GPS reviews, news, tips, tricks and deals
UPDATE: This model has been discontinued. For current recommendations, please refer to our auto GPS buyers guide.
The Garmin nüvi 1490T
UPDATE: Now available bundled with lifetime map updates as the Garmin nuvi 1490LMT
I went to Atlanta this past weekend, armed with a nuvi 1490T and the Atlanta edition of Garmin’s new CityXplorer maps. And I have to say, I was quite impressed. I’m blessed with a good sense of direction (though I find it much easier to lose N, S, E and W in the city), but I’m not a real urbanite. I can probably count the number of times I’ve ridden a subway / light rail on one hand. So I had some nervousness about leaving my car behind and venturing into the city via MARTA, with only a nuvi to guide me. It turns out that my fears were misplaced. Quite simply, CityXplorer rocks. Read on for the details…
UPDATE: Read my GPS for trucks page.
UPDATE 2: This model has been discontinued, although the nuvi 465LMT is still available.
The Garmin nüvi 465T
Update: Read my hands on Garmin nuvi 1490T review.
The Garmin nuvi 1490T was announced today, a 5-inch wide version of the recently unveiled 1200 and 1300 series units. This will be a relatively high-end model, with lifetime traffic alerts, lane assist / junction view and Bluetooth. It also brings something to the table not found on the 1200/1300 models – multi-destination routing.
UPDATE: This model has been discontinued. For current recommendations, please refer to our auto GPS buyers guide.
The Garmin nüvi 855
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UPDATE: MSN Direct is ceasing operations on January 1, 2012.
UPDATE 2: This model has been discontinued. For current recommendations, please refer to our auto GPS buyers guide.
The Garmin nüvi 885T
UPDATE: Read my hands on Garmin nuvi 1200 review. I’ve also posted pages for the Garmin nuvi 1250, nuvi 1260T, nuvi 1300, nuvi 1350, nuvi 1350T, nuvi 1370T and nuvi 1390T.
Garmin has announced eight (!) new nuvi models that come with urban pedestrian navigation enhancements. Significantly thinner than previous models, “the nüvi 1200 and 1300 series are the first nüvi devices to offer pedestrian navigation capability enabled through optional CityXplorer™ maps. CityXplorer maps are available for select tourist destinations in
both North America and Europe, and can easily be downloaded directly to the nüvi.”
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Garmin is pretty tight-lipped about future plans and, as expected, I wasn't able to pry a lot out of them at CES. I did find out that the new third-generation MSN Direct services will be available on nuvi 2×5, 7×5 and 8×5 models (when equipped with an MSN receiver, of course). And it does sound like the nuvifone rollout will be at the GSMA Mobile World Congress next month.
UPDATE: TWICE is reporting that ecoRoute works with 2xx and 7xx series nuvis.
Another Garmin announcement today is ecoRoute, a software update for some nuvi units that adds a "less fuel" route option. Additionally, ecoRoute includes a Fuel Report that tracks fuel usage over time, and a Mileage Report that monitors mileage and fuel usage on a per-trip basis.
You can see if your nüvi is compatible with ecoRoute through a free, downloadable software update at www.garmin.com/ecoroute.
A couple of months ago, I wrote a post asking does Bluetooth suck? That's pretty much been my experience, at least when I'm the person on the receiving end of the call from a GPS. But my opinion of Bluetooth has changed some since I wrote that.
