Garmin avionics on Cirrus Vision Jet

Garmin and Cirrus Aircraft announced today that the Vision SF50 personal jet will have Garmin avionics in the cockpit. The current Vision flying test aircraft, V1, will have the Cirrus Perspective by Garmin avionics system installed in early April - the same as is currently available on the SR-series of piston aircraft by Cirrus - and continue its rigorous flight test schedule. Cirrus and Garmin have worked together in every Cirrus Aircraft model to date. The GNS 430's were standard equipment on the first SR20's produced and remained standard on all SR20 and SR22 models until the introduction of Cirrus Perspective by Garmin in mid-2008. Today, the Cirrus fleet includes Cirrus Perspective by Garmin, which features Garmin’s all-glass, fully-integrated flight deck for the Cirrus SR22 and TURBO models.

A mistake Ben won't soon make again

Proving once again that you don't know what you've got until it's gone, Garmin-sponsored triathlete Ben Collins shares his training and racing experiences with the Garmin Edge 705 and Forerunner 405. But this time he forgot something.

I feel like I’ve been sent back to the stone ages! This week I have been in Australia preparing for a World Cup Triathlon in Mooloolaba (Southeast Queensland), and my training here has been completely unadventurous. You see, after using my Edge 705 to avoid ever doing out and back rides – no matter how unfamiliar the area - I am now in a continent where I don’t have street maps. This, of course, is a result of my lack of foresight. The maps are available for download on Garmin.com, or you purchase a fully loaded SD card that just plops right into the 705 (or any number of other Garmin navigation products). I just simply forgot that I needed to get those maps, and my Internet here is too slow to download them.

My second option would be to carry a paper map. This seems like a great alternative, except that I’m already struggling with riding on the left side of the road (I lack the number of fingers and toes to count the number of times I’ve been honked at this week), and I feel that struggling with a paper map would just further endanger my life. I prefer the 705’s little screen, and the ability to get turn by turn directions back to where I started. It makes me far more willing to leave the main drag and explore that country road to nowhere!

Spring snowstorm doesn’t dampen runners' spirits

When a forecast of snow, sleet and high winds caused race organizers for the Olathe Marathon to cancel the race set for last Saturday, some out-of-towners got inventive. Probably wasn’t feasible these folks would make the trip to our fair city the following Saturday to compete in the rescheduled half marathon or 5k distances. So they went about creating their own race day—a good 18 hours before the nasty weather would roll in. While running a marathon course with no official support isn’t for everyone, we have to give these guys credit for their determination and spirit. And from the looks of things, these runners were well-prepared with their night-time running gear. Read on for their story and check out their data recorded by one runner’s Forerunner 305.

We wanted to let you know that we ran the actual race last night (Friday). It took us a bit longer because it was more of an adventure race and we have never been to Olathe before and the map did not have all the streets marked. Most of the public was nice to us, but we had to wait for traffic a few times. We realize that this was not an official race, however in the spirit of Garmin and of Olathe, we are submitting our Garmin download as our race results.

Team Garmin: Pate takes place on podium, Wiggins 2nd in time trial

Team Garmin-Slipstream finished the Critérium International with a strong presence as Bradley Wiggins (left) finished second in the final time trial by only six seconds, while teammate Danny Pate took seventh, making it onto the final podium in third on the overall classification! Danny finished a strong second on the second of three stages, chasing down all but one of the remaining breakaway riders on the short but tough stage to Monthermé. Garmin's Canadian champ Christian Meier led a lot of the chasing of the breakaway in the peloton, helping Danny get in position.

In other action this weekend, Garmin-Slipstream's Under-23 squad won the team classification at the Redlands Bicycle Classic, marking the first time an amateur team has won the title, and our Kirk Carlsen was King of the Mountains. Meanwhile at the track world championships in Pruszkow, Poland, 21-year-old Cameron Meyer capped off an impressive week with two silver medals — in the Madison and team pursuit — to go with his world championship gold from the points race.

Jake's Journal: Lucky Winners in the Land of Oregon

So I just sent out an email to four people - Steven in Westminster, CA; Emily in Scott Depot, WV; Kyle in Riverton, UT; and Michael in Barstow, CA - and I usually don't share such notes but I thought you might want to congratulate these four if you know them ... or visit the Land of Oregon to see what you missed ... or start searching for Garmin geocoins in random caches. Here's what I sent: 

I hope this note finds you well – because we have some great news for you. You must have had a pretty good time in Garmin’s Land of Oregon minisite, because of the countless visitors – and the thousands who completed every task asked of them – you’re one of just four winners!

As a result of your keen eye, quick wit and adventurous spirit, we’re sending you an Oregon 400t touchscreen handheld device, preloaded with topo maps of the entire U.S. and capable of sharing data with other nearby Oregon and Colorado units. We’re also sending you two limited-edition Oregon geocoins, with a little favor to ask. One of the geocoins is for you, no strings attached. The other is for you to stash, thus passing along the fun of geocaching and the thrill of discovery. You see, these coins aren’t available for purchase. The only way to get them is from Garmin HQ or to find one that’s been stashed. Then send me the cache location where you hid the coin so that I can keep an eye on the logs and see when and where they’re found. Just like that, cachers around the world will have memorable stories to share at garmin.blogs.com and at geocaching forums and gatherings, and it will be thanks to you!

So congratulations again to Steven, Emily, Kyle and Michael, and even though the contest has ended, the adventures continue in the Land of Oregon ... and beyond. And if you find one of those limited-edition coins that has been stashed, send us your story and we'll share it on the blog.

Navigation helps Ben to relax and recover

Garmin-sponsored triathlete Ben Collins shares his training and racing experiences with the Garmin Edge 705 and Forerunner 405.

Last week I was beginning my recovery for the Mooloolaba World Cup so I was able to do a few easy rides around Honolulu with the express purpose of finding great views and sharing time with other athletes around the area. I rode Tantalus with Courtenay Brown, and found out that she is fully capable of making my recovery workout into a not-so-easy tempo session. She dropped me about two thirds of the way up the 8km climb and didn’t even give the courtesy of acknowledging my plea of, “wait for me at the top!”

A few of my more adventurous outings include a run around the endless maze of cane fields on the North Shore of Oahu, and a swim with dolphins at Waimea Bay. And by “with” I mean I could hear them, but never did get close enough to see them despite 20m visibility in the crisp ocean waters. Riding new routes and running through unknown neighborhoods was extremely fun and helped me relax and recover.  I relished in the exploratory opportunities granted to me by my Edge 705 and Forerunner 405 by taking new roads and never having to worry about finding my way home. It was fun.

Team Garmin: Bring home Farrar and Zabriskie highlights

Team Garmin fans and cycling enthusiasts, we have a treat for you. Visit the Argyle Shop now to get the recently printed, limited edition Argyle Hero posters, featuring Tyler Farrar’s huge win at Tirreno-Adriatico, and US time trial champion Dave Zabriskie.

The 26″ x 19″ posters are printed on high-quality paper and are a great gift for any Argyle Armada fan! Visit the Argyle Shop before supplies run out.

In today's racing, Zabriskie, sitting in third overall by just 22 seconds, put the pressure on the leaders in Castilla y Leon, when he attacked the field solo. Meanwhile, Tom Danielson and Christian Vande Velde sacrificed their top ten GC spots to help with the attacking. DZ remains in third overall with one more stage to go.

For Team Garmin recaps and race photos, be sure to check out the Team Garmin blog and our Flickr page, where you can also download team desktop wallpaper.

Caddy Confidential: Putting the Approach G5 into play

After months of belly aching about the grueling, golfless Midwestern winter, yours truly finally got an opportunity to play a few rounds with the Approach G5...in Arizona. Yes, sports fans, dreams do come true. And for this humble scribe, three days spent shanking Titleists into, and subsequently out of the Phoenician desert, was pure bliss.

While this sunburned caddy had a decisively disappointing showing on the course, there was one shining star; the Approach G5, which you can now buy directly from Garmin.com. As we've discussed in previous blogs and YouTube posts, the Approach offers a healthy dose game-improving features, from the Measure Distance feature to the Digital Scorecard. But perhaps the coolest and most useful feature this rusty duffer came to depend on was the Touch-Targeting feature.

Imagine finding yourself playing 36 at The Sanctuary in Scottsdale, a devilishly tight course surrounded by man-eating desert. Imagine that you've not played a round of golf in, say, five months. You suffer from both a spasmodic 30-yard slice and a you-never-know-when-it'll-happen 50-yard hook. As you can imagine, you'll visit the snake infested desert more than a few times. This is where the Touch-Targeting feature really earns your love.

Victor's Vectors: Portable GPS mounting options

I remember a few years ago when I decided to get my tail wheel endorsement in a Piper Super Cub.  Climbing into the pilot seat was the first of many new learning experiences, and flying the Super Cub was a great experience that I remember well.  The reason for the nostalgia is because I was recently asked by a Cub owner for a recommendation on how to mount his new portable GPS that came with a yoke mount.  If you have ever sat in a Cub then you can see the dilemma.  Garmin portables come with several different mounting accessories but these accessories don’t work in all applications.  You'll want to consider all of your options before making an accessory purchase, but a few of the companies I recommend for optional mounting accessories are Air Gizmos, G Force, Garhawk and Ram Mount.

Team Garmin: DZ third in time trial, now third overall at Castilla y Leon

The stars and stripes were flying today in Spain as Team Garmin's Dave Zabriskie once again torched a time trial against world-class competition. Zabriskie finished third in today's stage at Castilla y León and now sits in third place overall, just 22 seconds behind the race leader. Team Garmin teammates Christian Vande Velde and Tom Danielson also landed in the Top 10 after stellar rides in the windy, flat 28.2km individual time trial. The 24th Vuelta a Castilla y León continues Wednesday with the first of two mountain stages.

Fans of the argyle armada will enjoy this highlight reel of race coverage, edited together by our video crew here at Garmin. For Team Garmin recaps and race photos, be sure to check out the Team Garmin blog and our Flickr page for Graham Watson's action shots and Team Garmin desktop wallpaper as a free download.

20-year stories: Airport fire brigade in Austria uses Garmin GPS

In celebration of Garmin’s 20-year anniversary in 2009, we’re bringing you stories from across the globe of Garmin devices in action. Today’s story comes from Austria where an airport fire brigade relies on Garmin marine chartplotters in their emergency preparedness operations.

At the Airport in Graz, Austria, Garmin devices are used in an unusual, yet extremely important way. The airport fire brigade equipped their commando vehicles and some fire trucks with Garmin marine chartplotters. The reason for using the marine plotters is the size and the good readability of the screen. The entire area of the airport was divided in geographical sectors with dedicated names based on the coordinates. In case of emergency, a message with the exact position of the accident is sent to the vehicle from the tower. Due to this technique, the task force is able to save time — time that can be the difference between life and death. 

To learn more about Garmin’s history, including interviews from our cofounders and other associates around the world, view our video. And if you didn’t get a chance to see our last story in the 20-year anniversary series, check out “Preserving pieces of Garmin history.” This story includes a video tour of one Garmin associate’s private collection of Garmin memorabilia.

U23 cyclist Kyle Torres has the Edge

Kyle Torres has a long way to go before he can race pro, so if this U23 cyclist is “one to watch,” he’ll be on the radar for many miles. At just 14, Kyle was the youngest amateur to ride the Solvang Time Trial course at the Tour of California just before Team Garmin’s Dave Zabriskie and other pros raced the 15-mile course. Like any good gearhead, Kyle’s had his eye on the Edge 705, so he’s now training with our top-of-the-line cycle computer. Read on to find out how Kyle uses the 705 to fine-tune his training … and even find tacos. Be sure to check out the YouTube video of his Solvang start.

Kyle: Last month I had the opportunity of a lifetime when I got to ride in the amateur category of the Amgen Tour of California time trial. There were 31 people in the amateur category and we went just minutes before the pros. It was very cool because I felt just like a pro going out of the same start ramp and having the commentators talk all about me in front of thousands of spectators.

Approach G5 golf GPS ships earlier than expected

Golfers, despite what your kids' school calendar says, spring break has just begun, thanks to the Approach G5. Already topping expectations, Garmin's new golf-specific GPS device is now for sale. There’s no other existing golf device that combines the ease of use, large color touchscreen and preloaded information -- more than 5,100 preloaded courses, with more to come -- all with no subscriptions or annual fees. Within minutes of opening the box, you can be ready to tee off. And that time is now.

This weekend, on Saturday and Sunday mornings, Home Shopping Network will be featuring - and selling! - the Approach G5. You can also find it online now at various Web retailers. The waterproof Approach, with its touchscreen 3" color display, keeps it simple by asking you to either Play or Preview any of the thousands of preloaded courses. Weighing only 6.8 ounces and powered by two AA batteries, the Approach G5 features a high-sensitivity GPS receiver and conforms with the rules of the R&A and USGA. So stop guessing, and start golfing with renewed confidence. And be sure to check out our YouTube channel to see the measure-distance feature, the digital scorecard and other Approach videos.

Mac and Forerunner 405: Update software and GPS wirelessly

More great news for Mac users! Now you're able to update your Forerunner 405 software and GPS chipset using your Mac and wireless USB ANT stick.  Through ANT Agent for Mac and our communicator plugin, you can also now send workouts and courses to the Forerunner 405 from Training Center. So in a nutshell, Mac users training with a Forerunner 405 now have most of the same functions available as those using a PC.

Two years later, eTrex was waiting to be found

At Garmin, we make our devices to be durable and withstand the demands of the outdoors. But abandoned for two years in the wild, will our outdoor handheld survive? Dan Stubblefield of Oregon sent in this story:

I hike with a group of codgers every Wednesday and on 1/31/07 we were bush whacking between two trails down a steep, heavily wooded slope above Lost Creek Lake, Oregon. At some point, my eTrex Legend came off my pack and was lost. Truthfully, I wasn’t all that upset since I had been wanting to buy a newer unit with a color screen and a better antenna. So this gave me the perfect justification for buying my 60CSx.

We decided to do the same hike this week but I didn’t even think about looking for the lost unit. The forest floor where it was lost is completely covered with a very thick layer of decomposing leaves and needles and lots of downed brush. As in 2007, each of us took quite different lines down the slope, and probably were spread out over 100 yards or more as we worked our way down. Anyway, one of the guys noticed the blue edge of the unit at the foot of a tree.

So, after 770 days out in the elements the unit was found.

Peg’s Posts: Cycle therapy with Edge 705.

With fair weather and sunshine the last two days, a few of my coworkers and I left the jobs we love to pursue our two-wheeled passion. So while commuters were slogging through traffic lights, we were sailing down lesser-traveled roads in southern Johnson County. Since all of us are Edge-equipped, we could technically consider our rides overtime, product testing or some sort of group therapy at the very least. Monday’s ride took us to a park and marina in Olathe. As we approached Garmin headquarters, about three-quarters of a mile out, my husband said “Aahh … the mothership.” To a band of road-weary cyclists, Garmin’s 8-story building (that’s really high for Olathe, Kansas, by the way) was a welcome sight.

nüvi 465T helps drivers know their 10-20

If you're in the over-the-road trucking industry, life on the road just got a whole lot sweeter. Introducing the nüvi 465T- Garmin's first portable navigation device designed exclusively for long-haul navigation and delivery trucks. The nüvi 465T will navigate routes based on the truck's type, load and physical restrictions, and when navigating, will display upcoming road restrictions and warnings to make drivers aware of possible hazards along the route such as sharp curves, steep grades and narrow roads. And for the ultimate in convenience, this nüvi is the first navigation device to provide locations in the National Truck and Trailer Services (NTTS) Breakdown Directory. With one tap on the touchscreen, driver's can easily find truck-specific points of interest such as truck repair, towing and recovery and tire sales and repair. In addition to NTTS location data, the nüvi 465T also features lane assit to guide users to the proper lane, subscription-free traffic updates, speed limit indicators, Bluetooth capabilities and delivers voice-prompted turn-by-turn directions.

Victor's Vectors: Spring-clean before you fly

Spring is here!  The days are getting longer, the birds are chirping, plants are popping out of the ground, and the flying season is upon us.  As my Grandma also said, “There is a time and a season for all things.”  So, it’s time to dust off that GPS system you’ve been storing since the fall. Time to get those databases current through flyGarmin.  Time to check with your Garmin Dealer about software updates. Time to renew that subscription to XM or Pilot MyCast.  Time to check out our free simulators and brush up on those flying skills.  It’s time to fly those boundless skies, and remember that Garmin’s right there with you.

Ask Garmin: Pairing Edge 705 to read power

Between the popularity of our Edge 705 cycling GPS device and the success that Team Garmin has already seen in California, France and Italy, questions are pouring in about getting the most out of our technology. Not often do everyday cyclists get to ride with the same equipment used by the world's top pros, but such is the case with the Edge 705, the first cycling computer capable of monitoring GPS position, heart rate, speed, cadence, altitude, gradient and power on the same color display. So how do you get your Edge 705 to read the data from an ANT+ compatible power meter? Check out our newest how-to videos for tips.

Argyle shamrocks for sale at Team Garmin shop

So you've downloaded Lucky from the Garmin Garage for your car, but you're hoping to take advantage of the spring weather by getting some exercise. (After all, it's supposed to be near 80 here in the Kansas City area.) Well, it's still your lucky day. Team Garmin-Slipstream wants you to join us in celebrating Dan Martin's tour as Irish national road champion, with his replica cycling jersey from Pearl Izumi. There's not much luckier than an argyle four leaf clover! And you can keep rocking the shamrock after your ride in a limited edition T-shirt supporting Martin. There's only a small amount of the limited-edition T-shirts, so get them while they are fresh! Visit the Team Garmin-Slipstream shop today, and have a wonderful holiday!

And if you need some motivation to hit the streets, Team Garmin sprinting sensation Tyler Farrar spent his St. Patrick's Day coming oh-so-close to another stage win, finishing second today at Tirreno-Adriatico. And in other big news, the list of teams that will be squaring off this summer in France was just announced, and the argyle armada is there with some great competition. Stay tuned to the Team Garmin blog, as more great races are just around the corner.  

Vote for your favorite GPS device!

The nominations are in and it's time to get out and vote! Engadget.com is holding their 2008 awards and it's up to you to decide the GPS Device of the Year. After nominating your favorite devices last week, the Garmin nüvi 255W was selected as one of the top picks.This widescreen navigator speaks street names, is traffic compatible and is always aware of a driver's surroundings with the "Where Am I?" feature. With the nüvi255W drivers can look up their exact location at any time including nearest hospitals, police stations, fuel stations, nearest address and intersection. If it's one of your favorites too, cast your ballot here

Fitness leaders join forces with FR60, ANT+

Through ANT+ wireless technology and some high-powered fitness friends, Garmin’s newly announced FR60 fitness watch just became the hub of all of your exercise needs. A key component in Garmin’s new FR60 fitness watch, ANT+ is a leading wireless interface protocol enabling ultra low power applications such as fitness monitors. ANT+ offers all the benefits of digital wireless communications with much lower power consumption than other wireless protocols. At home or the gym, fitness equipment with the ANT+ LINK HERE logo will connect wirelessly and effortlessly with the FR60.

Tanita is launching the BC-1000 Body Composition monitor with ANT+ wireless technology incorporated into their design (planned for early summer release). The monitor measures weight, body fat, body water, and six other parameters, and specific data will be sent directly to the FR60. Tanita will release two packages, one of which will be bundled with the FR60 and USB ANT™ Stick. Users can then send their body information to their computer on Garmin ConnectSM to keep track of their progress.

Listed below alphabetically are other fitness leaders connecting with Garmin and offering or planning to offer the benefits of ANT+ technology to their customers.

Garmin's East Texas Tour

The days are getting longer and warmer, and for anglers, that can only mean one thing: the fishing will be starting to heat up in no time!  To whet your appetite for Mr. Bucketmouth, here's a clip of a recent trip we took with Americana Outdoors' Wade Middleton to two great East Texas fisheries: Conroe and Sam Rayburn.  And it was a trip that we truly couldn't have done without Garmin.  On the water, the brilliant touchscreen GPSMAP 5208 provided pinpoint-accurate charts and sonar information.  And our nuvi was never far away when we decided to make that quick hop between lakes.

Click here to view the show.

Garmin Garage: Download a lucky charm for holiday fun

There are two surefire ways to enjoy the luck of the Irish in honor of St. Patrick's Day. Your first option is to book a flight to Dublin and embrace the country's rich culture and tireless hospitality. Your second option is quicker, easier - and free! You can download Lucky, our four-leaf clover, as a vehicle icon for your nüvi. Scooter has been out in clover patches finding enough for everyone, but you'll still want to hurry and download today for the good fortune to be in full effect for the holiday. You don't need to live a charmed life to get your hands on Lucky. Just visit the Garmin Garage, follow a few easy steps and luck will be on your side (and your nüvi) in no time. To capture the full essence of the season, you'll want to go as green as possible. Let ecoRoute guide you with fuel-efficient navigation, available through - you guessed it - a free download at www.garmin.com/ecoroute. 

Oh, but if you have your heart set on that trip to Dublin, don't forget to check out our European mapping options for your Garmin devices. Because even the lucky can get lost.   

King Air 200/B200 Gets G1000 Glass

The G1000 avionics panel is now available on two more aircraft models! Today, we announced that the FAA granted certification for the G1000 in the King Air 200 and B200.  This is only the second time that the G1000 has been made available for retrofit; the first G1000 retrofit certification was for the King Air C90. Pilots that own a King Air 200 or B200 can now replace their old steam gauges with a large, three-panel, all-glass display. Anyone who has flown a plane with G1000 avionics knows that it's an amazing system that makes flying safer and more enjoyable. One of the features that reiterates safety of flight and differentiates the King Air 200/B200's certification from other G1000 programs is that it includes Reduced Vertical Separation Minimum (RVSM) support. RVSM support will let King Air pilots fly more optimum profiles, gain fuel savings and increase airspace capacity.The King Air 200/B200's avionics suite also features the GFC 700 autopilot, SVT synthetic vision (optional upgrade), SafeTaxi, FliteCharts, WAAS, GDL 69A datalink receiver for XM WX, and a whole lot more.  The G1000 upgrade is available immediately, so contact one of Garmin's approved G1000/King Air distributor to learn more about installation and pricing.

Geocacher goes "Above the Clouds" on Kilimanjaro

Maybe it's spring fever, but great stories about amazing adventures with Garmin are coming out of the woodwork. Jay told us her story at last month's Gasparilla Expo, and we're excited to pass it along.

I climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro in January 2006, for both the adventure and to raise funds for the Climb for Cancer Foundation. It was a fantastic journey! Being on the mountain felt like being in another world (to me).

Almost every type of climate is represented along with a wide variety of unique vegetation and geology. We hiked through bush rainforest with mild temperatures up into semi-desert conditions, onto steep ridges with some very intense boulder scrambling. Every day we average a 3000’ gain in elevation with temperatures dropping dramatically in the evening and through out the night. Summit day, around midnight we left icy tents behind to struggle up rough lava rock and loose scree. The light wind and temps of around -20˚C kept us moving slow and steady.

Jake's Journal: Farrar's sprint caps off Team Garmin's week of winning

Friday in Santa Croce Sull’Arno, Italy, Team Garmin's Tyler Farrar topped a who's who of sprinters in professional cycling to win the 166km third stage of Tirreno-Adriatico. It was the second stage win in three days for the argyle armada, following Christian Vande Velde's successful Paris-Nice solo attack. And whether the finish line was a mass sprint decided by fractions of seconds (like when Tyler lunged past the world's fastest men) or a one-man march to victory (which gave Christian time to do a quick rock-a-bye for his new daughter before throwing his arms in the air), that moment is one you want to relive over and over again. Especially if you're stuck in the office an ocean away.

So I hopped on Twitter to see what people were saying and I found love for the argyle like you'd see in Jonathan Vaughters' closet. Steephill.TV captured the raw emotion in Tyler's face at the finish. Replays from the home stretch were being shown on Justin.TV and CycleTo.com. Vaughters chimed in on Twitter: "Once a team starts winning, it just rolls on. Everyone believes more, as the same guy you beat at training camp just won, so why not me? JV" And VeloNews talked to Tyler, who called it "the biggest win of my career." I think we should add a disclaimer - biggest, for now. Tyler has great things ahead of him.

Garmin Mobile XT: a nüvi on your smartphone

The team at Symbian-Guru.com has posted a new review and videos of Garmin Mobile XT.  If you're tired of paying monthly fees to access a navigation application on your smartphone, Garmin Mobile XT is for you.  Garmin Mobile XT turns nearly any smartphone into a nüvi-like navigator. This software application comes on an SD card, and once you slide the card into your phone it will automatically install so that you can begin driving with Garmin navigation. In addition to turn-by-turn voice prompts for millions of locations in North America or Europe, Garmin Mobile XT includes real-time traffic info, fuel prices, weather, hotel discounts and more. Check out these Symbian-Guru videos or visit the Garmin Mobile XT mini-site to learn more.

Peg’s Posts: Forerunner 405 software update

This weekend, runners ‘round the globe are coming out of hibernation and lacing up for what might be their first road race of the season. This year, I won’t be joining the festivities at one of my favorite 4-milers, the Westport St. Patrick’s Day Run, but I’ll be with you all in thought. As you’re getting your spring running gear in order, now’s a great time to update the software on your Forerunner 405. Recent software versions do a better job of handling your data once it gets to Garmin Connect. It essentially compresses your data, which means quicker uploads to the site and faster access to your activities. Thanks to the 405’s ANT+ wireless technology, you don’t even have to connect a cable to do the download. Just go the software update page for the 405, accept the legal stuff, then make sure your USB ANT stick is plugged in and your Forerunner is nearby. Before you can repeat “run like the wind” or your favorite pre-race mantra, your computer will find your Forerunner and give you the option to upload. Click the button and you’re off to the races. For more tips and tricks on updating software and other features of the 405, check out these quick videos with Jake.

"Amazing" tale goes from the outdoors to the inbox

Another exciting adventure, and another satisfied customer, that made its way to the Garmin inbox.

My name is Robert Barber and I just wanted to say that the Garmin GPSMAP 60Cx is an amazing piece of technology. I was first skeptical on buying it because of what "waterproof" really meant. I was fishing today in the Youghiogheny River and slipped off a rock into it. I didn't go in too deep, only to about my neck. Everything was soaked including the GPS. My phone was totally wet and seemed broken; I thought the same fate occurred to the GPS. After almost drowning in the current, I crawled back onto the rock and immediately turned on the Garmin. I was amazed that it still worked even after taking a big drink of the Yough. I bought the Garmin GPSMAP 60Cx mainly because it said "waterproof." If by any chance I floated down the river in the current, at least I know my GPS would still work. You guys really know how to make them, don't change a thing! -- Robert Barber

Thanks, Robert. For the record, the GPSMAP 60 series is waterproof to an IPX7 standard, which means the GPS case can withstand accidental immersion in one meter of water for up to 30 minutes. Even in the mighty Yough.

Ben uses his Edge 705 to ride the wind

Garmin-sponsored triathlete Ben Collins shares his training and racing experiences with the Garmin Edge 705 and Forerunner 405.

Recently I was in Laie on the windward side of the North Shore of Oahu. Living up to its name, it was quite windy. I went for a ride toward Haleiwa and was amazed that I made it there in about 40 minutes without really trying. What I should have realized is that if I was going nearly 30 mph without effort, I really should be turning around well before halfway through my ride. It took about 50% longer to back, and there was no “easy” riding involved in it; just crouching over and taking a windy beating.

So I started thinking what if my Garmin Edge 705 gave me some clue as to how much assistance I was getting from the wind? It could tell me my coefficient of environmental assistance, which I would like to name the ‘Collins Coefficient,’ and it would basically take my power output, my speed, the percent grade and some estimate of aerodynamics (or lack there of) for a big-shouldered swimmer type like myself. Basically, when I’m flying down the road with a tail wind, or drafting off a school bus, it would be a large positive coefficient and the screen would read something like, “don’t be too proud," or “going the other way is not going to be fun." Whereas when I’m fighting a 20 mph headwind uphill, the coefficient would be negative and the screen could read, "I told you this wasn’t going to be fun.” Okay, so enough dreaming. I'll stick to my training and let Garmin come up with great product features. Here's my ride in Garmin Connect.

Victor's Vectors: Updating a 696 while it's in the plane

I wonder!  When you turn off the GPSMAP 696 at night and put it to bed in its carrying case after a hard days work, does it dream of being a Multi-Function Display?  Probably not, but the engineers that designed the 696 keep finding ways to make that dream closer to a reality.

Following that vision, you can now add the Aviation NavData, Obstacle and SafeTaxi databases to the 696 simultaneously with the FliteCharts database when using a 1 GB or 2 GB SD card.  (A SD card larger than 2 GB is not supported.)  We told you about the FliteCharts database update in an earlier blog post, but that was just the beginning. This means that you don’t need to take the 696 out of the aircraft to update any of these four databases!  The process is fairly easy but I have included some instructions below to help you through the right steps.

Team Garmin: Vande Velde goes solo, wins stage at Paris-Nice!

It's been a roller coaster this week in France as Team Garmin navigates the ups and downs of the eight stages and 1,250 km of Paris-Nice. The week started off well when Bradley Wiggins set the time to beat in the opening time trial, and his time stood as the standard until the final few riders. In the end, Wiggins finished second in the opener and David Millar came in fifth, but a fall on the wet roads cost Christian Vande Velde valuable time and some road rash. But in a performance fit for "The Race to the Sun," Vande Velde rose up from the rain-soaked streets to launch a successful solo attack in today's Stage 4. He left the sport's best chasers in the shadows, crossing the line 14 seconds ahead of the pack. All in all, it was a great day for the proud new papa, and David Millar remains in strong contention for the overall lead. On a sad note, the race ended early for Wiggins (family reasons) and Irish champ Dan Martin (health reasons). 

For Team Garmin recaps and race photos, be sure to check out the Team Garmin blog and our Flickr page for Graham Watson's action shots. And follow Jake's Twitter updates for race-day coverage. Also at our Flickr page, you can find Team Garmin desktop wallpaper as a free download. Allez argyle!

Chicago Store: Helping you find the right device

If you're in the market for a new GPS device but can't decide which unit is right for you, now is the perfect time to stop by the Garmin Chicago store to get answers to all of your questions and find the units that are right for you! Store associates are on hand to offer one-on-one service while walking you through the various features and benefits of each model. They'll guide you through thishigh-tech, high-touch environment, listen to your needs and help you select the perfect devices for all of your needs. Don't forget that the store also carries a ton of accessories for your unit(s) and offer a free one-hour “GPS Academy” training session to anyone purchasing from us. And to make sure you're device is as current and up-to-date as it can be, we will update your software for free for the life of your unit - just bring it into the store any day we are open and we'll have you taken care of in no time

If you're still hungry for information,the Garmin Chicago store will be hosting open “GPS Academy” training sessions for the general public to attend starting this weekend. These sessions will cover all the markets from automotive to fitness to outdoor, giving you an overview of the product lines and highlighting key features. Check the schedule on our web page for dates and topics and if you're in the area, feel free to join us in the second floor theater on any date you choose. We hope to see you there!

 

Plan a Trip Down Memory Lane

One of the misconceptions about using GPS is that it’s only beneficial in getting from Point A to Point B (or A to B to C to D), when really it’s as much about finding the interesting points in between. One of our friends in Cartography offers up a suggestion – and some nostalgia – for anyone looking to explore with their Garmin.

As kids we all had “favorite” spots that now have great sentimental value. When I was young, there was a railroad bridge from which I used to dangle my legs and watch cars go under. (I know, nowadays the police would chase me away – and rightfully so, kids, don’t try this at home! – but back then no one seemed to mind.)  Fast-forward more years than I care to admit.  I found I had a little time & decided to play with Garmin Connect Photos. When I typed my boyhood hometown into the search field and zoomed, there it was – my old stomping ground — my bridge!

I immediately got down to business.  I already had Garmin Communicator installed on my PC and had a myGarmin account.  I clicked “add all photos” and grabbed my trusty nüvi 255 and saved the selected photos to it in a flash.

The next weekend I was off for a visit.  I tapped the familiar “Where To” on the nüvi and went into the Favorites folder.  I tapped Panoramio™ Photos.  I found the geotagged photo of my old bridge, tapped “GO” and headed out for an old but somehow new journey.  It was a little thing, but it made my day!

 

20-year stories: Preserving pieces of Garmin history

In celebration of Garmin’s 20-year anniversary in 2009, we’re reaching back to the past to bring you stories from our younger years. Today you’ll get a peek inside a garage-turned-Garmin museum. The caretaker and archivist is Frank, a long-time Garmin employee who “likes to collect history he can hold in his hands.” He started collecting antique radios in the mid-70s. Before he started his job in aviation engineering for Garmin in October 1995, Frank worked for another avionics manufacturer where he shared a lab with Garmin co-founders Gary Burrell, Min Kao and two of their business partners.

Frank’s passion for preservation sent him digging through dumpsters in his early days at Garmin.  “When we moved from Lenexa, there was a lot of stuff thrown away and my collecting instincts just took over. Over the years, people have given me stuff that they wanted to get rid of, so I had a lot of help,” Frank said.

Caddy Confidential: Heading to the Course!

Golf season has finally, thankfully and mercifully arrived! Well, at least here in Kansas…for the next few days…or hours, give or take. Naturally, down at The Shack we’re scrubbing the rust off the clubs, shining our cleats, stretching those ignored-all-winter golf muscles as we get set to hit the links this weekend. What makes this annual event even sweeter this year is the new high-power, high-tech weapon we’ll be carrying to the course – the Approach G5. Now that Garmin has posted a list of the more than 5,000 pre-loaded U.S. golf courses packed into the Approach, all we have left to decide is where to play. Being caddies, we’ve decided to test out ecoRoute, Garmin’s new software for fuel-efficient navigation, so as to save ourselves a little extra coin for – ahem – the 19th hole. Speaking of all things Garmin, be sure to cast your vote here for your favorite GPS device for 2008. Sadly, you won’t be able to vote for the Approach until the 2009 poll is conducted.

And to that end, word has been circulating amongst caddy confidants that the Approach may be available sooner than expected. We can’t make any promises, but the walls of The Shack are whispering that an early release is a real possibility. Stay tuned for more as we’ll bring you any updates on Approach availability as warranted. As always, check into the Confidential soon. We’ve got more YouTube videos in the hopper. Next post we’ll be bringing you a video illustrating how to manually set the pin position on your Approach. Till then, think birdies!

ecoRoute's fuel-efficient navigation now available as free download

Garmin's ecoRoute can help you save gas and money through fuel-efficient navigation, starting as soon as you download it to your compatible Garmin device. Now available as a free and simple download through www.garmin.com/ecoroute, this software update gives you valuable options and information. 

In addition to “faster time” and “shorter distance” for route preference, ecoRoute lets nüvi users choose “less fuel” as the best way to save gas and money. Through ecoRoute’s Fuel Report, Mileage Report and fuel-saving tips, you can focus on your fuel conservation even when you’re not behind the wheel. And you can customize your nüvi to fit your vehicle by accessing the “vehicle profile” under ecoRoute in the tools menu. There, you can enter your car’s fuel economy and the current price of gas to help nüvi better calculate your savings. To find out if your nüvi is compatible with ecoRoute through a free, downloadable software update - and to visit the instructional, interactive minisite - go to www.garmin.com/ecoroute.

Ben offers tips for finding exercise on the road

Garmin-sponsored triathlete Ben Collins shares his training and racing experiences with the Garmin Edge 705 and Forerunner 405.

Training on the island of Oahu has been a nice change of pace from a Seattle winter and the monotony of routes and routines of home. The struggle is that whenever I’m training away from home it takes some time to adjust; time to adjust to new roads for riding and running, new pool times for swimming etc. For short trips it’s easy to make due. If the pool times are not ideal, or if it’s hard to find a good running route on soft surfaces and away from traffic, I can manage for a few days. But this trip is not short. I will be in Hawaii for a total of six weeks, which means finding a nice pool and nice running and riding routes is quintessential.

To find a pool and lap swim times, I use the Swimmers Guide, a great resource to find pool times for all over the world. When I was in Hamburg, I was able to find lap swim times and fees before I went to the pool, and there were comments left by previous patrons which gave me an idea of German pool etiquette. Unfortunately, riding and running can be tough to figure out, so I’ve come up with my own method of finding my way in a new place...

Nominate your favorite GPS device

It's time to get out and vote! Engadget.com is preparing for their 2008 awards and they want to hear about your favorite GPS device. Everyone who has voted so far seems to lean towards automotive devices, but we can't see any reason why you can't nominate a non-automotive device if that's your favorite. Regardless of how you decide to vote, keep in mind that they only want nominations for those products that hit store shelves in 2008. This means you have to narrow down your choice to one of 25-or-so Garmin products: nüvi 2x5, 500, 7x5, and 800 series; Colorado series; Oregon series; Forerunner 405; and Garmin Mobile PC. From where this blogger is sitting, that's more then enough to choose from! Cast your ballot here.

Victor's Vectors: Turn Your PC Into a SVT Simulator

With the increasing number of aircraft in the air with Synthetic Vision Technology (SVT), I have had several customers ask about the upgrade availability for their G1000 equipped aircraft.  Diamond and Mooney are two of the manufacturers that offer the SVT upgrade today, and the Cirrus Perspective comes with SVT as standard.  Garmin is working with many other aircraft manufactures to complete SVT certification on their specific airframes and you'll hear more about these announcements soon. With this new technology hitting the market, I understand why some customers are excited about learning more about SVT.  One thing I recommend to customers who are interested in seeing SVT is to check out Garmin’s PC G1000 trainers. The Cirrus Perspective and Diamond DA40 version 9.01 trainers are available now, and are currently the only Garmin trainers with SVT.  More trainers with SVT will become available as the aircraft certifications are completed.  Having the trainer gives customers a good tool for learning the in’s and out’s of the G1000, and it gives a feel for SVT before leaving the ground. 

Note: Before purchasing the trainer I highly recommend looking at the PC requirements.  The minimum requirements are listed but I recommend a 256 MB independent video card for single screen operation and 512 MB video card for dual screen operation. 

nüvi Accolades from PC Mag

If you're on the market for a GPS and aren't sure which one to pick, you may want to take a cue from the team at PC Magazine. They've just honored the nüvi 265T with the coveted PC Magazine's Editors Choice award. According to them, "Given Garmin's history, it's not surprising that its entry-level nüvis, like the $249.99 (list) nüvi 265T, offer a lot of bang for the buck and are excellent choices for the budget conscious." The nüvi 265T has lots of great features that our customers have come to know and love like lifetime traffic, turn-by-turn directions that call out street names and hands-free Bluetooth calling. One of the newest and most talked about features of the nüvi 265T is ecoRoutes, a free software download that will calculate your estimated fuel cost for each trip. ecoRoutes helps you stretch your fuel dollars further by helping you discover how much each trip will actually cost you. It's customizable to your vehicle, so when you download it, make sure you take the time to provide accurate information for your vehicle's city and highway mile and the current fuel cost.  Read PC Mag's full nüvi 265T review here.

nüvi 1200/1300: Ultra-thin and pedestrian friendly

Now more than ever, it's true that the PND is no longer just for your car! Portable, lightweight and ultra-thin, the new nüvi 1200 and 1300 series units announced at CeBIT in Hanover, Germany, feature an enhanced pedestrian mode and premium automotive features that make them ideal for navigation on foot around the city and in the car. On the road, enjoy popular features like text to speech, lane assist, which highlights the preferred lane for navigation, Bluetooth hands-free calling, and free lifetime traffic alerts from NAVTEQ traffic. The nüvi 1390T even features junction view, which allows drivers to see realistic images of upcoming junctions. Exploring an unfamiliar city? Take nüvi with you! The 1200 and 1300 models also feature a public transit mode enabled through Garmin's new CityXplorer, an optional download that provides location and destination information for select tourist destinations in North America and Europe. CityXplorer allows the user to see bus, train and/or metro train route options and times, as well as the distances associated with them. Exploring the city has never been so easy! This new family of prouducts and CityXplorer data are expected to be available in the second quarter - just in time for the the summer travel season! In the meantime, stay tuned to the blog for all the updates and details.

Automotive OEMs Look to Garmin

The gates of CeBIT opened today and people from around the world are here to get a glimpse of the newest tech advancements. CeBIT is a huge consumer electronics trade show in Europe, and those in the Garmin booth are busy as we show off our newest wares. This year the booth is especially popular since it includes a MINI cabriolet. Why a MINI? It's helping us promote our OEM capabilities. Did you know we regularly work with OEMs so that they can offer customized Garmin navigation to their customers. These one-of-a-kind mounts hide the GPS wiring and make it look like the Garmin GPS is part of the vehicle's original dash. Today we announced that MINI and the PSA-Peugeot Citroën C3 Picasso will begin offering this customized solution. Those visiting Garmin's CeBIT booth will see a nüvi 255 in the MINI's custom mount. The MINI mount is unique because of its swivel capabilities and because it has been designed for compatibility with future nuvis. Owners of the PSA-Peugeot Citroën C3 Picasso will soon have the advantages of Garmin's premium nüvi 765 in a custom mount. The nüvi 765 has advanced features like lane assist, which guides the driver to the correct lane when approaching a turn or exit by displaying life-like road signs on the display. This feature makes unfamiliar intersections and exits easy to navigate. If you're at CeBIT, make sure you stop by the Garmin booth (Hall 15, Stand D08).

Ask Garmin: If I only had a heart-rate monitor

Today's Ask Garmin question comes from Chuck, who is hoping to outfit his fitness device. "A friend has an Edge 305 without heart rate or speed/cadence. I said he may be able to buy the heart-rate monitor or speed/cadence sensor separately. He said the unit probably does not have that capability. If he were to buy the accessories, would they in fact work?" Congratulations, Chuck, you win.

If you have one of our compatible devices -- the Edge 705/305 or Forerunner 405/305/50 (even Oregon and Colorado units work with ANT+) -- you can add a heart-rate monitor or speed/cadence sensor later. And because we know that Garmin fans may be upgrading from, for example, a Forerunner 305 to a Forerunner 405, we made the 405 available with or without a heart-rate monitor in the box. Since 305 owners already have the heart-rate strap, this option not only saves you money, it also saves you some space in your closet. To learn more about using your heart-rate monitor, check out our Forerunner 405 tutorial videos.

How Stuff Works points to nüMaps

If you visit HowStuffWorks.com today, you'll see a Garmin GPS device staring back at you. Since their profile piece is on how to update maps on your Garmin GPS, we decided to take this opportunity to remind you about nüMaps Lifetime. The name probably gives it away, but in case we need to clarify it, nüMaps is a way to get new maps for your GPS. We regularly provide you with map updates because we know that things around you change -- streets are added, new restaurants are opened, new housing subdivisions go up, and that's just the beginning.  Unlike those paper maps you may still be carrying around in the trunk of your car that are yellowed with age, it's important to keep your GPS maps up to date so that you're sure you're always headed in the right direction. nüMaps Lifetime is a one-time, single purchase that lets you download the most up-to-date map information as soon as new content is available -- for the lifetime of your device.  It's a great deal for any Garmin owner. Visit the nüMaps website for more info about pricing.