You may not think a GPS device could actually save a life, but Ron Rosberg, a radio technology commentator on ABC and XM, knows otherwise. Ron has been using Garmin products for a very long time. He regularly mentions our automotive or handheld devices on his show, but last week he had a close call that has him singing the praises of an aviation product, the GPSMAP 496. Ron is an instrument-rated pilot and when he experienced a complete electrical failure on an IFR night, the 496 guided him and his copilot to land safely. Of course, the 496 isn't an IFR certified box, but when you have a complete electrical failure and the 496 is the only thing working in your airplane, it becomes extremely valuable. Listen to how the 496 helped him get out of a harrowing situation.
Whether we're basking in the Christmas spirit, waxing poetic on a year gone by or looking ahead with renewed optimism, this is a popular time for spreading the love. And as Amazon.com compiled its "Best of 2007" list, among the honorees was our nüvi 350 - the "most loved" of all electronics. This is the equivalent of the people's choice award, as awards go to the products given the best reviews by customers themselves. (As of this posting, 1,487 of the 1,620 reviews were 4 or 5 stars - that's 92 percent! 1,105 were 5 stars.)
It's no surprise, really, as there's plenty to love about the nüvi 350. The first nüvi to be introduced to the public, the nüvi 350 can guide you to millions of preloaded points of interest while announcing street names along the way. To make the trip more entertaining, the nüvi 350 can play MP3s and audio books. Drivers even have the choice of adding an optional traffic receiver. All for an affordable price, making it a love story everyone can embrace.
If you have a fitness-oriented resolution for ‘08, here’s a little motivation for you. Meet Terrible Terry, a runner who has appeared in numerous Garmin fitness ads. When we set out to find a runner with that super-lean, 5% body fat frame and muscle structure that can only come from pounding out the miles, we found Terrible Terry. Not sure where the “terrible” part comes in, ‘cause this egoless soul is about as mild-mannered as they come. Though I’d hate to have been at the starting line with Terry back in the days of his Olympic training. Or now, for that matter. Read on for more on Terrible Terry, who was recently photographed for yet another Garmin fitness ad, which will hit pubs this spring.
There's a new section on the popular Web site about.com - and it's devoted to GPS. And though it's just getting started, Fred Zahradnik has posted thorough reviews as your knowledgeable GPS guide. Continue reading below for reviews of the Rino 530HCx, eTrex Legend HCx and nüvi 760, and keep coming back for more.
Get out and vote! No, we're not already talking about the upcoming 2008 Presidential Election... we're talking about the 2007 Engadget Awards, of course. That's right, it's time to nominate your favorite GPS device of the year, and with such an impressive list of features and benefits, we're certain you've got a favorite Garmin product or two. Maybe it's the nüvi 200W's bright widescreen display that revs your engine? Or perhaps it's the nüvi 760 you love with it's traffic alerts, Bluetooth capabilities and multi-destination routing?
And I don't think we need to remind you about the times your Garmin kept you from getting lost on your family vacation, or when it found the lowest gas price or the latest traffic updates... You wouldn't want to deprive your favorite device from this wonderful opportunity, would you? If it's your favorite, nominate it today!
According to a survey by FranklinCovey, the top three New Year’s resolutions for 2008 are: 1. get out of debt or save money, 2. lose weight, 3. develop a healthy habit like exercise or better eating. If you’re among those with a fitness goal or resolution topping your list, Garmin’s Forerunner and Edge devices make exceptional goalkeepers. Whether your goal is to shave time from your 5k or marathon PR (personal record), trim inches from your waistline or complete your first century ride, we’ll get you there. Many new Garmin fitness customers report how motivating it is to see their total mileage, calories burned and other data stored in their unit or our online training site, MotionBased (soon to be Garmin Connect). Not to mention the joy of witnessing their training times get faster and faster. The Jan. issue of Runner’s World has an exceptional feature on testing your running strengths and weaknesses and then adapting your training plan to fill in the gaps. Whether you set out to do the 8-minute test of aerobic performance or the surge speed drill, Forerunner is the perfect tool to track your time, distance and heart rate.
Motivation for mortals: stay tuned next week to hear about a runner, Terrible Terry, who has appeared in several Garmin fitness ads. This guy has some amazing PRs to his credit, trained for the Olympics and recently completed his first “ultra”, a 37-mile trail run that he won without really trying.
This holiday season, the two biggest buzzwords have been GPS and high-def. So we decided to help out our friends on the water by improving our two most popular radar devices. The GMR 18 HD and GMR 24 HD provide even better target separation and clearer definition.
Breaking it down by the numbers, here's what makes these new devices exceptional. The GMR 18 HD features a 5-degree horizontal and 25-degree vertical beamwidth, which allow for accurate target acquisition and separation, and boasts a best-in-class range of 36 nautical miles (nm). The GMR 24 HD features an industry-leading 3.6-degree horizontal and 25-degree vertical beamwidth, and has a maximum effective range of 48 nautical miles. Click here to read more.
If you're a runner in need of a New Year's resolution, you're in luck. Bart Yasso, the endurance aficionado at Runner's World, has written a book about his global adventures and memorable experiences as a distance runner. As someone who has had the pleasure of meeting and running with Bart, I can't wait to pore over "My Life on the Run" and enjoy his worldly chronicles.
Last summer, Bart met with the Garmin Running Club at our Chicago store and shared tales of races that took him from one end of the Earth to the other. He answered as many questions as we could throw at him, and he stuck around to talk to everyone who had gathered. And when I needed an accelerated training schedule for my first marathon, he crafted a custom plan that perfectly fit my needs. The stories he tells of his extraordinary career are equally inspiring and entertaining, and the only reason you're likely to put down the book is to put on your running shoes.
GPS users all over the world got an early present on December 21st. The United States Air Force launched the fifth modern NAVSTAR GPS satellite into orbit from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. Other than adding new channels to the military side of GPS for better accuracy, the new satellites will also increase strength of the GPS signal and add a second civilian signal. The Air Force is in the process of updating the GPS satellite constellation.
Also the FAA recently announced that WAAS signal is now active in Mexico and Canada. For you pilots that fly North and South of the borders on a regular basis you will shortly start to see GPS WAAS approaches showing up on approach charts in Mexico and Canada. The FAA worked with NavCanada and Servicios a la Navegación en el Espacío Aéreo Mexicano (SENEAM) and signed agreements with both countries to operate the new WAAS stations to supplement the USA systems.
We all know that the Astro is capable of tracking up to 10 dogs at once, telling the owner where each is located and what each is doing. But it appears we need to spread the word to Russian President Vladimir Putin. According to Reuters news service, Putin said this week that he was hoping to use Russia's planned GPS system to keep an eye on Koni, his black Labrador.
Putin reportedly asked a prime minister, "When can I buy hardware to equip my dog with so that she won't run away too far?" Well, Mr. President, we have an answer for you, Koni and nine of Koni's closest friends. The time is now, and the name is Astro.
Merry Christmas from all of us at the Garmin Garage! Today we have an extra-special free vehicle for you to download. We’ve been working on Smokey for quite a while and we’re excited to finally be able to release him to everyone. When we first opened the Garmin Garage, emails and comments poured in requesting a fire truck. So we worked quite a few late nights to make sure Smokey would be ready for Christmas day. Smokey has been a lot of fun to have around the Garmin Garage and we’re sure you’ll enjoy him, too. So grab Smokey today and let him lead you and your nuvi, zumo, or StreetPilot. And keep those comments coming! We love hearing from all of you. Happy holidays everyone! Be sure to tell your friends and family that the Garmin Garage is giving away free vehicle icons all year long!
It's Christmas Day! Many will find a Garmin device under their tree today, but some received their presents a little early like this lucky lady...
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My husband gave me a Garmin StreetPilot for Christmas. At that time, I was not really thrilled as that I was hoping for something more personal like jewelry. But, it was last Friday that really demonstrated that my husband's gift was not only practical but stress relieving. Last Friday, there was a terrible accident in the Boston area. It was about 8AM and I could see the traffic back up and the radio announcer said that if you didn't have to go to work today, the best bet would be to turn around and go home because this accident was going to jam traffic for the rest of the day. I chose detour on my StreetPilot and it gave me another route. The alternate route (which I was unfamiliar with) likely saved me over an hour of time!
Life on the road just became a lot more interesting. Whether you're heading across the country or out on a weekend road trip, you can now download MAD MAPS' scenic drives from Garmin.com for your zūmo or nüvi to find the road less traveled and more appreciated.
"Our road scouts and research staff identify funky, quirky, and fascinating places to visit along our routes," said MAD MAPS founder Jenny Lefferts, who started searching the Bay Area for scenic drives when she moved to San Francisco in 1987. MAD MAPS has since expanded across the country. In addition to Garmin’s preloaded points of interest, MAD MAPS’ data features a variety of specific points of interest associated with each route.
So click here, choose your next adventure and enjoy the scenery.
Now that Christmas Eve has arrived, we’re making some last-minute preparations around the Garmin Garage. We still have a bit of work to do as we get ready for tomorrow, but we wanted to share Special Delivery with all of you who may be hitting the roads in the next few days. Special Delivery may look a bit familiar to some of you. Prior to showing up in the Garmin Garage, Special Delivery spent some time gracing the pages of our Gift Guide. It had a good run over there but it was time for some more horsepower so we tricked it out and now it’s ready to tear up the roadways on your nuvi, zumo, or StreetPilot. There’s only one day left, so plan on stopping by tomorrow to grab the last car of the 12 Cars of Christmas. And if you gave the gift of Garmin, be sure to let your friends and family know about the Garmin Garage. With so many new free vehicles showing up all the time, the Garmin Garage truly is the gift that keeps on giving!
Christmas is a time for family, fun...and a little bit of stress. Thankfully, we can help take some of the stress out of the season. Here's how...
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I just took a trip out west from Ohio on I-90 to see Rushmore, the Badlands, Wall Drug, etc: it was a repeat of a trip I took as a 16 yr. old, and my step son and I had a Garmin C330 Street Pilot guiding us every step of the way. It is so stress-free to travel like that- no worries if you make a wrong turn. I've gotten over my concerns with just heading out and not ending up where I wanted to. The more I use it the better I like it... and it freaks me out that, that much technology can be stuffed into a small package!! The thing is talking to sattelites I can't even see and makes driving in unfamiliar territory fun. Simply (for me...) amazing.
Even though football season is starting to wind down, Sunday is still game day around the Garmin Garage. We usually take a break from swinging wrenches and gather ‘round the television to cheer for our favorite teams. And on the rare occasion when we're actually slow, we'll head out to the parking lot and toss the football around during a quick game of catch. So we thought Touchdown would be a great vehicle icon for your nuvi, zumo, or StreetPilot. It’s perfect for football season and makes the ideal addition to any tailgate party. And no matter what the score is at the end of the game, you’ll always end up a winner with Touchdown by your side. Grab Touchdown today and plan on making another visit tomorrow. There are only two vehicles left and we can’t wait to share them with you!
Well, we ended up with some snow at the Garmin Garage last night. So before Scooter could grab his snowboard and disappear all day, we’ve handed him a shovel and sent him outside to clear the driveway and sidewalk. We’ve been putting in quite a few late nights and we’ve got a lot of traffic around the Garmin Garage as lots of people are stopping by to load up on new icons for their nuvi, zumo, or StreetPilot. So Shovelin’ Scooter is hard at work clearing the way for your visit. And Shovelin’ Scooter will also make a great addition to your Garmin GPS device if you’re traveling this winter – wherever you’re going, he’ll be leading the way with shovel in hand. Download Shovelin’ Scooter today and be sure to stop by tomorrow. We only have a few days left and we’ve got some great things in store at the Garmin Garage!
Pro football fans love power and speed. And even before Maposaurus took last year's Super Bowl by storm, Garmin has taken pride in offering those characteristics in its devices. How else can you explain six million preloaded points of interest packed into a nüvi that's the size of a deck of cards? How else do you describe high-sensitivity GPS receivers that acquire signals quickly and immediately adapt to every situation?
Well, the guys who cover the NFL on CBS showed what happens when pro football and Garmin collide in an intense introduction to their weekly telecast. Enjoy the video clip, then tell us in the comments below who you think has the best chance of navigating the road to the playoffs and arriving at their destination - the Super Bowl.
12 Cars of Christmas: Day 8 – Snowboardin’ Scooter
Scooter’s back and this time he’s got his snowboard. While he’s only
been snowboarding for a year or two, he’s actually pretty good. Unfortunately,
there aren’t too many really big hills near the Garmin Garage so
Scooter doesn’t get to enjoy his snowboard as often as he’d like. But
between his board, his toboggan, and his tube, he seems to be getting
along just fine. In fact, he’s been spending so much time enjoying the
snow, he’s been skipping a few of his chores around the Garmin Garage.
You know - you may want to grab Snowboardin’ Scooter while you can because we might be
coming up with some more odd jobs for him soon.
When you get a GPS for Christmas (or if you already have one), don't forget to name it!
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Dear Garmin, I received a GPS from my husband to start my new job. I am in field sales and it has helped me tremendously. I no long get lost trying to find customers. My husband took it on a trip with him and he love it. He has affectionately name it “Gabbie”..by the way..it’s a girl. Anyways, he is a believer now. We loaned “Gabby” to some friends of ours for a trip to the Northeast on vacation. They loved her and their family just purchased a Garmin for their birthdays. We also demo’d “Gabby” during a lunch with other friends and guess what….the wife bought the husband a Garmin for his birthday. Also, we recently took “Gabby” on a trip to Florida. We were able to find the best resturants, stores, anything we wanted was at our fingertips. I am promoting “Gabby” to my company, but we are a small company and times are tough, but hopefully with all the good reviews we have given our “Gabby” we will be able to get one for all of our sales folks..
I just wanted to share my story with you…. We love our “GABBY”
Now I know I'm not crazy. Or at least I'm not the only one. Friends spent the summer looking at me funny (though I'm sort of used to that) for deciding to run my first marathon on a whim. What they didn't fully realize is that I had the Forerunner 305 putting me through the paces. And now there's even more proof of the power of the Forerunner.
Wesley Chism Jr., a Seattle-based writer for Black Athlete Sports Network, writes about how we went from loathing the idea of distance running to loving it. And he credits the Forerunner 205 (and Garmin's customer service) for his change of heart - "Running a marathon was the last thing on my mind but after collecting data with the Garmin Forerunner 205 at the end of each week and seeing my progress, it changed my mind."
If you're a last-minute shopper, don't sweat it. Let the recipient do the sweating. Bicycling magazine offers its GPS Wishlist for Cyclists, and Garmin devices make up nearly half the list. For riders wanting to unwrap their gift next week, top choices include the Edge 305, Forerunner 305 and eTrex Legend HCx. Patience will pay off for anyone willing to wait until early 2008, when the Edge 705 hits shelves. If you need more suggestions, visit Garmin's own gift guide.
Want some help haulin’ your holiday cheer this year? With the Garmin Getter, you'll get all the extra space you need. Just load it up with good times and you’ll be on your way to winter fun. The Garmin Getter always seems to attract a crowd around the Garmin Garage, so we’re kinda sad to see it go. But we know you’ll enjoy it just as much as we have – whether you use it for quick errands around town or long trips across the country. So grab it while you can, load it on your nuvi, zumo, or StreetPilot, and let the good times roll!
Ever hear of a guy who owns more than one GPS? Those of you who have yet to purchase a GPS are probably thinking these GPS addicts are nuts, but trust us, they're not. These customers have simply discovered that GPS has multiple benefits. Often times these customers discovered Garmin in one of our niche markets (like aviation or marine), and then purchased another Garmin device that's suited to their other pursuits. Take a look at this next testimonial, count the number of Garmin devices mentioned, and you'll see what we mean... --
This weekend I recruited several family members to participate in the 4th Annual Conquer The Coast bicycle event in Corpus Christi, Texas. My brother Jason, father Jack, brother-in-law David and my cousin Tanner participated with me in a 25-mile route. I write you today because all of us were Garmin-equipped on this ride. I used an Edge 305HR, my brother and brother-in-law used a ForeRunner 305, my Dad used an Edge 205 and my cousin Tanner used an eTrex Legend. Needless to say, I’ve got them hooked on Garmin! My brother wore a Garmin jersey and was captured as he crossed the finish line at the end of the ride. We all uploaded our rides to Motionbased.com where we were able to compare notes. I’ve made it a mission to get my family cycling to better health. This weekend was a proud moment for me and I chronicle my cycling adventures on my personal blog. I’ll be posting an update on the ride soon but wanted to get the word out to you that you have several very happy customers that are carrying the Garmin banner to cycling events around this big state of Texas! I'm also thrilled about the upcoming release of the Edge 705.
Many thanks for your continued support of cycling. J.M.
PS: I am also a pilot and proud owner of the Garmin GPSMAP 296.
Thanks to the crew over at GPS Tracklog for this blog entry. You can now cross a couple more items off the list of things you can't find at the airport in Las Vegas. Among those things we're still searching for: a quiet place to relax, and a meal that's cheap and healthy.
Recently there was a comment on a post asking for clarification about WAAS
approaches. The question, “How can a pilot determine from an approach
plate if an LNAV GPS approach will offer the LNAV+V option?” can
quickly be answered by saying there is not true way to determine this
yet.
There are several factors that have to be first be considered.
First, the most important part is positional accuracy. If the
positional accuracy is good enough, you can receive the +V option on a
LNAV approach. If for some reason the GPS/WAAS signal is not accurate
enough, you will only get a LNAV approach annunciation. The second
factor in getting the +V option is the databases. The electronic
databases are easier to change and update than the paper charts. It is
possible for the electronic database to have a +V coding, and the paper
chart, while still current and accurate, won't have the “>”
symbol on the chart. With each cycle of new paper charts, the lack of
a “>” will slowly start to disappear and you will be able to
determine if you get +V on an LNAV approach. I have included a NOAA
chart and Jeppesen chart to show how a LNAV+V
approach will show in the chart. The angle of the glidslope is
highlighted in red.
Looking for a healthy holiday gift for that special someone? Fox News' own "Dr. Manny" has his own list of gifts that reduce stress and improve your health, and he's chosen the nuvi line of personal navigation devices as one such item. No more stressing over getting lost or getting stuck in traffic! Click here to see the video for yourself.
As you may have already guessed, Scooter is quite the winter sports fanatic. Whether he’s bombing the hills on his trusty toboggan or hitting the moguls on his terrifying ‘tube, Scooter is always up for an adventure. Of course, it’s not all play and no work for the little guy. We make sure his homework is finished and his chores around the Garmin Garage are complete before he’s out the door and on the slopes. But when the flakes are falling, you can see the twinkle in his eyes as he rushes through his tasks so he can get outside sooner. And as much as he likes sledding, he loves leading the way on your nuvi! Grab Tubin' Scooter while you can and let him lead you to winter fun no matter where you're going!
If you're just now getting on the GPS bandwagon, you may not know that GPS has been around for quite awhile and it's brought to you courtesy of the U.S. Department of Defense. Needless to say, they're still using the system and the rest of us get to tap into it because of their generosity. Check out this next example to see how members of the armed forces regularly use GPS and Garmin.
-- Hello,
My name is SPC Anderson. I am writing you to tell you what an amazing product you have. I just returned from Iraq and the Garmin GPSMAP 60CSxs that some of my other platoon members had have been absolutely invaluable and extraordinarily helpful. These have out performed everything else we have including our own military GPS systems. As an example a few months ago we were running an SF convoy through multiple areas of Iraq including areas of Baghdad that we hadn't been through before. We were being led on the initial part of the trip by an SF officer, whatever he was using managed to get us lost trying to take a specific route through Baghdad. Luckily nothing happened and we made it to our destination. Our lead truck was using his 60CSx to track where we were going and where we wanted to go. On the way back through, we didn't have the additional SF escort and we used that information from that Garmin GPS to make our way back through Baghdad faster than we could have imagined and again without incident. These have been a great asset in many other instances as well, and I look forward to purchasing my own as soon as possible. It would be great for all the time I spend on the road as well as all the time i spend hunting and fishing. I know of at least 2 other members of my own squad that bought one while we were over there because of how great they are. Thank you so very much for such an awesome GPS unit.
Anyone who has seen our holiday ads knows how much we love seasonal songs. So we were thrilled when a quartet of carolers dressed in Dickens-era costumes sang to customers in the Garmin Store in Chicago for an hour Saturday afternoon. The best news? They're making an encore appearance this Saturday, Dec. 22, from 3 to 4 p.m. If you're lucky, they just might sing about your favorite moose or the ever-popular unibrow. And others are taking notice of the positive vibe at 663 N. Michigan Ave. A local concierge who was on assignment recording holiday hours for Michigan Avenue retailers said that Garmin's atmosphere was the best around.
So come check it out for yourself. If you're still undecided about which Garmin device is perfect for each person on your list, you can ask our helpful store associates and even try them out for yourself. Whether you're shopping for a runner, a hiker, a fisherman, a cyclist, a hunter, a pilot, a geocacher or just anyone who spends any time on the road at all, it's always a good plan to give-a, give-a, give-a Garmin.
Since the holidays are usually full of cookies, candies and so many other sugary delights, we thought Sweet Tooth would make the perfect addition to your nuvi during the winter season. It’s the ideal travel companion to help guide you to holiday party after holiday party. And even though it’s made almost entirely out of candy, we’re proud to announce that it’s 100% calorie free! So you can enjoy Sweet Tooth all season long and not have to think twice about putting on a pound. It’s a great jump start to any New Year’s resolution!
Although this blog editor could write some pithy introduction to this next testimonial, I'm gonna skip to the meat. Here's the testimonial...
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I recently bought a Garmin nuvi for my wife, prior to her taking a 6 hour drive to Philadelphia to visit colleges with our daughter. Neither are used to such long drives, or have any familiarity with the area. I pre-programmed addresses for their hotel, and both college sites. They found everything with few problems, and even programmed a local Starbucks address into "Favorites" category after their first visit for easy recall the next day. Cost of nuvi...$250.00, 2 caramel lattes....$7.25, secure feeling of never being lost....priceless.
I also recently brought the nuvi along on business trip to Orlando...very easy to use, quickly recalculated my route when construction detours got in the way, and stress free.... a great travel tool.
Thanks for a great product.
JP Duxbury, MA
Peg's Posts: National Cyclocross Championships, the race must go on
Friday, I posted about David, a local cyclist and Edge devotee set to compete in the National Cyclocross Championships here in KC. Extreme weather conditions took the course from challenging to downright insane. Read the recap from Velo News and see some gritty pics. Here's a first-hand recap from David: Several years ago when KC was awarded the National Cyclocross Championships for 2007 and 2008, I knew that I must race and attend. The last time it was held was in 2000 and the weather conditions were termed "epic". We had a snow storm with significant accumulation leading up to the three days of racing and the first day and a half were cold cloudy with wet snow. The promoters had to shovel the entire 3 km course by 3 meters wide because UCI rules a cleared course. The skies cleared in the afternoon of the second day and the temperatures dropped with the strong Northwest wind. The temperature was near 0 degrees F the morning of the last day.
Last time we checked in with Bill, a fellow Garmin employee, he was reflecting on the Las Vegas Marathon. Now he's looking ahead:
Every year about this time, I start to think about my training and race schedule for the upcoming year. In the past my goals have usually been focused around completing a specific distance race or setting a new “PR” (personal record) time. This year I decided to do something a little different. My new goal: Run 2008 miles in 2008.
This works out to running an average of 5.5 miles a day, every day for the year. To track my progress I will be using my tried and tested combination of my Forerunners (205 and 50) and my MotionBased account. Some of the more interesting races in my plan of attack include a few local favorites: Psycho WyCo, a 50K trail race with several thousand feet in elevation changes; the Groundhog Run, believed to be the only 5K/10K in the nation that is totally underground; and a 43.5 mile relay race Brew to Brew where I will attempt to run all 9 legs “solo”. This should make for an interesting year…
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