New Touchscreen Edge 800 from Garmin
Garmin today announced the touchscreen Edge 800 for cyclists who want accuracy and simplicity when tracking their statistics and location for racing and recreation. Edge 800 seamlessly combines the most popular aspects of the industry-leading Edge 500 and Edge 705 while adding an intuitive touchscreen interface. New mapping options such as Garmin’s BaseCamp route planning and BirdsEye Satellite Imagery make it perfect for training, touring and riding on the trail. Edge 800 will debut at Interbike (Booth 2631) and Eurobike (Booth A5-201), where it won the coveted Eurobike Award for electronic components.
Building on its popular predecessors, Edge 800 is smaller and sleeker than the Edge 705, yet features a larger 2.6” display with a simple touchscreen interface. And while Edge 800 gets its streamlined design from the ultralight Edge 500, the color display and versatile mapping options make exploration more enjoyable and efficient than ever. The latest version of Garmin’s free BaseCamp software gives users an easy tool to survey the terrain and plan routes. BaseCamp lets users plan and preview routes – along with viewing elevation changes – and then send those routes to Edge 800, Edge 705 and Edge 605 as courses to follow.
Cyclists can view Team Garmin’s featured rides – or download, analyze and share rides of their own – at Garmin Connect, the free-to-join online community of more than 30 million activities from around the world. Garmin Connect displays metrics such as time, distance, speed, elevation and heart rate through charts and a variety of map representations, including street, satellite, topographic, and elevation maps. Garmin Connect users can search for activities in their area and try them by uploading the data to Edge 800, which will guide the way.
“I can come back and do even more on the computer when I download it,” said Team Garmin’s Christian Vande Velde of combining Garmin Connect with the Edge products he used in consecutive top-8 finishes at the Tour de France. “It takes all the guessing out of everything in my training.”
Using information directly from GPS satellites, Edge 800 accurately tracks speed, distance, time, GPS position, elevation, calories burned, climb and descent. For even more real-time data on display, Edge 800 syncs wirelessly through ANT+ technology with compatible third-party power meters as well as Garmin heart rate monitors and speed/cadence sensors. For extra-precise climb and descent data, Edge 800 incorporates a barometric altimeter to pinpoint changes in elevation.
Because Edge 800 requires no calibration, it can be switched quickly between bikes thanks to a low-profile, quarter-turn mount that fits easily on the stem or handlebars with tight-gripping rubber rings. Boasting a high-sensitivity GPS receiver with HotFix that quickly acquires and maintains satellite reception, Edge 800 displays temperature readings, changes time zones automatically, lasts up to 15 hours on one charge and alerts riders if they’re moving but the timer has not been started.
As powerful as it is for performance cyclists and speed specialists, various mapping options make Edge 800 an ideal device for singletrack exploration, everyday errands and casual commuting.
On the trails, using a separate TOPO U.S. 24K DVD or microSD card brings you the highest level of topographic detail available, with maps comparable to 1:24,000 scale USGS maps, featuring terrain contours, topo elevations, summits, routable roads and trails, parks, coastlines, rivers, lakes and geographical points. In town, optional City Navigator mapping provides detailed street maps, millions of preloaded points of interest and onscreen turn-by-turn directions to your destination.
Subscribers to BirdsEye Satellite Imagery can quickly transfer high-resolution satellite images to Edge 800 and seamlessly integrate those images into the onscreen maps to get a true representation of the surroundings. And Garmin’s Custom Maps can bring the details, labels and landmarks of your existing paper or electronic map to Edge 800 in just a few simple steps
Cobra Intros New Pro Navigation Unit
Cobra has announced the debut of the 7750 Platinum, its new 7″ navigation unit specifically designed for the professional driver. The new 7750 Platinum features enhanced graphics, Junction View with Lane Assist, State Mileage Log, and Hours-of-Service Log. In addition, the new 7750 Platinum features the last-mile routing, offering superior road coverage on secondary highways. The 7750 Platinum is on display in the Cobra booth, #16074, at the upcoming Great American Trucking Show in Dallas, TX August 26-28, 2010.
The enhanced graphics and menu options on the 7750 Platinum provide maximum visibility in sunlight and optimized efficiency when scrolling through searches and settings of the unit. The new Quick-Tabs allow drivers to see critical information such as the distances to weigh stations, travel centers, rest areas and mile markers at a glance. The new Junction View with Lane Assist provides drivers with 3D images of upcoming highway junctions as well as lane guidance and enhanced turn-by-turn directions. Also, new on the 7750 are the State Mileage Log that tracks miles within a state for IFTA reporting and the Hours-of-Service timer that enables drivers to easily track their On-Duty, Off-Duty and Driving Time.
The 7750 Platinum also features the map rated highest in route quality and reliability, based on the results of certified quality testing. The TeleAtlas map in the 7750 Platinum delivers more than 1 million additional miles of road coverage in the US than the competing map. In addition to more miles of road coverage, the 7750 Platinum map provides drivers 17x more last mile (dock-to-dock) coverage and 4x more trucking attribute coverage on secondary highways.
Like its predecessor, the Cobra 7750 Platinum includes the 33,000 ProMiles Software Development Corporation and TruckDown Info International, Inc. truck-specific points of interest (POIs) such as routable travel center locations, detailed amenity information, fueling stations, restaurants, heavy duty towing, truck and trailer repair shops, truck-friendly hotels, weigh stations and certified scales, the most truck-specific POIs in the industry. It also features more than 12 million standard Tele Atlas POIs and branded icons, which visually represent participating businesses as instantly recognizable logos so users can accurately identify specific brands of interest. Lastly, the 7750 Platinum includes 3 months of unlimited downloads from Cobra’s exclusive AURATM Camera & Driving Hazard Database, which alerts drivers to the locations of fixed speed and red-light cameras, dangerous intersections and known speed traps.
The Cobra 7750 Platinum will be available at travel centers nationwide for a suggested retail price of $499.95.
Take You to Your Destination, Yoda Will
Yoda joins Darth Vader and C-3PO and is the latest official Star Wars voice to launch exclusively for TomTom devices. Han Solo will complete the line-up of fan favorites in August.
A powerful Jedi warrior Yoda may be. But his quirky diction and mischievous personality also make him one of the most charming characters in the Star Wars universe – and one who adds a whole galaxy of fun to TomTom GPS voice commands. Incorporating dialogue inspired by the original Star Wars films, Yoda’s navigation instructions include “After 700 hundred yards hmm, keep to the right then take a sharp left. Control, control, if a Jedi you wish to be.”
The Yoda voice also comes with ghostly encouragement from Obi-Wan Ben Kenobi, which is taken from the original films and embedded into the navigation commentary. John Williams’ ‘Yoda’s Theme’ music is also interwoven with certain commands, providing a rich, cinematic experience rarely heard on navigation systems.
All official Star Wars voices for TomTom devices are available in English, while Yoda and Darth Vader are also now available in German. Further languages will be available throughout the summer.
Yoda’s voice is available for download now for $12.95.
Drive back to the 80s, Turn Your Garmin nuvi GPS Into KITT
July 8, 2010 by Doug
Filed under Applications, Cell Phones, GPS, Gadgets
Well TV failed a few years ago at trying to bring back the 1982 TV hit Knight Rider. But that hasn’t stop NavTone from giving you the Knight Industries Two Thousand, or ‘KITT.’ as a NavTone.
Today NavTones has released a KITT GPS Voice for Garmin nuvi portable navigation devices and the new Android-powered Garminfone from T-Mobile. That is right kids, you too can have William Daniels, reprising his role as the voice for KITT, give turn-by-turn directions.
Once installed, drivers are treated not only to turn-by-turn directions in the voice of KITT, but also to exclusive randomized commentary. In typical KITT fashion, many lines are delivered with a humorous punch such as, “If you’re not going to listen to me, just turn me off” in the event of a route recalculation.
“With our KITT Voice for Garmin GPS, we want to make millions of 1980’s childhood dreams come true,” says Will Andre, CEO of Wanderlust Media, adding, “so we strove to replicate the envied relationship between human and machine made famous on Knight Rider, by randomizing the commentary coming out of the device to create a much more lifelike and dynamic driving experience.”
Personalization
For the first time ever, this is a GPS voice download that calls drivers (or passengers) by name. Just as he did with Michael Knight in every episode of Knight Rider Users can select from more than 700 names.
Price and Download
The KITT voice download is just US$9.95 at http://www.NavTones.com/KITT and installs directly on to any compatible Garmin nuvi device worldwide in just a few simple clicks. For a complete list of compatible devices, please check NavTone’s website.
Nickelodeon Voices Now on TomTom Devices
TomTom has announced that the official voices of Nickelodeon’s Dora the Explorer and SpongeBob SquarePants are now available for users of TomTom devices.
The new voices incorporate dialogue from the Nickelodeon show characters with TomTom device voice commands to help safely and efficiently guide TomTom users to their destinations. Dora the Explorer delivers navigation instructions for the eager explorer, such as, “We need to exit left ahead. ¡Vámonos! We’re getting closer!” and “Adventures are better with an explorer like you.” SpongeBob SquarePants and his friends add humor to the navigation commentary with such comments as, “Hey, I don’t have a license to drive. So is it illegal when I drive Mr. Krabs crazy?” and “Exit ahead. Hey, we’re cruisin’ in a car! I’ve only cruised in a boat before!”
“Working with Spot It Out and Nickelodeon enables TomTom to expand the range we can deliver to drivers so that drivers can personalize their devices with an array of fun personalities,” said Tom Murray, senior vice president of market development. “The voices of Dora the Explorer and SpongeBob SquarePants arrive just in time for TomTom users to enjoy during their summer adventures – from camp carpools to vacations – and keep the whole family entertained along the way.”
TomTom portable navigation devices guide drivers with audible, turn-by-turn instructions and 3D maps that work right out of the box. Users can download voices of their favorite characters voices from TomTom HOME or via www.tomtom.com/page/nickelodeon. Voices of Dora the Explorer and SpongeBob Square Pants are available for download immediately for $12.95 each.
In addition to enjoying the character voices, drivers can begin every journey with their favorite character on their start-up screen. Images of Dora the Explorer and SpongeBob SquarePants are available for download free of charge exclusively at www.tomtom.com/page/nickelodeon.
Garmin to Release GPSMAP 62 Series Devices
Garminhas announced the GPSMAP 62 series of rugged outdoor handheld devices, bringing a sleek updated look, new mapping options and many technical innovations to a product line beloved by hunters, hikers and geocachers of all ages.
“The GPSMAP 60 series has been one of our most popular product lines, and the new GPSMAP 62 series improves the form and functionality to make a best-in-class device even better,” said Dan Bartel, Garmin’s vice president of worldwide sales. “Whether you’ve been using Garmin for years or are buying your first handheld, GPSMAP 62 is ideal as it combines our new breakthroughs in outdoor recreation technology with the comfortable feel of an old favorite.”
Boasting a 2.6” sunlight-readable color display, up to 20 hours of battery life and a high-sensitivity GPS receiver and quad helix antenna for unparalleled reception, the GPSMAP 62 series features three distinct waterproof models to suit various activities and interests. The basic GPSMAP 62 includes a built-in worldwide basemap with shaded relief. The GPSMAP 62s adds a 3-axis tilt-compensated electronic compass and wireless connectivity for sharing routes, tracks, waypoints and geocaches between other compatible Garmin handhelds. GPSMAP 62s also includes a barometric altimeter that tracks changes in pressure to pinpoint your precise altitude. Users can also plot barometric pressure over time, which can help keep an eye on changing weather conditions. In addition to these key features, GPSMAP 62st includes preloaded 100K topographic maps for the entire United States (or preloaded 50K topographic mapping of Canada for the Canadian version). Coverage on GPSMAP 62st includes major trails, urban and rural roads, interstates, highways, coastlines, rivers and lakes as well as national, state and local parks, forests and wilderness areas. In addition, you can search for points of interest by name or proximity to your location and view descriptive details for terrain contours, topo elevations, summits and geographical points.
Experiences will live on long after the activity has ended, thanks to Garmin Connect, the free-to-join online community of more than 20 million activities for sharing, storing, analyzing and enjoying at garminconnect.com. Outdoor and fitness enthusiasts alike can share activities on Facebook and Twitter, export to Google Earth or relive the activity in table view, calendar view or on a variety of maps including our new embedded Google Earth view.
Each device in the GPSMAP 62 series has a high-sensitivity GPS receiver with HotFix, which automatically calculates and stores critical satellite information and can use that information to quickly calculate a position. The GPSMAP 62 series is made even more versatile through its universal mounting system that is compatible with the same accessories as Garmin’s Oregon, Dakota and Colorado products. Other key upgrades include photo navigation and onboard memory for downloading maps. GPSMAP 62 and GPSMAP 62st models also feature high-speed USB for faster map transfers with your computer, as well as a 3-axis tilt-compensated electronic compass, which shows the user’s heading even when standing still, without the need to hold it level. In addition to the preloaded topographic details for the entire United States, GPSMAP 62st features 500 MB of available built-in memory. GPSMAP 62 and GPSMAP 62s are ready to be customized to fit any user’s activity, thanks to 1.7 GB of onboard memory.
For more about features, pricing and availability, go to www.garmin.com.
TomTom Gives Sneak Peak of Go Live 1000
TomTom has previewed the Go Live 1000, the first in a whole new generation of navigation devices, designed to bring real-time services to millions of drivers. The new TomTom Go Live 1000 is the first TomTom product completely designed for connectivity. Based around a powerful ARM 11 500 Mhz processor, the device also showcases a new Webkit-based user interface and the latest capacitive touch screen technology.
The software and service delivery platform have been optimised for rapid integration of third party applications and easy localisation to match the needs of specific markets or applications. The back end server systems have been completely redesigned, allowing effortless delivery of rich content and downloadable applications, via cable or over the air. All this also makes the TomTom Go Live 1000 future proof. It will be much easier than ever before to receive the latest content and relevant information instantly.
Working with partner Vodafone, TomTom has pioneered an innovative new business model, delivering real-time connectivity seamlessly across 33 European countries for the first time. With the Go Live 1000 there is no need for subscription or activation, as a full year of services* is now included with the device. This suite of services includes TomTom HD Traffic, mobile speed cameras and local search in 16 countries.
TomTom is committed to providing motorists with the best routing technology possible, developing industry firsts IQ Routes and HD Traffic. For the new platform, TomTom engineers were tasked to design a new routing algorithm that continuously scans the road network for the fastest routes, using these layers of navigation information. This has resulted in a patented super fast routing algorithm that sets new standards in accuracy and speed. And user interface enhancements give drivers a better visual understanding of traffic conditions.
The new user interface and application logic is designed to be feature rich and easy to use. To existing TomTom users, the product will have the familiar TomTom feel, but it does that in a richer graphical environment. The new capacitive touch screen is designed to offer crystal clear graphics at high resolution.
“Our customers are relying increasingly on their navigation devices and it is no longer about the destination alone, but also very much about the journey itself”, said Corinne Vigreux, managing director TomTom. “The Go Live 1000 has been designed to make the journey a relaxed, predictable, safe and enjoyable experience. Thanks to our technologies we know the road ahead and what is happening on the journey. The Go Live 1000 will get our customers to their destination easier, safer and faster than ever before.”
Richer and more detailed maps, covering two million kilometres more roads and addressable locations across 45 European countries, ensure drivers never have to waste time looking for valuable information regarding their route. Also, a new Park Assist feature automatically informs drivers of car parks near their destination.
The TomTom Go Live 1000 will be available in the summer.
T-Mobile to Offer New Garminfone
April 21, 2010 by Laura
Filed under Cell Phones, GPS, Gadgets
T-Mobile has announced the upcoming, exclusive availability of the new Garminfone, the first Android-powered smartphone fully integrated with Garmin’s premium navigation experience. Anticipated to be available later this spring, Garminfone is a sleek, full-touch 3G smartphone with a large 3.5-inch screen integrated with Garmin’s navigation experience.
Garminfone features Garmin’s industry-leading personal navigation experience integrated throughout the device including the following:
Integrated Navigation + Smartphone Experience: Garminfone delivers navigation capabilities beyond what other smartphones and standalone navigation devices provide. Customers can navigate to an address simply by clicking on it from a text message or e-mail, contact, calendar appointment, or web page. Garminfone can even remember where you are parked and navigate you back to your car. The 3-megapixel camera with autofocus automatically geotags images so you can navigate back to where your family vacation photos were taken, e-mail geo-tagged images to friends and family members, or post geo-tagged pictures on the Web for others to enjoy. Helpful Garmin travel applications such as dynamic, real-time traffic; weather local events; movie listings; and gas prices are pre-installed and easy to access and use.
Garmin Navigation: Driving, walking and public transportation navigation with voice and on-screen directions and automatic re-routing are deeply integrated into the smartphone features of Garminfone to simplify navigating your daily life. On-board North American maps offer fast and reliable directions — whether in or out of cell phone coverage — and multiple overlapping positioning technologies ensure Garminfone customers have one of the best location and navigation experiences a smartphone can offer. In addition, Garminfone utilizes text-to-speech technology to speak street names, and the screen automatically switches between day and night modes for easier viewing while driving.
Garmin Voice Studio: Garminfone is the first to feature Garmin Voice Studio, an Android application, which allows customers to record and share custom voice directions from family and friends.
Garminfone also includes a convenient charging window and dashboard mount, enabling customers to easily navigate and charge the phone’s battery simultaneously.
In addition to the comprehensive navigational features, the Garminfone is built on the Android operating system offering a rich mobile Web experience with integrated Google mobile services including Google Search by voice, Google Maps, YouTube and access to Android Market, where customers can find thousands of applications to further enhance their travel experience and their daily lives. The mobile Web browser experience includes enhanced functions including pinch and zoom capability and embedded location awareness, which links information found on the Web to navigation and mapping functions, allowing users to navigate directly to a location from a Web page.
Availability:
Garminfone is expected to be available in the U.S. exclusively to T-Mobile customers later this spring. For more information, please visit http://garminfone.t-mobile.com/.
TomTom Adds Lifetime Updates
TomTom has announced the availability of a wide range of TomTom devices offering Lifetime Map Updates and Lifetime Traffic Updates. These new features aim to empower users with the accuracy of TomTom’s most up-to-date maps, as well as real-time traffic information that helps them avoid traffic delays and other hassles on the road. At no extra cost, customers will receive these updates for the useful life of the device.
“The nation’s roads are changing every day, so TomTom is proud to offer Lifetime Map Updates on our portable navigation devices,” said Tom Murray, vice president of market development for TomTom Inc. “This feature, in conjunction with TomTom’s Lifetime Traffic Updates, offers our customers the assurance that they will always have the industry’s most accurate maps and the real-time traffic information they need for hassle-free navigation.”
TomTom’s Lifetime Map Updates feature allows users to keep their maps fresh by downloading, every few months, the industry’s most accurate and up-to-date maps. The maps include one million more miles than competing maps and, in certified tests, rate highest in terms of quality and reliability. The road network changes on average 18 percent annually, so they are continually refreshed to include improvements across the entire road network and updates to Points of Interest. TomTom’s Lifetime Traffic Updates feature offers real-time insight into traffic events to help drivers avoid delays. The TomTom device receives the latest traffic information every three minutes, recalculates total drive time and suggests more efficient alternate routes if they are available.
All TomTom products featuring Lifetime Updates also include TomTom’s proprietary IQ Routes Technology and TomTom Map Share. IQ Routes is designed to offer the most efficient routing for any time of day or day of week. This feature, combined with the real-time traffic information via Lifetime Traffic Updates, ensures the very best routing possible. Map Share allows users to make map improvements on their device and share these improvements with the TomTom community.
Availability and Price
Select TomTom devices across the TomTom XL and TomTom XXL product lines are now available with Lifetime Map Updates, Lifetime Traffic Updates or a combination of these features. Pricing starts at $199.95 MSRP and varies by model.
Garmin Intros New Forerunner 110 GPS Watch
Garmin International has announced the Forerunner 110 sports watch – a solution for runners, joggers and walkers who simply want to know the most essential of real-time workout data: how far and how fast. Forerunner 110 was announced in preparation for world-class marathons in Paris, Boston and London, where it will be on display at Garmin booths in each location.
“Forerunner 110 fills the needs of runners of all levels by focusing on simplicity without sacrificing accuracy,” said Dan Bartel, Garmin’s vice president of worldwide sales. “Within seconds of stepping outside, you simply press start and instantly know your distance, pace and time – all without any complicated setup or excessive accessories.”
Forerunner 110 is designed to be the ideal entry-level device for easily tracking progress and goals in exercise and training. In addition to displaying time and distance, Forerunner 110 shows pace in one of two ways, averaged out either over the current lap/mile (if auto-lap is enabled) or over the duration of the run. Runners wearing a Garmin heart rate monitor (included in some bundles or available separately) can monitor how hard they’re working while they exercise as Forerunner 110 displays current heart rate data and features heart rate-based calorie computation. Between workouts, the simplified menu system helps users review run data, change auto-lap, set an alarm or edit the user profile.
Water-resistant and slimmer than any other GPS-enabled fitness watch on the market, Forerunner 110 boasts a high-sensitivity SiRFstarIVT GPS receiver with Garmin’s HotFix technology to quickly acquire and sustain satellite reception, perfect for wooded trails under dense trees or in the urban canyons of skyscrapers.
Available in three color combinations – black/gray, charcoal/red and gray/pink. Lasting up to 8 hours in GPS/training mode and up to three weeks in power-save mode, Forerunner 110 can be an everyday watch even on an off-day of training. Users can save time by charging the battery and uploading workout data to Garmin Connect at the same time through an easy-to-use USB connection, which also is used to upload free software updates quickly from www.garmin.com.
Because Forerunner 110 stores and displays up to 200 hours of saved history, runners can see their totals even when they haven’t had a chance to upload to Garmin Connect. But once at Garmin Connect, users can quickly and easily log their workouts, track their totals, set goals, share workouts with friends and family and participate in an online fitness community of more than 20 million activities around the world. Garmin Connect displays metrics such as time, distance, speed, elevation and heart rate. This information is shown through charts, illustrations, reports and a variety of map representations including street, photo, topographic, and elevation maps as well as the popular Google Earth application.