Garmin 255W reviews have been highly positive. The Garmin nuvi 255 and widescreen nuvi 255W GPS navigators were released in 2008 as the latest in Garmin's entry level 200 series automotive GPS lineup. The nuvi 255W went on to become the top selling GPS navigator of 2009, and has received acclaim for its extensive set of features and low price point.

Originally priced around $300, Garmin's suggested retail price for the nuvi 255w is now $219.99. Consumers can do even better shopping on Amazon, where a new Garmin nuvi 255W can be now be purchased for as low as $119.99; the smaller Garmin 255 sells for $109.99.  At those prices the nuvi 255 and 255W represent one of the best GPS bargains available for the 2009 holiday season.

The Garmin 255 and 255W  improve on their predecessors with the addition of higher-end features including optional add-ons such as FM traffic updates and MSN Direct content. The redesigned screen presents more information, including an easy-to-see indicator showing the direction of and distance to the next turn, as well as speed and speed limit readings. Both units incorporate text-to-speech technology, so you hear spoken street names and driving instructions. Read the rest of this entry

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. Read the rest of this entry

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 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. Read the rest of this entry

GPS giant Garmin has switched to a new subscription-based GPS map updates program. Customers who purchase the Garmin nuMaps Lifetime service 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. Read the rest of this entry

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. Read the rest of this entry

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. Read the rest of this entry

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 City Navigator North America map update. Read the rest of this entry

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. Read the rest of this entry

“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. Read the rest of this entry

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. Read the rest of this entry