Just in time for CES, Garmin has announced a spate of new GPS products designed to both refresh its lineup of portable navigation devices intended for personal and in-vehicle use, but also update its product offerings for athletes, the outdoor-oriented, and folks who just want a GPS they can connect to their PC, thank you very much.
First up, the company has announced four new entries in its nüvi GPS line, including the nüvi 800 series, the nüvi 5000 series, the nüvi 780, and the nüvi 260W. All four are traditional portable GPS devices with integrated screens, integrated maps, and route-finding capabilities. The nüvi 800 features a 4.3-inch touchscreen display and speech recognition technology for managing the GPS in-vehicle while keeping both hands on the wheel; the technology also take into MSN Direct content, so drivers can speak queries like “Find nearest grocery store” and see a list of places to stock up on munchies for the road. The nüvi 5000 series offers the premium GPS experience, with a 5.2-inch touchscreen display, full media playback capabilities (video, music, and images—even games and Audible.com audiobooks), simplified route planning (and storage), MSN Direct and/or FM TMC support for traffic info and other information, and a built-in FM transmitter for pumping audio to an in-vehicle audio system. The nüvi 5000 series will carry a retail price of $799.99…so save your pennies.
The nüvi 780 brings the second generation of MSN Direct mobile content to the nüvi 700-series line, so users can tap into traffic conditions and get information on local fuel prices, services, entertainment, and events. The 780s will also be available for rent with any Avis rental vehicle. Finally, the nüvi 260W brings a 4.3-inch touchscreen and spoken directional prompts to the value-oriented end of the Garmin GPS line, omitting premium features in favor of simple utilities and a new built-in GPS antenna that makes the unit easier to mount and manage within a vehicle.
Garmn also has outdoor-types in mind with its Colorado 400t and 400i handheld GPS devices; the 400t offers 3D elevation information and pre-loaded U.S. topographic maps, while the 400i aims for marine enthusiasts with shoreline details, depth contours, and boat ramp locations for U.S. inland lakes and navigable rivers. Both Colorado GPS’s feature Whereigo from Groundspeak, which enables users to create GPS-guided tours, adventure games, and other activities: think of it as “Geocaching 2.0.” Both new Colorado GPS units will have retail prices of $599.
Garmin has also added the Forerunner 405 GPU-enabled fitness device to its lineup, enabling runner to track speed, distance, heart ate, and location with ease. The Forerunner 405 includes a Virtual Partner to help folks stay motivated and on-pace during their run, rides, or walks, and workout data can be wirelessly transferred to a computer for tracking. The Forerunner 405 will retail for $299.
Finally, for folks who just wish they had GPS capabilities in their computer, Garmin Mobile PC brings the interface of the company’s Nüvi and StreetPilot navigation units to Windows. The system will be available as a software-only package ($59.99) or bundled with Garmin’s new GPS20x USB external sensor ($99.99). Sure, using it means lugging around a notebook computer…but plenty of people are doing that anyway.
