Our e-mail this week comes from M. Smith: "I recently purchased a nüvi 260 and know nothing about GPS systems." As proof of the popularity of all of the new vehicles we're adding to the Garmin Garage, topping our e-mailer's to-do list was downloading new vehicle icons. "Can anyone help me?"
Absolutely. Not only is it easy, it's free! We have a cheat sheet for installing new vehicles, and we'll explain the steps in detail later in this post. In less than a minute, you can be cruising in style. For those who spend their days helping others, we have the popular service vehicles bundle. We also cater to outdoor enthusiasts, Elliott Sadler fans, or anyone looking for something sleek or pink or futuristic.
Must-have sport watch meets must-see TV in these brief training clips featuring our own blog editor and running expert, Jake. He’ll show you the hottest features of the new Forerunner 405 and teach you how to use the innovative touch bezel. We’ll be posting a whole series of these videos at this site. Catch a few now, come back for more clips later, including a segment where Jake goes head to head with Forerunner’s digital Virtual Partner. For all our customers who’ve been patiently waiting to get their hands on our newest GPS-enabled sport watch, we’re happy to say the 405 is now in stores, including our Chicago Store on the Magnificent Mile, and it's going like hot cakes.
A picture is worth a thousand words, and that's where this week's Ask Garmin question comes to life. Jim asks, "I have aGarmin nüvi 650 and need to know how to add the pictures from my camera. Can you help me?" Don't worry Jim, the answer is simple. If you're like Jim and want to view JPEG images on your Garmin nüvi, or have your favorite image greet you when the device is turned on, follow these simple instructions and you'll be showing your favorite photo ops to all your passengers! First, download the images from your camera to your computer. Next, connect your device to a PC with a USB cord. Once connected, open the Garmin nüvi drive under My Computer. You will then see a Garmin folder, and inside there, a JPEG folder. Now, all you have to do is save your favorite images to that folder, and away you go! You'll find these images on your device under Tools>Picture Viewer. An alternative is to remove the SD card from your camera, and put it in the device itself to view images temporarily.
Remember, if you have a question, Ask Garmin... and check back every Monday for the answer.
MapQuest site sends to Garmin: A step-by-step demo
We're all about options. From the wide variety of nuvis and intuitive features we offer to the ways that you can use them to maximize your time and minimize your stress. So we're excited to show you yet another way you can search, save and find your destinations - whether it's a quick lunch or a weeklong vacation. We recently announced a collaborative effort with MapQuest that lets you send the results of your online trip planning directly to your Garmin GPS device. It's fast, free and so easy to use that Jake can show you the simple steps in just a few seconds in this video.
Ask Garmin: In case of emergency, where do I turn?
Today's Ask Garmin question comes from Dennis, who says: "I have a heart condition, and my wife and I like to travel in the Midwest. My wife wants to have an automotive GPS that will tell us where the nearest hospital is located. What options do you have available?"
The good news Dennis, is that Garmin has a lot of options that fit your needs. Our newly announced nüvi 700-series devices all boast the "Where Am I?" feature, that displays a driver's latitude and longitude coordinates, the nearest address and intersection, and the closest hospitals, police stations and gas stations. And for hands-free navigation, nüvi 800 series also displays these important locations when a driver speaks the phrase, "Where Am I?"
In addition to these powerful navigators, each nüvi 2x5 device also includes this popular feature. And don't forget, drivers can easily reference hospital locations on any automotive device by tapping the "points of interest" button, and then "hospitals." Thanks for writing in, Dennis, and enjoy your travels!
Anticipating the release of the Forerunner 405 at the Boston Marathon, an e-mailer asks "What's the difference between the Garmin Forerunner 305 and 405?" Aside from the specs on our "click-and-compare" table, the two biggest differences with the 405 are the innovative touch bezel and the wireless data transfer. The touch-sensitive bezel controls the bulk of the functions while making the 405 look more like an everyday watch. The wireless transfer is easy to use when sharing data unit-to-unit, and any new data automatically downloads when you're within range of your PC's ANT receiver.
Available in a multi-sport bundle that maximizes its potential for duathletes and triathletes, the Forerunner 305's power, versatility and reliability have made it a must-have training tool. So it's hard to go wrong. Runner's World UK discusses some of the differences in their thorough 405 review, and Robin Adams, a New York sports anchor and fitness nut, just blogged about using a Forerunner in marathon training and said "Garmin is the way to go!"
I grew up surrounded by teachers - both parents, my sister, aunts, uncles, friends' parents, even my grandma, who turns 90 on Saturday. I grew up not knowing that anyone worked during the summer. (I'm still not a big fan of the idea.) So I'm excited to get the chance to spread the word about the many features and functions of the highly anticipated Forerunner 405. The first tutorial video, shown below, will get you started on your first run. More quick clips will follow and focus on key features of the Forerunner 405, which will make its debut at the Boston Marathon. We'll also be covering other Garmin products, so send us an e-mail and tell us which lessons you'd like to see come to life.
Ask Garmin: Who’s right? Forerunner or the race course?
A Forerunner customer who recently ran the Shamrock Shuffle 8k in Chicago asked us why the distance shown on her Forerunner varied from the official race distance of 5 miles … or 4.9709695379 if you want to be ultra precise. If the distance shown on your Forerunner is slightly more than the official race distance, it just means you weren’t cutting corners—quite literally. According to the IAAF (International Association of Athletics Federation) course measurement guidelines (pg. 20), a road race course is defined by the shortest possible route a runner could take without being disqualified. For most races, a certified measurer rides the course on a bike, staying near the curb and taking every available tangent. This ensures that all runners will run at least the declared race distance. After the race, if Forerunner shows that you ran a little farther, this just accounts for extra steps you took to run around others participants, hit a water stop or stay to the middle or outside lane.
Today's Ask Garmin topic is a frequently asked question: "I'm a truck driver; which Garmin GPS is best for myjob?" While I can't speak for all big-rig drivers, one commonality among the drivers we do hear from is the preference for route planning capabilities. With route planning, drivers can save 10 routes, specify via points and preview simulated turns from the drivers seat - perfect for life on the road. For those who spend their workdays on an 18-wheeler, we suggest the nüvi 5000 - a big-time navigator on a large 5.2-inch screen. For the ultimate efficiency, this nüvi automatically sorts multiple destinations to provide the best route for errands or deliveries. And in case you ever find yourself off the beaten path, this nüvi boasts the "Where Am I?" feature to help you find your way. In addition to the 5000, other units that support route planning to make traveling more streamlined are the nüvi 700 and 800 series, the StreetPilot 2820, 7200, 7500, and the Quest and Quest 2.
Whether you're navigating life on 2, 4 or 18 wheels, if you've got a question - Ask Garmin! And we'll do our best to dig up the answer. See you next Monday!
This week's Ask Garmin question comes from Tom who is wondering about Bluetooth connectivity. Well Tom, it's convenient, safe and many of our devices boast this hands-free phenom. First, let's talk about what Bluetooth does for you. Once your Bluetooth-enabled mobile phone has been paired with your nüvi, Street Pilot or zūmo, you'll be connected to the world of hands-free phone calls, one-touch dialing to reach points of interest (POI) and the ability to find and dial numbers from your phone book or call history log. Then, not only will you be able to use your Garmin to look up the closest movie theater after dinner, but you can even make a hands-free call to check the show times. After the movie, call home to check on the babysitter, or call your friends for a night on the town - all while staying focused on the road. If a 2-wheel ride is more your style, connect your Bluetooth-enabled headset/helmet and cell phone to make and receive hands-free calls. To find out if your phone is compatible, click here. Then check out the list of Bluetooth-compatible Garmin devices to find the perfect match for you.
That's all for today ... if you've got a question, make sure to Ask Garmin and check back every Monday for the scoop.
Today's question comes from Bill, who asks: "Do you make an accessory for a nüvi GPS that provides traffic info?" Bill, you're not alone in hating highway headaches, so we offer several different nüvis and receivers that can warn of logjams ahead. Go to garmin.com/traffic for details.
For starters, we have FM traffic receivers that monitor highway traffic and road construction in many metro areas. Your Garmin device will adjust your route accordingly - or tell you if your current path is still the best way, regardless of a slight delay. Click here for more info on FM traffic and which of our products are compatible.
Then there's MSN Direct, the service that goes far beyond traffic jams. Not only will it solve your commuting concerns, MSN Direct also provides weather updates, fuel prices, movie listings, headline news items, stock listings, local events and custom locations sent directly from Windows Live Local. Click here for MSN Direct details and compatible Garmin devices.
Today's Ask Garmin answers tap into our nüvi line. Joe wants to buy a nüvi and is interested in the nüvi 260W and the nüvi 350. "They both seem the same, except the 260W is a wide screen. Other than that, what's the difference?" With more than 30 nüvi models available to fit your specific needs, the click-and-compare feature on our Web site comes in handy. Simply by choosing the 260W and 350, and then clicking the "compare" button, you can see that the most visible differences are the size and screen (260W has 4.3" screen, 350 is 3.5"). The 350 has a flip-up antenna, is FM traffic compatible, has a headphone/audio jack and can play audio books and MP3s. Thanks, Joe, and happy shopping!
Janet Adams asks, "I have a nüvi 650 and want to know how I can get different voices downloaded on my Garmin? It only came with one voice." Glad to have you in the Garmin family, Janet. You'll find a wide range of voices and languages already available on your nüvi 650 by selecting Tools (the wrench icon) and Locale. The menus on some models differ slightly, so nüvi users can also check under Tools//Settings/Language/Voice. Enjoy!
If you have a question about a product, don't hesitate to Ask Garmin and check back here every Monday!
Peter Wellsman asks: Which power meters will the Edge 705 work with? I am aware that SRM will have a unit out this spring, are there other companies on board? Thanks for the great gear and all the work going into the Mac compatibility! Thanks for the great question, Peter. The Edge 705 is designed to work with any power meter that is compatible with ANT+Sport, the wireless technology that connects our newest fitness devices to their accessories, your computer and each other. At this time, SRM and Quarq have announced compatible power meters, and you can watch our blog for the latest updates.
In a related question, Edgar asks: Is the new Edge 705 compatible with the cadence sensor that I presently use with my Edge 305? Or will I have to purchase the complete unit including a NEW cadence sensor? Good news, Edgar. Knowing that many Garmin users choose to stay within the Garmin family when they upgrade or expand their fitness devices, our engineers worked hard to make our products compatible with existing accessories. So if you already have, for example, a heart-rate monitor from your Forerunner 305 or Forerunner 50, you can use it with the Forerunner 405 when it becomes available in April. That's why you'll see two versions of each color of 405 - with and without the heart-rate monitor included.
Send your "Ask Garmin" questions to garminblogs@garmin.com and look for new posts every Monday.
Many of you have been wondering about, well, a lot of things. We wanted to give you one easy place to turn for answers. So every Monday, we're bringing you a new feature: Ask Garmin. Just send a question to garminblogs@garmin.com with Ask Garmin in the subject line, and we'll track down an answer.
Today's question: When can I buy an Edge 705 or a Forerunner 405? OK, we're kind of cheating here, because this is a combination of two of the most common questions since we introduced these revolutionary fitness devices. And we have great news - the Edge 705 is shipping to stores as we speak! So check with your local bike shop, and get ready to lose yourself in the ride.
As for the Forerunner 405, we could tell right from the get-go that this powerful fitness watch doesn't shy away from the spotlight. So it only makes sense that it would hit the streets going stride for stride with the world's best runners. Look for the Forerunner 405, with its touch bezel and wireless data transfer, to hit the ground running at the Boston Marathon. Where it goes from there is up to you.
Our e-mail this week comes from M. Smith: "I recently purchased a nüvi 260 and know nothing about GPS systems." As proof of the popularity of all of the new vehicles we're adding to the Garmin Garage, topping our e-mailer's to-do list was downloading new vehicle icons. "Can anyone help me?"
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In addition to these powerful navigators, each 
