application – we would like to ask you? What do you think this will do to standalone GPS makers? Or more importantly what will all these iPhone GPS apps will do once it hits the iPhone? Do you think the stock prices changes of TomTom and Garmin were because of Google’s announcement?

Anyways – officially called Google Maps Navigation – the new application is an internet connected GPS navigation system with voice guidance. It will be part of Google Maps Mobile and will is already available on phone with Android 2.0.

Some features include ability to search by business name, search by voice, traffic view, search along your route, satellite view, street view, and finally a car dock mode for devices which support it.

A question that comes to mind is how will will caching of maps along your route will work – so you don’t have to rely on a 3G network. Can you get directions from LA to NY and have all the maps downloaded before you leave the Pacific?

On a separate note I would personally like to thank Google for not using Starbucks as an example destination. Instead they used In-N-Out :)

Check out all the videos: Read More …