Gps Facts
Up-to-Date Ratings for GPS: TomTom and Garmin
One more time, ’tis the season to test GPS devices, and ratings on several new units have just posted from Garmin and TomTom. This group includes the latest and best flagship models from the sales leaders, as well as retests of recent TomTom devices that have received noteworthy updates to its software.
TomTom Go 2405 TM: Now about the TomTom XL 350, XL 350T, XXL 550, and XXL 550T. As you may recall from previous tests, they weren’t impressive at all. In fact, they initially scored unusually low for TomTom devices due to an over-simplification of the menu, making common functions difficult to access and eliminating some frequently used routing options and other controls typically found on higher-scoring TomTom devices, such as multi-destination routing and directions list. Shortly after the ratings posted, TomTom announced a software update was made available. Owners are able to use TomTom Home (free download) to install and update the operating system. TomTom advises that updated devices have been on retail shelves since mid-October 2010.
These devices have improved. Updates to the route summary screen, change route feature, brightness settings option, display preferences option, and updated volume control menu are all welcomed. One thing not changed, of course, is that the displays wash out in bright sunlight. Overall, this range of products provides many of the common features that drivers want in affordable packages, but they rank just midpack.
The story is a little different for the new TomTom Go 2405TM and Go 2505TM. These are the slickest navigators that TomTom has. Large, clear displays with glass capacitive touchscreen wrapped in a slender car impress before even hitting the road. Best of all, they use a new click-and-lock magnetic mount that allows the device to be removed with one hand. It is about the simplest mount on the market to use and it holds on better than the frustrating folding circle-clip on recent TomToms.
These new Go navigators have voice recognition for hands-free control and Bluetooth connectivity that invites hands-free calling. Traditional TomTom features such as spoken street names, reality view, lane guidance, and Help Me! are included.
In TomTom parlance, the “TM” in the product names denotes lifetime traffic and map updates. The real-time traffic data supplements historic traffic data to enable informed route planning, then continuous routing to adjust for changing conditions. The included maps cover the United States, Canada, and Mexico, with quarterly updates available. The devices are preloaded with seven million points of interest, spread across 60 categories.
Garmin Nuvi 3700 Series: As for the Garmin Nuvi 3700 series, it features a sleek, iPhone-inspired design with a metal bezel, glass capacitive display, portrait or landscape display modes, and touch-screen shortcuts. The device itself is slender at just 9 millimeters thick, making it very pocket-friendly for a widescreen unit. Like the available Magellan and TomTom mounts for the iPhone, the Nuvi 3700 mount includes a second speaker to improve sound.
According to the experts, the Nuvi 3750, Nuvi 3760T, and Nuvi 3790T have core features built on established Garmin offerings, with reality view, lane assist, “Where am I?”, speed limit indicator, pedestrian mode, and ecoRoute to provide the most fuel-efficient route. The premium Nuvi 3790T boasts voice recognition, lifetime traffic, and three-dimensional buildings. This is an impressive product range, with simple controls, ultra-crisp display, and modern packaging.
These new devices are remarkable but beware, they will take a bite out of your budget. Whether shopping for yourself, or for a gift, this holiday season, be sure to check the ratings and features. There are many GPS navigators available, with a wide range of prices. The dynamic GPS Selector enables online subscribers to sort and filter our ratings of over 100 devices by the factors that matter most to create custom lists of the best-suited models, or you can dive in to review our GPS Team’s recommendations by category.
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Outdoor Navigation with GPS $10.86 For outdoor adventurers who hike, fish, kayak, cross-country ski, or mountain bike in the backcountry, a GPS receiver can help them reach their destination and return safely — but only if they know how to use it! Here is the guide to getting the most out of a GPS receiver, from basic consumer advice to advanced techniques. It even includes fun solo and team games that utilize GPS. Starting with … |
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Introduction to GPS: The Global Positioning System, Second Edition $59.69 This thoroughly revised edition of the Artech House bestseller, “Introduction to GPS: The Global Position System” offers professionals and students an up-to-date, easy-to-understand treatment of this tremendously important technology. The second edition includes a wealth of brand new material, including a chapter on GPS satellite orbit and new coverage of today’s hottest issues, such as precise po… |
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Wilderness Navigation: Finding Your Way Using Map, Compass, Altimeter & Gps (Mountaineers Outdoor Basics) $8.96 ·GPS chapter completely updated to reflect newer models and features of GPS receivers now available ·Expanded to include a section on routefinding on glaciers, along with additional information on changing declination ·Extensive illustrated examples of orientation and navigation Proceed with confidence when heading off-road or off-trail with the second edition of Wilderness Navigation. Wh… |
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Garmin Forerunner 305 Variation Parent … |
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Garmin Forerunner 205 GPS Receiver and Sports Watch $149.99 Just when you thought Garmin had cornered the market on powerful, affordable, and effective wrist-mounted GPS devices, here comes the Forerunner 205. The release of this device is a major achievement from a design and technology perspective. This isn’t just marketing-speak; the Forerunner 205 is the most accurate, most reliable wrist-mounted performance and GPS tracking tool we’ve ever tested. Yes… |
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Izzo Golf Swami 3000 Enhanced Golf GPS $76.96 SWAMI™ 3000 Enhanced Golf GPSPart # A43093Just Charge & Play!The SWAMI 3000 is a Golf GPS unit with over 19000 courses preloaded and ready to play. There is NO Annual Fee and NO Subscription cost. Just charge the SWAMI 3000 and go play golf. It is that simple. SWAMI automatically knows where you are and what course you are playing. In Fact golfers using GPS systems play faster and their scores a… |
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National Geographic TOPO! Weekend Explorer 3D (San Diego Area, Anza-Borrego, Santa Rosa Mountains) $20.97 National Geographic’s TOPO! State Series Weekend Explorer 3-D CD-ROM is for outdoor enthusiasts who love exploring on their weekends, but don’t need detailed full state coverage of every nook and cranny. Simply insert this affordable CD-ROM into your home computer or laptop. With 11 areas focused on recreation regions near metropolitan areas, the TOPO! State Series gives you 3D views of roads and … |
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National Geographic TOPO! Weekend Explorer 3D (Twin Cities Area, Boundary Waters, Apostle Islands) $29.99 Covers all of the Twin Cities metro area plus the Boundary Waters and Apostle Islands. Includes – Duluth International Falls Grand Portage Lake Minnetonka Voyageurs National Park Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness Apostle Islands National Seashore St. Croix National Scenic Riverway Superior National Forest Kabetogama State Forest Cloquet Valley State Forest and more. GPS compatible … |
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Remanufactured Magellan RoadMate 700 20 GB Vehicle GPS Navigation System with Windshield Mount $999.98 Magellan Roadmate 700 is the first affordable, easy-setup,easy-to-use vehicle navigation system. It features: touch screen input, turn-by-turn visual and voice guidance with TrueView 3D navigation showing upcoming maneuvers. It will automatically calculate a street route or help find one of 2 millions points of interest, including restaurants, ATM machines, gas stations, parks, etc. The unit comes… |
