Garmin Nuvi 850 4.3 Inch Widescreen Portable GPS Navigator with Voice Command and FM Transmitter Soft Black

With the nüvi 800 series, Garmin adds smooth speech recognition to its bestselling line of sleek portable GPS navigators. As with all nüvis, you get a slim, pocket-sized navigator with a gorgeous display, detailed NAVTEQ maps that let you search by name for more than 6 million points of interest like stores, restaurants or hospitals, and an easy, intuitive interface. All of the 800-series navigators also feature a rich array of features including spoken directions in real street names, integrated traffic receivers, MP3 player and photo viewer, and an FM transmitter that will play all the nüvi’s audio, including voice prompts, MP3s, audio books, and more, directly through your vehicle’s stereo system. The 850 also features an integrated traffic receiver and enhanced MSN Direct content with traffic data, reas-time gas prices, movie times and more.

Key Features/Benefits

• New – Voice Recognition — Just tell it what you’re looking for (Learn more)
• Easy to use interface (Learn More)
• Integrated Antenna for a slim form factor
• Pre-Loaded Maps for North America with 6 million searchable points of interest (POIs), plus add your own custom POIs (Learn more)
• Multi-Destination Routing — tells you the best way to get to a lot of different places in one trip (Learn More)
• FM Transmitter lets you hear spoken navigation prompts, MP3s or audio books through your car’s stereo system
• Add FM traffic incident data or Enhanced MSN traffic flow data and content with an optional antenna (Learn more)
• Where Am I? — instantly shows you all of the emergency services nearby (Learn More)
• Where’s My Car? — never forget where you parked again (Learn More)
• Widescreen — gives you a better idea of what’s around you (Learn More)
• microSD card slot — store extra maps, travel guides, photos or MP3s
• Photo Viewer and MP3 Player (Learn More)
• Customize Your Onscreen Vehicle Icon (Learn More)
• Garmin Lock (Learn More) — keep others from using your navigator
• New – Photo Navigation lets you upload geo-coded photos from a phone, geo-coding camera or photo site and navigate to them. (Learn more)
• New – Send addresses directly to your Garmin from Google Maps or Mapquest (Learn more)

Which nüvi is Best for You?: Click here to see a quick, simple comparison of features for all Garmin nuvi GPS navigators

Learn More

Easy to Use Right Out of the Box

One of Garmin’s key product philosophies is, “to make extremely complex technology easy to use for anyone right out of the box,” and perhaps nowhere is that better exemplified than in the user interface for Garmin’s portable navigation devices. Garmin’s interface is a key to their success and one of the things that makes their devices such a pleasure to use. Simple controls and sub-screens make it easy to enter or search for destinations and get data about your trip.

New – Voice Recognition

Usable voice recognition is something we’ve been waiting to see for a long time. Reaching over to type out directions on your GPS isn’t just difficult, it can feel downright dangerous. There’s even a warning on every GPS not to do it. But who has the time to sit still and punch in a destination? Well, now you can have your hurry and your directions too. The nüvi 800s aren’t the first GPS navigators to offer voice recognition, but the level of flexibility they offer sets a new standard for simple and intuitive use. The device comes with a little remote control that mounts on your steering wheel. It has two buttons. One is, “listen.” The other is, “stop listening”. Hit the “listen” button to start voice recognition. Then you can speak any of the words that appear on the display, and the device will understand, or you can ask questions based on most points of interest. Say, “find nearest Italian restaurant,” for example, and you’ll get a list of nearby spots. Say “go to” and name of the one you want, and you get turn-by-turn directions to dinner. The nüvi also knows the names of many large business brands, so you can just say, “find place, Starbucks,” if that’s your coffee mojo. Of course, if you know the address you want to go to, you can say that too, and the nüvi will give you directions, all without having to reach over to the dashboard and touch it. Speech recognition is available for American English, British English, European French, European Spanish, German, Italian, and Netherlands Dutch languages.

Traffic-Capable for Either FM Traffic or Enhanced MSN Direct Content (optional receiver required)

MSN Direct Enhanced Traffic and Content

With an optional receiver, you can access enhanced dynamic content from the MSN Direct service. Check the weather, avoid traffic backups, compare local gas prices, get enhanced movie listings, stock information, news and local events when you travel with your unit. Even plan trips from the convenience of your computer, via Windows Live Local, and wirelessly send custom to your nüvi.Check out a full description of MSN Direct content features, or a coverage map for MSN Direct services. A 3-month subscription to MSN Direct is included with the receiver. After that, subscription fees are $49.95 per year, or $129.95 for a lifetime subscription.

FM Traffic

With an optional receiver, you can get alerts from TMC Clear Channel about traffic tie-ups and road construction that might lie ahead on your route. All you have to do is simply touch the screen to view traffic details and you’ll be ready to detour around any problem area. And if you end up missing a turn, or you’re forced into a detour that is not relayed through the traffic receiver, the nüvi’s sophisticated automatic routing will get you back on track in no time. In most areas, TMC Clear Channel traffic broadcasts are continuous ???there’s no waiting for scheduled traffic news updates or random alerts. Because traffic broadcasts are received via a “silent” FM data channel, you can still listen to music or news programming on your car radio without interference from incoming FM traffic data transmissions. A 3-month subscription to TMC Clear Channel’s Total Traffic Network is included with the receiver. For more information on subscription fees, coverage in individual cities, and traffic data networks in the United Kingdom and Europe, check the Garmin website.

Widescreen — See More of What’s Around

The super-bright, 4.3-inch (diagonal) touchscreen display gives is anti-glare for ease of viewing during the day and automatically changes its color profile for easy viewing at night or in dim light. It offers 2d or 3D perspective views.The widescreen format gives you 70% more actual screen area than a 3.5-inch screen. Primarily this translates into a better view of the area through which you are driving. This is especially useful in showing you what parks, restaurants, ATM, gas stations, etc. are nearby, or in letting you know whether a detour is a good idea. Also, the device itself is larger, meaning controls on the screen are more widely spaced and somewhat easier to push.

Wider screen lets you see more of what’s around. Compare these actual size views of a 3-inch (diagonal) screen

and a 4.3-inch diagonal widescreen

Multi-Destination Routing

This lets you enter several spots into the device (day care – supermarket-cleaners – office – day care, for example) and it will plot the fastest route. And once you’ve found the best router, the “Route Planning” feature lets you save up to 10 different routes, Garmin touts the feature for providing, “the most efficient route for errands, deliveries and sales calls.” The feature also makes this an instant essential accessory for anyone who shops garage sales (you know what we’re talking about).

A trip log provides an electronic bread crumb trail of up to 10,000 points, so you can see where you’ve been on the map.

Where Am I?

Garmin’s “Where Am I?” feature is a useful safety feature on all nüvis, but voice recognition makes it even better.

On any nüvi (including this one), you can just tap “Where Am I?” to find the closest hospitals, police stations, fuel stations, nearest address and intersection. Also see your exact latitude and longitude coordinates. With the 800s, all you have to do is say “Where am I?” to get the info.

Where’s My Car?

Like the nüvi 700s, the 800s will also remember where you parked. It automatically marks your position when you remove it from the windshield mount, so you can navigate with nüvi on foot and find your way back to your vehicle. Perfect for unfamiliar spots and crowded lots such as amusement parks, stadiums and malls.

First-Rate Map Data

nüvi 250W accepts custom points of interest (POIs). View larger.

The nüvi comes ready to go right out of the box with preloaded City Navigator NT street maps, including a hefty POI database with hotels, restaurants, fuel, ATMs and more. Simply touch the color screen to enter a destination, and nüvi takes you there with 2D or 3D maps and turn-by-turn voice directions. Garmin gets its map data from NAVTEQ, a world leader in premium-quality mapping. In addition, nüvi accepts custom points of interest (POIs), such as school zones and safety cameras and lets you set proximity alerts to warn you of upcoming POIs Important note about map updates: Due to our high volume of sales, almost every Garmin portable GPS navigator sold by Amazon.com will come with the most recent map version. If you ever do need a map update, you can purchase one from Amazon.com at our Garmin Store.

Garmin Lock

Garmin’s patent pending theft prevention system that disables the unit from performing any functions until the user types in a specific 4-digit PIN or takes the unit to a predetermined secure location

Beyond Navigation

Browse your stored pictures with an easy-to-use JPEG viewer.

Navigation is just the beginning. The nüvi 850 features travel tools including JPEG picture viewer, MP3 player, world travel clock with time zones, currency converter, measurement converter, calculator and more. It also comes with Garmin Lock, an anti-theft feature, and configurable vehicle icons that let you select car-shaped graphics to show your location on the map. This device is compatible with optional content plug-ins available via microSD card, such as the Garmin Travel Guides and Garmin SaversGuide provide detailed data for attractions and information on nearby merchants offering discounts, so you can customize nüvi for your travel needs note that the 800 series is unique among nüvis, in that the 800s use microSD cards, where all other nüvis use SD cards.. Garmin has also added the ability for customers to add custom points of interest (POI’s) from third parties such as school zones and safety cameras.

A handy MP3 player lets you play songs stored on SD memory cards.

Trick Your GPS Ride

Custom vehicle icons let you ride in style, at least inside your GPS. See more icon option

All Garmin nüvis support configurable vehicle icons. These fun, customized car-shaped icons come in a variety of colors to add a personal touch to your vehicle’s position on the map.

New – Navigate by Photo

Using Garmin’s unique Web site ???Garmin Connect Photos ???users can choose from millions of geo-located photos provided by Google’s Panoramio photo sharing community and download them to the nüvi for a richer navigation experience using pictures as a guide. Choose from Panoramio’s collection of photos from around the world. Easy to use interface displays photos on Google Maps. Search for photos by location name or map area boundary. Transfer photos directly from Garmin Connect to device with the Garmin Communicator. View photos in Google Earth. Supports Internet Explorer 6+, Firefox 2+, Safari 3+ on Windows and Mac.

New – Send Addresses Directly from Google Maps or Mapquest

Notes

• Optional software for language translation, detailed travel guides, and savings programs allow you to customize your nüvi to fit your travel needs
• The FM transmitter feature is only available in the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand
• This nüvi comes with a free, three-month trial for MSN Direct services.
• Like most USB Mass Storage Devices, the nüvi is not compatible with Windows 95, Windows 98 or Windows Me.

What’s in the Box

nüvi 850, Preloaded City Navigator NT for North America, Speech recognition remote, Vehicle Power Cable, Vehicle suction cup mount, USB cable, Dashboard disc, Quick start manual

Which nüvi is Best for You?

Note: All nüvis come with detailed NAVTEQ maps containing more than 6 million pre-loaded point of interest locations.

	Screen Size inches (w x h)	Included Maps			Text-to-Speech (Directions in Real Street Names)	Traffic	Bluetooth	Media	FM Transmitter (audio through car stereo system)	Multi- Point Routing	Battery life (hours)
		Cont. U.S., Hawaii, and Puerto Rico	AK and Canada	Europe
nüvi 200	2.8 x 2.1							Photos			up to 5
nüvi 200w	3.81 x 2.25							Photos			up to 5
nüvi 250	2.8 x 2.1							Photos			up to 5
nüvi 250w	3.81 x 2.25							Photos			up to 5
nüvi 260	2.8 x 2.1							Photos			up to 5
nüvi 260w	3.81 x 2.25							Photos			up to 5
nüvi 270	2.8 x 2.1							Photos			up to 5
nüvi 350	2.8 x 2.1					FM (with opt. receiver)		Photos, MP3s			up to 8
nüvi 360	2.8 x 2.1					FM (with opt. receiver)		Photos, MP3s			up to 8
nüvi 370	2.8 x 2.1					FM (receiver included)		Photos, MP3s			up to 8
nüvi 650	3.81 x 2.25					FM (with opt. receiver)		Photos, MP3s			up to 7
nüvi 660	3.81 x 2.25					FM (receiver included)		Photos, MP3s			up to 7
nüvi 670	3.81 x 2.25					FM (receiver included)		Photos, MP3s			up to 7
nüvi 680	3.81 x 2.25					MSN (receiver included; 1-year free); FM (with opt. receiver)		Photos, MP3s			up to 7
nüvi 750	3.81 x 2.25					MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (with opt. receiver)		Photos, MP3s			up to 5
nüvi 760	3.81 x 2.25					MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (with opt. receiver)		Photos, MP3s			up to 5
nüvi 770	3.81 x 2.25					MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (with opt. receiver)		Photos, MP3s			up to 5
nüvi 780	3.81 x 2.25					MSN-enhanced (receiver inc.; 3 months free) receiver); FM (with opt. receiver)		Photos, MP3s			up to 5
nüvi 850	3.81 x 2.25					MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (with opt. receiver)		Photos, MP3s			up to 4
nüvi 880	3.81 x 2.25					MSN-enhanced (receiver inc.; 3 months free); FM (with opt. receiver)		Photos, MP3s			up to 4
nüvi 5000	4.5 x 2.7					MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (with opt. receiver)					external battery only

Enhanced MSN Direct Traffic Data and Content

Basic MSN Direct Content Features
	Traffic Reports Find the best route through traffic. Your GPS device uses MSN Direct traffic data to select the best route for you to avoid traffic congestion. Check traffic flow. Know at a glance where to expect slowdowns in traffic. Get accident warnings. Receive warnings about accidents, road closures, and construction in the area that may affect you.
	Gas Prices Compare local gas prices. See a list of recent gas prices in your area and an indication of how recently the prices were reported. Find your way to the savings. Once you find the best price in your area, use your navigation system to guide you to the gas station.
	Weather Reports Stay on top of current conditions. View the current weather conditions in your area, including today’s high and low temperatures, chances of precipitation, and more. View the three-day forecast, Plan ahead by checking the three-day weather forecast for your area. Check weather in other cities. See current weather conditions in major cities across the country.
	Movie Times Search for a movie. Find the theaters in your coverage area that are showing the movie you want to see. See which movies are playing. View which movies are playing in your coverage area or at your favorite theater. See show times and get directions. Once you find a show you want to see, check the show times and use your GPS device to guide you to the theater.
Enhanced MSN Direct Content
	Web Favorites (Send custom destinations to your GPS with Live Search Maps) Powerful trip planning: Use Live Search Maps on your computer to look up an address, search for a business, or plan a trip Choose your favorite location, and then MSN Direct delivers the address, phone number, and more straight to your navigation system. Visit Live Search Maps at http://maps.live.com.
	Local Events See what’s happening near you. Find nearby events to see what’s happening in your area. Find the events that interest you. Browse events sorted by category. Search for an event. Get details about a particular event.
	Stock Quotes Watch the stocks that interest you. Select stocks that you want to keep an eye on, and then see regularly updated stock prices and daily changes. Get a little more detail. Touch a stock in your list to see daily highs, lows, and trading volume.
	News Headlines Browse the headlines at a glance. See breaking news and other major news stories of the day. Read more details. Select a headline to read all the details about the news story on your navigation system.
MSN Direct Coverage Map
Get detailed info for your Zip Code at the MSN Direct website.

User Ratings and Reviews

1 Star Can’t register at Garmin – bought used as new
Just got this in today, and hooked it up to my computer to register with Garmin, so I could update the maps. First thing I find out is that the SN is already registered! So basically I can do one of two things, just use the maps that are on it, and never be able to upgrade, or send this back to Amazon, and request an exchange for another one. With I guess no guarantee THAT one will be new, either. AND I’ll be out the shipping charges again, sending this puppy back. Never did find a way to do anything with Amazon except return for “new” unit. AT MY EXPENSE.

So I’ve written to Garmin support to find out what’s going on, and then I’ll see what to do. But I’m getting a little peeved at the whole thing.

4 Stars Great GPS…. Worth the money!!!
I recently purchased the Nuvi 850 to replace my 6 month old 760 that someone stole out of my car. I paid $50.00 less for it, and I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it! It took me about a day to get use to it, and I’m having lots of fun exploring all of the other functions. I really liked my 760, but for the money, the 850 was a no brainer.

5 Stars traveling
Only suggestion would be the ability to limit a restaurant search to within one mile of an interstate highway.

5 Stars Durable, Reliable and pays for itself in the end.
Well my original monochrome Streetpilot was called back into action but I couldn’t get new maps for it. That unit still works perfect after 10 years and is used frequently on canoe trips since it’s waterproof to 3ft and can use batteries.

So I needed a GPS that could handle 100hrs of usage per week and have a replaceable battery with good routing and a music player that transmits to the car stereo would be nice.

After 4 months/1600hrs usage I have not been disappointed. Maps are great, it’s found 895/900 addresses in the Chicago suburbs and never complained of sitting in the direct sun all day. I have a deep voice and the voice recognition works surprisingly well for me with the windows up in a noisy van. A nice feature would be able to increase the priority of highways, quite often it suggests me taking a more direct route that is slower, since traffic usually moves well over the posted speed. I am happy that the unit offers Flat Map Viewing with the option of Track Up or North Up, the 3D view just isn’t for me. The FM transmitter sends my music nicely to the radio and has a volume mixer that will announce directions while playing the music and gives me a heads up about when approaching heavy traffic (MSN Direct receiver). Another nice feature is that you can use the button on the steering wheel to control all the functions of the gps including changing the volume or skipping to the next track or play list. My dashboard is fairly free of clutter since there is only one wire that plugs in the cradle. Another routing feature I use frequently is the ability to avoid Tolls. You Can detour by roads in the route or by distance, a few reviews posted said that it wasn’t an option. Apparently Garmin listened and implemented it for free with it’s painless updating.

You can change the vehicle that moves across the map (changed mine to a canoe lol) and the voices for free. Tom Tom wants money for it. The MSN Direct Receiver pays for itself by showing gas prices in the area. The games even the demos are good enough to keep the kids busy for a while. The calculator comes in handy at times but the best feature about this GPS is it’s reliable.

4 Stars Worked well once I received the replacement
I received the first unit in the mail and after setting it up, discovered that it could not locate my car. It kept telling me I was in Kansas (I live in Delaware). After waiting for an hour on the phone to speak to someone at Garmin, I was instucted to reset the entire unit. After that, the unit did tell me I was in Delaware but it couldn’t seem to hold onto the signal. It was very frustrating. I sent it back and received a replacement which did tell me right away that I was in Delaware. It also had a problem holding onto the signal, however, I was able to download a piece of software from the Garmin website that seems to have fixed this problem. Now the unit is working fine. I have not tried the voice features yet but the rest of the features seem to work as promised and the screen is large enough to see.

Buy/More Info

Garmin n vi 755T 4 3 Inch Widescreen Portable GPS Navigator

Garmin continues to build up its n?vi 7xx series portableGPS navigators with its n?vi 755T, which adds a number of handy routing and communication features to an already impressive list of specs, including a 4.3-inch widescreen display, text-to-speech capabilities, media player, and FM transmitter for transmitting audio–including directions and MP3 music and audiobooks–from the device to your car radio.

Garmin’s n?vis pack top of the line features into a slim form factor..

New to the n?vi 7×5 lineup is Garmin’s HotFix satellite prediction (which locates your position quickly and precisely), Lane Assist (which provides lane guidance and junction views when possible), automatic time zone transitioning, and 3D Building views as well as Garmin Connect Photos to help you visually ascertain your position. Additionally, the n?vi 755T includes free real-time traffic updates from Navteq (for the life of the device) via the included GTM 20 traffic receiver.

The Garmin n?vi 7×5 Series n?vi 755T: North American maps, GTM 20 traffic receiver with lifetime traffic n?vi 765T: Adds Bluetooth handsfree communication; includes GTM 20 receiver, lifetime traffic n?vi 775T: Pre-loaded European and North American maps; includes GTM 20 receiver, lifetime traffic, Bluetooth n?vi 785T: Adds enhanced MSN Direct traffic receiver; includes North American maps and Bluetooth

As with all n?vis, you get Garmin reliability, the fast satellite lock of an integrated high-sensitivity receiver, a slim, pocket-sized design with a gorgeous display, an easy, intuitive interface, and detailed NAVTEQ maps for North America (United States, Canada and Puerto Rico) with more than 6 million name-searchable points of interest. The Garmin n?vi 7×5 line features three other models–check out their spec highlights at the right and click here to see a quick, simple comparison of features for all Garmin n?vi GPS navigators.

The bright, 4.3-inch touchscreen display gives is anti-glare for ease of viewing during the day and automatically changes its color profile for easy viewing at night or in dim light. It offers 2d or 3D perspective views. The widescreen format gives you 70 percent more actual screen area than a 3.5-inch screen. Primarily this translates into a better view of the area through which you are driving. This is especially useful in showing you what parks, restaurants, ATM, gas stations, etc. are nearby, or in letting you know whether a detour is a good idea. Also, the device itself is larger, meaning controls on the screen are more widely spaced and somewhat easier to push.

The n?vi 755T comes preloaded with highly detailed City Navigator NT road maps from Navteq for the entire United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico. This map database features nearly six million points of interest (POIs), including hotels, restaurants, gas stations, ATMs, and attractions. Garmin’s interface is a key to their success and one of the things that makes their devices such a pleasure to use. Simple controls and sub-screens make it easy to enter or search for destinations and get data about your trip.

Garmin’s patent pending theft prevention system that disables the unit from performing any functions until the user types in a specific 4-digit PIN or takes the unit to a predetermined secure location.

Important Product Information: This device features a “screen lock” feature. This is a standard feature on all n?vi 2×5 and 7×5 Garmin units. If you slide the “Power” key to the right, it will lock the screen and prevent any accidental touches. Once the screen lock feature is engaged, the screen will go black/gray after about 15 seconds to save power on the device. To unlock the screen, just slide the “Power” key to the center position. This feature is really targeted for “Pedestrian” mode so that a user can put the device in his or her pocket/purse and quickly unlock the screen instead of powering on/off continuously. For more information, see page 5 of the product manual.

With Lane Guidance, the n?vi alerts you to which lane you need to be in for upcoming turns. In the image above, the three middle lanes of this seven-lane highway are highlighted.

With Junction View, you’ll get photo-realistic 3D views upcoming turns with signage–signs not needed for navigation are faded.

Lane Guidance
With the new Lane Guidance feature built into the n?vi 7×5 series, you’ll never question which lane you should be driving in again. It provides you with a view of what lane you should be in for upcoming turns. And with the 3D Lane Assist Junction View, you’ll be able to see a photo-realistic screen that shows you both the road detail as well as the signs as you will see them on the road. The signs that aren’t needed for navigation are faded compared to the appropriate lane signage.

Integrated Traffic Receiver
Steer clear of traffic with an integrated GTM 20 FM traffic receiver designed to receive alerts about traffic tie-ups and road construction that might lie ahead on your route. No subscriptions or additional hardware needed. Just open the box, turn it on, and get instant access to traffic information–the traffic updates are free for the life of the device.

All you have to do is simply touch the screen to view traffic details and you’ll be ready to detour around any problem area. And if you end up missing a turn, or you’re forced into a detour that is not relayed through the traffic receiver, the n?vi’s sophisticated automatic routing will get you back on track in no time.

In most areas, the traffic broadcasts are continuous–there’s no waiting for scheduled traffic news updates or random alerts. Because traffic broadcasts are received via a “silent” FM data channel, you can still listen to music or news programming on your car radio without interference from incoming FM traffic data transmissions.

HotFix Satellite Prediciton
Garmin’s HotFix capability automatically calculates and stores satellite locations, greatly reducing satellite acquisition time so that you can turn the unit on and get going. With HotFix, your n?vi remembers the position of all satellites it is tracking when you turn it off, and calculates their movements in order to predict where they should be the next time you turn it on. HotFix can predict satellite positions for up to 3 days after the device was last turned off.

Multi-Destination Routing
This lets you enter several spots into the device (day care – supermarket-cleaners – office – day care, for example) and it will plot the fastest route. And once you’ve found the best router, the “Route Planning” feature lets you save up to 10 different routes, Garmin touts the feature for providing, “the most efficient route for errands, deliveries and sales calls.” The feature also makes this an instant essential accessory for anyone who shops garage sales (you know what we’re talking about). A trip log provides an electronic bread crumb trail of up to 10,000 points, so you can see where you’ve been on the map.

Where Am I? Where’s My Car?
The n?vi 7×5 series is the first to answer two common questions: “Where am I?” and “Where’s my car?” At any time, with a single tap of the screen, drivers can display their exact latitude and longitude coordinates, the nearest address and intersection, and the closest hospitals, police stations and gas stations. And to help drivers find their car in an unfamiliar spot or vast parking lot, all n?vi 7×5s automatically mark the position in which they were last removed from the mount.

Navigate by Photo with Garmin Connect Photos

Using Garmin’s Connect Photos Web site, you can choose from millions of geo-located photos provided by Google’s Panoramio photo sharing community and download them to the n?vi for a richer navigation experience using pictures as a guide. Choose from Panoramio’s collection of photos from around the world. Easy to use interface displays photos on Google Maps. Search for photos by location name or map area boundary. Transfer photos directly from Garmin Connect to device with the Garmin Communicator. View photos in Google Earth. Supports Internet Explorer 6+, Firefox 2+, Safari 3+ on Windows and Mac.

Other Features

The 3D Buildings feature helps you navigate by landmark.

• The 3D Buildings feature is able to reference the buildings displayed on the map as well. Some buildings will be grey images “extruded” from the map, other buildings will be life like representations of the actual property.
• With Automatic Time Zone Transition, you’ll never have to remember to set the time as you travel. When the unit acquires a position fix, it automatically sets the unit to the correct time zone.
• MP3 player compatible with audiobook playback
• JPEG picture viewer
• FM transmitter plays voice prompts, MP3s, audio books, and more, directly through your vehicle’s stereo system
• Compatible with optional content plug-ins available via SD card, such as the Garmin Travel Guides and Garmin SaversGuide, which provide detailed data for attractions and information on nearby merchants offering discounts.
• Add custom points of interest (POIs) from third parties such as school zones and safety cameras
• Travel tools: World travel clock with time zones, currency converter, measurement converter, calculator and more

What’s in the Box
n?vi 755T preloaded with maps of North America (United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico), vehicle suction cup mount, Vehicle power cable, USB cable, Dashboard disc, Quick start manual Notes

• Optional software for language translation, detailed travel guides, and savings programs allow you to customize your n?vi to fit your travel needs
• The FM transmitter feature is only available in the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand
• Like most USB mass storage devices, the n?vi is not compatible with Windows 95, Windows 98 or Windows Me.

Which n?vi is Best for You?
Note: All n?vis come with detailed NAVTEQ maps containing more than 6 million pre-loaded point of interest locations.

	Screen Size inches (w x h)	Included Maps			Text-to-Speech (Directions in Real Street Names)	Traffic	Bluetooth	Media	FM Transmitter (audio through car stereo system)	Multi- Point Routing	Battery life (hours)
		Cont. U.S., Hawaii, and Puerto Rico	AK and Canada	Europe
n?vi 200	2.8 x 2.1							Photos			up to 5
n?vi 200w	3.81 x 2.25							Photos			up to 5
n?vi 250	2.8 x 2.1							Photos			up to 5
n?vi 250w	3.81 x 2.25							Photos			up to 5
n?vi 260	2.8 x 2.1							Photos			up to 5
n?vi 260w	3.81 x 2.25							Photos			up to 5
n?vi 270	2.8 x 2.1							Photos			up to 5
n?vi 350	2.8 x 2.1					FM (with opt. receiver)		Photos, MP3s			up to 8
n?vi 360	2.8 x 2.1					FM (with opt. receiver)		Photos, MP3s			up to 8
n?vi 370	2.8 x 2.1					FM (receiver included)		Photos, MP3s			up to 8
n?vi 650	3.81 x 2.25					FM (with opt. receiver)		Photos, MP3s			up to 7
n?vi 660	3.81 x 2.25					FM (receiver included)		Photos, MP3s			up to 7
n?vi 670	3.81 x 2.25					FM (receiver included)		Photos, MP3s			up to 7
n?vi 680	3.81 x 2.25					MSN (receiver included; 1-year free); FM (with opt. receiver)		Photos, MP3s			up to 7
n?vi 750	3.81 x 2.25					FM (with opt. receiver); MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver)		Photos, MP3s			up to 5
n?vi 755T	3.81 x 2.25					Integrated FM receiver with lifetime traffic		Photos, MP3s			up to 5
n?vi 760	3.81 x 2.25					FM (receiver included); MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver)		Photos, MP3s			up to 5
n?vi 765T	3.81 x 2.25					Integrated FM receiver with lifetime traffic		Photos, MP3s			up to 5
n?vi 770	3.81 x 2.25					FM (receiver included); MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver)		Photos, MP3s			up to 5
n?vi 775T	3.81 x 2.25					Integrated FM receiver with lifetime traffic		Photos, MP3s			up to 5
n?vi 780	3.81 x 2.25					MSN-enhanced (receiver inc.; 3 months free) receiver); FM (with opt. receiver)		Photos, MP3s			up to 5
n?vi 785T	3.81 x 2.25					MSN-enhanced (receiver inc.; 3 months free) receiver); FM (with opt. receiver)		Photos, MP3s			up to 5
n?vi 850	3.81 x 2.25					MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (with opt. receiver)		Photos, MP3s			up to 4
n?vi 880	3.81 x 2.25					MSN-enhanced (receiver inc.; 3 months free); FM (with opt. receiver)		Photos, MP3s			up to 4
n?vi 5000	4.5 x 2.7					MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (with opt. receiver)					external battery only

Buy/More Info

Garmin StreetPilot 7200 7 Inch Portable GPS Navigator

The StreetPilot 7200’s huge 7-inch touch-screen display means you’ll always see where you’re going, from anywhere in the vehicle. Designed for larger vehicles such as RVs, semi-trucks, and buses, it is a premium automotive unit that comes preloaded with City Navigator NT detailed maps of North America. With the purchase of an optional sensor (not included), the unit notifies the driver of accidents, road construction and weather-related traffic delays before they are encountered (requires subscription, traffic service only for select cities where coverage exists). Either of two optional purchase sensors can provide these features, the GTM 10 FM TMC traffic sensor or the GXM 30 Smart Antenna (separate purchase required). In addition to traffic data, the GXM 30 provides real-time satellite weather information. The 7200 model features all of Garmin’s well-known GPS functions, including intuitive navigation and automatic route calculation; voice-prompted, turn-by-turn directions; 2D or 3D map view; and automatic rerouting if a motorist strays off course. With its POI Loader software, users can load custom points-of-interest such as school zones or safety cameras. The StreetPilot 7200 also includes entertainment options, including an internal MP3 player, XM radio, and playback of audio books. The built-in MP3 player lets users browse music by artist, album, song, or genre. The XM Radio (with the optional GXM 30 Smart Antenna and XM Satellite Radio subscription – not included) features 150-plus channels of commercial-free entertainment. The StreetPilot 7200 is also compatible, a subscription-based audio book service. The face of the StreetPilot 7200 only has one button, an on/off switch. Using simplicity to manage complexity is a hallmark of the quality from Garmin, the premier maker of GPS products.

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars This is a great unit I give it five stars
I’ve owned two other Garmin units prior to buying this one. I got it a few days prior to leaving on a 6,500 mile 14 state vacation. It worked very good, the only thing I don’t like about Garmin is their map provider still has not corrected a lot of errors across the country. If this was done, then the ubit would be perfect. I love the large screen, makes it easier to see.

I drove truck for five years using the Garmin products, never once used a map, though I carried one. As with any brand, you have to know their limitations and not allow the unit to lead you into a bad area.

Tom

5 Stars Garmin Street Pilot
Garmin StreetPilot 7200 7-Inch Portable GPS Navigator

This product is a great buy, and the delivery come on time. I promise buy my very own, this one was for my boyfriend and he love it the faster the delivery come, Thanks from us. We are a very happy customers.

5 Stars My opinion so far
I own a towing business and have used a Garmin GPS since day one. I can’t tell you how many times it has saved me from getting lost. I sometimes joke around with people and say “if I would have had a gps back when I was married, I might still be married”. I am one of those people who have no sense of direction and having a GPS is a must have item. My old 2610 finally died on me and I knew just what model I wanted to purchase. I had been reading about a model that had a 7 inch screen and I knew it would help me in my day to day needs. The #7200 is excellent to have in my line of work. I believe it was built with truckers and folks with motor homes as the target buyers and I highly urge you to consider this model. Especially if your a little older then you used to be and the ole peepers ain’t what they used to be it really is nice to be able to glance down and see the large scale images it has. No complaints that I can think of and I can’t believe how little I paid for this model compared to what the old one cost. Happy motoring.

5 Stars my garmin 7200
it’s very efficient, i had the 205w, the voice went to a community college on my 7200, the chick went to harvard,much faster turns ,easy viewing of upcoming streets, a much advanced search engine when looking for places or stores by name.

5 Stars GPS With A View
This is an excellent Garmin GPS! At last a screen size that is easy to see and read. It might not be for everyone, because of it’s large size and weight. I use a suction cup mount[...], very heavy duty, and it holds the 7200 up with ease. I highly recommend buying the suction cup mount so you don’t have to “stick the GPS to your dash”. I love the mp3 player built in, it holds about 150 mp3s. Having already owned a Garmin Streetpilot C340 and a Nuvi 255W, the 7200 works in a similar way. The remote is great once you get used to it. Only thing that might bother some people is that being a large screen, it’s not as sharp as it’s smaller brother the Nuvi 255W, however it it still very clear and bright. Prices are great on this 7200 gps from Garmin as it it now a discontinued model.

Buy/More Info

GARMIN 010 10997 00 Heart Rate Monitor

This heart rate monitor wirelessly sends heart rate data to device.

User Ratings and Reviews

4 Stars Works great.
I just turned on my 405 (held the “training” button) and it was recognized before it located satellites… It takes a bit getting used to wearing the strap around your chest, but it provides very good info… It is encouraging to see I can do the same run at a faster pace, with a lower average heart rate!

5 Stars Garmin Heart Rate Monitor
It works great. Once I figured out how to add the heart rate field to user screen in my GarminGPS. It was too simple!

5 Stars Excellent heart rate monitor
I have used this with my Garmin Forerunner 305, Forerunner 50, and Forerunner 405cx. Just wet it with saliva or water before you start, and it accurately and easily tracks your heart rate. The strap that attaches it to your chest is easily adjustable and easily removable. Unlike other products, my heart rate does not “jump around” 10 or 20 beats. The battery lasts a good amount of time and is easily replaceable. This is the best heart rate monitor that I have used, and I prefer it to Polar.

5 Stars Great Product
This seems like an excellent product to me. It was simple to set up with my Forerunner 305, the watch finds it quickly every time I go out for a run, and it provides more interesting data on the Garmin Connect site. If you’re a fan of running data, I highly recommend the product. I just need to start running more again to make it truly worth it.

5 Stars Great Replacement
This HRM was a replacement for a Garmin Forerunner 305. It was easy to setup and works perfectly!

Buy/More Info

Garmin n vi 760 4 3 Inch Widescreen Bluetooth Portable GPS Automobile Navigator Factory Refurbished

Nuvi 760 Remanufactured Loaded and wide, Nuvi 760 has it all – advanced navigation features, a widescreen display, preloaded maps, an FM transmitter, hands-free calling, traffic alerts and more. Like the rest of the wide Nuvi 700-series, its premium navigation capabilities, like route planning and an emergency locator, give you peace of mind on the go. See More With Nuvi 760’s widescreen display, you’ll always get the big picture. View map detail, driving directions, photos and more in bright, brilliant color. Its sunlight-readable, 4.3-inch display is easy to read – from any direction. Navigate With Ease. Nuvi 760 comes ready to go right out of the box with preloaded City Navigator?NT street maps and millions of points of interest (POIs) such as hotels, restaurants, fuel stations, ATMs and more. Simply touch the color screen to enter a destination, and Nuvi takes you there with 2-D or 3-D maps and turn-by-turn voice directions. It even announces the name of exits and streets so you never have to take your eyes off the road. In addition, Nuvi 760 accepts custom points of interest, such as school zones and safety cameras and lets you set proximity alerts to warn you of upcoming POIs. The European version even includes a preloaded safety camera database containing locations of cameras for parts of Europe. Where Am I? Keep track of yourself and your car with Nuvi 760. Just tap “Where Am I?” to find the closest hospitals, police stations, fuel stations, nearest address and intersection. Also see your exact latitude and longitude coordinates. Nuvi 760 even remembers where you parked. It automatically marks your position when you remove it from the windshield mount, so you can navigate with Nuvi on foot and find your way back to your vehicle. Perfect for unfamiliar spots and crowded lots such as amusement parks, stadiums and malls.

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars Delivery and Performance
I ordered this product and it was shipped on June 14 and was supposed to be rcvd by June 18. When it was not received yet on June 22, I sent a request to trace and rcvd back an answer to wait until June 29. On the 28th , I sent another request that said I didn’t think I was going to rcv it and they sent another unit which I rcvd in 3 days. Never did get the first unit. I believe the first unit must have been ripped off in the mailing process. I did appreciate the fact that there was not arguments about shipping the second unit, because at that point I really wondered how it would be dealt with. Good Job!

On a lighter not, I am very satisfied with the gps. I haven’t had it very long , but so far have been very satisfied with the features etc. Hope it maintains that satisfaction.

Richard Hicks

4 Stars Refurbished is not a bad word
Yes, I had to return the first refurbished 760 — it failed in the first hour of use. However, Amazon made the exchange simple and speedy. This second unit is working very well. What surprises me is the accuracy and detail of the data base. I found that a route of just a few blocks that I had come to use habitually was longer than the route advised by the Garmin 760. That may not always be so because of construction or other road conditions, but it is still reassuring in general. The verbal turn directions and graphic display are very clear, and the directions to prepare for the next turn (what lane to use) is very helpful.

5 Stars How did I live without it?
Very nice clear screen, voice can be set to come out the car radio speakers, audio books available. The book mutes itself and backs up a little bit when the talking directions come on. The bluetooth allows the voice of a cellphone call to come out your speakers too. It worked ok but I never use that feature. My husband bought a chip with another map on it. Another cool thing is it has a whole phone book in it with phone numbers and addresses. I have used that several times and called ahead on errands. My only complaint is the battery length seems a little short, use the cigarette power point cord. When you plug in the cord the voice is nice and loud too. The other negative item is when you try to use it as a picture viewer, you put put the pictures on the chip and then it is really slow to load the pictures to view them. This is the only poor thing about the Garmin and it is not what this tool is supposed to be good at. At what it is supposed to do, finding directions, it is great. I couldn’t live without it.

4 Stars Great but overkill.
I used the product comparison for this unit and thought it was the best for the money. Didn’t need the European map in the 770. I’m dissapointed in the FM transmitter. Not real clear and cumbersome to use. Same with the Bluetooth feature. Speaker isn’t the quality it needs to be useful. People on the other end can hear ‘ok’ but it’s too distorted to be used practically everyday. Would have bought one less expensive without the Bluetooth and FM transmitter if I had it to do all over again. Overall, very pleased with it!

5 Stars Great Item
This item very nice, great GPS, just about the phone not very clear especially during the driving.

Buy/More Info

Garmin City Navigator North America for Detailed Maps of the United States Canada and Puerto Rico DVD

Thanks to the Garmin MapSource City Navigator North America NT Version 8, which gives you access to all the data you need to navigate North America, you may never have to ask for directions again. This software automatically creates point-to-point routes in MapSource and on your NT compatible Global Positioning System (GPS), and includes detailed, premium street maps of North America, plus a hefty points of interest database at your fingertips.

Featuring full coverage of the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico, including metropolitan and rural areas, the Garmin MapSource City Navigator North America NT Version 8 makes it a snap to travel to a new city, look up your hotel, restaurants, and other services, and then use your compatible Garmin GPS to guide you there. For added convenience, you’ll be able to take advantage of detailed maps containing highways, interstates, business and residential roads with attributes such as turn restrictions, roundabout guidance, speed categories and other navigation features. Ideal for vacation-planning, the Garmin MapSource City Navigator North America NT Version 8 also displays nearly six million points of interest, such as postal offices, attractions, shopping, and emergency services. The Garmin MapSource City Navigator North America NT Version 8 and data cards include the same detailed maps, points of interest and coverage areas as the traditional City Navigator North America data, just compressed differently for your NT compatible unit.

The Garmin MapSource City Navigator North America NT Version 8 is designed for use with StreetPilot 2720, 2730, 2820, 7200, 7500 and the StreetPilot C-Series. It’s also compatible with the StreetPilot i-Series, iQue 3000, M3, M4, Quest 2 and various handhelds such as GPSMAP 60Cx/60CSx/76Cx/76CSx and eTrex Legend Cx/Vista Cx.

User Ratings and Reviews

2 Stars Nice features; some serious weaknesses
I’ve been using these maps for about 3 years on a GPSmap 60CSx. Now I won’t travel without a GPS. There are some really nice and unexpected features in City Navigator, but also some shortcomings to be aware of.

The “search” function frustrates me every time I use it. MapSource (Garmin’s Windows software for mapping) has no wildcard searches. Searching for Highway 34 is not the same as Hwy 34, US 34, 34, E Hwy 34, or Highway 34 N. If the name isn’t in their database exactly that way, then your search is not going to find anything.

Routing is quite good with these maps, even down to details (like U-turns where medians prevent lefts). If you miss a turn, it will re-route you within a few seconds.

Note that Garmin products purchased for one GPS unit can NOT be transferred to a new/replacement unit (except by Garmin via warranty replacement). Garmin’s anti-piracy “unlock” procedure is archaic and tedious. If you ever upgrade your Garmin, you must buy your maps again. One “unlock code” is assigned to one USB-connected GPS device, by serial number, and cannot be changed.

2 Stars Maps are fine, but not for 2 GPSrs or if you upgrade your GPSr
The mapping software is just fine and does everything that one needs it to do. The price point is comparable to other units.

However, the current licensing agreement is shady. You would think when you buy a map, you can use the map. On other GPSrs we have had (Lowrance), we have been able to install the map on up to 6 SD cards.

With CN NT, you can unlock the map for one unit, period. If you have two units, you need to buy a map for the second unit. If you upgrade your GPSr, you are out of luck unless you can get Garmin to relock the first unit and unlock the new one. Bottom line, plan on buying a new map for each GPSr in your purchase price and, of course, without detailed road maps your GPSr base mapes are basically useless for road navigation.

Garmin’s license agreement is not explicit on this point. Yes I know that they need to find a way to prevent someone from installing the maps on hundreds of units, but most software vendors have some provision for householding. Even Microsoft gives you a PC and a Laptop install.

5 Stars Swell
A good product, just a little bit overpriced, especially after you just buy a device.

5 Stars Garmin is great!
After loading the map I was able to download a 2010.1 update. Product arrived without incident.

3 Stars Good Service, Troublesome Software
Item shipped promtly and arrived quickly.

Had some issues with the software that once installed the program would have an error on start-up and fail. After 3 or 4 Uninstall/Reinstalls it worked great!

Definately reccomend this over the Mini SD card version as this allows you to control the map on your computer and have future rights/access to it.

Buy/More Info

Garmin Forerunner 310XT GPS Enabled Sports Watch with Heart Rate Monitor

Finally, a GPS-enabled training device that isn’t afraid of the water. The rugged Forerunner 310XT is the triathlete’s indispensable training tool – a GPS-enabled, swim-proof trainer that tracks bike and run data and sends it wirelessly to your computer. This multi-sport device has long battery life, tracks distance, pace and goes from wrist to bike in seconds.

User Ratings and Reviews

2 Stars Misleading: Not a Triathlete watch
This device has been represented as a triathlete’s watch and the first swim proof GPS watch. If you watch the video from Garmin or see any of the advertisements, Garmin leads you to believe that this watch will collect reliable data for all 3 multisport events. It is reasonable for someone to assume this watch can be worn in a race and collect GPS data in the water, since, of course, SWIMMING is the first event in a triathlon.

If you are considering buying this watch realize the following:

-This device does not collect usable data in the water, period (other than time, which any $20 waterproof watch can collect in a much smaller form factor). No heart rate data and totally unusable and inaccurate GPS data while in the water.

-There are preset modes for run, bike, and “other”, in which “other” shows a person on skis (explain that one?). They intentionally omit a category for swimming, despite advertising that this watch is for triathletes (see the photo I added under product photos).

-You will need to purchase a separate quick release kit if you want to use this watch on a bike. It does not get accurate data on a bike if you are wearing in on your wrist. It auto pauses, then unpauses for most of the time I am riding if I wear it on my wrist — even if I have it set to only auto pause when completely stopped. The quick release kit IS NOT the more common one for the 205 and 305 Garmin 010-10889-00 Forerunner 305/205 Quick Release Kit, so do not buy that one. They have made a new one for this watch and most places do not have it in stock yet. As of the date I am writing this review, it is not yet available on Amazon.com. Go to Garmin’s website and look under the accessories tab for this watch. You will see a different model number. I have confirmed this with customer service. The part number for the proper quick release kit is: 010-11215-00. Google it.

-If you want foot cadence or the ability to track distance indoors and assume you get it for spending $400 on this device, think again. You will have to buy a separate foot pod which costs $80-100, depending on where you buy it (earlier Garmin Forerunner watch kits included foot pods). Garmin Foot Pod SDM4 (ANT+)

-The watch is large and sits high on top of the wrist (they packed 20 hours of batter life into this watch), so to wear it under your wetsuit will let water in the wetsuit, or you will have to wear it on top of (or crammed in front of) the wetsuit, which will not allow you to remove your wetsuit without first removing the watch (thus adding time to your transition and sort of negating that whole “triathlete” angle). You can see a photo of this watch on my wrist under the photos section of the product.

-There is no way to turn off GPS tracking for only one of the 3 events in multisport mode. Therefore you will always either have incorrect GPS data recording for the swimming mode (or, actually “other”, since there is no “swim” mode, as previously mentioned). I have called customer support and they confirm this. Their solution was to turn off GPS while I am swimming, then reset and manually start a new timer and mode during transition 1 for my bike event. I’ll let you be the judge of how to take that advice.

So, in conclusion, if you want to setup this watch for a bike and run, and want the ability to wear the watch in the water before hand (and no start it unless you want some incorrect distance data included), you will need to buy:

$400 – the Garmin 310XT with HR

$25 – quick release mount kit (for wrist and bike) (no link in Amazon yet)

$80-100 – foot pod (if you want cadence)

Garmin Foot Pod SDM4 (ANT+)

$35-50 – speed/cadence sensor (if you want cadence for the bike)

GARMIN 010-10644-00 Speed/Cadence Sensor

You’ll be into it for $575 retail. Garmin, you did us wrong on this one. Some of us are willing to spend this kind of money on a product if it proves to do what it advertises itself to do. We’re not asking it to do anything more than perform as advertised. I realize your fine print saves you from lawsuits, but it doesn’t gain you repeat customers. It sends them over to Polar.

3 Stars 310XT is fabulous, Garmin Connect is garbage
I have had the 310XT for about 3 weeks and it is FABULOUS. It has a great GPS, a flexible user interface and lasts forever. I am not a tri-athlete, but I am a (SLOW) marathoner — other watches have battery lives that are too short for me. I have used the 310XT about 10 times since I got it. I just love it.

Garmin Connect — This is a web site that works with the data on your watch, displaying your runs and rides, etc. If you have *any* intention of buying this watch so that you can upload your tracks, see where you ran on a map, and “play” your run or ride over, forget it. At least forget it as of August 23, 2009. Garmin Connect is a fantastic idea that will work some day, and when it does, Garmin products will be worth buying just for the fun that Garmin Connect provides. It just doesn’t work now. I have a Mac and have had a 3 week odyssey of having my runs upload just fine (4 of them), then fail to upload at all (6 of them). I have been told that I need to re–install software (which I did), that I need to de-install software… no wait, a NEW version of the software is out which might now work…., no wait, it still doesn’t work.

Garmin Connect and the associated 310XT functionality are *purely* in the pre-release stage. Garmin just decided to throw them out there and let the users help debug. It is a scandalous approach to consumer electronics at this price.

So the device itself — stand alone — is 5 stars. You will love it. Garmin Connect and the associated functionality on the watch are 1 star — they simply don’t work. Put it all together and I give it a 3 star rating.

Just so you can see what awaits you if you wade into Garmin Connect, see below pasted from a “Admin” user on the Garmin Connect site. It is one of the many, many, drifting, vague, conflicting, useless threads about my Mac problem. Notice the irony — you spend $400 on the 310XT and heart monitor and then you have to wade through this sort of un-informative junk, which ends with the Admin’s tag line of “I’m a happy girl”. Well, I can tell you, I am NOT a happy girl about Garmin Connect.

Old 07-23-2009, 05:21 PM

RUNKKRUN RUNKKRUN is offline

Administrator – Team GC

Join Date: Jun 2009

Location: Bay Area, CA

Posts: 106

Default Resolution for Garmin Communicator Not Found in Safari 4

Original post from APELOSI:

If you are using Safari 4 Beta and the Garmin Communicator Plugin shows as not being installed (when uploading new or from list), please remove “Macintosh HD/Library/Internet Plug-Ins/Flip4Mac WMV Plugin.webplugin” and restart Safari 4.

From IShouldBeRunning:

Uh, ok… but what if I use Flip4Mac?

From saeedi:

What’s interesting is that after removing Flip4Mac WMV Plugin.webplugin I still have a plug-in called Flip4Mac WMV Plugin.plugin that seems to allow the browser to view WMV files in the browser. And Communicator does work in Safari still.

From saeedi:

A new version of Flip4mac was released (2.2.3.7) but unfortunately, still an issue with the web plugin.

From petej:

Thank you for the workaround, and for the hard work on getting Garmin Connect running for all devices.

Now that Safari 4 is no longer beta, will the conflict with Flip4Mac be resolved? Has someone at Garmin opened a Radar with Apple on the issue?

I’m really happy GC now supports my devices.

From APELOSI:

I was informed we opened up a case with Apple when the “solution” was first found but I have no insight into whether or not Apple opened a case in Radar (gotta love the little ant eater) or not or what its progress is.

__________________

I’m a happy girl.

4 Stars Great Triathlon watch – but be careful, the band is not reliable!
I bought the watch 2 weeks ago and it’s functionality has far exceeded my expectations. Aside from the eye opener once you realize that due to the limitation of GPS you can use the watch only as a timer during the swim, I love the watch. (GPS reception breaks and, since the watch is on your wrist which travels forward and backward during the swim, the distance swam can never be correctly recored – unless you wore it on your back I guess)

However: I just finished my first triathlon with the watch today. At the first swim marker, I got kicked on the wrist and it ripped the watchband off the watch. Incredibly lucky I caught the sinking watch and was able to stuff it under my wet suit. After finishing the Triathlon without a watch I was able to inspect the damage: The spring bar pin that connects the band with the watch was still there and intact. The pin however looks much to short and too thin to hold such a big watch reliably in “rough” situations. GARMIN: You should fix this right away! In the meantime, mine will be duct taped on and turned to the back of the wrist during the swim.

1 Star We pay to be Garmin’s beta testers
I wish other companies would compete for this lucrative athlete’s GPS watch market. Garmin has a top-down mentality that thinks it comes out with great products. The 310XT is twice the price of the 305 and doesn’t track in the water! Does anyone at Garmin actually test these products before they’re introduced? For all the criticisms Garmin received for the 305, they never had a serious firmware update to address issues and upgrade ideas for the two plus years I’ve used it.

The big difference between Apple and Garmin? Apple pushes the envelope to create a better product through firmware updates. Apple products make you feel like you’re getting your money’s worth even years after you purchased their product. Garmin or the other hand, wants you to spend your money on the latest unproven product. Take the 405 – the GPS watch comes to market, was never tested wet or in rainy weather. The sensitive touch dial stops working, so don’t sweat on it or run in the rain!

Garmin Training Center software also was never updated. My 305 decided to download multiple copies of my run data multiple times. I had to spend hours deleting the copies. Spent hours with Garmin Tech Support to find out that they have no idea what the problem was. Never did get fixed…

Please Timex, jump into this lucrative market and make a watch a triathlete would love.

4 Stars Decent watch, but a lot of catches

The 310xt was my first Garmin purchase. After years of having family use the Edge and the Forerunner for biking/running I decided I’d take the plunge when they came out with “the triathlete’s indispensable training tool” in the 310xt.

My first thought was this was pricey. But, looking at the ForeRunner 305 & 405, I realized it wasn’t that much more expensive for the additional supposed features and the “newness”. Then I looked at the price here on Amazon and almost passed out. $550? Without the HRM strap? Ouch. If you’re really into this watch, don’t buy at that price. Search for the ones priced at $399. Most sites sell at that price.

Ok, onto the feature set. Large, clear buttons. Large screen. Ability to track multiple sports. Quick upload of data. Lots of customizable options and screens.

Pros:

Easy to set up and use. Pairing with the ANT USB stick is simple and can quickly get you started without the manual.

Online tools are pretty good (much better than previous iterations). Also, works with the MapMy list of sites (fitness, run, walk, hike, bike, swim, tri).

Customizable display allows for up to 4 tracking items per screen. So, you can track pace, HR, time and distance covered on one screen then scroll to another and get a map of your HR, your calories burned and a bunch of other potential options, all determined by you.

You can create routes on your watch and when you run it, it will record whenever you are on that route path. Great for comparing against previous training routes and for quickly setting the route and having it track you properly. Once you are on the route, it tracks you.

Auto-multisport option allows you to set that and when you click lap, it will dump you to the next “sport” whether it be a transition or another sport such as biking/running.

Tracks you the individual after you enter your height, weight, level of fitness. Provides caloric burn and other related info based on your input.

Virtual training partner. You can actually have it show how you’re doing on a saved route versus your virtual training partner. This partner is a previous version of you doing the same route and tells your pace and how far you’re up/behind. Pretty cool.

Multitude of things you can configure and display/adjust/fine tune.

Cons:

Swim? As I quoted from the Garmin site above, this watch bills itself as the triathlete’s indispensable training tool. Umm.. triathlete means 3 sports, typically involving SWIMMING, biking and running. Swim is not an option. In fact, when I clicked other one time, it had what appeared to be an icon of a downhill skier. I’m not sure how that showed up since that option isn’t there. HUGE mistake in my book for a watch billed to be for triathletes.

Elevation Accuracy? This one is WAAAAAY off. On a 3.3 mile run, it had me ascending 853 feet. Unless I’m climbing the Washington Monument, I’m not getting that type of elevation in 3.3 miles. I’d have to say it is off by, 600 feet or so. On a 60 mile bike ride, it had me at 1500 feet and that one at least took me up some legitimate hills.

Switching events: There is no way to switch events mid-stream on the watch if you didn’t set it properly to begin. Let’s say you ran one day and then biked the following day. If you left it on run then switched when you realized the mistake, it clears the data and you start with a new workout. The original workout is kept but you can’t append the “new” workout on either on the watch or with any of their software (both installed SW and online site). So, when workouts are categorized, it shows a multisport recording on the installable software and whatever you mistakenly set in the online site. You then have 2 workouts you can’t consolidate or run reports against without manual intervention.

Swim accuracy leaves a bit to be desired. While I haven’t put it through its paces and will hopefully edit this review in the future, for a 1/2 mile swim, this thing was way off. Beach, opposite direction, gaps. All were part of that swim result.

While there are a lot of pros (which do warrant a 4 star), the cons are extremely negative. Since I don’t have a watch to keep track of everything, this one will have to do. At such a price point, I’m highly disappointed in the overall performance considering it is billed as the triathlete’s dream. It really does track mileage well and with enough fudging (using the elevation in MapMyRide instead of from the watch) and by manually adjusting routes in my various tracking sites, I can get close what I want. The HRM is good and the coupled effect of it all makes it as worthwhile as having a set of watches out there. But, I will not be ultimately promoting this to other athletes. While I’ve managed to make it work to a 4-star rating with my own fiddling, I wouldn’t recommend it to a hardcore triathlete. Being my first training watch for my first Ironman, I wish I could say there were other watches which had the functionality I needed. Unfortunately, I’d have to wear two or more plus a bike computer. Even more unfortunate, in order to get what this watch said it can do all in one I might still need another to keep this one honest.

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Garmin Suction Cup Mount 010 10936 00

Vehicle Suction Cup Mount. This adjustable suction cup mount allows you to easily access your compatible GPS unit while navigating in your vehicle. Just place your unit onto the mount and you’re ready to go.

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars GPS STAND
Product is exactly what I needed and it arrived in timely manner, just as expected. We lost the stand and had to hold the GPS – not practical. Could not find it at any retail stores.

1 Star no safe place to put it!
This is what came with my Garmin when I bought it. Within 20 seconds I realized there is no safe place to put it in my Honda Civic. It might be because of how slanted the windshield is but the only places I can reach it while driving are palces where I would have to look far away from the road. Anywhere that I can see it without taking my eyes too much off the road, I can’t reach it. Completely useless!

5 Stars Had everything I needed.
It had both the clip for the GPS and the suction cup base. Unlike the ones in the local stores which only had the base.

5 Stars Garmin Suction Cup Mount
We bought this to have a second mounting in another vehicle. It’s exactly as we expected and was delivered in a timely manner. Thanks.

4 Stars Just as described
Before buying this product, I read some earlier reviews stating it was a knock off and not a Garmin product, you don’t get the suction cup, you don’t get everything pictured, etc. All of those reviews are pure garbage. It is a Garmin product, and you get exactly what is pictured. The only thing you don’t get (and you should) is slapped for leaving the original in the rental car.

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Garmin Colorado 400t Handheld GPS Unit with U S Topographic Preloaded Maps

The Garmin Colorado 400t is rugged with a high-sensitivity receiver to offers innovative features such as a new Rock ‘n Roller wheel for one hand operation as well as the ability to exchange waypoints, tracks, routes and geocaches wirelessly between units. In addition, you can customize your Colorado with five different user profiles: automotive, marine, recreation, fitness or geocache. The SD card slot on the bottom of the unit makes it simple to load optional maps for different types of adventures. The Colorado has a rugged, metal-look and a sleek, slim profile. The Colorado’s detailed mapping and high-resolution color display enhance any outdoor adventure, whether on land or water. Compatible with heart rate monitor and speed/cadence sensor (GSC 10) Supports Geoching GPX files for complete cache descriptions and hints User configurable profiles – automotive, marine, recreation, fitness, and geocache Display Size – Height 2.55 x Width 1.53 Display Resolution – Width 240 x Height 400 pixels Battery type – 2 AA Alkaline or NiMH batteries Unit Dimensions – Width 2.4 x Height 5.5 x Depth 1.4 Unit Weight – 7.3 ounces with batteries

User Ratings and Reviews

2 Stars Not worth the money
I purchased this item as gift for my husband and he was so dissapointed in the performance of the software that we sent it back after 1 week. It is not possible to map trails in advance or get estimation of the distance to be traveled. The unit maps only as the crow flies, which can be done with a paper map, which by the way never freezes up and stops working.

However on a positive note, the construction of the unit seemed pretty durable, of coarse with it freezing up we didn’t much bother having it out where it could get dropped. The GPS location was accurate and fairly quick when not frozen up. even though the altimeter was difficult to calibrate and inaccurate initially it did work eventually.

the manual was less than helpful. Please note that you must get the city navigator SD card if you want to map a route on the road. The topo map shows streets but it will only map a route without the SD card as the crow flies.

If you do not have lots patience for randomly thumbing through the on screen menu’s to try and operate the unit coupled with a innate ability to be computer savy, then save your money.

1 Star Can only view one saved trail. Missing a lot of older features.
The older 60csx allowed you to view multiple saved trails at a time. This does not. The 60csx allowed you to modify the color and thickness of your track lines. This does not

So if you are going to a place that you have explored differently, with the 60csx you could see all of your prior tracks like a trail map. With the Colorado, you can only see one prior saved track. Its like looking at a map and only being able to see one road and no alternatives if you want to go a different way.

Also, while the color and thickness doesn’t sound like much of an issue, the current tracks shows as a thin black line, which is similar to all of the other thin black lines on the map. The prior track is a huge thick line, much thicker than it needs to be. With the 60csx, you could adjust both.

Finally, there is no cover available to protect this product. There is a hard case, but most people want a cover that allows you to see the map whhile using the unit in less than perfect conditions. The 60csx had sone.

Accuracy is good, however if this product was not $500.00 and these items did not exist in prior versions, I would not care nearly as much.

5 Stars Amazing Device!
I am amazed at the new Garmin Colorado 400T. It is nice, feels good and does not look cheap. I use regular batteries and it has a long enough life for one day being full on, and display at maximum brightness. Is is not 100% accurate as when I was walking in New York city my path (trail) was not marked by a straight line, but instead with curvy lines that followed the streets I walked on. It did not lose reception anywhere, even when in building ‘canyons’. Another interesting part is that when on the train to New York it kept reception at all times unless I was in tunnel before the city. Lastly when I was flying from Florida to New Jersey I figured I would try device to see what it found. It picked my location while I was sitting in an aisle seat, kept track of flight, and showed plane airspeed. I am very happy with this unit and now take it everywhere. It is interesting to know where you are all of the time!

4 Stars Garmin Handheld GPS Colarado 400t
It has things I don’t need but I am really enjoying it.I use it to track my walking.

2 Stars Not a user freindly interface
Using this thing is like using a puzzle. The user interface is horrible. Sure it tracks where you are fine within 150ft and gives you nifty elevation plots (with less than accurate numbers despite setting it up each time from a known elevation)but it’s user interface to plan a trip and insert waypoints and manage a trip are horrible. Using the software is a cumbersome confusion of function keys that have no explanationa nd the help function for the software might as well be in another language. If you want to set up a new waypoint out on the trail away from your computer it’ll take a good 10 minutes just to find the location if you’re more than a few miles away. maybe my hard times are from thsi being my first GPS device but overall I have more trouble setting it up to map a route than I get joy from using it. If it had the option to run a dumbed down or more basic operation interface through the software that would eb great. I’m sure the software that comes with it now is grewat for those already familiar with GPS devices for the most part but for me the software is the enigma to setup and use fully. The device takes a long time to draw maps and eats a set of energizer NiMH rechargable batteries in 6hrs if I’m checking the thing a couple times an hour for a couple minutes.

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Garmin 010 10889 00 Forerunner 305 205 Quick Release Kit

Every Garmin product is designed to meet the most demanding standard: customers’ satisfaction. That’s why Garmin equipment is manufactured to give you reliable service for years to come, with intuitive features you can grow into over time – all at a price you can afford.

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars c. i. shannon
great product snaps in tight. almost did not buy from some of the reviews on this site about the unit coming off the clip. not the case here very secure fit cant imagine it coming off on ride or run. glad i purchased.

5 Stars Excellent Item – Does what it is supposed
Purchased the item 6 months ago, and I love it. It is not very high tech but it does what it should. It took me about 5 minutes to install on my bike and another 5 to remove the Garmin strap from my forerunner 305.

It now allows me to easily switch the 305 from my bike to my wrist.

If you run and bike, I would definitely recommend this product.

1 Star Great concept, Poor execution
I bought the kit, but the watch doesn’t stay that well connected to the bike mount or the wrist mount. It uses tension on the watch strap pins to hold the watch to the mount. It’s a nice idea, but when mounted on my mountain bike, it popped off with even just a little jarring. You don’t want to have to stop and then search the woods for your Forerunner. It’s not that easy to find. I took it skiing also with the velcro wrist band and the unit came off the watch mount when I was just tapping my poles on the snow. I’m glad it didn’t come off on a run because going back uphill and looking for it would have been awful.

Now I use a Polar watch mount on my bike and leave the Garmin on its original watch strap. It’s easy to get on and off, and doesn’t come off unless I undo the strap. It feels so much more secure. I’ve had it come off the mount once in a mountain bike crash but it was still looped around the handlebars so it didn’t get anywhere. The Polar mount is less expensive also.

5 Stars If I had only known
Great product, better than expected. I only wish someone (Garmin or Amazon)would have given a better description of what it does and how it works – I would have bought it a lot sooner, so here it goes. First you remove the original wristband that came with the Garmin. Attach the included clip to the bike hadlebars with the plastic ties and then you can easily attach and detach your garmin 305 to the clip, it just snaps in. If you want to use it for running, you snap it in the included velcro wristband. I haven’t used it for running yet but I think the velcro wristband seems mmore comfortable than than the original rubber wristband anyway. No regrets.

1 Star Not a secure mount
The mount is not a secure way to hold the GPS onto a bike. I have had the GPS unit fly off the bike while riding. I did recover the GPS in the ditch, but do you really want to use a mount that can’t hold the Garmin onto the bike?

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