Garmin Through and Through

We love it when our customers tell us how much they like Garmin by purchasing and outfitting an entire boat with Garmin products.  Especially when they already owned Garmin units to begin with!

This owner of a Sunseeker 47 near Clearwater, Florida liked the Garmin 5212 units so much that he had a new dashboard built to accommodate the screens. He also liked the rugged simplicity and performance of the TR-1/Garmin autopilot and had that installed as well.   

Prior to the new installation, this customer loved his GPSMAP 3010 units, but decided to upgrade because of the 5212's simplified user interface and touchscreen.  With the new units, creating a waypoint and navigating to a destination is as easy as touching the screen.  There's no need to find the waypoint button, because the waypoint button finds YOU when you touch the screen. 

Seeing is Believing: Hi-Def Radar

Recently, one of our marine experts had a chance to make a head-to-head comparison of conventional versus high-definition radar.  Hi-def incorporates high-powered digital signal processing, which is a fancy way of saying it gives you sharper radar images and improved target separation.

We compared our GMR 41 and our newer GMR 24 HD... and the results speak for themselves.  Even to the untrained eye, it's easy to see that the GMR 24 HD shows clearer and cleaner targets -- which is really what matters most to any boater.

Jake's Journal: Quick Tips for Geocaching

Whenever I mention geocaching to someone, I get one of two reactions. People have either tried it and enjoyed it, or they've never heard of it. Most of the conversations fall into the first category. But for those of you who are unfamiliar with the activity, here are a few helpful links and recent stories to introduce you to this worldwide phenomenon.

To get started, click here for a Geocaching primer, including which Garmin devices work well. Then move on to geocaching.com and learn about everything that this site has to offer - including locations of more than a half-million caches of various size and content. Next, read these stories about a crash course in Daytona Beach; a family outing in Oregon; and aquatic adventures along the Great Lakes. (And check out the Lakeland Boating link for a chance to win a Garmin Colorado!)

Garmin Helps Save the Manatees

Garmin is the first GPS company to post "manatee zones" on its navigational charts of Florida, in an effort to keep boat propellers from harming the blubbery beasts and their habitat.  We worked with the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission and the Tampa Bay Estuary Program's Manatee Awareness Coalition to compile the data, and it's now available pre-loaded and free of charge on any new Garmin chartplotter.

In addition, we're including data for posted homeland security zones (military installations and the like) in Florida... which could potentially save your own bacon.

Chicago Store: Harbor hoopla

For the mariners here in Chicago, today is more than just the day their taxes must be filed with the IRS. The 15th of April also signifies the unofficial start of boating season for the Windy City crowd. Most of the major harbors here in Chicago are owned and controlled by the Chicago Park District, and they are not open year-round. So while the "Official" opening of the Harbors isn't until May 1, the Park district allows many boaters to access their slips starting April 15. There are four major harbors near the Garmin store on Michigan Avenue: Monroe Harbor, DuSable Harbor, Diversey Harbor, and Belmont Harbor. Those of you familiar with the former Meigs Field may remember DuSable Harbor, which sits between the former lakefront airport and Lakeshore Drive. With all of the harbors and breakwaters around the Chicago shores, a high-tech Garmin Chartplotter - such as the new GPSMAP 5215 - will certainly help you find your way. For those of you without charting for Lake Michigan, grab region 2US016R in either regular Bluechart format or on a pre-loaded G2 card, and you'll be navigating in no time. If you need a Garmin datacard loaded or need to update your pre-loaded chartplotter, we have the capability to do that right in the store. If you're in the area and would like to have this done, give us a call here at the store and we'll be happy to assist. Happy Boating!
   

Photographers focus on GPSMAP 60CSx

As the days get longer and warmer, outdoor enthusiasts are hitting the trails and planning summer adventures. And whether you're hiking, climbing, running, cycling, boating or geocaching, there's a Garmin device perfect for your excursion. The recently released Colorado series has been dominating the discussion lately, but don't forget about the GPSMAP family. Before the Colorado 400t came on the scene, the GPSMAP 60CSx set the standard for excellence in outdoor handhelds.

"As soon as you hold the Garmin GPSMAP 60CSx you are aware of the fact that it is a high quality product," writes Dennis Hissink in his review for PMA, an international group of photography experts. "The waterproof and shockproof housing not only feels solid but also has a perfect hand-fit." And if anyone can offer credible praise for the display on the 60CSx, it would be these well-trained eyes: "The large 1.5 inch x 2.2 inch TFT monitor stands out and is a 256 colour high resolution reflective colour monitor."

Click here for a comparison of the GPSMAP 60CSx and the Colorado 400t, choose the one that's best for you - and then head to the great outdoors!

Jake's Journal: Rino, Colorado visit New Hampshire

Days like this I'm reminded of how many different people in different places (in different climates) turn to Garmin devices to make their lives easier. Last month, I was on a sailboat soaking in the 80-degree breezes of Miami while we were being guided by Garmin chartplotters and other marine products. This week I'm in New Hampshire, where I was greeted by temps in the 40s and mounds of snow. Why? Two reasons: the Rino 530HCx and Colorado 400t, two of our many outdoor handhelds that thrive on the slopes of ski country.

I'm joining snowsports journalists to discuss the many ways GPS technology can lend a hand during winter activities. From keeping track of your friends on the mountain to finding your way back to the lodge, Garmin's high-sensitivity handhelds can keep the focus on having fun and getting some exercise. This week, these snow-goers will see the Rino or Colorado in action, enjoying the Rino's two-way radio and "buddy tracking" functions, or checking out the Colorado's U.S.-wide preloaded topo maps that jump to life amid the snow-capped mountains around us. And at the welcome reception, I heard stories about guests finding the resort with a nüvi or hitting the trails with an eTrex. Warms my heart and almost makes me forget that sailboat. Almost.

Awards are a breeze for MFDs

In Miami and elsewhere, our multifunction displays are getting a lot of love. In fact, our new multi-function displays landed SAIL's 2008 Freeman K. Pittman Innovation Award in the electronics category. These MFDs take all the tools that mariners would want and incorporate innovative ideas from our automotive devices. And with a wide range of prices and sizes - and premium features such as high-def radar and touchscreen displays - there really is a chartplotter for every boat and budget!

Garmin wins Kansas' business award

At Garmin, we take a lot of pride in what we do. And it's moments like these, that we're glad we have the opportunity to share it with others. Tonight we're pleased to have the honor of receiving the Ad Astra Award by the Kansas Chamber of Commerce at the Chamber's 2008 annual dinner. This prestigious award is given for business and civic excellence throughout the state. "The Ad Astra Award is the state business community's highest honor presented to a business that exemplifies excellence," Kansas Chamber President and CEO Amy Blankenbiller said. Thanks to everyone who helped make this possible!   

Jake's Journal: I couldn't pass up this sail

I was reminded today just how much I love my job. There's officially no better way to spend a Friday afternoon than on a sailboat off the coast of Miami in 80-degree weather with Garmin devices (and a good breeze) removing any trace of stress. Captain Karen and Ray, good friends of Garmin, showed us how to properly wrap up a workweek. They also showed my colleague Steve how to crank up the jib. Little did he know when he volunteered that it was one of the few strenuous tasks of the afternoon. But even several minutes of heavy cranking couldn't make him cranky. Each of us then took a turn behind the steering wheel (yep, that's me at the helm) as Captain Karen kept watch. We waved at fellow boaters who were excited to see the Garmin banners flapping in the wind. And all the while, our chartplotter, Colorado 400c and high-def radar kept us cruising in style.

Dave's Docklines: Going coastal

The Miami International Boat Show is off to a great start, and already several stars are emerging. The huge touchscreen chartplotters - especially the 15-inch display - have had all eyes (and fingertips) on them. People love the clarity and ease of use of the new marine instrument displays. The high-def radar - and the way that it can overlay on 3D charts - is creating quite a buzz. And even the Colorado 400c, the new kid on the block, is rocking (and rolling) with its preloaded coastal charts for the U.S. and the Bahamas. So if you're coming to the boat show, swing by Booth 1689 and enjoy the fun for yourself. If you're nowhere near South Beach, you can at least enjoy these photos. (Or book a flight to Florida.)

Jake's Journal: Getting my feet wet in Miami

With many of our colleagues in Barcelona talking about the nüvifone, I somehow drew the short straw and was sent to the boat show. In Miami. This could be the best straw I've ever drawn (even topping bendy straws and twisty straws). Take Wednesday's assignment for example. Instead of boot camp, we had boat camp. Several members of Team Garmin gathered on a beautiful 60-footer to get more hands-on experience with our latest marine products.

Mother Nature did her part to give us a thorough testing environment. A mid-day monsoon showcased our XM Weather features and decreased visibility, making our big-screen radar and sonar displays more valuable than ever. And we loved our BlueChart g2 Vision with high-resolution satellite imagery, our new high-definition radar and the ability to switch between fish-eye view and mariner's view. Even the large monitors with touchscreen capabilities reveled in the rain. And we made a new friend - Pete the Pelican hitched a ride for a half-hour. Check out more pictures and screenshots below, and stay tuned for more from the Miami International Boat Show.

Napoleon's lyrical guide

Super Bowl XLII was the most-watched Super Bowl ever, and the ratings for those companies who had a spot during this advertising mecca are still coming in. That aside, many of you are still wondering what the French lyrics to Garmin's Napoleon commercial translate to. While there have been many guesses, one one has quite cracked the code. So before you go booking a flight to Paris to ask one of the locals, we'll let you in on the translation instead. Thanks to everyone who attempted to translate the lyrics, and for all the kind comments we've received since the spot!

"Under the sun, it's perfect, with my friends we drive, on the highway to paradise - alright - let's go in my car - the life before us is a beautiful sight, oh baby, here we go, let's go to paradise - alright - Garmin-Garmin-Garmin!"

Napoleon on the social scene

Now that he's made his television debut, Napoleon (Garmin's nüvi driver from our Super Bowl campaign) wants to get to know the Garmin fans a little better. Since the big game, he's taken the next social step by entering the MySpace scene, and wants to be your friend. And to be fair, he wants you to give the Garmin fans a chance to get to know him a little better, too. That's why we've been busy posting an entire slew (about 90 or so) behind-the-scenes pictures of the filming of our SB spot onto Garmin's Flickr account. Here you can view the beautiful French scenery and take a gander at what life's like for Napoleon with a nüvi in hand. So go on, add Napoleon to your MySpace entourage... then you'll be able to tell everyone that you're friends with a historical icon!

Watch the commercial... win some Garmin goodies!

As you can see from the posts below, we've had a pretty busy week around here! And since it's Friday (and just days away from the big game) we've decided to keep the fun going in full force. So in true Garmin-Blog fashion, we're sweetening up our SB commercial announcement for our blog readers, with a little extra incentive. Be one of the first few people to translate the lyrics to the 30-second commercial, and you'll score some sweet Garmin schwag. Watch the spot, and the making-of as many times as it takes here. Then post your English translations below and we'll let you know how you did come Monday after the commercial makes it's television debut. Good luck!

(Sorry over-sea's bloggers, this schwag giveaway only applies to our readers in the States)

Super Sunday . . . a few days early

With all the excitement around Garmin today, we've decided to treat our blog readers to an advanced viewing of our Super Bowl Sunday commercial. Judging from some of your emails, quite a few of you didn't want to wait until Sunday to see our spot. And, being the nice bloggers we are, we didn't want to make you wait. So we figured we'd show it to you early. That's right - days before Sunday. Take a look now and then surprise your friends with your knowledge of the spot on Sunday. Be sure to stop by the minisite and take a look for yourself. We hope it's as much fun for you to watch as it was for us to make. 

Are you ready for some footage?

Good, because we've got even more behind-the-scenes takes from the shooting of the SB commercial. With three teasers down, do you think you have an idea of what's to come? Stay tuned to see where we'll take you next...

More scenes from the shoot

And, what would another teaser clip be without some more behind the scenes footage? Here's a few more pictures to tantalize your senses as the big game quickly approaches. Have a look and keep checking back for even more clips and tips!   

The making of....

In addition to the minisite's teaser clips, here are some behind-the-scenes takes from the making of Garmin's Super Bowl commercial. We'll keep 'em coming as the days pass, but in the meantime, stay tuned to the blog for your next sneak peek at what's to come during the big game!

Endeavour: A new Cat in town

If you recall last week’s entry I wrote about a fast Zebra... well the animal theme continues this week with Cats. Big Cats. Check out Endeavour’s new 48ft Powercat - 48ft long, 18ft wide, 20ft high with room for 12 of your closest friends. I recently caught up with this Cat in Tampa Bay and was able to help the new owner with his Garmin 5212 Touchscreen Multi Function Display. The owner had recently taken delivery of the boat and was proud to show off his new Garmin unit. He plans to take the boat to the Bahamas for a bit and then cruise extensively... maybe up to the Chesapeake Bay this summer.

The 5212 is the primary GPS unit on the boat.  It has all the charts that the Customer will ever need built in to the unit.  That’s right...high quality, highly detailed NOAA charts of the entire US coast line plus Explorer Charts of the Bahamas and Exumas all built in. The owner opted to add Radar (GMR41), Sonar (GSD22) and live XM weather (GDL30A) to the display so he has all the information needed to make navigation decisions at a glance. As you can see from the picture, you can even split the screen so you can see all 4 options GPS, Radar, Sonar and Weather at one time. Here’s a tip... say you are in split screen and decide you want to focus on one function like GPS. Well if you touch the screen on the GPS panel...it immediately shows that panel full screen so you can input a waypoint or plot a course.  When you are done hit the “Back” button and it goes back to split screen. Cool.

Although the 5212 has all the navigational charts that the owner needs built in, he opted to purchase a G2 Vision card for Southwest Florida and the Bahamas. The Vision Card gives the user additional features and information for a particular region...Satellite Imagery, Aerial Photo’s, Mariners Eye View, Fish Eye View and Auto Guidance. These additional features will add to situational awareness and make cruising in unfamiliar water a little easier. Check out our website for a complete listing of the Vision Card features.

Thanks for tuning in this week...I look forward to seeing you On The Water.

Here's your chance to visit Colorado

While the Colorado made its official debut at CES earlier this month, we¹re now giving you a chance to get up close and personal with the device at our new minisite. We've highlighted all of the Colorado's innovative features including the Rock 'n Roller Wheel, paperless geocaching capabilities and details about Wherigo as well. So if you¹ve been wanting to take the Colorado for a spin, visit our minisite and give it a try.

The Fastest Zebra in Town!!!

For all of you that are fighting with the snow and cold weather at the New England Boat Show, here are a few pictures that are sure to get you warmed up.  Check out this awesome 36ft Glasstream center console with triple Mercury 300 hp outboards and a crazy zebra paint scheme.  This boat features the Garmin GPSMAP 5212… an awesome 12-inch touchscreen display coupled with the GMR 18, our 4Kw 18-inch radar dome.  This combo allows the owner to track his own position with our highly accurate GPS and track the position of other boats up to 36 miles away with our digital radar.  The boat also has our digital sonar module, the GSD 22, that allows you to track the movements of even the smallest fish.  And last but not least the boat also has our GDL 30 XM WX weather receiver that allows you to track storms or weather fronts in real time.

You want more?  You got it.  The owner has also signed up for XM's Master Mariner weather package that includes "FishBytes" fish species tracking.  That right, Garmin and XM will help you track a particular fish species based on 12 environmental conditions including water temperature, plankton counts, water salinity and much more.  You get a visual reference that shows you where a particular fish species is most likely to be that day.  Imagine that… you are looking to catch a few King Mackerel so you dial up that species and XM shows you where they are likely to be that day.  Then just chart your course with the easy to use Garmin 5212 chartplotter and head out to where the fish are.

Wanna see more?  Rumor has it this boat will be at the Miami Boat Show.  I can pretty much guarantee there will not be any snow at THAT show.

Now Playing at CES

Have you ever had a secret desire to go to CES but never been able to attend? We're doing our best to remedy that problem by bringing part of the show to you. And the best part about it is that you won't have to walk through miles and miles of trade show booths to see it. You already know that we announced several new products for CES and I'm sure it comes as no surprise that our booth features each of the new products. Our booth also has several large flat screen monitors where we show CES exclusive videos. This year our videos focus on several of the new automotive devices and the Colorado. Whether you're driving the town, traveling on foot, sailing the seas, or hiking in the great outdoors, these products are for you! If you're at CES, don't forget to stop by our booth and say hi (South Hall 4, #35832).

"Indiana Jones meets MacGyver"

...At least that what what the guys over at GPS Magazine are saying about the newly announced Colorado series. That's because these sleek hiking companions really do make any adventure (Indiana Jones or MacGyver-style) intuitive and fun. In true GPS Magazine fashion, their in-depth review looks at the Colorado 400t inside and out. In conjunction with Jake's tutorial Colorado series video, this review makes getting to know the Colorado and its revolutionary components easier than ever.

And like we mentioned before - it's ideal for outdoor activities of all kinds. "Colorado's use of profiles makes it easy to switch the GPS from automotive to marine, recreation, fitness, or geocaching mode, automatically re-configuring the menus so that the handheld is optimized for the chosen activity."

With four models to choose from, the Colorado series "raises the bar," and really does have something for everyone. We could (have and will continue to) go on and on about the amazing design and dynamic features of this series, but as we gear up for Vegas, I'll let the review do the rest of the talking and let you take a look for yourself why this new series is making a splash.

Gearin' up for Vegas - CES Annoucements galore!

You heard right - in conjunction with the 2008 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, the latest and greatest Garmin devices have just been announced! At Garmin, innovations like speech recognition, enhanced dynamic content through MSN Direct and multi-destination routing, continue to allow users to effortlessly enhance any type of travel. So, without any further ado, it's our pleasure to announce the seven newest additions to the Garmin family:

nüvi 880: Using speech recognition and enhanced MSN Direct content, this nüvi makes traveling easier and safer than ever

nüvi 780: Dynamic traffic, weather, stocks and news updates through MSN Direct, along with "Where am I?" and "Where's my car?" features

Forerunner 405: Function meets fashion, while a touch bezel puts fitness at your fingertips

Colorado series: Revolutionary thumb-driven Rock 'n Roller wheel, vivid imagery and "Wherigo" enhance any outdoor experience

nüvi 5000: 5.2-inch touchscreen with multi-destination navigation puts you in control of the road

nüvi 260W: Widescreen pocket-sized navigation that gets you from point A to point B with street names

Garmin Mobile PC: Turns laptops and mobile PCs into navigators with "Where to? and "View Map" interfaces

Click here for details, and stay tuned for more in-depth product reviews, interactive video and everything CES... coming soon!

"Made in Kansas"...Garmin style

If your New Year's resolution involves getting outdoors, being on the water and fast speeds, here's your ticket - literally! "Cougar and Cash," a $5 instant scratch ticket from the Kansas Lottery, gives you the chance to win up to $25,000 instantly. However, if Lady Luck isn't on your side, scratchers also have the opportunity to turn non-winning tickets in for a chance at some sweet prizes.

In conjunction with the "Made in Kansas" ticket series, two grand-prize winners will score a 2008 "Infinity 201" boat manufactured by Cougar Custom Boats in Hill City, Kansas, in a second chance drawing. The best part? These boats are equipped with the ultimate boating accessory - a Garmin Fishfinder 400C!

The second chance drawing isn't until May, so get to scratchin' and let the warm-weather daydreaming begin...

Forbes: Garmin the best of 2007

Happy New Year, everyone!! With the dawn of 2008 upon us, we'll only spend a moment reflecting on 2007. It seems the financial wizards over at Forbes are raving about our success story.

"The best Platinum performer last year, Garmin rose 122% during the last 12 months," Forbes reports. "One year ago, Garmin was also our selection for best-managed company in Technology Hardware & Equipment. ... Garmin reported gains in sales of 74% and earnings per share of 73%."

And we'll have more to celebrate, if Motley Fool's forecast is accurate. Check out their Best Stock for 2008: "As the old year draws to a close, and you search for advice on which stocks to buy in the new year, I've got just one word for you: Garmin."

It's thanks to your enthusiasm and feedback that we can continue to evolve, and we have many exciting projects planned for 2008. So bookmark our blog and visit often. And have a great '08!

Garmin's Marine Radar goes High-Def

This holiday season, the two biggest buzzwords have been GPS and high-def. So we decided to help out our friends on the water by improving our two most popular radar devices. The GMR 18 HD and GMR 24 HD provide even better target separation and clearer definition.

Breaking it down by the numbers, here's what makes these new devices exceptional. The GMR 18 HD features a 5-degree horizontal and 25-degree vertical beamwidth, which allow for accurate target acquisition and separation, and boasts a best-in-class range of 36 nautical miles (nm). The GMR 24 HD features an industry-leading 3.6-degree horizontal and 25-degree vertical beamwidth, and has a maximum effective range of 48 nautical miles. Click here to read more.

Roger's Runway: Your GPS signal just got stronger

GPS users all over the world got an early present on December 21st. The United States Air Force launched the fifth modern NAVSTAR GPS satellite into orbit from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. Other than adding new channels to the military side of GPS for better accuracy, the new satellites will also increase strength of the GPS signal and add a second civilian signal. The Air F