Techno Describe

These years, hardcopy roadmaps are being outperformed by GPS Navigation techniques, which actually give more pertinent map information to customers, bountiful authentic time information about a travelers tide setting.

The Tomtom GO 910 Navigation practice stands to be one of the foremost GPS navigation techniques presented in the sell, nowadays. Labeled as the minimum portable car guide, as well as the minimum among Tomtom GPS Navigation practices, the GO 910 Tomtom Navigation practice possesss an impressive array of skin, as well as connectivity capabilities.

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From beginning to end, this article has helped you to learn more about this topic than you probably thought you would ever know.

    

Once GPS (global positioning systems), created originally for the United States military, hit the streets and citizens could use it for free all over the world, manufacturers of receivers mushroomed. One of those manufacturers is a Dutch company, TomTom NV. TomTom quickly became the leading manufacturer of navigation systems in Europe. In the United States and Canada, their slogan is “Go confidently.” In the UK it’s “Find your way the easy way.”

With roads all over the world getting busier and the time it takes to get anywhere longer, tempers tend to flare. This is a good time for global positioning systems to become as common as Henry Ford’s a car in every garage. TomTom leads the way in providing traffic reports so drivers can go around the bad spots as well as in alerting them to dangerous road conditions on their routes. TomTom traffic service is available in Austria, The Netherlands, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland the United Kingdom. Even if you are traveling from one country to another, one subscription guarantees that you will have services in that country.

TomTom markets four types of products: 

* TomTom GO and ONE—portable models for automobile navigation.
* TomTom RIDER and TomTom RIDER 2—for motorcycle                                    and motor scooter users.
* TomTom NAVIGATOR—software for PDAs and Pocket PCs.
* TomTom Mobile—software for cell phones.

Using a flying interface, the units offer an oblique bird’s-eye view of the road. They also provide a direct-overhead map view. A GPS receiver shows precise location. It also gives visual and spoken directions for getting to the destination the operator has chosen. Some of their systems will integrate with cell phones using Bluetooth. Those that have this capability can access traffic-congestion maps, take calls, and read aloud SMS (short message service) messages.

“New” points of interest can be created on newer versions of TomTom as well as map-error corrections. If a user adds these, TomTom will provide them to other users for free. Some are verified by TomTom and are labeled as such. For now, only blocked streets that have been unblocked and traffic directions that are shown to be going the wrong direction can be changed. Street names can be edited and points of interest can be shared as well. These changes will come up instantly on the receiver they are created on. TomTom will make all other changes if they are sent in, and they will appear on future map updates.

TomTom Plus

For a fee, TomTom Plus will warn drivers about speed cameras, give weather updates, and provide traffic alerts. TomTom Plus only charges fees for these services in Europe; they are free in the US and Canada for now except for cameras. Another service provided by TomTom Plus is traffic data over a Bluetooth-enabled cell phone with Internet service or with an add-on aerial that picks up RDS (radio data system), broadcast on FM radio frequencies.

TomTom Plus Compatibility

Only specific cell phone models from AT&T Cingular and T-Mobile are compatible with TomTom Plus. Also, Internet service must be purchased through that cell-phone provider in addition to the plan from TomTom. The subscription cannot be enabled without a license code.

About the Author:

David Wood writes articles on HP iPAQ. For more information about TomTom Go 910, TomTom 510, HP 114 and PDA Cradle visit his site at totalpda

If you are like most people you spend a lot of time stuck in traffic. According to statistics U.S. drivers spend about an average of 47 hours a year in traffic, and in large urban areas, drivers can spend more than 60 hours a year.

That is why a growing number of drivers are finding they can reduce time and increase comfort by using technology that helps them find and chart the best route to their destination by adding GPS navigation systems to their vehicles.

 
A GPS, or Global Positioning System, is a device that uses satellite technology to pinpoint the location of a receiver. This GPS receiver will provide the driver with important information such as location, estimated time, and recommend a route to a destination. These systems have become so sophisticated that some have added the benefit of playing music. Simply download the desired files onto the hard drive and users can have their music library wherever they go.

Here at Car Lectroinics.com we carry a varied to fit everyone’s needs. Whether you are looking for city, off-road driving, or hiking trails, we carry them all. Is portable or an installed unit better for you? How easy is the screen display to read? And car the unit provides information on current traffic conditions? These are some of the questions you may want to ask yourself before looking at our wide array of items.

Now I find GARMIN 010-10823-01 Carrying Case For Nuvi GPS Navigators from amazon and I read about that ,I think that wonderfull.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Customer Shopping BuZZ

Great Case, Can accidentally turn on GPS

I bought this case from my Nuvi 760, I would buy it again.
Pros
+ reinfoced front and back makes for a sturdy case that protects the device from both scratches and impacts
+ very snug but easy to get in and out - hasn't ever slipped out
+ good size, it is about as small as it can be
+ soft interior to prevent scratches
+ small sleeve on the side
Cons
- It is snug enough to sometimes slide the power switch on the 760 as I take it in or out. I need to make sure it goes in with the switch down and locked so it doesn't come on when I put it in. Coming on on the way out isn't such a big deal since I usually want to use it.
Overall this is a great case, if you are careful you could call auto-power-on a feature!

works with nuvi 750/760/770 series too...however

Garmin nüvi 750 Auto Navigation System
i just picked up one of these for a nuvi 750 as the case is listed as compatible on the garmin site. stylish looking case however, the 700 series is thinner then 600 series. if you hold the case upside down, the nuvi will fall out. be caareful.

About GARMIN 010-10823-01 Carrying Case For Nuvi GPS Navigators detail

• Brand: Garmin
• Model: 010-10823-01
• Original language: English
• Dimensions: 1.00" h x 6.00" w x 9.00" l, .19 pounds

Features

• Leather Carry Case For Nuvi(R) Series Travel Assistant

Product Description

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.

List Price: $17.99

Amazon Price: $11.71 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details

Source From mps2009-20
Cheers and have a GREAT day!
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Gps systems have come a long way since they were first designed for the US millitary. The first signal from NAVSTAR 1 was received on Feb. 22, 1978. NAVSTAR 1 was launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California and was the first of 24 satellites that make up the Global Positioning System (GPS). The first generation of satellites that make up the Global Positioning Systems 24 satellites were launched between Feb. 22, 1978 and Oct. 9, 1985. Since it First became operational the Global Positioning Systems has revolutionized the way America goes to war and provides a GPS system in which the world relies on for precise navigation.

The Global Positioning System's constellation of orbiting satellites is managed by the United States Air Force 50th Space Wing. The unit is the host wing at Schriever Air Force Base, located in east Colorado Springs, Colorado. They are responsible for tracking and maintaining the command and control, warning, navigational, and communications satellites for Air Force Space Command as well as the Global Positioning System satellites. Full Operational Capability was declared by NAVSTAR in April 1995 (NAVSTAR is an acronym for NAVigation Satellite Timing and Ranging, and is the official U.S. Government name given to the GPS satellite system).

The US government granted the Global Positioning System available for civilian use in the late 1980s and with no subscription fees or setup charges to use the GPS system the civilian GPS market exploded, especially in the last decade. A new generation of sophisticated GPS satellites are replacing the older satellites and there are now 34 GPS satellites in orbit that provide combat capability for military applications and aircraft navigation aids. Civilian applications include ATM's, bank and stock market transactions as well as power grid management. Currently 31 of the 34 GPS satellites in orbit transmit navigation and timing signals to civilian and military users around the world.

Gps for civilian use
The civilian GPS system wasn't always as it is today and the US military is still keeping the most accurate Global Positioning Systems available classified for national security. But GPS upgrades for two new civilian signals to enhanced user accuracy and reliability, particularly with respect to aviation safety were planned in 1998. Then on May 2, 2000 "Selective Availability" was discontinued as a result of the 1996 executive order, allowing users to receive a non-degraded GPS signal globally, and in 2004 QUALCOMM announced the successful tests of assisted GPS for mobile phones that led the way for the GPS aided cell phones that are widely used today.

In 2005, the first third generation GPS satellite was launched and began transmitting a second civilian signal for enhanced user performance. Then in September of 2007 the Air Force completed a four-phase transition of the Global Positioning Systems ground segment to it's new Architecture Evolution Plan. The ground segment's provide command and control of the satellites and generates the navigation message for satellites to broadcast to the users GPS device to calculate their earth's position. The new Gps satellites include new high-powered, anti-jam military-code, along with other accuracy, reliability, and data integrity improvements for both civil and military users. This modernized version of the world’s greatest free utility was designed to ensure the US has the most precise and secure positioning, navigation and timing capability through 2030.

Europe and Russia develop their own GPS
In 2004 the United States signed an agreement with the European Community establishing cooperation with Europe's planned Galileo system. Galileo is a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) that is currently being built by the European Union and is separate from but complimentary to the United States Global Positioning System. The European Union's Galileo system should be operational by 2013. The European Community's political aim is to provide an independent GPS system that the European nations can rely on in times of war or political disagreement, because both Russia or the USA could disable use of their national systems by others (through encryption).

The Russian GPS system GLONASS is a radio-based satellite navigation system that was developed by the former Soviet Union and now operated for the Russian government by the Russian Space Forces. Like the European GPS system the Russian GPS system also functions separate from but is complimentary to the United States Global Positioning System. Russia began launching satellites for their GPS system into space on October 12, 1982 and was completed in 1995. The system rapidly fell into disrepair fallowing the collapse of the Russian economy but in 2001 the Russian government began restoring the system with hopes of restoring global coverage by the end of 2009.

GPS Systems today
Depending on the GPS unit a GPS receiver only needs a signal from 3-4 satellites to calculate the units position and will work in any weather conditions, anywhere in the world, 24 hours a day. There are no subscription fees or set up fees like with a cell phone to operate GPS receivers and although some GPS receivers have extra features like real time traffic updates that will have a monthly charge, some GPS receivers like Garmins Nuvi "T" series come with free live traffic for the life of the unit. Today's GPS is extremely accurate thanks to their parallel multi-channel design. Garmin's 12 parallel channel receivers are very quick to lock onto satellites when first turned on and they maintain a strong lock even in dense foliage or city's with tall buildings because they continuously track signals from up to 12 satellites at any given time. Even if a 12 parallel channel GPS receiver loses signals from 8 satellites at once it will still function properly.

WAAS (Wide Area Augmentation System) was developed by the Federal Aviation Administration to augment the Global Positioning System to improve its accuracy, integrity, and availability. WAAS was originally intended to enable aircraft to rely on GPS for all phases of flight, including the precision approach to airport's within its coverage area. All though originally intended for aviation most GPS receivers today are WAAS-enabled including automotive, boating chartplotters and hand-held units. WAAS uses a network of ground based reference stations, in North America and Hawaii, to measure small variations in the GPS satellites' signals. Measurements from these reference stations are routed to master stations and then they send correction messages to geostationary WAAS satellites. Those satellites then broadcast the correction messages back to Earth, where WAAS-enabled GPS receivers use the correction data while computing their positions to improve accuracy. WAAS enabled GPS receivers are accurate to within 3 meters and that make them the most accurate GPS receivers for civilian use on the market today. In fact a WAAS-enabled GPS receiver can even give you directions right down to the lane your car is traveling in (as long as the mapping program supports "lane assist" directions) and With no additional equipment or fees required to take advantage of WAAS-enabled GPS receivers they are becoming as common as cell phone's.

We are interested in Garmin nüvi 255W 4.3-Inch Widescreen Portable GPS Navigator from amazon website you can see now

Customer Shopping BuZZ

Garmin Nuvi 255w

I actually could not decide between the Garmin Nuvi 255w or the 750 model, so I decided to buy them both for comparison. I mounted them both to my car windshield and gave them various addresses to find together. I found that both models took the same routes and announced upcoming turns and street names at practically the same time. One thing I noticed about the 255w was that it was updating my position on the road more often, I'd say about 3 times as often as the 750. This made for smoother graphics on the 255w of the vehicle moving along displayed roads, where the 750's display was more of a "jerky" movement. I also found that the display on the 255w was a bit brighter, clearer, and more vivid than on the 750 in both daylight and at night. Another feature I like on the 255w is the graphic turn indicator in the upper left corner, which the 750 lacks. This is a small arrow which shows upcoming turns and the distance to that turn. It also show things like a fork in the road, (ie: a Y intersection), and which fork you will be taking. The 750 just displays text on the top line for upcoming turns without the arrow. It's just a little extra feature on the 255w which I happened to really like. The 255 also automatically adjusts the font size of displayed text so that even lengthy text will fit.

Another feature on the 255w is a display of the posted speed limit on the road which you are currently on right above your current displayed speed. I found myself not even looking at my car speedometer as I could easily see my current speed and the speed limit of my route at a glance. The 750 doesn't have this feature. I also like how they moved the zoom in (+) and zoom out (-) buttons on the 255w to the same side of the screen which makes it a bit easier. On the 750 the zoom buttons are on opposite sides of the screen.

Now there are some features on the 750 that the 255w does not have. The 750 can broadcast it's sound over your FM radio with the supplied cigarette lighter cable, and it has a headphone jack, which I found to be nice features. The 750 also has an MP3 player and an Audio-book player, which the 255w does not. Another really nice feature of the 750 is the car locater. This is a great feature if you are parking in a really big lot, such as at an amusement park or a fair. The 750 marks your location when you remove it from the car, then you take it with you and it remembers where you parked and takes you right back to your car. The 255w doesn't have the car locater.

I also thought the the voice prompts of the 750 where more pleasant sounding than the 255w's. The 750 sounds more like a real female voice, where the 255w sounds more robotic.

Another thing to consider was that I paid $50 less for the 750 and it came with the FM transmitter cable and a USB cord to connect it to your computer for updates and downloads.

My final decision was to keep the 255w and return the 750 because I really liked the graphic turn indicator and the posted speed limit and current speed indicators. I didn't find a need for the 750's MP3 player and Audio book player, but that is up to personal preference. Since the USB cable was not included with the 255w, I purchased it on this site for $10. I also intend to purchase the MSN direct cable when it is available in August 2008.

 

Best In Its Class - Great For Traveling

If you spend much time driving in unfamiliar territory, especially if you rent cars in big cities, a good portable GPS makes an amazing difference. And the Garmin 255W is the best one I could find in the $250 - $350 range.

First this thing just plain works. I haven't had any issues with mine. It was easy to set up and figure out right out of the box, and it's easy to use. It never has had trouble getting sufficient signal unlike earlier and cheaper models.
I chose the 255W for several reasons: It uses some of the newest and best maps available. It has one of the more usable touch screens for entering destinations. It's fast to acquire satellites. And Garmin almost always comes out on top in reviews--especially in routing.

Ultimately, you buy a car GPS to get you from Point A to Point B as easily and efficiently as possible. And that's what the 255W does best. If you've ever had a "Brand X" GPS take you on some strange route that adds 20 minutes to your trip, has you turn the wrong way down a one way road, tell you to turn AFTER you've passed the street, frequently loses the satellite signal, or has old maps missing streets, you know how important this stuff is.

The 255W has a really clear display that's easy to see in any light. It's small enough to use on foot. The windshield mount works great and it's easy to toss in the glovebox when you park. It even tells you the speed limit on most roads. The "points of interest" feature works very well to find places to eat by type of cuisine, gas stations, etc.

The difference between the 255W and 205W is the 255 speaks street names and includes Alaska and Canada. The 205 and 205W will tell you to "turn right in 500 feet" which isn't as helpful or obvious as "turn right on Ivy Street in 500 feet". The "W" models are widescreen which makes entering destinations easier due to having a bigger "keyboard" and also lets you see more map area while driving.

All in all this isn't the cheapest GPS in its class but it's one of the best. My only gripe is you need an expensive add-on to get live traffic data--something that's included with the Magellan Roadmate 1430 which is close to the same price. But the Garmin 255W is a better GPS in every other way.

 

About Garmin nüvi 255W 4.3-Inch Widescreen Portable GPS Navigator detail

• Amazon Sales Rank: #4 in Consumer Electronics
• Brand: Garmin
• Model: Nuvi 255W
• Platform: Windows
• Format: CD
• Original language: English
• Dimensions: .80" h x 2.80" w x 4.80" l, 1.24 pounds
• Native resolution: 480 x 272
• Display size: 4.3

Features

• 4.3 Inch Auto Navigator with Anti Theft Feature
• Voice Prompted Turn by Turn Directions
• With HotFix, It Calculates Your Position Faster to Get You There Quicker
• Compatible with Optional Enhanced MSN Direct Content
• JPEG Picture Viewer, World Travel Clock, Currency Converter, Calculator and More

Product Description

GARMIN Nuvi 255W 4.3 Inch Auto Navigator. With its easy to use touchscreen, voice guidance that speaks street names, preloaded maps of North America and its widescreen display, the affordable nuvi 255W delivers directions on the go wherever life takes you. For an additional cost savings, check out nuvi 205W which offers less map coverage at a lower price.

List Price: $329.99

Amazon Price: $159.99 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details

Source From mps2009-20
Hope you guys had a great weekend
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Imagine yourself in a city you are not familiar with and suddenly, you realize that you are lost. Well, these days, with the latest technologies of global positioning system (GPS), it is not a big deal to know exactly where you are and get accurate direction to your destination.

And, GPS cell phones are a new aid in the direction of using GPS tracking system. The devices, with right software and service package, can indicate your location, provide information about nearby areas and give turn by turn direction to your destination.

The GPS cell phone works with a receiver when it is used inside an automobile. It enables you get driving directions by subscribing to navigation service and installing appropriate software package that is compatible with the phone. You need an integrated GPS cell phone if you want to use it outside the automobile. The add-ons are also available with those sets. People who are on there toes all the time can find the gadget a useful device to track their movement while navigating.

Of late, numerous brands have developed latest models with some of their exclusive features. It should be noted that all the GPS modules are not compatible with all the cell phone models. The 5140 model from Nokia can be upgraded to a GPS enabled device. It is otherwise known as Xpress-on shell. The device offers most of the features of a typical mapping handheld GPS system.

LAM-1 is another GPS module that is compatible with 9210 and 9210i models from Nokia. Besides an external antenna, the particular module is designed with TomTom City Maps and RoutePlanner. The system converts you phone into a navigator to get route direction and location information. However, the downside is the item is for use only in Europe.

 
Go2Directory is another useful application that is compatible with Verizon Z-800, Kyocera 3035e, LG brand VX10, Audiovox CMD8600 and CMD9500, VX4400, and VX4400B, and Motorola T720 and T730. With this GPS cell phone you can get information about nearby hotels, restaurants, filling stations and about any other businesses. The getGOING service from Verizon allows you to download Audiovox CDM8600 and CDM9500, AtlasBook Places to get maps and directions. The application is supported by Motorola T720 and T730, and Samsung's SCH-a530 and SCH-a530s.

The Thuraya Hughes 7101 is another GPS cell phone that comes along with satellite and GSM. The features of the phone enable location determination, getting directions, location transmission via SMS, and storage of 25 GPS positions. The software allows satellite coverage for Central Asia, Europe, North and Central Africa, India, the Middle East and. The Garmin NavTalk GSM offers mapping with voice-prompted turn-by-turn guidance and automatic routing. The cell phone is for use in Europe and South Africa. The features offer 5 routes and upto 50 points per routes, and 500 waypoints. You can assign names and graphic symbols to each of them.

You can find buil-in GPS sunctions with Motorola i305 cell phone and the i530 cell phone. The system supports location enhanced services- mobile locator. The functions of the mobile phone are also displayed on a laptop or PDA, when connected. i305 and i530 are standard one-piece handset and clamshell handset respectively. The Benefon Esc! NT2002 Personal Navigation Phone is another GPS cell phone that can help you find your destination irrespective of the GSM coverage.

These days, almost all new mobile phones sold in America are GPS enabled. Some cell phones are developed with in-built receiver and other can be connected to one through Bluetooth or with wires. But, each GPS cell phone models have been proved useful for the owner.

This day I'll introduce you about Garmin Portable Friction Dashboard Mount for nüvi Series and StreetPilot C5XX Series GPS Navigators (C530, C550, and C580) from amazon and I read about that ,I think that wonderfull.

Customer Shopping BuZZ

Best Solution for NUVI in my Prius and my Ford: Theft Protection As Well!!

My Prius has a rough dashboard and a windshield that slopes very sharply. Thus, the suction cup mounts are not good solutions. Fortunately, the friction mount is a great solution. It works much better than I expected. Very stable, does not slide, and lets me adjust my Nuvi to a variety of different angles. I can place the GPS anywhere on the dash or even on the center console. Also works great when transferred to my wife's Ford.

Only downside to the device is that it has a rather large footprint, but not prohibitively large. I like the fact that I can easily use this in both of our family vehicles depending on where we need the GPS.

UPDATE: Now that I have used this mount regularly since May, I have to say this is the best mounting solution I've found for a GPS or any other device for my car. It hasn't slid out of place once!! Given the rise in GPS units being stolen from cars, this mount allows you to easily stash your GPS Unit and mount out of sight and then put it back into position with ease.

2009 Update: Still using this in my Prius and my wife has one too. It's held up quite well. It IS a bit bulky to store out of the way when not in use, but still a good solution. I usually remove my GPS from the mount (a simple process) and then place the mount as far under the seat as it will go. Not perfect, but the best solution I've found to date.

 

Well designed

This mount works great. The selection of Garmin mounts is confusing as some are two parts and some are one. If you have a Nuvi with the included windshield mount, then this is the only part you need to buy. The included mount disassembles at the ball and socket joint and attaches to this one. I can't say it will never come off the dash if I do some really high speed maneuver, but so far it's held steady for all regular driving.

I like that it's easy to move the mount and gps unit down to the floor when I park. Yeah a thief could still see it if they came right up to my car but at least it's not obvious from halfway across the parking lot like a windshield mount is. A thief that sees an empty windshield mount is probably going to assume (correctly) that I've just put the unit in the glove compartment.

Features

• Vehicle Dash Mount For Use On Any Stable Surface
• Securely Holds Nuvi In Vehicle
• Does Not Slide Or Detach While Vehicle Is In Motion
• Adjustable To Position Nuvi In Variety Of Angles

Product Description

Portable dashboard mount for your Garmin StreetPilot or nuvi navigator. It does not slide Or detach while vehicle is in motion. It is Adjustable To Position Nuvi In Variety Of Angles.

List Price: $39.99

Amazon Price: $23.04 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details

Source From mps2009-20
Have a Nice Days!
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I was intrigued when I heard about this new technology called auto navigation systems. They say that GPS and other similar systems are accurate and sophisticated. I can drive around an unfamiliar location and a computerized voice will guide me to my destination. I was a bit apprehensive and I wanted to confirm if this new technology is as good as its hype. I got the chance to found out during a recent vacation, when I got the opportunity to use a rental car equipped with one of the new auto navigation systems.

I traveled to Florida where it can be tough to find your way around, especially in crowded tourist cities like Orlando. We were accommodated on a hotel on Disney property so my husband could attend a conference. As a result, I had a few days to spend exploring the area. Since I was alone, I didn’t want to get lost, so I thought that it would be an opportunity to check out the auto navigation systems.

I chose to rent an Explorer equipped with a GPS unit installed in the dash, and I immediately began to test it. I wanted to find out if it could lead me back to my hotel and to other nearby destinations that I already had the directions for. It did a pretty decent job, though it got a little confused when I ignored a turn command on a one-way street and it had to work out an alternative route.
That’s the thing with auto navigation systems—as hard as they try to advertise them as an excellent human guide, they are not human. They are flawed in the manner that all machines are, and they are unable to provide you with hints based on immediate information.

Auto navigation systems are incapable of reminding you to pay attention to where you’re going, to check the street signs, or make a quick turn. They can merely serve as guides to the limit of their programmed capacity and you need to do the rest. They are accurate for most of the time, but they won’t always give you the best way to arrive at a destination or provide you with updated information about detours and other possible changes along the way.

Hopefully, the technology in auto navigation systems will continue to improve, and future models may be able to sense that you’re about to commit a mistake and will aid you in avoiding it. Until then, it makes sense to be safe by obtaining directions from real people who are familiar with the area.

 

To day I find introduce you this Garmin nüvi 780 4.3-Inch Widescreen Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator with MSN Direct Service I will think This Interesting ,and you can see that

Customer Shopping BuZZ

Great Device and Easy to Use

This is my first automobile GPS, and I did a lot of research before settling on the Garmin 780. I live in the Washington DC Metro area, so all of the extra features work here. Upon its arrival, I downloaded and installed the latest Garmin WebUpdater v.2.41 and then updated my 780 from software version 2.50 to 2.90. I also updated the Bluetooth and other firmware, along with the languages that I use. This all worked flawlessly in a Windows XP virtual machine on a Linux host. FWIW, the 780 will charge off of the supplied USB cable.

The 780 acquired the necessary satellites in just a few minutes when first activated, and does so in less than a minute for subsequent activations. I found the screen brightness to be fine for both day and night. I'm using the 780 with the Garmin Portable Friction Mount. Smashing windows and stealing GPS devices is the sport of choice in the DC Metro area, so I wanted no evidence of a GPS extant when I left the car. The friction mount works perfectly on my Honda Accord dashboard and stores easily in the center console, leaving no trace of a GPS behind. Very cool. The 780 easily fits in a shirt pocket, so it's not necessary to leave it in the car.

I tested the 780 immediately by driving during rush hour to a residence across the river in a tangle of park roads off of the beaten track, then returning at night. The Garmin had no trouble creating a very fast route to the destination that bypassed most of the heavy traffic during rush hour. On my return, I bypassed a turn on its preferred routing. It recalculated a new route in less than a second which was the exact right answer. The new route wasn't a recapture of the original route, which wasn't possible from that location, but an entirely new route. The routes it picked were appropriate for the times of day traveled, which can be a daunting task here if you don't know which roads go which direction during the appropriate rush hour. DC is a notoriously difficult area to navigate, but so far the Garmin seems up to the challenge.

I found the volume of the internal speaker to be more than adequate even with the radio, air conditioning, and windshield wipers going. Voice notifications led upcoming turns by an adequate amount, and the voice prompts always helped me get into the correct lanes in plenty of time for upcoming turns. During a particularly tricky section where several major roads converge on a bridge, then diverge on the other side, the Garmin gave almost constant appropriate guidance to ensure that I took the correct forks and turns. I was quite impressed.

The Bluetooth paired quickly with my Motorola Razr V3. It even provided its PIN code at the appropriate time. The phone functions work great and it's easy to hear over the 780 speaker. The party on the other side of the phone said that I sounded like I was in a tunnel, which is typical for remote devices for autos. I have another BT hands-free device and it garnered the same comments. The Garmin's on-screen phone cues make hands-free easy.

Activation of the MSN Direct service was simple over the Net. On initial activation of your free 3 month trial, they offer a 6-month extension for $9.95 which gets you to 9 months of service total for less than $10--a very good deal. MSN Direct information took a while to load the initial information, but then it said that in the Quick Start pamphlet. Once loaded, the traffic, weather, and news worked great. Gas prices were behind by several days, which is an eternity these days. My favorite (and cheapest) station wasn't listed.

Overall, I'm very happy with the 780. I'll be working it out heavily in the coming weeks, including on a road trip to another city with MSN Direct service. I can't believe that I waited this long to take the plunge to a GPS device for my car. Even though I'm a master with maps, the Garmin suggested a clever routing that I did not previously discover on my own. From what I've seen so far, the 780 will be a highly valued addition to my road warrior kit bag. I can recommend the 780 without reservation.

 

Great Routing, Lousy Price, Limited Features

I purchased a Sony NAVU-83T, a Garmin 680, and a Garmin 780 to compare their features and routing capability. I kept the 780 and returned the others, but it was a very difficult decision.

The Sony unit [...] at Costco, and has a 4.8" screen (1/2" larger!). It has one of the best user interfaces on the market, primarily due to a few things: 1) you can always get back to the map by pressing one button, regardless of where you are, 2) you can always get to the main menu by pressing one button, regardless of where you are in the menus, 3) it has a split screen function that gives you lane guidance visually so that you know which lane to get into, well before the turn, 4) it has shortcuts, for instance to GO HOME you make a V shape on the screen and it takes you home...no menu navigation required!
On the down side, the Sony took FOREVER to calculate or re-calculate routes, and in many cases I missed the newly recalculated turn because it took too long to figure it out. It also took longer routes than the Garmin, would avoid commonly used roads for no apparent reason, and would not take me down roads that were shown on the map and clearly the shortest route. Last of all, the Sony took forever to gain a satellite fix once turned on. And the Sony mount was soooo very cool and useful! For $249 you got the cool mount and a nice carrying case. I did not get a chance to use the TMC traffic service.

The Garmin 680 ($349 at Costco) was a fine device, with very fast and accurate routing. It found points of interest quickly and accurately (the Sony often could not find them). However, I really liked the thin size of the 780 and the fact that the antennae was built in, so I kept the 780 in spite of the extra cost.

What do I like about the 780 (and the 680):
1. The MSN Direct is VERY handy and I use it every day for weather, news, fuel costs, and movie listings.
2. Very fast route calculations.
3. I have never looked for a POI that was not present.
4. The tour routes that you can download (for about $12 each) are cool. You can take car tours of a few hours that are laid out for you, telling you where to visit along the route.
5. The ability to sort points along a route is handy. If you have 10 places to go in one day, enter them all in and it puts them in the most efficient order.
6. It can find rest areas on interstates. The Sony could NOT do this, which is annoying when you are trying to figure out if you should stop at a gas station or wait for a rest area when you have three kids in the car on long trip.
What would I change on the 780? Many things, and most of them would cost Garmin no money to implement. These are simple fixes that they should consider!

Bad Points of the Garmin 780:
1. If I go into the menu system, I can go 7 or 8 layers deep to get to what I want to do. To get back to the map, I have to keep pushing the "BACK" button, up to 8 times in a row, to get back to the map. Stupid!
2. If I go into a menu item and decide I'm done, but don't want to push "BACK" over and over, the unit stays on the menu or submenu screen forever.
3. It would seem that on a unit this expensive it could give you lane guidance. The Sony does. The Tom Tom does. Why can't this unit, at almost double the cost?
4. When you turn off the car the unit asks if it should stay on or turn off. If you don't answer, it turns off in 30 seconds. For people who are making deliveries, or running errands, this is a real pain. It would be nice to allow you to configure this once to set how long it should wait before turning the unit off (options like 1 minute, 5 minutes, 10 minutes, 20 minutes, for instance). This would allow you to run into Kinkos and back out again without having to wait for the unit to turn back on, get a satellite bearing, and then finally get to its map to tell you where to go next. Simple software change!
5. It would be nice to have the unit start up on the same screen where you left off. If you were on the map screen, then it should return to the map screen. If on the weather screen, then return to the weather. I like to keep it on the weather, but I have to hit about 6 different buttons every time I turn the unit on to get to the weather! Simple software change!
6. Most GPS units even at half this cost allow you to SEE your speed, direction, and target's relative direction while on the main map screen. This unit requires you to go to a dashboard screen to show you this information....so you have to choose the map or the dashboard to view. Since some people may not like this feature, it could be configurable. Simple software change!
7. I can't seem to figure out how to show the satellite signals/connectivity. ALL units have this, even though it is just for fun.
8. For $500 the Garmin should include a carry case for the unit. They sell it small size, light weight, and its "ability to know where you were when you take it out of the cradle, to help you find your car later", and yet don't give you way to carry it around safely. Just about every unit on the market, starting at the $149 units, include a case!
9. The 780 does NOT include an owners manual. You have to go online to view the manual, at garmin.com. Garmin may be surprised to know that not everyone has the internet (50% of homes don't). Although not perfect, the Sony included a fairly comprehensive start up guide and a CD based owners manual.
10. The display looks like a cartoon movie, and that causes a lack of detail. The Sony displayed a very concise map where you could actually identify road splits, acceleration lanes, etc.
11. There is no ability to show POIs on the map. You can route to one, but you can't just show them. The Sony allowed you to pick which POIs to show, and it actually showed you little BP, Shell, Cracker Barrel, etc. logos on the map so that you could know well ahead of time which POIs were near you.
12. Many units tell you how far to your next turn AND the direction you will be turning in. The Garmin tells you how far to the next turn, but it does not tell you which way to turn until you get within about 2/10 of a mile. So on most multi-lane roads I find myself staying in the middle lane as I get close so that I can go either way. It should warn you which way you will be turning at least a few miles in advance! As soon as you get onto any road the Sony tells you that your next turn is "LEFT 123 MILES", and it is always displayed on the main map. Handy. Simple software change!
I like the unit, but I only give it 3 stars because of its price, its lack of common sense features, and lack of "in the box" support. It's strong points are fast, accurate routing and MSN direct.

Garmin 780 Excellent but not perfect

I did a lot of research before I changed from my old Garmin c340. I think I made an excellent choice, this GPS has everything and more. I was new to traffic so I first tried the TomTom 920T which I didn't like because of how innacurate the maps were so then I turned to Garmin and I was happy again, with the addition of news, stocks and events for the MSN direct 2 version is great. I read the news once in a while is just a plain summary of what is happening not much with no pictures or anything but hey at least it gives you something else on the GPS to do. I find the mp3 functionality great the sound is loud enough just don't put it all the way to 100% volume because you'll hear static. The FM transmitter is one of the best I found on a GPS and the picture feature is great I even put it in my room as an LCD screen for pictures hehehe. This GPS gives you all the directions you need pretty accurate, MSN traffic needs to improve on this, its usually delayed most of the time it tells me traffic is there but then I find no traffic why? I don't know but I can say that is probably 80% right on other traffic updates. I really like this product and I am more than happy with this item, it is now a lot cheaper than what I bought it for which was $700, so do yourself a favor if you want an accurate, nice looking, fast GPS signal, great feature GPS get this one, I recommend it.

About Garmin nüvi 780 4.3-Inch Widescreen Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator with MSN Direct Service detail

• Amazon Sales Rank: #8 in Consumer Electronics
• Brand: Garmin
• Model: Nuvi 780
• Dimensions: .80" h x 2.80" w x 4.80" l, 2.76 pounds
• Native resolution: 480x272
• Display size: 4.3

Features

• GPS Navigator Preloaded w/City Navigator North America NT
• 4.3 in Diagonal Touchscreen Display with 2D/3D Mapping Perspective
• Turn by Turn Directions with Voice Guidance/ Text to Speech Feature
• Includes MSN Direct Receiver with Version 2
• 1.8 Lbs (WxLxH) 0.8" x 4.8" x 2.8"

Product Description

The nuvi 780 4.3" GPS Personal Travel Assistant has advanced navigation features, a widescreen display, preloaded maps, an FM transmitter and hands-free calling, plus real-time local weather, traffic, movie times, stock information, gas prices, news and local events. Its premium navigation capabilities, like route planning and a handy locator, give you peace of mind on the go. With next-generation dynamic content from MSN Direct, nuvi 780 is one resourceful personal travel assistant. You'll always get the big picture with nuvi 780's widescreen display. View map detail, driving directions, photos and more in bright, brilliant color. Its sunlight-readable, 4.3" display is easy to read from any direction. In addition, nuvi 780 accepts custom points of interest, such as school zones and safety cameras, and lets you set proximity alerts to warn you of upcoming POIs. nuvi 780 includes advanced navigational features to take the worry out of traveling. 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. High-sensitivity receiver Built-in memory - Internal solid state with optional SD Card Slot Voice prompts Speaks street names Auto sort multiple destinations (provides most direct route) Auto re-route (fast off-route and detour recalculation) Choice of route setup (faster time, shorter distance, off road) Custom POIs (ability to add additional points of interest) MSN Direct for U.S. compatible MP3 player Audio book player Configurable vehicle icons (select car-shaped icons for map navigation) World travel clock, currency & measurement converter, and calculator Headphone jack/audio lineout Unit Dimensions - Width 4.8 x Height 3.0 x Depth 0.8 (12.2x7.6x2.0cm) Weight - 6.2 ounces (176 grams)

List Price: $699.99

Amazon Price: $199.99 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details

Source From mps2009-20
I would be grateful if you would give me the Interview
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Now I find Garmin nüvi 760 4.3-Inch Widescreen Bluetooth Portable GPS Automobile Navigator I will think This Interesting ,and you can see that

Customer Shopping BuZZ

Better than the nuvi 660
I own both the Nuvi 660 and the 760, I'm writing this review for people having trouble deciding between the two as the price difference between the two products at the time of this review is about 100 dollars. I'm not going to focus on the feature differences, as that information can be easily obtained from specifications and online reviews. The 660 was a fine product back in 2005-2006, but the new 760 outdoes the 660 in practically everything, but there are some key usability fixes that make the 760 a better buy for the frequent user.

1. 760 has much better fonts for street names than the 660. This may seem like a trivial update to some, but the 760's fonts greatly improve visibility. The 660 uses all capitalized text for street names on the map, and the font is incredibly cartoonish and unaligned, something like the scribbling Comic Sans font on the PC. The 760 uses your standard Verdana-like font with street names in capitalized and lowercase letters. The fonts on the 760 are smaller, cleaner and surprisingly much easier to read while driving. The maps end up looking professional, and not some cartoony children's video game.

2. 760 has better rendering in 3D map mode than the 660. In the 660 when you are zoomed in under 3D map mode, the roads close to your car are displayed incredibly large, so large that they run into other roads, making the zoom function essentially kind of useless for dense roads. The 760 does not oversize your roads just because you zoomed in to view smaller roads in detail. This fix is very nice for those who drive in places with dense roadways, like New York City.

3. No antenna on the 760 makes hooking up your Nuvi to the cradle one step easier. On the 660 you need to flip up the antenna before attaching the cradle. For people who park their cars on the street overnight, removing the GPS from the cradle for storage in the console or glove compartment is a must, and it's a lot easier hooking up the 760 to the cradle than the 660. It's hard to aim the 660 to its cradle in the dark as you have to align both the bottom edge and the charge port under the antenna. In the 760, the charge port is directly on the bottom of the unit; you can attach it to the cradle with one hand in the dark easily on the 760.

4. It takes the 660 a good 45 seconds on average (sometimes longer than 2 minutes) after boot up to locate the satellite on a cold start. If you have firmware 2.6 installed on the 760, the satellite acquisition time after boot up is between 10-20 seconds. After the firmware update, my 760 also holds a stronger lock to the satellites than my 660, I can get satellite lock inside my house with the 760, whereas I can't get a lock with my 660 (adjusting the antenna does very little).

5. The ability to set multiple ad hoc viapoints on the 760 means it's a lot easier creating alternate routes (very handy to avoid a specific interstate or a high traffic road). Whereas the 660 gives you just one viapoint.

About Garmin nüvi 760 4.3-Inch Widescreen Bluetooth Portable GPS Automobile Navigator detail

• Amazon Sales Rank: #71 in Consumer Electronics
• Color: Soft Black
• Brand: Garmin
• Model: Nuvi 760
• Original language: English, French
• Dimensions: 2.80" h x .80" w x 4.80" l, 2.76 pounds
• Native resolution: 480 x 272
• Display size: 4.3

Features

• 4.3-Inch Diagonal Touch Screen Color Display
• 480 X 272 Pixels, Wqvga Display With White Backlight
• Preloaded With City Navigator(R) North America Nt Preloaded With City Navigator(R) North America Nt Maps
• Bluetooth(R) Wireless Technology For Hands-Free Calling
• Speed Limit Indicator Displays Speed Limits For Highways & Interstates

Product Description

Loaded and wide, nüvi 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 nüvi 700-series, its premium navigation capabilities, like route planning and a handy locator, give you peace of mind on the go. Save up to 10 routes, and specify via points and preview simulated turns on the 4.3 widescreen, or enter your via points and let the nuvi 750 automatically sort multiple destinations for an efficient route Hands free calling with Bluetooth phones A trip log of up to 10,000 points keeps a record of where you've been on the map for easy reference Speed limits for all major highways and interstates A high-sensitivity internal (non flip-up) antenna keeps the unit sleek and compact while the rechargeable lithium-ion battery allows you to use the unit in and out of the car for up to 5 hours MP3 playback with Audiobook player, picture viewer, and currency converters Built-in FM transmitter allows you to listen to your music, audio books, and gps voice prompts through your car's stereo Route avoidance (avoid highways, tolls, etc.), Route setup (choice of faster time, shorter distance, off-road), Auto re-route (fast auto-recalculation when you take a wrong turn or want to avoid traffic), and Custom POIs (ability to add additional points of interest) FM traffic alerts (3 months of service included) Optional MSN Direct, and Garmin Lock (an anti-theft feature) Interfaces - USB, Audio line-out (headphone) Unit Dimensions - 4.8w x 3h x. 8d Weight - 6.2 oz

List Price: $399.99

Amazon Price: $215.99 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details

Source From mps2009-20
I would be grateful if you would give me the Interview
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by: Ernest R. Peterson

I was checking out a friend's new car a couple weeks ago when I noticed that he had one of those cool auto navigation systems in it. I had seen those things in rental cars before, but hadn't actually known of anyone that had one. I asked him to take me out for a ride so I could see how it worked. Since he wanted to show off his new wheels anyway, he quickly agreed.

I kept my eyes on the auto navigation system the entire time we were on the road. My friend excitedly explained how the thing worked. Apparently, he had purchased a top of the line GPS auto navigation system that tracked the car's position using satellite. I watched the map closely, and sure enough, it was as correct as could be.

I mean, we would pass a landmark out on the side of the road while the on screen map was showing the exact same thing. I asked my friend how easy it was to find new locations using these auto navigation systems. He said all he had to do was type in an address or phone number using the touch screen menu, and the shortest route would appear within seconds.

I decided there and then that I had to check out some auto navigation systems for my own car. When I got home, I immediately logged onto the Internet to do a bit of research. I still didn't know very much about these devices, so I wanted to read a few auto navigation system reviews before spending my money. I wanted to know which brands packed the most features into each unit, which brands had the best prices, and which brands had the most favorable consumer reviews. I was able to find all of this information quickly and easily, which made shopping for an auto navigation system as peacefully as I could have hoped.

After I was satisfied that I knew enough about auto navigation systems to make an informed decision, I went ahead with my purchase. I was even able to find a website that specializes in selling auto navigation systems for much less than the retail price. I got a fantastic deal on the model I wanted, and ended up saving hundreds of dollars.

I've only had my auto navigation system installed for a short time, but it's already helped me out quite a bit. I've been able to avoid traffic, find shorter routes to the places I visit regularly, and save me money by alerting me to alternative exits when I'm driving on tollways. All in all, I can't imagine ever driving without one of these auto navigation systems to guide me when I'm out on the road.

Garmin nuvi's are gps (global positioning systems) units that are very popular today. Whether you drive a lot or just need to get your kids to another soccer tournament, the garmin Nuvi which range from pocket sized navigators to advanced systems with voice activated navigation, has a gps unit that will fit your needs.

Here is a list of the garmin Nuvi series gps units:

Nuvi 205 series

These affordable navigators fit any budget and give you turn-by-turn directions to the front door.

Nuvi 500 series

Drive, hike, bike or boat. These waterproof multi-mode devices are rugged enough for any adventure.

Nuvi 705 series

These advanced navigators include premium navigation capabilities like route planning, lane assist with junction view and 3-D building view for peace of mind on the go.

Nuvi 805 series

Voice-activated navigation with lane assist. Now you can keep both hands on the wheel, tell nüvi where to go and maneuver complicated interchanges with ease.

Nuvi 1200 series

Ultra-slim, affoardable, feature-rich navigators that go anywhere.

Nuvi 1300 series

These ultra-slim, affordable navigators add a widescreen display and lane assist (some versions) to the 1200-series.

Depending on how much money you are willing to spend will guide you toward a certain series. If you are on a limited budget, then your best fit would be the entry level Nuvi 205 series. If money is not a problem, then you can look at all the options and extras that each series offers and find the best gps unit that fits your needs.

All nuvis come with detailed NAVTEQ maps of the continental united states, hawaii and puerto rico and more than 6 million pre-loaded point of interest locations.

Other features of the nuvis are:

1. maps of AK, Canada and Europe

2. Text to speech technology

3. Integrated FM Traffic Receiver

4. bluetooth technology

5. MP3 player and photo viewer

6. FM Transmitter (audio through car stereo system)

7. Multi-point routing

All of these features are not available on all Nuvi units. If you would like any of these features on your gps unit, please check before buying. If you are purchasing online, check the page for a chart that has all the features listed for each model number.

In the end, no matter what garmin gps unit you select, they are great for getting to your destination in the quickest way possible.

Garmin nüvi 265WT 4.3-Inch Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator with Integrated Traffic Receiver

 

Customer Shopping BuZZ : Best GPS I have ever Owned

Are You Interested in Garmin nüvi 265WT 4.3-Inch Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator with Integrated Traffic Receiver Coming Soon I find this from Amazon I will That interes, You that Agree?.

Customer Shopping BuZZ

Good unit for the price
Spent a weekend reviewing various GPS devices to replace my less than 1 year old Mio C320 (avoid these like the plague) that had its battery die about 4 months after purchase. Went back and forth along the entire line of Garmin devices, and finally settled on this one for the blue tooth and traffic, neither of which I'll probably hardly ever use, but nice to have when I want them.

I was disappointed with the map, the "new" 2009 one, because I have some streets in my neighborhood that have been around for over four years and they're not to be found on this unit. Even the piece of junk cheap Mio had these streets.

But that's about the only downside there is to it, the only reason I haven't given it 5 stars.

Having been used to the MIO, and the horrible refresh rate, it is a pleasant change to see smooth scrolling as my vehicle moves. The ability to change the car icon is nice, especially with the plethora of icons available on the garmin website.

Accuracy is very good as well, and even in turns the unit isn't so laggy that it becomes annoying. And also unlike what I was used to with the MIO, when I come to a stop at the intersection, the map doesn't start rotating randomly on me.

Speaker is about as I expected, won't hear much over a loud stereo but crank it up enough you can at least hear it if you keep the music down a bit.
The option to easily download voices is also appreciated.

It did well with my testing of going point to point, following the instructions, and for the most part you're given the instructions in plenty of time. only once or twice did it not tell me "turn right on such and such" until I was about 20 feet from the street, but that was when I was coming up on stop signs and had slowed down, so it may be compensating for the speed factor.

Recalculation notice is a bit annoying, my MIO would say it once, sometimes this says it three times before it starts to display the alternate route.

Still has about 900MB free on the internal memory for additional voices, icons, maps, and such, and with the SD slot there's plenty of room to grow.

 
I have a Verizon XV6900 phone with Windows Mobile 6.1, and while the bluetooth paired well and it can see the phone status, battery power, signal, even dialed and missed call lists, it never does get the phonebook. it gets a random entry and that's it - so whenever I turn it on, I have just one user to select from, and it's different each time. Still haven't tracked that one down yet. But every other bluetooth option worked just fine.

I'm not a fan of the very thick double power cable for it though, and it would be doubly annoying (no pun intended) if I were mounting this somewhere higher up on the window to have that double cable dangling down.

I can see how the ads would get annoying sometimes (the free traffic is because it is advertising driven) but you don't get them at all if you turn off the traffic feature, and since most of my driving isn't around times that traffic is a concern, i can just leave it for when I really have a use for it.

Good response to finger input, and while the unit is overall much better quality than the MIO, I really do miss the MIO's ability to have an info pane down the last third of the screen and the map on the first two thirds of it when desired. But there's some of that info available in the data bubbles on the bottom and top so I'll survive.

Overall happy with the unit, it works well and was worth the cost.

Source From mps2009-20
Have a Nice Days!
Cheers

Below, are 10 benefits and reasons to use Bluetooth

technology.

 

1.  Wireless
As you probably already know, there are many benefitsand advantages to using wireless devices.  Along with improving safety as a result of eliminating wires you don't need, wireless also offers you plenty of other advantages.  When traveling with your laptop or other wireless devices, you'll no longer have to worry about bringing connection cables.

2.  Bluetooth is actually inexpensive The technology of Bluetooth is cheap for companies to implement, which results in lower costs for the company.  These savings are then passed from the company on to you.

3.  Bluetooth is automatic
Bluetooth doesn't have you set up a connection or push any buttons.  When two or more devices enter a range of up to 30 feet of each other, they will
automatically begin to communicate without you having to do anything. 

4.  Standardized protocol
Bluetooth is standardized wireless, meaning that a high level of compatibility among devices is guaranteed.  Bluetooth will connect devices to each other, even if they aren't the same model.

5.  Low interference
Bluetooth devices almost always avoid interference from other wireless devices.  Bluetooth uses a technique known as frequency hopping, and also
low power wireless signals.

6.  Low energy consumption
As a result of Bluetooth using low power signals,the technology requires very little energy and will use less battery or electrical power as a result. This is an excellent benefit for mobile devices, as Bluetooth won't drain the battery.

7.  Sharing voice and data
The standard for Bluetooth will allow compatible devices to share data and voice communications. This is great for mobile phones and headsets, as Bluetooth simplifies driving and talking on your cell phone.

8.  Instant PAN (Personal Area Network)
You can connect up to seven Bluetooth devices to each other within a range of up to 30 feet, forming a piconet or PAN.  For a single room, you can also set up multiple piconets.

9.  Upgradeable
Upgradeable is the standard for Bluetooth.  There are newer versions of Bluetooth in the works, which offer many new advantages and backward
compatible with older versions.

10.  The technology stays
Bluetooth technology is a world wide, universal wireless standard.  With it being as popular as it is, you can count on it being around for years
to come.  As more and more devices start to use Bluetooth technology, more manufacturers will be eager to make their products compatible.  A chain
reaction will occur, making Bluetooth the standard for cutting edge wireless.

Have you ever gone for a long country ride with a man who simply did not believe in getting lost? It happens and often results in hours and hours of driving by the same tree or creek twice and a desperate fear of running out of gas miles away from civilization. At least that was always the case for me. I am not afraid of adventure or trying new things. At least not for the most part, I am however, deathly afraid of being in situations where I have no idea where I am or how far I am from familiar places and things.

 

I grew up in a little town off I-55. No matter how far from home I am, I always feel safe if I am on I-55 because it is familiar. I know this road. I may not know this particular stretch of road, but I know that if I remain on this road, it will lead me home. There is safety and comfort in that knowledge. This same sort of safety and comfort can now be bought. It is called an auto navigation system and will always tell you which road leads home. That for me is a feature that is truly priceless.

 

Auto navigation systems are becoming much more common as people are practically living in their automobiles. We bring our work into our cars; our kids sports, lives, friends, and family go along for the ride. Knowing that our children and their safety depend largely upon our ability to get from point A to point B without getting lost somewhere in between or taking a decidedly wrong turn makes the decision to purchase a vehicle with an auto navigation system a much easier decision. The good news though is that you don't have to go out and buy a new car, truck, or SUV in order to get a very decent auto navigation system.

 

There are many systems on the market today. With the numerous systems available are plenty of options that will suit all manner of budget as well as the innate desire that men (and some women) are well known for: a desire to have plenty of buttons to push and play with. More and more of the systems offer much more than simple directions. Many offer turn-by-turn instructions while others promise a truly intuitive navigational experience.

 

Regardless of what type of system floats your boat or of whether you prefer the bare bones system that will simply get the job done, there is a system that is probably very well suited to your desires and your temperament.

 

Many drivers today are finding increased uses for their navigational systems. Some of these uses include: traffic pile ups, weather delays, wrecks, detours, road construction, high traffic areas that are best to avoid, or even simple door-to-door driving directions are sometimes in order. Most auto navigation systems are outstanding in any of the above situations. It is important, however to remember that not all systems are created equal. You need to have a list of expectations and talk with a reliable and reputable dealer to see which device or system would best suit your specific needs.

 

You should also keep in mind that while a system might not be the right system for your needs doesn't mean it wouldn't be the ideal system for someone else you know or love. We all have different needs, desires, and tastes. Don't push the system you purchased on others as it may not be the best suited for them while it works wonderfully for you. This is another reason that it is important to study the various systems available and make an informed decision from the start. The fact that one system doesn't meet your requirements doesn't mean that no system will. Take the time to find the best system for your needs from the beginning in order to be a truly satisfied customer.

Geocaching is an excellent way to maximize your use of a handheld auto navigation system. There are so many wonderful activities and events you can use your system for and geocaching is a way of combining many activities into one use or event. In addition to being a great way to get out and see the world this is a great way to work physical fitness into your fun regimen. The reason is that there is generally some degree of work involved in finding your hidden treasures.

 

So what exactly is geocaching? Glad you asked. This is a sport really, kind of like a fox hunt without the dogs and foxes. Seriously, it is a merry chase in search of a small token or treasure. The idea is that you take something, leave something, and make a note about it in the log. You use your GPS or handheld auto navigation system in order to find the treasure you are seeking. You find the caches and stashes by getting the coordinates from the Internet. This is a very popular pastime and you will find all kinds of spectacular prizes and goodies in the cache stash as well as phenomenal flops when it comes to prizes as well. All bets are off really, some stashers leave great goodies and others leave pranks or silly items. It is completely up to you which treasures you will leave behind (do keep in mind that this is often a family activity and keep your tokens family friendly as people of all ages enjoy the sport).

 

There are no hard and fast rules when it comes to geocaching and new games are created all the time to keep the fun alive and the sport much more interesting. Check the Internet for caches hidden in your area, you might be amazed at the vast number of treasures and treasure hunters that live near by. I always have a tendency to think of geocaching as my own form of treasure hunting. Not all caches are created equal but the thrill of the hunt is really what it's all about. There have been some incredibly zany and humorous caches in addition to the wonderful stashes of actual cash. Enter into this with the idea of having a lot of fun and you might be surprised at all the wonderful gifts and goodies you find. Be sure however to always leave something behind if you take an item.

 

Don't be deceived by the fact that you are using GPS or other auto navigation systems in order to find the stash, you may find yourself getting quite the orienteering workout. Not only will you need to climb, hike, or bike on occasion you may need specialized equipment such as scuba equipment or rock climbing equipment in order to reach some caches. You may even begin your own cache by finding a creative location in which to stash your trinkets and treasures and loading the coordinates to your local geocaching website. If you keep an eye on your stash you may find all manner of interesting goodies and ideas coming through.

Even if you haven't really considered how exciting it would be to go on a real treasure hunt since you were a child, isn't it about time you did? Geocaching is the modern day treasure hunt with a twist-rather than "X" marking the spot, you will find your way with beeps and blips.

 

If you are in the market for an auto navigation system you are definitely not alone. Some people are content to purchase a device, stick it in their windows, and hope it works well whenever the need arises. For those, it is quite likely that most stand-alone navigation units will work quite nicely. The thing to remember is that not everyone is created equal when it comes to primary or even secondary navigational skills. For that reason alone, not all auto navigation units are created equally either.

 

Don't expect your auto navigation system to replace a 'co pilot' by any means but it should definitely do in a pinch and be more than capable of helping you get through a few lost moments while stuck in traffic, detouring, or taking a country drive. You won't have a natural conversation with your navigational system no matter how much the television commercials attempt to convince you that this will be the case. You can however get great details about every single turn of your trip including details about landmarks you should see along the way.

 

You should be aware that when you miss a turn the alternate route isn't immediately forthcoming. Computers contain data and it takes a moment to go through the mountain of data sometimes in order to come up with an alternate route. Be patient when dealing with your auto navigation system and it should serve you well both in times of crisis and during your regular daily driving. I know this isn't always too terribly easy in high stress situations but when you look at it, using a navigation system is a far cry better than relying on maps that must be dug out, dusted off, and translated or an inability to read a map and ending up even more lost than you were to begin with.

 

Even the best auto navigation system on the market isn't a replacement for attention to details, seeing and remembering important landmarks, and paying attention to street signs and what lies ahead. The good news is that the technology for these systems is constantly evolving and improving. Data is synching much more rapidly than ever before and more and more often you are finding much more intuitive and user-friendly interfaces. The maps that are provided onscreen (in the more sophisticated versions) combined with the verbal directions and details work together in order to create a great driving experience, which would otherwise be filled with uncertainty, doubt, and no small degree of stress.

 

Regardless of how effective the auto navigation system you choose is, it only matters how effective you feel it is. If it gives you the directions and insights you need in order to reach your destination safely and on time, then I really can't find fault in the system and would hope that you would not either. There is no such thing as problem free in this day and age and these systems are only as good as the mapping data that they have. The really good news, however, is that data is more often accurate than inaccurate and in most cases you can easily reach your destination.

 

When selecting an auto navigation system you should really consider how often you travel and how often during that travel you wish you had an alternate route or at the very least an option for your directions, how often you find yourself lost and clueless and needing to ask for directions, and how often you really feel you will use the device you decide to purchase. If you don't feel you will get the most possible use of your navigation device, then consider one that can be used outside the automobile as well or at the very least one of the less expensive versions. You want to get your money's worth from whichever device you choose for your auto navigation system.

 

Back in the dark ages, it was nearly impossible to navigate the shark-infested waters of Main Street or big city USA without the assistance of a road map or some other major navigational aid. Back then if you found yourself lost you either had to stop and ask for directions at a convenience store along the way or drive along until you found a payphone you could use in order to call for better directions. This process became a little easier once cell phones became prominent and affordable to the masses. Today it has become even better if you can believe it.

 

Gone are the days when you drove around in circles hoping to find a place to stop and get directions to take you back to the beaten path before your gas tank uses the last of its fumes. Now you can simply use GPS tracking to find out where you are and then get directions to the nearest destination of choice or simply find your way back towards your destination. You can actually go on vacation now without taking a massive road atlas or a half dozen maps of a half dozen states along for the ride. Gone are the days of needing a tour guide in order to fold your maps back into their former positions.

 

Vacations are now much more relaxed as a result of the lack of stress involved in merely getting there. Not only is getting there easier with the use of auto navigation systems, but getting around once you reach your vacation destination is much easier to handle. This makes the entire vacation experience much more enjoyable to all involved and helps build memories that aren't marred by serious adult conversations about the lack of road signs and a few expletives about the fact that armadillos seem to be the only ones around to ask for directions.

 

Beyond the vacation factor, business meetings were always a step away from potential disaster before the advent of auto navigation systems that exist to help you find your way in the jungle that has become corporate America. The good and the bad of corporate America is that it isn't only on one coast or another but scattered throughout the country. This means that there are times when you will find it absolutely necessary to take drives in places you may have never considered visiting at any other time in your life. Cornfields, I assure you, begin to blend together and all look alike after a while. Only the most keen of observers can tell at any given time one cornfield from another. This is one of those times when it is almost necessary to have an excellent tool to assist you in navigating throughout the countryside en route to your business destination, particularly if it is in the Midwest.

 

Many times being late is not an option and being lost in the middle of nowhere is even less of an option. An excellent auto navigation system will help you avoid this possibility all together while also helping you in other instances where weather, road construction, and general traffic delays could cause you to be late for those oh so important meetings.

 

You will also find that even when your job isn't on the line there are plenty of reasons to make use of your auto navigation system. Work and play aren't the only reasons to make use of systems such as this. Getting to your daughters big day at school or your son's big soccer game even when traffic is snarled to a standstill is another great reason to use this type of technology. In fact, there are situations almost every day in which this technology will prove quite useful if you are of the mind to utilize it. It doesn't really matter what you are using your auto navigation system for as long as you are using it widely and faithfully you are getting your money's worth.

Geocaching is a great way to spend an afternoon, a day, or a weekend. This activity seems to be taking the nation by storm and is responsible for the rising popularity and availability of GPS and auto navigation systems on the market today. Many people aren't simply purchasing minimal systems that guide them to their coordinates with beeps and blips but investing in complete systems that can provide much more useful tracking and mapping utilities.

 

Regardless of whether you are purchasing the bare minimum system when it comes to geocaching or investing in a top of the line auto navigation system that has all kinds of bells and whistles, I am fairly certain you will find that geocaching is a great activity for many reasons. Everyone who participates in this activity has something special that they enjoy and appreciate about it. Below you will find some of the more popular reasons that people choose geocaching as a fun way to use their GPS devices.

 

1) Being a kid again. You heard correctly, this is my personal favorite reason to participate in geocaching. I remember going on treasure hunts as a child and drawing out intricate maps and pretending for days, even weeks on end that I was a pirate in search of some rare treasure. That treasure usually ended up being holly berries or a rather large pinecone, but it was the thrill of the hunt that was important.

 

2) Enjoying the great outdoors. You may argue that one can do that anytime and wouldn't really need geocaching in order to do so. You would be correct, however, geocaching can take you hiking, biking, swimming, and mountain climbing in search of one little prize stash. Most of us wouldn't tackle all of those things in the course of an afternoon. In other words it's a way to experience the great outdoors only intensified.

 

3) Learning about others. When Geocaching you can find all kinds of neat and nifty treasures. The idea is that if you take something you should leave something behind and create a log. You learn about a lot of different people by examining the treasures they've left behind and reading the logs. You will experience many different people from many different cultures as this seems to be a rather universal pastime in which all ages and cultures spend hours upon hours participating.

 

4) Being a part of something bigger than us. I remember watching Treasure Hunters on NBC last summer. They were all off in search of a specific treasure but kept getting clues at different destinations along the way. Geocaching might not have a million dollar payoff but there are little treasures along the way and many people participate which makes the hunt thrilling and fun at the same time. By participating you are one of many people who will tread the same ground and seek the same treasure. It is a unifying experience in many ways and can be excitingly competitive.

 

If you have never experienced geocaching, I hope you will at least consider this fun and thrilling pass time as you check out possible auto navigation systems and other GPS technology that might be good for you and your family. Geocaching is one of many ways that auto navigation systems can bring more life to your daily living.