GPS reviews, news, tips, tricks and deals
The Garmin nuvi 3550LM is one of the company’s new top of the line auto navigation units. As part of their Prestige series, this model basically offers the same feature set as the nuvi 3450LM, but with a larger 5″ screen. Which means you get a bevy of customization options, the new Exit Services feature and a large glass capacitive touchscreen.
In addition to the new zumo 350LM, Garmin has made a few other changes to their motorcycle-friendly lineup, adding lifetime maps to a couple of units – the zumo 660LM and 665LM
, while discontinuing the original 660 and 665, along with the zumo 550.
Magellan has annouced five new RoadMates featuring Landmark Guidance, portrait mode and, in the two Bluetooth models, safe texting. This feature, highlighted in the video above, “enables drivers to quickly and safely respond to a call with a pre-written text message. The driver may select from a text message to inform the caller that they are driving and will call them later or a text that will include the vehicle’s present location and estimated time of arrival to their destination.” read more
UPDATE: Read my hands on review of the Magellan RoadMate 5230T-LM with Landmark Guidance.
I’ve been testing the Magellan Roadmate 5230T-LM for the last few weeks, which (AFAIK) is the first navigator in the US to feature Landmark Guidance. Basically, in addition to using street names for guidance, it will tell you to turn at “landmarks” like a McDonalds or a Chevron station. You can see and hear it in action in the admittedly shaky video above. Apparently I need a camera with image stabilization, although the main point in this video is the audio. read more
Here’s a list of posts covering a wide range of frequently asked questions (FAQs) about auto GPS receivers: read more
Well this isn’t what I expected to wake up to on Independence Day, but here it is; a Garmin nuvi 2598FL has cleared the FCC. And I would say that the model number is just a place holder, but the documents clearly state that it’s the marketing name and describe it as a connected personal navigation device. read more
Ah, the marketing folks are at it again. All over the Web this morning, you can find the headline “TomTom offers free daily map changes on all devices.” Sounds great, huh? The problem is that TomTom has been advertising Map Share as a feature on their newer devices ever since they came out.
Hands on with the TomTom Start 55TM
The TomTom START 55TM
In a surprising (and questionable) bit of gumshoe work, a POI Factory contributor has concluded that windshield mounts are illegal in 28 states and six Canadian provinces.
UPDATE: GPS City is showing a June 29 availability date. They’ve posted some videos as well.
As we predicted last month, Garmin has introduced a new motorcycle-friendly navigator, the Garmin zumo 350LM. The 4.3″ unit offers Bluetooth and new features like Exit Services and TracBack, at an MSRP of $699.99. So much for my theory that this was a mid-range model! read more
