Garmin n vi 1490T 5 Inch Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator with Integrated Traffic Receiver
The NUVI 1490T 5″ Ultra Thin GPS Navigator features a widescreen ultra slim design (approximately 25% thinner than previous models), enhanced user interface, ecoRoute, public transit mode and text-to-speech. The n vi 1490T offers pedestrian navigation capability enabled through optional CityXplorer maps. CityXplorer maps are available for select tourist destinations in North America and Europe and can easily be downloaded directly to the nuvi. The nuvi’s enhanced user interface features improved graphics and a new slide control for menu operation, while ecoRoute suggests fuel-efficient routes to save drivers money and fuel. Also, Garmin’s new public transit mode allows you to navigate using buses, tramway, metro and suburban rail systems. Steer clear of traffic with nuvi’s traffic receiver by receiving alerts about traffic delays and road construction that lie ahead on your route. Junction view – View realistic images of upcoming junctions where available Multiple point routing with route planner Map data is provided by NAVTEQ Bluetooth wireless technology, enables hands-free calling with a compatible phone ecoRoute – Drivers can view suggestions for fuel-efficient navigation, conserving both money and fuel Speed limit indicator – unit displays speed limits for most major roads Public transit – Navigate using buses, tramway, metro and suburban rail systems with optional CityXplorer content. feature – Find closest hospitals, police stations, gas stations, nearest address, intersection and coordinates Bright 5 diagonal color display; 480 x 272 pixels; WQVGA TFT display with white backlight Trip computer records mileage, max speed, total time Built-in travel kit includes picture viewer, world clock, currency and measurement converters and calculator MicroSD memory card slot Offers 3-D mapping, or 2-D overhead view Dimensions – 5.4W x 3.4H x 0.6D;
User Ratings and Reviews
4 Stars Nice upgrade
Update: August 15:
- My con I listed below about the buggy firmware (2.7)… it’s VERY buggy. The nuvi “forgets” my settings such as vehicle icon, map detail display level, time format whenever I plug my nuvi into my PC (to transfer waypoints and such). Still keeping the unit but looking forward to an update REAL SOON…hopefully.
I’ve owned many Garmin units over the years (GPS V, eMap, nuvi 350, 265W, 750, 755, tried 1260T, 1350). I decided to upgrade to the 1490T because of the larger screen and thinner form factor.
Just some observations:
Pros:
- The display is 5 in diagonal, that may not seem much bigger than the 4.3 but it is. The resolution is the same as the 4.3 wide-screens units but the extra space is well worth it and noticeable! It also makes it easy to hit the right button on the touch screen.
- User interface has received some minor updates, mostly in the cosmetic department. The font is new and contributes to a refined feel, everything is “smoothed” and looks very good. It’s also VERY responsive and doesn’t feel like it’s lagging.
- I like the new menu organization, they didn’t bury as many of the options and settings in sub-folders.
- You can change the map display so that the data fields are stacked along the right side as opposed to being in the corners. I like this view a lot. With this stacked view, you can see 4 data fields (3 are customizable) versus the two in the normal corner view.
- The unit is about half an inch thick, it’s very easy to carry around, even pocket-able in a pinch.
- (updated) The speaker on this unit is MUCH better than on my 755, 1260, 1350; perhaps they had room to add a larger speaker. The spoken directions sound not only louder but fuller and do not distort at high volume.
Cons:
- The mounting cradle is a two-step/two-handed affair, unplug the mini-USB then unmount from the two point cradle. The older, better quality cradle is literally one click grab and go from a nice powered cradle. Don’t know why they removed that (cost savings?).
- A common complaint: less detail shown on maps. The newer nuvi’s show fewer street names at the same zoom level as the older units. The argument being this reduces clutter. I’m not happy with it, but it’s not a deal breaker. Garmin has added alot of other information to the map display and I can understand they don’t want to overwhelm the user with text.
- The latest firmware is 2.7 and it seems to be quite buggy. Issues with Bluetooth, saving favorites, thats all I’ve experienced.
- Note, this comes with version 2010.10 maps. Garmin just released version 2010.20 maps. You only get one free upgrade.
- Very expensive…
I am planning on replacing my 755T with the 1490T. The larger screen size is just so overwhelmingly impressive it outweighs the cons in my book. If you’re not into that type of stuff then the 1490T is probably not for you.
2 Stars Disappointing Map Detail
I have recently bought this gps and tried it out on a 400 mi trip. In my opinion this gps -at least with current firmware- is disappointing when used for navigation. Even at the ‘dense’ map detail setting, it shows no features at all on the 3D maps, no context, no cities around, no highway crossings. No approaching POIs too. And of course, no mountain or river or lake names. I was struggling to figure out where I am! This problem should be corrected by a new firmware update (is Garmin hearing?) . Navigating in a blind manner is completely useless and annoying.
To sum up the pros and cons:
PROs
1. Nice display, too bright, needs to be set at 50-60% brightness to be pleasant.
2. Responsive touch-screen, big size makes selections easy.
3. Fast & smooth moving and rotating map. Pleasant to watch.
4. Solid built unit, a bit heavy though.
5. Nice menus, many displayed fields are now selectable.
6. Excellent ecoroute feature, helps see your driving costs.
7. Ability to plan and save (up to 10) multi-waypoint routes.
8. Clear bluetooth connection (bigger speaker) if you manage to pair gps with phone (see cons below).
9. Micro SD card.
10. Many more pros, no space to account for all here.
CONs
1. The ‘less map detail’ problem mentioned above.
2. Heavy and ugly power cable, not nice to look in car.
3. Short battery life (just over 2 h) due to bright 5″ screen consumption.
4. Panning/browsing screen almost impossible (see rubber-band effect) due to software bugs.
5. Some settings (like favorites, POIs or other) are ‘forgotten’ after power cycles, or after connection to PC.
6. Annoying big info balloons popping up if a place on map is touched. Balloons hide map features.
7. Big screen don’t show more map area, as opposed to 4.3″ units, just bigger text and icons. Another disappointing engineering from Garmin.
8. Bluetooth pairing with phone is plagued with many bugs.
9. Many other minor bugs, hopefully to be fixed with upcoming software updates.
1 Star For Now, Say No To The Nuvi 1490t!
I have the Garmin Nuvi 5000 and was thinking about selling it after buying the Nuvi 1490t. After trying it out for a week and reading all the bad reviews, I think that I will return the Nuvi 1490t and keep the Nuvi 5000 for now. I like a lot of map detail and for what I can see the Nuvi 1490t is lacking in that area. Yes, Garmin could fix things with a software update, but I am still waiting for some improvements to be made to the Nuvi 5000 that never came and don’t look like it will!
3 Stars Some good, but some backward steps in my opinion
Final Update:
After some frustration returned it:
1) You drive on a state highway for miles with detailed view, you only see a web of road networks with little to no text (no cross roads marked, no poi etc). Compare with 660 where it was fun to use the GPS. I asked myself do I need a 5 inch screen @499 to just view this ? NO!!
2)GOt impression software has been rushed out to meet deadline. Eg. Keyboard style not remebered, they tried to fix it on a update which is BTW available already out a product release at the start fo the month, but still messed up. Now on ‘ABCD’ style it remembers but defaults to number view when entering street names so need more key presses to get ‘letters’. This indicates to me probably pure management of sofwtare testing vs requirements at Garmin. I am sure this will get fixed eventually but I have formed a poor impression on newer garmins. Too many with big price variatiations, but minor differences..
3) New graphics style- They have managed to make the same information on same size screen (I tried the 765, exact same software as 1490t) looks smaller with new menu button right in the middle of the main navigation route. To see what I mean go to for eg: [...] and check the image of the 660 and then any of the newer ones like the 765.
Garmin- If things are not broken dont try to fix! What was broken was inability to sort alphabetically. Good new features were lane assist & integrated antenna & multi point routing. What needs fixing is better traffic updates. I am afraid the 300/600 series may become the classic garmin that made the company the market leader at one time!!
Well thats my review, hopefully by the time others buy they would have updated the sofwtare to fix some of the issues so maybe should check later reveiwe!
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Original review:
My NUI 660 was stolen 3 weeks ago so waited till end of this month for this as thats when it became available..
My first impressions are not all that positive, that I have got a RMA and wondering if I should buy the 765 ($200 cheaper) or a tom tom or some thing else.
Basically the 5 inch screen is nice, and compared to 660 ability for multi point routing is good. Although the later seems not that efficent at routing, if any one lives in Boston and drive to South NJ, will know the importance to avoid GW bridge and go on Tapanezee. I tried inserting tapenzee as a way point, but incredibly it calculated to TPZ then drove back via 87s back to GW, instead of a more logical and shorter Garden State Parkway.
The junction view poped up briefly when driving on mass pike and approaching 128 but seems just a flashy feature because when I was actually got close it never showed up. I just happend to glance and was lucky to spot it the brief moment it poped up.
My main complaints is compared to 660 experience or in general
More Update: Unlike 660 if you make a right turn and then have to make another immediately, the 1490t does not say so before the first one. Instead as I made the right tun, accelerated but withing 400ft it says make a right. No pre warning like in 660, and I missed that turn. I am just wondering who makes design changes at Garmin!!!! That will be a deal breaker, unless tells me I am mistaken on this!!!
1) Pann-ing map is almost impossible, it is jerky than scrolls more than you want. Huge problem..
2) Even in detailed map it does not label some points of interst or local river/lake names anymore as you are driving. That was a nice feature so consider it as step back from 660.
3) Autorouting is slower but probably can live with it. Nice if the upgrades went the other way though!! Same with map drawing..
4) Annoying pop up balloon on map when searching for address. Why, why?? Cant see the map anyway with baloon
5) Commercials for bes western and others annoying. I think just shows up when idling though, not sure
6) Traffic allert wiltl sometimes say traffic ahead but never came across and the map does not high light where it is. Traffic feature as in 660 have low confidence it will help daily travel, at least its free now..
7) High Time Garmin fixes their search method, same issue with 660. For example to seacrh near.. You cannot type boston, ma. If you just type boston you will see an unsorted listing of cities of Boston and you need to scroll to find where boston ma shows up. No logical ordering. Nice if we can specify a state or zip or at least sort by distance to where you are or something better!! Imagine seraching for some more common name than boston!!
8)Jills voice is now very annoying and rough, maybe new speakers. Also I think it says re-calculating few times when doing so which can be annoying. At least ran into it once not sure if 2 recaluclate events triggered while the first one hadnot completed.
9) Keyboard style is not remembered between power cycles so might as well not have that option. nobody is going to go to tools menu to change it from qwert to abcd every time.
10)Keyboard seems more crowded and less responsive than in 660, delelte key not obvious.
11) Contact list cannot be sorted alphabetically as in 660. hasnt enough people complaint about this already for garmin not to listen???
12) At power up the display does not automatically rivert to map view if you dont do anything, instead the main menu screen which is useless to watch while driving.
Update: The display does ebentually go to map mode so this is OK..
13) Speed display seems consistantly less by 3MPH from actual speed. tested on two cars so wondering if they could not have calibrated it better as it seems systematic..
14) No MP3 or Audio Books or FM transmitter or line out (I can live without so not big for me, line out would have been nice to hook up with your car audio)
Improvements
1) Bigger screen, but less glossy
2)No anntenna on the back, beautiful exterior design, looks more sturdy
3) Power attaches to unit not base holder. Have mixed view on this. May be good if travelling no need to take the base holder with you
4) More customizable options, menu labeling is better, i.e not everything is hidden under food and lodging anymore
5) speed limit indication is good, and seems accurate even as the limits changes on the same road. Impressive, at least around boston so far!
Overall dont see anything major to get excited about vs 660. 765 seems to have the same features minus the 5inch screen and $200 cheaper, so may consider that or studying other tom tom too. Wish Garmin will spend more resources on address sorting, seraching etc than adding flashy features as upgrades.
3 Stars Very big screen but not worth the price!
I am a valued user of the garmin’s gps’s. The issue with this one is that Garmin did not invest alot of time in making improvements. It’s almost like the engineer left their brain at the office entrance. Why can’t they just remember to put things in a alphabetical order? I spent alot of money on this and have been watching the price drop every week. The screen does not make the price and the lane changer does not work as well as i would like it to. Missed to many lanes trying to drive around New York. The pop up baloons need to stop and the search for POI are not so good in route. The big issue is it always directs me to go another mile in another direction then the faster route to my own home? Not sure why but when I go my own way the time changes to the quicker route? I have a a garmin 265 and it always finds the best direction. Save your money on another then the new one here.
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