After a year’s wait, Garmin’s Smartphone Link app has finally come to iOS and iPhones. The big caveat — it only works with 2013 nuvi Bluetooth models. I’m betting that’s to help sell more new nuvis, and not due to technical issues, but that’s just speculation on my part. read more
Garmin Smartphone Link review
Update: Now available for iOS (compatible with 2013 Bluetooth nuvis).
I’ve been living with Garmin’s Smartphone Link Android app for a few months now, and there are a lot of things I like about it. I haven’t tested all the features, but I’ll walk you through the ones I have tried. read more
Garmin Smartphone Link app adds three free features including tracking
Garmin has rolled out an updated version of their Smartphone Link Android app today, bringing three new free features – Garmin Tracker (seen above), dynamic parking and the ability to send addresses direct from the Google Maps application. To get the new functionality, you’ll need to update the app and your firmware. read more
Details emerge on Garmin Smartphone Link app
Garmin has posted some FAQs on their Android Smartphone Link app, and we’ve got the highlights for you…
- While the NAVTEQ traffic data may be the same as what you already receive, since you are getting it via your phone instead of over FM, you may expand your coverage area (many smaller metros have traffic coverage, but no FM-TMC reception)
- Find where traffic cameras are currently available
- Is it coming to the iPhone? Maybe
- Basic (free) weather gets you “current localized weather, temperature and forecasts,” while Advanced Weather adds “severe weather alerts, notifications of weather along your current route, and animated radar images on your Garmin navigator” (see image below)
- Garmin estimates “an average monthly data usage of around 2 MB per month…very heavy users might use up to 20 MB per month”
- But they also say that “an unlimited data plan is recommended when using the premium services available through Garmin Live Services”
Garmin Smartphone Link uses your phone’s data plan to bring live services to your nuvi
I thought we might see this. Like your PND and have a smartphone with unlimited data? Garmin is ready to siphon data from your carrier, bucks from your wallet, and deliver connected services to your nuvi.