Garmin strives to make their portable and handheld GPS navigation devices easy for anyone to use right out of the box. Considering how extremely complex the technology is this is no easy feat.
Simple controls and sub-screens make it easy to enter or search for destinations and get data about your trip. Simply touch the color screen to enter a destination, and nuvi takes you there with turn-by-turn voice directions, 2-D or 3-D maps and smooth map updates as you navigate
This year, Garmin has redesigned its interface to include much more useful information:
– HotFix(TM) – aka: Satellite Ephemeris Data Prediction. Your GPS device locks onto transmissions from a dedicated network of Satellites in order to determine its position.
Decreasing the time it takes for your device to get “satellite lock” is always a goal of GPS manufacturers. HotFix can predict satellite positions for up to 3 days after the device was last turned off.
– Navigate by Photo. Using Garmin’s unique Web site – Garmin Connect Photos – users can choose from millions of geo-located photos provided by Google’s Panoramio photo sharing community.
– 3D Terrain Maps. Shaded relief terrain maps show you when to expect hills, mountains, forests and other natural features. Topographic terrain maps are viewable when using the 2D “birds-eye” view.
– Send Addresses Directly from Google Maps or Mapquest. It’s easy to search for locations on Google Maps or Mapquest then transfer the addresses directly to your Garmin GPS navigator.
– MSN Direct Enhanced Traffic and Content. With an optional receiver you can access enhanced dynamic content from the MSN Direct service.
– FM Traffic. With an optional receiver you can get alerts from TMC Clear Channel about traffic tie-ups and road construction that might lie ahead on your route.
– Widescreen—See More of What’s Around. The super-bright 4.3-inch (diagonal) touchscreen display gives is anti-glare for ease of viewing during the day
The widescreen format gives you 70{5ee11404e957289b2d225099b4f7d52b5549ec41b8e6ad1d623dc3506be9751a} more actual screen area than a 3.5-inch screen.
– Where Am I? With any nuvi you can just tap “Where Am I?” to find the closest hospitals, police stations, fuel stations, nearest address and intersection. Also see your exact latitude and longitude coordinates.
– First-Rate Map Data. The nuvi comes ready to go right out of the box with preloaded City Navigator NT street maps for all of North America, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico. It includes a hefty POI database with hotels, restaurants, fuel, ATMs and more.
– Garmin Lock. Garmin’s patent pending theft prevention system that disables the unit from performing any functions until the user types in a specific 4-digit PIN or takes the unit to a predetermined secure location
– Beyond Navigation. Navigation is just the beginning. The nuvi 2×5 models features travel tools including a JPEG picture viewer, world travel clock with time zones, currency converter, measurement converter, calculator and more.
– Trick Your GPS Ride. All Garmin nuvis support configurable vehicle icons. These fun and customized car-shaped icons come in a variety of colors to add a personal touch to your vehicle’s position on the map.
