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GPS NEWS and REVIEW (100 unread)

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Jake’s Journal: New Winter Training video – Skis the Limit

Posted: February 22nd, 2012, 2:10pm CET

No, that's not a typo, this video is all about the speed and sweat involved in cross-country skiing. I'll be the first to say that I'm a warm-weather guy, preferring sand to snow, but this mild midwestern winter has even been a bit odd for me. Aside from Psycho Wyco a couple weekends ago , it's been downright balmy! But this video actually made me excited about these above-average temps dropping below freezing (after I finish today's lunch ride, of course). The first time I tried cross-country skiing, I wasn't smooth and I didn't glide. Honestly, I was thrilled to stay on my feet (though there was that one time that I flopped...going UPhill). But after watching all of our Winter Training videos and this motivational clip of an amazing athlete using a Forerunner 910XT to chase down his virtual partner, I'm inspired - to ride harder today over lunch, to run faster in my next half, to give cross-country skiing another try. If nothing else, racing myself should leave plenty of room for improvement. What's your favorite activity for Winter Training ? Tell us on Twitter at @Garmin or leave a comment on our Facebook page . Best of luck, and have some fun - whatever the weather! Winter Training - The Dawn from Garmin EMEA on Vimeo .

Nikon CoolPix AW100 GPS camera review

Posted: February 21st, 2012, 12:26am CET

Nikon’s CoolPix AW100 is one of the cameras we talked about in our compare GPS digital cameras article. The price has gone down on this camera to $300 right now and that’s pretty good deal for a waterproof camera with GPS technology. So we decided to look around the web for some user review snippets and found these: Pros: lightweight and small quick between shots GPS does not waste power higer ISO photos are clear good battery life vibration reduction works really well Cons: complicated menus waterproofness needs to be serviced yearly poor zoom performance when in video mode Here’s the Amazon link: Nikon COOLPIX AW100 16 MP CMOS Waterproof Digital Camera with GPS and Full HD 1080p Video Brought to you by your GPS navigation site NaviGadget . Nikon CoolPix AW100 GPS camera review

Scenes from the Miami Boat Show 2012

Posted: February 20th, 2012, 2:22pm CET

As we wrap up the Miami Boat Show today, we wanted to bring you some scenes from this year's busy show. Ever since the doors opened on Thursday, the Garmin booth has been packed with customers who want to check out our new line of thermal-imaging and low-light cameras , the BlueChart Mobile app for iPad and the GHP 20 Steer-by-Wire Autopilot for Teleflex Marine Optimus and Optimus 360 systems and Viking VIPER systems . Everyone who stopped by to see the new cameras was blown away by their incredible zoom capabilities, the full integration with our chartplotters and the MARPA and AIS target tracking features alike. On the other side of the booth, customers could see firsthand the wireless transfer of routes and waypoints from the BlueChart Mobile app to a Garmin plotter and could browse the real-time content provided by the ActiveCaptain community of mariners on the water. And not only was Garmin in the convention center, but we were also on the water a lot at this show, too. From Edgewater to Viking to Ranger Tugs , Invincible , Sabre and Tiara , Garmin OEMs stayed busy with a constant stream of sea trials, showing off the benefits of a full Garmin marine electronics packages along the way. Today is the last day of the show, so if you're in town, stop by the Garmin booth (#1698) to check out what's new!

My GPS won’t speak street names

Posted: February 20th, 2012, 1:04pm CET

I bet I’ve answered this dozens of times in our comments, so this is a long overdue post. Not that many years ago, most auto GPS units didn’t speak street names; you’d hear “turn right in 1/4 mile.” Nowadays, most models have text-to-speech capabilities and will say something like, “turn right on Oak Street in 1/4 mile.” Sometimes though, they get messed up, usually because the owner has changed the voice and/or language settings. To fix this, go into the settings and look for voices that are labeled something like “speaks street names” or “computerized” or “TTS” or “text-to-speech.” Change to one of those voices and you should be good to go.

Jake’s Journal: Argyle cycling fans share the love on Twitter

Posted: February 17th, 2012, 10:14pm CET

I wasn't going to get mushy on the blog just because it was Valentine's Day this week. But then Team Garmin founder Jonathan Vaughters brought a smile to my face as big as his sideburns. A few hours ago, he tweeted to his faithful followers : " Hey folks, need your help: Garmin is having a big wig meeting&we need some examples of how team sponsorship has helped their product sell. " After getting over the initial disappointment of realizing that I'm not a big wig, I started watching the replies pour in. First @limintime said, " because of my love for the sport and your team, all I own is garmin, car, on bike, and $10K in boat electronics, any ??? " Then @ddfairchild added, " When my daughter went to buy a GPS unit for her car, I told her she needed a Garmin, strictly based on the cycling sponsorship " And they just continued to roll in. Just since I typed the last two sentences, three more popped up: @bucky651: have a edge 300 & 500 , a forerunner , a dakota , a nuvi and a sumo, why- Garmin sponsors bike racing @WHYweride: I have purchased six Garmin products since Garmin has sponsored your team. I think that is good marketing value. @stokedonspokes: had a 705 before, and a 500 now. @ garmin 's support of cycling is definitely a big reason to buy their products There are truly too many to cut and paste here, but you can check out JV's Twitter stream as he retweeted many of them. And we read all of them. Thank you. Long before we sponsored the team, we loved cycling. Our engineers who first taped a Garmin to their handlebars and soon after created the Edge did so because they love to ride. We host Bike MS , build a team of colleagues and welcome thousands from across the area to our headquarters because we love to ride - especially for a good cause. I have three bikes in my office right now because I love to ride. And we still get chills whenever we see the argyle armada taking the start line, lining up the leadout train or climbing the podium. Because we love to ride. Thank you all, whether you replied to JV's tweet or are just looking forward to getting on your bike as soon as possible, for reminding us why we love to make products for your handlebars, your wrists, your cars, your boats - your life. Have a great weekend, and enjoy the ride.

FCC wants to kill LightSquared’s planned network

Posted: February 16th, 2012, 6:54pm CET

AP is reporting that FCC has reached a conclusion in favor of the GPS industry after National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), concluded that there’s no way to eliminate the risk of interference with GPS devices. FCC now revoked LightSquared’s permit – after giving them a tentative approval last year. This is really bad news for LightSquared which had already spent about $4 billion on their network which planned to put about 40000 high power transmitters all around the U.S. Also again, according to AP: LightSquared is owned by Harbinger Capital Partners, a private-equity firm that made billions betting against subprime mortgages ahead of the collapse of the housing market. In case this decision made you feel sorry about LightSquared, the above should take care of that :) Brought to you by your GPS navigation site NaviGadget . FCC wants to kill LightSquared’s planned network

Enter to win Garmin products with the Tiara Garmin Giveaway at MBS

Posted: February 15th, 2012, 4:44pm CET

If you're headed to the Miami Boat Show this week or weekend, make sure you stop by Tiara Yachts , a Garmin OEM, to see their latest models - like the 4800 Convertible - equipped with full Garmin electronics packages. While you're there, don't miss out on your chance to enter to win one of the many Garmin products they'll be giving away throughout the show. Each day of the show (Feb. 16 to Feb. 20, 2012) Tiara will draw two winners (one at 1PM ET and one at 4PM ET) for a number of Garmin prizes including an Approach S1 GPS golf watch, an Approach G3 pocket-sized golf GPS, a GTU 10 GPS tracker/locator, an Edge 200 GPS cycling computer and a Forerunner 110 GPS runner's watch. Winners must be present to win...good luck and see you at the show!

FCC kills LightSquared

Posted: February 15th, 2012, 1:02pm CET

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) wrote the FCC yesterday ( PDF ) saying they had concluded “that LightSquared’s proposed mobile broadband network will impact GPS services and that there is no practical way to mitigate the potential interference at this time.” Shortly thereafter, the FCC announced that they would “(1) vacate the Conditional Waiver Order, and (2) suspend indefinitely LightSquared’s Ancillary Terrestrial Component authority to an extent consistent with the NTIA letter.” The FCC announcement does not appear to have been posted to their website, but instead was delivered via an email to major news outlets. A TMF Associates post appears to reproduce the announcement , at least in part. So it seems that the GPS industry has won, at least for the time being. Yet the vultures are circling , and LightSquared’s valuable spectrum will undoubtedly be put to use at some point in the future. Barring reversal by the courts, the day of reckoning has likely been postponed for a number of years. But we do need more wireless broadband, and it will be interesting to see how the GPS industry handles the potential interference over the next few years, now that they’ve bought some time.

Buy with confidence: Garmin offers New Chart Guarantee, discounted update programs

Posted: February 15th, 2012, 12:45pm CET

One more day until the Miami Boat Show , and two more new announcements from Garmin! Today we introduced a couple of new cartography programs to ensure boaters are equipped with the best charts available. Our New Chart Guarantee program ensures that mariners who have recently purchased a new pre-programmed BlueChart g2 or BlueChart g2 Vision microSD/SD card receive the most updated charts available. As navigational aids change, shipwrecks happen, and mother nature is unpredictable, safe navigation on the water has never been more important. With New Chart Guarantee, customers who have recently purchased new BlueChart g2 or g2 Vision card can update their charts within the first 6 months of purchase for free. For those who have had their BlueChart g2 and BlueChart g2 Vision cards for a while, we are also now offering discounted BlueChart updates via our website. For a reduced fee, new charts will be downloaded onto your existing microSD card and will replace the existing maps. BlueChart updates have never been easier or more affordable. These programs are available now, so to get started or to learn more, visit our Map Updates and BlueChart Updates pages to see if you’re eligible for a free or discounted update.

Garmin BlueChart Marine App for iPad

Posted: February 14th, 2012, 7:04pm CET

Garmin today announced BlueChart Mobile marine app for iPad and iPhone. With the new BlueChart app, captains can now make use of BlueChart data found in Garmin chartplotters. The app also lets you connect to ActiveCaptain, a website community that provides content generated by mariners for mariners. You can also plan and create routes, view shaded depth contours and inter-tidal zones, search for a marine service point to find out the phone number, hours of operation, and information about amenities and services available. Supposing you have internet connection on your iPad you can also get weather conditions, temperatures, dew points, wind direction and speed, radar and cloud cover – all overlaid on the chart data. And if you happen to have a Garmin chartplotter on board you can wirelessly transfer routes, waypoints and tracks created from the BlueChart Mobile app. There’s also a cool feature where you can “follow the boat” by sharing the GPS capability on the charplotter even if your iPad don’t have this feature. Brought to you by your GPS navigation site NaviGadget . Garmin BlueChart Marine App for iPad

BlueChart Mobile app and marine cameras introduced for MBS

Posted: February 14th, 2012, 2:30pm CET

In preparation for the Miami International Boat Show (MBS) this week, today we introduced our new BlueChart Mobile app for iPad and iPhone, and our new line of thermal-imaging and low-light cameras - all of which will be on display at the Garmin booth at this year's show (booth #1689). Garmin's BlueChart Mobile app offers mariner the same feature rich and highly accurate BlueChart data found on our chartplotters, and allows for route planning from the comfort of your home - before you board the boat. BlueChart Mobile also lets users access and fully utilize ActiveCaptain , a web-based community that provides real-time content generated by mariners. Now, mariners will not only have the latest charts and service data from Garmin, but they'll also have access to a wealth of information directly from other captains. The BlueChart Mobile app is expected to be available this summer. The GCT 30 (hi-res thermal), GCT 20 (lo-res thermal) and GCL 20 (low-light) can pan, tilt and zoom, and provide extra situational awareness by enhancing visibility at any time of day - especially at dusk, dawn and total darkness (thermal only). Each new camera is fully controllable from a Garmin chartplotter, and with an additional heading sensor, multiple cameras can track a target from the plotter. The GCT 30 and GCT 20 can even detect a hot spot, overlay a box around the spot, and then automatically pan and tilt to follow the identified hot spot. They feature extraordinary zoom capabilities, continuous 360-degree rotation and 180-degree autoflip. To learn more about Garmin's new series of marine cameras, check out the video below.

Lowrance HDS-10 Gen2 Fishfinder/Chartplotter

Posted: February 14th, 2012, 1:40am CET

Lowrance, which specializes in marine GPS technology and chartplotters and fishfinder just recently introduced the Lowrance HDS-10 Gen2 Fishfinder/Chartplotter. It has a 10″ color screen and comes with either enhanced U.S. basemap, or intuitive, life-like Insight USA mapping, or Worldwide (non-Americas): Navionics world background map. Some other features include: Realtime StructureMap capability built-in Broadband Sounder internal GPS antenna High-bright, sunlight-viewable display with LED backlighting TrackBack feature to review sonar history and save waypoints on key locations NMEA 2000 and high-speed Ethernet networking options Brought to you by your GPS navigation site NaviGadget . Lowrance HDS-10 Gen2 Fishfinder/Chartplotter

Peg’s Posts: Psycho WyCo 2012 race recap

Posted: February 13th, 2012, 7:24pm CET

There are times when you mustn’t listen to the voices in your head. The ones that magnify fears and overrule ambitions. Saturday was a day to ditch the doubts and just move with the masses for the Run Toto Run trail runs (affectionately known by many as Psycho WyCo) put on by the Trail Nerds . More than 30 Garmin associates took part in one of three race distances — 10 mi, 20 mi or the purely psychotic 30 mi. My primary doubt leading into this race was whether I could stick it out for the 20 mi without my partners in pain from last year. Jake had a solid alibi; Ryan was doing the more sane 10 (he’s a dad now; gotta think of the offspring). Pre-race, Ryan and I exchanged weather musings. At what point does frostbite set in? Does the probability of a turned ankle go up or down if your feet are frozen solid? Here are more Psycho Wyco musings from the Garmin team, followed by my race recap. Cody: Not only was this my longest run ever, it was also my dog's first race and longest run. I did the first lap solo, then had my wife pass off our dog for my final lap. To aid in this transition, I used the Garmin Astro 320 and a couple DC40 collars. I gave my family the handheld and I carried a DC40 transmitter in the back pocket of my jacket. This allowed my family to know exactly where I was on the course and see me in a few spots where the course ran next to the road. It worked out great. My dog and the DC40 were ready to go with her official race number and timing chip pinned to it. It was great to have 4 fresh legs to pull me along the hilly course! Reid: Rolled an ankle around mile four. Started icing at the finish, but I think the ice was warmer than the air around it. Brian: Redeemed myself from last year's failure to finish. Bruised feet but a big smile. #vibramnation Lee: Actually had fun in the 20, finished with many icicles in my hair and still very sore, but planning to try the 50k next year. DaShaun: It was cold, but warmed up quickly after start. Friendly and fun event. The volunteers/staff are the best around. Next time I will do the 50k. [Read his full race reca p ] David: Great trail run. My first. Who knew there were so many hills and turns? Legs still trying to recover. Would do it again. Kurt: Felt pretty good yesterday except for that fuzzy-head I always seem to get after such a run. Sore feet were the worst pitfall during the race. Bob: Another fun but hard race. Conditions were good but cold. Thanks to everyone wearing shorts to create the appearance of warm conditions. Dan: No snow, no ice. And you call this Psycho? I didn't slip even once! Sharon: What an awesome morning for a trail race! This was my first time on this course, and my first trail race in over 4 years (having babies will do that). My adrenaline was pumping, especially when a deer came flying across the trail around mile 2. Rick: Run Toto Run was a blast! A frigid winter frozen blast. Knee & ankle joints made from titanium and Teflon are highly recommended for the frozen, pitted, rocky, trails. Peg: While I much prefer to run the WyCo trails with a hard-pack layer of snow, but I was grateful to have a solid base for the brutal bridle trails. According to race director Ben Holmes, the conditions were the perfect set up for some fast finishes. And I’ve gotta call out the top female finisher who earned the spotlight in Ben’s race report. I saw this girl at the start, who looked about 16, and I was in awe she was sporting a 50k bib. From Ben’s report: Kaci Lickteig (25), of Omaha, Nebraska blew away the 50k female course record with an incredible finish time of 4:46:19! She is the only sub-five-hour female finisher (so far), in the eight-year history of this race. She had almost perfect loop splits: 1:34:00, 1:35:52, 1:36:27. To add to the scope of this accomplishment, this was Kaci's first trail race, and her first ultra-distance event. We had some stellar performances from the Garmin crew too, including Nathan’s 9 th place, in the 10 mi with a time of 1:24:23 and Lee’s 3 rd place in the 20 mi with a time of 3:06:39. Pretty sure they’d chalk it up to having the right training tools on their side. And just the fact that we had two finishers in the 50k, true trail runners Kurt and Bill, is amazing. I had a chance to run with Kurt from about mile 8-10. While my Forerunner 610 confirmed I was on track to meet my 4:20 time goal, it was nice to get human endorsement from Kurt. Knowing I had banked some minutes in the first loop, I took time to properly refuel before starting round 2 (lesson learned from my near-bonking crankiness Jake had to endure last year). That dilly-dallying between loops could’ve been my wisest decision of the day, along with walking some of the uphills on the 2 nd loop. My biggest challenge of the race was actually gear-related. Water bottle spout froze up early on, so I just had to take my time and unscrew the lid to take a sip now and then. No biggie. Until about mile 16, when I had to come to terms with a real drinking problem. The ice was so solid in my bottle cap, it wouldn’t screw back on. I wasn’t about to waste electrolytes when I had another two miles to the next aid station, so I did what any trail runner might do. I don’t know if traipsing the trails with an “open container” is against park regulations, but I know it’s certainly not advised. As I neared the final aid station, a volunteer ran up and asked what I needed, then promptly topped off my bottle and knocked out enough of the ice to get me on my way. As always, the volunteers for this race are second to none and the Trail Nerds once again put on a fantastic race. Thanks to SeeKCRun for all the photos. Check out the course details in Garmin Connect and we'll see you out there next year!

Heli-Expo Day 2: G500H approved for installation in R44

Posted: February 13th, 2012, 3:00pm CET

Walking through Heli-Expo, you're sure to see several helicopters equipped with Garmin's G500H flight display. Models ranging from the EC 130 and AS 350 to the Bell 206 and 407 are all eligible for this glass cockpit upgrade. And now, one more helicopter model joins that list: The Robinson R44. Garmin announced this week that the G500H is certified for installation in the R44. This is exciting news for R44 operators who now have the opportunity to upgrade their panel to glass and benefit from all of the enhanced situational awareness tools that this system offers including Helicopter Synthetic Vision Technology (HSVT). datalink weather and a video input display. To learn more about the G500H and Garmin's other helicopter solutions, check out this minisite , and check back to the Garmin blog for more updates from Heli-Expo 2012.

Handheld GPS 201: Using online tracks for trails

Posted: February 13th, 2012, 1:13pm CET

One of my early experiences with GPS surprised me. I went out for a hike in Van Damme State Park , using my GPS to collect a track along the way. When I got home I transferred the track to my computer, opened it in a mapping program , and was surprised to find that my track was a lot more accurate than the USGS map of the trail. It turns out that this is more the rule than the exception. If you want to accurately locate a trail on your GPS or on a map, there is no substitute for a good track recorded by a high-sensitivity GPS receiver (which means just about any released in the last few years). Now if you’re the kind of person who goes to the same place over and over, no problem; you can collect your own track. But I’m an explorer. My best days on the trail are spent covering ground I’ve never traversed before. Lucky for folks like me, there are plenty of websites where you can download tracks of trails. Some even have a transfer button so that you can connect your GPS directly. For others, you’ll need to download a track file and transfer it your device. GPX track files The files you download will most likely come with a .gpx file extension. And while there are many mapping software programs that will open them, you can just drag and drop the files to most modern GPS receivers. With newer Garmin handhelds you put them in the Garmin/GPX folder. Nevertheless, it’s a good idea to preview the file in a mapping program first, and older receivers will likely require a program for transferring the track file. Finally, before we move on, be aware that .gpx files can contain waypoints , tracks AND/OR routes , so a file may contain more than just the track of the trail. Websites for downloading GPS tracks This is really tough. There are so many sites out there for this, so I’m only going to cover a few. Garmin Connect (pictured above) – Massive user base but seems to be more for runners and road bikers than backcountry types; search functionality isn’t that great Trimble Outdoors – They also partner with Backpacker magazine, so you’ll often find longer trails here GPSies – I like the fact that this one tells you how many files they have per country; for the US it’s over 17,000 GoBreadcrumbs – This site has more trails in the US, followed by Europe and Canada (thanks to @atlascached for suggesting these last two) Google Don’t overlook the king of search. Try searching for a park or trail name and gpx. Regional and sport specific sites There may be a website that offers GPX downloads for trails in your area. Hiking club sites are a good place to check. For example, one of my favorites for the southern Appalachians is the Carolina Mountain Club . And there are sport-specific sites like MTBGuru.com . Heck there are even sport AND region specific sites . You’ll often have to look around a bit for the .gpx download link – try doing CTRL-F (CMD-F on a Mac) and enter gpx to search the page. Take with a grain of salt There are a few caveats for using these in the field: As always with GPS, you should come equipped with a map and compass and know how to use them The downloaded tracks are representations of someone else’s experience, and may include a wildly inaccurate track, wrong turns, etc. Check to be sure that the downloaded track matches up to written trail descriptions Share your tracks If you take a trail that you can’t find online, consider uploading your own track file and sharing it with others. The Garmin advantage Newer Garmin units have a very cool feature . If you load a track file and select it for navigation, it will automatically create a route with any waypoints you have along the trail and even insert waypoints for high and low points along the track. Neat, huh?

G5000H flight deck from Garmin

Posted: February 13th, 2012, 5:57am CET

Garmin just introduced an integrated flight deck for medium lift helicopters called the G5000H . It combines widescreen displays with touchscreen controls. The G5000H has hi-res, wide primary flight displays (PFD) as well as multi-function displays (MFD). This lets pilots view their flight display, maps, charts, checklists and system synoptics, HTAWS, TCAS, flight planning, weather or video input pages. The system also fully integrates with environmental controls, electrical power distribution and hydraulic systems giving pilots full control. Some other features of the G5000H include: Helicopter Synthetic Vision Technology (HSVT) : displays an “out-the-window” view of the surroundings, regardless of the weather conditions HTAWS provides graphical and audible alerts of potential terrain and obstacle conflicts along the flight path graphical weather including NEXRAD, METARs, TAFs, TFRs, winds aloft, echo tops, precipitation type at the surface, lightning strikes, storm-cell data, AIRMETs, and SIGMETs Brought to you by your GPS navigation site NaviGadget . G5000H flight deck from Garmin

Heli-Expo Day 1: Garmin enters medium lift helicopter market with G5000H

Posted: February 12th, 2012, 5:13pm CET

Today is the opening day of Heli-Expo in Dallas, Texas, and Garmin came prepared with some exciting news for helicopter operators. Just this morning we unveiled the G5000H , a touchscreen-controlled integrated flight deck specifically designed for medium lift helicopters. Bell Helicopter is the first helicopter manufacturer to announce that they’ve selected the system, and it will be installed on the Bell 525 Relentless, a new super medium transport helicopter that was also introduced today at the show. The G5000H features widescreen, high resolution primary flight displays (PFD) and multi-function displays (MFD). The system supports multiple display sizes and is scalable to support a large number of display and touchscreen controller configurations. The touchscreen controllers give pilots rapid access to the flight information they want, and the growth-oriented architecture allows for future technologies to be accommodated via software updates. The G5000H has a multitude of great features and capabilities designed to reduce workload and enhance situational awareness: Helicopter Synthetic Vision Technology (HSVT) Helicopter Terrain Awareness and Warning System (HTAWS) Worldwide datalink weather solutions Global connectivity options including the ability to make and receive phone calls 3D Audio Telligence Voice Command If you're in Dallas attending Heli-Expo, you'll want to stop by the Garmin booth to check out this new system. And keep checking back to the blog for more updates from the show.

Who do you believe? LightSquared or GPS industry?

Posted: February 11th, 2012, 7:17pm CET

This has been going on for way too long. We’d like to know what our readers think about this issue. But very briefly here is what’s been going on: LightSquared is trying to build a LTE network with about 40000 powerful ground transmitters. The frequency they are allocated sits right next to the frequency used by GPS receivers. GPS signals are much more weaker compared to LightSqaured signals. There’s going to be interference. GPS industry is saying this is going to be devastating for GPS receivers used in aviation, cell phones, car and marine navigatoors, high precision devices used in agriculture, surveying, etc, and GPS Timing. LightSquared is saying GPS interference tests are rigged, and the GPS receivers should be regulated so they won’t pickup signals from neighboring bands. Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll. Brought to you by your GPS navigation site NaviGadget . Who do you believe? LightSquared or GPS industry?

TomTom Working with Insurance Co. to Get You a Discount… or not

Posted: February 11th, 2012, 12:14pm CET

Hummm, sounds pretty Big Brother to me, but it's all optional for now; and it's in the UK. TomTom is working with the Fair Pay insurance company in the UK to get consumers a TomTom GPS, while monitoring their driving habits. The TomTom devices can also help them become better drivers through a series of feedback alerts. The monitoring is similar to the Progressive Snapshot program where for a few months, Progressive gets to monitor your driving habits, times and locations to assess your risky behavior. If you're safe, you get a discount; if not, you're still in the big pool with everyone else. The TomTom 3100 Pro is the device, and is build on a Fleet Tracking platform , where fleet managers can track a vehicle's whereabouts, its drive and idle time, and assemble those statistics into meaningful reports to increase efficiency or uncover that deadbeat in the workforce. The TomTom 3100 also has some nice features to help you drive more efficiently, like "harsh steering, cornering and braking. Active Driver Feedback raises the awareness and actively helps the driver to save on fuel." Via Digital Trends

David and his Edge 705 muddle through World Cyclocross Championships

Posted: February 10th, 2012, 9:04pm CET

We love to hear from customers who are putting our devices to the test while pushing their own endurance. Local cyclist David Conrad sent us a note after his recent competition at the Masters World Cyclocross Championships in Louisville, Kentucky. David has been riding and racing with Garmin Edge products since they first hit the shelves, though his racing career predates our product line. He used to race with John Vande Velde, father of Team Garmin-Barracuda leader Christian, as well as father and uncle of Team Garmin’s Peter Stetina. Bet he has some pretty impressive photo collections and memories from his career. Here’s what David had to say about his experience in Louisville: My Edge 705 was with me and kept up to the muddy mess and the hosing off later. I still have some Louisville mud on my Edge and my bike (also my bags and more places to discover). The race on Friday, Jan. 13 was to determine starting spot on the starting grid. Sunday’s race was the actual championship. I let three guys pass me because Ned Overand passed me and I thought they were in second place chasing. I did not want to be "that guy" to affect the front of the race without being in the action for those places and realized the error as soon as they passed me. I crashed hard a couple of times on Sunday and was just in survival mode by the end. Thanks to his Edge 705 and Garmin Connect , David is able to track every mile, minute and minutia of details about his rides. While he said his overall mileage for 2011 was down from typical years due to work demands and other events, he logged 5,822 miles for the year (compared to 8,417 in 2010). He continues to inspire many of us here at Garmin. After seeing his gritty pics from the Championships, one associate who recently got bit (hard) by the cycling bug, said “My bucket list now has a new picture to add to it. Though I love-love my nice clean road bike, I so want a reason to pick it up and run through something I'd yell at my kids for jumping into.”

TomTom PRO 3100 lowers your insurance premium

Posted: February 10th, 2012, 3:04am CET

TomTom announced in UK that it will work with Motaquote to lower down your insurance premium cost by tracking how you drive with their new TomTom PRO 3100. It’s a new policy called Fair Pay insurance which “reward good drivers with a lower bill but in return you’re giving up your privacy. When you sign up you’ll get the LIVE services working on your GPS navigation device to warn you about speed cameras and accident hot spots and more. It can even warn you if there’s sudden breaking on your route. Of course the feedback is with the LINK tracking unit. This will inform Motaquote on your driving habits which you can also check yourself or get them in your email. TomTom is trying to differentiate itself from others by providing services like this. In times when smartphones have a sharp 4.3″ screen, constant connectivity and free GPS navigation apps they really have to try hard. Brought to you by your GPS navigation site NaviGadget . TomTom PRO 3100 lowers your insurance premium

Victor’s Vectors: Pilot My-Cast now supports XM weather

Posted: February 9th, 2012, 7:53pm CET

I recently read an article about a pilot suing his airline for not having the option to carry his charts electronically on an iPad which led to a back injury. Many pilots, including myself, have felt the pain of carrying several pounds worth of charts. To battle this issue, many pilots are turning to electronic devices such as the iPad or Garmin’s aera 796. Whether you go with a dedicated device such as the aera or you go with the iPad, Garmin has you covered. Pilot My-Cast for the iPad puts large amounts of information literally at your fingertips, and recently Pilot My-Cast has gotten even better. Earlier this week Pilot My-Cast released Version 3.3 , which improves on its already stellar list of features. The enhanced features include: • Integration with XM weather using the Baron Mobile Link (purchased separately), which with a subscription from XM will allow you to get XM satellite weather information on your iPad while in flight. • Enhanced Flight Plan and Direct-To features, which add the ability to insert departures and arrivals to the active flight plan and graphically edit the flight plan. • NavTrack, which is a valuable pre-flight planning tool, now locks to your current location while in-flight updating text products (METARs, TAFs, Winds, etc) and widgets with information closest to your location. • Improvements were made to make it even easier to download and access all the charts you need for your flight. With this large amount of information packaged into an iPad weighing in at less than two pounds it’s a great value that won’t break your back.

Garmin Welcomes World Class Mountain Biker and Endurance Athlete Extraordinaire Rebecca Rusch to the Family

Posted: February 9th, 2012, 6:36pm CET

“I n the morning before getting out of bed, I spend a few moments setting mini goals for the day. I de cide what I intend to do and then try to live up to that. I fail on a regular basis for various reasons, but I also succeed some days. The practice of being intentional about how you want to live each day helps me stay focused and on track.” – Rebecca Rusch Abs olutely nothing seems impossible to new Garmin Sponsored Athlete Rebecca Rus c h , in fact, that word doesn’t even exist in her vocabulary. Whether it’s paddling the always dangerous Molokai crossing with the famous Offshore Canoe Club women’s outrigger team, scaling high-peaks during epic ascents like Yosemite, or winning the past three Leadville Trail 100 mountain bike races (setting the course record as well), Rusch is always in search of her next challenge and a dventure! Ru sch is excited to incorporate the power of Garmin’s GPS products into her training and racing and has already started using an Edge 500 on her handle bars and a Forerunner 910xt on her wrist while cross training. In addition to three 24-hour solo mountain bike World Champion rainbow jerseys, Rusch is the current World Champion for Master’s XC mountain biking, the 2011 National XC single-speed champion, and a three-time national champion in 24-hour team mountain biking. She has won Idaho’s Short Track state championship (twice), and a Cyclocross state title. An accomplished Nordic skier, she’s won the Masters Cross Country Skiing World Championship, in addition to taking the top prize at Raid Gauloises Adventure Racing World Championships. “Every night before falling asleep, I ask myself, ‘what was the best part of my day?’ Even if it was a horrible day, I find some little thing to appreciate. Believe me, sometimes I have to dig deep to find something to feel good about, but I do it anyway.” – Rebecca Rusch After all her mind boggling achievements and feats that seem un-human, it is Rusch’s down-to-earth and genuine personality that we are most excited about. Like Garmin, Rusch wants nothing more than to see a world of health conscious people who are actively living their lives searching for their next challenge. Welcome to the Garmin family, Rebecca!

Get to know Garmin’s new Approach G6 golf GPS

Posted: February 7th, 2012, 10:56pm CET

Since the Approach G6 was announced last month at CES and showcased at the PGA show in Orlando , it's attracted a lot of attention from golfers who appreciate a streamlined design, a touchscreen interface and innovative technology. Moreso, it's impressed those who want preloaded courses (25,000 of them!) rather than getting stuck with subscriptions or pay-to-play fees on their GPS handhelds. So for all of you who wanted a lot more information about the Approach G6 - and to see it in action - here's an introductory video that highlights the key features and will have you itching to grab your clubs and start working on your swing. It's golf weather somewhere, right?

Team Garmin notches first win of 2012 in true team fashion

Posted: February 6th, 2012, 6:11pm CET

Garmin-Barracuda scored its first victory of the 2012 professional cycling campaign in true team fashion, winning the team time trial of Stage 2 in the Tour of Qatar. Here's the report from SlipstreamSports.com : The boys in argyle blasted through the 11.3km out and back ‘Merckx-style’ time trial course, setting an early time of 12 minutes and 38 seconds which held throughout the day. The impressive result also moved team sprinter Tyler Farrar up to second overall on GC while the second-year rider Ramunas Navardauskas moves into the best young rider jersey. With more sprint stages to come Farrar is poised to contend for the yellow jersey. “The TTT is close to our hearts at Garmin-Barracuda and winning today, as a team, is really exciting,” said Farrar. “It's a great way to start off the year.”

LightSquared and GPS community have no solution

Posted: February 4th, 2012, 6:31pm CET

We’ve been talking about the battle between LightSquared and the GPS industry. The heart of the problem is that the spectrum for 4G network and the GPS signals are right next to each other and compared to GPS signals 4G signals are way way stronger, possibly causing interference. In a report published June last year did indeed say this was the case. “For the originally defined LightSquared spectrum deployment scenarios, GPS-based operations are expected to be unavailable over entire regions of the country at any normal operational aircraft altitude.” So LightSquare’s solution was to use the dark orange band to the left to stay as far from regular GPS receivers as possible. This combined with better management of emissions from transmitter would save the sat nav systems used in aircrafts and cars. However the super accurate high end GPS receivers are still very susceptible to interference because their radio frequency filters are very “liberal” and sometimes the augmentation signals used by them are actually transmitted from frequencies in the mobile satellite band. I guess the problem is actually receivers not sticking to their allowed frequency since the receiver side of things is not really regulated by FCC. However if you want more technical insight do read up on this article too. Brought to you by your GPS navigation site NaviGadget . LightSquared and GPS community have no solution

Peg’s Posts: students spin to be green

Posted: February 3rd, 2012, 9:57pm CET

Last week I had a chance to mix up a few of my favorite topics — fitness, families and being green — at a math and science night at a local school. Garmin associates Greg and Kerri helped with our interactive demo where we invited young participants to see how pedaling their way to school and errands is the green way to go. With the help of a Garmin speed/cadence sensor and an Edge 800 bike computer, the students were able to see their spin speed while the bike was secured in a trainer. Plenty of “time trials” ensued throughout the evening with young riders wanting to one-up their buddy’s speed. We were impressed with how many students are already biking to school. The school supports this effort by offering bike safety training for students so they can safely navigate their way once they hit third grade. Greg and I were also awed by a few students who’d been on longer rides — 10 miles and more — which means they are now on our scouting list. We figure with the right gear and a little training, they could be sporting argyle very soon for The Other Team Garmin at Bike MS .

Suunto AMBIT GPS watch

Posted: February 3rd, 2012, 3:47pm CET

Suunto just recently announced the launch of the AMBIT , a GPS watch for Explorers. Why Ambit? Their press release says *AMBIT: As in Ambition. Synonyms: edge, reach, scope or range. OK, whatever, moving on. What you get with this GPS watch is a GPS navigation system, barometer, altimeter, 3D compass, and more. It has a 50 hour battery life – but that’s kind of hard to believe. It probably depends on how often you use the GPS features. Other features of Suunto AMBIT include advanced heart rate monitoring, and some basics such as speed, pace, etc. It is water resistant up to 100 meters too!!! It will be available next month in March! Brought to you by your GPS navigation site NaviGadget . Suunto AMBIT GPS watch

Got Facebook Timeline? Try the MapMyRide App

Posted: February 2nd, 2012, 11:29pm CET

MapMyRide (and MapMyRun, etc) have new Facebook Timeline Apps that will help you track your fitness on your Facebook pages…. while bragging to others about your exercise prowess. You'll be able to track your progress and get monthly reports. It's like a little web App right where you waste er ah, spend all of your time anyway.

Panasonic disabling GPS in their cameras to please China

Posted: February 2nd, 2012, 11:31am CET

A couple of days ago, Panasonic unveiled some new cameras with GPS for geotagging photos. Nothing surprising there. What did get my attention was this footnote: GPS may not work in China or in the border regions of countries neighboring China. Depending on the locations, it may not be possible to correctly receive the signals from GPS satellites. In such cases, positioning may not be possible, or a significant positioning discrepancy may occur. Information measured on this unit is only a rough indication. Do not use it for technical purposes. Now I’ve been scratching my head ever since trying to figure out why this is. GPS works in China; after all, it is a GLOBAL positioning system. I haven’t heard anything leading me to believe that there is country-wide jamming. And as far as I know, the Chinese haven’t started levying tariffs on non- Beidou compatible products, like the Russians did to jumpstart the GLONASS market. Maps often have huge errors in China, but that wouldn’t give you imprecise coordinates. In a back and forth conversation on Twitter yesterday, Stefan Geens suggested that they may just be trying to get around the fact that mapping requires a license, and that perhaps the Chinese equate geotagging to mapping. This is the most plausible explanation I’ve heard, although at least one other brand does seem to work in China… The GPS in my Lumix camera is disabled when in China. The camera gives an information message that it disables the GPS while in China. i was pleasantly surprised that Nikon does not disable the GPS in China but places some limitations on its use. The locations using the GPS in China seem to be off by about 500 ft to the west. In addition, the map function does not work in China and there are not location points for China in the database. (Via NikonUSA ) It turns out that geotagging is indeed illegal in China , and Nikon either isn’t in compliance or has found another way to deal with the situation (perhaps by generating an offset error). Clearly though, the Chinese haven’t banned the use of cell phones with GPS , which are quite capable of geotagging, though you may want to be careful where you go with them. Finally, despite reaching out to Panasonic, I still don’t have a definitive answer on all this. It does seem clear that they are intentionally disabling the GPS in their cameras to satisfy the Chinese, but what’s posted on their website is deceptive and dumbed down: Image via @ogleearth

Enter to win a fishing trip with FLW Tour winner Scott Martin

Posted: February 1st, 2012, 7:41pm CET

If you love Garmin's echo fishfinders , you'll definitely want to check out our Fish with a Pro sweepstakes for a chance to win a trip to Florida to spend a day on Lake Okeechobee fishing with Garmin pro, Scott Martin, on his tournament boat rigged with the latest and greatest in Garmin equipment! Our echo fishfinders feature the highest performance, power and pixels for your money - each echo model features Garmin's HD-ID target tracking technology which provides the clearest possible picture of what lies below; each offer smooth scaling with seamless screen transitions from shallow to deeper water; and each come with a trolling motor/transom transducer right out of the box! Not only can you enter to win a trip to fish with Scott on his home lake, but you'll also be entered for a chance to win your very own echo fishfinder and Garmin fishing gear, too. Enter for your chance to win today - Garmin's Fish with a Pro sweepstakes ends April 30, 2012!

Top ten GPS for January 2012

Posted: February 1st, 2012, 1:00pm CET

It’s that time again, when we look back at our reader’s favorite reviews for the previous month, which is indicative of what many folks are researching as potential purchases. And what a month it’s been, as we have two new number ones! On the auto side, the nuvi 2595LMT knocked out the 1450LMT, which had held the number one spot since April 2011. In handhelds, the eTrex 20 is the new reigning champ, after an incredible 13 month run for the Oregon 450. All told there are nine models on the charts that weren’t there last month. Top selling auto GPS Garmin nuvi 2595LMT Garmin nuvi 40 Garmin nuvi 1450LMT Garmin nuvi 1490LMT Garmin nuvi 50LM Garmin nuvi 3490LMT Garmin nuvi 2460LMT TomTom VIA 1535TM Garmin nuvi 2555LMT Garmin nuvi 1450 Top selling sport and handheld GPS Garmin eTrex 20 Garmin Oregon 450 Garmin eTrex 30 Garmin GPSMAP 62s Garmin Montana 600 Garmin Dakota 20 Garmin eTrex Venture HC Garmin Dakota 10 Garmin GPSMAP 62st Garmin Montana 650t

Supreme Court says warrentless GPS tracking is against 4th amendment

Posted: January 31st, 2012, 2:55am CET

Supreme Court decided earlier this month that police officers violated the Fourth Amendment which protects citizens against unreasonable search and seizure. The law enforcement attached a GPS tracking device to a suspect’s vehicle and tracked it for a month without a warrant. Even though the ruling was unanimous the reasoning was split in two. some of the justices said it was a violation of reasonable expectation of privacy when the GPS device was physically attached to the vehicle other justices said a person has a reasonable expectations that the details of his movements over a month period should be private What this ruling doesn’t touch is the tracking of your location by cell towers or other means which doesn’t involve any physical intervention. Brought to you by your GPS navigation site NaviGadget . Supreme Court says warrentless GPS tracking is against 4th amendment

A True Garmin Fashionista Uses Custom Forerunner During First Marathon

Posted: January 30th, 2012, 10:30pm CET

Whether you are a Runner , Cyclist , Paddle-Boarder , Golfer or even Fisherman , Hunter or Pilot you most likely have a favorite piece of equipment or a good luck charm. We totally get it!! Many times it is that gadget that helps keep you on the right track to achieve your goals. In the case of Sonya, a mother, die-hard runner and her running group's fashion guru, her can't live without item is a Forerunner 205 . But not just any Forerunner 205, I might add. Sonya, who is known to her training partners and friends as outgoing and fun-loving shows her personality with her style! Here is what Sonya had to say about her one of a kind Forerunner 205 and her first marathon in Miami, FL : I love my Garmin 205!! It is my most treasured piece of equipm ent for my runs!! When or if it ever fails to work I may have a complete "come-apart"! I love running more than I have words to describe, but I have become the fashionista runner among my running group and just when they thought I could not make my outfits anymore spectacular - I did! My "upgraded" (blinged out) device really captures everyone's attention, especially on a beautiful sunny day!! Th is blinged out Garmin helped me reach my goal of under 4 1/2 hours in my inaugural marathon attempt this past weekend!! It looked awesome with my 1st-marathon-outfit! Here are some pics! Thanks again for such a great product for us runners! P.S. Now my daughter and her friends want their car GPS Garmins "blinged" - Oh the madness!!! If you have your own "Custom Garmin" story and would like us to feature it on the blog send us a note to garminblogs@garmin.com or share it with us on facebook and twitter .

Garmin’s Chicago Store voted a Concierge Favorite and a One-of-a-Kind-Find!

Posted: January 30th, 2012, 9:10pm CET

Garmin’s one and only retail store - dedicated to the sales and service of Garmin GPS devices - received the honor of a Top 40 Shopping Destination and Concierge Favorite as voted by over 700 Chicago city and suburb concierges. This annual vote runs in conjunction with Concierge Day as proclaimed by Chicago Mayor Rahm Emmanuel on January 26. According to Concierge Preferred, the sponsor of the Favorites Award, almost five million referrals are made by Chicago’s 750-plus city and suburban concierges with over 1.1 shopping suggestions being made each year. Store representatives attended the Concierge Day Awards Event on Thursday evening, where the Concierge announced their top five choices in each category. The Store’s thank you video to the concierges aired throughout the evening. The store was also featured in the official web article as a One of a Kind Find. Check out the article posted on Concierge Preferred’s web site . Thank you to the Chicago Concierge Community for this great honor! We are proud to be a one-of-a-kind shopping destination in Chicago!

Victor’s Vectors: Loading approaches on the GTN

Posted: January 30th, 2012, 3:45pm CET

I love to see comments on the blog, and occasionally we even get a good question that we can spin into another post for others to learn from, as well. Recently we received a question about the operational difference between the GNS 530W and the GTN 750 with regard to loading approaches. In the 530W, when you select an approach, the GPS has you choose a transition. The transitions are a list of the first fix of all approach transition routes, plus a list of any Initial Approach Fixes (IAFs) on those transition routes that a pilot may choose to start from instead. “Vectors” is also an option as a transition, which basically tells the 530W that you are being vectored by Air Traffic Control (ATC) to the final approach segment of the approach. All intermediate and initial fixes are removed and the final segment becomes active. Garmin found that a large number of customers were choosing the Vectors option, so in the GTN 750 it is the default transition. To select a full approach with an IAF on the GTN you will touch the “Transition” field on the PROC – Approach page (depicted on page 6-11 in the Pilot’s Guide) and then touch the transition you would like to use for the approach from the list. Doing this will load the full approach with the points that are part of that route. It is often recommended to load the full approach in case ATC has you fly to an intermediate approach fix. This is something I recommend as well. Vectors can be activated later in the flight by going to the Procedures page and touching the button for “Activate Vectors To Final”. If you would like to practice using the GTN, download the free trainer and the Pilot’s Guide from Garmin’s website. Or download the GTN Trainer app for your iPad . Hopefully this answers the question and gives some insight to the operational differences, and keep those comments coming!

Deal of the Day Alert: TomTom Go Live 1535 – $139

Posted: January 30th, 2012, 11:17am CET

Definitely a deal to check out - 5-inch screen AND it's connected for local search, HD traffic and more. This TomTom GO LIVE 1535 has local search powered by Google, plus a suite of helper apps that are targeted to making your travel easier, including: Yelp, TripAdvisor, and Expedia. The GO LIVE services offer HD Traffic, fuel prices, and voice recognition and Bluetooth Handsfree capability. The maps of Mexico, the US, and Canada are includes and come with a lifetime upgrade package - no more severely out of date maps! Anyway, I thought it was a good enough deal to buy one myself to check out. I will have some posts on it in the coming weeks. At Amazon Deal of the Day - TomTom GO LIVE 1535

Garmin Golf Draws Big Crowds and Serious Players to the PGA Show in Orlando, FL

Posted: January 28th, 2012, 11:00am CET

From the time the doors of the Orange County Convention Center opened it was a constant stream of traffic surrounding the Garmin Golf booth at this year's PGA Show . PGA professionals, golf course executives and retailers alike were amazed by the power and simplicity of our Golf offerings . The common statement was, "I just can't believe there are no fees, or no subscriptions for the course data"-- and they are right! None of our Golf lineup requires any fees nor subscriptions, including the new Approach G6 and the popular Approach S1 GPS golf-watch . "We strive to make Garmin Golf products a compliment to player's games," said Bryan Yalowitz, Director of Sales for Garmin's outdoor segment. "For players looking for basic yardage information from their ball to the front, middle or back of the green, the S1 watch is the perfect tool! If you're a traveller and are looking for a more detailed product, the G6 comes pre-loaded with over 25k worldwide courses and provides enough info to think about calling it your caddy." We are thrilled about all the buzz our new Golf products are receiving and are even more excited about what the future has in store for Garmin Golf! The PGA Show continues today in Orlando, so if you get a chance to check it out be sure to stop by our booth, #1627.

Scenes from the Seattle Boat Show

Posted: January 27th, 2012, 8:01pm CET

The Garmin marine team is in northwest this weekend for the start of the Seattle Boat Show , the largest boat show on the west coast. The booth is full of the latest and greatest in Garmin equipment, including the new GSD black-box sounders , GDL 40 cellular weather receiver and of course, Garmin's wide array of our popular touchscreen MFDs. From 7- to 15-inches , we've been doing demos for customers since the doors opened. With the BlueChart g2 Vision cards, we can easily show the features and benefits of Garmin's exclusive Auto Guidance technology, which searches through all relevant charts to create a route you can actually follow - one that avoids obstacles, shallow water, buoys and other obstructions. And Garmin equipment isn't just in our booth - our plotters , radars , instruments and se nsors can be found on a wide variety of boats around the convention center, too. From Wooldrige aluminum boats to Ranger Tug trawlers to Pursuit offshore sport cabins, Garmin can be found as installed and standard equipment around the show. Here's a look at the new Ranger Tugs R-31 , a trailerable trawler equipped with a GPSMAP 5215 in the main cabin, a GPSMAP 5212 on the command bridge, and GMR 18 radome on the mast, just announced at this show. If you're in Seattle for the show, make sure to stop by the Garmin booth, Concourse booth #2132, to check out what's new!

FujiFilm FinePix F770EXR with GPS

Posted: January 27th, 2012, 3:51am CET

Fujifilm just recently introduced the FinePix F770EXR which will be available in March 2012 for $380. The most outstanding feature for us is of course the GPS capabilities of this camera. In addition F770EXR features 16MP EXR-CMOS, 20x optical zoom, 1.5 seconds start up time, and 1 second between shots. As far as the GPS features, FujiFilm FinePix F770EXR has a route log, where the camera creates a map showing where you’ve been and photo navigation which shows the distance and direction to the place a certain photo was taken. You can record and edit your favorite places in the camera, and even tell you what nearby landmarks are and their distance. Some other specs: 3.0-inch LCD with 460,000 dots and Monitor Sunlight mode Full 1080p HD movie ISO 100 – 12800 RAW file capture (FinePix F770EXR only) Film simulation modes Macro focusing down to 5 cm Optical image stabilization Motion Panorama 360 mode Brought to you by your GPS navigation site NaviGadget . FujiFilm FinePix F770EXR with GPS

RIP Geomate.jr

Posted: January 26th, 2012, 12:37pm CET

Sad news today for geocachers on a budget – the Geomate.jr will no longer be sold and the Update Zone service has been discontinued. Keep reading for all the gory details along with how to get a new pocket query into your Geomate… Dear Geomate.jr Community What can we say – this good thing has come to an end. We are no longer able to offer the Geomate.jr for sale or continue the Update Zone service. We do hope you’ve had as much fun geocaching as we’ve had working with everyone. To help keep the adventures happening however, we have made some software available here that will allow anyone with an Update Kit and a PC to load a Pocket Query from Geocaching.com to a Geomate.jr. Regrettably, The Geomate.jr Team Via Geomatejr.com

Garmin® to Showcase Growing Lineup of iOS Apps and New Social Features at Macworld | iWorld 2012

Posted: January 26th, 2012, 4:51am CET

Starting tomorrow, thousands of visitors will check out the latest in Apple-related products at Macworld | iWorld in San Francisco. Garmin offers a growing range of iOS apps spanning aviation, fitness, tracking, treasure hunting and turn-by-turn navigation that we will showcase at the show (booth #836). We will demo social search and check-in capabilities for the StreetPilot® onDemand navigation app as well as a new function for the Tracker™ app that allows users to share links to a live tracking map [1] . Here’s an overview of what you’ll be able to see if you’re there: Check in with your navigation app: Among other new features, we will demo social media capabilities for the StreetPilot onDemand app that integrate Wikipedia, Facebook and foursquare. Users can easily display locations from these networks on the map and check in upon arrival at their destination. Clicking on one of the Wikipedia icons on the map will reveal detailed information about a location, such as the identity of an interesting building or landmark. Also new for the StreetPilot onDemand app are some fun features that make driving more enjoyable, such as a variety of voices or vehicle icons to choose from as well as visually refined 3D renderings of buildings to provide a better overview. The latest versions of the StreetPilot Onboard and the NAVIGON turn-by-turn navigation apps will also be on display. Garmin acquired the German navigation provider NAVIGON in 2011. Track what’s important: The Garmin Tracker app tracks what’s important. The app works in conjunction with the GTU 10 tracking device to display its location on a map, making it easy to virtually follow anything, from your loved-ones to valuables or the family dog. Users can set up a geo-fence to get alerts when the device crosses in or out of a defined area. The latest version of this app now also allows a continuous tracking mode, and enables users to send out map links to others, so they can follow the location of a device too1. Get fit with your iPhone: The Garmin Fit™ app turns the iPhone into a powerful training tool. The app keeps track of current walking, running or cycling stats. Users can easily upload, review and share their activities on Garmin Connect™, a vibrant online community of fitness enthusiasts. With an optional ANT+™ iPhone adapter , users can also pair this app with Garmin fitness sensors like a heart rate monitor, foot pod or speed/cadence sensor. Go on a digital treasure hunt: The free OpenCaching app provides a fun way for families, nature lovers, hikers, or scouts to go outside on a digital treasure hunt. Geocaching, a popular activity worldwide, takes digital technology away from the couch and out on the trail. Hidden treasure troves – known as caches – have been hidden around the world. Their coordinates have been uploaded to online communities, such as the free website Opencaching.com , along with details and clues. Garmin’s app allows users to participate in this treasure hunting game by hiding, finding, logging and sharing cache information right from the iPhone. An iPad app for pilots: Garmin’s roots are in the aviation business and today the company is a leader in this space. Garmin Pilot My-Cast℠ is an aviation-centric weather and flight planning application designed specifically for general aviation, corporate and commercial pilots. The app provides pilots with a paperless cockpit, weather and flight planning along with navigation. To get an overview of our iOS apps, you can also check out the following video: [1] Requires Deluxe Tracking service plan, available for $4.99 per month.

TomTom to power Samsung’s Wave 3 Bada Maps

Posted: January 26th, 2012, 1:21am CET

TomTom made a deal with Samsung where TomTom maps will power Samsung Wave3. With this agreement Samsung Wave 3 Bada gets: Map coverage for 200+ countries which equals to 35 million kilometers roads Points of interests on these maps 3D City Maps and 3D Landmarks Traffic updates Speed Cameras alerts Brought to you by your GPS navigation site NaviGadget . TomTom to power Samsung’s Wave 3 Bada Maps

Garmin StreetPIlot onDemand goes social

Posted: January 25th, 2012, 11:00am CET

Garmin is rolling out several new features for its StreetPilot onDemand app for iOS, including Facebook and foursquare check-in, a Wikipedia layer, and the ability to add new voices and custom vehicle icons. Also new is an update to the Garmin Tracker iOS app for the GTU-10 , allowing continuous tracking and the option to share a link so others can view the location as well. And in case the new features have piqued your interest, Garmin’s StreetPilot onDemand and Navigon apps will be on sale for $10 off during Macworld (January 26-28): Garmin StreetPilot Onboard USA : $39.99 instead of $49.99 Garmin StreetPilot Onboard North America : $49.99 instead of $59.99 Garmin StreetPilot onDemand : the annual subscription is $19.99 instead of $29.99 NAVIGON USA : $39.99 instead of $49.99 NAVIGON North America : $49.99 instead of $59.99 NAVIGON MyRegion : $19.99 instead of $29.99 Here’s the full news release: Garmin ® to Showcase Growing Lineup of iOS Apps and New Social Features at Macworld | iWorld 2012 OLATHE, Kan./January 25, 2012/Business Wire — Garmin ® International Inc., a unit of Garmin Ltd. (NASDAQ: GRMN), the global leader in satellite navigation, today announced that it will showcase its newest iOS app innovations at Macworld | iWorld 2012 in San Francisco (Jan 26-28, booth #836). Garmin offers a wide range of location-based apps for iOS users spanning aviation, fitness, tracking, treasure hunting and turn-by-turn navigation. Among the newest features, Garmin will demo social search and check-in capabilities for the StreetPilot® onDemand navigation app as well as a new function for the Tracker™ app that allows users to share links to a live tracking map. “We embrace apps in all of our business segments to support the increasingly mobile lifestyles of our customers and to complement our hardware offerings,” said Dan Bartel, Garmin’s vice president of worldwide sales. “At this year’s Macworld | iWorld, we will showcase our growing portfolio of iOS apps, including new features that help our users to stay connected and share location-based information with their friends and families.” Check in with your navigation app: Among other new features, Garmin will demo social media capabilities for the StreetPilot onDemand app that integrate Wikipedia, Facebook and foursquare. Users can easily display locations from these networks on the map and check in upon arrival at their destination. Clicking on one of the Wikipedia icons on the map will reveal detailed information about a location, such as the identity of an interesting building or landmark. Also new for the StreetPilot onDemand app are some fun features that make driving more enjoyable, such as a variety of voices or vehicle icons to choose from as well as visually refined 3D renderings of buildings to provide a better overview. The latest versions of the StreetPilot Onboard and the NAVIGON turn-by-turn navigation apps will also be on display. Garmin acquired the German navigation provider NAVIGON in 2011. Track what’s important: The Garmin Tracker app tracks what’s important. The app works in conjunction with the GTU 10 tracking device to display its location on a map, making it easy to virtually follow anything, from your loved-ones to valuables or the family dog. Users can set up a geo-fence to get alerts when the device crosses in or out of a defined area. The latest version of this app now also allows a continuous tracking mode, and enables users to send out map links to others, so they can follow the location of a device too1. Get fit with your iPhone: The Garmin Fit™ app turns the iPhone into a powerful training tool. The app keeps track of current walking, running or cycling stats. Users can easily upload, review and share their activities on Garmin Connect™, a vibrant online community of fitness enthusiasts. With an optional ANT+™ iPhone adapter , users can also pair this app with Garmin fitness sensors like a heart rate monitor, foot pod or speed/cadence sensor. Go on a digital treasure hunt: The free OpenCaching app provides a fun way for families, nature lovers, hikers, or scouts to go outside on a digital treasure hunt. Geocaching, a popular activity worldwide, takes digital technology away from the couch and out on the trail. Hidden treasure troves – known as caches – have been hidden around the world. Their coordinates have been uploaded to online communities, such as the free website Opencaching.com , along with details and clues. Garmin’s app allows users to participate in this treasure hunting game by hiding, finding, logging and sharing cache information right from the iPhone. An iPad app for pilots: Garmin’s roots are in the aviation business and today the company is a leader in this space. Garmin Pilot My-Cast℠ is an aviation-centric weather and flight planning application designed specifically for general aviation, corporate and commercial pilots. The app provides pilots with a paperless cockpit, weather and flight planning along with navigation. Macworld | iWorld Discounts on Garmin Navigation Apps Garmin will reduce the prices of its North American turn-by-turn navigation apps by $10 during Macworld (Jan 26-28, 2012). The NAVIGON in app purchase FreshMaps is 50% off (exact price depends on app version). Garmin StreetPilot Onboard USA : $39.99 instead of $49.99 Garmin StreetPilot Onboard North America : $49.99 instead of $59.99 Garmin StreetPilot onDemand : the annual subscription is $19.99 instead of $29.99 NAVIGON USA : $39.99 instead of $49.99 NAVIGON North America : $49.99 instead of $59.99 NAVIGON MyRegion : $19.99 instead of $29.99 Find details about Garmin’s other smartphone apps for a wide variety of activities at [garmin.com] .

Alpine INE-Z928HD and INE-S920HD

Posted: January 25th, 2012, 3:43am CET

Alpine Electronics introduced the biggest after market in-dash GPS/audio/video system available called Alpine INE-Z928HD with a 8″ screen and a $1500 price tag. It also announced Alpine INE-S920HD with a 6.1″ screen which is going to cost $1000. Here are some of the highlights INE-Z928HD and INE-S920HD free lifetime NAVTEQ Traffic RDS (Z928HD) HD Radio receiver built-in Works with Pandora internet radio for iPhone, Android and BlackBerry Bluetooh audio streaming Rear USB port Alpine is also making an effort to integrate these products into your dash seamlessly with the new Perfect F.I.T kits which are listed here . Brought to you by your GPS navigation site NaviGadget . Alpine INE-Z928HD and INE-S920HD

Garmin Coach program rewards high school and collegiate athletes

Posted: January 24th, 2012, 2:08pm CET

Seems like nobody invests more sweat equity in their sport than track and cross country athletes and their coaches. The athletes start logging miles in the off-season and then pile on even more once the season starts. And the work doesn’t end after the workout. Coaches invest hours analyzing the data, logging individual split times on the computer and strategizing on how to help their athletes improve. We have some of these volunteer coaches in our midst here at Garmin, so we get it. And we think it’s payback time, so we just launched the Garmin Coach program. Garmin Coach rewards student athletes and coaches with a $50 rebate on the purchase of a Forerunner 210 , Forerunner 610 or an FR70 with foot pod. In addition to giving athletes the ability to track every mile and minute of their training, they can upload their runs to a team page at Garmin Connect where their coach can analyze the data in detail, see an athlete’s progression through the season, compare to other team members’ data and more. Look for the Garmin Coach rebate at your specialty fitness dealer and find out more at the Garmin Coach website. Rebate extends from January 15 - May 15, 2012.

Handheld GPS 201: Mapping software

Posted: January 24th, 2012, 1:08pm CET

With today’s topic, I’m starting a new series, a follow up to my Handheld GPS 101 posts. Are you ready to move on to the next class? Alright then. Today’s topic is mapping software — and I’m not talking about maps for your GPS here, but rather desktop or laptop software that will turn you into a power user. Why use desktop mapping software? First of all, the scale is much larger, giving you a better feel for the overall area you will be traveling through. And in general, planning a trip is much easier on your computer than on a GPS. A side benefit I’ve noticed is that planning on the big screen helps you gain quite a bit of geographical awareness before ever going out in the field. Depending upon which software you choose, you can do the following with it: Create waypoints for trailheads, destinations, trail junctions, geographic features, benchmarks, etc., and then transfer them to your GPS (using the cable that came with your GPS) View tracks of trails; these can be hand-drawn or downloaded from various sources online, and transferred to your GPS Create routes and transfer them to your GPS Toggle between USGS topos and aerial photos Download your track and marked waypoints after returning from a trip to keep a record of your travels and stats My favorite mapping software options TopoFusion This is my favorite mapping software for Windows. TopoFusion comes in a free demo version that never expires, as well as $40 and $69.95 versions. I love the ability to toggle between aerials and topos, and it has the best track importer around (shown in the screenshot below). Download the free version for that if nothing else. Now if they’d only produce a Mac edition! Click the image below for a full size view. National Geographic TOPO! The price on this one was recently cut in half; you can now get the National Geographic Topo state series for $50 or less, and sometimes that includes multiple states. While I’m not a big fan of how they handle routes and tracks, this is my favorite software for printed maps. And there’s nothing quite like having a hard copy of a map in your hand with the same waypoints you have on your GPS. Great for Windows; the Mac version sucks. Garmin BaseCamp While BaseCamp isn’t the most intuitive thing Garmin has ever created, it is free, and it’s the only way to get BirdsEye aerial imagery or BirdsEye topos on your Garmin. Plus, you can use free topos from GPS File Depot with it. Available for both Mac and Windows. Other options There are many other options out there, including programs like Topo North America for DeLorme owners and ExpertGPS , but I’m not going to try to list them all. Unfortunately, I’ve yet to try a Mac program I’m happy with that has the capabilities of TopoFusion and/or National Geographic TOPO. Those programs are why I keep a Windows machine around. Stay tuned. I think we’ll look at downloading tracks from the Internet in the next installment of Handheld GPS 201.

Go on a Hike…. Urban Style?

Posted: January 24th, 2012, 10:46am CET

We've written about EveryTrail and other outdoor GPS Apps for smartphones before, but the makers of EveryTrail have what I would call an Urban Hiking Guide or more normally called a City Guide which are available for a handful of cities. Since they were bought by TripAdvisor, the hybrid of the two properties had to crank out an App like this; walking style, Points of internets, and guided tours. The App uses your smartphone GPS and compass to use location based services and offer you insight about what's around you. Not only can you get information about places like restaurants around you, but you can also get city facts written by professional editors so you can enjoy your self-guided tour around the neighborhood or city. Once you get the App you can download additional content (iPhone), including maps, photos of points of interest, reviews, and more. Android appears to have an App per city; download each individually and off you go. The current North American Cities Include: Boston Chicago Hawaii - several cities across the islands Las Vegas Los Angeles New York City Orlando San Francisco Washington, D.C., as well as a few European and Asian cities. At iTunes for iPhone and the Android Market

BMW does something more useful with that map data

Posted: January 24th, 2012, 3:01am CET

The new ActiveHybrid 3 series will feature a system that can predict the best time to charge its batteries. Since the navigation map data includes hill profiles, and the car knows the direction you’re headed this means fuel efficiency. Say you’re about to go uphill for a while and then descend back down hill. Your car will let you use more of your battery instead of precious fossil fuel while climbing knowing it can recharge on the way down. Pretty sweet eh? ActiveHybrid 3 will go on sale this fall. Expect to get about 37mpg on the highway before navigation enhancements are accounted for… image Brought to you by your GPS navigation site NaviGadget . BMW does something more useful with that map data

TomTom GPS navigation line-up for 2012

Posted: January 24th, 2012, 2:47am CET

TomTom earlier this month introduced three new lines to their products. These are TomTom START, TomTom VIA, and TomTom GO LIVE. Here’s the summary really: TomTom START : Pretty basic, budget devices that get the job done. Lifetime traffic and map updates Speaks street names Fuel prices TomTom VIA : Have more money to spend? Get this. Add these features to above bluetooth hands free calling voice recognition better graphics slim design and TomTom’s famous mount TomTom GO LIVE : Connected high-end product. Add these features: HD Traffic Live services Capacitive touch screen Travel apps Brought to you by your GPS navigation site NaviGadget . TomTom GPS navigation line-up for 2012

Supreme Court: GPS Tracking Needs Warrant – Drug Dealers Offer Sigh of Relief

Posted: January 24th, 2012, 12:25am CET

The Supreme Court submitted a unanimous decision today rejecting the premise that putting a GPS tracker on someone's car doesn't require a court warrant. They feel it does. Drug dealers offer a sigh of relief, until the courts step in and signs that warrant, then it's back to the investigation. While the little black box attached to the underside of a car is in question, it also brings into question the use of onboard GPS data tracking too - How about access to your OnStar tracks - yea, that would need a warrant. (BTW, just because you didn't pay your subscription, don't think that they can't track you. They can.) For more information on the case - See the NYT

Supreme Court rules against warrantless GPS tracking

Posted: January 23rd, 2012, 5:19pm CET

The US Supreme Court did right by the fourth amendment today, ruling that GPS tracking requires a search warrant. In a 9-0 decision, the justices ruled against the Obama administration in the case of the US vs. Jones. Nevertheless, four justices differed on the broader issue of such tracking… The four other justices, led by Samuel Alito, concurred only in the judgment for Jones. Alito said the case would be better analyzed by asking whether Jones’ “reasonable expectations of privacy were violated by the long-term monitoring of the movements of the vehicle he drove.” Here’s the PDF of the decision . Via USA Today

Telenav Scout ready for you iPhone

Posted: January 20th, 2012, 4:31am CET

TeleNav Scout is a new GPS navigation system that works across the web, your phone, and in-dash systems in your car. available free on iPhone provides real-time commute times to work or home real-time traffic during daily commutes Scout.me is the web interface to your navigation solution with Telenav which lets your start planning your trip in front of a computer. There’s also Scout for cars and the first to integrate this system will be Ford. Brought to you by your GPS navigation site NaviGadget . Telenav Scout ready for you iPhone

Jake’s Journal: Congrats, everyone! You did a half-BILLION miles in half a year!

Posted: January 19th, 2012, 12:57pm CET

It seems like just yesterday - or just over six months ago - that we were celebrating the billion-mile mark on Garmin Connect . Well, you're doing your best to make that a distant memory as you've already stored, shared and analyzed another half-billion miles since then! One of the best parts is easy to see: It's free. You can upload your activities and share them on Facebook, Twitter, through email or however you want to show your friends and family what you've accomplished. But our favorite part is sometimes harder to see: That every mile - or kilometer - has a story behind it. Maybe it's the first run back from injury. Or the first run ever! Maybe you were testing out a new bike - or a new sport - or a new training partner. Or maybe it's the final mile of your first marathon. Or the first mile where you knew you wanted to quit. But you didn't. Every mile matters. And every mile is memorable. Whether you just crossed the finish line or just began training toward a new goal, tell us about it on Twitter - either at @Garmin or @GarminConnect - or on our Garmin and Garmin Connect Facebook pages, and we'll help you share your stories. The race is on to 2 billion, and you'll be there before you know it.

Magellan RoadMate 5190T GPS navigation system for commercial truckers

Posted: January 19th, 2012, 1:17am CET

Not too long ago we talked about the Magellan RoadMate RV9145 . Now we have yet another GPS navigation system for truckers and other big vehicle drivers. This one is called Magellan RoadMate 5190T and is designed for commercial drivers. Here are some of the features: customized routing based on the vehicle height, weight, width, length and HAZMAT restrictions multi-destination routing free lifetime traffic tracking log to record hours of service, mileage Bluetooth connectivity loud built-in speakers A/V inputs for back-up camera or others Brought to you by your GPS navigation site NaviGadget . Magellan RoadMate 5190T GPS navigation system for commercial truckers

Victor’s Vectors: FliteCharts or ChartView Part II

Posted: January 18th, 2012, 8:54pm CET

In the last Victor’s Vectors post, we talked about the differences of the FliteCharts compared to the Garmin ChartView powered by Jeppesen for the GPSMAP 696/695 and the aera 796/795. Since then, I have had a couple of customers ask an interesting follow up question that I thought I would cover in this post. The question comes from customers that fly internationally and want to use FliteCharts for approaches in the US and ChartView for approaches in other countries. They asked if it is possible to use ChartView and FliteCharts at the same time. Unfortunately, this is not an easy yes or no answer, but I'll try to explain. When the portable is unlocked for the ChartView feature, it will default to using those approach plates over the FliteCharts. That means that as long as the SD card has the Jeppesen approach plates on it and is in the unit, the device will use those plates and ignore the Garmin FliteCharts. However the FliteCharts database is internal to the GPS and can still be used by ejecting the SD card from the GPS. This will cause the GPS to revert to using and displaying FliteCharts. So for pilots flying internationally with the Jeppesen charts for countries outside the US and FliteCharts for the US, they would need to simply eject the SD card when entering the US to be able to use the FliteCharts data. I should also mention that Jeppesen has subscription options that cover the US, as well as countries outside the US. I hope that clarifies how you can use both databases if you want, but leave us a comment if you still have questions about the approach plates.

On the run with Girls on the Run

Posted: January 18th, 2012, 4:59pm CET

As one of the national sponsors for Girls on the Run SoleMates, Garmin was invited to attend the Girls on the Run national summit in Tampa, Florida. This event brings together hundreds of individuals who are “running” this nonprofit program in their hometowns, including the council directors, volunteer coaches and board members. All bound by the organization’s mission to inspire girls to be healthy and confident, inside and out. The Girls on the Run coaches and staff like to keep their own health in stride, even when traveling, so Garmin organized a group run yesterday morning. As the women gathered in the hotel lobby, those who didn’t already own a Garmin watch had a chance to try on a new training partner. “We had 65 women join us for the 5k run,” said Brandi from Garmin. “All wearing Garmin fitness watches. The best part was hearing the chorus of beeps from the Forerunners as we hit each mile split.” At the end of the run, the participants experienced more than your typical runner’s high. Kiata, Garmin fitness product trainer, handed them a watch charger at the end of the run and said ‘”here’s the charger for your Garmin watch.” Brandi said the women were so shocked and grateful. The watches provided for this event were the result of the trade-in program offered last year at our retail stores to benefit Girls on the Run. In addition to the trade-in program, Garmin offers a discount on new watches for individuals who sign up as a SoleMates fundraiser for Girls on the Run. To find out how your next event can help change lives, find out more here .

Garmin Approach G6 – all you need to know

Posted: January 18th, 2012, 12:48am CET

You’re looking at a shiny new Garmin Approach G6 GPS golf device. Here’s the scoop: available Feb 2012 MSRP is $300 preloaded with over 25,000 worldwide courses weighs just over 3 ounces 2.6” sunlight readable display offers layup arcs that are drawn on the map battery lasts up to 15 hours Too expensive? Older models, such as Approach G3 and Approach G5 must be a whole lot cheaper by now. Too big? Check out Garmin Approach S1 which is just a wrist watch. Brought to you by your GPS navigation site NaviGadget . Garmin Approach G6 – all you need to know

how to check if your GPS running app / watch is accurate

Posted: December 27th, 2011, 1:49am CET

Recently there was an article in NYT which claimed GPS watches can be unreliable and give you the wrong distance. One example is running around a track and then downloading the map data to your computer. You’ll see that none of your laps will actually overlap and they may not even look like ovals. This is mostly true but there are always workarounds. I’m not talking about a certain kind of GPS watch but more about GPS apps for tracking. For example with Google’s own My Tracks app there’s are several settings that help you keep tabs on your accuracy. The most important one of these is the “time interval” which is defined as the smallest distance between two recordings of your position. You want this value to be as small as possible (and it is by default set at 1 seconds we believe). Another important setting is the distance interval. If your path is filled with switchbacks or just a lot of turns this setting may help you smooth out the turns and make it more realistic. The recommended setting for this is by default 5m but if you’re crazy about collecting the most realistic data you should set this to it’s smallest value which is 1m. A third setting that helps you keep track of your accuracy is the “GPS accuracy”. Google My Tracks has this setting at 200 meters by default. This means when that blue circle around you is at 200 meters or less your data will be recorded. Now to be honest 200 meters is a long distance and may make a big difference if you’re running. You can set this at 10m accuracy which is a pretty darn good signal. But this means your phone will stop recording your workouts when the signal gets even a little worse. I’d rather have the app record my workout rather than it stop and complain about the signal. One final thing you can do to test your GPS devices’ accuracy is to measure your path on Google Earth. In one window bring up the path you uploaded from your tracking app and on a another window bring up Google Earth. Now go to Tools-> Ruler-> Path from the menu bar. Using your mouse start clicking on the path you followed. Make it as accurate as possible. Now compare that distance to the distance reported by your GPS app. Is it off by a lot? Probably not. 99% accurate? If that makes you happy great. Nothing to worry about. If not you can bring up Google Earth every single time, correct your path, and record the actual distance. Brought to you by your GPS navigation site NaviGadget . how to check if your GPS running app / watch is accurate

Cookie Monster’s crumbs christen redesigned Garmin Garage

Posted: December 22nd, 2011, 11:05pm CET

Not sure why we didn't see this coming, but on the day of our holiday potluck - when we're surrounded by colorful cookies of all shape and flavor - we welcomed a new friend to the Garmin Garage . Joining his Sesame Street neighbors Bert and Ernie , the always lovable (unless you have to bake for - or clean up after - him) Cookie Monster is now among the fun and familiar downloadable voices for compatible Garmin devices. Better yet, he brought his van - the Cookie cruiser - to haul around his friends (and their treats). Apparently our mechanics in the Garmin Garage have been as busy as Santa's elves, because they've given the place an overhaul to make the various voices and vehicles easier than ever to find and download. And speaking of makeovers, you can now further customize the display of your nuvi with our brand new dashboards . Currently, you can choose between Star Wars themes or your favorite Nickelodeon friends , Spongebob and Dora, to coordinate the look of your nuvi screen with the sounds of the voices guiding you. With all of the holiday travel going on this week and next, we hope that our new voices , vehicles and dashboards can make every mile a little more memorable. Spend some time snooping around the Garage , and reinvigorate your road trip! Safe travels, and happy holidays to all!

New Garmin-Cervelo video: Journey to a Dream

Posted: December 21st, 2011, 1:00pm CET

What makes you, at a young age, want to ride your bike for a living? How does an aspiring pro cyclist chase that dream? And how does it feel when your dreams are answered? The insightful and inspiring " Journey to a Dream " was created by legendary filmmaker Nigel Dick for Team Garmin-Cervelo 's 2012 team presentation last month in Boulder. Thanks to Clif Bar , our friends and fellow sponsors, we're proud to share it with you here, and you can visit Clif Bar's YouTube channel for more great videos about nutritition and endurance. Enjoy the ride!

Enjoy Some Holiday Cheer with Garmin-Cervélo’s Christian Vande Velde at our Chicago Store

Posted: December 20th, 2011, 6:09pm CET

As the temperatures continue to drop in a large portion of North America, it seems that we are always on the look out for activities to fill the void of not being able to participate in our favorite warm weather activities. This Thursday, December 22 at 5:00pm come join us at our flagship store in Chicago on the famous "Magnificent Mile" and mingle with fellow cycling enthusiasts, last minute holiday shoppers and world-class cyclist and Garmin-Cervélo team leader Chris tian Vande Velde . Christian, who is a native of the Chicago area, is excited to field your questions during the Q&A section and will be signing autographs thereafter. Also at the store, will be an exclusive opportunity to check out our new pedal based power meter, Vector . We'll even give you the chance to jump on a bike in the store and feel this innovative Garmin product at work! For you last minute shoppers and for those looking to find the perfect Garmin training partner , we will be offering a 10% discount on your purchases all day (12/22/11) at the Chicago store with your donation of a non-perishable food item. All donations will be given to the Greater Chicago Food Depository and are greatly appreciated! Happy Holidays!!

GTN Trainer App: Explore the GTN 750 right on your iPad 2!

Posted: December 20th, 2011, 2:00pm CET

There’s something new in the iTunes App store for all of you pilots out there. This week, Garmin released a new app, the GTN 750 Trainer for the iPad 2. This app simulates the behavior of the GTN 750 system interface and allows you to interact with it like you would with the device in the cockpit. Whether you already fly a GTN-equipped aircraft and looking for some more practice, or you’re considering purchasing the avionics and want take it for a test drive, this is the perfect way to become more familiar or comfortable with the GTN 750. The app offers a touch and drag interface allowing users to simulate and explore most functions of the GTN 750 including panning the map, entering waypoints into the flight plan, loading airways, graphically editing flight plans, radio tuning and more. High resolution North and Central America terrain maps, worldwide NavData, simulated traffic targets and simulated XM weather data allow you to experience the enhanced situational awareness offered by the GTN 750. The app is also configured with product options such as TAWS-B audible alerts, transponder control and remote audio processor control. Plus it features user-selectable demo settings that allow you to simulate various flight scenarios by changing altitude, speed, location and more. Download it today from the iTunes App Store .

Recon Instruments MOD and MOD Live

Posted: December 20th, 2011, 2:23am CET

People at Recon Instruments have made some big advancements since we last visited them last year. Currently their new product is the MOD and MOD Live which is a GPS integrated micro optics that fits into your Alpine goggles. They’re pretty much the only company offering such a product. MOD provides performance stats such as speed, jump analytics, vertical, altitude, distance, location, temperature and can keep track of your best scores, and averages, etc. It also has a chrono tracker and a run counter. The MOD Live on the other hand has all of the above but includes an Android based platform which can be loaded with apps like navigation, points of interests, buddy tracking, text messaging, caller ID, and even a media player. They’re selling them for $299 and and $399. They also have a bundle you can pick up from REI for $540. Check out this video: Brought to you by your GPS navigation site NaviGadget . Recon Instruments MOD and MOD Live

Just in the nick of time: update your maps before holiday travel

Posted: December 19th, 2011, 1:30pm CET

‘Twas the night before Christmas and Santa was set, to travel the world and not break a sweat. Into his bag all the toys were tossed, he started his journey with no fear of getting lost. With his trusty nüvi as his guide, he began his annual sleigh ride. See this year Santa did not have to worry, as he was able to update his maps in a hurry. For nüMaps Lifetime had saved the day, to Timmy and Tommy’s he was now on his way. He took the first left, then made the next right, and delivered their presents all while they slept tight. When morning came their hearts filled with glee, “A Garmin Montana for you, and an Approach for me!” With the reliability of his updated map, Santa made it home just in time for his nap. Having nüvi at his side they make a very good team, and of next year’s “Naughty” and “Nice” lists he was left to dream. Travelling this holiday season? Do what Santa did and make sure your maps are up to date . Not only will you avoid getting lost, but it can save you time and headaches too!

Peg’s Posts: Give a cyclist an Edge

Posted: December 16th, 2011, 5:03pm CET

Still have a few (or more) gifts to cross off your shopping list before Christmas Day? Me too. And while I’d normally be fretting a bit, some good ol’ give-a-Garmin inspiration bailed me out of one of my toughest gift quandaries every year. What to get my sis-in-law, who lives in a teeny tiny apartment in NYC. She and her husband don’t need “stuff” because they have no place to stuff it. Gift cards are fine, but we’ve been there, done that … several times. But they do have bikes and they will travel. In fact, next fall, they will be touring Italy on two wheels. Lucky ducks! I decided what better way to capture every mile and minute of their touring rides than with an Edge 200 . It’s our simplest GPS cycling computer yet, recording time, distance and speed. And my sis-in-law can relive every ride later by uploading to Garmin Connect to see the path she traveled on a map, analyze it and send it to friend and fans back home. Another plus to the Edge 200 — its very “giftable” price tag. Check it out at your local bike shop. You still have nine shopping days!

GSD 26 performs "flawlessly" in San Carlos, Mexico

Posted: December 16th, 2011, 4:22pm CET

Since Garmin's new GSD 26 and GSD 24 black box sounders started shipping, we've been hearing from folks who have been installing and using the products to find and catch fish all over the world. Recently, Todd Carver, owner of Portland Marine Electronics, installed a GSD 26 on a customer's 36' Riviera, and took a trip down to San Carlos, Mexico, to see it in action. On board this Riviera - in addition to the GSD 26 with B265LH transducer- was a complete Garmin setup including: a GPSMAP 6212 , GPSMAP 4012 , VHF 200 , GHP 10 autpilot and a GMR 406xHD open array . At 20 knots and 200 kHz, Todd said the GSD 26 held bottom perfectly at 900' on the 18-mile journey out to the island where the fishing spots were. Once they arrived and slowed down, "the fishfinder lit up with unbelievably incredible detail!" As you can see from the images below, these guys could see the jig they were raising and lowering at 240', and could clearly detect individual fish from 200' to 900' thanks to the great target separation - count the fish! According to Todd, the equipment was "so spot on that when fish were on the screen, it was simple to stop the boat and drift back into the fish." He said they knew when the fish were entering the screen on the drift, and that it was only a matter of seconds before they would hook one. He also touted the GSD 26's ability to pause the sonar and mark fish with a waypoint, so that they could easily steer back to it. When they weren't busy reeling in yellowtail, amber jack and red snapper with the help of the GSD 26, these guys also had time to test out the radar and autopilot on board. According to Todd, they were "blown away" with the dual-range feature, as it made close-range and long-distance scanning easy. He also complimented the exceptional detail in the radar as it picked up every little panga and RIB. And as far as the autopilot was concerned, Todd said the GHP 10 navigated in tight tolerances from 20 miles away, all the way into the harbor and back, through the tight quarters of the marina right up to the slip. "All the owner did was adjust the throttle - it was absolutely amazing," he said. As a final thought when reflecting on the trip, Todd had this to say: "Overall the product was flawless in installation, power up, testing and fishing, and performed above expectations." Thanks, Todd - for sharing your amazing fish trip with us! To learn more about the GSD 26 and 24, visit the minisite and check out our online image gallery full of screen shots.

Garmin’s Course Creator Keeps You on the Right Path, Trail, Lane or Road.

Posted: December 15th, 2011, 10:24pm CET

With today's Garmin Connect update, navigation on bike lanes, running and hiking trails, and walking paths just got a whole lot easier. Gone are the days when you'd have to stop during your best trail run, epic hike or cycling adventure to take out your paper trail map a nd double check that you are headed down the right path. Now you can use our Course Creator - and with a few simple mouse clicks you can draw your route using either Bing or Google maps , save it and send it directly to your compatible Garmin device. With Google maps selected, you can even show your local bike lanes in Kona, HI, jogging paths through Central Park, and even hiking trails in Whistler, BC to name a few great destinations! Once your course is saved, you can allow it to be stored publicly for users around the world to view and they can send t o their devices so they can experience your favorite route as well. This feature, we call Explore , is great when travelling to a new city, away on business or for those who want to break their same old routine and try a new route. You'll also notice an improved ability to zoom on our number of detailed graphs when analyzing your most recent adventure. So get started on your next adventure and get up, get out and Explore!!

Jake’s Journal: Josh Cox gets the scoop on our newest Forerunners

Posted: December 15th, 2011, 9:24pm CET

American 50K record-holder Josh Cox is one of my favorite sponsored athletes . He's enthusiastic, has a great positive attitude, he's a wonderful spokesman, the only problem is ... he runs so far ... and so fast. There's nothing wrong with that, of course, it just makes me feel like I'm slacking on my lunch runs. For example, this weekend while I was volunteering at a great local underground 5K , Josh was running 28 miles . Yep, 28 miles. If you're keeping score, that's longer than a marathon. And it's his training run! Oh, and did we mention he averaged 6-minute miles? Because he did. And it's his training run!! But that's what I love about Josh. He knocks out a marathon-plus , then tweets the Garmin Connect data from his #weekendworkout and then answers questions from other runners and inspires them to run farther and faster. So we were thrilled when Josh paused for a moment to stop by our booth at the New York City Marathon to talk about our newest Forerunners , the 610 and 910XT . Check out the video to learn about these great training tools , and check out Josh's Twitter feed for great training advice. Thanks, Josh, and keep up the great work!!

Synthetic Vision Brings Awareness to Desert, Mountain Flying

Posted: December 14th, 2011, 6:22pm CET

When darkness, fog, rain, haze or solid IFR conditions keep you from seeing clearly out the windshield, Garmin’s Synthetic Vision Technology (SVT) is like taking the blinders off. Using sophisticated graphics modeling, SVT recreates a visual topographic landscape from the system’s terrain-alerting database. The resulting virtual reality display offers pilots a 3-D depiction of ground and water features, airports, obstacles and traffic – all shown in relative proximity to the aircraft, making situational orientation far easier and less stressful. Pilot Jeff French from the Sunridge Hotel Group said that SVT helps him tremendously when it comes to situational awareness of surrounding obstacles, terrain and traffic and it's "the best system" he's used..."by far." Read the full story: Pilot Jeff French loves his company’s Citation Mustang. He also loves the Garmin G1000 avionics suite that comes on the Mustang as standard equipment. And with 5,500 flight hours under his belt, the company pilot for Sunridge Hotel Group really loves his recent Garmin Synthetic Vision Technology (SVT) upgrade. Sunridge manages multiple hotel properties, primarily under the Marriott brand, throughout Arizona, Nevada and New Mexico. Flying from its base at the Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport in Arizona, the company logs 30 to 40 hours monthly on its single-pilot rated Mustang. Sunridge, which began in 1981, has most recently been managing Marriott brands including Courtyard, Fairfield Inn, Residence Inn, SpringHill Suites and TownePlace. To give you an idea of how highly Sunridge values the contribution from its aviation department, company pilot French is pictured on the company’s website along with other key Sunridge leadership, including CEO Paul L. Welker and President Brian D. Welker. Not Very Accessible “Ninety percent of the time, I fly them to where their hotel properties are; most are in smaller towns, like Roswell and Clovis, N.M.,” French says. “They aren’t very accessible by airline. Or if you can get there, it’s expensive and inconvenient because you’re going to have to connect from somewhere and you spend the whole day.” “So the airplane works perfectly,” he continues. “It’s cost-effective because it’s efficient, and the leg lengths are usually around 500 miles. You can typically fill it with passengers and be on your way.” French, 50, began his aviation career as an aircraft mechanic for Northwest Airlines and stayed there for 18 years. He began flying on his own in 1990, learning to fly in Cessna 150 and 172 single-engine aircraft after a co-worker introduced him to general aviation. “His father owned a couple of airplanes. I went flying with him and he kind of gave me the bug. I went out and got my private pilot’s license. I took a leave from Northwest for six months and went to school up through my flight instructor ratings.” After returning to Northwest and instructing for a while, French flew freight at night on his days off to build multi-engine time. He took another leave of absence from Northwest and flew for United Express, “until they wouldn’t give me any more leaves of absence.” Desert, Mountain, Remote and Busy Today, as an experienced business jet pilot, most of French’s trips are out and back, dealing every day with barren desert, mountain terrain, remote runways and busy airports. So, situational awareness is essential. That’s where Garmin’s G1000 SVT add-on, accomplished at the Mesa Cessna Citation Service Center, makes life for pilot and passengers easier and safer. “This is the best system I have used by far. It displays the information in a very user-friendly format, and I like the SVT synthetic vision a lot. When I fly into Provo, and there’s a lot of terrain, it pictorially shows the terrain and obstacles on the PFD along with the traffic,” French says. Adding Real Time to Database SVT utilizes a highly detailed terrain and obstacle database to re-create 3-D visuals that add traffic in real-time. When flying in challenging terrain, Garmin SVT depicts hazardous terrain with red or amber colors to get the pilot’s attention. This feature increases safety and decreases the chance of Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT). “On the MFD you only see your traffic in one-dimension, where it’s just flat on the screen. The SVT just makes it a lot more clear where to look for the traffic because it shows up on the PFD where it is in relation to you altitude-wise, and gives you a better idea what direction to look,” French says. “They do a lot of flight training at Gateway, and there’s always traffic in the area. Sometimes they’ll get a little ways away from the airport, and they stop talking to the tower. With all these guys out there buzzing around, it is good to know exactly where they’re at to keep from running into them.” French appreciates the software installation performed by the Mesa Citation Service Center. More than that, he gives the crew there high marks. “The Mesa service center is just absolutely great to me. I can’t say enough about the service we get there. They just go out of their way to take care of us.” He has his ATP, CFI, IIMEI and an A&P license. And French is type-rated in the 500 Series Citations, the Mustang, Eclipse Jet and Jetstream 4100. Married for 16 years, he has three boys, ages 4, 9, and 11. The family lives in Queen Creek, only five or 10 minutes from the Mesa-Gateway airport. French has flown his boys in the jet some, and he’s hoping they catch the flying bug someday. “But, not so far,” he laments. Someday his sons might more clearly see the opportunities in business flying – just like their dad sees with his Garmin SVT.

Garmin Sponsored Zoot Triathlete Sam Mazer – Strong Willed and Committed

Posted: December 12th, 2011, 11:00pm CET

A couple of weeks ago, one of the Garmin Sponsored Zoot Triathletes , Sam Mazer lined the beach at the start of the triathlon in Cozumel, Mexico. Sam's goal was to qualify for the World Championships in Kona, HI next fall. Armed with her Forerunner 310XT Multisport watch , Sam battled the c ompetition and herself to cross the finish-line with a personal best time of 10 hours 20 minutes -- beating her previous best by 18 minutes!! That in itself is one heck of a feat, however Sam's epic race proved to be so much more. Here is what she had to say: "Soooo...I was victim of a peloton that obviously shouldn't have been one - that caught me at mile 85 of the bike a couple weeks ago. I tried to stay out of it but got cut off abruptly. The guy in front of me slammed his brakes and I went face first into the pavement. I've never seen so much blood in my life, but when I was there on the side of the road, I told myself I had to at least finish. Th e T2 people almost wouldn't let me continue on the run but I told them they could clean me up later. I got Xrays, a CT scan (because they thought I broke my jaw) and stitches...and way too many pics wer e taken of me on the run. I managed to run my way back into 3rd with the fastest 25-29 run split, but missed my Kona Qualifying by ten seconds. Not comp letely disappointed. That was the gutsiest/deepest I've ever dug so I'm satisfied. I attached a few good pics from the run (minus the face). I swear I feel better than I look." I know one thing is for sure, the next time I am out for a run or ride with my Forerunner and feel like I am having a bad day, I will see Sam's face with a HUGE smile reminding me just how strong the human spirit really is . And, I'll most likely see the time on my Forerunner is not even close to hers. Keep up the great work Sam, Kona is in your future!

Traffic Might Look Bad – Beat it with Inrix (Ver 3.5.1)

Posted: December 12th, 2011, 1:47pm CET

Inrix recently updated its App (version 3.5.1), and they have a new version out for the holidays - with their newly updated App, you can get more road miles of coverage, and you can now get pop-up alerts that will warn you when you have issues around you or according to your personal preferences. Some were not happy with the 3.5 update for battery issues, which Inrix claims are fixed with this update. One recent addition is that they can offer you a read on how long an incident might take to clear - giving you time for another piece of pie to let things cool off before heading out. The new features include: See More Traffic for More Roads: With INRIX’s expanded traffic on arterials, travelers can see at-a-glance if it’s faster to take side streets or stay on the highway with traffic information that extends beyond highways and interstates covering more than 500K miles of arterials and city streets now available nationwide. With the ability to see more traffic on more local roads, INRIX Traffic gives travelers with door-to-door coverage that makes getting to Grandma’s house a snap. Live Traffic Alerts: Up to the minute, location specific pop-up alerts similar to live sports scores and weather updates available on the iPhone today. Drivers receive live traffic alerts based on their location and personal preferences. INRIX Traffic owners can now customize alerts based on proximity and incident type to ensure traffic alerts are specific to their route. Better details on incidents including severity and time to clear help drivers make smarter decisions. in the iTunes App Store - Inrix Traffic

Last minute handheld GPS sale

Posted: December 12th, 2011, 12:40pm CET

Ok folks, this one may be a fluke, but it’s worth a try. Eastern Mountain Sports (EMS) has brought back their Black Friday pricing on GPS receivers. Sort of. What they are saying is that everything is 20-30% off today, but that Garmin units are excluded. Yet if you look at their GPS page , they’ve got some great deals on Garmin units. If you want one, I’d move fast. Here are some of the best; the inReach, eTrex and Montana deals are particularly hot: DeLorme inReach for $199.96 ; Compare at Amazon Garmin eTrex 10 for $95.99 ; Compare at Amazon Garmin eTrex 20 for $151.99 ; review / Compare at Amazon Garmin eTrex 30 for $239.99 ; review / Compare at Amazon Garmin GPSMAP 62s for $319.96 ; review / Compare at Amazon Garmin Montana 600 for $399.96 ; review / Compare at Amazon Garmin Montana 650 for $439.96 ; review / Compare at Amazon Garmin Montana 650t for $479.96 ; review / Compare at Amazon Garmin Oregon 450 for $279.96 ; review / Compare at Amazon

TomTom XXL 540 TM – 5-Inch GPS for $99

Posted: December 11th, 2011, 1:40am CET

The TomTom XXL 540TM is a great buy right now for a 5-inch GPS for under $100. This TomTom navigator comes withe the Lifetime Map option to keep you up to date on a regular basis. So in past, manufacturers would either 1) sell you individual updates yearly for about $75, or 2) sell you a subscription for traffic updates; but that was yesterday, and now many models come with the lifetime traffic updates included. Well worth it when you can get it for a reasonable amount. Here, you get it for free compared to the base product without traffic and map subscriptions. The TomTom XXL 540 has some solid features, including maps of the US, Canada and Mexico, advanced lane guidance, over 7 million Points of interest, and IQ Routes which is a system that checks what historical average travel times might be and gives you a better estimate of actual travel time. THe IQ Routes is a half step to having a fully connected GPS system (like a smart phone), but it's a good addition. Finally, the 5-inch screen will make typing in the address and seeing the directions all that much easier. At Amazon - TomTom XXL 540TM - 5-Inch GPS with Lifetime Maps and Traffic

Jake’s Journal: Reality TV stars love their Garmin fitness products

Posted: December 8th, 2011, 9:24pm CET

Seeing famous faces glowing about our products is nothing new. We sponsor some of the world's fastest athletes, and celebrities are often spotted working up a sweat with our devices. But there seems to be a surge recently in great testimonials from one of the hottest reality shows on TV . First I had the pleasure of meeting Dr. Andy Baldwin , an accomplished triathlete and humanitarian, at the New York City Marathon. And while he finished much faster than me (he knocked out a 3:15 with his trusty Forerunner 405 ), we were on the same page when it came to promoting fitness and recreation (from family 5Ks to geocaching ) as ways to fight childhood obesity. Then there's Jason and Molly Mesnick (upper left), a popular couple from a recent season, who each got a personal best at Rock 'n' Roll Las Vegas: "Molly and I are both new to running and without our Garmin(s) we would literally be lost," Jason told us. "I honestly can not relate to being a great runner, but I can tell you that the Garmin did an incredible job to help Molly and I train for our new PR's, and we look forward to another PR next year." And as someone who has become known as much for his athletic endeavors as his onscreen romance and marriage, Ryan Sutter has dedicated himself to his training while emerging as a serious triathlete and endurance athlete. Our friends at Gatorade have a great video series featuring Ryan training with his FR60 and 310XT ( here's his Garmin Connect data from Leadville ), and he recently had this to say: "Easily my favorite feature of my Garmin devices is the ability to seamlessly and effortlessly upload to my computer. Workout/Race information is available almost instantly for reference on Garmin Connect . I'm checking my stats while I'm still sweating from the workout! The amount of information available from each workout or race is amazing!" I agree, Ryan, and my favorite part is that Connect data is so easy to store and share - for free! - making every member of the community feel like a star!

TomTom reorganizes R&D; PND group survives

Posted: December 8th, 2011, 11:30am CET

TomTom announced a reorganization this morning, and in doing so reaffirmed a commitment to personal navigation devices (PNDs). According to the news release, R&D activities will be regrouped into ten product areas: Maps, Traffic, Navigation, Automotive Systems, PNDs, Fleetservices, Fitness, Mobile, POIs and Speedcams. This follows a more nebulous report from October , foreshadowing today’s announcement. They’ll be doing all this with less, as the reorganization will result in the loss of 10% of their workforce. In addition to increasing efficiency, the company unveiled a goal of reducing time to market. That could be a good thing in terms of seeing new features faster, or a bad thing if it means products are rushed out without adequate testing to remove bugs. Also of note in today’s news is a dedicated fitness product area, following the introduction of their Nike-partnered SportWatch . Finally, they say “a larger proportion of R&D expenditure will be allocated to growth areas, our strategic assets (maps, traffic intelligence and navigation) and new initiatives.“ I expect the latter means that there are other product areas forthcoming, but that they want to play their cards a little closer to their chest for now. Here’s the full news release… TomTom reorganises R&D and updates on its restructuring programme Amsterdam, 08 December 2011 – TomTom will reorganise the research and development activities in a drive to increase development efficiency and reduce time to market. Products will continue to be delivered to the market through the existing Consumer, Automotive, Licensing and Business Solutions business units. Existing R&D activities will be regrouped in ten product units: Maps, Traffic, Navigation, Automotive Systems, PNDs, Fleetservices, Fitness, Mobile, POIs and Speedcams. Each product unit is mandated to invest in the ongoing development of a well-defined product category to deliver the best products to our customers. TomTom CEO Harold Goddijn said, “ The new structure brings more transparency and accountability; makes it easier to make innovation choices and will reduce our time to market. I am confident that our customers will start to see the benefits and a higher pace of product introductions as soon as 2012”. At the same time we will reduce the number of full time jobs by 457, which accounts for approximately 10% of the total workforce. 255 roles will be made redundant, half of which are in The Netherlands. The remainder will be achieved through attrition. A restructuring charge of €14 million will be booked in Q4 2011 in relation to the redundancies and rationalisation of office space. We reconfirm our target to achieve cash savings of approximately €50 million in 2012 compared to our previously announced guidance of €540 million of OPEX and €80 million of CAPEX in 2011. The majority of the savings will be achieved in operating expenses, and will be most visible in general and administrative and marketing expenses. A larger proportion of R&D expenditure will be allocated to growth areas, our strategic assets (maps, traffic intelligence and navigation) and new initiatives.

TomTom reorganizes R&D; PND group survives

Posted: December 8th, 2011, 11:30am CET

China adds a new satellite to their own Beidou navigation system

Posted: December 6th, 2011, 8:45pm CET

China at 5:07 a.m. on Friday, sent their 10th navigation satellite to orbit in an effort to complete their own navigation system known as Beidou. The satellite was strapped to a Long March-3A carrier rocket. Beidou is currently functional but only provides position information for China and its surrounding areas as opposed to the whole globe unlike US’ GPS. Beidou is on track with its progress. The plan is to have 30 satellites circling the Earth by the year 2020. The start date for the whole thing was 2000. Brought to you by your GPS navigation site NaviGadget . China adds a new satellite to their own Beidou navigation system

TomTom GO LIVE 1535 M review

Posted: December 6th, 2011, 5:22pm CET

Hands on with the TomTom GO LIVE 1535M The TomTom GO LIVE 1535 M is the company’s new mid-range navigator featuring LIVE (Internet connected) services, such as HD traffic, fuel prices, weather, and Google local search. And it’s their first device with travel apps – Twitter, Yelp, TripAdvisor and Expedia. The GO LIVE 1535M has a 5” screen and comes with preloaded maps of the US, Canada and Mexico. It also includes lifetime map updates, Bluetooth for hands free calling and voice command. Quite a package; I’ll delve into the details shortly but first let’s look at some… Quick links More TomTom GO LIVE 1535M reviews TomTom GO LIVE 1535M resources How much does it cost? Related units The GO LIVE 2535M offers a capacitive touchscreen and magnetic mount Going the other direction, drop down to the VIA 1535TM and you’ll lose the apps and LIVE services To see how the GO LIVE 1535M stacks up against other models, check out my TomTom comparison chart Hardware The 1535M is built on the VIA series platform, so it’s hardware differs significantly from the 2535M. The 1535M has a 5” resistive touchscreen, not the easier to use capacitive screen found on the 2535M. And unlike it’s high-end sibling, which offers a wonderful magnetic mount, the 1535M has an integrated fold & go mount, as you can see below. If you look closely, you’ll also note the mini-USB plug for the power lead and the on/off button on the rear of the unit. Some folks don’t like the latter’s position, but I found it pretty easy to get used to. The mount is very secure; I never had it pop off the windshield in over a month of use. The unit automatically rotates so that you can use that mount on the windshield or attached to a dashboard mount. There is no portrait view though; in other words, there is no top or bottom – you can use it in landscape mode either way. The hardware seems a bit underpowered though, as the unit is laggy, often taking a full second or two (and sometimes more) to respond to screens taps. The unit is also a bit slower than most to lock onto satellites. I never had it fail me extensively in this regard, but I was often a block or two down the road before it locked. About those apps What’s new here is the inclusion of various apps. Yelp, TripAdvisor and Expedia all bring reviews and other information to your dash. But what about that Twitter app? Well, you won’t be able to read tweets while driving, thankfully. But it will allow you to tweet your arrival time , check in , etc. I’m not sure how useful this is for most folks, although I was a bit surprised not to see Facebook integration. The Yelp, TripAdvisor and Expedia review apps are perhaps more useful, allowing you to drill down and read individual reviews. More LIVE services Other live services include HD traffic, speed cameras, fuel prices, Google local search and weather. These are as or more useful than the aforementioned apps. Here are some comments on a few of them… HD Traffic While I don’t live in an area with traffic coverage, I did travel to several coverage areas with the device. Nevertheless, I wasn’t left with a strong feeling about it one way or the other. HD Traffic should give you more frequent updates and additional data covering more roads than you get with FM traffic. Generally speaking, it was at least on par with the Garmin nuvi 3490LMT I tested it against, although there were times the TomTom was pulling in an HD signal when the nuvi wasn’t. Google Local search In my opinion, this is one of the best reasons to get a connected device. No, Google isn’t infallible, but you can usually find locations that aren’t in a navigation device’s static points of interest database yet. Weather Tap this icon to get options for weather near you, weather near destination or weather near another location. Once you make your choice you’ll hear something like “weather report for today – sunny, maximum temperature 64 degrees Fahrenheit, minimum temperature 33 degrees Fahrenheit.” It also displays the five day forecast, chance of precipitation and wind speed. Fuel prices This is another nice feature, although there is nothing to indicate the freshness of the data, which brings us to… Connecting Or not. In areas where I had no trouble with the 2535M LIVE, I usually couldn’t connect with this model. Sometimes it would say “Cannot connect to LIVE services. Please try again later.” Once when I tapped the Google Local button I got “Battery too low, wait for battery to be charged.” Um, it was plugged in. And other times the LIVE services buttons were completely unresponsive. I never noticed this in larger markets where I tested it; only in smaller metros, but again, these were areas where I had no trouble with the 2535M LIVE. The cost of LIVE services LIVE services are delivered via a built-in cellular modem, hence there is a fee for this. One year of LIVE services is included when you buy the device. To renew it will cost you $59.95 annually. TomTom GO LIVE 1535 M interface The 1535 M uses TomTom’s recently introduced WebKit-based interface, which brings a clean and uncluttered look to the unit. One improvement I’ll note is that they’ve added back in multi-destination routing (of a sort), which was missing from the original 2535M release. You can now add up to three via points along a route. You can also reorder them (manually; it has no optimize feature). Basically this is a VIA interface, so my comments from my VIA 1535TM review apply here as well: The keypad shows all upper case letters, but types lower case unless you hit the shift key, causing frustration when naming and saving favorites. A minor point, but one that they should have caught. Also, you have to go into the menu to save favorites; you cannot do it from the results screen after you’ve searched for a POI or address. As usual with TomToms, you can select specific POI categories to display on the map; a nice feature indeed. You can set the device to automatically shut down (under Settings > Battery Saving). Generally speaking, the TomTom would not come on automatically when I started the car, except for a few times when it did. I never could figure out a way to successfully replicate this though! One nice feature, when staring a route, is the LIVE services tab, which gives you quick access to info about traffic, the cheapest gas and speed cameras on your route – nice! Now for a few things I didn’t like: First of all, it can take quite a few taps to back out of menus. There is no shortcut to the main menu (other than tapping the map, but you have to be on the map screen to do that). This is further complicated by having to repeatedly tap the back button in the lower left hand corner to back out of menus, then having to switch to Done in the lower right hand corner to get out of the main menu and back to the map. Also, Favorites are sorted alphabetically, not by distance. And speed limit coverage is fairly limited in my neck of the woods; I even saw four lane US highways without speed limits. Voice command Voice command recognition is good, though not quite as good as on the TomTom 2535M or Garmin nuvi 2×95 series. You have to tap the microphone icon to start voice command mode; there is no “wakeup phrase.” And I did have times when it was listening, but the speak a command icon was not visible. Also of note, you cannot say just any POI name; “you can say names from over 400 well known brands.” Nor can you access Google Local search by voice command. One nice touch I appreciated was a situation where I wanted to enter a store location by voice and I knew the name of the street but not the number. I was just going to make something up, like 100, but after I entered the street name, when it prompted me for a number, it said “you can select a cross street or say anywhere.” So I said “anywhere.” Well done. Bluetooth I was able to pair the TomTom with my Motorola Droid, although it took a few tries. Sound quality for the person on the other end of the line was clear but tinny. The TomTom did successfully retrieve my phone’s address book though. TomTom GO LIVE 1535M pros Internet connected LIVE services (full year included) HD traffic 5” screen Lifetime map updates Voice command Bluetooth for hands free cell phone use TomTom GO LIVE 1535M cons Underpowered processor results in lags in screen response Buggy interface Slow to acquire satellites Cellular modem failed to connect in some areas LIVE services run $59.95 per year after the first year More TomTom GO LIVE 1535M reviews Consumer-authored TomTom GO LIVE 1535M reviews have been posted at Amazon CNet gives a 3-1/2 out of 5 star rating in their GO LIVE 1535M review PC Mag also doles out a 3-1/2 star rating in their TomTom 1535 M review About.com gives 4 out of 5 stars in their TomTom 1535M review Canada’s Market News reviews the TomTom GO LIVE 1535 M I’ll be posting more hands on GPS reviews as they appear, but in the meantime, here are some… Other TomTom GO LIVE 1535M resources The TomTom GO LIVE 1535M owners manual Use my TomTom comparison chart to see how the 1535TM stacks up against their other models TomTom’s official GO message forum The official TomTom GO LIVE 1535M web page Compare prices on the TomTom GO LIVE 1535M at these merchants: Check the current TomTom GO LIVE 1535M price at Amazon Get the Tomtom GO LIVE 1535M Automobile Portable GPS Navigator – 5" – Touchscreen – Lane Assist, Text-to-Speech, Voice Command – Bluetooth – USB – 2 Hour – TMC Ready at Abes of Maine Check out the deal on the TomTom GO LIVE 1535 M GPS at BestBuy.com

Chicago Store: Give a Garmin, get FREE shipping, and vote for our windows!

Posted: December 6th, 2011, 3:21pm CET

Last month the Chicago Store offered free ground shipping on orders of $100 or more and debuted our new festive windows to kick off the holiday season. And the fun continues into this month! Just mention my-Garmin-Ground when you call and you’ll receive free ground shipping to the lower 48 states for orders of $100 or more through December 16, 2011. Someone you know needs a Garmin and all you have to do is call (312) 787-3221 and talk to one of our product experts. We’ll answer your questions and help you find the perfect gift for the special driver, runner, biker, hiker, golfer, mariner or pilot in your life. Maybe a Forerunner 610 , a voice-activated nuvi 3490LMT with free lifetime maps and traffic, or the Approach S1 - now available in white! You’ll love the convenience of shopping over the phone, which will also give you some extra time to vote for Garmin in the Magnificent Mile Window Contest . It’s no secret that everyone on Chicago’s Mag Mile wants to have the best holiday windows, and that’s why we need your help in voting! It’s simple, just visit the site and vote for your favorite. With your help, we’re sure to take home the People’s Choice Award! Voting ends on December 15, so if you love our windows as much as we do, there’s plenty of time to encourage friends and family to vote, too.

Catching crappie with G3 Sportsman and the echo 550c

Posted: December 5th, 2011, 6:54pm CET

G3 Sportsman host, Scott Turnage , just returned from a trip to Stockton Lake , in southwest Missouri, to test the Garmin echo 550c in finding deep-water crappie. Scott knows the importance of a good graph, and in the video below, he shows us how to not only find fish on the graph, but how to distinguish crappie from other species of fish. With the echo 550c, Scott and the G3 Sportsman crew were able to locate brush piles with suspending crappie and could even see their small 1/16oz jigs as they lowered them down to as much as 35 feet deep. Scott explains that in cold temperature water, crappie can be finicky and the bait needs to be to be in the fish's face. With the echo 550c, the guys could see their jigs fall to the proper depth and then watched as the fish moved towards their bait. "It's like playing a video game - one after another was caught," Scott said. After a successful trip out on the water with the echo 550c, Scott and the crew had this to say: "Affordable and dependable (fishfinders) are what fisherman these days are needing - without sacrificing quality. The Garmin echo 550c more than held its own on this trip."

NJDOT catches with times and starts uses GPS tracking

Posted: December 4th, 2011, 11:47pm CET

New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) that they will be using GPS devices in their trucks during their annual fight to clear snow and ice from highways. The installed GPS devices will provide storm managers with exact location of their vehicles in their fleet of plow trucks and salt spreaders. This way they’ll be able to quickly adapt to changing conditions of storms. The data transmitted between the trucks and the headquarters will be monitored at Statewide Traffic Management Center in Woodbridge. NJDOT also gathers valuable information from 180 sensors at 37 locations which provide temperature, wind speed and direction, and info on whether pavement is wet or dry. NJDOT has about 1,870 state and contractor trucks ready for plowing and salt-spreading operations on the nearly 13,000 lane-miles that NJDOT maintains statewide. They have budgeted $10 million for 2011-2012 storm costs, with supplemental funds available as needed through the Department of Treasury. Last year, storm costs totaled $48 million. Brought to you by your GPS navigation site NaviGadget . NJDOT catches with times and starts uses GPS tracking

Navstar gets a couple million to develop GPS tracking

Posted: December 4th, 2011, 11:24pm CET

Nascent NavStar Technologies just announced that they received 2.4 million dollars to invest in the final development of their GPS tracking and monitoring products. The devices are supposed to be available my March of 2012 – with in 4 months or so. NavStar Chairman N. Douglas Pritt said “Timing for this funding is ideal as several new GPS monitoring and tracking market segments are in their very early stages of development”. Navigadget will be waiting impatiently to see what kind of products they’ll be offering. Brought to you by your GPS navigation site NaviGadget . Navstar gets a couple million to develop GPS tracking

Peg’s Posts: Which watch fits fitness fans on my list?

Posted: December 2nd, 2011, 9:26pm CET

Every give-a-Garmin season, I hear a chorus of questions from friends and family seeking insider shopping tips. This week, I heard from Kathy, who heads up our local Girls on the Run council. She wanted to know what to get hubby Mark, who keeps his fitness in check with daily walks and wants to log every mile and minute. I had two picks: the sleek and stylish Forerunner 210 , which tracks distance, time, pace and calories and comes with or without heart rate. For upcoming “snow days” when he can’t get outside, he canpair the 210 with the optional foot pod to track distance indoors. My second pick is another wrist-worn wonder: the Approach S1 golf watch. I know Mark loves his time on the greens, and since Approach S1 is GPS-enabled, it could double as his distance tracker on and off the course. For golfing, it measures distance to the front, back and middle of greens for more than 17,000 preloaded courses. I’m also recommending the newest Forerunner 210 with teal accents for a friend and for my sister. They’ve both been very good girls this year and get to check off “half marathon” from their 2011 resolution list. I like the Forerunner 210 for them because it’s super easy to use, gives accurate distance and pace data and it looks good/feels good. And for runners who want a little more, it offers customized interval sessions to guide their speedwork. Find more give-a-Garmin ideas at our holiday gift guide and keep tuning into the Garmin blog as we give more holiday hints.

Best selling GPS for November 2011

Posted: December 2nd, 2011, 12:40pm CET

My top ten GPS list comes with a twist this time around. This monthly feature usually ranks models according to the most popular GPS Tracklog reviews. But during the holidays, there are enough sales made here and on our GPS Deals site, through our various partners, that we can rank actual units sold. Of course, auto units dominate, especially this time of year; the handheld list carries little meaning below the top five spots, with the remaining models selling just a couple each. I’ll save further caveats and analysis for the end. On to the rankings… Top selling auto GPS Garmin nuvi 1450LMT Garmin nuvi 50LM Garmin nuvi 1490LMT TomTom EASE TomTom VIA 1535TM Garmin nuvi 40 TomTom XXL 540TM Garmin nuvi 1350LMT Garmin nuvi 1390LMT (tie) Garmin nuvi 2460LMT (tie) Top selling sport and handheld GPS Garmin Oregon 450 Garmin eTrex Venture HC Garmin eTrex 20 (tie) Garmin GPSMAP 62s (tie) Garmin Approach S1 (tie) Garmin eTrex 10 (tie) Garmin eTrex Legend HCx (tie) Magellan eXplorist GC (tie) Garmin eTrex Vista HCx (tie) Garmin Forerunner 110 (tie) Garmin Oregon 550t (tie) Garmin Rino 650 (tie) Caveats Now this is all highly impacted by which units go on sale. When the TomTom EASE is available for $49, you can bet that it’s going to rank high. And there are many other factors affecting the list, including which of my reviews rank better on search engines, how positive (or not) I was about a particular unit, previous top ten lists, etc. If you want a different view of the best selling GPS, check out Amazon (though their list is more dynamic as it is updated hourly). Analysis I always like reporting actual sales, because it tends to shake up the rankings a bit, so I’m both amused and a bit distressed that we have the same two units atop each category that have been there since April of this year! Auto GPS Here we saw a whopping eight out of the top ten models being bundled with lifetime map updates. I guess consumers really value that, huh? Looking at screen size, we see six 5” models, three 4.3” and one 3.5”. The big screens dominated, but they weren’t quite as popular as the map updates. One other note – none of the newest nuvis made it into the top ten; I’d say this is primarily because they haven’t been discounted that much yet, though the nuvi 2595LMT did come in at number 11, tied with the 1300LM . Handheld GPS The Oregon 450 continues to dominate over the 62s; price is one factor but maybe people prefer touchscreens, or perhaps they are just easier to market. On the low end, the venerable Venture HC did quite well; perhaps the eTrex 10 would have done better if I would have had a review posted for it. The eTrex 20 certainly looks like it will be a popular model though. On the high end, the total lack of the Garmin Montana from the rankings definitely surprises me. As a matter of fact, not a single one was sold through my sites last month. I’m sure price is a big factor, but with the Montana 600 dipping below $400 in one sale, I would have thought a few would move anyway. Thank you Finally a big thanks to everyone who shopped or purchased through the site. We get a small fee with each item sold (coming out of the merchant’s pocket; it doesn’t increase your cost at all), and it’s really the only way we can justify the hours it takes to keep GPS Tracklog up and running. With your support, we’ll keep bringing you the latest GPS news, reviews, tips and tricks!

A Quick Chat With Extreme Garmin Ambassador Cory Richards

Posted: December 1st, 2011, 8:55pm CET

"It's about experiencing ourselves in a very vulnerable and simultaneously empowering arena that allows us to understand ourselves just that much more…and it's a hell of a way to get a better view than the one from the office." Recently, we were fortunate enough for Extreme Garmin Ambassador and U.S. professional climber Cory Richards to take some time away from his worldwide speaking tour and the promotion of his award winning film, "Cold" . This past year, Richards along with fellow climbers Simone Moro of Italy (also a Garmin Ambassador) and Denis Urubko of Kazakhstan completed the first winter ascent of Gasherbrum II. An 8,035 meter monster of a mountain in Pakistan. This came after 26 years of attempts from various international teams. During this near death climb, the team actually left behind a Garmin Chirp on the summit of Gasherbrum II. Richards is also currently a nominee for The 2012 National Geographic Adventurer of The Year . So click here to Vote for this deserving Extreme Garmin Ambassador. G: What is your next major climb? CR: I'll be working in Patagonia this winter, climbing and filming…and training on sight for Everest this coming spring. We are trying to repeat the American route on the West Ridge…should be fun. I'm looking forward to it. I haven't done Everest and I am excited to have the opportunity to do it via a route other than the standard South East ridge or North Ridge…just to get away from the crowd. G: What type of training will you do during the lead up to it? CR: Lots of running, lots of climbing, and some Alpine Training Center workouts here in Boulder, Colorado for core strength…that will be in the month leading up to departure. The goal is to have my fitness level ready for any possible situation I may come across. G: How does incorporating fitness monitoring aides like Garmin GPS products/heart rate benefit climbers? CR: It's really useful to know where your heart rate is when you're training to either ease back, or give more. It's also helpful to know where you are starting when you begin training so you can a ctually track your progression…meaning understanding your heart rate when you are out of shape, and watching the change as your body gains more and more fitness. G: What data is useful to you for training and climbing? CR: There is a lot. I mean, having heart rate data available during the training period is vital. While you are climbing it's something not so important, though it can be used to analyze the climb later. Elevation is obviously huge as well. Also, you guys make a lot of products outside of just heart rate monitors that are super useful for climbing i.e. altimeters, lightweight GPS and GPS and Two-Way Radio combination devices. G: What does being a climber mean to you and what is the sport really all about? CR: Climbing is accessible…and it's worth doing. It doesn't have to be 8000 meter peaks in winter or new routes in the Himalaya, but anything that you find fun…because just being there, in the mountains, is a moving and inspiring experience. It's important to share the possibility of engaging with our environment in a more intimate and profound way. Climbing is a vehicle for that. It's about experiencing ourselves in a very vulnerable and simultaneously empowering arena that allows us to understand ourselves just that much more…and it's a hell of a way to get a better view than the one from the office. My life is about travel and experience…but not everyone's can be…nor does everyone want that. Getting outside however is all it's about…leaving the city, leaving the phone, leaving the "ball and chain" on the desk, and having a tangible exchange with our natural environment... Stay tuned for updates, as Cory prepares to conquer Mt. Everest for the first time this spring!

Victor’s Vectors: Give-A-Garmin Aviation Portable GPS

Posted: December 1st, 2011, 8:55pm CET

The holiday shopping season is upon us, and we've been getting some great questions from shoppers looking to " Give-A-Garmin " aviation portable GPS to their friends and family this holiday season. A common question is "Which model do I go with?" There are several models to choose from with features and capabilities that run the gamut. To help narrow your options I first recommend visiting the Garmin website , where you can find tons of information and compare the various features of each model. Check out our holiday gift guide where we've featured the aera 500 and the aera 796 , two great gift options for the special pilot in your life. If you still have questions, don't hesitate to give us a call. Garmin’s aviation support team is happy to answer questions about the different models and tell you benefits of each one. And who says these great products are just for giving? If an aviation portable is on your Christmas list this year, don't be shy...share it with your friends on Facebook or Twitter directly from our holiday gift guide!

Navigon 2.0 for iPhone update

Posted: November 30th, 2011, 11:01pm CET

Navigon’s newest MobileNavigator is out for Apple’s iPhone. It is called the Navigon MobileNavigator 2.0 and will be a free upgrade for those fans who already owned it. One of the biggest change in this version is that you have the ability to load the states you select so Navigon’s not a huge space hog on your precious phone. Other improvements include a newly designed user interface and the ability to update maps from within the app. Navigon North America: $40 ( iTunes ) Navigon U.S. East: $20 ( iTunes ) Navigon U.S. West: $20 ( iTunes ) Navigon U.S.A: $30 ( iTunes ) Brought to you by your GPS navigation site NaviGadget . Navigon 2.0 for iPhone update

Garmin Holiday Commercial 2011 – Holiday Elf

Posted: November 30th, 2011, 10:48am CET

Garmin has their holiday commercial running, and are reprising the catchy Give a Garmin jingle with a fresh take on a holiday elf. The Holiday Elf shows up in clutch ways to help rescue wayward citizens. Pretty cute; not quite as awesome as the dated monobrow version from years ago, but you get the idea...... Buy a Garmin At Amazon - Check out Garmin GPS Prices on their most popular models

Garmin employee Nate reaches new heights in the heartland

Posted: November 29th, 2011, 12:00pm CET

Whether you’re a hiker, hunter, geocacher or even a climber you’ll find a Garmin handheld to fit your needs. As a transplant to the heartland, Garmin employee Nate spent his summer weekends searching for steep terrain within driving range of Garmin HQ . This season my passion for rock climbing had me exploring cliffs in Minnesota, Missouri, Arkansas, and Colorado. Garmin software, maps, and GPS devices helped me at every step. By preplanning my trips in BaseCamp I ensured that the short weekends would be spent finding adventure, not finding the way. A GPSMAP 62 loaded with TOPO maps helped me navigate unfamiliar crags, mark waypoints at each cliff face, save tracks along the approach hike, and even keep tabs on weather trends with the built in barometer. With intuitive menus and controls I spent less time staring at the screen and more time doing what I love: exploring the outdoors. Hanging out with friends, pushing my limits on tough routes, and enjoying incredible views from an elevated perspective are some of my favorite aspects of rock climbing. I’m glad I’ll be able to relive these moments through the pictures I took and the trip data I collected. The leaves are falling and the days are getting shorter; winter is on its way. During the cold months Nate plans to keep fit by climbing at the local gyms and by logging miles on nearby trails with a Forerunner . As the seasons change, where will Garmin take you? Visit our online gift guide to find the Garmin best suited for you and your favorite fellow explorers!

New data fields coming to Garmin handhelds?

Posted: November 29th, 2011, 10:40am CET

A recent beta firmware update for the Garmin Montana series brought twenty new data field options to the device, as well as data field categories. You can see four of the new data fields in the screenshot above. The Vertical Distance to Destination is sure to be a hit for the peak baggers among us. Hopefully these will make it to other models as well. Here’s the full list of new data fields: Alarm Timer (from alarm clock page) Automotive Turn (lane assist) Avg. Lap Compass Heading Current Lap Date Elevation Above Ground GPS Elevation GPS Heading Grade (must be moving) Lap Distance Laps Last Lap Location of Destination None (blank field) Stopwatch Timer Total Lap Track Distance (reset when current track is cleared) Vertical Dist. to Dest Vertical Dist. to Next It always pays to be a little cautious installing betas. Here’s a discussion of the Montana version 3.63 and 3.64 beta releases where you can see what kind of bugs people are reporting.

GLONASS infographic

Posted: November 29th, 2011, 10:38am CET

Since we now have a consumer handheld that can utilize the Russian GLONASS constellation, I couldn’t resist posting this. My apologies for the poor quality of the image. ITAR-TASS apparently sells these, so there are probably better images available, but the “buy” link takes you to a Russian language only page. Via Navigadget

Chicago Store: Meet Johnny Knox and find out how to score a Garmin

Posted: November 28th, 2011, 6:21pm CET

How about getting your Garmin gifts paid for this year? Yes, it’s true! If Jeff Joniak , Chicago play-by-play announcer, predicts the final score of the New Year’s Day game, then all “ On the Road ” and “ Into Sports ” units purchased at the Garmin Chicago Store from November 25 through December 24 will be free! All you have to do is find the perfect gift, shop at the Garmin Chicago Store and tune in to see if Jeff Joniak correctly predicts the score on New Year’s Day. To kick things off, wide receiver, Johnny Knox , will make an appearance on Tuesday, November 29 from 5-7 p.m. So stop by 663 N Michigan Avenue and find out more about how you can Score a Garmin this holiday season. At the Garmin store, you’ll find more than just football players; you’ll get a hands-on experience with the latest and greatest GPS devices perfect for runners, drivers, bikers, golfers, mariners and pilots. If you can’t make it down to Michigan Avenue, then give us a call at (312) 787-3221 - we have product experts ready to answer your questions and take your order over the phone. Click here for full details.

CyberMonday GPS Deals

Posted: November 27th, 2011, 4:47pm CET

There are a few GPS deals on CyberMonday that are worth checking out. Here's a quick rundown: Staples - CyberMonday Deals Garmin Nuvi 40 - $79 - 4.3-inch screen, with lane assist Garmin Nuvi 50 - $99 - 5-inch screen with lane assist TomTom XL550T - $119 - 5-inch screen with lifetime traffic Garmin Nuvi 1300LM - $109 - 4.3-inch screen with lifetime maps Amazon - CyberMonday Deals in GPS There are tons of models and deals to check out- TomTom XL550TM - $109 - 5-inch screen and lifetime traffic and maps TomTom GO LIVE 1535M - $179 - Connected GPS with live connection for HD traffic, Google local search and other connected services. Garmin Nuvi 1450 LMT - $129 - 5-inch screen with lifetime traffic and maps along with lane assist Walmart CyberMonday Deal The only Cyber Monday deal I could see was this pretty good one for a Garmin: Garmin Nuvi 50LM - $99 - 5-inch screen with lifetime maps

The best Thanksgiving weekend GPS deals

Posted: November 26th, 2011, 3:47pm CET

Black Friday has come and gone, but there are still quite a few good deals out there, though most will probably be gone after Cyber Monday. Many places seem to be selling out as items are disappearing from their sites before announced sale dates are over. So rather than just list the ones we’re tracking at our GPS Deals site today, I’ve categorized the most popular options. Here ya’ go… Best auto GPS deals for under $100 TomTom EASE 3.5" GPS for $54.88 with free shipping Garmin nuvi 40 on sale for $69.99 at NewEgg Thursday-Saturday Only: Garmin nuvi 40LM GPS Receiver for $84.99 at BestBuy.com Garmin nuvi 50LM 5" GPS w/ Lifetime Maps for $99, shipped at Walmart.com Read on for more auto and handheld GPS deals… Best deals on other popular auto GPS models Garmin nuvi 1390LMT for $119.95 at GPS City TomTom VIA 1535TM 5-Inch Portable Bluetooth GPS Navigator with Lifetime Traffic & Maps for $119.99 at Amazon Garmin nuvi 1490LMT for $129.95 at GPS City Garmin nuvi 2350LMT 4.3-Inch Portable GPS w/ Lifetime Traffic & Map Updates $149 shipped at BuyDig.com Garmin nuvi 2450LM 5" GPS w/ Lifetime Maps $149.95 Free Shipping w/ coupon TRAVELUSA at Buydig.com until 11/30 Garmin nüvi 2460LMT 5-Inch Widescreen Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator with Lifetime Map & Traffic Updates for $199.99 at Amazon Garmin nüvi 3790LMT 4.3-Inch Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator with Lifetime Map & Traffic Updates for $289.99 at Amazon Best handheld GPS deals Garmin eTrex 10 for $95.99 at EMS Garmin eTrex 20 for $151.99 at EMS Garmin Oregon 450 for $219.95 at GPS City Garmin GPSMAP 62s for $269.95 at GPS City Garmin Montana 650t for $479.96 at EMS While not a handheld deal per se, there is a rare 40% off sale on TopoFusion mapping software If you don’t see the model you’re looking for, try searching here by model name and number .

PocketFinder tracks vehicles, pets, and people

Posted: November 25th, 2011, 9:24pm CET

Location Based Technologies is expanding their line of products for PocketFinder and now the news is that they will be available at Apple stores in the U.S. and the U.K. You can actually pick them up online from Apple’s web site. Personal GPS locator: $150 plus $13/month Pet GPS locator: $150 plus $13/month Vehicle GPS locator: $190 plus $13/month Some of the features of these live GPS tracking devices include app and web interface that work seamlessly with your Apple toys, water-proof and rugged design, ability to view and download location history, and speed and zone alerts. The vehicle device actually includes push notifications too. Like we mentioned the monthly cost is $13 which gets you unlimited location lookups, unlimited email alerts, SMS alerts, 45 day log history, touch tone phone location lookups, and unlimited zone and speed alerts. Not a bad deal actually. Brought to you by your GPS navigation site NaviGadget . PocketFinder tracks vehicles, pets, and people

Advice from a pro: have some fun in the off-season

Posted: November 24th, 2011, 1:00pm CET

If your turkey day traditions include kick-starting your day with a 5k run or walk, kicking field goals at the local high school stadium or playing ping pong in Aunt Pat’s basement, you’ll be glad to know that it all adds up to off-season training. Or, should we say, untraining. Pro triathlete Ben Collin s shares his advice for working hard at having fun in the off-season. Nice to know his rugged, waterproof Forerunner 910XT can still accompany Ben on his skiing, sailing, kayaking and hiking adventures. The off-season is a time of year that every athlete looks forward to, but how do you spend your time after the last race of the season? As much as I love training and racing full time, there are a great deal of fun activities that I start to long for by the end of a long season. My season typically ends in November, and by that time I have been planning my off-season for a month or two. I like to get away from triathlon completely for at least a few weeks, but being sedentary for that amount of time is not an option if I have any hope of surviving my first week back into triathlon training. So I do things like hiking, Nordic skiing, kayaking and sailing. I’ll jump into a soccer game or volleyball. Underwater hockey and water bring back memories of being a young pool rat at the local rec center and remind me how to have fun in the water (plus both will make you a stronger swimmer). Even with a full plate of recreation, I find I have a lot more free time. With the choice of using that time to catch up on sleep or fill it with experiences, I always go with the latter. Restaurants, live music, art walks, comedy shows, dancing and theater are my favorite evening adventures, and this is the time to enjoy the nightlife that is typically past an endurance athlete’s bedtime. Whatever you do, make time for your loved ones. You train long hours and work even more. By the end of the season, the endurance lifestyle wears on your relationships. Make sure your activities include your family and friends. Bring your kids kayaking, go dancing with your wife, plan a family hiking trip. Use this time to share experiences with the people who support you the rest of the year. And if you have to slow down to wait for your friends? Good! You should be taking it easy anyway! The most important thing about planning your time off is to plan it. It is the monotony of routine training, boredom of repeated bike routes, the annoyance of seeing that same guy with the pink sunglasses doing the same drills on the same section of the track week after week that makes us crave a few weeks off to recharge our batteries. Don’t waste that time getting bored with inactivity. Figure out what you want to do and be ready for it as soon as you cross that final finish line. Now, since this blog post is probably getting to you a little late for this year’s planning, get off your butt, go do something fun and different, bring your family and friends and remind them why they stick by you through all that crazy athletic dedication.

Garmin customers giving thanks

Posted: November 23rd, 2011, 1:00pm CET

We love hearing from thankful customers who had a life-changing or life-saving experience with their Garmin device. Take a minute to read this email we received on August 11 from SSG Kyle Dorsch. We’re pretty certain Kyle’s story ranks as one of the most thank-filled ones we’ve heard yet. My name is SSG Kyle Dorsch. I'm a Reconnaissance team leader in the 2-30 Infantry Battalion, 10th Mountain Division, and I'm currently deployed to the Logar province of Afghanistan. I have used my Garmin eTrex Vista H all throughout my deployment and needless to say, it has been a lifesaver in more than a literal sense. In fact, there isn't a leader in our establishment without a Garmin product. Not only has my GPS guided me and my four-man team seamlessly through some of the toughest areas of Afghanistan, but it has also literally saved my life. I'm sure you have heard by now that there was a downed Chinook in the Wardak province of Afghanistan, resulting in the largest loss of life during Operation Enduring Freedom. When the helicopter was downed, my scout platoon, along with other 2-30 assists, was called to assist in the security and recovery of the crash site. We provided the back stop for the security teams by occupying a patrol base and beginning a five-day long operation. During one of the many engagements my platoon and I were involved in, I was struck by an incoming bullet. My Garmin took the blunt of the impact, deflecting the round and saving my life. My Garmin pouch is located just over the upper left portion of my chest. If my Garmin had not been there, I am certain I wouldn't be sending you this e-mail now. All in all, I just wanted to say thank you for making such an outstanding, reliable and DURABLE product! I look forward to the purchase of my next Garmin product and for it to take me through the rest of my deployment. Once again, your product is an absolute lifesaver! Thank you again. Check out these video testimonials from other thankful Garmin customers.

Updated Garmin StreetPilot Onboard App Helps Drivers to Avoid Thanksgiving Gridlock with Real-Time Traffic Photos

Posted: November 23rd, 2011, 12:42pm CET

Thanksgiving, the biggest travel day of the year, is right around the corner and obviously traffic is a big concern when planning holiday travel. Garmin just made it easier for you to avoid gridlock with a new feature for its StreetPilot Onboard navigation app for iPhone that shows real-time photos from traffic cameras. This functionality can help holiday travelers get to their destination faster by giving them the ability to literally see traffic conditions ahead of time. The photoLive Traffic Cameras feature is part of a major update for the StreetPilot app that also includes live weather information, the option to share points of interest via Facebook and SMS as well as many other improvements to the UI and navigation experience. The update is available as a free download to current app users and the photoLive Traffic Cameras feature is an in app purchase for $9.99 per year. On Black Friday, Garmin will reduce the price of the StreetPilot app by 50 percent. For one day only, the USA app will be available for $24.99 instead of $49.99 and the North America ver sion will be $29.99 instead of $59.99. “photoLive Traffic Cameras is an addition to Garmin’s existing real-time traffic feature, which guides drivers around congestion. But just as in other life situations, it’s sometimes best to see things with your own eyes rather than relying solely on data,” said Gerhard Mayr, Garmin vice-president ofworldwide mobile phone business. “The new photoLive feature lets you easily look up real-time photos from traffic cameras across the U.S. and Canada to get a glance at traffic and weather conditions.” photoLive Traffic Cameras can easily be accessed through the StreetPilot app’s traffic menu. Users simply select the road they’d like to look at and the feature displays real-time photos from that location. Included are over 10,000 traffic cameras across the U.S. and Canada that send images every couple of minutes to make sure users get the most current view. Users can also save their favorite cameras for quick one-touch access. Additional Features included in the StreetPilot App Update: Live Weather: View live weather conditions and five-day forecasts for your current location or for your destination. Points of Interest Sharing: Let friends and family know where you are or when you’re arriving at a point of interest such as a restaurant or attraction. With the touch of a button, you can share a location via Facebook or SMS and even include a personal message. InstaSearch: The new InstaSearch function allows users to accelerate searches. It automatically provides suggestions as you enter text to search for POIs, cities or addresses, making it easier to find what you’re looking for. POI and Speed Limit Editor: Users can now delete or edit points of interest and add photos of a location. The changes can be uploaded to Garmin for database inclusion in future updates. Users can also update speed limits along a road segment. Garmin StreetPilot Onboard puts the vast preloaded database and intuitive interface of a Garmin nüvi into the iPhone you use everyday – without tapping into your data plan. With ultra-fast map drawing, panning and zooming, the preloaded maps and Points of Interest offer peace of mind in knowing that wireless coverage and data plan usage are not required to access maps or calculate routes. So just as with a nüvi, the maps and directions are always there when you need them most – especially when you can’t get cell or Wi-Fi signals or your data plan is running low. With advanced navigation features such as lane guidance, junction view, 3D buildings, trip planner, trip computer, Garmin’s “Where Am I?” safety feature, and red-light and speed camera information, Garmin StreetPilot Onboard provides crucial information that a driver needs for daily errands, weekend road trips or family vacations. All Garmin StreetPilot apps are available from the App Store . Find details about each version – as well as Garmin’s other apps for a wide variety of activities – at [garmin.com] .

Polar RCX5 Heart Rate Monitor watch with GPS

Posted: November 23rd, 2011, 3:09am CET

Polar RCX5 is one of the latest from the company. It’s not too out of the ordinary when it comes to sports watches with its monochrome display but it can report on the status of your heart while talking to a GPS that attaches to your arm so you know exactly how serious your workout is and where. RCX5 can also talk to various other stride and cadence sensors, mostly for runners and cyclists. The nice thing with these design is each different sensor have their own battery so they’re not hogging the juice out of your watch. Just make sure to charge the piece you’re going to use. It’s already on sale at Amazon for $450. Brought to you by your GPS navigation site NaviGadget . Polar RCX5 Heart Rate Monitor watch with GPS

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