Garmin Zumo 660 Versus Garmin Zumo 550 Satellite Navigators
June 22, 2009
Apart from manufacturing numerous sat navs for cars, Garmin also has a dedicated series of GPS systems exclusively for motorcyclists; the Zumo series. Amongst the Zumo series of navigational systems the 660 and 550 are the most popular ones. Let us have a look at these two units placed side by side.
Both the units are similar in many respects. Both these units are rugged and waterproof and come with preloaded maps. It also has the ability to add additional maps and points of interests. Both these units come with an internal antenna that is integrated with a highly sensitive receiver. Both allow you to add waypoints or favourites; while the Zumo 550 permits you to add just 500, the 600 provides you with double the limit. Both these units provides you with timely and regular voice directions along with apt visual instructions. The Zumo 660 however has a wider 4.3-inch screen as compared to the 500’s 3.5-inch one.
As far as entertainment goes, both of these devices come with an internal MP3 player, an audio book player and a picture viewer. Also they are compatible with Bluetooth technology for hands free calling. You can plug your headphones to the jack provided to listen to the route instructions as well as your favourite music tracks. Also they come with Garmin Lock feature that is an anti-theft feature, which is used to safeguard the information from unwanted users.
Though there are so many units, the Zumo 660 is equipped with a few additional features that gives it a upper hand. It has a lane assist functionality that is absent in the Zumo550. Also the 660 can display the major building and landmarks in 3D formats providing you with a better orientation and view of the place. While the Zumo 550 does not have a speed limit indicator, the 660 has this function. This prevents you from being pulled over for speed related issues. Also the Zumo 660 is slimmer and lighter as compared to its predecessor.
Priced below £529, the Zumo 550 is definitely a value for money product if you are not after the advanced functionalities. But if you want the high-end features, then the Zumo 660 is worth the £549.99 price tag.
Garmin Nuvi 550 or Road Angel Adventurer 7000 – Which is Better ???
June 21, 2009
This being the period of holiday and outings, its time to pack your bags and get going to venture unknown territories. Travelling should involve loads of fun and adventure. But the point is to know the place you are planning to visit. With each one having a busy schedule, is it really difficult to study the place and get an idea of the region. So in such a case, a satellite navigator forms to be your perfect travel guide. Almost everyone wants to get a little adventurous during their holidays. Does that mean you need to have two types of GPS units; one for car navigation and other for hiking or adventurous purposes.
There are dual sat navs that serve both these purposes. The Garmin Nuvi 550 and Road Angel Adventurer 7000 are two such adventurous GPS systems that can be used as automotive sat navs as well. Both of them come with a 3.5-inch display screen and a waterproof and rugged body. Also both are similar when it comes to the battery life, they both run on rechargeable battery that lasts for 8 hours. Both these units provide you with spoken directions along with visual route information.
While the Garmin Nuvi 550 comes with an internal solid state memory, the Road Angel 7000 has 1GB of total memory capacity for storing maps and other data. Both these units provide information speed limits but the Road Angel is capable of identifying most of the safety cameras. While the Garmin device can be used for marine navigation, the Road Angel is incapable of providing this kind of information.
Furthermore, the Garmin unit comes with Garmin’s patented features that include a “Where Am I?” option, which provides you with the latitude and longitude information of your position along with the nearby hospitals or police stations. Other add-ons include an anti-theft functionality and the World Travel clock, currency and unit converter and a picture viewer.
Whilst Garmin is scoring on these points, the Road Angel is not to be left behind. It has managed to incorporate an MP3 player and Bluetooth technology in its unit. Thus is is a favourite amongst all those who have an affinity for music. Like its Garmin competitor, it includes a picture viewer for viewing photos or friends and relatives.
Both these units have their own plus and minus points. Basically, both these units are able to perform the dual function of being an in-car satellite navigator as well as a hiking GPS guide. It is advisable to have an idea of your personal requirements in a GPS unit and then weigh the pros and cons before zeroing on any one unit.
Garmin Zumo 660 Satellite Navigator
June 17, 2009
Garmin has now introduced the Garmin Zumo 660 Satellite Navigator especially for motorbike users. This compact sat nav has a dimension of 13.5 x 8.4 x 2.3 cm and a weight of 270 grams. It provides a wide 4.3-inch touch screen display with a resolution of 480×272 pixels. The Garmin Zumo 660 Motorbike Satellite Navigator is powered by a removable rechargeable lithium-ion battery that offers a life of 5 hours. It is waterproof, provides IPX7 standard. Its internal antenna is integrated with a highly sensitive receiver. Although, it has an internal solid state memory, it provides microSD card compatibility that can be used to increase the memory capacity.
Garmin Zumo 660 Satellite Navigator includes the basemap of Europe and provides the facility to add more maps. It allows you to save 1000 waypoints and 20 preplanned routes. Navigational guidance offers timely voice directions and spoken street and junction names. The major landmarks and buildings are displayed in 3D formats. Routes can be calculated for multiple destinations in one go. You can also compute route to avoid tolls and highways. Though it comes with preloaded points of interest, you have an option of adding customised pois. Its lane assist function guides you through the correct lane on a highway. The speed limit indicator alerts you on exceeding the specified speed of the region.
Garmin Zumo 660 Portable Satellite Navigator comes with Bluetooth compatibility that allows you to make and receive hands free calls. Its multimedia features include an MP3 player and a picture viewer. Thus this GPS unit can be converted into a portable music player and photo viewer while you are not using it for navigational purposes. The Zumo 660 box consists of a motorcycle mount, a carrying case, a battery pack, an automotive suction cup mount, a USB cable, an automotive power cable, a dashboard disc and a quick start user’s manual.
Garmin Nuvi 865T Satellite Navigator
June 13, 2009
The Garmin Nuvi 865T is similar to the nuvi 885T sat nav which was released earlier this year. The dimensions of this unit are 12.5 x 7.8 x 1.8 cm and weight is around 176 grams. The navigational data can be viewed on the device’s 4.3-inch touch screen monitor that has a 480×272 pixel resolution. The Garmin Nuvi 865T Automotive Satellite Navigator has an internal in-built antenna that is integrated with a high sensitivity receiver. It is powered by a rechargeable lithium-ion battery that has a battery life of 4 hours. For increasing the internal solid state memory, microSD card slot is provided.
Garmin Nuvi 865T Satellite Navigator comes with detailed maps of Europe along with millions of pois and smart route planning capabilities. It instructs you about where and when you need to take a turn. That’s not all, it also recognises your voice and will operate as per your instruction. Its remote control can be fixed on the steering wheel, and commands can be spoken to the remote which will operate the device as commanded. The Lane Assist feature will help you on motorways or highways where multiple lanes will be present. It will guide you through the correct lane. In case you get deviated from the planned route, the device will automatically re-route you back. Its FM traffic compatibility provides you with real-time traffic info, advising you about the road conditions well in advance.
Garmin Nuvi 865T Portable Multimedia Satellite Navigator comes with an audio book player, a MP3 player and a picture viewer. Thus while you are not navigating, you can either listen to music or watch photos. Additionally, you can also tune into your favourite FM station for latest updates. Finally a Bluetooth compatibility allows you to make and receive hands free calls as well as perform transfer of data and files over a short range. With the nuvi 865T plugged into your car, you are sure to have an enjoyable ride to your destination.
Garmin Nuvi 885T Satellite Navigator
May 31, 2009
The Garmin Nuvi 885T In-Car Satellite Navigator comes is a completely voice operated unit that includes some interesting features. It measures about 12.5 x 7.8 x 1.8 cm in dimensions and weighs about 176 grams. A removable rechargeable lithium-ion battery provides a total life of 4 hours. Navigational maps can be viewed on the device’s 4.3-inch, 480×272 pixel touch screen monitor. It comes with internal solid state memory that can be increased using micoSD memory cards. Its internal antenna is integrated with a highly sensitive GPS receiver. This compact sat nav allows you to save 500 waypoints and about 10 routes.
Garmin Nuvi 885T Satellite Navigator comes preloaded with North American maps and millions of points of interests. With so many pois, it is very easy to locate the nearest petrol station, hotels, ATMs, etc. Along with navigational information, this one also provides regular voice directions. Owing to its text-to-speech functionality, the unit can read out the names of streets and places as and when they appear on the screen. With this sat nav plugged into your vehicle it is easier to travel on highways; this is because its lane assist functionality will direct you towards the correct lane. Ideally the device will aim at providing the most direct route to your destination. In case of deviation, the auto-re-route feature, gets you back on track automatically.
Garmin Nuvi 885T Portable TMC Satellite Navigator provides real-time traffic data, so that you are aware of the traffic congestions and road blocks well in advance. In case of road block, it will automatically compute an alternative route. Additionally, it includes multimedia facilities that include a MP3 player, a photo viewer and an FM transmitter. With its voice recognition feature, it can be operated on voice commands. Furthermore, it can also be operated using a remote control. It exhibits Bluetooth compatibility for hands free calling. The entire kit consists of a nuvi 885T unit, a preloaded City Navigator, speech recognition remote, a vehicle suction cup mount, a USB cable, a dashboard disc and an manual.
