GPS maker Garmin has taken the wraps off its new nüvi 3700 series of portable GPS units, featuring a new iPhone-look-alike design with large 4.3-inch multitouch displays (that support zooming, pinching, and dragging) and a profile under 9mm thick. The three new models also feature voice prompts, speed limit indicators for most major roads, customizable wallpapers, lane assist, and automatic time zone shifting that keeps its clock accurate as users travel. The GPSs also feature ecoRoute (enabling drivers to pick out routes that conserve fuel) and a MyTrends feature that forecasts destinations without requiring users to specifically activate a route.
“Personal navigation is entering a new era, and the nüvi 3700 series has the stunning design and seamlessly intuitive interface to lead the way,” said Garmin worldwide sales VP Dan Bartel, in a statement. “Our designers and engineers were challenged to rethink an industry icon, and the result is as pristine as it is practical.”
At the top of the series is the nüvi 3790T, which features high-end 3D terrain and 3D buildings to help users orient themselves in their environment, along with a customizable “wake-up phrase” that turns on voice-enabled navigation. The 3790T also features Bluetooth wireless technology, lifetime traffic alert service, and optional cityXplorer content is available for pedestrian routes and city transit. The unit accepts microSD cards, offers up to four hours of battery life, but doesn’t sport an MP3 player or an FM transmitter for pushing tunes to an in-vehicle audio system. The nüvi 3760T is a similar unit, but lacks the 3D terrain and buildings feature and voice-activated navigation, while the nüvi 3750 drops Bluetooth.
The nüvi 3790T carries a suggested price of $449.99, while the nüvi3760T carries a $399.99 price tag and the nüvi 3750 runs $349.99—although the company hasn’t announced details about availability.
