garmin

How to update your GPS maps: Garmin edition

A GPS device is only as good as its maps, so you want to make sure that you have the newest, most accurate map data available before you hit the road. This week, we're taking a look at the process of updating the map data on Garmin's Nuvi line of portable navigation devices. In the weeks that follow, we'll be covering how to update devices from TomTom and Magellan, among others.

Updating the maps on your GPS device used to be a complete pain in the butt. You'd have to order your update on CD, DVD, … Read more

Free phones for all?

Links from Friday morning's episode of Loaded:

T-Mobile may give away free handsets on June 19 Facebook partners with the National Parent Teachers Association to promote safe use of social networks Google News experiments with Editors' Picks History Pin lets you compare images and stories of places on a map, past and present

Nuvi 1100 sneaks into Garmin's lineup

The newest of Garmin's Nuvi line of GPS devices was quietly added to Garmin's lineup this week. The Nuvi 1100 appears to be Garmin's newest entry-level navigator with its 3.5-inch screen and "affordable price." The device slots in beneath the Nuvi 1200 and packs an almost identical feature set, with the obvious omission of text-to-speech spoken street names.

The 1100 is loaded with maps of the lower 48 states, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico and features Garmin's now-standard ecoRoute software for fuel efficient route calculation. The unit is also compatible with Garmin's downloadable … Read more

American Express offers half-price Ford Fusion Hybrid

For its Summer Road Trip campaign, American Express is offering a couple of Ford Fusion Hybrids for $14,337 each on Thursday. The offer comes through the company's Daily Wish Web site, which promotes daily special offers on a variety of products.

Of course, you have to have an American Express card to participate. To purchase the Fusion Hybrid, you will also have to log in at a currently undisclosed time and be the first of two customers to push the buy button. According to the Daily Wish site, it will reveal the sale time on Thursday, although signing … Read more

New Nuvi 295W is the Nuvifone without the 'fone'

What do you get when you yank the phone parts out of the Garmin Nuvifone? The obvious answer is "just a regular Garmin Nuvi." However, that's not exactly the case, as the upcoming Garmin Nuvi 295W retains more than a few of its smartphone bits, including a 3-megapixel camera and Wi-Fi connectivity.

The Nuvi 295W's form factor is nearly identical to that of the Garmin Nuvifone G60, which debuted on AT&T earlier this year. At 4.4 inches tall by 2.3 inches wide by just over half an inch thick, the 295W's physical dimensions are identical; and its 480x272 pixel, 3.5-inch resistive touch screen is also the same.

On the top edge is the lock/power button; the right edge is home to a volume rocker and dedicated camera button; and the left edge features a connector for the charging car cradle, a mini USB port for syncing and charging, and what appears to be a microSD card slot hidden behind a door.

And yes, the 3MP auto-focus camera with GPS geotagging will also be familiar to anyone who's seen our G60 review. In fact, the only discernible external difference is the 295W's chrome trim in place of the G60's all-black exterior.

The PND also receives Garmin's new "Breeze UI" software, which features large home screen icons for "Where to?" and "View Map" (obviously, the "Phone" icon is missing) above a sliding row of smaller icons for secondary functions. When connected to a Wi-Fi hot spot, the 295W can access Google Local Search, browse the Web with its WebKit-based browser, download weather forecasts, and send and receive POP3 and IMAP e-mail. Obviously, the Nuvi 295W features turn-by-turn directions--it is, after all, a Garmin--with text-to-speech spoken street names, but no live traffic data functionality.

When we tested the Nuvifone G60, we thought it made a fine navigator but failed as a smartphone. So, perhaps without the phone element, the Nuvi 295W will have a fighting chance. We'll find out soon enough when the Nuvi 295W hits stores on May 16 for a suggested retail price of $280. In the meantime, check out the pair of short promo videos outlining the 295W's camera and Wi-Fi features after the jump.

… Read more

Talking while turning: Top six GPS devices with Bluetooth

Ideally, portable and installed GPS devices increase driver safety by allowing you to focus on the road without fumbling with a paper map or staring at written directions. At the same time, a good Bluetooth hands-free system will allow drivers to take and make calls while keeping their eyes on the road and their hands on the steering wheel.

Old timers often extol the virtues of simply knowing where you're going and not taking phone calls when behind the wheel, but the fact is that today's highways are more complex than ever and the temptation of a ringing … Read more