nüvi Scores an 'Excellent' Rating

New ratings for portable GPS Navigation systems have been released by a leading consumer review publication, and the Garmin nüvi 660 scored excellent ratings. As the report mentions, price-conscious consumers need not worry when it comes to affording a portable GPS system. Among the features that helped the nüvi score the rating include street-name pronunciation, an MP3 player and real-time traffic reporting. Not to mention the Bluetooth hands-free calling feature the 660 offers. Check out the full report for the entire review scoop.

And speaking of nüvis... don't forget to send us your Labor Day holiday-weekend adventure story before Monday, when we will be announcing the last of the weekly Summer Adventure contest winners. One lucky grand prize adventurer will win a nüvi 200 to complete their future endeavors in style! So from everyone here at our Garmin family to yours, here's hoping you have a relaxing, stress-free, wonderful extended weekend!

Jake's Journal: Taking it to the streets

Five weeks and counting to the Chicago Marathon. Two weeks until I begin the much-anticipated "taper" stage of my training. But I'll talk more about that when the time comes - otherwise I fast-forward mentally until reality smacks me upside the head. This past week at least offered a drop in distance from my recent 17-miler. And cooler days allowed me to spend some time outside with two good friends, Steve (a Chicago Marathon veteran) and my Forerunner 305.

Behind the scenes of a Garmin ad shoot

Most Saturdays, Heather’s up before the sun, prepping for 6 hours on the bike or maybe a 20-mile run. Hard core? Yep. Only way to be if you’re training for an Ironman triathlon. But last Saturday, Heather took some time off from training to pose for an ad shoot for our new Forerunner 50. The 50 is our first non-GPS watch, and besides its sleek design, it offers automatic wireless sync capabilities. Which means if your training is as intense as Heather’s, you don’t have to lift a finger or spend precious time downloading your workout data. Just walk in the door and your data zips to your computer. Follow the jump to find out more about Heather’s athletic feats and where she’s headed next. Watch for the Garmin ad featuring Heather and the Forerunner 50 in November issues of Runner's World and Shape.

GRMN on CNBC's Squawk on the Street

If you watched CNBC's Squawk on the Street this morning, you saw Mike Haines and Erin Burnett interviewing our very own Kevin Rauckman. The 4-5 minute segment covered everything from Garmin's current market position to our latest products announcements. And of course, the nuvi 700-series was among the new products discussed because it was announced today -- you can't get much newer than that! Mike was especially impressed with the nuvi's real-time traffic capabilities, and who can blame him?! It's great to dodge traffic snarls and avoid the frustration that comes when you're stuck in gridlock. Watch today's show here.

New nüvis answer life's big questions

Announced today, the nüvi 700 series is there to help when drivers need it most, answering two of the most 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 crowded parking lot, the nüvis in the 700 series automatically mark the position in which they were last removed from the windshield mount.

Now, if it could only help with fantasy football.

Edge 705/605: Power up, prepare to share

Cyclists, you spoke up and we listened. You wanted color, you got color. Mapping and more navigation? Check. What about being able to monitor power output on the same device? Impossible? Hardly. And try this on for something completely new: Wireless, unit-to-unit data transfer. No, we're not pulling your chain. We proudly present the Edge 705 and the Edge 605.

The Edge 705 represents several breakthroughs in cycling technology, including power compatibility and wireless unit-to-unit connectivity. Through collaborative efforts with SRM, Quarq and other experts in mobile power diagnostics for bicycles, Garmin for the first time gives cyclists the opportunity to monitor GPS position, power, heart rate, speed, cadence, altitude and gradient on the same display. And Edge 705 users will be able to share their information – including saved rides, waypoints and workouts – with each other through ANT+Sport wireless technology. (Click on the jump to read more)

Roger's Runway: $1500 WAAS Pricing Ends Friday!

FRIDAY! FRIDAY! FRIDAY! August 31 is the last day you can take advantage of the WAAS low pricing!  After Friday, the $1,500 upgrade deal is over. 

Work with me here…I’m trying to try to do my best used car commercial announcer impersonation.  You should try reading the first sentence in a booming, loud voice, and if you scare the neighbors, just tell them that you are practicing your impersonations too.  If you are reading this post after this Friday, then you are too late.

On September 1, the pricing for the WAAS upgrade goes up to $3,000. Some of you still haven't taken advantage of the WAAS upgrade and there is still time for you to get the lower price. Call your Garmin avionics dealer by this Friday and they can get your GNS430/530 WAAS upgrade locked in at $1,500. You do not need to have the WAAS upgrade installed by this Friday, but it does need to be installed by May 2008.  I know some of you are waiting for a software update that allows the upgraded WAAS units to be integrated into other avionics systems.  You will still want to contact a dealer but have them note that you are waiting on software from your avionics manufacturer.

Chet's Corner - Boro 2 - Newcastle 2

       I understand that this is a departure from the normal tips and tricks posts but being the resident "football-lover" here at blog central, I've decided that it's my job to talk about it.

Middlesbrough extended its record to 1-2-1 after a 2-2 draw with Newcastle on Sunday at Riverside in front of a home crowd of 28,875.  Boro never led in the match with Mido's goal in the 28th minute and Julio Arca's score in the 80th minute both coming on the heels of Newcastle goals.

"We're confident," says Arca, "no matter what the opposition. We played well at Fulham and well yesterday against Newcastle, we showed our spirit and confidence by coming back twice like that, but we treat all teams with respect and of course that will be no different with Northampton."

Next up for Boro is a second round Carling Cup match with Northampton on Wednesday at Riverside.
 

Jake's Journal: No looking back now

When we last talked, I was getting ready for the make-or-break run of my abbreviated Chicago Marathon training. Ramping up from 9 mile outings to marathon readiness in 10 weeks seemed to hinge on one big jump - 13 to 17 miles. If I could do 17, I'm two-thirds of the way home. If not, I'm most likely staying home.

Add GPSMAP 60CSx to your wish list

If Jonesboro Sun publisher David Mosesso keeps writing columns like this, you can expect company on your next geocaching trip. In "Getting Lost Has Never Been More Fun," published today on CourierNews.com, Mosesso sings the praises of the GPSMAP 60CSx and urges everyone to start dropping subtle hints for gift ideas. He touts the "electronic compass which quickly shows you what direction you’re heading. It tells you things like speed of travel, elevation, miles traveled, the distance to your destination, how to get to a particular waypoint and much, much, much more."

To sum up, Mosesso says that, "The Garmin GPSMAP 60CSx is an advanced GPS, yet it’s simple to use. Garmin has done a great job making something so complicated seem so simple to the weekend user."

"Perhaps if your wife doesn’t read this column," Mosesso advises, "you can make a copy ... as a helpful suggestion on what to get you for Christmas."

Summer Adventure contest: Week 12 Winner!

Another breath-taking vacation has grabbed this week's Big Summer Adventure sweepstakes twelfth week winning spot! This Oklahoman couple celebrated 25 years of marriage on a 3-week, 3500-mile, 14-country motorcycle tour of Europe.

Starting in Ireland, the couple visited Amsterdam, Dortmund, Prague, Vienna, Zurich, Paris and motorcycled across the highest alpine peak in Austria - Grassglockner (pictured here). But they didn't make the trip alone! "Jill," as the couple's zūmo 550 affectionately became known as, guided the duo the entire way, and even helped them effortlessly locate hotels at the end of each day. Additionally, while this couple kept their eyes on the road, they didn't miss a word of what the other was saying, as they stayed in touch via the Bluetooth connected intercom system in their helmets. "This was the trip of a lifetime and helped ensure that the second 25 years of marriage got off to a good start with no stress, arguments or fall outs over wrong turns and no rooms to sleep!" The couple also mentioned (spoken like a true Garmin Pro), that with the ability to load the route they took back into MapSource and Google Earth, they can relive their wonderful experience anytime they wish.

Now that's a Big Summer Adventure worth reliving! Don't forget, we'll announce our last weekly winner next Monday (Labor Day), and our grand prize winner the following Monday (Sept. 10). So don't miss out on your last opportunity to win a nüvi 200... enter today!

Mission accomplished

Congrats to the dedicated/slightly demented souls who took on the Pikes Peak Challenge last weekend. More than 1,600 runners, including Jim, Shane and Steve from Garmin, ran a half marathon up Pikes Peak. Another 770 runners did both the ascent and descent, for a full marathon. Some even completed both the half and full, to earn the title of “doubler.” Want to see how nearly 10,000 feet of elevation gain looks? Check out Steve’s data, recorded by his Forerunner 305, on Garmin’s online analysis site. If you’ve been following the training updates on the Garmin trio, Steve’s the one who’s done this race 12 times. For Shane, this was his third year (he says he likes to take a year off between races to forget the pain), and then there’s Jim, who ran it for the first time. Follow the jump to find out more about their experience.

Is another 6th-place finish in the cards?

Listen up, sports fans! Although only one of the Garmin sponsored NASCAR drivers will hit the track this weekend, it's definitely a race you won't want to miss. NASCAR NEXTEL Series driver Jeff Green will take on the Bristol Motor Speedway in a new look this weekend. For the second time this season, Jeff and the No.66 Samsung Chevrolet Impala will sport a special paint design promoting Samsung HDTV's. And with the spotlight on this "Car of Tomorrow," one can help but notice the team's previous finishes in 'COT' races this season. The No.66 team has posted three top-10 finishes... all in a 'COT' race... and all resulting in a sixth-place finish. So after Jeff's 22nd-place finish at last weekend's event, the team has high (and perhaps superstitious) hopes for Bristol. Tune in Sunday to see Jeff and team take on the newly surfaced "World's Fastest Half Mile," live on ESPN. Good luck, Jeff! Bring home another one of those top-ten finishes!

And stay tuned to see what's in store for Craftsman Truck Series No. 08 theGPSStore.com / Garmin driver Chad McCumbee, after Chad and the rest of the Craftsman drivers take this weekend off. While filling in for Kyle Petty, Chad fell victim to circumstances beyond his control at last weekend's event, and we're looking forward to seeing Chad back on the track in a few weeks. Catch Chad back in action at the Gateway International Raceway, Sept. 1.

Jake's Journal: On a marathon mission?

I've always been easy prey for peer pressure. Especially when it comes to running. The summer before my freshman year in high school, I had just returned from football camp when two of my friends dared me to run one practice with the cross country team. Only two people were faster that night, and suddenly I was a varsity runner.

Now that it's my job to surround myself with runners, cyclists and hikers (and the people who love them), I shouldn't be surprised that I was tempted to test myself against the best. That's how I found myself running 5 miles on a July morning in Chicago, going stride for stride with Bart Yasso, the authority on endurance, and Carey Pinkowski, executive director of the Chicago Marathon.

Mounting options exposed

GPSMagazine recently put the spotlight on a rather important GPS accessory: the portable friction mount. After they took the mount for a ride around town (see picture to left), the guys found this mount to be a worthy alternative. As the Mag crew pointed out, there are several reasons folks opt to not have the common windshield mount. Whether local laws prohibit having anything mounted on your windshield, or if you're looking for ways to deter thieves away from your vehicle, or maybe you're just plain sick of the "ring-around-the-windshield" the mount can leave behind, we've got just the solution. The friction mount is bean-bag like, with a grip lining on the bottom that holds the device secure in a locked position. If you're still not convinced this is the right mounting option for you, check out the entire review to see why having two mounting devices, is better than one!

Roger's Runway: NavData Alerts

You already know that Garmin.com provides you with training information, manual, updates, and the list goes on and on.  One place you might not have visited on the web is the NavData Alert section.  The entire Garmin panel mount and integrated systems lines use the Jeppesen databases.  In the event that there is a problem with any of Jepp databases, like the electronic or paper databases, Jepp will send out a notice about the error.  Jeppesen includes NavData Alerts on their website for both paper and electronic charts. In the event that the error could affect the databases on your Garmin unit, a notice is placed on Garmin.com too. Errors range from typo’s on approach plates to wrong identifiers within the electronic databases.  Generally, the errors have also been marked with a NOTAM and you’re notified when you call Flight Service.  Corrections are done by the next cycle, so any problems are only temporary.

Garmin Leads Global Navigation Market

A new report from Canalys shows Garmin as the leader in the worldwide portable GPS market for the second quarter of 2007! With more than 1.85 million units shipped worldwide, Garmin earned the number one spot against the leading competitors. As the market doubled, up 116 percent to last year's second quarter, more than 7.4 million mobile navigation devices were shipped during this quarter, with personal navigation devices making up 90 percent of that figure. This Week in Consumer Electronics has the full scoop! And stay tuned to see how Garmin further paves the way into the future.

Junior Gear Tester puts GPSMap 60Cx to the test

Tyler, the 11-year-old Junior Gear Tester, has been busy trying out another Garmin product again. This time, Tyler took the GPSMap 60Cx on a family trip to the Pecos Wilderness for a twenty-mile hike. The family's trip was set to take four days and three nights, but with the help of Tyler and his GPSMap 60Cx GPS navigation, the family (including his 6-year-old sister) made the trek in three days and two nights instead! "The distance meter was very accurate." He says the device was very easy to use and easy to read. "It is a great GPS and I would recommend it to everyone."

And Tyler isn't the only one! Last year, our very own GPSMap 60CSx was named in the exclusive group of Outside Magazine's Gear of the Year. So if you're looking to pin point your exact location while in the great outdoors this fall, with a few extra-helpful features, check out the entire GPSMap 60 series, and put your outdoor adventures, in the palm of your hands!

Cruisers gather, reminisce about Woodward's past

The 13th Annual Woodward Dream Cruise graced Detroit this weekend, and Garmin was there for all the action. The Cruise is the world's largest one-day celebration of car culture and attracted some 1.2 million spectators, and more than 40,000 muscle cars, street rods, custom, collector and special interest vehicles. In celebration of the heydays of the '50s and '60s when Woodward Avenue became a part of Americana with places like Ted's Drive-In, the Totem Pole and Big Chief Burger, the Cruise also celebrates the nostalgia of the era's music and fashion alike. "The quintessential classic car is the 1957 Chevy Bel Air," said Michael Jordan of General Motors. "Everybody recognizes it as the classic of classics and here we are celebrating its 50th birthday."

Cruisers traveling the corner of Lincoln and Woodard were able to stop by and pull up a seat at the "Garmin Pit Stop," for a wonderful lunch and refreshments, and some good 'ol fashioned GPS Q&A.

Field & Stream: Astro's the Best of the Best

We're thrilled to hear that the editors over at Field and Stream Magazine have proclaimed the Astro GPS Dog Tracking System as a 2007 Best of the Best award winner.  It's really the only thing out there that tracks up to ten dogs up to five miles away -- and you don't need to be an engineer to operate the thing.  Plus, during the off-season, the Astro doubles as our top-of-the-line GPS navigator for hiking, camping, fishing, or driving.

For those of you keeping score at home, we're pleased to say we won a BOTB award for the Rino 530 last year.  Bottom line, if you're looking to gear up this fall, you can't go wrong with Garmin.

Summer Adventure contest: Week 11 Winner!

Throughout the Big Summer Adventure sweepstakes, we've heard from a lot of folks who fell in love with Garmin navigation... from their rental car! This holds true for this week's winning couple who fell in love with Garmin from their rental car while on their Vegas summer vacation. While most Vegas goers were in town on July 7, 2007 (07/07/07) to test their luck, this couple was in town to tie the knot. With their Garmin, they were able to navigate through downtown Vegas, the strip, and over to the Hoover Dam without ever having to use a map and more importantly, without ever getting lost... which came in handy for getting to the chapel on time!

"We fell in love with Garmin so much that Garmin is slide No. 2 on our honeymoon slide show. After all, we discovered it during one of the happiest times of our lives, and it made our happy time even happier when it took the stress away from navigation. We really got LUCKY in Vegas!"

From everyone at Blog Central, we'd like to congratulate this happy couple on their new lives together and for being this week's winner! There are only a few weeks of the sweepstakes left, so gather up all those summer vacation pictures, and send your stories our way. One lucky winner will take home a nüvi 200!

Ride on.

On a recent vacation in Winter Park, Colorado, my spouse and brother ditched the rest of us and went 2-wheelin’. In case you’re wondering what a ski town looks like in the summer, these photos from their mountain biking excursions pretty much sum it up — gorgeous from every angle. With over 600 miles of trails, Winter Park is known as the mountain biking capital of the U.S.A. Nice way to put those majestic mountains to use when the snow’s gone.

While some downhillers and their bikes rode the chairlift up the mountain, these Kansas boys did it on their own power all the way. One used the Garmin eTrex Vista with built-in altimeter and one had a Forerunner 305 along for the ride. Check out one of their rides in MotionBased.

Need a place to stay when you head to Winter Park? Check out the Slope View B&B. Stay tuned next week for a report from the Garmin folks who are running the 13.3-mile Piles Peak Ascent tomorrow. Good luck guys!

A Widescreen Wonder

They say bigger is better and it looks like the folks at GPSLodge.com agree.  The nüvi 200W and 250W are taking center stage on this popular GPS website. So, what's the difference between the 200W and 250W?  It all comes down to the maps. The nüvi 200W has maps of the lower 48, Hawaii and Puerto Rico. If you're planning to travel up north, you should go for the nüvi 250W because it has maps of the entire U.S. (including Alaska), Canada and Puerto Rico.

The nüvi 200W and 250W are widescreen wonders that also provide lots of extras for the traveler on the go. You can check out your digital pictures on the photo viewer, keep track of your day with the world clock, or load optional travel guide books for helpful information about the attractions you plan to visit. The 200W and 250W are already on store shelves, so swing by your local electronics store and check one out!

Jake's Journal: Motivation from Marathon Moms

Need motivation to get off the couch and log some miles? Think you're too busy for anything more than a quick jog? Or do you figure that chasing around the kids is the only form of exercise parenthood will allow?

Check out the Marathon Moms' blog on the Runner's World Web site. Writers/friends Dimity McDowell (one marathon, two half-Ironman tris and two kids, ages 4 and 1) and Sarah Bowen Shea (three marathons and three kids, age 5 and 2-year-old twins) are training for an October marathon in San Francisco. I met them last week in Salt Lake City while we were working, but I didn't realize how much effort they were putting into their down time.

CNBC's Cramer bullish on Garmin

On Wednesday night's "Mad Money" on CNBC, Jim Cramer tapped into all of his high-energy sayings and sound effects while heaping praise on Garmin. Jim reminisced on the second-quarter earnings conference call like it was a sellout concert by his favorite band, and he had plenty to talk about with CFO Kevin Rauckman. In case you missed it, you can still check it out at this link.

And if you're reading this Thursday morning, don't forget to catch Kevin on Bloomberg TV at 10:40 a.m. ET.

Roger's Runway: Making the Numbers Jive

I know some of you fly planes that have the Airspeed indicator readout in mile per hour (MPH) instead of knots.  I flew a Piper Arrow for many years like this.  Maybe you live overseas and you’ve seen road signs in Kilometers per hour (Km/H) or distance is in kilometers instead of statute miles.  When you look down at your GPS and the number are not matching. Well, one of the features of the aviation portable and panel mounts units is the ability to customize it to your needs.  Both the panel and portable units have the ability for you to change the measure units to match what you need to use.  You can change everything from distance to temperature on the portable and panel mounted units.  Once you match the GPS with what you are seeing in the real world, you will remove any confusing numbers from the display. 

FLASH: Watch GRMN Tonight on Mad Money, Tomorrow on Bloomberg

Kevin Rauckman, Garmin's CFO, just finished taping a phone interview on Jim Cramer's Mad Money show, which airs at 6pm and 11pm Eastern Time on CNBC.  Be sure to tune in... there's no telling what Jim will say!  Kevin is also scheduled to appear on Bloomberg TV on Thursday morning at 10:40am ET.  Hear the skinny on Garmin, straight from the CFO himself!

Garmin Mobile gets four stars from BusinessWeek

If you carry a smart phone, consider Garmin Mobile to be your cheat sheet. For less than $200, you can turn your BlackBerry, Treo, Motorola Q or similar smart phone into the GPS equivalent of a high-end nüvi.

Using the GPS 10x, BusinessWeek's Arik Hesseldahl watched his BlackBerry transform into a personal navigation device right before his eyes. His review points out the compact size ("the size of a small MP3 player ... fits easily in a pocket") and the intuitive functionality ("Garmin's 'Where To?' feature... made it simple to pick from a list of likely destinations nearby"). He was even surprised at what his phone could do with Garmin's help - "I had never heard my BlackBerry talk before."

So if you're looking for a versatile and affordable way to tap into Garmin technology, check out the Garmin Mobile buyer's guide. Before long, you'll be getting a GPS signal and Garmin's lengthy list of features with the familiarity of your own phone (and when they visit, your friends can use the GPS 10x with their phones ... if you're willing to share).

Garmin popping up on everyone's lists

Ever since Sept. 18, 1985, when David Letterman showed his TV audience his first Top 10 list - "The Top 10 Things That Almost Rhyme With Peas" - people have loved ranking, revealing and debating just about everything under the sun.

And whenever those lists involve GPS technology, it's a safe bet that you'll find a familiar Garmin product being featured.

In addition to rattling off "A GPS Device for Every Budget" (see the post below), U.S. News & World Report came up with "Five Fresh Uses for GPS."

Not surprisingly, the Astro is featured prominently for its dog-tracking capabilities.

The Astro was also a big hit last week at Outdoor Retailer, where everyone was astounded that you could track up to 10 dogs at a time and know whether each was running, treeing or on point.

Speaking of fresh uses, Men's Health tells its readers how the nüvi 200 can help guys make a good impression and "Be Her Perfect Date." According to the article, "90 percent of women say a single vein-popping outburst can be a serious speed bump." They suggest that your attention should be on your date - not on worrying about finding your destination. (And just think, if you have a Bluetooth-enabled nüvi or StreetPilot, you can choose, find and call the restaurant of your choice and make reservations in a matter of seconds.)

nüvi Series: Perfect for Every Budget

I've said it before, and I'll say it again—the nüvi line really does have something for everyone! And I'm not the only one who agrees. A review out yesterday by the U.S. News and World Report, highlighted not only one, but two of our flagship nüvi series devices. David LaGeese wanted to find "A GPS Device for Every Budget" and Garmin was the only name to pop up twice! From the ultra-cool, slim and sleek nüvi 250 with it's preloaded maps, and more than 6 million custom points of interest, and not to mention the little extras (including a JPEG picture view, currency converter, and the anti-theft Garmin Lock feature) to the nüvi 680 with all the bells and whistles (such as MSN Direct weather, traffic, movie times and gas prices), Garmin has it all! Check out the entire nüvi series today and see which device is perfect for you.

Race report: KC Women’s Tri

More than 300 women braved the heat on Saturday, August 11, to compete in the 2nd annual Kansas City Women’s Triathlon, presented by Garmin. The race was held at Smithville Lake in Missouri and it was the largest gathering of women triathletes in this area. The race attracted a wide range of participants, from first-timers to experienced triathletes. Race director Clay Myers-Bowman of Blue Hills Adventures put on a great race and had this to say: "I'm amazed that all the women who started the race, finished the race. That's unheard of, especially with the kind of heat we had at the end of the race." It was a sizzlin' 90 degrees once all 320 women had crossed the finish line. As presenting sponsor, Garmin staffed a booth to show athletes and spectators our navigation and fitness devices, including the newly announced Forerunner 50. Follow the jump for more photos and some insight on one of the top finishers, who’s been a Forerunner devotee for 3 years.

Summer Adventure contest: Week 10 Winner!

For this week's Big Summer Adventure sweepstakes winner, the GPSMap 76CSx isn't something he leaves home without! That's why it only seemed natural to bring the device with him when he and his friends headed down to Mexico a July vacation. B.Strand originally bought the GPSMap 76CSx for recording in 3D while hang gliding, but says he now finds himself taking it with him every time he leaves the house. As he shared his vacation with us, this Californian says he was able to not only record everywhere they went on the boat, but they also marked a ton of waypoints for when they go back next year. When it was all said and done, he downloaded the trip to Google Earth to relive all the fun! Wow—what a great way to savor the fun and adventures of a great summer vacation like this one.

School is starting up just around the corner, which means you only have two more weeks to send us your big summer adventure! So why wait? Beat the heat this week and send us your story today!

Jake's Journal: An uphill battle

Now I know how my parents felt back in the day when they were walking to school ... uphill ... both ways. Friday, as part of Outdoor Retailer in Salt Lake City, I agreed to compete in Trail Runner magazine's Uphill Challenge. The idea was as simple as it was