Sunday, March 18, 2012

Garmin nuvi 2300 series hits the market

Garmin nuvi 2300LM

UPDATE: Read my hands on review of the Garmin nuvi 2350LMT. I also have resource pages up for the nuvi 2300LM, 2350, 2350LMT, 2350LT, 2360LT, 2360LMT and 2370LT.

They’re finally here. I don’t know what kind of supply chain delay Garmin had in getting these out, but the nuvi 2300 series has hit the market, a couple of months later than anticipated. These models have been eagerly awaited, as most include many of the top of the line features from the 3700 series without the astronomical price. That includes trafficTrends, Garmin’s historical road speed database for improved routing and myTrends, allowing the device to learn your preferred routes. Plus a new feature – the ability to correct speed limits. Follow the jump link for sources and a summary of the differences between models.

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nu Feature: Customize main menu on nuvi 2400 series

customized-main-menuGarmin has found another way to utilize all that real estate on 5” screens, adding customizable main menus to the nuvi 2400 series. I set up an example this morning, pictured above.

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nu Feature: Speed limit adjustment on nuvi 2xxx series

Set-speed-limitNo, you can’t change the legal speed limit, but if your GPS has it wrong, you can now fix it. This is a new feature on the Garmin nuvi 2xxx series. Simply tap the speed limit icon to get the screen above.

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The state of live traffic reporting in the US

Traffic jamA GpsPasSion forum member has posted an excellent piece on the state of live traffic reporting in the US, with historical background, a look at the various ways traffic is reported, and even a ranking of number of probes for the key players. Google tops the list BTW, thanks to their Android coverage. There are a couple of pieces missing (NAVTEQ sources, iPhone probe data sent back to Apple – and no, I don’t have the answers to those), but overall this is the best summary of its sort I’ve seen. There are a few shoes left to drop – Apple’s predicted mapping solution, the fact that Garmin will soon have a lot of probe data as their mobile apps take off, and (as the article notes) RIMs massive network of probes.

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HD Traffic comes to US with Tom Tom GO 2535 M LIVE

TomTom GO 2505 M LIVE

UPDATE: It looks like they’ve changed the model number on this one from the 2505 M LIVE to the 2535 M LIVE.

UPDATE 2: Read my hands on review of the TomTom GO 2535M LIVE.

TomTom is finally bringing HD Traffic to the US with the TomTom GO 2505 M LIVE. The company claims this is a killer app, a game changer. Why? They say that three things make it better than current live traffic options:

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TomTom VIA series announced for US

TomTom VIA series

UPDATE: Read my hands on review of the TomTom VIA 1535TM. I’ve also posted resource pages with links to reviews for the VIA 1405TM, 1435TM, 1505M and 1505TM.

TomTom is brining its VIA series to the US, a mid-range successor to the XL and XXL product lines. Already available in Europe, the VIA series features a new hardware design, with an integrated (inseparable) Easy Port mount, resulting in a thinner, more pocketable profile. The series will feature the new Webkit-based interface found on the GO 2000 line. Also notable – some models will be the first mid-range, non-GO units to feature Bluetooth and voice command. What you won’t find on the VIA series is the 2500’s capacitive touch screen or HD Traffic.

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Big screen, trucker-friendly Garmin dēzl 560LT and 560LMT

Garmin dezl 560LMT

Update: Amazon now has the Garmin dezl 560LT and dezl 560LMT available for pre-order.

Update 2: Read a hands on trucker’s review of the Garmin dezl 560LMT.

As predicted, the crew from Olathe has unveiled some big-screen trucker-friendly navigators for CES – the Garmin dēzl 560LT and dēzl 560LMT. These 5” wide-screen models offer a built-in loudspeaker and a number of features geared to truckers, such as truck-specific POIs and truck speed limits, as well as hours, fuel and mileage logging.

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Garmin nuvi 2400 series unveiled

Garmin nuvi 2460LMT

UPDATE: Amazon now has most of the 2400 series available for pre-order. Here are the links: Garmin nüvi 2450, nüvi 2450LM, nüvi 2460LT and the nüvi 2460LMT.

UPDATE 2: Read my hands on review of the nuvi 2460LT. I’ve also posted pages for the Garmin nuvi 2450, nuvi 2450LM, and the nuvi 2460LMT.

No surprise here, since we’ve been talking about it for a couple of months now, but the Garmin nuvi 2400 series was officially unveiled today. Basically, this is the still unavailable 4.3”  2300 series expanded to have a 5” screen. Four models were announced, the nuvi 2450, 2450LM, 2460LT and 2460LMT. The LM/LT/LMT designations refer to lifetime map updates and/or traffic. The 2460LT and 2460LMT will add Bluetooth and voice commands to the 2450 models’ feature set. MSRPs are $249.99 to $349.99, with availability slated for the first quarter of 2011.

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Garmin nuvi 3760LMT

Garmin nuvi 3760LMT

The Garmin nüvi 3760LMT, adds lifetime map updates to the nuvi 3760T, a low end unit in what is possibly Garmin’s nicest line of navigators to date. But this is not an entry level unit; in addition to many of the goodies found on previous high-end models, the 3700 series nuvis are the first to use historical road speeds to calculate the fastest route. And with its 4.3” glass screen and minimalist 0.35” thickness, it resembles an iPhone more than past nuvis.

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Magellan finds 7” niche–rolls out RoadMate 9020

Magellan RoadMate 9020Magellan has found a corner of the auto market they can dominate – at least until someone else introduces a 7” model. Having had significant success with the RoadMate 1700, a RoadMate 9020 has shown up on their site, adding lifetime traffic to the 1700’s feature set.

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