Well, well, well; that chatty little birdy over at the FCC came buzzing by our offices once again today, and let us know that Garmin's got a new
nüvi GPS device / multimedia player in the pipeline. Because Garmin double pinky swore the FCC birdy to secrecy, all that's known at this point is that the new model will be part of the 6xx series (the 660, perhaps?), and that it contains both a Bluetooth radio and FM transmitter. So in other words, we pretty much know nothing at all. Still, we can tell by the pictures (of the back of the device -- thanks a lot, Garmin) that the upcoming nüvi retains the same form factor as the older models, so we're expecting either a souped up
360 or a same-speced model at a lower price point. Oh, and if anyone cares to go through the 43-page testing documentation to dig for more details (good luck with that), please be our guests; just remember to come back and report your findings in the comments section, as we and your fellow readers will be eternally grateful.
Update: That was certainly a slap in the face; Garmin won't tell us jack about the 660, but it has no problem spilling the beans to e-tailer
buy.com. Thanks to eagle-eyed reader AMtech, we now know that the nuvi 660 will feature a 4.3-inch, 480 x 272 pixel display (compared to the 360's 3.5-inch QVGA screen) and come bundled with either the GTM 20 or GTM 21 traffic receiver (optional on the 360). Oddly enough, though -- at least if buy.com's got the accurate specs -- the 660 will only sport 700MB of internal storage, quite a drop from the 2GB preloaded on a 360 ( you can still upgrade via SD, however). Oh, and if you were hoping for a price break, keep dreaming: buy's got this one listed at an even $1,000.
posted Aug 21st 2006 5:41PM
git 'r dun!!!
this is a cool product, considering im thinking about getting one. navigation ftw! git 'r dun!
The available 700 MB is similar to the 350 and 360.
The 2 GB drive minus the pre-installed maps etc. leaves you with about 700 MB.
Your comments: I still have no idea why someone would choose this over something like the Fujitsu Siemens n560:
http://tinyurl.com/o5ecs
From what I can tell, the 560 does alomst everything the nuvi does, and is is less expensive, smaller, has a full VGA screen (OK... A smidge smaller), Wifi, plays almost any media (movies, MP3s etc), runs Windows Mobile 5, so it runs thousands of applications, and lots else.
You have your choice of GPS software packages from about five or six companies, and aren't locked
into any one for the life of the unit.
About the only thing it doesn't have is the traffic receiver capabilities, but by the time they're available in more cities, I'm sure an add-on will be available.
Too bad it's not really sold in the US, but is easily available through several outfits in
the US and Europe (who ship it here).
Nelson
You mention about five or six GPS software providers for N560. Could you please tell me what companies are you talking about? I travel around Europe and Africa and would be interested in having a software that would allow me access to some useful maps.
Thanks
Diogo
Nelson:
The sheer fact that Siemens has a Windows OS is enough to scare me away.
Looks like a great product. The current Nuvi is pretty awesome so hopefully this takes it up another notch!
The Fujitsu Siemens n560 is a nice unit but it's not a GPS system first and foremost like the Nuvi. If you truly want a GPS with some added functions get the Nuvi.
Don't be fooled thinking that the n560 is a GPS system that you will be happy with compared to something like a Garmin or TomTom unit.
You might be best off getting something like the Garmin M3 for less than $300 and you'll get a Pocket PC and GPS for cheap.
I have a Nuvi 350, love it. Not really into the bluetooth, but for those who want the speakerphone option in their car, the 360 is a good way to go. This sounds like they are going way over-the-top on the screen - interesting move!
The big news for me in this article is the FM Transmitter.
The FM transmitter will probably do the following:
1) Play MP3's stored on the device's internal and SD memory over your (rental) car's FM radio
2) Broadcast voice guidance commands over the car's radio
3) Use the car's FM radio for the Nuvi's bluetooth handsfree phone system
A single device that can do all that with truly great Nav (as the Nuvi certainly does), with only one cable to hook up (the nuvi's charger) is the perfect traveling companion IMO.
Pete
No no no. I'm holding out for Tom Tom One. I think the Tom Tom interface is the best one out there (haven't seen the Fujitsu). Plus, it's half the price of these Nuvis.
John AH, the TomTom One is also half the GPS.
Compare it to a Garmin Streetpilot 330 or a nüvi 350 for the same capabilities (plus the nüvi is still smaller)
I have the Nuvi 350, and frankly I'm not impressed. Its ETA is consistently inaccurate (too optimistic, i.e. you always arrive later than it claims), the map display is jerky, the map data is outdated and inaccurate, and so is the POI database with too many closed and non-existing businesses. Add to that poor customer support of Garmin (no response from them on an email I sent), and I'm never buying a Garmin unit again.
Mr. Sununu,
Garmin has nothing to do with information supplied on the maps (either data or POI). This is all supplied by two 3rd party companies (Navteq or TelAtlas) and all GPS system use the same data from these two suppliers. The vast majority of notes that I have read on the web states the Garmin has pretty good CS. Why not try giving them a call rather than email. Sorry you are having some many problems. Maybe you should try Tom Tom or Magellan. I will be buying a Nuvi when I get a chance.
I think Garmin is taking it to the next level with this new nüvi. I own a nüvi 360 and I`m more than satisfied with it, but for people who are doubting to buy a DumbDumb...uuhh...TomTom, because of the bigger screen, doubting is now over because of this widescreen nüvi. Garmin has far more experience in navigation, this you can see in their PND's, not only in looks, but also in capabilities!
They actually DO use different maps. Garmin uses NavTeq, and Tom Tom doesn't (At least they didn't when I got my TomTom Go)
While there will be problems with any data base, in the US, NavTeq has consistently shown far more user satisfaction with map accuracy and routing. I own both the TomTom Go and the Nuvi 350. I've personally had far better mapping experience with the Nuvi, and the Nuvi's interface is perfection. I'm certain that the poster who complained about garmin's interface has never seen the Nuvi. Some previous garmin's were far more complex.
Pete
Anyone who says that TomTom has a better UI than Garmin has not used one of the newer (i.e. 2005 and on) StreetPilot or nüvi devices. The "Where To/View Map" interface is the pioneer in PND's.
Maybe the maps are the same, but other systems I have tried (Navman) allows you to manually enter an area to avoid. This would have been helpful in my case, where the Nuvi tries to make me enter a one-way street the wrong way. I can't do that and so the routing is inefficent. There's also no excuse for the overly optimistic ETAs given, which appears to completely ignore traffic, traffic lights, stop signs, etc, but rather assumes you'll be going full constant speed on a surface road. It's rather pathetic.
The nüvi will give an ETA time based on the speed limits. When you stop for lets say traffic or whatever it will automatically change the ETA. There`s no PND in the world that will give a exact ETA because there is no way to tell how long you have to wait for traffic lights etc...
And also the nüvi is a travel assistant...not an automatic pilot. Altough it`s one the best PND's out there, we can`t expect miracles of it and we still have to use our sound mind using it.
Oh, please. I used to own a Navman that was much more accurate. Don't be such an apologist for Garmin. What idiot would program a unit to not consider real-world situations, such as traffic lights, etc? That's just too stupid. I'm not asking for exact ETA, but expecting you to drive the full route at constant max speed is ridiculous.
The Garmin nüvi, nuvi, 660 comes with City Navigator NT preloaded, pluss 700mb free memory space and extra SD card slot. That's a lot of memory.
Otto
http://www.navigate3d.no
Sununu,
Who tied you up and commanded you to use the nüvi? If you liked the other better than just stick with that one. There a plenty of people who would be more than happy with your nüvi...
Great way of addressing the issue, Jack. One should think you work for Garmin. I like the form factor of the Nuvi, but contrary to what some people claim, it's not perfect. In fact it has some annoying flaws done better by other products. Don't be such a fanboy.
What do you want to hear then? Its just not possible to do something about the ETA, when you have an appointment just add some time to it. You also have the possibility to avoid certain roads and if thats not enough you can insert a 'via point'. POI's you can add yourself and for new map data you`ll have to wait several months... or upgrade to the nüvi 6xx and you`ll probably get it with it :-)
Calculating a more accurate ETA is not that difficult. The assumption that you can drive at full constant speed is so obviously wrong. The Nuvi is doing a basic weighted graph analysis, apparently without adding cost to nodes (intersections). It's really not that hard to come up with something better.
BTW, I would love to know how to "avoid certain roads", if by "certain" you mean specific, rather than avoiding types of roads, e.g. toll, unpaved, etc.
I don't see how "via points" are of any help here.
My Garmin has been spot on with ETA's, but that may be the autobahn factor, we're not such snails like in the US.
No navigator can account for traffic lights or unexpected stops, if Sununu says that his navman did that he's just lying.
You can add a detour to your current route if needed, just hit the menu button while navigating and select detour.
I've had several Garmin GPSs, some had an option to avoid certain roads or areas but the interface on those was a lot more difficult, I guess Garmin wants to keep the nüvi simple.
On the contrary, any navigator can account for traffic lights. When calculating the ETA, simply add a average delay per intersection, and expect people to drive below the speed limit on average. See, wasn't that hard was it? I'm not asking for complete accuracy, rather just a little bit of thought. Any sane person knows that no one is going the speed limit at constant speed (except perhaps for freeways), so why would a presumably sane software developer make that assumption when writing the code for ETA calculation?
I have always used TomTom and have just upgraded to a GO910, I am able to avoid roads, travel via roads and the ETA is always right even if I seem to get stuck at lights etc it always seems to even out. Forget the Navman and Garmin - TomTom all the way even the UI is really eassy to use and still able to give you more in-depth features
John quit your whining. You're really sounding ridiculous in your never ending rant about traffic lights. Tell me which service out of mappoint, google maps, yahoo maps, multimaps, mapquest, or any GPS device from magellan, takes into account traffic lights? You have this absurd delusion that the 'idiots' at every single mapping program have never looked at the John Sununu traffic light problem simply because they are 'stupid'. And sure, it isn't a problem with every GPS or mapping solution ever made, it is just the Nuvi 360 that sucks, and anyone who points out that there is nothing else on the market that does these wonderful things you claim are so simple, they turn into a Garmin Nuvi 360 fanboy. But who can argue with such highly researched, technologically sophisticated arguments such as-
"You just have to do this and this. See, wasn't that hard was it?"
Personally, I don't see why we don't have flying cars yet. You just have to do this and that with the thrust, and BAM- theyre flying. Wasn't that hard wasn't it. Youd have to be an idiot not to figure that out. These guys need to actually put some thought into things for a change.
Remind me to stay off of whatever you're smoking. I think its making you a little narrow-minded and delusional.
Jim, you must be incredibly dense. Anyone reading these comments can understand the utter stupidity in the assumption that a car will be driving a given route at maximum constant speed. If you are truly interested, please look up graph theory. There are plenty of ways to do this much better and more accurate.
I've come to the realization that you are absolutely insane. There is no arguing with you. You choose not to deal with the state of mapping software in general, since not a single program out there doesnt use the incredibly simple 'graph theory' methods you mention, you simply choose to mention one mobile GPS from one particular manufacturer, which must have really hurt your feelings since you had purchased it and it didnt live up to all of your wildest hopes and dreams. Can you please address the fact that not a single mapping program that exists does anything close to the features that you are throwing around and are convinced must be so simple since you read about something similar on an internet page?
I haven't tried that many nav units, but my previous Navman did a much better job. You may not have the mental capabilities to understand graph theory, but the software developers certainly do, which is why they should have done a better job. The thread below seems to indicate behavior that I am certainly not seeing in the Nuvi, and mentions features, which could alliviate some of the problems, that is not in the Nuvi either.
http://www.pdastreet.com/forums//archive/index.php/t-23728.html
If you are happy with your Nuvi, then good for you, but don't pretend that it's perfect and doesn't have serious shortcomings. I seriously don't understand what you get out of defending a sub-par product. Would you prefer Garmin stopped issuing new firmware, because it's just perfect as it is? Or should problems be pointed out so they can be fixed?
looks like an awesome product. with all the different possible features in a gps it is getting harder and harder to choose.
I own a Nuvi and am amazed at the accuracy of the ETA. My car Navigations always seem off (long) to some degree, but Nuvi seems to take into account that the average person (unlike John) uses the left lane to go somewhat above the speed limit.
Perhaps they should add a user option for "Slow Driver" (AKA "why would I need a navigation as I can simply roll down the window and ask") to make it more accurate for you John?
Haha, I'm glad that you are confirming that the Nuvi expects you to go ABOVE the speed limit. Not that I mind that, it just doesn't work in urban traffic.
On my admitedly ancient Garmin GPS V there is a way to change the assumed speed limit for the several levels of roads, from interstate (ok, autobahn) down to the residential. I'm seriously considering the Nuvi 660 for a long-overdue update and I sure hope it will allow me (and Senator Sununu) to tweek the speed limits for a "conservative" ETA.
In my experience with Garmin GPS's and calculations, the longer you leave your trip computer with out being reset, the more accurate it is on ETA's. I'm a field engineer and have been in a couple of major cities. If you reset trip, then yes, the calculations are off due to traffic and what not, but if you let the trip "learn" how you drive in the course of a few days it goes from being off a few min, to being pretty dead on accurate for me ... regardless of traffic lights or intersections.
AS for my opinion of Garmin, I have used quite a few different GPS's by Garmin and other vendors, over any other brand, I'd swear by Garmin. You get what you pay for and Garmin wrote the book. Everyone else seems to try to immitate and copy features from current and former Garmin's and they just do not do it well enough. I actually can't rave enough about the Nuvi.
Had a Quest and now a Quest II. I was hoping the Quest II would give me close to the same results of Mapquest. And keep me on the Interstate instead of going though 60 miles of traffic lights. I live next the Washington, DC beltway and work on the opposite side of the beltway. Both Quests route me though the middle of DC. I called Garmin tech support and am convinced they are IDIOTS! I guess Garmin should notify www.dot.gov that they can shutdown the beltway, it's not needed any longer. The shortest distance is not the fast route. When I travel I print off the mapquest directions and ignore the Quest II when it's about to do something STUPID and let it recalculate until it gets it right! Garmin should hire some of the Mapquest programmers.