Garmin Garage: It's Midnight

Just in time for summer cruisin’ – Midnight has arrived in the Garmin Garage. This low-slung cruiser has style for miles. And the attitude to back it up. Midnight looks great in the Garmin Garage and it will look even better on your nüvi. Plan a new route to the Garmin Garage and grab Midnight before the sunsets.

Peg’s Posts: The multi-talented Forerunner 310XT

While Garmin runners Adam and Jake (plus Jake’s wife Jocie) are likely kicked back poolside in sunny Cali, resting their legs for tomorrow’s San Diego Marathon, I’ll sorta be doing the same, only from the ‘burbs of KC. My justification for pool time is recovering from a hot & hilly brick workout with the Forerunner 310XT several hours ago. Jake recapped the highlights of the 310XT’s swim-proofness, long battery life and multisport features, and I have to give a plug for the new quick-release mount design. The quick-release wrist and bike mounts (sold as an optional accessory kit) are easy to set up and the unit secures with just a quarter-turn twist. So I can swap the 310XT head unit from wrist to bike in seconds and know it’s secure. I’m also a big fan of the 310XT’s vibration alert. These little perks just prove that Garmin engineers, many of whom are athletes who live and breathe the sport just like you, think of pretty much everything.

Rockin' and rollin' with Forerunner 310XT at San Diego Marathon

With the Rock 'n' Roll Marathon this weekend, San Diego is buzzing with activity - and with the popularity of the waterproof Forerunner 310XT with vibration alerts. Available for purchase for the first time - and branded with a limited-edition Rock 'n' Roll Marathon logo - the Forerunner 310XT is making its way on to people's wrists and wish lists. And there's plenty of reasons why. It's a true multisport training watch, so all of the triathletes here in San Diego can switch sport settings easily and accurately track each of their splits and transition times. The Forerunner 310XT lasts up to 20 hours on a single charge, answering the call of endurance athletes everywhere. The vibration alerts make sure that you won't miss any milestones, regardless of how loud or crowded the environment may be. And it communicates wirelessly with compatible power meters, heart rate monitors, speed/cadence sensors and your Mac or PC - automatically downloading your fresh data as soon as you near your computer. So if you're in San Diego to run or cheer, stop by the Expo, say hi and get your first glimpse of the new Forerunners. Just like the runners (including Adam from Garmin, pictured below), they're going fast.

 

Hands-on with the trucker-friendly nüvi 465T

The guys at GPSMagazine recently took the nüvi 465T- Garmin's first navigation device designed for the trucking industry - out for a test drive and have posted about their experiencefrom start to finish, calling it "the best GPS for truckers, hands down." This device was built with the truck driver in mind and can navigate routes based on a truck's type, load and physical restrictions. Customizable by height, weight, length, width and hazardous materials, this nüvi will provide specialized routing to support truck-related restrictions based on your vehicle profile. Simply enter dimensions and load restrictions and let the nüvi guide the way. According to the GPS Mag crew, "trucking isn't just an afterthought slapped on at the last minute; everything about the 465T reflects the well thought out needs of a truck driver." We couldn't agree more - especially because the nüvi 465T is the first navigation device to link locations in the National Truck and Trailer Services (NTTS) Breakdown directoryto its relevant point of interest content. Drivers can even enter multiple point routing for a more efficient route between multiple stops. Keep your eyes out for the 465Ts to land on store shelves soon, but in the meantime, check out the full review and our video for more information, screen shots and more!

Jake's Journal: In San Diego, in good company

I just landed in San Diego, and in 48 hours I'll be well into my fourth marathon. If the first was a learning experience going solo through sweltering Chicago and the second was strategic with my longtime running partner Steve in the rolling hills of Kansas City, the third time was a charm as I toured New York with my Garmin friend Joel. And though the fourth won't be my fastest - monthlong bronchitis delayed my Boston qualifying plans - I'm expecting something special. I'll be running with Forerunner 310XT, recently called the "King of Wrist-Mounted Trainers" by Wired magazine, and more important I'll be running with my wife, who recently decided to run her first marathon here. The initial plan was for me to run the full 26.2 and Jocelyn would run the half. That plan fell apart when we found out there is no half. Jocelyn, never one to shy away from a challenge, shrugged her shoulders and said, "I guess I'm doing my first full."

So for the past few months, she's been training with Forerunner 405, even going out and tackling 17 miles while I was in Pennsylvania running the Lehigh Valley half. She's fought hip and back pain as well as shin splints, all the while being a devoted disciple of Runner's World's training tips. On Monday, we ran a local 8K as a taper workout, ironic since the same event last year was her first time ever running more than 4 miles. And now we have 26.2 on tap this weekend. It helps that we have support. All of our colleagues, family and friends are pulling us for us, and here in town we have Stan (my brother in baldness) and other Garmin colleagues showing off our fitness products at the expo. Stan spent time earlier this week working out at the Olympic training center, quite a thrill for a runner of four decades. Throw in the thousands of other runners (and Forerunners) joining us on Sunday, and there will clearly be no lack of inspiration. We'll keep you posted, and you can follow me on Twitter.

Curiosity Goes To Mars

GPS doesn't work on Mars, but in a way, NASA's new rover that's currently in production will have a Garmin connection nonetheless.

That's because Clara Ma, the 12-year-old daughter of two talented senior software engineers here at Garmin, won NASA's nationwide contest to name the new lander.  Scheduled for launch in 2011, the new rolling science lab will be known as "Curiosity."  More than 9,000 students from every state submitted essays to name the rover.  Jet Propulsion Lab engineer Suparna Mukherjee presented Clara with the award at her school earlier this week.

True to its name, Curiosity will analyze the Martian environment to determine if it ever has been favorable for supporting life.  The rover also will search for evidence of water and look for several chemical building blocks of life.

In her essay, Clara said that "curiosity is an everlasting flame that burns in everyone's mind. It makes me get out of bed in the morning and wonder what surprises life will throw at me that day."

We'd like to think that same curiosity is what drives us at Garmin.  Congratulations, Clara!

RaceTracker, Pate's place on podium fuel Giro fever

A blogger's cubicle confession: When it comes to watching the Giro d'Italia online or filling out an expense report, the Giro wins. Especially when Team Garmin is mixing it up. Ever since Garmin-Slipstream and Universal Sports teamed up to offer the RaceTracker online with live video, commentary and tracking, we've been tuning in to see Tyler Farrar contest the early sprint stages, David Millar, Dave Zabriskie and Bradley Wiggins push the pace of the peloton and Danny Pate survive in today's breakaway that placed him on the podium for Stage 18. We were huddled around a desk, cheering as Danny attacked and countered all the way to the finish line. We figure it's work-related, what with the Garmin logo emblazened everywhere on the kits of the argyle armada and the on-screen analytics of the RaceTracker.

Once the stage is done, there's always plenty to digest, with the race updates on the Team Garmin blog, including different cyclists' Edge 705 data from various stages. For example, did you know that Millar topped out at 944 watts of power in Stage 14? And speaking of impressive power, Wiggins averaged 377 watts during Stage 12. Throw in behind-the-scenes video from the Giro and other races, and it's amazing we get any emails answered before lunch. Especially when you factor in the success that Team Garmin is having at other big races. Irish road champ Dan Martin and his argyle/shamrock jersey landed on the podium of the Volta a Catalunya. Chris Sutton was the runner-up in the opening stage of the Tour of Bavaria. The only real way to keep up with the nonstop action of Team Garmin is to read the team blog, check out Graham Watson's behind-the-scenes pictures on Flickr and follow @TeamSlipstream and @JakesJournal on Twitter. OK, time to go, we have to watch Wiggo talk about his haircut.

Forerunner tester takes marathon title

As one of the testers for our Forerunner fitness watches, 24-year-old Sarah Milby of Delaware has given us valuable feedback on our products and how they help monitor her pace. Now, in just her fourth marathon, she can tell us exactly what it's like to set the pace. Sarah, a former soccer player at Yale, recently was the fastest woman at the Delaware Marathon with a personal-best of 3:05.17. As her trusty Forerunner 305 could tell her, that means she averaged a 7:04 pace over 26.2 miles in finishing best among the women and 10th overall.

"I didn't expect to win," Sarah told the News Journal. "It felt great out there. The crowd was great. The weather was perfect. It was just an awesome experience." Though she's only been running seriously since her senior year at Yale, the sport seems to be in her bloodline. Her father, Randy, ran the marathon in 3:31:26, and the two of them (pictured above) ran the New York City marathon together last fall.

Click here to read the News Journal's coverage of the race and find more photos here of Sarah's big day (how can she be smiling so much while running so fast??).

Garmin Connect welcomes all Garmin fitness devices

Great news from everyone at Garmin Connect! This week, Garmin Connect threw open its doors to all Garmin fitness devices, so you can now download activities from all of your Edge and Forerunner devices. Also, the move is on as we've started migrating everyone's activities from MotionBased over to Garmin Connect. Because there have been millions of activities shared at MotionBased and Garmin Connect, we had to start somewhere. So we focused first on the most recent activities (the most relevant in your training) and will be uploading the largest activities this summer.

Continue reading for more details about the Garmin Connect migration and other great updates to our online training community.

Victor's Vectors: One step closer to Aviation's NextGen

The House of Representatives recently passed the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2009.  This is a large step in the right direction for the funding of the FAA and the Next Generation Air Traffic Control System (NextGen).  Garmin has been following this closely along with the rest of the aviation community, and we've been on the leading edge of NextGen since the beginning of Capstone project in Alaska.  If you’re not familiar with the Capstone project it is centered on the service called ADS-B, which is short for Automatic Dependent Surveillance – Broadcast. ADS-B is an enabling technology for “free flight” — a FAA vision aimed at improving the safe flow of commercial and non-commercial aircraft within the U.S. air-traffic environment. ADS-B provides real time traffic and weather directly to the cockpit of any aircraft equipped with a receiver like Garmin’s GDL 90, aviation's first certified datalink transceiver. The GDL 90 interfaces with the GMX 200, and when the two systems are working together pilots can "see" aircraft traffic with much more precision than with existing ground-based radar system.

Oregon 550 meets record crowd at GeoWoodstock

Geocachers from at least 46 states in the U.S. and various regions of Europe gathered in Bell Buckle, TN, over the weekend for GeoWoodstock 7. More than 5,000 cachers - from youngsters to age 76, and traveling from as far as 4,500 miles away - made this the largest GeoWoodstock ever and kept us busy in the Garmin booth, where we were showing off the Oregon 550 and Oregon 550t, our newest touchscreen handhelds with built-in camera.

We also gave limited-edition Oregon geocoins to a few lucky winners, and there are more of these coveted coins stashed in random caches around the world so let us know if you stumble across one. As you can imagine, we spent most of our time at GeoWoodstock talking about the 550's built-in, waterproof 3.2MP camera that is perfect for capturing every cache at the moment of discovery, but we did find time to snap a few pics of our own. Especially when Alamogul stopped by the Garmin booth. Known to the rest of the world as Lee van der Bokke, Alamogul has logged more finds (32,670 and counting) so we were excited to snap his picture (above) with the Oregon 550t. Thanks to everyone who stopped by the booth and attended GeoWoodstock 7, and we'll see you on the trails and on the road!

20-year stories: Garmin was his life preserver

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, including some memorable customer testimonials. This story comes from a couple of seamen whose Memorial Day 10 years ago was, well … more memorable than most. Here’s their story.

When Steve purchased his 29-foot sport fishing boat along with a business partner, he insisted that they spend a little more money on a GPS system. He chose a Garmin GPSMAP 230. Turns out that was a life-changing decision. Memorial Day weekend, 1999, Steve, Reese and four other friends spent a day fishing in the Gulf Stream off Charleston Harbor. As Reese walked to the boat's stern, he was pitched overboard, but no one heard his cries for help. Shirtless, and without a life jacket, he spent the longest 45 minutes of his life bobbing in the warm Gulf Stream waters.

It's a car. It's a plane. It's both.

We regularly receive testimonials from customers on how they use their Garmin products. All testimonials are interesting and fun for us to read, but every now and again one will appear that almost seems fictional because of how incredible it is. That's the case with this testimonial that we received from Terrafugia -- a new company that has made a flying car called the Transition. If you're wondering how this pertains to Garmin, it's because they're using our aviation products to help guide the plane while it's in the air and the car while it's on the ground. Their Garmin units of choice are the SL30 VHF nav/com, GTX 327 transponder, and GPSMAP 496. The GPSMAP 496 is the ultimate crossover product for them -- just like the Transition -- because it provides all the aviation-specific info for flying and comes preloaded with City Navigator street maps for navigating on the ground. If you're wondering how a vehicle can be both a car and plane, check out these videos. This is one you almost need to see to believe.

Peg’s Posts: young athletes give it a tri

Last Saturday, I had the honor of assisting with the HyVee Kids’ Triathlon in Gladstone, Missouri. I say honor because I can’t think of a better way for athletes to support their sport than by volunteering at races. Several Garmin associates were there, lending their time and experience to make the race safe and fun for the young participants. More than 200 kids, ages 6-14, splashed their way through an indoor pool swim, then snagged their bikes and wobbled through transition to face a breezy bike ride through town. After parking their sweet ride (and I do mean sweet—there were some fancy streamers, basketed bikes, and even some training wheels), the participants headed onto the run course to complete 1, 2 or 4 laps on the .25-mile course.

We had a great group of volunteers on the run course and I tasked my running friend and Garmin engineer Tracy with sorting the participants, a process that involved some mental math to associate bib # with age group and number of laps required. Then a couple of course volunteers, Sharpies in hand, swiped runners’ arms as they sped by or directed them to the finish when their laps were complete. At the finish line, each participant received a medal, bestowed by Olympic triathlete Jarrod Shoemaker. To ensure that no participant finished last, we had a designated “last biker” on the course, and my oldest daughter filled the slot of designated “last runner.”

Click & Ride with Garmin and Volkswagen

Got a Volkswagen? It's time to get a Garmin, but not just any Garmin -- you need the "Click & Ride." Since Volkswagen has just named Garmin its aftermarket GPS supplier, they've launched the new Volkswagen "Click & Ride" GPS specifically for Volkswagen owners worldwide.  The Click & Ride is based on the Garmin nuvi 7x5 series, and one of the biggest things that sets it apart from traditional nuvi devices is the custom mount that is tailored to all Volkswagen models. We worked with Volkswagen's engineers to ensure the mount design meets all the safety requirements and integrates seamlessly into the vehicle. The GPS is charged by the car’s power supply and all audio, including turn by turn directions, is outputted via the car speakers. Plus, one of the biggest advantages of the Click & Ride is when you want to explore the city on foot, you simply snap the GPS out of the cradle and you'll continue to receive directions in pedestrian mode.

The Click & Ride has a 4.3" screen and has all of our advanced features like lane assist, which guide the driver to the correct lane when approaching a turn or exit by displaying life-like road signs on the display. It also has traffic services that notify the driver of upcoming traffic or road construction delays. If an accident or construction delay occurred prior to the user programming their route, the Click & Ride will automatically calculate a route around the congestion.

Garmin runner Mathew Chesang is ready to race

While some Garmin associates (Peg included) can vouch for our fitness products prompting their dedication to running, some in our midst seem to have been born runners. Mathew Chesang is that guy. That guy with “fast” in his genes. That guy who probably was probably lapping kids in the 800m in junior high. Mathew's an All-American who’s kept up quite a winning streak since his days leading his university cross-country team from 2001-2004. He now trains with the Forerunner 405. Here’s an update from Mathew on his current training and racing schedule.

Last year’s road racing season was one of my best even though I had a hamstring injury that denied me running toward the end of the summer. I had to start my training late this year because of the injury. I did run my first race during the Easter weekend in Wichita, KS. I ran a 31:40 in the 10k. After that I went down to St. Louis and ran the Spirit of St. Louis half marathon. I was 4th place with a time of 1:08, and then the weekend after, I ran the local Kansas City Trolley Run 4-mile. I was 12th place with a time of 18:39. If my training goes smooth and I stay healthy, I will be running the local Hospital Hill Run half marathon on June 6. After that, I’ll be running the inaugural Rock’n’Roll Seattle half marathon on June 27.

Stay tuned to the Garmin blog as we try to keep up with Mathew and his race schedule. We have some special events planned for Mathew’s race in Seattle, and even if you’re not there racing or as a spectator, you can stay up on all the action right here.

Victor's Vectors: Tabbing Through flyGarmin.com

I’ve received some good feedback for posting information about database updates.  So, this week’s blog is an explanation of the tabs at the top of your flyGarmin.com account.  The first tab is “Home.”  This is the first page you see when signing in and provides plenty of useful information and links for reference.  The second tab is “Databases.”  This page shows all the databases or subscriptions you have purchased and is a quick, easy way to download a database subscription. There is also a link to a page that shows all the database cycles and the dates the databases will become available.  The next tab is “Portables.” This page shows you all the portable GPS units on your account, and gives you the ability to check the portable to see what databases are installed and what databases are available for your specific product. This is also the page you would add a new portable device to your account.  The last tab is “Aircraft.” The aircraft page lists all of your aircraft and panel mounted devices.  Like the Portables tab, you can easily view the databases that are installed in your airplane.  You can also add a new aircraft or panel mounted device from the Aircraft page.  Hopefully, this brief overview will help you get the most out of your free flyGarmin account.

my.Garmin.com: Get the latest and greatest for your GPS

We're at it again. We're figuring out ways to make your life easier, and we think we have another winner. This time we've created something for the GPS device you already own -- my.Garmin.com is a site where you can manage all there is to manage about your GPS. From registering your Garmin to downloading new maps to learning more about your specific GPS, my.Garmin.com is designed to be a helpful resource 24/7.

So, here's what you should do...
1. Visit http://my.Garmin.com.
2. Click on the second tab, myDashboard and follow the screen prompts
3. Connect your GPS to your computer through the USB port.
4. Be prepared to learn more about your GPS than you ever thought possible from one central location.

As soon as my.Garmin recognizes that a GPS device is connected to the computer, you can click on the second tab, myDashboard, and you'll see a picture of your devcie along with helpful information about your GPS like map updates and free software updates. myGarmin is completely tailored to you and your GPS, so take some time to explore and discover everything there is to know about your Garmin.

Jenna takes 2nd, Ben places 5th at Pan-Am Championships

Garmin-sponsored triathletes Jenna Shoemaker and Ben Collins share their training and racing experiences with the Garmin Edge 705 and Forerunner 405. Soon, they’ll get to put the new swim-proof Forerunner 310XT to the test.

From Ben’s press release:
It is rare that an athlete’s Plan ‘A’ works out perfectly, but for Ben Collins there was no need for a plan ‘B’ in Oklahoma City. Of the 65 men who started the race, Collins stayed with a select few who managed to create a gap in the swim. That break was dwindled further in a hectic first transition, and a breakaway group of seven athletes was formed, including Olympians Hunter Kemper and Matt Reed. Collins and his breakaway companions turned a 20 second lead out of transition into three minutes over a chase pack of 50 athletes by the end of the 40km cycling leg. Starting the 10km run, Matt Reed went off the front. Collins stayed strong and clocked his best run split to date to finish in 5th place. A 5th place is Collins’ highest ITU finish to date, and to score such a high place at the Continental Championships is a monumental step toward the goals of this young triathlete.

From Jenna:
After a very productive, but short, two+ weeks in Boulder, I headed to Oklahoma City for the ITU Pan American Championships. Based on the start list, and how I have been progressing, I was confident that I could have another strong result and perhaps a top 5 finish if everything went really well. It was only about 65 degrees out when the race commenced, a lot cooler than I thought it would be, and with the strong Midwestern wind in full force, blowing upwards of 38 mph, weather would certainly be a factor. I was excited for another race but a bit nervous to be back on home soil and racing in front of pretty much the entire USA Triathlon staff.

Peg’s Posts: Step by step with FR60 and foot pod

I never used to be a data geek. In fact, I’m not all that good with numbers and have a hard time recalling my PRs for particular race distances. Thank goodness Garmin Connect collects all my stats for me so I can go back and look up activities from last week, last month or even last year. Okay, so maybe I am a data geek. My latest fascination: spm, or steps per minute … also known as cadence. I even had a chance to share by data geekishness with a couple of 4th graders on a recent field trip.

Steps per minute is like a tasty side dish complementing the distance data you can get when using a Garmin foot pod with a compatible fitness watch. The foot pod is what measures your distance when used with a non-GPS watch like the FR60 or when used indoors with devices like the Forerunner 405 or the new Forerunner 405CX and Forerunner 310XT. I put my FR60 and foot pod into action on Wednesday, when I accompanied my daughter on a fourth-grade field trip to the Kansas City Zoo. To start our day, we walked to Africa. And it only took us 7 minutes, give or take a few seconds. While we could’ve taken a tram, we missed the first one and this group leader wasn’t about to wait another 15 minutes for the next ride. So we headed off, with the girls repeatedly asking “how far have we gone?” At the end of our safari, FR60 reported that we’d trekked 3.61 miles and taken 10,108 steps. The girls were thrilled. That data somehow justified all their sweat and their aching feet. I could totally relate. I think I may have some data geeks in the making.

What to get Dads and Grads

Dads and Grads season is here, and hardworking dads and graduates deserve something cool for their big day. Forget about the pen and pencil set, it's time to think high-tech. If you're not sure if you should get your dad or grad a GPS for their car, golf cart, dog, wrist, boat, plane, motorcycle or bike, you're in luck. Editors all over the world are compiling and publishing lists of their favorite devices so you can pick the perfect gift. So far, PC Mag has named the nüvi as a top pick for graduates that are bound to get lost as they travel between home and college. According to PC Mag, one of the great things about the nüvi is that even entry-level models "offers a lot of bang for the buck and are excellent choices for the budget conscious."  The Approach G5 has also been making many Father's Day gift guide lists because it will help dad improve his golf game and give him the ultimate competitive edge. Check our site for more great gift ideas.

20-year stories: First day memories

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 hear from one of Garmin’s original employees who reflects on his first day, back in October 1989. When you start a company with just a handful of engineers, everybody has to pitch in. Even when it means going on a run for office supplies with the company co-founder. Learn more about Garmin’s history by viewing our interactive timeline and a video celebrating 20 years of innovation. Check back to the Garmin blog for more stories from our past, including some insight on the men who made Garmin — Gary Burrell and Dr. Min Kao.

Victor's Vectors: Keeping your databases current

I asked Garmin’s aviation product support specialists what some of the most common calls are about, and they said it’s from customers needing assistance with their aviation databases.  That is very understandable considering that most of our newer GPS units have up to six separate databases.  Understanding your aviation databases and updating database information can be confusing, especially when you are initially setting up your flyGarmin.com account.  We posted a blog in February called flyGarmin 101 that included a video that walked through the initial processes.  Since this video has been popular, I decided to mention it again now that flying season is upon us.  I also plan to have a couple more posts about databases and database updates that I hope will help clear up some of the confusion. But for now, watch the video and then visit flyGarmin.com to set up your free account.

Marine software 5.0: Are you updated?

It's no surprise that we take pride in not only releasing new products, but also in making improvements to our existing product line. Around here, we like to call it making great products even better. And recently, we announced a the Version 5.0 software update, a new free update for the GPSMAP 4000 and 5000 series chartplotters that brings numerous exiting new technologies and enhanced features to the chartplotter. The update will greatly improve drawing speeds for charts and will provide better map performance to give the user quicker access to the information they want and need the most with fewer keystrokes between screens. Continuous smooth between zoom levels and of the head-up presentation ensures the user will never lose sight of their location while zooming in and out for a more seamless navigation experience. Other highlights include improved 3D performance for those without a g2 Vision card, the ability to move a pointer around on the sonar image when paused and mark waypoints underwater, and improved autoguidance with better performance in shallow water and narrow channels.

This update is an easy update across your entire compatible marine network. Simply update your 4000 or 5000 plotter and the data will automatically reach the rest of the compatible Garmin marine network products, including sonar, radar and weather receivers...just in time for the summer boating season!

Jake's Journal: Putting Forerunner 310XT through the paces

Four miles downhill with a tailwind. Seven miles of Pennsylvania trails. A half-marathon on the home turf of Runner's World. A fast 5K with Garmin's good name on the line, and 18 miles of training later in the day. And though I needed to refuel after every outing these past three weekends, my Forerunner 310XT did it all on a single charge. The talk of the fitness industry since being announced in April, the waterproof multisport 310XT is up for any challenge and ready to chronicle your efforts wirelessly afterward. And it's my job to put it through the paces (especially average and lap - but more about that later).

That's how I found myself in the hills of Pennsylvania's Lehigh Valley, running trails with tech experts from Runner's World and Bicycling magazines. What started as a taper day turned into seven miles of exploration in the woods, and Forerunner 310XT's high-sensitivity GPS receiver excelled amid the heavy tree cover. Two days later, 310XT was again on our wrists as Brian from Runner's World pushed me to a new PR of 1:32. We knew we were on the right track when 310XT's "average pace" - what we're running over the entire race - stayed below 7 minutes and landed on 6:59.

Team Garmin update from Giro d’Italia

Team Garmin’s much-anticipated performance at the Giro d’Italia has already been marked by tragedy and triumph. Heavy stuff first: team captain Christian Vande Velde was injured in today’s stage 3 and the latest is that he’s in an ambulance headed to the hospital with possible lower back or hip injuries. Teammate Tyler Farrar pulled off a 2nd place finish today, moving him into 2nd place overall. Yesterday, Farrar’s sprinting skills shone on a flat finish, putting him in the top five. “The team put in a great ride for me today,” said Farrar. “Danny, Cam, and Tom did a fantastic job riding the front, and Dave, Bradley, and Julien took care of me for the final. I was feeling good and picked off the intermediate sprint. But I just didn’t quite have the luck in the end. I know that the legs are good, and the team is flying so I think a stage win is definitely in the cards!” In Saturday’s opening time trial, Team Garmin took 2nd overall, just six seconds behind Columbia. With today’s racing over, our thoughts are with Christian and the rest of the team members who could be facing the possibility of 18 more stages through Italy without the company of their team leader. Get continuing Giro coverage at www.garmin.com/teamgarmin.

There's a jet in the parking lot

It's not every day that you drive into work and see a jet in your parking space, but that's exactly what happened today. The Cirrus team visited Garmin today and they brought a mock-up of their new jet, the Vision SF50. It was raining cats and dogs when the mock-up rolled off the truck, but that didn't stop people from taking lots of pictures before walking in the building. I guess a few raindrops never hurt anyone and it's not often that you see an airplane in front of your office! 

In addition to bringing the SF50 to Garmin's headquarters, Cirrus's executive team was on hand to talk about the new aircraft. Garmin was announced as the avionics supplier for the Vision earlier this year, and the current flying test aircraft, V1, uses the Perspective by Garmin™ avionics system, which is the same avionics that is currently available on Cirrus's SR‐series of piston aircraft. Cirrus Aircraft and Garmin have been partners in every Cirrus Aircraft model delivered to date. Garmin 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.

A special thanks to Cirrus for making this an extremely memorable Friday!

Peg’s Posts: How to make mom’s day

While perfumeries, patisseries and other retail niches are advertising the perfect gifts for mom, Peg’s been thinking of some unique ways to show mom she’s the best. And some won’t even cost you a dime. After all, she probably just wants you to spend time with her.

Adventure-seeking moms: Take her to find some cache … go geocaching. If you already own a GPS, that’s all the equipment you need. This high-tech version of a scavenger hunt can be played with just about any Garmin GPS—basic handhelds to nüvis to units like Oregon 400t with special geocaching features. Look up nearby geocache locations online and transfer the GPS coordinates to your unit, then head out to seek. As of today, there are 794, 655 active geocaches around the world. That oughta keep you and mom busy. If you’re caching with kids, be sure to bring swag to swap in the standard caches. Got piles of kids’ meal toys looking for a new home? Bring it.

Moms on the run: Find a new scenic trail or route that she’s never been on and take her for a run. To search for new routes in your area or a nearby town, go to our Garmin Connect site and click the “Explore” tab. Here, you can search from millions of activities uploaded by Garmin users around the world. Get detailed data on the route, including distance, mapping, elevation and more. There's even a map player feature to replay the activity. If you have a compatible Garmin fitness device (like Edge 705 or Forerunner 405), you can send the course file to your device. Just click the “send to device” button under the summary box.

A new hair cut for a cause

The Garmin family is proud to give back to the community. And yesterday, we were excited to watch one of our executives shed his locks for an incredible cause. For several months, co-workers, friends, family and business associates of Jon Cassat, Garmin's vice president of marketing communications, have rallied together to raise money in support of the American Cancer Society's Shave to Save - a fundraiser that donates 100 percent of its proceeds to the Society's Hope Lodge in Kansas City. The Hope Lodge is a home away from home for cancer patients and their caregivers traveling to Kansas City during their treatment. During Shave to Save, volunteers take the stage in front of hundreds of supporters and publicly shave their heads in honor of someone that has been affected by cancer. After raising a record-setting amount of more than $14K, the Garmin family cheered, applauded and joined the crowd in chanting"Jon, Jon, Jon!" as his wife took the first swipe of his hair at yesterday's event. Collectively, this year's event raised more money than all years prior, and more than $175K was raised for the Hope Lodge. Thanks again to everyone that supported the cause and came out to see Jon put his head on the buzz block!

Make the Most of your Garmin with Downloadable Content

It happens. Your employer asks you to make an emergency international trip, your significant other surprises you with a birthday getaway to New York City (and your birthday is tomorrow), a friend suggests a spur-of-the-moment hiking trip. We’ve all been there – and now we’re making it easier to get there with downloadable content for your compatible Garmin GPS. 

In the past, you could get additional maps and guides by purchasing a DVD or a pre-programmed data card. It’s easy enough . . . but last-minute trips could present a challenge. That’s where our downloadable content really shines. 

We have downloadable content for a variety of uses. If you’re planning a trip to a new city and want to get out on foot and explore, our cityXplorer map data (for compatible Garmin products) is the ideal navigation companion. With cityXplorer, you can plan and use routes that include public transit options such as bus, tramway, metro and suburban rail systems. You can also download Travel Guides as well. Travel Guides provide reviews and recommendations for restaurants, hotels, shopping and more. 

Garmin is proudly offering downloadable maps for many parts of the world for a variety of uses. Whether you’re hiking, biking, fishing, or driving in unfamiliar areas, you’ll be able to get the content you need when you need it.  

Visit our Download Page today and learn more about all of our Downloadable Content options. 

Picture Perfect: Oregon® 550/550t with built-in camera ready to do it all

One of the most common questions we get is: "If I want one device for the trail, the bike, the car, the boat - which one can I get?" It's a tough question, because Garmin makes so many great products tailor-made for your different activities, but the search for a versatile device just got easier with the newly announced Oregon 550 and Oregon 550t. And we added a camera to chronicle your adventures.

We've taken the popular Oregon touchscreen handheld and built in a 3.2 megapixel digital camera, which creates geotagged images, and a 3-axis compass into the popular series of intuitive touchscreen handhelds. The waterproof Oregon 550 and Oregon 550t (which features preloaded 100K topo maps for the entire U.S. in state-of-the-art 3D elevation perspective), have an easy-to-use interface and versatile features that make either the ideal solution for customers looking for a multipurpose GPS device.

There’s no need to tote a separate camera in your pack or pocket as Oregon 550's 3.2 megapixel autofocus digital camera with 4x digital zoom automatically geotags each photo with the location of where it was taken, allowing you to mark, remember and navigate back to that exact spot in the future. With this waterproof digital camera, you can take and view pictures in landscape or portrait orientation, and 850 MB of internal memory offers ample storage. These pictures can then be printed or stored and shared online, making every trip even more memorable. Once your Oregon 550 is connected via USB, you can use my.Garmin.com to detect Oregon’s photos, simplify the selection and uploading processes and then store those photos on Picasa, a popular online photo sharing community for friends and families around the world.

Victor's Vectors: How to Update Aviation Databases

It’s that time of the month again and we have been swamped with calls from customers needing assistance updating the databases for their GPS units.  FlyGarmin.com has been getting a large amount of praise, but some customers have had some issues setting up their new account.  One common issue is the installation of the Garmin Communicator Plugin on your computer, which is required for automatic downloads from flyGarmin and is one of the advanced features that makes flyGarmin so user friendly.  One problem I’ve been hearing on a regular basis is that the plugin is not being detected properly on the test page.  This can often be caused because of the settings of the browser that you are using.  When on the test page, look out for an information bar at the top of the page that requires your input to run an Active X control that the plugin utilizes.  After clicking on the “Run ActiveX Control”, the test page will refresh and you should see it verify that the plugin is installed and up to date.  Also on the test page, it’s important to have your GPS or data card connected to the computer to verify that the test page is communicating with it as well.  With the Communicator Plugin installed and communicating properly, flyGarmin becomes a useful tool that is easy to use during that time of the month. Click here for a  step-by-step video on updating your databases.

Team Garmin unveils roster for Giro d'Italia

Team Garmin-Slipstream, defending Team Time Trial champion of the 2008 Giro d’Italia, today announced its much-anticipated line-up for the 2009 edition of the race. Christian Vande Velde (far left), the first American rider to wear the Maglia Rosa since 1988, will be joined by Bradley Wiggins, Cameron Meyer, Danny Pate, David Millar, David Zabriskie, Julian Dean, Tom Danielson and Tyler Farrar.

“We are bringing an incredible group of riders to the Giro d’Italia, and we have some big goals we want to achieve,” said Matt White, Director. “The team has been training hard for this race and we’d of course love to get the Maglia Rosa again, but we will be happy with a few strong performances.”

When asked about the difficulty of choosing the list, White added: “Narrowing down a Grand Tour list is always difficult, especially when guys like Ryder Hesjedal have been having a tremendous season. But we need to keep our goal of helping Christian at the Tour de France in mind, and preserving someone like Ryder now could be a huge benefit to us later.” The team will look to defend last year’s Team Time Trial victory on Saturday.

Helicopters Get WAAS Avionics

Yeah! We achieved another aviation first today. We're the first to receive the FAA's AML-STC to install GPS/WAAS avionics on helicopters. Those who aren't pilots may not realize the significance of this statement, but those that fly helicopters are rejoicing because they'll now be able to operate in and out of areas that would otherwise be unavailable because of marginal weather. This AML-STC (approved model list supplemental type certificate) is for the GNS 400W/500W series and it covers approximately 50 of the most popular helicopters like the Bell 206, Enstrom 280FX, Agusta A109, Eurocopter EC135, MD Helicopters 600-N-Notar, Robinson R22 and R44, and many more. In addition, it includes certification for custom steep LPV approaches for up to six degrees, which means law enforcement and medical teams will be able to land their helicopters in areas with urban rooftops, such as hospitals.

The best 4.3-inch GPS?

The Engadget team caught our eye today because they're asking for your opinion on the best 4.3-inch GPS. So far, the nüvi 265WT and nüvi 765T have been mentioned quite a few times, but there are at least a dozen other nüvis to choose from too. If you're wondering why there are so many nüvis in our product line, it's because each one has slightly different features so that you can choose a GPS that fits your lifestyle.

Let's say you travel overseas often. If so, you should consider owning a GPS that has preloaded North America and Europe maps (and we designate those models by using a 7 in the tens-column of the model name, like nüvi x7x or nüvi 1x7x). If you never travel to overseas, you can save some money by choosing a device that only has maps for the North America, or even the lower 48 if you don't plan to be in Canada. After you figure out what type of maps you want preloaded on your nüvi, you can narrow it down by looking at what features you need. Is Bluetooth capability for wireless calls a must have? How about traffic info? Would cityXplorer's pedestrian navigation be helpful? These decisions may seem a little overwhelming at first, but ultimately, you'll own a GPS that is tailored to you.