Garmin Handheld and Portable GPS Navigation Devices Product Overview
Garmin strives to make its handheld and portable GPS navigation devices easy for anyone to use right out of the box. Considering how extremely complex the technology is, this is no easy feat.
Simple controls and subscreens make it easy to enter or search for destinations and get information about your trip. Simply touch the color screen to enter a destination, and nuvi will take you there with turn-by-turn voice directions, 2D or 3D maps, and seamless map updates as you navigate.
This year, Garmin has redesigned its interface to include much more useful information:
– HotFix(TM) – also known as: satellite ephemeris data prediction. Your GPS device locks onto transmissions from a dedicated network of Satellites to determine your position.
Decreasing the time it takes for your device to get “satellite lock” is always a goal of GPS manufacturers. HotFix can predict satellite positions up to 3 days after the device was last powered off.
– Browse by Photo. With Garmin’s unique website, Garmin Connect Photos, users can choose from millions of geolocated photos provided by Google’s Panoramio photo-sharing community.
– 3D terrain maps. Shaded relief terrain maps show you when to expect hills, mountains, forests, and other natural features. Topographic terrain maps can be viewed when using the 2D “bird’s eye” view.
– Send directions directly from Google Maps or Mapquest. It’s easy to look up locations on Google Maps or Mapquest and then transfer the directions directly to your Garmin GPS navigator.
– Improved traffic and content from MSN Direct. With an optional receiver, you can access enhanced dynamic content from the MSN Direct service.
– FM traffic. With an optional receiver, you can receive TMC Clear Channel alerts about traffic jams and road construction that may occur on your route.
– Widescreen—See more of what’s around you. Super-bright 4.3-inch (diagonal) touchscreen provides anti-glare for easy daytime viewing
The widescreen format gives you 70% more actual screen area than a 3.5-inch screen.
– Where I am? With any nuvi, simply tap “Where am I?” to find the nearest hospitals, police stations, gas stations, nearest address and intersection. Also see exact latitude and longitude coordinates.
– Top notch map data. The nuvi comes ready to go right out of the box with preloaded City Navigator NT street maps for all of North America, Hawaii and Puerto Rico. It includes a large database of points of interest with hotels, restaurants, fuel, ATMs and more.
-Garmin lock. Garmin’s patent-pending theft prevention system that prevents the unit from performing any function until the user enters a specific 4-digit PIN or takes the unit to a predetermined secure location
– Beyond navigation. Navigation is just the beginning. nuvi 2×5 models feature travel tools including a JPEG image viewer, world travel clock with time zones, currency converter, measurement converter, calculator and more.
– Trick your GPS Ride. All Garmin nuvis support configurable vehicle icons. These fun, custom car-shaped icons come in a variety of colors to add a personal touch to your vehicle’s position on the map.