Reviews are coming in for the Garmin nuvi 855 and 855T GPS navigators, launched earlier this year. Here's a summary from several sources.

The 855 is Garmin's latest full-feature automotive GPS--or as they like to call it nowadays, "personal travel assistant". As is true of most of Garmin GPS releases, there's nothing dramatically new in the nuvi 855 that we haven't seen before. Instead, there is further refinement of various features that Garmin has been developing in its nuvi line over the past year or more.

The Garmin 855 follows the current trend toward slimmer and more streamlined design in automotive GPS navigators. GPS engineers face a tough design problem in trying to combine cell-phone-like portability with wide screen visual clarity and ease of use. The nuvi 855 solves this problem as well as any unit on the market. Driving instructions are clear, the 4.3inch touch screens are bright and responsive, and you can also put the thing in your pocket and walk away. I don't think I've ever taken my car GPS out for a stroll, but I guess some people do.

Both the nuvi 855 and Bluetooth-enabled 855T feature improved speech recognition technology. Upon installation the devices are ready to accept a full range of voice commands through a wireless remote that attaches to your steering wheel. Basically you can just press the button and tell the device where you want to go, without having to navigate the screen at all. The 855 and 855T also feature text-to-speech capability, which means directions include spoken names of streets and other landmarks. The delivery of turn-by-turn directions is crisp and in synch with navigational demands, thanks in part to HotFix technology that enables a faster satellite response.

The 855 and 855T also feature improvements in Garmin's Lane Assist with Junction View. This is a useful and much-praised feature that (once you get used to using it) can simplify navigation through complex intersections and freeway interchanges. Drivers are directed into the proper lane for the upcoming exit or turn, and warned if they are in the wrong lane. The screen even shows highway signs, just as they appear on the road ahead.

Like all new Garmin navigators the 855 comes loaded with the latest version of the City Navigator NT North America maps package. You'll also get more pre-loaded points of interest (POIs) than with previous nuvis-over six million. Garmin's "numaps guarantee" allows for a free download of any new maps that become available within 60 days of purchasing the GPS. Map updates after that can be purchased either individually, on an annual basis, or through the Garmin nuMaps Lifetime update program. This allows for quarterly downloads of updated maps and pois for the life of the GPS unit.

With the installation of a Garmin GDB-50 MSN Direct receiver , the Garmin 855T can also be configured to receive real time updates on road and weather conditions, traffic, and a ton of other information. This service is now available in over 100 cities, and includes everything from news and financial reports to local movie times and gas prices.

I found virtually no negative reviews of the Garmin nuvi 855. If you already own a similar unit, like the nuvi 850, this one may not warrant an upgrade. But if you are in the market for new portable automotive GPS with a lots of advanced features, this is a great choice. Especially at today's prices--the Garmin nuvi 855 and Garmin 855T are now selling for near half of their original suggested retail prices from just a few months ago.

Garmin nuvi 1200 and nuvi 1300 series portable gps navigators will be released later this year, according to an announcement issued this week. The new slim, pocket sized nuvi models are expected to start shipping in June.

These latest Garmin nuvi offerings will be value-priced, starting around $200, and will offer a broad mix of quality and (somewhat) concocted features. The initial marketing is focused on establishing the nuvi 1200s and 1300s as lightweight, pedestrian-friendly traveling companions—although they can serve as portable automotive gps navigators as well.

The nuvi 1200 series consists of the base model 1200, the 1250, and the 1260T. The nuvi 1300 series has four entries, the 1300, 1350, 1370T and 1390T. One of the main selling points of all the new releases seems to be their trim design—they’re 25 percent thinner than previous nuvis. (The company calls them “ultra-thin”). The nuvi 1200s measure 3.7 by 2.9 inches, which certainly qualifies them as pocket-sized. The 1300s are the widescreen versions, 4.8 by 2.9 inches with a 4.3-inch screen.

Another highlighted feature of the new Garmins is their Public Transit mode functionality, offered in conjunction with Garmin’s other new project, Garmin CityXplorer (aka City Explorer) map content. CityXplorer downloads for individual cities will be coming soon, providing route and timetable information for public transit—subways, buses, etc. The full extent of CityXplorer coverage is not yet known, but downloads will be offered for “select tourist destinations” in North America and Europe.

All of the 1200 and 1300 series nuvis have a simple interface that greets the user with two options: “where to?” and “view map”. Routes are guided by voice-prompted directions with spoken street names—a nice feature in the $200 price range and an improvement over other comparably-priced nuvis like the 205 and 255.

Another selling point is that latest nuvis come with Garmin’s new ecoRoute feature pre-installed. I haven’t seen this in action yet. Yet another Garmin product that cannot be the first word in a sentence without being misspelled, ecoRoute comes as a free download for 205 and 705 series nuvis as well. It basically provides a “less fuel” option when selecting routing. Not sure how useful this really this, although it does also apparently provide some nice tracking of your miles traveled and fuel economy per trip.

Basic GPS map and poi packages are included with expanded preinstalled coverage in the higher end units. The nuvi 1200 and 1300 come with CityNavigator (aka City Navigator) maps for the lower 48 states, while the nuvi 1250, 1260T, 1350, and 1390T carry the CityNavigator North America GPS map package. The nuvi 1370T comes with preloaded CityNavigator street maps for both North America and Europe. For all of these units the new Garmin nuMaps Lifetime GPS update program can be purchased separately. (NuMaps Lifetime provides up to four GPS map updates per year for the life of the GPS unit.)

In addition to expanded map coverage, stepping up through the price brackets provides a typical set of expanded features. The 1260T for example, priced around $300, adds Bluetooth and lifetime FM traffic updates. All of the 1300 series nuvis feature FM lifetime traffic, with the 1370T and 1390T adding Bluetooth capability.

Garmin does like to issue lots and lots of GPS models with very similar features. Whether or not the nuvi 1200s and 1300s catch on as something new may depend largely on how successful or popular their “Public Transit mode” and CityXplorer features prove to be.

GPS giant Garmin has finally announced its new subscription-based GPS map updates program. Garmin users who purchase the nuMaps Lifetime service, available January 21, can download quarterly map and poi updates for the life of their GPS device.

The nuMaps Lifetime map updates program has been expected for some time, but the initial fall 2008 release date had to be pushed back. Now Garmin nuvi, StreePilot and zumo users can purchase nuMaps Lifetime and start downloading Garmin updates up to four times a year, as new NAVTEQ map data become available.

The "pay once, update for life" program is a big improvement over having to purchase a new GPS update package every year. And it's nice that maps and POIs for Garmin navigators can now be updated more frequently than on an annual basis. In both of these respects Garmin had been falling behind its competitors. The nuMaps program is essentially similar to Navigon FreshMaps, which also offers quarterly update--though for three years, not for the life of the device. And unlike the TomTom MapShare program, nuMaps will offer "offical" NAVTEQ data, not user-generated updates.

NuMaps also guarantees that buyers of new Garmin GPS devices will receive the most current maps, regardless of what came preinstalled with the unit. Simply register your new nuvi or zumo GPS device on the Garmin website within 60 days of first using it, and you can download the latest map update for free.

The new program is bound to be a popular with Garmin users. The price for Garmin NuMaps Lifetime map updates is comparable to buying two of the old City Navigator annual updates--definitely worthwhile if you want to keep current with map and POI data, and plan to be using your current GPS for two years or longer.

The nuMaps Lifetime package comes in three versions, for North America, Europe, or both. Although the program has a "nu" name, the maps are simply the latest updates to the City Navigator NT map packages that Garmin had been issuing each year.

NuMaps Lifetime can now be purchased from a number of online retailers. Those who don't want the lifetime service can still purchase the City Navigator 2009 North America NT map update as a single package.

NuMaps updates are compatible with most recent and current Garmin nuvi, StreetPilot, and zumo personal navigation devices. If you have any doubts, check compatibility on the Garmin website.

The Navigon 2100 Max is not quite as slick as the new 2200T (although it has a larger screen) or the new Navigon 7200T (but it's a lot less expensive.) But it's one of the best value buys out there in portable / automotive GPS. The trusty Navigon 2100 features a wide 4.3 touchscreen display and a load of advanced features including Navigon's "Free Real-Time Traffic Updates for Life", text-to-speech and 3D imagaing. Now you can get the 2100 Max bundled with the Navigon FreshMaps subscription update service, which lets you download multiple GPS map and POI updates for three years.

Free Real-Time Traffic Updates require no additional subscriptions or hardware--just turn the Navigon 2100 GPS navigaor on and get instant access to traffic information and alerts in 80 cities in the US and Canada. Reality-view3D imaging provides road signs and lane guidance for virtually every highway interchange, and the "lane assistant" feature helps you stay on course with lane guidance arrows.

With FreshMaps included the Navigon 2100 max is a fantastic wide screen GPS for under $200.

Navigon is a relative newcomer on the portable GPS scene, which is already crowded with dominant players such as Garmin and TomTom. But breakthrough innovations don't always come from the largest companies. And while Navigon portable GPS navigators have only recently appeared on the consumer market, the company has been designing in-dash navigators and GPS map software for the automotive industry many for years.

The new Navigon 7200T and smaller Navigon 2200T portable GPS navigators have been generating quite a buzz for its combination of low price and rich set of features. More on that in a minute, but first a little background.

Navigon GPS

Navigon GPS receivers have been rapidly gaining in popularity due to their low price, thin, stylish design, and easy-to-use addon features. The best of these add-ons is the Navigon FreshMaps option which (as the name implies) provides regular GPS map updates. Customers pay $79.95 [Update: now down around $50 on Amazon] for the Navigon FreshMaps package, which provides 12 GPS map updates over three years. In contrast, to update Garmin city maps, users must wait for a once-a-year GPS maps software release. [Update: See how Garmin has responded with the new, nuMaps Lifetime package.]

Navigon FreshMaps is available for all of Navigon's receivers, including the popular 4.3 inch Navigon 2100. That means the navigatgor AND GPS updates package can be purchased for less than the cost of a single map update for some pre-installed automotive GPS navigators.

But what do these inexpensive Navigon 2100 GPS units really deliver? A lot! Text-to-speach technology gives spoken street names, allowing drivers to keep their eyes on the road. Even more impressive is Navigon's 4.3 inch screen with RealityView 3D images. Drivers can glance at the Navigon 2100's 4.3-inch screen and see realistic imagery of upcoming lane changes, offramps and highway interchanges, including actual road sign text.

In addition to FreshMaps and RealityView, a third major feature of Navigon GPS units is called Lifetime Traffic, which provides real time GPS updates on traffic flow patterns--a feature that many much more expensive GPS navigators still lack. As the name suggests, Navigon Lifetime Traffic is purchased as a one time payment for the life of the unit, not an annual subscription.

Lifetime Traffic is included free in the more expensive 5100 and 7100 receivers, and can be purchased as an add-on for the Navigon 2100. One of the best deals in GPS right now in the "under $200" category is the Navigon 2100 max, which comes bundled with both FreshMaps and Lifetime Traffic.

With all of these features Navigon may be at the cutting edge of GPS affordability and usability. The older top-of-the line Navigon 7100 GPS receiver with Lifetime Traffic included can now be bought online for under $250, and delivers nearly all the features found in much more expensive in-dash automotive navigational systems. Amazing.

Now let's look at the new releases.

Navigon 2200T GPS

The latest Navigon releases for 2008 are the new high-end, 4.3-inch Navigon 7200T--slated for release later this month--and a new improved budget model, the 3.5-inch Navigon 2200T. Like the more expensive models, the 2200T will come with the Lifetime Traffic option included. That's real time traffic reports for life in a unit Navigon intends to start selling for $229--and the price is likely to drop following the initial release NOW SELLING FOR UNDER $175.

I think the reviewers at engadget say it best: "While many GPS manufacturers seem to be still seeing how much they can milk out of minor feature updates and monthly subscription fees, Navigon is going for the jugular with the new 2200T."

And Crunchgear writes: "It’s safe to say that now’s the time to purchase a GPS after Navigon’s announcement today...The 2200T is not only economical at $229, but you’re getting real-time traffic updates for free."

The release date for the Navigon 2200T has not yet been announced, but is expected soon. The Navigon 7200T is scheduled for release on September 28, but pre-orders are being taken now.

Navigon 7200T GPS with Bluetooth, Text-to-Speach and Live Traffic

Maybe this happens all the time, but it just caught my attention today: two local newspapers running articles about how recently completed road changes aren't showing up on drivers' GPS maps and dashboard navigators.

This is news?

In Massachussets, the Salem News reports that local street changes such as the opening of a new bypass road "have GPS users at a loss for words."

GPS map updates typically come only once a year, the article notes, which means that drivers and their dashboard navigators may be at odds. The paper's advice: trust your gut rather than the disembodied voice advising you to bear left on Bridge Street.

Meanwhile out west, the Grand Junction Sentinel bemoans the fact that GPS-reliant tourists and business travelers will be kept in the dark about the city's new Riverside Parkway for months to come.

"For as long as it took to build it," the article states, "the road does not exist on the internet highway."

Both pieces note that even the almighty Google has yet to register the local civic improvements. And the next Garmin updates won't be available until next spring.

It all seems kind of strange. As news stories the premise seems to be that the lack of immediate and complete GPS map coverage represents a surprising shortcoming of the technology.

But do people really expect their TomTom, Garmin Nuvi or Street Pilot to automatically know everything, immediately?

It's amazing and a little frightening how much we've come to expect from our gadgets. Especially to the extent that we don't understand them.

Garmin updates maps

Since Garmin came out with its latest GPS update package in April there's been a lot of discussion on the various GPS user forums. Here I'll try to provide a condensed summary of some of the issues raised, and questions asked and answered, regarding the 2009 Garmin North America map update.

What new information is provided on the Garmin 2009 map update?

Apparently a lot. In its City Navigator North America 2009 Update Garmin provides enhanced coverage for over 60 major metro regions in the US and Canada, and nearly 6 million updated points of interest--such as gas stations, parking garages, hotels and restaurants and ATM locations. A few users have reported extended and more accurate information on speed limits. Overall reaction by Garmin users has been (predictably) varied. Many find significant improvements from the 2008 maps, while a few complain that "my street is still not there" and that sort of thing.

Is the new Garmin update worth the price? Why isn't it free?

The second question there is silly. Garmin pays a lot to have this information collected, they can't turn around and give it away. That said, there's always a certain amount of grumbling about the cost of annual GPS updates in general. Whether or not the expense is worthwhile depends on you--how much you use your GPS, and much you care about having the best and most up-to-date information. It's worth noting that the Garmin updates are cheaper than those offered by most other major GPS manufacturers, and far less than what the car companies charge to update their preinstalled units.

What if I just bought a Garmin unit that came with the older (2008) Navteq GPS maps?

At this point you're probably out of luck. There was a grace period during which Garmin was offering a free upgrade to customers who had recently purchased certain units with 2008 maps prior to the 2009 release, but that has now expired. Most new Garmin GPS units purchased and registered with Garmin after March 1 should come with the 2009 maps installed. But apparently there are some exceptions--models currently or soon-to-be discontinued will still come with the earlier maps and are not eligible for free upgrade. Still, if you think you have a good case for why the 09 update should have been included with the price of your unit, it might be worth contacting Garmin. In some cases apparently Garmin has at least offered discounts to customers, depending on the specific situation.

Is the 2009 map update compatible with my Garmin? Are different versions available?

The 2009 Garmin update comes in "NT" and non-NT versions. The NT edition is compatiable with most newer receivers, including all Garmin Nuvi series units, and many Street Pilot units including i5, c330, c340, c530, c550, c580, 7200, 7500, 2720, 2730 and 2820. The NT also works for zumo 450 and 550, GPSMAP 478 and 496 and Quest 2. The non-NT edition is for most older Garmin units. Before purchasing the update Garmin users should check on the company's website for availability and compatability information. Just go to the maps page on the Garmin website and enter the serial number of your GPS unit. Also be sure to check your device's memory, as certain units may require a memory upgrade to store the entire map update. Garmin notes that only regional (east or west) GPS updates will load for StreetPilot c330, StreetPilot c530, and StreetPilot i5 units. Installation of a 128MB SD card will allow these units to load the entire 2009 map update.

If I purchase the Garmin update, can I install it on more than one GPS device?

No. Garmin has a strict one update - one device rule, enforced by activation checks requiring a serial number. There's no way to hack this--and anyway to do so would be illegal.

Is there a difference between the download and DVD versions?

No, you can update your Garmin maps either way. Customers report download times ranging from 2 to 20 hours for the complete 2009 map update, even with a high speed connection. Don't try this if you're on a dial-up, or even a slow DSL! To avoid download complications many people find the disk more convenient. Online retailers such as Amazon sometimes provide better deals on GPS map updates than if you order straight from the manufacturer. I'll add to this as new information on Garmin updates and the Garmin City Navigator 2009 package comes to my attention.

An article on PCMAG.com today reports one of the latest GPS update from TomTom. In the Netherlands, the company is experimenting with a new system that allows drivers to monitor traffic flow patterns in (almost) real time.

Other GPS devices provide traffic information over radio networks, and some even gather data on traffic rate and flow patterns from traffic cameras and sensors. But with a new technology update TomTom may have found a better way to detect where traffic is moving and where it’s not: by monitoring driver’s mobile phones.

Cell phone towers track the movement of mobile signals, and that information is analyzed and fed back to users of TomTom HD traffic-enabled GPS navigators.

According to the article, TomTom users get a new gps update on traffic status every three minutes, which is faster than anything available from other GPS services. The information is displayed on the GPS navigator main screen, which drivers can then tap for directions on how to avoid the traffic jam up ahead.

So far the TomTom update service is available only in a few major cities in the Netherlands, but no doubt that will change soon if the service proves successful.

“I bought an expensive GPS navigator. Why is it always wrong?” New GPS owners are sometimes perplexed when their high-tech gadget gives them bad information, or can’t locate the street or business they are trying to find. In almost all cases the problem is not with the GPS, which is doing exactly what it’s supposed to do. More likely the problem is with the preloaded GPS maps, which can quickly become out of date.

GPS Update Required

GPS systems triangulate satellite signals to determine the receiver’s location with pinpoint accuracy. What many people don’t understand about GPS, however, is that the maps and various additional layers of information needed to make the positional signal useful come from a very different source. Forget satellites—information for every GPS update is collected on the ground, by people actually driving the road network and recording information. In other words, it's a much slower process.

An interesting article on gpsreview.net describes how GPS road and city maps are made, and why they are often out of date. Two main mapping companies provide the data for most major GPS navigators. They send drivers out to map new roads and newly developed areas, and re-map areas where customer feedback suggests the old maps are no longer accurate. (I wonder how today's high fuel prices are affecting the scope and frequency of these surveys.) The mapping companies update their GPS databases constantly, but it can take a long time for GPS manufacturers to convert all the latest information into their own software formats and produce GPS updates—usually in the form of a CD or DVD—for distribution.

The timing of GPS map updates for specific brands and models is often hard to predict. You may buy a new unit with pre-installed mapping software, only to see new software released soon after. This together with the cost of the mapping updates is a common source of irritation for GPS users. Mapping companies and GPS manufacturers often prioritize areas for updating based on customer feedback. But given the magnitude of the task, it can often take some time for complaints from customers regarding a particular area to be translated into a new DVD with all the corrections made.

Some companies are taking steps to speed the correction process. Last year TomTom introduced MapShare technology in their GO 720 GPS receiver. Rather than having to wait for mapping companies like NAVTEQ to schedule and carry out new surveys, MapShare allows TomTom users to provide feedback on route changes and mapping errors directly into a database accessible to other users—a kind of wiki approach to updating geographic information. TomTom users can choose whether or not they want to download customer-generated GPS updates, or only those verified by the manufacturer.

Other major GPS companies and car manufacturers issue update discs periodically. Of course when GPS users purchase these updates, there’s no guarantee that any deficiencies they may have noted in coverage of their own driving areas will have been corrected. Users of PDA-based GPS units have more options in the kinds of maps they can install. You can update Garmin iQue units, for examples, with data produced directly from mapping companies like NAVTEQ and Mapopolis. This approach makes a lot of sense—but unfortunately users of most portable and dashboard-mounted GPS navigators still have to wait for new GPS map updates from the manufacturer.

Even new devices may need a GPS update

Global Positioning System (GPS) technology has taken off in recent years, with new models and features being introduced every month. Portable and dashboard-mounted GPS navigators are now almost standard in many cars and trucks. However a common source of frustration for many drivers who rely on GPS has been the limited availability of good GPS map updates.

GPS can pinpoint your exact position in space using signals from military satellites, but for drivers that information is of little use if it doesn’t interface with an accurate, up-to-date road map. Without periodic map updates, drivers using GPS navigators may not be much better off than those using old paper street maps. The street grid in downtown Manhattan probably isn’t going to change anytime soon, but roads in many fast-growing cities and rural areas are changing all the time. In addition, GPS mapping software can contain information on the location of hotels, restaurants, and other businesses. That kind of information can change almost overnight, and requires regular updating.

Unfortunately, providing timely GPS map updates isn't easy. But customers who invest in expensive GPS navigators are now starting to demand better and more frequent updates, and manufacturers are trying to respond. Today it is possible to install Garmin updates on a yearly basis, and same is true for other brands. And companies are experimenting with new strategies for keeping their mapping software as current as possible. To update Garmin Nuvi and StreetQuest city maps for North America, a new Garmin City Navigator 2009 package is now available. What updates are available for your GPS unit depends on the specific brand and model—keep checking this GPS Update blog for the latest news and information.